Thank you for visiting this page! I’m so glad you’re here!!

What started out as a friendship online with an orphanage administrator who found me through my music, has turned into the most wonderful experience and a myriad of miracles for 45 orphan children, as well as many others. It’s an ongoing story and there is more to come! I’m so excited for you to be part of it with me!

Read the story below to learn of the miracles and details of this project and for options to donate.

How To Donate:

To donate to this project, please select one of these options:

1) Through e-transfer to rotaryraymond5360@gmail.com (This is for preferable for Canadians. I’m sorry we don’t have Venmo. Please put “Uganda” in the memo and use “rotary” as security if needed.)

Also, just to clarify, the Rotary Club is a non-profit organization, however they are not able to issue donation receipts, nor can I. Rotary Club is partnering with my husband and I to do this project. They are not sponsoring it, but have kindly volunteered to help us manage some of the funds and have helped us with some grant money. We are also working with some Rotary Club members in Uganda as well. We are so grateful for the assistance of the Rotary Club!

2) through PayPal – https://www.paypal.me/SaraLynBarilMusic (a good option for outside of Canada or if you want to donate through credit card)

3) or you can purchase hardcopy music (songbooks & CDs)

About the music purchase option:

Every purchase of hardcopy music will go towards the project construction. I’m very happy to be able to use my music in this way.

All hardcopy music comes with a digital version as well. So, you can gift the hardcopy and keep the digital music for yourself!

SHIPPING IS INCLUDED.

CLICK ON A PRODUCT TO BE DIRECTED TO PURCHASE

READ THE STORY

It’s a long story, but hopefully this excerpt will bring you up to speed. You can watch the video to learn more history and about how in March of 2023, we were able to raise $6000 in 10 days for this little school to purchase supplies (medical, school supplies, sleeping mats and blankets, shoes, clothing and food, and even a wheelchair for a little disabled girl in the orphanage). These items were personally delivered to the orphanage by some friends of mine, Pat and Steve Leavitt, along with their grand-daughter. We are SO grateful for those who took part in this miracle with us. Pat and Steve came back with incredible stories and said “this is just the beginning“.

THEN, this past Christmas (2023), we learned that the government in Uganda was requiring better living conditions for the children and the property they were residing on was being sold, so we got busy and raised more funds to organize the purchase of a property and home for them. It was amazing how much support we received! Thank you!!!

However, there were unexpected challenges with the original plan of buying this home, and so – as an only a loving God does – He steered us in a different direction, and we are so grateful! We have found a better and more permanent solution thanks to the recommendations of a very helpful and trusted Rotarian contact in Mbale who suggested we think bigger and more sustainable and gave us some good guidelines in order to do that.

This money has now gone instead towards the purchase of 2.55 acres of land found available ONLY 200 FEET from their farm operation! What we are doing now will be more helpful for them long-term, and with the convenience of their farm operation right there, it creates a solution of sustainability, which is extremely important.

This new plan allows them the room they need to expand and gives them room on the land to do other things to become more self-reliant. God has a plan for this. All involved have felt it deeply and have been reminded of His hand in the details over and over as we have felt Him lead us every step of the way.

So, we have now purchased this land and have made the decision to build them a dormitory/home AND a school, but we still need your help!

The money raised before Christmas came to enough to purchase the land (in full) and to start the construction for the orphanage home. We also received a Rotary grant from the Rotary Club, but we had previously thought it could only be used for things like repairs or fresh water or to rebuild their latrines – things like that. However, within the day or two of re-routing our plan, we learned that it could also be used to help with new construction!! Because of the change in our project plans, learning about how we could use this money was a big help towards the new plan.

However, it is not enough, and we still need to finish the home AND now build a school on the land. The government requires that the school and dormitory be on the same land for Michael to operate. So what we are doing with this new plan is satisfying the demands of government of health in Uganda and their ministry of education.

So this is where we are at. We are looking for donations to finish the home and undertake the construction of the school in a timely fashion. That is our goal.

We have been working fervently the past few weeks to put this project together soon so Michael can continue managing his orphanage operation with his staff and provide for the ongoing needs of these children. We will post more pictures here on this webpage as we go along. Construction will begin before the end of January 2024, and we are going there to assist. (Keep reading to learn more about our trip to work on the orphanage home/dormitory!)

So, here is our basic plan based on the land dimensions that were purchased on January 5, 2024. We are currently starting construction on Phase 1.

Phase 1 will be Dormitory #1, Latrine #1, and the Kitchen. Financially where we are on this project is the land has been purchased in full and we have some funds to start the build. However we need to raise another $50K CAD to complete this phase.

Phase 2 is where we add the school (School #1), the Administration Residence and more yard services. We hope to begin this portion of the project immediately following Phase 1. In the meantime, Phase 1 will double as the school.

Phase 3 is School #2 and the Administration building. Michael and his team plan to school other children in the community. This second school will be very important for sustainability as some families will be able to pay for their schooling which will provide income for the school.

Phase 4 is the Dormitory #2 (to be built if/when needed) and the second latrine (though sooner if needeD) and more school yard amenities. A second dormitory allows for Michael to take in more children or to provide a safe home for children in difficult situations who can be schooled and housed for a time.

We have recently helped them purchase a manual brick laying machine with some additional donations that came in unexpectedly after Christmas. This machine will be used on their building site and help them save costs in brick transport and extra supplies, as they can make the bricks right on site. Eventually they may even be able to sell future brick to others.

