Uganda Projects – Kampala and Mbale
By Pat Reese
The work in Uganda is growing rapidly. Just a few
months after getting our first sponsor for a widow in Uganda,
we have four widows and their families sponsored in
Kampala and five widows and their families sponsored in
Mbale, along with the beginnings of an orphanage and school.
As the size of these endeavors grows, so does the amount
of responsibility and labor required to keep them running
smoothly. The pastors work diligently to care for the people
in their areas and sometimes the enormity of it can be over-
whelming. They attempt to meet so many people’s needs
without the modern conveniences to which we have become
accustomed. In a recent letter, Pastor Mukhooli wrote that he
has “been busy making uniforms for our children, not in the
same schools. [Each school has its own uniform.] Also, most
children are sick, suffering from malaria. I am still distribut-
ing food among our people. Transportation sometimes de-
lays most of my programs.”
As you can imagine, this is more work than one person can
do and Pastor Mukhooli was happy to inform us
about Moses Kisiibo. Moses is serving as the
“secretary in our project. He has been helping
me all along and sacrificed his time in attending
meetings and advising in various lines for he not
only knows English but is trained in administra-
tion.” They are also thrilled over the news that
two brethren from USA [Brian Hester and Lo-
gan Harvey] are going to be visiting them soon.
One cannot help but admire these dedi-
cated pastors who work so diligently for no
pay, not only to help alleviate the suffering of
those around them, but also to bring them the
good news of the gospel. Following are ex-
cerpts from some letters that have been written
by widows and orphans telling how their lives
are being changed physically and spiritually.
“My only hope and faith is in God, as Pastor Musungu
visited me with Aida, with the encouraging news about
God’s love through His elected people who have sympa-
thized with poor Africans. My children will go to school
even if I die.” – Esinansi
“My life in Uganda is very hard and I am sickly all the time
with headache and fever. My small hut is almost falling on me.
My last boy is helpless and cannot manage to support me. I only
thank God who connected me with Mrs. Olivier Sakwa
Musungu who has become my great aid now with most of the
households, for I cannot manage due to the sickness.” – Felista
“I chose tailoring. They have paid my first semester and I
know God will provide me the rest after this semester. I am
now an orphan of Christ. I thank God’s people who are study-
ing with our pastor. After completing the course I will help my
fellow orphans to make them clothes to uphold this project to
continue helping others who are suffering.” – Betty
“He (Pastor Mukhooli) had been helping me in many
ways as his own biological child by giving me some pieces
of advice, telling me about the love of God and even counsel-
ing me away from doing evil acts. He made my heart to be
filled by God’s Word, which I didn’t know. I feel just like
my heart is in joy and happiness in the Word of God. I thank
God for the help which He had given me. And this time Itake
Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.” – Abasa
“I am learning how to pray. Sometimes when the pastor
teaches us the work in the evening and asks someone to pray,
I feel shy for I don’t know how to pray, but when another
young boy is asked to pray, he prays and I also desire to do
the same.” – Zitto
“We are at the home of Alfred Mukhooli at the center
with other children in a happy life and I give glory to God for
what He has done for us.” – Sam
“I remember when I was coming from the village I was
barefooted with two dresses only, which I had without a cov-
ering. When I reached this place the pastor went and brought
me a nice new blanket which I have never covered with.
They took me to school. They paid the school dues including
lunch.” – Caroline
“We are really very grateful for all the
help rendered to us.” – Patrick
This month we would especially like to
tell you about Jonathan Sebatta who is 16
years old. Jonathan’s history is long so I will
share only a small part of his letter, which
shows the type of work our pastors are doing:
“As I used to talk with my fried Cheran
[son of Fred Musungu]. In the conversation I
could ask him how his father treats him at
home. Just at school he shows such love to us
who he doesn’t know. I asked Cheran all those
things because I have never had a pleasing pa-
rental care for I lost all my parents when I was
still a child. Cheran could tell me all the father
does for them and the way they surround the
same table for all meals, breakfast, lunch and
supper in a common friendly manner, which I could not be-
lieve until Cheran invited me to their home. I went to their
home and I could not believe what I saw and discovered, for
their unity and love in their home. I told Cheran all my hard-
ships, who also went and told his father who called me to tell
him my life history.”
The history that Jonathan related is a sad one of abuse
and neglect at the hands of a step-mother who did not care
for him. He was finally sent back to his mother when his fa-
ther realized the step-mother would kill him. When all three
died of AIDS, Jonathan was left to the care of a grandmother.
Jonathan hopes to find a sponsor who will help him continue
his education “so that in future I can support myself and
other miserable people who are like me.” Pastor Musungu
has taken Jonathan into his home as one of his own sons.
Please keep Pastor Musungu and Pastor Mukhooli in
your prayers as they spread the light of Christ and lighten the
burdens of others.
?
-3-
Jonathan, center, sur-
rounded by his new family.
