Remember the Poor

Well, the goat stables and chicken house are under way.  John sent pictures so we can all have a look…from 10,000 miles away!

All of this–the goat stables, the farm, helping Teso–it’s all about sharing food and the love of Jesus.  There’s something amazing about food.  It’s more than just sustenance.  It represents love.

Here’s how Denis Okumu (in the red shirt) put it to John when they were out working at the farmland.  “I want to pray for my brothers, because I don’t know where they are.  I last saw them when I was 10 years old, and I am now 18.  I wish I could find them so they could come and share the blessing that is here.”  Derick asked Denis what blessing he was referring to.  I’ll give you one guess…

“Eating food and being loved.”

The goats, the laying hens, the milking cows, the avocado and mango trees, the maize and bean and vegetable fields–they are a tangible expression of faith, hope and love.  Denis (and 1200 others) are learning about faith in Christ; they see God has given them hope and a future; and they become the hands and feet of Jesus, taking his love to their brothers and families, to their immediate community, and to other communities like Teso.

They go with food, sowing the seeds of faith, hope and love.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Cor 13:13

Work Crew at the farm land

In two weeks, leadership from Nkumba (Uganda) will be taking food and the gospel to the villages in the Teso region.  If I could, I’d get on a plane and go with them!!!

We’ll be sending our final wire for Teso next Wednesday, August 26th.  To date, $15,062 has been received.

Isaiah 55 describes the splendor of nations being invited to participate in the most satisfying, exquisite, over-the-top feast of all times, where Christ outdoes our every expectation and hope.  Isn’t it amazing we have the privilege of delivering Christ’s invitation to this feast and expressing His love to this nation?!

Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you. Isaiah 55:5

One of the little ones in Teso

I have been informed by two different people (seriously) that this is the sound a goat makes: “Maaaa–aaaaaa-aaaaaaaaa”.  So for all you parents who are teaching your children animal noises, you can add this to your repertoire 🙂

Below is an e-mail received from a goat donor.  He’s a pastor in a small, rural community.  This year he received what he described as the “best birthday present ever.”

I am extremely pleased to share with you some good news.  When I was asked by my wife what I wanted for my birthday, I told her I would really like to buy a goat or two for our sponsored child.  Well, little did I know that she was working behind the scenes sharing my desire with our church family as well.

Today after church we had a potluck/BBQ with the church family and they presented me with a very nice cake and a card. When I opened the card there was an envelope inside that said, ” Pastor, here is some money to help you with your goat fund.”  When I was finished crying, I opened it and counted what was there, and I am happy to say that by adding it to the “goat and a half” I already had saved, the Lord has blessed us with the ability to purchase 5 goats.

All I can say is that this is the best birthday present I ever received! Praise the Lord!!!

Another goat donor wrote the following to her friends on her facebook page:

I’m buying myself a goat for my birthday and am letting a little girl in Uganda take care of it.  It’s not good that a goat should be alone.  If anyone wants to buy me a birthday present, my goat needs a friend, they like to travel two-by-two 🙂   One goat costs $75.  It will help a child in an orphanage in Uganda.

To date, two dozen goats have been donated to sponsored children!  Click here to read more about giving a goat to a child.

Allan Kisakye, Miria Muzaana, Reuben Kibazo, Janat Namukwaya, John Bosco Kalyango, Richard Keeya, Emma Isabirye, Moses Babu, Saidat Sanyu, Daniel Kasi, Gorret Nazziwa

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

Frank and I would looooooooooove to be living in Africa, but constrained by my health, we are here until the Lord opens those doors.

Not being there, I imagine what it will be like to bring food to 3500 hungry people in the 5 villages in Teso.  I imagine sharing a meal with Mr. Eugenio, who had not eaten in 3 days when Seggy saw him last week.

And really, I imagine bringing them a decent meal…no a feast.  Daily I have a feast set before me.  I want that for them.  More than just maize and beans, I’d like to bring eggs and mango, too.  I suppose none of us would even call that a feast.

