You can help Every Child Ministries assist Uganda with resettlement of IDP's

After the IDP Camps--What?

Resettlement of IDP's in Uganda -- How Every Child Ministries is helping

Resettlement of internally displaced people in Uganda is underway, thanks to the peace accord following Uganda's long internal war with the "Lord's Resistance Army."  Every Child Ministries is determined to help, because children need the stability that family and community can bring.  In July 2007, ECM partnered with Favor of God Ministries and Gulu Community Bible Church to carry out a short-term medical mission to Limitator Resettlement Area.  We quickly saw that resettlement was no easy cure for Uganda's problems. 

The resettlement area we visited was little more than a camp itself.  There was no water there.  The wells were destroyed in the war.  The people had to walk very long distances to obtain water, so they had not mudded in the walls of their homes.  They had a thatch roof over their heads, but they were basically sleeping in the open, exposed to malaria-carrying mosquitoes and the chilly night air. Virtually every person in the camp was sick. 

We saw a beautiful school the government had built for them.  It was standing empty, since there was no decent housing for teachers and no teachers were willing to brave the roads every day for such a great distance.  Some of the local people were simply using it as a dormitory where they could sleep in a protected place.

It's hard for the people to go "home" when there is no home left.  The entire infrastructure of the northern part of the country has been completely destroyed--even things as basic as availability of water and decent roads.  It's going to take time and a wholehearted effort to change the situation.

2007 Medical Mission to Limitator--a Joint Effort of Every Child Ministries, Favor of God Ministries, and Gulu Community Bible Church

With virtually every person at Limitator Resettlement Area sick, the medical mission was a big job, even though Limitator is a small camp.

Every Child Ministries provided transportation and a First Aid team and supplies for the effort.  Favor of God provided a nurse practitioner, trained assistants, and medications.  Gulu Community Bible Church provided the contacts and a guide who knew the area and the people.  Working together, we got the job done!  Every person received treatment and prayer.  It's part of ECM's mission--showing the love of Jesus in practical ways.

While we were there, there was only one remaining soldier left to guard the camp.  The day after our visit, all the soldiers were withdrawn from the area.  Let's pray that the peace continues!

There is no church in this resettlement area, but the people receive loving attention from Pastor Chris Couris Isabirye, who is planting churches in the area.

ECM's helps resettlement of IDP's

In 2008, Every Child Ministries made medical assistance a greater part of its summer ministry plans.  We are also seeking to sponsor more orphans from the camp so they can begin to attend school and get supplemental nutrition, spiritual and practical guidance. 
We are looking at ways to assist resettlement camps and those still in the camps alike with informal education programs.  By helping now when the need is so desperate, we have an opportunity to influence an entire generation.

Then God also enabled us to help rebuild homes and hygienci latrines for families headed by grandmothers too elderly to do that work, provide oxen to facilitate plowing of fields, and provide two remote villages with wells to provide clean, safe water.  Resettlement is like winding the clock back several hundreds years.  It's not easy, but with your help, the effort is gradually making progress.

Thank you to all who are helping in the resettlement effort!

Every Child Ministries needs some basic medical equipment for our medical assistance programs--stethoscopes, otoscopes, and blood pressure gauges. 

If you can donate one of these items or help us to purchase them, please contact ECM.

Sponsor a Ugandan orphan from an IDP camp

Learn more about life in an IDP camp & ECM's ministry there

Give a donation for resettlement efforts

Get information about serving as a career missionary to Uganda