06/13/2014
I absolutely love sharing our story because it is a story ONLY GOD can do. When the Subbi Tribe comes to a church, we can plan it anyway that a church wants. They dance true Ugandan Style - and sing and dance in their own language of Lugandan and in English too. They share testimonies of coming to America and sometimes I share our story as well - from a parents point of view - of saying YES. We have a song that friends, Barry Michael and Corey Barker wrote for us called, "What if we said yes?" God calls us all to say YES - it may not be to going across the world and bringing back an orphan from Africa - but what if we said yes? We could change someone's world!
Suubi Tribe is made up of 12 kids from Uganda, Africa. They were all in the same orphanage called Royal School and Orphanage. In 2010 they came to America on a visa where they would travel in a choir and sing and dance at churches all over the states, collecting sponsorships through a ministry called "Pennies for Posho" - they were called "Ugandan Thunder". We were host homes for some of these kids in the choir. God grew a love in our heart - so that when they were going back to Uganda after the tour, we could not let them go. So, seven families, said YES - and decided to bring back 12 children to live with these families and go to school at Skipstone Academy. They actually are all here on a I20 Visa that allows them to stay here through College. We are all their Legal Guardians, that is on paper. In our hearts, they are totally our children and we love them as our own flesh and blood.
Our story is that I journal - and April 8, 2003 I wrote in my journal "I married my high school sweetheart - we have 2 children, but God is going to give me another child, but it wont' be from my belly." I don't even talk like that, but I knew then that one day - even though my husband said no at the time, God was going to give us another child to foster or adopt. Throughout the journal I wrote - "Feed my sheep, take care of my sheep". In 2010 we were the host home for kids in the choir. So God made missions Alive in our home like never before.
The kids all left and went back to Uganda - while the families here worked on a plan to bring them back to America on Education Visas. During this time, God overwhelmingly put Esther on our hearts. Skipstone got approved to accept exchanged students and all the moms booked our flights to Uganda. We left on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012..... NINE years to the day that I wrote in my journal God was going to give us another child. When we got to Uganda Esther handed me a journal she had kept and in it she wrote "I am the lost sheep that has now been found." Over and over God confirmed in our heart that she is our daughter, from even having a scar on her head the same shape and place as my husband. All the kids were approved on April 12, 2012 - my 37th birthday! What a gift from God! All of us paid for their visas and flights back to America on FAITH - not knowing if their government would even let them leave Uganda. Everything that happened was things ONLY GOD could do. He moved mountains to bring these kids here. Now Esther who is 15 years old- our daughter has a Daddy for the first time in her life. She knows what it's like to have a Mommy and Daddy and brother and sister - food anytime she wants - and love like she has never experienced. We thought we were going to be the ones to change her life, but she has changed ours so much more than I could ever describe. Our story is only one of the seven - all so amazing. I never get tired of sharing because God gets ALL The Glory.
The Subbi Tribe means Tribe of Hope. They have performed at many local churches including, Dr. Stanley's Church in Atlanta. On July 10th, In Touch Ministries will be filming the children and all the families to share the story to air on In Touch in 2015. They also were contracted by Dollywood for a full week during Spring Break last year, where they were able to share their testimony with so many people in a fun way - through dance and music. They also have been at the Potter's House and were able to dance for the ladies there - and in return the ladies danced for them. They have also recorded a song with Matt Papa as well. And performed at many local churches.
During concerts the kids go out to the congregation and pray with people. At the end of the concert - they bring up people on stage and teach them how to dance like a Ugandan. It is quite funny - and that is your warning -preachers.... they will pick you! It always is a fun part of the concert!
Most churches give a love offering to the Suubi Tribe, we also have items to sell that came from Uganda such as purses, aprons, necklaces and sling shots - which people enjoy brining home a little piece of Africa. We give some prizes out during the concert as well - while they are sharing about Uganda. We are also helping to start a new orphanage in Uganda and we collect sponsorship IF anyone wants to be a part of that. It is all done though a non profit called Legacies and Miracles, http://www.legaciesandmiracles.org/ - 100% of sponsorships goes directly to this orphanage and helping to build it.
If your church is interested in having the Subbi Tribe come out please contact us, we would love to bring a piece of Africa to your church. We are usually the ones who get blessed the most! It's such a JOY to share what God has done and what He continues to do through the life of these families and kids!
