Seeds of Hope in Kyangwali

Almost two years ago, we were made aware of great need in a refugee camp in Uganda. The camp is

called Kyangwali and it is located on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to a civil war and tribal unrest, coupled with the second largest ebola outbreak on record, Congolese have been pouring across the border in an effort to stay alive.

There are currently approximately 90,000 people who call Kyangwali home.

Last year we drilled two wells in the camp. At the time, there was no good, clean water source. The wells were received and celebrated by the locals and by the Ugandan government. This year, when we arrived, we noticed a new school was being built by Save the Children. This organization seeks to help children by providing healthcare and education. Generally, they won't build a school unless there is a healthy water source for the kids. When they saw the new well, they immediately began construction.

A few kilometers away, a church building stands. We helped the local congregation acquire the materials needed for this building and they built it. Since then, they have knocked down a wall and expanded the worship center. Eight hundred people attend on a Sunday. They have a team in training to plant a second church in the camp.

When we entered the camp the first time, the need was overwhelming. We drilled a couple wells, installed some latrines, helped provide a building of mud and sticks for church. All of it seemed like a drop in the ocean. How could we really make a difference when the need is so huge?

We are now seeing that God only asked us to be obedient. The need is way bigger than us but He is way bigger than the need. Your acts of obedience, as a church family, are simply seeds of hope. He is turning those seeds into a great harvest.

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. John 4:35