THE WORK OF THE ENEMY IS EVIDENT

IN UGANDA. JESUS HIMSELF TOLD US

THAT SATAN COMES TO STEAL, KILL,
AND DESTROY—

in Uganda he has furthered his purpose through the LRA

(Lord’s Resistance Army). Praise the Lord that isn’t the
end of the story!

WE ALSO KNOW THAT JESUS

CAME THAT WE MAY HAVE
LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.
It is our prayer that the people of Uganda will experience
this abundant life Christ came to give; the restorative,
healing, transforming, perfect love of our Savior. It is our
desire to share Jesus with these people who are in such great
need of healing.
Uganda has been devastated by the LRA war for around 20
years. It is difficult to comprehend the suffering in this area,
where more than 1.8 million people (80% of the population
in Northern Uganda) were forced to flee their homes and live
in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps inside the
country. In these camps it is estimated that 1,000 individuals
died each week. As always, it is the children who suffer the
most. With the LRA, that was intensified, as the children
were the target. Estimates are that over 90% of the LRA
ranks are made up of children who are abducted and forced
to serve in the army. An estimated 30,000 to 66,000 children
have been abducted throughout the war.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOW

MORE STABILITY IN NORTHERN
UGANDA, STILL ABOUT A
MILLION PEOPLE REMAIN IN
IDP CAMPS. Because the war has been going on
for decades, there is great uncertainty for them in returning
home. In most instances basic services such as schools, clean
water, and health clinics have yet to be restored. Many
parents return to work in the fields but leave their children in
the camps to attend school; leaving them at risk of
exploitation and abuse. In many instances the police and
justice systems, which have been crippled by the war, are disputes over land. The people continue to live in fear
unable to address high rates of sexual violence or emerging because of the brutal attacks and kidnappings they have

witnessed. The length of time they have been displaced alone
creates a difficult barrier for them to return. As a result, these
people have, for the most part, not been able to plant crops
and hunger is widespread.
VISION BEYOND BORDERS
RECENTLY HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SEND
VEGETABLE SEEDS AND
CLOTHING TO THE PEOPLE OF
UGANDA. Some of the seeds and clothes went to the
Family Empowerment Uganda-Canaan Farm in Rakayata
village near Masindi. The farm is a self sustaining, Christ-
centered haven for displaced persons, widows, families and
orphans who have fled the LRA war. We received reports that
the previous year, when teams were present during the dry
season, the women delivering babies were unable to make
breast milk due to poor nutrition. The babies were dying, and
the young children were suffering from malnutrition.
All of the crops had died and they did not have seeds for
vegetable gardens. Through the work of missionary teams,
they were able to implement a simple bucket drip irrigation
system and plant vegetable gardens for the 40 family plots
involved in the Women’s Empowerment group. They reported
the gift of seeds was truly a God send! While the teams were
there, they were able to teach the people how to dig and
prepare plots, plant, assemble and care for the drip irrigation
system and compost. As a result these people will have food,
even through the dry season!
Some of the new families on the farm had just come from the
war area in the north, thus had very torn and dirty clothes or
no clothes at all. The clothes VBB supplied went to these
families as well as impoverished children in the nearby
Rakayata village. The clothes and seeds were all distributed
by the missionaries in the name of Jesus. Through these gifts,
team members were able to testify to the love of Jesus Christ.
The team was also able to visit several of the IDP camps.
Some of the people in these camps are trying to start over
after over 20 years away from their land. A team member
wrote, “It was a privilege to share the love of Jesus with them
while giving out the clothes, sandals and seeds. They were
very surprised and humble and grateful. It was pure joy to see
the hope in their eyes and faces. They have a little church, but
no Bibles. Many are unable to read so we hope to bring some
hand-wind tape players next year. The language is Acholi.
Thank you for sharing your love…it was a huge blessing.”
In addition, we were able to send a large load of clothes and
seeds on a container that were given to the people in Entebbe,
Uganda and were also sent to Boma, Sudan. While the
fighting from the LRA has decreased in Northern Uganda, it
has increased in Southern Sudan, as the armies have moved
across the border. We are assisting in sending a second
container that will be shipped in November and arrive in
Uganda in January. This container will contain medical
equipment and supplies, as well as books for the children.
THE HOPE OF THE MISSIONARY
TEAMS THAT TRAVEL TO
UGANDA IS TO HELP THESE
PEOPLE REBUILD THEIR LIVES
AND COMMUNITIES. They do not want to
remain in the camps, but many do not know what else to do.
Children that were mere toddlers when the conflict started
are now 20 years old and do not even understand how to
make a life for themselves; they have known nothing but the
IDP camp their entire life. Education is necessary, as well as
the tools and skills to make a living. When the team goes
over again in January, they will carry more seed with them.
Team members had a chance to visit a hospital in Kalongo
while they were in Uganda. They found very limited
equipment, few supplies, and great need. They put together a
“wish list” of equipment needed for the hospital. At that
time, we were collecting medical equipment to send to
Burma, where there is also great need. After we collected the
supplies we were informed that the government would not
give approval for these items to go into Burma.
With God, whenever one door closes, another door opens. It
was certainly no coincidence that the items on the “wish list”
were the very items we had secured donation of for Burma! We
checked with the donor of the equipment, and were able to
transfer the equipment to be used in Uganda. We have seen the
Lord’s faithfulness in these ways time after time, yet it never
ceases to amaze me to see His perfect plan and see His hand so
evident in all this work. To us, it was a great disappointment to
see the refusal of the Burmese government to allow these items
into their country, in reality God was showing us that He had a
plan; He already knew where these items were needed!
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AS I LOOK BACK, I REMEMBER

THE FRUSTRATION; seeing all this
equipment, seeing the great needs of the people of Burma,
and wondering why we were not granted favor to have these
items shipped. As we were able to see the “wish list” and
realize that the medical equipment we had gathered included
every major item on that wish list was priceless! God, in His
perfect wisdom, reminded us that His ways are above our
ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts. He knew the
whole time where this equipment was needed and had a
perfect plan to answer the prayers of His saints who were
pleading for these needs to be met for the people of Uganda.
I pray that God brings to remembrance, each time we face
frustrations and difficulties, that He is perfecting His plan; I
am merely a tool, an imperfect vessel He chooses to use. He
has placed His glory in an earthen vessel so there is no
question who receives the glory! I am humbled and pleased as
He frustrates our plans to reveal His perfect plan! Our God is
faithful!

I pray that God brings to remembrance, each time we face

frustrations and difficulties, that He is perfecting His plan.