In addition to their farming operation, they have a sewing operation that provides income for the school, as well as computer classes to teach skills to adults in the community. We would love to see them use this school for other community classes as well.

GOING TO UGANDA!

My husband Mark, myself, my son Brigham, Steve and Pat Leavitt and 3 additional young men are coming with us to Uganda the end of January 2024 to assist with the build and other tasks for two weeks. After Steve and Pat came back from their trip last March and visited this village, we knew we had to go ourselves and meet our new friends in person. We just didn’t expect it would be this soon!!

The timing has fallen into place and many moving parts have come together for us to be able to go at this time. I am so excited to meet Michael, his wife Baluka, their staff (Phillip, Tomasi, Mary, Sylvia, Kelinda, Immaculate, Allen, Rachel, and Lawrence), and 45 children ranging in ages from 3-14, as well as other numerous, supportive community members and to work along side them.

The only thing we are needing is more donations so we can complete the project we have felt inspired to start. Will you help?

The cost of our trip is out of our own pockets, so every penny you donate to this project goes directly toward the costs of construction. We have felt very strongly to go and witness what we have started and hope to make other trips there over the next couple of years as this build takes place.

A NEW NAME, A NEW FOCUS

Michael has renamed the orphanage as Light the World Orphanage under their school operation, MCanaan Primary and Nursery School. This truly will light the world of these children and their whole community (and we absolutely love that they changed the name of the orphanage!), but just as importantly, as we let our light shine, we help to light the whole earth with the goodness of Jesus Christ.

2023 was incredible year for this little area of the world. So many miracles are happening in Uganda, including incredible missionary efforts. The Lord has evidently been in the details of their lives and we have also felt miracles infuse into our lives as well, as we have committed to serve them in this way. We want you to be part of it!

When I go to Uganda in a few weeks, I will land there exactly 3 years almost to the day from when I started conversations with Michael. What started out as questions about The Book of Mormon and the Church has led to his baptism and more than a dozen others joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including his wife, some staff members, and 7 orphanage children, with more to come who are learning from the missionaries. It is my hope to take all 45 children to church with me for the two Sundays while I am there. I am personally booking two drivers and packing these kids into vans to go! I can’t wait to show you pictures!

The sustainable project we are helping them create is something Michael prayed about for over 10 years to be able to do. For three years I have corresponded with him about his hopes and dreams and answered his questions along the way about the gospel. We have talked much about faith, God’s timing, and miracles and about remaining faithful, even while we wait on the Lord. I am so grateful we can help to answer some of these prayers, and no doubt the prayers of the children, as we use our collective and unified faith together to help provide them a better place to live and receive their education.

We want to see these people become successful, self-reliant and renewed in their faith in God and to help them find options that will not only be sustainable, but bring others to this orphanage and school where Michael and his team will teach them both secularly and spiritually. He has told me many times, “education is important, but first I must teach them that God loves them and that they are children of God.” I love that. And it’s so true.

In conclusion, I want to thank you for your interest and help in this project. I am not a charitable organization…just a girl trying to share her music and do some good in the world by organizing a little effort in Uganda. I never expected responding to a text online would lead to this, but it has been wonderful to see how much God loves ALL of His children and to have the opportunity to organize and play a small part in His great work. I am excited for the future and to see this project through as we work together to complete it!

Love you all!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions: saralynbaril@gmail.com

Much thanks,

Sara

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LIGHT THE WORLD – SONG

THESE WORDS TO THIS SONG KEEP ME FOCUSED ON THE “WHY” WE SERVE.

There are thousands of ways to serve. This orphanage and school project in Uganda is just one way I am choosing right now. I have learned, after a couple of decades of music projects and raising money for other causes, that these opportunities are much more special when we can do them together! We meet new people, we learn of other miracles, and we see God’s hand more in things as we work side by side and can share in the miracles. I have learned that this is how God works…uniting people to do something – anything – good. It’s always His work – and we are merely instruments in His hands doing small things together to bring great things to pass. All our light together make everything more bright!

This song – Light the World – was inspired by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints #LIGHTtheWORLD initiative. It was originally written and recorded by my son Benson and America’s Got Talent finalist, Evie Clair in 2017.

Missionary efforts are very important to our family and we are so happy to share our testimonies of Jesus Christ and to help others come unto Him.

Learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here: www.comeuntochrist.org

Light the World

So many wait for the light of day,
Searching for truth; who will show them the way? 
As those who heed the Savior’s call,
We’ll show His love and bring light to all.

In a world where there’s darkness, 
In a world with night,
We can offer His peace,
We can lead with His light
Sharing all that is good
As we teach as Christ would. 
We can light the world.

So many wait for someone to care;
Maybe they wonder if God’s even there.
As those who’ve found the peace that Christ brings 
We’ll be his hands at all times, in all things.

In a world where there’s suffering, 
We can ease the pain.
Lift the burdens we see and 
Bring hope once again.
Sharing all that is good,
As we serve as Christ would. 
We can light the world.

The pure love of Christ will change darkness to light 
And answer each cry and each prayer.
It heals every wound and dries every tear.
When we act in His name, it’s as if He were here.

In a world where the lonely,
Seek to find one friend.
In a world where there’s heartache, 
We’ll help sorrow end.
Sharing all that is good,
As we love as Christ would.
We can light the world.
Sharing all that is good,
As we live as Christ would.
We will light the world.

Copyright © 2016 by Sara Lyn Baril. All rights reserved.