Changing Africa, part five

I want to share a story with you from a third group of volunteers located in Northern Uganda. There is a woman sitting on a mat, in front of her home in the black shirt with colorful polka dots. She has three children. The group of volunteers surrounding her have been helping her with food, housing, and childcare as she rebuilds her strength. Her husband is dead from HIV. The woman sitting to the left of her in the colorful block shirt used to be one of our beneficiaries in the compassionate care project, like Martin mentioned before. She said a similar thing to what Martin said, she has found new life and purpose in caring for others. She is part of something larger than herself. She has hope she did not previously have. This small group of volunteers are caring for 32 orphans in their community. Wow! These are people who we would consider poor, but look at what they are capable of accomplishing when they are empowered to do so!

This is the woman they are helping. She was receiving food assitance from another NGO program and help with school fees. She said what this group does for her is so much more. She used to feel so alone, but she is not alone any more, she is now part of a community that cares for her welfare and the welfare of her children. So much better than a handout!

The man below is a local pastor and the leader of this group. This group is made up of three different church denominations. I had arrived early at the destination so he wasn't cleaned up yet. He wanted to get cleaned up and have the group wearing their t-shirts before I arrived. I told him I would rather see them at work and as they normally are, than to have a formal presentation.

I asked a few questions on my visit - has it been difficult for the different church denominations to work together on this project? In some areas we break up groups by denomination, we chose not to here. They all said it is better to have churches working together, through this they have realized they have more in common than differences that divide them. This project gives them unity. Unity is so needed in Africa! It is needed worldwide!

I asked the leader if the training had any effect on his role as a pastor, has he done things differently than before? He replied with a grin and said, "yes, before this training I thought that all I needed to do was preach. What I learned through this program is how to follow Jesus example and serve. The serving has brought more people through my church doors than preaching ever did." Across the globe, love in action is a powerful force for life change!