November 29, 2016
A few times I have made appeals for financial assistance on my blog and facebook page. There's always a notice suggesting that it might be a good idea to contribute to the work of Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry, and we do need your support. However, I want to share some information that I have been receiving from friends in a far away place. I'll retell the situation in my own words because the English usage of the people who have notified me is not necessarily standard English.
East Africa has been receiving less rain than usual for the past several years. There are significant relief efforts pouring into Kenya and Ethiopia. A pastor friend in Uganda has been in contact with me for some time. We talk about our families, our ministries, we get to know something about each other's cultures. He seems intrigued by the fact that we have such radical differences in temperature and daylight. I'm intrigued by the whole equatorial thing.
In the last several weeks my friend has been talking more about the effects of the drought. Crops are failing again. Farming communities don't have effective irrigation systems. It's been hot and dry. The situation has become critical. Not only are people poor, they are hungry and they don't have the resources to bring in food and water. It is becoming deadly. Even if they start having more rain it will take several months for crops to be planted and come to harvest. My friend who never asks for anything but prayer is now asking for help purchasing food and water to bring into the struggling communities. This is a poor country. Americans would call it a $2 a day economy.
Governmental transparency in Uganda does not have a very good reputation. Corruption is apparently a challenge. Yet it looks like we have free and private boots on the ground and can provide some relief to some, reducing the impact of the drought and famine, hopefully helping some people not starve.
I'm planning to send funds in the next day or two. If anybody else would like to join me, I promise that if any contributions are sent earmarked for Ugandan relief, 100% will be sent through. In a $2 a day economy the price of many of the Christmas presents we would buy could feed a family for a month. I hope you'll consider helping in this time of need.
A few times I have made appeals for financial assistance on my blog and facebook page. There's always a notice suggesting that it might be a good idea to contribute to the work of Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry, and we do need your support. However, I want to share some information that I have been receiving from friends in a far away place. I'll retell the situation in my own words because the English usage of the people who have notified me is not necessarily standard English.
East Africa has been receiving less rain than usual for the past several years. There are significant relief efforts pouring into Kenya and Ethiopia. A pastor friend in Uganda has been in contact with me for some time. We talk about our families, our ministries, we get to know something about each other's cultures. He seems intrigued by the fact that we have such radical differences in temperature and daylight. I'm intrigued by the whole equatorial thing.
In the last several weeks my friend has been talking more about the effects of the drought. Crops are failing again. Farming communities don't have effective irrigation systems. It's been hot and dry. The situation has become critical. Not only are people poor, they are hungry and they don't have the resources to bring in food and water. It is becoming deadly. Even if they start having more rain it will take several months for crops to be planted and come to harvest. My friend who never asks for anything but prayer is now asking for help purchasing food and water to bring into the struggling communities. This is a poor country. Americans would call it a $2 a day economy.
Governmental transparency in Uganda does not have a very good reputation. Corruption is apparently a challenge. Yet it looks like we have free and private boots on the ground and can provide some relief to some, reducing the impact of the drought and famine, hopefully helping some people not starve.
I'm planning to send funds in the next day or two. If anybody else would like to join me, I promise that if any contributions are sent earmarked for Ugandan relief, 100% will be sent through. In a $2 a day economy the price of many of the Christmas presents we would buy could feed a family for a month. I hope you'll consider helping in this time of need.
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