So far, the Teso fund has $5592.  $40,000 to go (for maize and beans).  $11.42 will feed each person for about 3 weeks.

I imagine, I hope, I dream, I pray we can feed God’s people in Teso.

Imagine this scene.  You die tonight and you’re standing before the Judge.  You have $9000 (or $45,000) in your savings or retirement account, and you have a choice.  You can feed an entire village (or 5 entire villages), or you can hang onto the money, playing it safe, in case someday, you might need it.  What if someday never happens? Imagine the joy of standing before Jesus and hearing “WELL DONE!”

The short (and funny) video below talks about this very thing–playing it safe or living what the world might call a crazy life for Him.

Jesus commended the poor widow who gave everything.  He said the rest gave out of their wealth, but she put in everything, all she had to live on.

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 2 Cor 10:18

One person astutely noted that if each person (who reads this blog or is part of the Facebook Remember the Poor group) swapped out $200, the goal of completing the farm AND providing emergency relief food to the villages in Teso would be done…in ONE DAY!

ONE DAY!  There’s no reason for people to go hungry.  God has graciously given us his resources for us to distribute.  What a privilege!

As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 2 Cor 9:9

TOTAL to DATE:                  561,400 meals (Nkumba)

GOAL:                              2,200,000 meals (Nkumba)

TOTAL to DATE:         total not yet available (Teso)

GOAL:                                 220,500 meals (Teso)

In Teso, Uganda- no food, but still offering smiles for the camera

As I write this, though, I am reminded that apart from Him, we can do nothing.  But IN HIM and THROUGH HIM in ONE DAY, we can do this!

Of course, $200 is just an average.  God provides to each of us differently.  To some he gives a quarter.  To others he gives $10,000.  In 2 Cor 8, we are told that if the willingness is there, it is acceptable, according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

Scripture teaches that there is enough to meet EVERY need–not just in Uganda, but EVERYWHERE.  That God has provided.  And that He provides through us–His people. (2 Cor 8:14-15)

If Christ were living on earth today, He would feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty.  In his absence, with every member of his body (US!) participating and working properly to meet needs around the world, we are the ones who will make His body grow.

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(Through Christ), the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:16

In Nkumba, Uganda

If you missed the SWAP-IT post, catch it here.

I just came back from my “grocery shopping”.  It’s free.  Interested? 🙂

Years ago, I approached our local grocery store (a national chain), and asked them if our church could pick up and distribute their end-of-shelf-life (ESL) food once a week.  One simple question, and they said YES!

So, Frank and I (and other families) get their ESL food once every two weeks.  It’s enough to feed us for the month, so we donate what we would have spent on grocery money to feed orphans in Uganda.

With each participating family donating what they would have spent on groceries to feed the hungry, $2400/mo PER STORE can be generated to fill hungry tummies on the other side of the world.

If you’re interested in talking to your grocery store or have questions, please e-mail me for information!

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:12

I just came back from my “grocery shopping”.  It’s free.  Interested? 🙂

Years ago, I approached our local grocery store (a national chain), and asked them if our church could pick up and distribute their end-of-shelf-life (ESL) food once a week.  One simple question, and they said YES!

So, Frank and I (and other families) get their ESL food once every two weeks.  It’s enough to feed us for the month, so we donate what we would have spent on grocery money to feed orphans in Uganda.

With each participating family donating what they would have spent on groceries to feed the hungry, $2400/mo PER STORE can be generated to fill hungry tummies on the other side of the world.

If you’re interested in talking to your grocery store or have questions, please e-mail me for information!

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:12

Seggy sent the following message regarding Teso and the villages he visited that are experiencing famine and starvation.

“There are about 700 people in each village & there are 5 villages. We need approximately $9,000 for each village.

I wish we had all the food needed at the Goldmine (Nkumba farm)–we would just load it & give it to them.  This is what sowing is all about.  Whoever sows in Teso will reap big.

Can we declare August a month of prayer, fasting & sowing in Teso? Think about it. God bless you.”

