Greetings from Called Christians in lovely Uganda. I seem to start every update with “life is never boring here,” or something to that effect, and it is still true this time.
We continue to be in lockdown, although it has been relaxed a bit. Our land borders are still closed to any traffic except cargo trucks and petrol tankers, and the airport is still closed except for one or two special monthly flights and one or two repatriation flights that are coming in. Vehicles, either public or private, are not allowed to drive in any of the districts bordering other countries, except with special permission by the local security officers. We have registered almost 1,100 cases of COVID-19 with only two deaths so far, but it seems that this week the virus is beginning to be discovered in Kampala public. Uganda has, from the beginning, been treating COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and zinc, and the doctors say recovery starts much earlier than with people not taking it. The two people who died were not taking this treatment.
Our compound, as usual, is always busy. Even though the church cannot open for services, and most of our regular ministries are closed right now, we still have much to do. There are two Schools of Ministry operating from this mission (one is for men from the North who speak Acholi), but both have been staying on the compound during lockdown, and the twelve men have been trained as extra security guards, since there is a rash of break-ins and robberies of missionaries in the last three months. In fact, I spent one week staying nights in the hospital with a husband and wife and two of their children who were severely beaten and cut with machetes. I was able to give my time to stay with them because I don’t have children to care for at home, and most of the other missionaries do.
We are slowly, as funds come in, installing extra lighting and security on our compound and in our houses. Our visitor, Deborah, took some great defense training before she came to Uganda, and has been training our night guards in personal combat.
And speaking of our night guards, someone has been bringing a lot of gossip to them about each other that has caused great division and hatred between two of the men. We are working on resolving this, but please pray about this situation. Both men and their families live on our staff compound, and the men work together at night. This is not a good situation for security for them or for us.
Also, this week (and we think it has been going on for about a month), someone on our staff has brought witchcraft into our compound. At first it was water sprinkled across the path in front of a gate, but this week we discovered salt and oil on all our outside doors. This is either someone trying to harm us with witchcraft, or someone trying to protect us with “holy oil and salt,” which is thought to protect from demons, but that is just using witchcraft to counter witchcraft, and is unacceptable in any form. Please pray that we get to the bottom of this and that “whatever [is hidden] in the dark will be [brought out into] the light” (Luke 12:3). We are not afraid; we have God as our protection. But it is more than annoying that someone on our staff (all claim to be believers) would be practicing witchcraft.
We are still feeding many people, especially the people in isolation in the hospital. There are no cafeterias in Ugandan hospitals, and families have to provide food for their own patients; however, patients in isolation who are suspected to have COVID-19 are not allowed to have visitors or attendants, so they have no food. When these patients are discharged, they have no way to get back home. We have been providing these services for these folks and for the patients in the TB wards, who are in nearly the same circumstances. Called Christians has also been providing a great deal of medical help during this season. People have no money because they have not been allowed to work, but they still get sick and need medicine and surgeries.
I was hoping to go on furlough this past April, May, and June, and would have been back from the U.S. already. That didn’t happen for obvious reasons, but I do hope to make it to the States some time in the next few months. I would really like to see everyone! I don’t usually enjoy visiting in the winter, but we have a team coming next year in May, and one in June, and I need to be back in Uganda before then, so I may get a taste of winter for the first time in years.
One of my Ugandan daughters, Namere, is due to give birth to her firstborn any day now. She feels so big, is ready for this baby to come, and I am ready to have another Ugandan grandchild. Please pray all goes well.
The slum, called “Works,” that was behind our compound has been completely demolished, which left about 3,000 homeless. We fed many of them and helped many move or start businesses in other locations, but all of these people were greatly affected. It is much quieter and smells nicer here since they have gone, but my heart goes out to the many people who were displaced.
There is much more to say, but I have rattled on for long enough. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, and know that we are grateful for your financial support. You are partners with us in bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to many, many people in Uganda. We do it through preaching the Word, but also by showing the love of Christ through physical assistance. Thank you for being such a large part of that love.
Prayer requests:
- Protection from COVID and thieves
- Funds for extra security measures, vehicle repairs, and helping people with their food and medical needs
- An end to hatred and division in the compound, especially between our night guards
- Bringing light to the witchcraft situation
- Comfort and a way to make a living for those displaced from “Works”
- A safe delivery for Namere’s baby
God bless you and thank you for everything you do for the Lord.
Beverly and Called Christians