Dear Muzee Jimmy,
On Friday, the 9th of December, we did have a great food distribution at Bwaise 3 Zone here in Kampala and a wonderful time of follow up with the beneficiaries. Many of them being overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, could not wait to be asked to tell their story. They just burst out wanting to tell their testimony to us of how Manna has not only empowered but completely transformed their lives. One of these is a single mother of 7 children. She is 44 years old and living with HIV/AIDS. Her names are Farida Nabukude and she lost her husband to HIV/AIDS. When he died he left behind nothing for the children and her. They always lived hand to mouth and all we could see is that he actually left behind 7 desperate children and one of them has special needs, a victim of cerebral malaria. Her one room house cost 30,000 shillings monthly and come next year it will be 40,000 shillings. Farida says Manna has greatly impacted her life. Here is how.
Spiritually
“I used to be spiritually dead. I was a Muslim and I knew nothing about God. I didn’t care about Jesus yet I wanted spiritual healing. I had a very deep longing in my heart to relate to God so I practiced Islam, but that left me empty!” When Manna came, the Muzungu volunteers shared with me. This was an opportunity for me to hear the Gospel and I indeed believed on Jesus as Lord and Savoir. I am now born again!! I am even member of the house church that meets at Susan Okoli’s mother’s house. I am also doing Bible Way so that I may grow in faith and surely I have been blessed by that. Now I am really getting to know God deeply! Now Jesus means everything to me!!”
Physically
“I am an HIV/AIDS victim and I was getting sicker with each passing day even though I am on ARVs. My doctors would recommend many things including bed rest, which to me was very expensive since I am the soul bread earner. I had to sell sweets in the hot sunshine even when this left me with high fevers and a very bad headache. My blood pressures got to worrying level, for I worried about many things including dying and leaving my children without anything like my late husband did. My CD4 count was getting lower. That means that my immune system was getting weaker each day making me very vulnerable to malaria attacks and other infections. But when Manna came bringing food, I got back my physical strength. My health is better and now I can afford to have a bed rest when the need arises.”
Economically
“I used to sell sweets and heavily relied on loans for capital for my business which only left us indebted month after month. We lived hand to mouth. We had zero savings for what I got daily was used to cover for the huge family needs. This kind of economic life tied us to Bwaise 3. We had no option to go elsewhere even if our current house flooded. I was also tied to sell sweets even if it does not work because of having little capital. But through the food given us, I saved up shillings enough to start another business in Luzira landing site. I sell second hand children’s cloth from which I now save between 7,000-8,000 shillings daily on sales. I still sell sweets as another alternative business. During the 4 months I have been in Manna Ministry, I have been able to save a sum total of 900,000 shillings from all I do in business. I plan to use this to buy a plot of land in Kakiri which will be for our family home. I am now talking to pastor Deo to connect me to honest sellers. You know I got all this saving because of the training and encouragement I got from pastor Deo as he followed up with me. Now I have choice over what business to do and where I should live to do it!”
Socially
“I really did not have a social life. What I mean is Manna has made me have a voice amongst the people that live around me because here when you do not have anything, you cannot even contribute toward weddings of your relatives and friends. You cannot even afford funeral services for your loved ones and friends. Your children stay home for lack of school fees and you are laughing matter. Even during meetings your opinion does not matter. Everyday I was so scared to see or hear my landlord coming around, but now I am so confident to even greet him for I am now very able to make rent payments. I have better people now to relate to. The house church members are a new found better community, since their values are the same with mine. We are all believers in Jesus, growing to serve God.”
Future
“I had no future plans. I didn’t see any purpose in my life. I worried daily and tried here and there to work. I didn’t look forward to any new day. I felt defeated! Now I feel so victorious! I am born again so when I die I know for sure that I will be in heaven with God! We now are planning to buy a piece of property for my children to have when I am all gone! Now, I am even sharing my faith with others in Luzira. Before I did not even try because I did not know what I believed when i was a Muslim. Now through Bible Way and the SOT training I am sharing my faith. I plan to open a house church in the village I came from and will go to. I am able to provide for my house rent increase come next year. I am able to send my children to school and even now food will not be a problem in the future when Manna goes. All this is because you gave us Manna!”
Gratitude
“Look at what the Lord has done through you giving us Manna. My life is not the same again. Life is worth living. May God bless and be with you all for always!”
Dear Muzee, I cannot add any words to what this precious lady said! This testimony is coming from Bwaise 3. Thanks!
Yours and His
Douglas
