What ARE we doing in Africa? — May 25
Josiah
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.
Butta School Teachers
God has swung wide many doors all over Uganda for One City the past seven months. Our successes are due largely to the many people and organizations who have helped us along the way. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our board members, staff, volunteers and partners whose involvement has been integral to our development.
Look what your generous contributions have made happen:
- Opened the only medical facility in Bududa serving the survivors of the deadly landslide in March. Three surrounding villages were ravaged by the landslide that killed 400, and left homeless over 5,000 people. Those 5,000 are living in a crowded, unsanitary, Internally Displaced Persons Camp, crowded into rain-soaked tents, forced to deal with chronic illnesses, malaria and other diseases, and without enough cooking fuel for even one meal a day.
Police keeping order at the clinic
- Trained locals to move through the camp offering teaching on basic health and hygiene, which has helped greatly in keeping the number of deaths down. But our supply of medicine is quickly being depleted. We need about $1000 to keep the clinic open for another month, after which the government has promised to relocate all 5,000+ villagers.
Sibanga Clinic
- Continued operating our health clinic in Sibanga, raising the bar on care by sending Rose, Joseph and Esther through Nursing School. This program is successfully sustaining itself.
- Trained over 300 local people from seven different villages in our Healthy Village and Family workshops, as well as our CERF class (Emergency Response). These groups have mobilized and set out to train deeper in the bush with awesome life-saving, life-changing stories. Trainings are about $1000 a month, a small investment compared to the lives changed and saved!
- Planted two new churches; tithes tend to be eggs or avocadoes and the pastors don't get paid, but the churches are bursting at the seams with thankful people worshipping the Lord just about every day.
- Raised funds to rebuild a local church blown down in a storm. One City offered to match the contributions from the local
folks, and we were humbled beyond words to watch people drop half of every shilling they had in the basket.
Marriage Conference at Lukhonge
- Hosted and taught two marriage conferences with over 500 pastors, spouses and church leaders from 50 different churches and seven different denominations. There is a whole new healthy attitude about marriage moving through Manafwa.
- Served over 1,400 meals to widows, orphans and vulnerable children.
- Launched volunteer programs to build latrines and clean up villages.
- Funded a borehole & training on safe water.
- Kicked off Teacher Appreciation programs for teachers, and supplied first-aid supplies, pens, chalk and books to several Primary and Secondary Schools. This program, which gives teachers the tools to raise up a new generation, costs about $300 per month.
A message on Potential.
- Launched a microloan program that immediately put two women in business that has changed the lives of their families. More contributions mean more people can launch businesses that pull their families out of poverty. We could put to great use about another $2,000.
- Kicked off the Africa TrAID Artisan Training Center, giving nearly 100 local people the opportunity to use their skills to earn a good income. This program will take about $10,000 as we add tools and teachers as well as to buy the products to ship back to the states for market. This economic development program has been crucial. From March through July while they are waiting and praying for a harvest, food is very scarce to non-existent. If they did not have the Africa trAID program, they would not have a way to earn any money to feed their families. This is the time of year we see many of our people perish.
Mbale grads
So, what are we asking...and how can you help? You can make a difference TODAY for a brighter Africa tomorrow by making a tax-deductible contribution to One City Ministries.
While it does not come naturally to Mike and I to ask for help, we know this vision and passion God put in us to serve Africa is bigger than the two of us.
Drawing water from the borehole
Aside from all the programs already in place, the Light Village is going to take a great deal of funding. This first of a kind, self-sustaining, model village is the answer to many of the colossal challenges the Ugandan people have faced for too many years. Won't you consider investing in the future of an entire country?
Admittedly, I gulped when our Board of Directors told us we needed to raise nearly $20,000 rather quickly. But we believe our God is GIANT...and this is, after all, His vision. And so, we ask you to dig deep. Not to hand out charity (this continent has been deluged with handouts for way too long) but to lend a hand...to partner with us on this journey of making a long-term difference on the continent of Africa.
If you would like to make a contribution, or join our family of monthly contributors, you can easily do so here with a credit card or PayPal, or you can mail a check to One City Ministries at 3959 Van Dyke Road, Suite 299, Lutz, FL 33558.
Mark your calendars! We are really looking forward to seeing you all at our second annual "I Love Africa" event on November 18th. You'll have a fantastic opportunity to see first-hand the brilliantly creative products our artists are working on...and to see how YOU have changed their lives.
Thank you so much for your support, encouragement and prayers. We are blessed to have you in our lives.
Sending love from Africa,
Mike and deb
Camp Residents
P.S. Literally hundreds of thousands of people are at risk, right now, of starving to death. And while we are living with the people in the country and helping the best we can, we can only do more with your support. Please help us help them.
Mike and friends
photos by Mike and Deb
"No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." Edmund Burke
