ACF 2010 Missions........Background of Kumi District!!!

Hello family. I know that all 2010 mission team arrived safely in their homes. I just wanted to share with you the Historical background of Kumi District, Ongino sub county, Totolim village where ACF 2010 Summer Missions took place.

Every transition in life has its set of challenges, difficulties, and benefits. Returning home from a mission trip is no exception. Coming home with such a life-changing experience requires more than the usual “Welcome Back” greeting.

KUMI District is located in the eastern part of Uganda. It boarders Bukedea District from the south, Moroto in the east, Soroti and Katakwi in the north while Serere district lies in the western. Ongino Sub County where the mission trip took place is itself located in the eastern part of kumi district. It is mostly occupied by the Iteso tribe who happen to be the descendants of the Karimojong the fearless tribe. The Karimojong are the original people who are the nomadic Nile Hammites in east Africa. They kept on moving from place to place in search of water and green pasture for their livestock. Their movement from the North east lead them to the present day Moroto and got scattered in the places of Soroti, Kumi and else where.

Doctor Hyacinth and Pastor Emmanuel handing over the money to Auruku Minai Primary School administration to help in buying uniforms for 20 students who had no Uniforms. I know this will impact the students after receiving their new uniforms.

Children are very receiptive to prayer. Many of them took Jesus to be their lord and Savior.

One of the people who received medical attention from ACF Medical missions in Ongino village in Kumi.

Dr. Dozie and Sister Grace worked very hard in the pharmarcy department

Oly (ACF USA Young Adult) served Kumi children with exciting bible stories. She was an inspiration to the team. My favourite part was the worship time we had with the children there. Just singing in our language and them singing in theirs was an amazing experience..Oly

The Karimojong got their name because in the process of their movement towards the east from north east (Abisinia) the present day Ethiopia via Lake Rudolf, got tired and the old could no longer walk. Hence (Ekar-imojong). The youth, and those who were still strong continued their journey but just because the old people who did not want them to proceed said, “ go and become graves” now giving them the name Iteso from the word Atesin, meaning graves.

With so many Christian groups going on mission trips around the world, it can be so inspiring to read about how each of us is changing the world in God's name. Here are pictures of how God used people like you to spread his gospel and make a difference in people's lives through ACF.

From the time immemorial the Karimojong have been disturbing Iteso over the cows alleging that all cows belong to them. If they stole the cows, they would say, they are just taking back their cows, which the young Iteso took when the old fail to walk.

The government regimes have come and gone, and found those conflicts and left them unsolved. When the Uganda army of president Dr. Apolo Milton Obote was oust in 1971, by Mr. Amin Dada, many Karimojong went with fire arms. This being a dictatorial regime. This regime had a fearless army. Every body was scared for his or her life. In 1979, the liberation army toppled the Amin’s dictatorial government. Here the Karimojong acquired small guns and cattle stealing became tense. Fire arms escalated cattle rustling. Many Iteso lost their lives, children were left as orphans. Women were rapped, homes destroyed, culture lost, and people lived in fear. There was no hope to live the next day. Malera places and Ongino-Totolim became road pass ways for the rustlers. Homes were all burned down. The productive labour force was all looted that is the bulls.

When Obote came back the second time on the throne, the situation was again restored. But when Tito Okello Lutwa over threw him, the Karimojong again re-armed themselves and as president Museveni rebel commander took over from Tito OKello, the situation again became worse than that of the past. Life became useless and hopeless for the rural poor.
Malera people and Ongino villages were all subjected to flee the land. Those who did not leave the place suffered a lot in the hands of rebels, army and the Karimojong. This kind of situation was coupled with natural disasters, like unreliable rainfall, long droughts, poor harvests, disease, poverty, lack of education for children and people’s lives were in bad critical condition.This then caused the Iteso to form a rebel movement to fight the government with the hope to recover the lost glory.

Security was not there for people’s property and lives. This latter war took place from 1986 to 1992. I would say that the places that ACF U.S Inc. has implemented its mission activities are deliberately chosen to help the most vulnerable poor restore their hope of life through gospel outreach, medical outreach, child sponsorship and household economic empowerment.

2010 Mission Summer Trip

Brother Ike Emmanuel ACF Missions Director standing in a crowd of students at Auruku Minai Primary school where ACF sponsors 10 pupils under ACF education sponsorship program.

