It’s not a benevolence program. It’s a life changing opportunity. What am I writing about? Manna Ministry. Here is a story that Vincent sent me about Justine Nangobi and her family that illustrates what Manna Ministry is and what it does. I love it.
Justine Nangobi is a 37 year old mother of 4 children. She came here from the village to stay with her sister in the slum, Banda. She is married and has stayed here for 17 years. She thanks God for the provision of Manna Ministry because when we found her and her family life was very difficult. Her husband’s names are John Kyatesa. He is 47 years old, an engineer and has been out of work for the last 4 years. He, too, is very grateful for the provision of Manna Ministry that has given to his wife.
Since being in Manna, Justine and John been able to save and to start small businesses that are doing well and giving them hope. They have been able to buy a sewing machine to work with to make money. They also buy and sell shoes, gum boots, clothing and plastic items in a small store. They can earn around 20,000 shillings. They save 5,000 and invest the rest into their business. Before Manna they had no hope, but today they have hope. Justine and John are so grateful for the help Manna Ministry has given them and they ask you to continue to pray for their family and business as they continue to work together.
John and Justine have given their lives to Christ. They have been baptized, are studying the Bible Way books and are involved in a house church. They are growing as Disciples of Jesus Christ.
Vincent
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have partnered with us at IMFC in this ministry to the people living in the slums of Kampala, Uganda and the Sudanese refugees living Arua, Uganda for the past 14 years! When this began in August 2004 under a tent in Soweto slum, we didn’t know if Manna Ministry would still exist today. We didn’t know if IMFC would still be working in Uganda. We didn’t even know if IMFC would still be in existence. But here we are in November 2019 and this work, Manna Ministry, has more than tripled in the number of people it works with and now includes Maama Kits and reusable sanitary pad workshops. Plus, it has become a tremendous DiscipleMaking tool for the Lord. Thank you for your prayers and support. You may never know how the Lord has used your support to care for the “Least of these”. Thank you.
One last thing. I want to ask you to pray for something very specific with me. Next week the leadership team from Nairobi, Kenya is traveling to Kampala to learn from Vincent and the Manna Ministry team what is involved in working Manna Ministry. They need to know how it works. How they enroll people. How they train people to save and start small businesses. How they buy the food, bag it and dispense it to the people without creating riots among the poor living in the slums. How they engage the local leaders and community in the ministry. They will be learning the nuts and bolts of Manna Ministry. Why? Because some of the very poor people in the slums of Nairobi have been asking for help and we are praying how we may be able to impact the lives of some of the people living in hopeless situations in the largest slums in the world in Nairobi, Kenya. The Lord is transforming many lives in these slums through the sharing of the Gospel, House Churches and Bible Way books. But, can IMFC do more? Can we help some with their desperate physical state of affairs as we do in Kampala? I don’t know. It was never our plan. But Nairobi was never in our plan either. So, I ask you to pray with me as we begin to pray and investigate the opportunities. We don’t want to say no without seriously investigating the opportunities and praying about it. So, I as you to pray with me and the IMFC Board and people of Nairobi. Pray for wisdom as we move forward in the work the Lord has laid at our feet. Thanks.