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Cor 9:6

As we don’t have the luxury of time, we’re setting out to raise $45,000 as quickly as possible. I talked to Seggy this morning on the phone, and for reasons of economy (transporting the food, buying it in bulk, etc), we need to send the food for all 5 villages at once.

Did you catch what he said about the farm?  If it were up and running, they would simply give the food they have.  We’ve still got about $75,000 left to complete the farm.  That farm looks more and more important every day.

Seggy with Mr. Eugenio who has not eaten in 3 days.

Do not think for one second that they will take this food without also taking the gospel of peace and hope and grace and joy!!  I wish you could have heard Seggy’s excitement on the phone–the big group that will go to deliver this food, to bring HOPE, to bring the gospel.  I suspect that our time to sow will be their time to dance.  Actually, it will be our time to dance, too! (Eccl 3)

This is the grass they are eating for food--at most once a day. Seggy reports it tastes HORRIBLE.

The best thing to do is to look at whatever means we have and see how we can translate that into $$$.

1. What do we have that we can sell?

2. Is there something we were going to spend money on that we can skip and send the money to those who need food, instead?

3. Do we have an emergency fund (savings account)?  This is an emergency.

A bowl of white rice would be a treat

In Isaiah 58, God tells us the fast He chooses is the one in which we share our food with the hungry.  How do we do that from 10,000 miles away?  One way of sharing our food could be to take part of what we would spend on food (grocery money or eating out), and send that.  Instead of whatever normal meals we would eat, we could eat rice instead. White rice is pretty darn cheap! It may be a sacrifice for us, but it’s a luxury right now for them.

It’s time to sow.

By Seggy Hannington

Yesterday at 4am, I left for Teso Sub-region which is badly hit by the looming famine in Africa. The journey took me more than 8 hours by bus, and as I was seated I kept thinking, “what will they think when they see me with my camera and jeans? Will they welcome me? Will they chase me away blaming me that WE have abandoned them? Will they say I am part of the government that said that they are suffering because they are lazy??”

Well, a lot was going on in my head as the bus rolled out to this land. I had a stop over in Mbale which is also a District in eastern Uganda, then traveled to Soroti district. I will not go into the details of travel experiences because the transportation was horrible.

I arrived in Katakwu district and rode on a motorbike for about 80kms to Ngariam Sub-County. It has about 6 villages, and all the villages are hit by famine. As the motor bike rolled in everyone came running to me smiling and welcoming me. The kids came in large numbers and so did the elderly people in the village. They all looked frail and hungry. Their tummies looked very empty and deep in their eyes they seemed to have no hope.

The kids were all over me asking me for food and so were the parents. I explained to them that I was there to see the situation and go back and see what we can do. Most seemed disappointed and I do not blame them; they are right. All they need now is FOOD, not PROMISES.

They cooperated with me and they asked me to take as many photos as possible. Families now take just one “meal” a day, a meal of dried cassava and some kind of grass. Wheat is also prepared and eaten. Many do not even have salt–salt is a luxury so they say. (NOTE: without the sodium in salt, a person becomes delusional and loses consciousness, has seizures and dies.)

They would love to work on the fields, but there are no rains so nothing will come out. They planted food last year but floods destroyed everything; they planted again, but no rains have appeared thus all plants are dying out and causing the famine.

The people most affected are those living with HIV/AIDS, the children, the pregnant mothers, the disabled and the elderly.

I met Mr.Eugenio, who is an old man and lives alone in his grass thatched hut.  He has spent a couple of days without food. He has no kids or anyone to help him. He only has a blanket that he sleeps on.  He has no bed, no utensils, et al. He is in abject poverty. I looked at him and I couldn’t stop thinking the kind of life he is living and how it would be if it were me in his shoes. There are many Eugenios here, and I could not stand hearing all their stories because my heart was being broken.

Electricity and piped water are not anywhere in their dream. All they want is food and water to keep them going.

I would not well bring out a true picture of the situation in words, but I call upon you to see the photos that I have uploaded in my album “Teso Famine.”

