Editor’s Note: Kathleen Harwood and her husband Mike are recent transplants from North Carolina and are enjoying exploring the Pacific Northwest. They have one son, Blake, who they love getting to spend time with hiking, traveling, or just being together. Kathleen has done many things in her life, but one of her favorites is teaching women to read and to believe the Bible. She is thankful that she has had opportunities to continue to pursue that passion at UFC. Today Kathleen shares with us about a special ministry in Uganda that is close to her heart.
My husband and I serve on the board of 7 Billion Reasons (7BR), a non-profit organization operating Global Leadership School, a primary school for impoverished youth in the tightly controlled border town of Busia, Uganda. In addition to giving the students a solid education and teaching them how much God loves them, we are maximizing the campus by using it to support and train pastors through conferences and workshops.
During our time on the board, Mike and I have (along with the rest of the board and many volunteers) done everything from purchasing land in Uganda, to designing campus buildings, to fundraising, to handling finances in the US and Uganda, to leading worship, to running pastor conferences, to shopping for a live cow at the outdoor market! It seems that every year brings new challenges and new opportunities to see God at work!
In March, we were excited to finally have our students return to Global Leadership School after a year and half of pandemic shut down. However, things have quickly changed, and Uganda is now experiencing a new wave of COVID-19. Deaths are increasing. Hospitals have begun exceeding their capacity, and Uganda’s president has reinstated severe lockdowns.The schools are closed. The markets are limited in supplies, and residents can’t work, which exacerbates the already dire circumstances in which they live.
Even though Global Leadership School remains temporarily closed, God has allowed members of our team to continue to pray with and to minister to hundreds of impoverished residents. We have been able to purchase supplies and put together care packages of the food items most needed by these families who cannot work or get even basic provisions. UFC has graciously funded care packages that will feed 50 families for the next month.
Please be praying with us for..
— the continued protection and healing of our staff, students, and their families
— the country of Uganda, and specifically for the town of Busia
— God to soften hearts of those that do not know Him and provide our team with opportunities to share the hope of Jesus with them
— wisdom and protection of our leadership team as they assess needs and deliver care packages