Click
here for the latest information
on what Crossroads Missions and our
partners are doing to bring relief
to Uganda.
Kathy and I are excited to share with you what
we feel will be a highly effective work in northern
Uganda. Both physical and spiritual needs will
be addressed by some of the most excellent people
we have ever met. That's why we are committed
to focussing our attention on northern Uganda
where, for 35 years, villagers have had to suffer
through wars, rebels, dictators and famine. Click
here to see photos from our visit to Uganda.
100 Huntley Street - Uganda
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Families in the Crossfire Southern Uganda is one of the most beautiful
regions in Africa, rich in agriculture, services
and tourism; however, the north has quite a different
story. Joseph Kone leads a violent rebel group
called the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). In the
past two decades, this group (which claims to
base its principles on the ten commandments) has
murdered over 100,000 villagers, abducted over
20,000 children, and forced more than 2 million
innocent people to flee their homes - causing
them to face starvation while seeking refuge in
congested, disease-ridden camps.
Invitation
Much compassionate care needs to be given to
the children - the many boys and girls who have
been abducted and forced to become child soldiers,
labourers and sex slaves. Thankfully, hundreds
have escaped or been freed, but now are in great
need of counselling, food, education and rehabilitation.
Parents and caregivers need our help as they
strive to restore their lives, families and
village life.
ON THE GROUND PARTNERS:
Alice, Janet and Pastor Charles In Pader and Kitgum, northern Uganda, two
single women lead the only ministries that are
providing Christian counselling. One is the
"New Life Centre" which is led by
Canadian-born Janet Shaver of British Columbia.
Janet's work is a ministry of Canadian Food
for the Hungry International. The other, led
by Ugandan-born Alice Achan, is called "Christian
Counselling Fellowship." These projects
primarily focus on "child mothers,"
girls as young as 13 years old with babies.
These girls have experienced great tragedies
in their young lives. The rebel army attacked
their villages, murdered innocent family members
and friends, raped women, forced boys to become
child soldiers, and abducted girls for use as
labourers and sex slaves.
After escaping or being rescued by the Ugandan
army, many of these girls - along with their
babies - are given directly to Janet or Alice
or they end up in IDP camps (Internally Displaced
Persons) where cramped filthy living conditions,
abuse, and ill health often continue. Janet
and Alice lovingly receive them, offering much-needed
comfort, counselling and help with reintegration
into society.
Pastor Charles Okwir, along with four other
pastors, lead Victory Outreach Ministries with
its 90-plus churches, some of which are located
within IDP camps. The suffering is great in
these camps, with more than 1.6 million Ugandans
overcome with grief. In addition, Pastor Charles
runs a boarding school where 500 of these children
are provided a safe, Christ-centred environment
in which to learn, rest and receive God's love.
Together we can help many of these families
return home again. However, when they arrive
back to their villages, which have been left
abandoned for years, the need for food and clean
water is critical. We can help Pastor Charles
and his suffering people in their plight by
drilling wells and placing into the hands of
Christian leaders tools such as farm tractors
and needed implements that will help put food
in the bellies of many starving children.
ALICE'S STORY As
a young teen, Alice and her family would often
hide in the bush for fear of being killed or
abducted by the LRA. When the family had to
run from home, they left behind their 80-year-old
blind grandmother, believing that the LRA would
leave her alone. However, one time they returned
to find their little grass hut torched and their
loving grandmother burned to death. Alice has
also survived abduction when 100 of her classmates
were taken hostage by the LRA.
Sadly, her cousin and several nieces and nephews
are still, after many years, being held captive
in the bush by the LRA. Along with this grim
reality is the grief that Alice endured after
having 30 family members brutally killed. Just
in the past 3 years alone, 15 of her loved ones
have been murdered.
Despite all this suffering, Alice testifies
of God's healing touch and grace on her life.
In the year 2000, she began her compassionate
work under a tree. Since then, she has helped
over 500 formerly abducted young mothers find
their way to health and back into society. Crossroads
is the first Christian organization to partner
with Alice.
PASTOR CHARLES' STORY Pastor
Charles Okwir of Lira, Uganda, personally lived
through the horrors of Ida Amin's sadistic dictatorship
in the 70s and, for the past 20 years, the atrocities
caused by the LRA and the Karimojong cattle
wrestlers from the northeast. He fully understands
what his people are going through.
Pastor Charles' own brother was beaten to death
for preaching the Gospel, his nephew was killed,
his home was destroyed, and the rest of his
family had to run for their lives on foot. During
their escape, all of his loved ones were separated,
including his wife who gave birth to one of
their six children while alone in the bush.
Pastor Charles himself faced the threat of death
when a gun was placed to his head for preaching
the Gospel. Yet God miraculously intervened,
sparing his life.
TOGETHER WE CAN HELP The
opportunity is to establish food production
and provide counselling and training. We can
help address malnutrition and starvation with
the implementation of modern farming. During
this past year, Victory Outreach Ministries
has successfully plowed 2,000 acres! Praise
God. 1,000 families have each had 2 acres prepared
for seed. This represents approximately 13,000
direct beneficiaries because of compassionate
caring people....you. With continued growth
we hope to help re-establish the economy, which
at its foundation is agriculture.
Also, by making Christian counselling and rehabilitation
available, the children who were abducted are
able to receive the comfort and healing necessary
to move on with their lives. Your compassionate
response will be a means of providing needed
education and clean water as well, to ensure
their survival.
This undertaking will express God's love to
the suffering, proclaiming to them loudly that
they are not forgotten and that we truly care.
You can be a direct answer to prayer.
Examples of need:
Two tractors: $23,000 each
Bore Holes: $4,000
Bore Hole Well Repairs: $500.00
Tool Kit: $30.00 - spade, hoe, sickle, panga
(machete) - for one family
Seed: $40.00 - provides enough seed for two
acres - one family per year
How fulfilling it is to know that, together,
we are helping to give practical support that
will bring healing and restoration to lives,
while also strengthening communities in northern
Uganda for generations to come.
Once again, thank you for helping to meet this
enormous challenge by ministering God's love
and provision to the children and families in
northern Uganda.
Mail
or phone in your donations for Uganda Relief,
or click
here to donate online. Thank you for your
gift.
Malnutrition is rampant.
Displaced mother and baby at IDP camp.
Janet Shaver and Alice Achan provide Christian
counselling.
Ugandan Pastor Charles Okwir and wife Margaret.
1.6 million people living in IDP camps.
The need is great. You can be an answer to prayer.
As
a young teen, Alice and her family would often
hide in the bush for fear of being killed or
abducted by the LRA. When the family had to
run from home, they left behind their 80-year-old
blind grandmother, believing that the LRA would
leave her alone. However, one time they returned
to find their little grass hut torched and their
loving grandmother burned to death. Alice has
also survived abduction when 100 of her classmates
were taken hostage by the LRA.
Pastor
Charles Okwir of Lira, Uganda, personally lived
through the horrors of Ida Amin's sadistic dictatorship
in the 70s and, for the past 20 years, the atrocities
caused by the LRA and the Karimojong cattle
wrestlers from the northeast. He fully understands
what his people are going through.
The
opportunity is to establish food production
and provide counselling and training. We can
help address malnutrition and starvation with
the implementation of modern farming. During
this past year, Victory Outreach Ministries
has successfully plowed 2,000 acres! Praise
God. 1,000 families have each had 2 acres prepared
for seed. This represents approximately 13,000
direct beneficiaries because of compassionate
caring people....you. With continued growth
we hope to help re-establish the economy, which
at its foundation is agriculture.