ALL IS TOLD, SO WHAT???????????????

Yes, YOU can do something to change this situation. As Christians we are called upon to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. A friend in need is a friend indeed. What kind  of friends do we want to be?????

God bless you lots in all that you are doing for the good of the Kingdom. We have  fundraising that is going on. I am sure it will be successful. I urge you all to PRAY for and ACT on behalf of these people.

If you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday. Isaiah 58:10

Saying sorry without doing anything cannot help. YES, I mean it.  All they need now is FOOD, FOOD, FOOD, FOOD, FOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDD.

This was Seggy’s status post on Facebook last night.  I chatted with him online this morning, and he said he will not be silent about this issue of starvation in eastern Uganda.  He also said, “You know, when a person wakes up in the morning, opens the refrigerator and gets juice and anything else they need or want, they feel that is normal life, not knowing that there are many people out here starving to death.”

Here’s his next Facebook status post:

Starvation is not yet over. Can you do without a meal for just one day and give that money to charity to save the starving people?  You can do it, do not hesitate.

Do you remember this picture from Anne Poulsen’s blog post?  This young girl lives in eastern Uganda–in the Katakwi region.  I’ve NEVER been THIS hungry.

Seggy left this morning at 4:00 a.m. to go to eastern Uganda, where the starvation is the worst.  Forty people have died so far–at least that is the number being reported…it certainly could be more.

We are not abandoning the swap-it project which will establish the farm in Nkumba.  The farm is a much-needed development project so the ministry can continue to reach out to more people, and so orphans currently under the care of Nkumba Ministries can be fed both now and long-term. Hunger is still an issue in Nkumba, which we are working with our friends to end.  Going to eastern Uganda to aid those who are starving is a new relief effort that is also of utmost importance to our Lord and Savior. (Matt 25:35-45).

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Life comes at us fast, right?  I have all these other things lined up to share with you, but they will have to wait.

Today, Seggy’s status post on Facebook was this:

“People are preferring death to starvation, this so much hurts. Ohhhhh, we need prayers and food, too.”

How can I NOT share that? The drought is intense.  The need for food is real.

John wrote the following in an e-mail earlier this week:

We thank you so much for everything you do to ensure that there is food for the needy.  Indeed since the food program started there are many people who have come and given their lives to Christ.  Today in our Nkumba Church on Sunday, if you come more than 20 minutes late, you wont get a place to sit.  We are filled up! It’s so amazing that through the provision of food many have come to faith.

"What a joy...I got a piece of meat!"

Ready to see the kingdom of God expand even more?!  Now is the time to do something “crazy”.  (Although, how crazy is it really to feed starving people?)

Randy Alcorn asks the probing question, “We are to love our neighbors as ourselves.  If we or our children were hungry, would we take something out of our retirement program to feed them? If so, why wouldn’t we consider doing this for our neighbor’s children?”

“What would happen if I took part, most or all of the funds I would otherwise put into retirement and invested them in God’s kingdom?  Financial counselors would tell me that I would be jeopardizing my retirement years.  Might God say I would be enhancing my eternal years?  Will God really fail me if I invest these funds in his kingdom in an honest effort to obey his words in Matthew 6:19-21?”

Whether it be giving out of retirement funds, selling our possessions, or taking up our cross daily and spending less, or all of the above, NOW is an excellent time to love in deed and in truth.

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” -Jim Elliot

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. I John 3:16-18

If you’re on FACEBOOK, you may want to:

• Become Seggy’s friend on Facebook.

• Invite your friends to join the Facebook Remember the Poor group.  Similar messages go out to the Facebook group.

If you read or listen to only one other book apart from the Bible this year, THIS is it.   You won’t want to miss it! 🙂

Click on the image of the book to visit the Crazy Love site.

Crazy Love is also the FREE audio download of the month at ChristianAudio…11 days left to download it for free!

To get a great preview of just who Francis Chan is, watch this short, powerful and funny video that a friend passed along to us! (Thanks Chris!)