Paul is the oldest of three children. He looks after his younger sisters while his mother, Agatha, goes to work.
Paul’s family lives in a slum area in Kampala, Uganda. Their home consists of wooden walls and a roof made of plastic sheets. When it rains, the roof leaks, leaving puddles of stagnant water throughout. It’s not a safe place for two little girls to play, but Paul takes his role of looking after them seriously.
It’s a lot of responsibility for a five-year-old.
Agatha knows her children are too little to be left at home alone, but when her husband left her for another woman, she knew she had to do something to provide for her family.
With no education, her employment options were limited. She took a job selling vegetables in the market. Because she works for someone else, she makes very little money.
Members from Gaba Community Church were visiting families in the area and came across Paul and his sisters. Their home is situated in Gaba trading center, a slum area congested with many semi-permanent houses similar to the one where Agatha and her children live.
When they saw the children’s desperate situation, they knew they needed to help. Church members approached Agatha with Food Paks and the hope of the gospel. The Food Paks took care of Agatha’s immediate need to feed her children. Within weeks, the church members could already see an improvement in the children’s physical health.
It is a great opportunity to be part of mercy ministry,” shared Pastor Thomas Kakube. “It has been a wake-up call upon our lives to reach out to the hurting people in our community. I have seen families welcoming us and being receptive to the gospel shared. Many of them have committed their lives to Christ through our weekly fellowships. The Food Paks have simplified the task of sharing the gospel, and many children have been saved from premature death.
Agatha has been very hospitable to church members who have visited her. She freely shared with them what she was going through. She is not only receptive to the gospel message but also seeks counsel and asks for prayer.
It is a blessing for Agatha to be cared for by the church this way, and she does not take it for granted.
I feel loved and treasured. Who am I to be chosen among all people in my community?
Through the church’s regular visits and gospel conversations, Agatha has made a declaration of faith. She knows that God loves her unconditionally, regardless of her background.
Agatha knows that nothing is impossible with God. Because of this knowledge, she believes her life will improve.
Through the church, Agatha is learning work skills that will hopefully allow her to move into a better house and afford to send Paul to school when he is old enough.
As for Paul, he enjoys playing drums and has aspirations of being a pastor one day.
Thanks to the faithfulness of the local church and our donors’ generosity, the course of this family’s life has been changed for the better.
