God at Work in Uganda

The people of Uganda face many challenges. This nation of 36 million people deals with problems such as poverty, fighting and strife in certain areas, HIV/AIDS and malaria. AMG has been ministering to the people of Uganda in a variety of ways including childcare, medical care, training national pastors and proclaiming the Good News using all means available to us.

AMG board member Jim Everett, along with his wife, Drew, have traveled to Uganda on an annual basis to minister through AMG’s outreach there. Each trip has lasted for several months, has had significant impact and has resulted in deep relationships with local people. Drew just sent us the following notes from their most recent trip:

I am forever in awe and humbled by the hard work of the people here to just stay alive. Over the years we have watched as the men handmake bricks from red clay for their homes on their tiny swatch of rented land. We try not to stare and offer a cup of water at the back-breaking hoeing and planting and harvesting by the women (and in some tribes the men) as they carve out a bare subsistence. Mere children and often toddlers are seen collecting firewood in huge bundles or fetching water so that they can cook a simple meal of sweet potatoes and tea. And all of this is done barefoot in the heat of the day.

Each morning Jimmy helps me give a spiritual talk at the AMG school’s morning assembly. How quickly the children are learning about God. What a joy to see their glorious smiles and affectionate personalities each day. Their memorization skills totally amaze me. One day I was telling them about heaven and stated, “heaven is a wonderful place,” forgetting that I had taught them a rather complicated song last year called “Heaven is a Wonderful Place.” The students burst forth in that song. What was even more amazing is that we sang it a mere two times last year.

Our hearts soar with success stories of both adults and children whom we have watched grow in the Lord through the years. This week the star was an 8th grader who we have mentored for about six years. He and his brother had lived with an elderly grandfather, and often this family went for days without eating anything other than tea. After coming to the AMG orphanage, he constantly thanks God that he is alive for yet another day and has enough to eat. Two weeks ago he began a new school where the only students he knew were a handful of the other orphans. And yet he ran home to us and gave us big hugs as he announced, “Today, I made a speech and got elected as the class captain!” On prodding him for more information, we discovered that there are 130 in his class with two others also running for this post. We are impressed with this young man, knowing that he is one of the lucky ones who can escape poverty and disease.

In addition, there is a fifth grade boy I have known for two years who could hardly contain his excitement in learning about Jesus and becoming a Christian last year. I talked to his Muslim auntie (his guardian since both parents died) last year, and she was well aware of the fact that Isaac was learning about Jesus because he would come home and tell his auntie everything. He says his auntie and uncle still go to mosque, but do not require him to attend; and, in fact, he often goes to a Christian church. Isn’t God merciful and wonderful in the miracles He allows us to witness? Pray that Isaac will continue to grow in his love for things of God.

Pastor Abel, a former Muslim, is our contact pastor to help us set up our Pastor Training Conference. We met with him on Friday and laid the groundwork, which is too exciting for words. He has selected 10 rural pastors to do intensive training with us before the conference. We have given him discipleship training booklets that each pastor will complete. Then each will meet with us to learn how to take this material and teach leaders in their church and other pastors. These pastors are only about three hours away, so the travel should not be as difficult as in the past (seven hours away).

God is indeed doing amazing work in Uganda. Please pray for AMG’s outreach there, and particularly for more sponsors who are greatly needed to care for needy boys and girls.