WE ALSO KNOW THAT JESUSCAME THAT WE MAY HAVELIFE,AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.

It is our prayer that the people of Uganda will experiencethis abundant life Christ came to give; the restorative,healing, transforming, perfect love of our Savior. It is ourdesire to share Jesus with these people who are in such greatneed of healing.Uganda has been devastated by the LRA war for around 20years. It is difficult to comprehend the suffering in this area,where more than 1.8 million people (80% of the populationin Northern Uganda) were forced to flee their homes and livein IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps inside thecountry. In these camps it is estimated that 1,000 individualsdied each week. As always, it is the children who suffer themost. With the LRA, that was intensified, as the childrenwere the target. Estimates are that over 90% of the LRAranks are made up of children who are abducted and forcedto serve in the army. An estimated 30,000 to 66,000 childrenhave been abducted throughout the war.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOWMORE STABILITY IN NORTHERNUGANDA,STILL ABOUT AMILLION PEOPLE REMAIN INIDP CAMPS.

Because the war has been going onfor decades, there is great uncertainty for them in returninghome. In most instances basic services such as schools, cleanwater, and health clinics have yet to be restored. Manyparents return to work in the fields but leave their children inthe camps to attend school; leaving them at risk of exploitation and abuse. In many instances the police andjustice systems, which have been crippled by the war, areunable to address high rates of sexual violence or emergingdisputes over land. The people continue to live in fearbecause of the brutal attacks and kidnappings they have

in Uganda he has furthered his purpose through the LRA(Lord’s Resistance Army).Praise the Lord that isn’t theend of the story!

THE WORK OF THE ENEMY IS EVIDENTIN UGANDA.JESUS HIMSELF TOLD USTHAT SATAN COMES TO STEAL,KILL,AND DESTROY—

witnessed. The length of time they have been displaced alonecreates a difficult barrier for them to return. As a result, thesepeople have, for the most part, not been able to plant cropsand hunger is widespread.

VISION BEYOND BORDERSRECENTLY HAD ANOPPORTUNITY TO SENDVEGETABLE SEEDS ANDCLOTHING TO THE PEOPLE OFUGANDA.

Some of the seeds and clothes went to theFamily Empowerment Uganda-Canaan Farm in Rakayatavillage near Masindi. The farm is a self sustaining, Christ-centered haven for displaced persons, widows, families andorphans who have fled the LRA war. We received reports thatthe previous year, when teams were present during the dryseason, the women delivering babies were unable to makebreast milk due to poor nutrition. The babies were dying, andthe young children were suffering from malnutrition.All of the crops had died and they did not have seeds forvegetable gardens. Through the work of missionary teams,they were able to implement a simple bucket drip irrigationsystem and plant vegetable gardens for the 40 family plotsinvolved in the Women’s Empowerment group. They reportedthe gift of seeds was truly a God send! While the teams werethere, they were able to teach the people how to dig andprepare plots, plant, assemble and care for the drip irrigationsystem and compost. As a result these people will have food,even through the dry season!Some of the new families on the farm had just come from thewar area in the north, thus had very torn and dirty clothes orno clothes at all. The clothes VBB supplied went to thesefamilies as well as impoverished children in the nearbyRakayata village. The clothes and seeds were all distributedby the missionaries in the name of Jesus. Through these gifts,team members were able to testify to the love of Jesus Christ.The team was also able to visit several of the IDP camps.Some of the people in these camps are trying to start overafter over 20 years away from their land. A team memberwrote, “It was a privilege to share the love of Jesus with themwhile giving out the clothes, sandals and seeds. They werevery surprised and humble and grateful. It was pure joy to seethe hope in their eyes and faces. They have a little church, butno Bibles. Many are unable to read so we hope to bring somehand-wind tape players next year. The language is Acholi.Thank you for sharing your love…it was a huge blessing.”In addition, we were able to send a large load of clothes andseeds on a container that were given to the people in Entebbe,Uganda and were also sent to Boma, Sudan. While thefighting from the LRA has decreased in Northern Uganda, ithas increased in Southern Sudan, as the armies have movedacross the border. We are assisting in sending a secondcontainer that will be shipped in November and arrive inUganda in January. This container will contain medicalequipment and supplies, as well as books for the children.

THE HOPE OF THE MISSIONARYTEAMS THAT TRAVEL TOUGANDA IS TO HELP THESEPEOPLE REBUILD THEIR LIVESAND COMMUNITIES.

They do not want toremain in the camps, but many do not know what else to do.Children that were mere toddlers when the conflict startedare now 20 years old and do not even understand how tomake a life for themselves; they have known nothing but theIDP camp their entire life. Education is necessary, as well asthe tools and skills to make a living. When the team goesover again in January, they will carry more seed with them.Team members had a chance to visit a hospital in Kalongowhile they were in Uganda. They found very limitedequipment, few supplies, and great need. They put together a“wish list” of equipment needed for the hospital. At thattime, we were collecting medical equipment to send toBurma, where there is also great need. After we collected thesupplies we were informed that the government would notgive approval for these items to go into Burma.With God, whenever one door closes, another door opens. Itwas certainly no coincidence that the items on the “wish list”were the very items we had secured donation of for Burma! Wechecked with the donor of the equipment, and were able totransfer the equipment to be used in Uganda. We have seen theLord’s faithfulness in these ways time after time, yet it neverceases to amaze me to see His perfect plan and see His hand soevident in all this work. To us, it was a great disappointment tosee the refusal of the Burmese government to allow these itemsinto their country, in reality God was showing us that He had aplan; He already knew where these items were needed!