Agape Children's Village Update by David Buyi (ACV Manager)
I entered into 2020 with many expectations as a Christian, just like many people around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic was not planned for, but I remembered that all things happen for a reason. Amidst this crisis, my service to the lord has not been hindered, as I wake up every day ready to positively impact the children entrusted to me in this Ministry. I have been in Agape Children’s Village (ACV) for nine (9) months so far, and I must testify that it has been great.
The team on the ground has been so helpful in nurturing the children and taking good care of them like their own biological children. With the help of new House Mothers, the children are always neat and where they stay is always kept tidy. In addition, these mothers have encouraged all the children to participate in agriculture around the home, and I can say these children received this idea positively as they grew maize (corn) and groundnuts which were harvested in July this year. More crops are being grown like maize, groundnuts, carrots, greens, cassava, and tomatoes. All these will be helpful to supplement our budget. This has also helped children to be active since schools no longer operate.
It is now 6 months since the Schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this has not stopped our children from studying. They read and study their books daily, except on weekends. We also hired two teachers to help semi-candidates and candidates (S3’s and S4’s) and the headteacher of Agape Primary School helps tutors our Primary 6 and 7 students. This has helped them to be academically alert until the schools open again.
The month of May was not easy for us as we lost our child, Nagudi Gloria. It was a trying moment for the children and staff on the ground, but with prayers from our sponsors, partners, and well-wishers, we have managed to continue on. Many words were said, but it is God who decided all that must happen to make us even stronger in Him. I would want to state that even though we have been torn to pieces and dragged on the ground by the forces of evil, through prayer and holding onto the truth we are still moving on strongly.
The hygiene and sanitation on the ground have been so greatly improved, and we were blessed with funds to repair inside toilets and bathrooms. The welfare of the children is great which comes with a change in their diet. Now we are feeding the children with a larger and more diverse selection of proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Children are physically doing well and every day they play volleyball and do exercises.
Our resident nurse has done great work in handling the health of the children. I can say that our clinic keeps developing as we have all the medicines, acquired a blood pressure machine, weighing and height machine, and all the testing kits. There are fewer cases of malaria and typhoid as compared to previous years because our nurse keeps encouraging children to sleep under mosquito nets and avoid drinking dirty water.
Spiritually, the lockdown has not hindered us from sharing the word of God. We have a teen fellowship every Tuesday and Thursday at Pastor Martin’s house at 4:00 pm. This was introduced to help these young ones understand how to live in the world as a youth. We also have evening devotions together every day and morning devotions in their respective houses. I will say, our children can now stand out to share the gospel freely without fear. Mothers are doing a lot of teaching the word and counseling of the children, and the social workers as well. In the month of August, our children were blessed by receiving shoes and underwear.
I thank the Lord for the great opportunity, grace, and courage He has given us to see that the ministry still moves on well even during the hard and trying time. God has been so faithful and all is moving on well. The Lord has blessed each one of us beyond explanation since the Corona Virus outbreak. There has not been a single day that we have not seen Him do a miracle in this place. We have been praying and He has been very faithful in each and every area of each person in the home.
I would like in a special way to thank our sponsors, donors, and all the well-wishers out there for standing in for the ministry on this hill. If you were not there, then nothing would be moving on. Special thanks to The Bridge in Palm Springs California, Mama Sandi, the entire AICM team in the USA, and all those who are still standing with us financially and spiritually. As ACV, we truly appreciate you for that and the work is still moving on well.
Also thanks to the staff of AICM Uganda for always being there to support when called for. Let us continue to serve in love as a family in Christ.
By: Buyi David
Manager-Agape Children’s Village