Uganda

We sponsor a branch of the Bank for the Poorest in Lira, Uganda. Among the activities that the Bank supports are Bee keeping, honey management, tree planting and horticulture, home management and nutrition, HIV/AIDS training, a fish farming project, brick making and there is bakery project in progress.

The project is led by Pastors George and Jane Purkweri.  Here is the latest update from Pastor George:

"I hope you had some rest and a wonderful Christmas this year.  I am just happy that you are with me both in prayers and financial support.

Mark you all our wishes have successfully come true even more beyond our expectation. God graced the celebration of the birth of His son Jesus as we celebrated this years Christmas with the poorest people in Lira. This time it was unexpectedly wonderful.

We had 300 poor people (these are the lame, the blind, lepers, people with deformity, swollen bodies, people with mental cases, paralyzed, deaf, people with Epilepsy, dump people, HIV/AID victims widows, orphans etc.)

By God’s grace some friends offered me 5 vehicles to transport these poor people from the Internally displaced amps to my home where we had the party on the 22nd Dec 2005 and then they transported them back to the camp free of charge after the party.

I had bought a very healthy, nice looking big bull, which I slaughtered for them and it, was such a surprise to all the community as they could see such a unique expression of God’s true love for his people through what was happening to the lowly people in our community. The catholic Journalist said ‘this is a true religion’.

It was more of a surprise even to the civic leaders and a lesson to the rich who have but are mean with their riches, and a great challenge to the religious leaders in Lira.  As a result, on Christmas day one of the leaders of a born again Church in Lira went to the camps and collected 150 orphans from 5 different Internally Displaced camps and bless them with scholastic materials (books and pens) a bar of washing soap and one plate each.

This is wonderful for we are about to set the culture of caring for the destitute in Uganda through our examples. We have never though something like this can happen to the disabled people,  ‘one of my neighbours commented’.

We had the Chief guest of the day the blind man who made the party so exciting and lively. After him cutting the Christmas cake which we made for the poor people together with other disabled  people, we gave them food and coke to drink and blessing them with a blanket and one bar of washing soaps each.

These people went back praising God for His love which is beyond boundaries and the whole town was surprised to see the poor people rejoicing and praising God in different vehicles.

They sung a song to bless me saying long live Pastor George  Purkweri and his family and long live all his friends  for such loving us.

I have recorded these both in Videotape and photos, which I hope when you come, you shall have time to watch.

In summary the party was so unique, wonderful and left a lot of impact both morally and socially the people of Lira. I have loved it and my soul is at such at peace for I have touch some few untouchable people in my community by the Grace of God and through your prayers, moral and financial support. Thanks for putting this burden and vision in your heart which has turned to be a great blessing to my Nation Uganda.

Thanks to our God, Thanks to you Les and the family, Thanks to our supporters. Thanks be to my wife Jane for supporting this great vision. May God unceasing love and blessing be with all of you even as you get to the new year 2006.

I need your prayers for I am bit exhausted in the mind and body yet I have to go for a crusade tomorrow 28th to 31st Dec 2005  in Apac where I shall be speaking in the seminar and crusade. God bless you. More report shall be sent. Thanks yours always forward in Christ

Pastor George Purkweri ,
Lira, Uganda.