Mr. Okodel and his Family after receiving medication from our mission doctors.

Dr. Dozie Ezenekwe preparing the Pharmacy before work.

We Are Extremely Blessed

       Traveling to one of the poorest countries in the world is sure to open your eyes. Yes, I knew before I left that even poor Americans are extremely wealthy and blessed compared to the rest of the world. Yes, I had read about living conditions in Uganda and other third-world countries. But until you go and see it for yourself, you can’t truly comprehend just how blessed we really are. I still don’t fully understand it because I was only there for a little over a week. Oluomachi

 

Chi Chi registering one of the patients to be able to see the doctor.

Other people on our team cared for the sick, cleaned their wounds, and put on fresh bandages. They cared for people who had no advocates. They tried their hardest to provide the best medical care they could with the limited skills and supplies they had. The work they did was great, but who will do the work tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Next year?

Obella is one of the students who got skin medication. His skin looked Hollible you can clearly see.

ACF missions give you a chance to learn a little about life in other countries and cultures. They’re an opportunity for you to learn how blessed you truly are. They will help you become more aware of other people’s struggles. And I pray they’ll move you to compassion and generosity. But usually, you did not make a huge difference in the community. You were not an enormous blessing to the people. They were a blessing to you, and they made a difference in your life.

Just wanted to post some pictures of ACF 2010 Missions in Kumi. Most of our team were transported by our mission bus to visit the Highland. When we got to there, we ministered to the local people health and spiritual needs. Afterwards, about 120 gave their lives to jesus.

Angella Mwesigwa shaiving child's hair during our missions in Kumi. Lots of children there suffer from different skin diseases. Alot has to be done to reach these un-reached people of Toto-Olem Island.

Mrs. Okot is excited after receiving Alcer and cough medication. She had taken about four years without seeing a doctor for consultation and medication.

One of the old people who turned up for our medical missions in Toto-Olem Island.

As simple as shoes.......................

Orphans own nothing.

Not even the clothes on their backs. Everything is shared. It is all community property. Millions of children are living  with little hope for the future. These children are innocent victims. Each child has a devastating story to tell. In all of the places that we serve, they suffer daily. They have little chance to grow up and join normal society and even less of a chance to hear about the love of Jesus.
But their needs do not change, and one thing they need are shoes.
Shoes are personal - they are special to their owner. And the gift of such an item, even as simple as shoes, can do much for an orphan child.

There are many ways ACF Uganda makes it possible for you to get involved, because there are so many ACF Sponsored children in need of your compassion and generosity.  Some of our sponsored children need shoes so as to avoid the foot disease that are rampant in this region.

Above is Kedi and her Mum. This is one of ACF adopted families in Kumi.

The ACF Uganda Blog is dedicated to give you the latest news about our organization, events, volunteers and children we help.

One hour of Dance this August. Don't miss!!!!!

In traditional Africa, music is an integral part of life and is linked with the worldview of the society in which it is produced. It has social, spiritual, and ceremonial functions as well as some purely recreational purposes. Traditional art forms, including music, are rooted in mythology, legends, and folklore. Dancing is often an important part of the spiritual aspect of music in Africa and at ACF UGANDA.

Enjoy the pictures of our Music & Dance training.

Percussion instruments are the most popular instrument in African societies. Rattles, friction sticks, bells, clappers, and cymbals are popular. Many groups also use the sansa and xylophones. Numerous types of drums are also used. Various wind instruments are made out of tusks, horns, conch shells, wood or gourds. Styles of vocal music vary from area to area. This is due partly to the different languages spoken in different areas. Most African languages are tonal languages which are reflected in the singing.


Join us this August for a treat of African music and Dance dubbed "ONE HOUR OF DANCE" all put together by ACF Uganda members. Watch this space for Date, Venue and time of the event. We shall take you to the EAST, WEST, NOTHERN and end with SOUTHERN AFRICA. Don't miss!!!!!!!

With Passion for Christ and Compassion for the Community!!!!!

At ACF today, it was a nice experience as we worked alongside the local people to clean our city Lungujja. With the charity race on the 27^th - 03 – 2010 that not only helped us to establish our selves in ithe area, it also helped in a way of reaching to the local people with the love of Jesus and praying for our country and Africa at large. People call us “God sent People,”  we took a full five hours today to clean the area of Kintunzi town (near the ACF offices) to show how ACF is part of the local community.

