On Sunday, June 19, 13-year-old, Alex Gruber of St. Charles, surprised fellow church members and missionaries, Ron and Becky Hubbard, with a special gift for orphans and children in the slums of Africa.
Ron and Becky Hubbard have been traveling to Uganda for the last four years to work with children in orphanages, hospitals, slums, and in a school dedicated for children with disabilities. The Hubbards regularly speak in their church, Rejoice Lutheran Church in Geneva, about their work and they sell African jewelry, toys and accessories to raise money. One of the younger church members, Alex Gruber, has paid special attention and began his own mission work here in the States.
At church on Father’s Day, Alex surprised the Hubbard’s with four soccer balls and a $50 donation. In with Alex’s donation, he included a card which read:
Dear Mr. Hubbard,
Every week when I receive my allowance, I have put some in
a charity envelop. I thought the kids in Uganda would love
some soccer balls. So I used my charity money to buy four
soccer balls. The rest of the charity money, I’d like to
give to you to take to Uganda and use when you see a need –
medicine, shoes, clothes, mosquito nets. I love what you do
there. One day, I would like to come with you myself. God
bless you on your trip.
Love,
Alex
“The kindness, selflessness and generosity of this 13-year-old boy is inspiring,” said Ron Hubbard. “How many 13-year-olds do you know who would save their allowance to buy children in Africa toys and items they need? It says a lot about the kind of kid he is, the young man he is becoming, and the loving, charitable household he is being raised in.”
Even more remarkable is the fact that this isn’t Alex’s first donation to Ugandan Children. Last year, he collected 1,300 hats to help protect children from the sun. “We were speechless when he collected the hats,” said Becky Hubbard. “Rarely do you see kids donate so much of their own time and energy to help others so far away. Alex is an amazing young man and the children of Uganda are blessed.”
