(UGANDA) Every time I visit communities in Northern Uganda, I’m encouraged by small adult literacy groups and savings and credit groups that are growing faithfully and changing the lives of families and whole communities. These men and women are bringing hope and life just as the Bible says about the small Mustard seed, growing and becoming “a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and perch in its branches.”

Every time I visit communities in Northern Uganda, I’m encouraged by small adult literacy groups and savings and credit groups that are growing faithfully and changing the lives of families and whole communities. These men and women are bringing hope and life just as the Bible says about the small Mustard seed, growing and becoming “a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and perch in its branches.”

One of these groups, the Abalokweru adult literacy group, started in 2004 and grew from a class of 20 adult learners to a bigger “tree” that is spreading hope and life in the larger community. In 2004, our partner, the Diocese of Lango with support from CRWRC, responded to a request from this community to start an adult literacy class.

“We started learning under a tree,” one participant says. “But our class also became a place we could fellowship and share the word of God each time we meet.” On Sundays, the group members would also talk together as they walked the three kilometers to the nearest church for worship.

“As our number grew, we thought, why don’t we build a church here?” One of the learners donated some land to build the church. That church now has 103 regular worshipers. The church members have mobilized the community as well and established a preschool with 47 children that is run by community members in the church building. “Our children do not have any nearby school and since we know the challenge of growing up without knowing how to read and write, we decided to establish our own school here at the church.”

The adult learners in the Abalokweru literacy group have also established village savings and loan associations that have grown to more than 90 community members who meet every week. Group members save and can then borrow between $20 and $100 (US Dollars) for small scale business development.

Praise:

  • Northern Uganda is having good weather and farmers expect a good harvest in August.

  • The health and safety God has given to me and my family as I travel.

Prayer:

  • Milly has had a consistently low blood count for three months, and she is still undergoing medical tests.

  • Pray for 1,000 families affected and 3,000 children infected by Nodding Disease in Northern Uganda. The children particularly are severely affected and some have died. Pray also that the cause and treatment will be found.

Blessings,
 

Edward Etanu Okiror

Program Consultant
World Renew Uganda