What ARE we doing in Africa? — May 25
When we're asked why we should care about what happens in Africa, we think about Josiah. When we first met Josiah, he couldn't read or write. In fact, when we first stumbled upon him, he was living on his own in a mud hut, with a cow dung floor. His sole possession was a thin, palm frond sleeping mat. He was 15, but looked about 11. Both of his parents had died from AIDS two years earlier. His older brother and sister's whereabouts are still unknown after having been abducted 11 years ago by the LRA to fight in the hideous civil war that has ravaged Uganda for more than 20 years.
Most days Josiah was barely able to find anything to eat. Without an opportunity for an education, or any skills, his future looked pretty grim.
Thanks to people like you who love and care about the people in Africa, One City's scholarship program has been able to assist Josiah through school and help him with his other needs. He is working unbelievably hard; reading and writing and learning English (way quicker than we are learning Bugisu!)
We need you, today, to make a difference...to help transform the lives of the people here that are in desperate need of hope for a future.
Look what your generous contributions have made happen:
- Opened the only medical facility in Bududa
- Continued operating our health clinic in Sibanga
- Trained over 300 local people from seven different villages in our Healthy Village and Family workshops, as well as our Emergency Response class
- Planted two new churches and raised funds to rebuild a local church blown down in a storm
- Served over 1400 meals to widows, orphans and vulnerable children
- Launched a Micro Loan program that immediately put two women in business
Children in our village.
Africa TrAID Jewelry now available at Tampa Street Market! — May 6
We're excited about our new partnership with Tampa Street Market, whose proprietors share our interests in environmental and economic sustainability, fair trade, and beautiful items! The Seminole Heights store is now carrying the Acholi bead earrings and necklaces made by the Acholi women of Northern Uganda, and bought by One City Ministries as part of our Africa TrAID program. Acholi beads are crafted from recycled paper, lacquered, and then strung together with gorgeous results.
Visit Tampa Street Market at 4715 N Florida Ave. Tampa, FL 33603.
The webmaven's own OCM Acholi bead necklace, in a lovely Ugandan basket!
Bududa landslides update — April 20
More than 300,000 people are still inhabiting an area exceedingly vulnerable to more landslides. The destructive ones in March that destroyed the villages of Nametsi, Namakansa and Kuwembo about 30 kilometers from where Mike and I live in Mbale killed close to 400 people. Most of those people are still buried in ten feet of mud, with little hope that their bodies will ever be recovered for the burial their families want for them.
It is not that the government must now simply find a place for 300,000 people to live, but 900 families, all from the same tribe who need enough land to live close to one another, and have space to harvest enough food to feed their families. Sustenance farming is all they know.
Our fear is such a place does not exist in this small country brimming with 32 million people. And after tiring of the vile living conditions in the camps, and giving up on the government to realize any solutions, people will simply go back to their perilous land, waiting for the next catastrophic landslide.
We are holding on to the vision that God has given us for the Light Village. We believe it will model a new, sustainable way of life in Africa. Alternative cooking fuels, economic development training and unconventional farming approaches to raising Tilapia are at the top of the list of programs we will be launching first at the Light Village. Read More»
Please Help — 3 Villages Covered by Mudslide...
Monday night, three villages near our home were covered in 8-10 feet of mud by a landslide that took everything and everyone in its path. 90 bodies have been recovered and more than 300 people are still missing and presumed dead.
Photos from 2009's I LOVE AFRICA Event!
Mark your calendars, because our 2010 benefit will be November 18, 2010! Last year's was fantastic.
