In less than 24 hours, on August 21, 2009, Manna Ministry will begin work in the slum Naguru. Naguru is located east of Kampala city center about a 30 minute drive in the district of Nakawa. Its population is about 7000 people. The people in this area were displaced from their homes due to the war in Northern Uganda led by Joseph Kony (Lord’s Resistence Army – LRA). Most children here are orphans since their fathers were either abducted by Kony rebels and or even killed by them!
People here really live in a lot of darkness, hopelessness and fear. They resort to drunkenness, witchcraft, false religions, sorcery, magic, prostitution etc.
Naguru is the main supplier of local curde beer to the whole of Kampala.
Pam and I visited Naguru with Douglas and Joseph while we were in Kampala this summer. The walk from the road down into the community is steep and treacherous. The walkways are narrow and guarded by ditches that carry runoff rainwater, sewage and whatever else is present. As we approached the brewery the smell was overwhelming. A small group of women were working the still. I took a couple of pictures but they did not trust us so I choose to put away the camera.
Many non-profit organizations have visited Naguru, taken pictures of the people, collected their stories, promised them help, then never returned. The people of Naguru know that these groups used the pictures and stories to fund raise in the west, then kept the money. They do not trust outsiders.
IMFC has had to overcome this problem in most of the slums where we work. Pray for the people of Naguru. Pray that they will come to trust us and open their hearts to Jesus as we follow through on our promises to deliver food and friendship to them.
These people have had a rough life. They have seen the worst of humanity. Christ loves them. Pray that we can love them as he does.
