For months Rwanda President Paul Kagame has accused Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni of “supporting anti-Rwanda rebels” operating in that country; an accusation Uganda adamantly denies.
As a result of the tension, Rwanda has blocked Ugandan commercial exports en route to sea ports in Kenya, creating a trade embargo and ultimately a financial hardship for Ugandans.
When I first visited Mawanga in 2004, I discovered the importance of water and gained a huge appreciation for the luxury of the kitchen faucet that provided my family with clean drinking water whenever I need it back home in Canada. So many families would have to walk miles to get to their well where they would collect their water and then carry it back home so they could use it for all their daily needs.
I wanted to experience what it was like to have to collect the water needed to bathe, cook, drink and wash clothes with. So I ventured out with a few of the kids with our jerry cans in hand to walk the distance to their well. Once we got there and filled the four jerry cans we needed, I told one of the boys that I wanted to carry one back. He humoured me and made me a banana leaf ring to put on top of my head. He helped me lift that jerry can onto my head and lead the way back to Pastor’s home, laughing at me for most of the way. I remember thinking, “I can’t do this. It’s too far! I am going to drop it.” But something in me kept pushing. I made it back to the house, sopping wet from the water that was leaking out of the jerry can, removed it from my head and proceeded to my room to take a few tylenol as my neck and back were sore from the load.
Jerry Cans are used to bring water from the wells into homes.
During my stay at his home, Pastor Paul took me on some home visits to some of the families in Mawanga. During these home visits, we also ventured to some of the wells that the families used to gain the water they would use for cooking, cleaning, bathing and drinking. The water in these “wells” was not clean and it broke my heart because I knew this was one of the reasons children and adults in Mawanga were falling sick.
The well that Pastor Paul’s family used until 2007.
Fast forward 11 years to 2015 when my husband and my two boys visited Pastor Paul and his family for a few days on our trip back to Uganda. We had the chance to see some of the wells that had been built by ROWAN over the years to help provide clean and safe water for so many people in the village. Did you know ROWAN has helped to build 10 wells to help thousands of people have safe and clean water to use every day? You can read about one of the wells being built here.
Take a moment and think about how you don’t really have to worry about running out of water, or falling sick because your water is full of bacteria and parasites. Aren’t we so lucky to have access to an essential need every day just by turning a tap on our sinks?
You can help ROWAN build another well and continue to provide clean water to so many families in Uganda. Donate to their clean water campaign and give more people a chance to experience access to safe water.
“History has its eyes on you”. I had the privilege of seeing the Broadway musical phenomenon, Hamilton, last year. It is a gripping story of flawed people trying to create a new home, trying to work together, and trying to be free. Alexander Hamilton was born out of wedlock, left by his father, and orphaned as a young teenager when his mother died. That’s just the beginning of the story.
Nice to meet you!
My name is Shelly Casale, and I live in Redmond, Washington. I have worked in Christian education for the past ten years and my husband Paul is a marriage and family therapist. We have two sons, Jake and Jonah. I’d love to tell you how ROWAN came into my family’s life, and what it has to do with Hamilton! My father was a United States Army Chaplain so I lived and moved all over the USA. My dad was gone from home for a long time during both the Korean and Vietnam wars. My parents and I also lived in Tehran, Iran, in 1978-79, during the Iranian Revolution, which is a whole other story! These formative experiences both strengthened and challenged my faith in God. As a parent, I encouraged my kids to engage with the world for Christ but I also wanted them to be safe. While I love God completely, I also want to be in control of things—can anyone relate to that? When our oldest son Jake was at Dartmouth College, he told us there was a ministry called ROWAN, in rural Africa. He had prayed, and felt God clearly leading him to go on a student mission trip there. I was thrilled for him—grateful that he wanted to serve, but honestly a little nervous. That was 2014. We did our research into ROWAN and were amazed. Kelsey and Pastor Paul have created this smart, honest, innovative ministry where lives are changed. Most of their resources go directly to the widows and orphans. We trusted God and prayed. Jake did go to Uganda, we became sponsors, and there are more stories to tell. Which brings me back to the orphan Alexander Hamilton.
Jake Casale in the village!
“History has its eyes on you” is a lyric from the show. God has His loving eyes on us, calling us to be part of His story, and history will tell what we’ve done in His name. God gives us opportunities every day to be strong and courageous for Him, even if we feel weak or unsure. If you’re not already a part of the ROWAN family, I hope you’ll consider joining us. And keep reading here for more stories!
Ugandan government officials are investigating three deaths and over 150 cases of illness resulting from food, provided by the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP).
The food is “Super Cereal”, a porridge processed in Turkey and flown into Uganda a part of a humanitarian aid effort. All such deliveries have been stopped; pending a review.
Via our online messaging system, Auma Tereza recently shared this current snapshot of life in Uganda with her incredible sponsor, Victoria Scribner (translated by the wonderful Sam Kuloba).
“In Uganda we have two seasons: the Wet and The Dry, which is so exiting, l love that […] and right now we are in the Wet season, where [all the people] in the rural communities are busy in their gardens planting food crops like maize-corn, beans, sweet potatoes, soy beans, etc.”
