Vicki, a widow from South Sudan who currently lives with her four children in the “Bidi – Bidi” refugee camp in northern Uganda has finally received her long-awaited prosthesis! As we wrote in our previous update, she lost her right arm after an accident, which further aggravated the situation of her family!
After getting Vicki to know, we promised to help her with the prosthesis and buy her a mechanical embroidery machine. When we were returning from Moyo to the capital, Kampala, Vicki traveled with us. A day later, she was already at the doctor’s office at the Hospital. And a few weeks later, she was finally done, and now has a temporary, but artificial arm. Now she can finally work with both arms, to sew and but also support the material with the other.
Vicki loves embroidering patterns for a tablecloth and, until recently, she had to do everything with her left hand. She spends hours on this painstaking and delicate work so that she can sell it at the local market and buy food for herself and her children. At the end of May, we found a mechanical embroidery machine in Kampala and bought it for Vicki. We believe that the machine will help her to provide for her family!
Thank you for not forgetting the orphans and widows!
About 250,000 people live in the Bidi-Bidi refugee camp. This is one of the biggest camps in the world. Life in the camp is hard. Some have a small vegetable garden, and they are trying to grow something to survive. Some make clay bricks, burn them, and then sell them to earn an extra penny.
In the camp is a market where people are trying to sell something in order to buy additional food. Others save money to go to the city. A trip on a private motorcycle costs about $20 and for most, it is impossible to pay! The road from the camp to the city is rocky, there is no asphalt and that’s why it’s hard to get there.
It is especially hard for widows who raise children alone and do not know how to feed them. They are still lacking food, although no one is dying of starvation. Vicki became a widow many years ago. Her husband, a former military man, was found murdered in his own house. She takes care of the children as best she can. After she got in a car accident while sitting on the back of a truck, she hurt her arm so severe that it had to be amputated!
After meeting with Vicki, we promised to help her with the prosthesis and to buy her a mechanical sewing machine. Vicki traveled with us when we returned from Moyo to the capital, Kampala. The next day, she was already seeing a doctor at the Hospital. Before we met her, she was in despair, thinking that she had been abandoned by God, but now, through your participation, God takes special care of her heart! Thank you very much!
A local church in Moyo, Uganda, provided its premises for a family conference. About 40 pastors came with their wives and children, whom they could not leave alone in the camp.
For the pastors, it was the first experience to sit with their wives, ask them questions and answer their questions. I saw how it is not easy for them to step over cultural barriers. The wife, in most African nations, is the property of her husband! She is a thing, a subject … They did not even agree with the thought that they were also created in the image and likeness of God!
When I asked the husbands to take their wives by the hand and look into their eyes, the wives did not dare to raise their eyes. Some looked away, others looked at the floor or at the wall but none of them ever looked in their husbands’ eyes! I asked: “Does culture forbid you to do this?” They replied: “Yes, if we look in our husbands’ eyes, it is a sign of disrespect”.
I had to clarify that there are cultural traditions that have nothing in common with the Gospel. All of us, both men and women, will look into the eyes of our Redeemer. We will meet with God face to face! Are we really entitled to look at God, but not at our husbands?
The head of communication, Edward Dima, once again urged all wives to turn to their husbands and look them straight in the eyes! We heard many thank you prayers and requests to pray for their marriage relationships. The Lord began to heal hearts in this nation and in this country!
Moyo – is a small town in northern Uganda! Once again, we stayed in the Catholic center for guests. On 3-4 May, our group went to the nearby refugee camps. Having arrived in one of the camps, we were delighted that there was more organization, less garbage, there were practically no tarpaulin tents. People live in houses made of clay with thatched roofs, everything is neatly folded and clean in the yard.
The purpose of our trip was to conduct an open-air evangelism in the camp. We put the sound equipment near the market and the local church choir began with the program. Children are among the first to hear the sounds of music and songs and came running to the evangelism. After the sermon by Dr. Salter, a local brother named Joseph, shared his testimony how he found Christ and called for repentance! Many of the local preachers speak loud and are almost shouting but he spoke calm, confident and very sincere.
About fifty people responded to the call to accept Jesus Christ. I thanked Joseph for the testimony, and he said: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. I grew up on the street without parents, but God showed me that He is my father. Therefore, I am not ashamed to speak of Him.” Truly, the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
Dear brothers and sisters, local churches ask us to help them acquire vehicles and equipment in order to hold more such events in all camps. Thank you for your prayers and participation in this ministry!
This is another sad story about a widow named Joyce Epi. She is from Kajo Keji in South Sudan. Many years ago, her husband, Marla Pilipo, died after a long illness. Together they have two boys and one girl! Unfortunately, the children have become addicted to alcohol.
The two babies next to Joyce belong to her daughter, who left them in the care of her. For the past three years, she has been very sick. When she visited the hospital for help, they demanded $100. Since she didn’t have funds for the treatment, she was returned to the refugee camp without receiving any assistance. Due to the illness, she is completely blind now.
Being in this condition she has to care not only for herself but also for her grandchildren. One of the problems is that the food ration she is receiving is not enough for a month. Also, her tent is in a terrible condition and when it rains it is impossible to sleep.
The food that we brought to the camp was a help in time. Joyce shared: “We have already eaten our monthly ration and were just waiting for death. I thank God that He helps in time and does not leave His children.” She thanked from the heart for the cornmeal, salt, soap, and beans. Thank you for your generosity! May God reward you!
Edward Dima, the head of the Union of Baptists of South Sudan, repeatedly asked us to help with the purchase of Bibles in Arabic! South Sudan is the only Christian country where Arabic is spoken. Thanks to a ministry in Israel, we were able to satisfy their request!
In the refugee camps in northern Uganda, getting a Bible in Arabic is not easy. We are glad that people can now study the Word of God in their native language! Thanks to all who pray for the ministry in Uganda!
Ministry in Uganda – President of New Fields Ministries Willi Dick
