Afayo Means "He Cares"

Focus on one particular community is an excellent approach to ministry in underdeveloped nations. Needs in such a country are most certainly vast and holistic. And so the focused approach allows for a more complete healing and restoration of that community. Afayo is a ministry that takes just such an approach. They’re primary concern is for the education and livelihood of this community so that the orphans can thrive.

I was recently invited to introduce the Entrepreneurship Series of workshops there and enjoyed the first two sessions with them. Before the teaching ministry began, though I got a tour of the church, the school, and the farm project using the Farming God’s Way method. Though I don’t know much about this farming method – or any farming for that matter – the point seems to be that being more efficient in the way farming is done will produce higher yields. Given that agriculture is such a big part of the economy in Uganda, it makes sense to teach these methods both to adults and in the schools. I believe what Afayo is sewing in these children will most certainly be harvested in their generation to come.

Our first two entrepreneurship sessions together went very well. About 50 people attended and slowly caught on to the fact that they have the ability to do so much more if they accept that they are created in the image of God, have the mind of Christ, and are called to be imitators of God. As always, I loved watching the light bulbs come on and see the change in their overall attitudes as compared to when they first began.

I look forward to following up with them to find out all the ways God has used the teaching to change the way they do life and business.

Alex is a boy magnet. They love him wherever we go!

These girls are practicing Farming God's Way

Alex co-facilitates, he's an excellent teacher!

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A Dolly for Biso from Frank

Biso is Mary’s boy. I met Mary two years ago when she and her mother were trying their best to enjoy a muzungu Christmas meal at the Luckey’s house where all the misfits (including me) gathered for food and fellowship. As part of the Afayo project, the Luckey’s identified Mary as having a very high risk pregnancy in part because of having congenital heart failure. Because of the tender care offered up by this team of missionaries, Mary survived the pregnancy and delivery which resulted in healthy baby Kevin.

Mary was the second wife to her husband, who chose to live with his first wife and their eight children. His responsibilities, as is not uncommon, exceeded his abilities and so Mary and their first son, Biso, stayed with her mother even after baby Kevin came. But just a short time ago, Mary went to be with Jesus leaving Biso and baby Kevin behind. Biso, as you might expect of any 3-year-old, doesn’t quite understand where his mother is or when she’ll come home.

Frank is Judy’s husband. I met Frank and Judy many, many years ago as we all worshipped at New Life Christian Fellowship. Frank was a funny man, a man filled with an abundance of love and compassion. When my own husband died unexpectedly Frank and Judy…sitting just a few chairs down from me…could often be found wrapping their arms around me. Frank died just a few days ago, April 6, and my heart breaks to be so very far away and not be able to wrap my arms around Judy.

Biso’s ongoing state of confusion meant that he needed some arms wrapped around him…and so I gave him the Frank dolly. That boy’s face lit up, although only momentarily, but the children who immediately surrounded him seemed to quickly comprehend. Biso had a new friend to remind him of his maama and of all the people who love him like Jesus does even when his maama isn’t around.

Frank, your love continues on.

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