But in Uganda, rain doesn’t mean it’s cold (average daily highs are around 85 degrees)… and rain clouds don’t mean darkness – at least not with solar power.
Several widows recently shared with Pastor Paul about the impact of solar power.
“The rats used to come in at night and […] now with the light, the rats have disappeared.”
“I don’t have anything to give to you, except to dance for you.”
“I used to pay 200 shillings every time I needed fuel for my lamp. Now I can use that money for food for my children.”
Other students and widows have messaged their sponsors about how much healthier they feel since they aren’t breathing harmful fumes from burning kerosene for light. Some have even capitalized on their new solar power charging ports as a small business opportunity by selling access to a charging station.
Our community is safer, brighter, and better for the light. Thank you.
You can’t travel to Uganda without noticing boda bodas. Everywhere you look you will find them.
The busy streets of Kampala are filled with taxis and boda bodas.
They are motorcycle taxis that will weave their way through traffic to get to their destination in the fastest way possible. They are convenient and efficient, though are more costly that using the taxis in Uganda and can be a little dangerous.
Boda bodas waiting on the roadside for customers.
On my first visit to Mawanga, I was told to take the bus from Kampala and get off at Busesa. Pastor Paul told me to find a boda boda on the side of the highway and tell the driver to take me to him. I thought it would be a short ride to Mawanga, but it turned out to be over half an hour. Here I was, sitting on the back of a boda boda, side saddle, carrying my huge backpack and struggling for my life to hold on. This boda driver weaved along the dirt roads and paths, avoiding potholes and puddles, all the while keeping this mzungu from falling off the back. I soon came to realize how talented and knowledgeable these boda drivers actually are. It is actually quite amazing how these boda drivers can maneuver the busy streets and village roads with their loads strapped on. Many times, they aren’t even sitting on the seat while they drive. Their load takes priority
In all my visits to Uganda, I have kept a running list of all the things I have seen on the back of a boda. I am sure that some of you could add to my list with things that maybe you have seen.
Here are a few of the things I have seen over the years: seven bundles of matooke, twelve jerry cans, a windshield, a lawn mower, a father with his four children, another boda, two single bed frames, a dead body wrapped in cloth, a couch, a nursing mother, a live goat, a tractor tire, 40 flats of eggs and a kitchen sink.
A boda with a man holding a boda riding on the back!
Last week one of our older students named Tibita needed a surgery to move his lipoma: a benign tumor over his left eye.
Tibita before surgery
It had been growing there for the past several years, and as you can imagine, fear grew with it. It was incredible news to hear that it was benign and simply needed to be removed. ROWAN acted fast and as of last week, this is Tibita now
Tibita after surgery
We are so thankful to be able to step in and act fast with our local clinic on the scene. Tibita has 3 more years before he completes his diploma in plumbing. He needs one more sponsor to help him reach this goal.
(In case you missed it, catch up on the business details!)
Remember Christmas 2017? Many of you donated goats so that orphans and widows could benefit from goat byproducts on a subsistence level. Soon after, many families wanted to gift the firstborn of their goats BACK to ROWAN!
Then, in 2018, a good friend of ROWAN made a generous donation to kickstart it and cover initial expenses. From building a fence, veterinarian expenses, and hiring a Manager to building a home for him on the property, we are almost ready!
We’re ecstatic about this project as animal husbandry is a very resilient industry in this region. Stay tuned for pictures of newborn goats – also known as kids! Until those cute photos come in, keep scrolling for some visual aid 🙂
There are so many women who make ROWAN what it is – like our nurses, teachers, widows, students, midwives, AIDS advocates, and more…
but today, we want to honor YOU.
This sister duo owns a jewelry company in Singapore – Hadasity – and together, they leverage their profits for good to support five sponsees: Fatuma, Specioza, Ajuma, Janet, and Shanita.
Lindsey is a nurse who enjoys serving on ROWAN’s board alongside her husband, Sean. They have a big family and a powerful international impact behind the scenes! Read more about the Bannons here. Their sponsees include Jonathan, Tapenesi, Sylivia, Mathew, Franco, Denis Sanyu, and Denis Menya.
Cynde and her husband Chris partner with ROWAN to sponsor six vulnerable Ugandans: Prossy, Emmanuel, Janet, Kekulina, Ivan, and Harman. Our co-founder, Kelsey, enjoyed getting to know both Cynde and Chris on a trip to Uganda back in 2008!
Heather is also an entrepreneur – she started a nonprofit, Christian counseling center on her ranch. On top of helping many people locally, Heather and her husband, Tony, proudly sponsor both Janaina and Ibrahim, pictured below.
Rose is Kelsey’s sister-in-law and, together with her husband Ricky, she proudly sponsors Eunice, Ruth, and Caleb. When asked to describe Rose, the first thing that comes to Kelsey’s mind is “crazy generous.”
Together with their families, the five women listed above sponsor 23 orphans and widows! Because of many generous sponsors in the ROWAN network, we currently have 190 orphans and widows sponsored. Can you help us find 10 more big-hearted friends to help us get to 200?!
