I was never like the other kids growing up. In High School my friends wanted to be teachers, ranchers, dentists, counselors, and I wanted to go serve God in Africa- exciting, right? Well at that time (1994), it sounded absurd. No one, including my family, knew how to encourage that passion and perhaps concerned for my future!

But one winter night while at high school church camp I felt the Lord’s tangible presence and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  Amid my tears and prayers, I was stopped by the audible voice of God.  I didn’t know God could speak that way. There was no doubt it was Him. He told me two things: “I love you”, and the word “Africa”. As wild as that sounded at fifteen, I held onto that promise. It wasn’t until 2002, 8 years later, that it came to pass. Nowadays I can’t hold onto a promise of God more than 5 minutes without the temptation of doubt and fear creeping in.  I remember how I cherished that promise like a secret between best friends, and when I flew across the globe to Uganda, I was not alone.

God taught me early on how to dream big. (Him and later Bob Goff!). With Holy Spirit as my guide, He introduced me to a village community that understood His miraculous ways and needed a storyteller. I saw firsthand accounts of suffering and pain. I wept with mothers who had lost their babies. I held the hands of hundreds of malnourished children. I witnessed droughts, floods, disease and death. But I also witnessed light that pierced the darkness through local believers who were bringing hope to the hopeless. I’ve never met such mighty men and women of faith. Together with their vision and mission, ROWAN was established to love and serve widows and orphans affected by AIDs.  If you have ever been somewhere or met someone where your heart felt like it was leaping out of your chest with joy, you know how I felt. Maybe God knew that about me all along.

In short, it’s been a 22-year journey with ROWAN (Rural Orphans and Widows AIDs Network). Did I know how to start a nonprofit? No. Create a Strategic Plan? Heck no. Fundraise? Never. And yet in each phase, when I wanted to throw in the towel yet again, I was reminded of the promise in 1994. I can’t tell you how often I sink back into that chapel pew and envision that night; the Lord’s loving presence. Suddenly everything around me fades and I find the peace that began the journey. I find my voice in His voice. And there I find hope for the widows. The orphans. For me.

So, some other big events happened in my life since then. While I was traveling across the globe, I met the man of me dreams, got married, moved to a small town in the mountains of Colorado, had a beautiful baby girl in 2016, and became passionately involved in our local community. So if someone asked me, “How are you able to navigate working with ROWAN full time while involved in all these things?” My honest answer would be, “One day at a time!” There have been many months where I easily became overwhelmed and believed the lie that I was a failure. I needed to be fundraising more for ROWAN. I needed to be doing more homeschool activities for my daughter. I need to be making healthier meals. I need to work 3 other jobs for side income. I could be “doing” more…

But when I get quiet, truly quiet in my mind, I remember His promise.

Not just the Africa part, but the “I love you” part. He didn’t say He loved what I can do for Him. He didn’t say He loved what I could achieve for Him. He just loves me, as I am.

And there are hundreds of promises of God to you personally in scripture. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. He will never leave you. He will always be there with you. He will never fail you. Never.

 I got a call in March of 2022 that an international mining company was entering our villages in Uganda to displace and destroy ROWAN plus up to 2 million lives. 2 million.  I became numb to the world around me. I remember getting in my car, driving in circles, and crying out, “WHY LORD? This feels too hard. I don’t know what to do.” I didn’t hear anything audible, but I was reminded yet again of His promise. He not only loved me, but He loved the people in Uganda more than I ever could, and He never fails them. I took a deep breath, and muttered, “Ok Jesus. I am all in. Show us what to do.”  And as darkness tried to create despair yet again, Jesus was right there. He spoke to me 30 years ago so He would be glorified and do miraculous works through His children today.

Friends, leaning on His promises is not just a far-off concept for me; they carry me through my days and quiet the lies that masquerade in my mind. His promises to you are binding; a forever abiding covenant that can never be broken. Our relationship begins with His promises, and all He asks of us is to trust His promises are true. May 2024 begin and end in His promises. 

As of today, Ionic Rare Earth has received approval of the Surface Rights agreement with the Uganda Government. This agreement must be understood and signed by the land owner. This document, once signed, allows the mining company to have access to the land for mining purposes. The owner has no future rights of that land. All ownership is relinquished once it is signed. What are they Actually agreeing to?   

ROWAN is working with our legal team to execute a comprehensive empowerment plan that will educate all the people on their land rights, what all is included in the Surface Rights Agreement, and empower them to make their best decisions as their representatives. This will include face to face weekly meetings from now through December, radio talk shows, involving high level leaders in government with the people, and ensuring every person knows their rights as land owners. 

ROWAN is purposefully not getting loud and active outside Uganda, because we know and believe that the strongest voice in this fight is the voice of the people. We give everything we can to empower them to speak up for their lives, land and freedom. 

Will it be easy?    Absolutely not.

Do we know the outcome will be best for our people?   No we don’t. 

Will we have to be displaced and lose all of our land?   We don’t know.

