Ugandan children show off soccer equipment collected for them during the 2013 Los Alamos Soccar Collection Drive for the Children of Uganda. Courtesy/Blanca Jones

Staff Report

Local Los Alamos mom, Blanca Jones is eager to share the developments of the 2013 Los Alamos Soccer Collection Drive for the Children of Uganda she organized. She will share the question posed to her that began the collection drive, from which 23 boxes of soccer supplies were collected. The supplies reaching Uganda continue to touch the hearts of Ugandan children bringing them hope and encouragement, much to the generosity of the Los Alamos Community.

This community event, Hearts for Uganda, hosted by Jones is 2-3:30 p.m., May 17 at Crossroads Bible Church, 97 East Road in Los Alamos.

Those attending will listen to the music of the internationally known Ugandan Watoto Children’s Choir and hear guest speaker Mark Hallamore, youth pastor at Community of Joy Church in Rio Rancho who will have just returned from his latest visit to Soroti.

Along with Jones’ soccer collection drive update benefiting the children of Soroti, Uganda, those attending will hear testimonies from orphans of Watoto. Mark Hallamore will be sharing his most recent experiences with the children and families from his perspective through his videos and pictures. 

Also being introduced is a new non-government organization, Aica Ministries, whose mission is empowering vulnerable families. 

“This promises to be an afternoon event that will send you home with uplifted hearts,” Jones said.

Available for purchase will be African jewelry, handmade by the women of Soroti, sold as a fundraiser,with proceeds going directly back to their destitute villages through Aica Ministries and the Soroti Eagles Soccer Academy.

“The highlight of this event is the message of transformation,” Jones said. “Transformation of the lives of the children, and the women caring for them, as they come to know their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love he has for them and the change he’s bringing into their desperate lives through people who care.”