Villages north of us are deep in the bush and difficult to access. They have no idea what's currently happening in our world. All they know is they can't access food and they're going days without eating anything but weeds. One father we know of killed his children to spare them from starvation.
Edwin was able to find a friend that had a car with a speaker on top. With Pastor Richard from YWAM, they together devised an audio tape to play as they drove the dirt paths describing this worldwide pandemic, the potential impact and why the markets were closed.
Our immediate community consists of 285,000 people. They are currently more scared of starvation than they are of COVID-19. Edwin was contacted by the Resident District Commisioner, a representative of the President of Uganda, to lead a task force in our area distributing food to the starving. He knows the people that are most suffering in our community and he would be given security to pass the food out, if he should accept. After talking it over with Precious and listening daily to the many outside our gate crying for help, they felt he must do this. It says in Matthew 25:35 "For I was hungry, and you fed me."
This past month, we have been blessed to have donors to help feed many of these people.
I also received a call today from an 11-year-old boy named Isaiah who wanted to send us $15.00 of his very own money to be able to help too. I have to tell you, Isaiah melted my heart today.
Thank you everyone for your generous hearts to provide meals for the suffering in our community.
Meet our 2020 baby class. All schools have been closed in Uganda but they wanted to meet you by getting their uniforms on and having a picture taken with their teacher. We have grown by seven children from the poorest of the poor in our neighbourhood. I see little Joweli in the red dress in the front and cannot believe how tall she has gotten. It seems like yesterday that our LITTLE Joweli was only 3-years-old.
This is the vehicle that will spend 7 days at 8 hours a day going through areas where they are really suffering and don't understand why the world suddenly stopped. Pastor Richard will also be prepared in case a death and the family needs prayer.
Edwin found a room to store the food and with donations coming in, he's calculated they may be able to feed around 2,600 families. What you see in these pictures is about 1/4 of the amount they will be handing out with the military. In the meantime Precious, with an escort will be giving to the really needy within walking distance. The thing is, they can't wait to get all the bags together as these people need it quickly so they try and pass out 100 bags a day.
Filling up slowly
This lovely woman was sitting outside our gate and Precious gave her a bag of pocho. She explained that this food was from Jesus and the woman wept hard. Later that night, Edwin went to her home and explained who Jesus is and gave her a Bible. If you're wondering what has happened to her skin, she has a disease called Vitiligo where the black skin peels off.
This family are our immediate neighbours and mama is alone with 8 children. As you can see, one of the girls has picked weeds to cook for dinner, but now they will have a wonderful meal of pocho and weeds. This treat was a surprise and very appreciated.
Edwin delivered maize flour to a group of hungry people he knew in a village close to us. I've witnessed this myself and I can just visualize the tears of joy right now. Thank you donors from all these people. They can only express their gratefulness though Edwin and I and I want you to know they are very very thankful.
And then we have the elderly that have absolutely nothing. Precious again knows exactly who to give out food too. The old, the alone and the ones incapable of caring for themselves. What you see here is probably all she owns besides a cooking pot.
Pastor Richard helps a group of people that have been cleaning leaves to prepare for dinner. To their surprise they were given a large bag of beans and another of pocho to mix with them. We have been blessed with this man coming into our lives right now. He is a very caring man who loves his people and will do anything with Edwin to help them. He also will be taking our three older kids to YWAM when they age out of Home of Angels.
We had to let our staff go until everything gets back to normal with the pandemic, but Sula, who has been with us since 2009 is still helping the elderly. He's helping my old friend here who has cataracts so badly, I'm not sure she can see anymore. This is the Jaaja that our "God's Little Angels Ministry" (the children) helps often.
Precious is really a good person to do this job because her heart is so big and she loves the Lord so much. We may not have been able to get the church in time before the pandemic hit but we have a church on foot ministering to many people.
Helping Hands will love this picture with their hand-made toques. Thanks ladies for helping these boys with their favourite head gear. I sure do miss these beautiful faces and afraid one day, when I can go back, I won't recognize them because they are growing so quickly.
Thanks again to all of you who have followed our story over the years. We have come so far but couldn't have done it without you. Whether it's been a donation or a simple comment to encourage me here in Canada, thank you.
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