A pastor friend of mine in Uganda has shared some hard stories with me recently. He reminded me of the hardship that many in his nation are enduring. The country of Uganda, along with a number of other countries in the region, has suffered from lower than normal rainfall amounts over the past few years. Farmers have come face to face with yet another crop failure.
In the United States, a crop failure normally doesn't have extremely devastating effects. Many farmers are at least somewhat diversified. They carry insurance. If they have a bad harvest or even no harvest, they will suffer a financial loss. However, our nation is so large and diverse that we can expect that there will be food enough for people's needs. It may be more difficult, but we have an impressive safety net as a nation.
In Uganda, after a few crop failures, many people are looking starvation squarely in the face. They do not have the kind of safety nets which we do. The people are not, as a rule, economically stable enough to purchase imported food. My friend, Pastor Simon Peter Waako, told me that the people are starving. He is telling the truth. If you doubt it, look up "Uganda" and "famine."
On Saturday, November 26, 2016, Pastor Waako was able to distribute several thousand pounds of corn flour. He posted a good handful of pictures of grateful people. The need is still great. Even if the rains come now, it will take several months to produce a harvest, and several years to recover grain stocks and for water tables to recover. If you are able, please consider contributing to food relief. Here's a funding site for contributions.
Meanwhile, we remember that people do not live on bread alone. Please pray for Pastor Waako and for the many other people who labor to bring Christian care and teaching to their people.
In the United States, a crop failure normally doesn't have extremely devastating effects. Many farmers are at least somewhat diversified. They carry insurance. If they have a bad harvest or even no harvest, they will suffer a financial loss. However, our nation is so large and diverse that we can expect that there will be food enough for people's needs. It may be more difficult, but we have an impressive safety net as a nation.
In Uganda, after a few crop failures, many people are looking starvation squarely in the face. They do not have the kind of safety nets which we do. The people are not, as a rule, economically stable enough to purchase imported food. My friend, Pastor Simon Peter Waako, told me that the people are starving. He is telling the truth. If you doubt it, look up "Uganda" and "famine."
On Saturday, November 26, 2016, Pastor Waako was able to distribute several thousand pounds of corn flour. He posted a good handful of pictures of grateful people. The need is still great. Even if the rains come now, it will take several months to produce a harvest, and several years to recover grain stocks and for water tables to recover. If you are able, please consider contributing to food relief. Here's a funding site for contributions.
Meanwhile, we remember that people do not live on bread alone. Please pray for Pastor Waako and for the many other people who labor to bring Christian care and teaching to their people.
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