One of the former presidents of our lovely country Uganda said that “ If you want to have a good and developing nation, educate the people, help the people live a disease free life and definitely the nation will develop.” These words, coupled with the theme of ACF of BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR AFRICANS ONE PERSON AT A TIME, we had a day off to clean the town near our offices so that the people around us can live a health life thus fostering development in the area as a the major target for ACF Uganda.

 We are reaching out to many people in different ways. As it was in the days of Jesus Christ that the gospel was preached first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles so is ACF, first with the area of our roots and then to other areas of Uganda. This has attracted many people of the area where the we did our community work and this has give us the courage to plan and do many more community reach projects so as to help other people who are in need of our services.    

Thank you all for your support. May the living God richly bless you.

ACF community work on 17th.April.2010

Folks join us as we clean up our city on 17th.April.2010.

The Kampala district is composed of a good number of slums. Many people in the district live in slums like Katanga, Bwaise, Kalerwe, Kisenyi, Kivvulu, among others. Many “good and bad” Ugandans leave villages for greener pastures in cities. Yet in cities like Kampala people can find cheaper and affordable accommodation mainly in the slums. As a good neighbor to one of those popular places, I have been forced by their current state to jot down some of the pains such people account as part of their regular experiences.

Congestion is unavoidable in Kampala slums; shanty houses are too many and extremely close to one another. Yet most of these houses are rented out to people. Many people can afford renting only a room. The father, mother and children may occupy a room, which may also serve as the dinning, storeroom, bedroom, among other functions. Due to the large numbers in the room, some families force some of their children to sleep under the parents bed yet in more descent homes, a simple curtain separates the “master bedroom” from the children’s, which also doubles as a dinning room. The sourness or sweetness of the night is enjoyed by all the occupants of the room.

Moreover, congestion in the slums would not become such a menace if the buildings were descent and if such places had better infrastructure. However, to complicate the situation, the buildings and other infrastructures are otherwise. Most of the buildings in Kampala slums like Kivvulu are on get set just waiting for the go whistle yet some important facilities like toilets are scarce. Due to the scarcity of toilets, many people do “ease” themselves in polythene bags which are then thrown in nearby paths and water streams. The drainage system in such places is extremely substandard yet gullies dominate most of the slum roads.

The excessive rains which are currently experienced in most parts of Uganda have aggravated the situation in slums. Houses have been destroyed by floods, people have lost property and diseases like cholera are on rampage. Imagine a situation whereby somebody wakes up only to find his/her bed surrounded by dirty water as brown as “tonto” and most of the household items floating on the dirty and highly contaminated water. Water in the streams and other places is also stagnant, thereby providing ground for the rapid multiplication of mosquitoes, which makes the people more vulnerable to malaria.

More so, many children and adults move about bare footed in such a dirty environment. Children also find stagnant waters as good playgrounds. Half nakedness is so common amongst slum children because of the “itching poverty” yet hygiene and sanitation are also not a priority to many people since a good number of them still use unboiled water and put on dirty clothes among other things. Even in the local restaurants, sanitation is a problem.
Rats, bed bugs and cockroaches are recognizable family members in many homes and dogs patrol the whole slum all night in search for lovers and left overs.
Most people eat hardly enough food because of poverty. Most families enjoy only one meal a day and a balanced diet is still a dream to many. Not only does this affect slum people but also a good number of families in other parts of the country.

ACF 2010 RACE IN PICTURES

I liked the ACF 2010 Charity Race. ACF Training for our 2010 Charity walk was superb. Creativity invested into the whole thing left our participants wanting more, rather than wanting it to end quickly. This is important because our people are more open to learning new ideas when they’re having a good time. Grace Muwanguzi

You don't have to go national to help charities fund their cause. Even small, locally organized walks, runs, and biking tours raise important funds for research and support. A big thank you to those of you who participated in our 2010 charity Race.

Henry approaching the finishing line of the race.

Charity walk/runs and bike events play a major part in the fundraising efforts of charities around the world. Besides being good for you, running, walking, and biking can now be good for others. Join us in the fight against health issues, cancer, poverty, and abuse by participating in a run/walk or bike event near you.

Some of the ACF Team Members during the ACF 2010 Charity Race

Not only is walking good for your health, it's good for the health of others in need. Get more ACF 2010 Charity Race pictures and stories on facebook.