OUR STORY
In 2012
Lise Sievers, came from Red Wing Minnesota, a small town in the United States, to adopt two severally handicapped children living in Kamuli Uganda. They would be joining 11 siblings from the USA nine that she had adopted over the last 25 years and two biological children. The american adoptions were all special needs kids from our nations waiting childrens programs. These were foster children with special needs such as HIV, ventilator dependence, developmental delays, cerebral palsy and seizures. Most of the kids were now adults. A friend had been doing foster care for these two Ugandan children for a couple of years. With no hope of getting the medical care they needed she was sure that Lise could get them the care they needed.
Francis was 4 years old and Sarah 11 years old. Both children were extremely disabled needing intensive care and many surgeries to ensure a good quality of life. The process was long but by April of 2012 the children legally adopted by Lise Sievers and were waiting for American visas to begin their journey to a new life. Unfortunately the visas did not happen as they were denied a dream of a life that could be free from the pain they were living in. Politics, personal opinions of immigration officers and a general apathy to the plight of these children stalled the hopes of a family waiting for them. As her adopted children Lise continued to support them financially and physically in Uganda.
Months in Uganda had opened Ms. Sievers eyes to the needs of the children in her new community. After a visit from the local probation officer (social worker) confirmed not only the needs of the children but the towns wish for a babies home to care for those needs, Lise decided along with her friends and family in Uganda, to commit to opening a special home for the children of Uganda in need of a safe and loving home. His Grace Community Services was born from the needs brought to their attention.
A year of Planning
After a year of planning and meetings, licensing and contracting His Grace celebrated with over 300 people at the Grand Opening of their facility on November 5th 2013.
Within days the children were arriving, some in need of daycare, some looking for sanctuary and safety. Children who were malnourished, sick with malaria and HIV/AIDS, hopeless and tortured by those who were supposed to care for them, came to His Grace. They were brought by social workers, neighbors and concerned citizens hoping to save the lives of these innocent babes.