Bundibugyo Headlines & Campaign 50%

Recent headlines from the 

{fictitious} Bundibugyo Times!

Ebola Outbreak 

The recent Ugandan Ebola outbreak did not affect Bundibugyo, but did originate in the neighboring district of Kibaale. Thankfully, Bundibugyo is separated from Kibaale by the Rwenzori Mt. Range, and most of the flow of traffic heads the opposite direction toward the capital (hence the occurrences in Kampala as well). Our team asks that you pray for those suffering with the infection and for those who have lost loved ones to the terrible illness.


Tribal Conflict

Over the past 4 weeks, there has been tribal conflict in the area.  The king of one tribe moved a shrine into the territory of the other.  Fighting broke out and many friends of the WHM team were affected.  Thankfully there has been peace for the past couple of weeks, but tensions are high and people are worried.  Be praying for all of our friends in Bundi.  It is rumored that President Musevini will be coming to help settle the conflict.

There have also been rumblings of the ADF rebel militia regrouping across the border in the DRC, and another renegade militia threatening to "liberate" towns just across the river.  

Waterline Crisis

Due to progress of the incoming road, Bundibugyo Town has been without water for 6 weeks now. The main waterline to Nyahuka Town was purposely sabotaged during the fighting.  As a result, there is a cholera outbreak. Thankfully, there has not yet been a death in the local health center.  However, there have been several at the district health center in Bundibugyo Town (about 40 min away).  Dr. Josh, the WHM water engineer has been busy working with the lines that are affected by both the road and the vandalization.  Currently, waterflow is restored in our village but not in the main town. Nyahuka continues to grow in population and is beyond the current system's capacity.  With the insecurity across the border, it is possible the population could grow rapidly.   Our team has been seeking ways to partner with the local government. Pray that a District Water Board will soon be running and effective.

Famine

Despite the rich soil and bountiful rainfall, every year food is low in June and July.  This has to do with the cacao season and the government calendar.  Cacao is in its flowering season and so cocoa beans cannot be sold.  The government is at the end of the fiscal year and many salaries have not been paid.  Not may people in the area grow nutritious food.  Typically, people buy beans, porridge, matoke or rice in the market.  Without money, they eat the casava roots and yams that grow on their land.  These have minimal to no nutritional value.  As a result, children on the borderline of malnutrition fall into moderate acute malnutrition.

 With the breakage of the waterline and the change of the rainy season, diarrhea illnesses and malaria abound. Children with moderate malnutrition get sick and fall into severe acute malnutrition.  In the past several weeks a dozen children who are swollen with skin peeling on the verge of starving to death have been admitted to the clinic.  These are the ones that have made it to the door.  Dr. Jessica and Dr. Travis have been busy in the Paediatric ward treating patients. Mattresses have been strewn across the floor for the past month, and at one point they had 63 children in the 27-bed clinic.  Jess and Chrissy restarted the outpatient malnutrition program last week in hopes to catch children before they are on the brink of death.  They spend time educating the parents, sharing the gospel and giving food supplements.

Christ School Bundibugyo 

 CSB is also facing difficulties.  Over $15,000 of school fees have not paid by families this term because of the above problems.  The school is struggling to pay teachers and buy food for the students. The Orphan Scholarship program needs 16 sponsors. Most recently, the team received word that in the next 2 weeks the road being paved through Bundibugyo will arrive to Nyahuka Town and will completely wipe out the waterlines that lead to the school. Without clean water to provide to the 300+ students, the school will be unable to open their doors to begin the school year. Funds are desperately needed to replace these vital pipes in time.

CAMPAIGN 50%

As you can see, the need in Bundibugyo is great. Every day that passes our hearts hunger more to call this place our new home and join the growing team there. We will be the third family on the current team. However, we have a tight timeline of goals to meet if we are going to get there by the end of May 2013. Here is why:

Cultural & Language Training- March 2013

We have presently been going through extensive discipleship training since last March. We have Agricultural & Community Development Training for a week in October. Then, our Cultural & Language Training will begin March 2013 in Colorado. The course we need to take is only offered quarterly. Therefore, if we do not make this session, we will have to wait another 3 months before we are able to take it again.

The course is 5weeks in length, and we are visiting supporters on the road while we travel (add 2-3 weeks). Clearly, by this time (actually by the end of February) we will need to have the vast majority of our support raised so that we will be able to live on monthly support while focusing our energies on raising the small amount left and getting to the field. When we return, there will not be much time left to wrap up loose ends, say our goodbye's, and pack the bags!

January 1, 2013 (Campaign 70%)
This is the date we hope to have 70% of our monthly support raised so that we can know whether it will be feasible to transition into living fully off support salary, and thus be able to make it to Spring Training.

September 30, 2012 (Campaign 50%)
This is the date we hope to have 50% of our monthly support raised in order to stay on track and make it to the 70% by January. We have 7 weeks to gain 27%.

Will you help us get there?

I know it is easy to think "Well, they're not leaving until June...we'll start giving just before they leave." Because of the above-mentioned timeline, we need supporters to start giving now, or at least know how much people plan on giving (and when), so that we will be able to discern our percentages appropriately and make decisions wisely. 

Why is it so helpful for you to start your support this far in advance? 

 Because we also have a large one-time need to get us to the field. To put things in perspective- it cost us over $6,000 just to take our 2wk vision trip last January. Since we are moving our entire life there, the cost is going to be much greater... When people start their monthly giving now, the amount they give monthly goes to fill the "One-Time Need" pot so that that can be steadily growing as we plod along.

Ultimately, things only happen on God's timeline regardless of man's efforts.  

We realize this, and remind ourselves of this daily. Clearly, as has been confirmed on our hearts many times, we believe the Lord's will is for us to be in Bundibugyo serving the people there. Clearly, He will send us there in His perfect timing.

So, thank you for praying. Thank you for encouraging us.And thank you for sacrificially giving so that God might be glorified in our hearts and in the hearts of a people who are hungry for Him.