Go Uganda 2026! Mbarara

We travelled from the Airport to Mbarara city where Building Lives International Ministries is registered. Brian and Mali have a children's home there and have recently taken in several babies. Babies in Uganda are abandoned for multiple, overlapping social and economic reasons, which include extreme poverty and deprivation, disability, unwanted pregnancies and lack of support for young mothers, high orphan rates and family breakdowns, domestic violence and unsafe home environments - the list goes on - and the problem has been rising in recent years.

At the time of visiting, BLIM had 4 babies at home, two have cerebral palsy and one was found in a pit latrine (a hole in the ground where people go to toilet). I took with me hand crocheted blankets and knitted jumpers for these babies which were very gratefully received. Since we returned home, BLIM has taken in a further three babies, including another one rescued from a pit latrine! We praise God that the BLIM family is able to stand in the gap for these precious children.

On a previous visit to Mbarara I met a group of street girls living in the ghetto and distributed sanitary products as well as pans, cups, plates, jerry cans, etc. This time when I went to meet them the girls had relocated from the slum to a house run buy one of the older girls. Though a little safer than the slum, the rent for the house is expensive. The girls have a small craft business making sandals from recycled tyres but this often does not raise enough money to meet their needs. If they can't raise enough money for the rent the girls have to prostitute themselves.

I wanted to encourage the girls and show them that they are loved by God so when we met we read and gave out cards with Scripture written on that shows them how precious they are to God. Each card had a different verse on it and I pray that each girl will continue to be strengthened and encouraged by God's word to them.

Four of the girls living there have babies and three of the girls are HIV positive. One girl, was so ashamed that she wanted to kill herself. These are some of the most vulnerable children I have met. However, thanks to the love and support of my friends here in the UK we were able to take baby clothes and toys and whilst we were there we were able to buy food and other essentials to ease the burden a little. Auntie Jocelyn, who looks after the children at the BLIM children's home, also came with us and spent some time talking to the girls and encouraging them. She is such a blessing and a wonderful friend!

Please pray for us as we consider how we can help these girls in the future to support them out of this situation. It was a delight to be able to spend time with them on two separate occasions, praying and celebrating with them.

I was delighted to be able to visit Holy Spirit Fire Church in Mbarara again on this visit and enjoyed spending time catching up with Pastor Willy. Chris hit it off immediately with Pastor Willy and has an invitation to go back and join them in church planting and preaching!! Watch this space!!

During the Sunday service I was able to share some of my own personal story and testimony to God's blessing through difficult times in my life. I really felt that I wanted to share about the struggles I had with barrenness and to encourage any women going through a similar situation, but wasn't sure how to approach this due to the cultural differences so decided just to tell my own story of how God has blessed me even in this situation and has given me more children than I could ever have imagined!

I needn't have worried because God stepped right in and, moved by the Holy Spirit, Pastor Willy continued from where I left off and spent considerable time encouraging the women in his church. I even found that I was sitting right next to a woman the exact same age as me who too had had no birth children, yet God has blessed her with a similar ministry. God is so amazing!! I was so encouraged and uplifted by the whole experience!!