Newspaper Page Text
Page 2A - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, March 17, 2021
FAMILIES: In Uganda overcome poverty through Acts of Love ministry
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
This house is in the Katogo Slum in Gaba, which is near Kam
pala, Uganda. The slum is the area which Acts of Love Uganda
focuses its ministry to provide ways for families to become self
sufficient through animal donations and teaching job skills to
local residents. Find more at ActsOfLoveUganda.org.
Above, Chrystal Quintana (left) and Melinda Fowler (right) of Acts of Love Uganda stand with a
group of women who receive goats to milk and raise for their families through the ministry.
Below, Acts of Love Uganda’s Melinda Fowler holds one of the many children the ministry has
helped in the Katogo Slum in Gaba, which is near Kampala, Uganda.
FROM PAGE ONE
“Last year was espe
cially bad because the
waters did not recede as
quickly as they usually do.
All of the flooding makes
malaria very bad there.
Added to that was the
lockdown by the Ugan
dan government to keep
C0V1D-19 out. Schools,
stores, public transporta
tion (which is what almost
everyone uses) and every
thing was shutdown for a
very long period of time.
So kids were at home, but
parents could not work or
do anything to buy food. It
was very hard on every
one. Schools there are just
now opening back.”
Acts of Love gives
donors from all over the
world a chance to change
the lives of families in
the some of the poorest
places on the planet.
“Some of the ways we
help families is to give
them a pair of pigs or
pair of goats and they can
breed them and sell them
or eat them and keep
the production going,”
said Melinda. “We also
give sewing machines to
ladies who took a sewing
class so they could sew
for their own families and
also sew clothes to sell.
We gave one lady some
clothes that had been
donated to us here in
America and she started
her own boutique. She
is now doing well for her
family.
Through the Pay It
Forward program, Acts
of Love helps families in
rural areas of Uganda get
chickens, pigs, goats and
cows. It helps families
add critical nutrients to
their diets by eating the
eggs, the meat produced
by their animals and
drinking milk. In addition
they can supplement
income from animal
reproduction and sales,
which enables families to
send their kids to school,
improve their homes, and
create a brighter future for
their families. In Uganda,
chickens cost $7, pigs are
$140, piglets are $27, preg
nant pigs are $200, goats
are $68, cows are $350,
pregnant cows are $400
and a sewing machine is
$94.
Acts of Love also has
an economic development
option for donors that
provides resources to in
crease the level of income
for families in need, such
as providing resources
for a clothing boutique or
food market.
To make a donation or
find out more, go to Actso-
fLoveUganda.org.
“In 2008,1 took my first
of 15 trips so far to Ugan
da. Even though 1 had
seen so many pictures
and heard so many stories
from people that had gone
on previous trips, 1 was
completely overwhelmed
with what 1 saw, smelled
and experienced. There
was trash everywhere,
but there were also so
many beautiful places
to see. The people there
were truly happy. Even
though they had noth
ing materially, they were
happy people. They knew
that true joy comes from
God and not material
things,” said Melinda. “We
are so spoiled here in
America. We sit here in
our comfortable houses
watching television with
plenty of food, flip a
switch and have electric
ity, air conditioners/heat,
grocery stores, turn on
a faucet and have clean
drinking water, plenty of
clothes and vehicles. 1
found that the huts I saw
on National Geographic
are real. 1 have been in
some of them. Sometimes
a family of six or seven or
even more would live in a
tiny hut, sleeping on a dirt
floor, doing their cook
ing in a pot outside. The
yards are very tiny and a
lot of times just dirt, but
they take such pride in
raking the dirt. My heart
was so heavy for them.
I felt so guilty for what I
take for granted here. 1
absolutely fell in love with
the people there. Every
trip 1 take leaves a little
more of my heart there.
1 think everyone should
take a trip to a third world
country at least once in
their lives. Their outlook
would never be the same.”
In the future, Melinda
and Chrystal hope Acts
of Love will operate a
small store with three or
four classrooms behind it
so ladies will be taught a
trade and be able to sell
their items in the store to
provide their families with
needed income.
“We are not sure how
this will come to pass, but
we know God will take
care of it,” she said.
According to compas-
sion.com, more than half
of Uganda’s population
lives on less than $2 a day.
In Africa, malnutrition
contributes to nearly half
of all deaths in children
under age 5, which is 3
million young lives a year.
Uganda is a landlocked
and fertile country with
many lakes and rivers.
Some 84% of the popula
tion live in rural areas
and rely on subsistence
agriculture. The popula
tion is 39 million, the life
expectancy is 59 years
and around 84 percent
of the population lives in
rural areas.
To donate or find out
more, go to Facebook
Acts of Love Uganda and
instagram acts_of_love_
Uganda, send checks to
Acts of Love Uganda, PO
Box 1030, Zebulon, GA
30295, call 770-584-5992
or email actsoflove
ugandal@gmail.com.
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