But what we DO know, is that God is with us. And He is going to protect His people. And we as an organization Dare to Hope that our God is able. Standing with ROWAN is standing with every widow, no matter what, until the end.  

What do we need? Join our prayer team. Email info@loverowan.com and ask to be added to prayer team. Weekly emails sent out on how to best pray for this threat.

Visit Here to learn more with photos and footage

Every Single widow and orphan we serve has a sponsor! 

Its how we get kids in school and make sure they’ve had enough to eat and be able to learn. 

It’s how we empower widows out of poverty, by giving them a hand up as they learn a trade or open a business with teaching, support and guidance from our entrepreneurship program.

It’s how we are able to respond quickly in emergencies, whether those are medical, home-related, or anything else.

This summer, we asked you- our community of supporters and prayer warriors- to consider supporting an orphan or widow through monthly sponsorship. We are blown away by the love and support we’ve received to reach our goal, and now…

Every Single Widow and Orphan We Serve has a Sponsor! Pray with us as our staff work on growing our sponsorship program! 

Remember, every widow and orphan feel the full benefit of sponsorship from 2 sponsors- help us fully sponsor them today! 

A life well-lived

In a country with an average life expectancy of 63-years, we are so thankful to have known and loved Ajuma all the way up to the beautiful age of 80.

She passed away last month in her home town of Nakafunyu Village, located in the Bugiri District of Eastern Uganda.

At the time of her passing, she had two loving sponsors who supported her all the way to the end.

Although heart failure was the immediate cause of her death, the long term cause was her battle with HIV/Aids.

ROWAN was able to supply her with anti-retroviral treatment (the standard for HIV treatment), and we were heartbroken to find out she had become terminally ill. She received excellent palliative care in the days leading up to her last breath. The medical workers had done their best  in managing her condition although their efforts ended in vain. Ajuma passed away in her family home, surrounded by loved ones:  5 adult children (2 girls and 3 boys).

They were devastated to lose their mother, an incredible woman and huge part of our community. Uganda-based ROWAN staff said,

“Ajuma will be remembered as a faithful woman who loved the Lord. She should be an inspiration and legacy for those whom she loved and related with.”

Her funeral was filled with friends, family, mourners, and ROWAN staff who contributed to the food to share with everyone as they poured out their memories, tears, and stories.

As we at ROWAN mourn the loss of our dear friend and jajja (grandma), we celebrate the time we had with her. It was a joy to help her through her medical needs and spreading hope in the name of Jesus! Thank you especially to Ajuma’s sponsors, for your love and support for her. You loved her tangibly on the ground, providing real care and support. You have been so committed and she was thankful for you every day.

KELSEY’S BIRTHDAY WISH

As ROWAN Co-founder Kelsey Hargadine’s 40th birthday approaches, she’s spent some time reflecting on what she wants her birthday to be about this year.

It would be her dream come true to see 40 new sponsors join the ROWAN family —  a family of people making a difference from where they’re at with what they’ve got.

There are so many widows & orphans needing a sponsor, now more than ever. When you sponsor an orphan in Uganda, you provide for them 6 essential ways that no person should go without.

Look through our sponsorship page!

Whose story stands out to you?

Whose sweet smile gets stuck in your heart and mind?

Who will you help?

And who can you invite to join you in making a difference in this world?

The children were home the first week of June so we organized a holiday program with food, dancing, health checks, and FUN!

The boy with two plates of rice said “I can’t remember the last time I had rice.” Well, we made sure he got two helpings!

Rahim is a 12-year-old orphan who has 7 siblings and 3 relatives making 12 in the household. All being raised by his mother who works to feed them and take care of other basic needs by working as a laborer in other’s gardens. They live in a house with a leaky roof and weak walls. His mother does not always make enough for food and he goes to school hungry and tired. He wants to attend school and they do not always have enough for the school fees. Yet in his own words, this is his hope, “But all my trust is in Lord who made me and I keep comforting myself to be strong so that I can study hard for a successful future such that I can get a good job to support my family.”

A sponsorship by you will change this young boy’s life.

To sponsor, click below!

Zaina is a 13-year-old orphan in a family of 10 being raised by a struggling mother who works their own garden before going out to find work in other gardens to provide money for the family. She gets little money for the work, so Zaina goes to school hungry, which she says leaves her stressed and dozing in school, making learning hard. When they cannot buy new books for school she finds it hard to stay motivated in her learning.  Her favorite foods are potatoes and beans; her favorite color, “I love white because it resembles milk!”

When their home became a hazard, ROWAN stepped in to build them a new one. Zaina wants you to know that she is happy about the new house.

Let’s help support Zaina when her mother is unable to!

Hello, I am Annette Nelson and I am excited to be a part of the ROWAN family. Orphans and Widows have always been on my heart and I am glad to be able to help in my way. I have been hired to do some of the office work for Kelsey to free her up to promote ROWAN’s work. So you may hear from me from time to time. I look forward to getting to know the other members of this family and helping minister to others. If you need anything reach out to me atadmin@loverowan.com