Sacrifices
Patrick Woja Peters isn’t distraught about the impact COVID-19 has had on his personal life. As a priest living in a remote region in Northern Uganda, he’s accustomed to making sacrifices.
He wasn’t discouraged when he was left to recover alone from a recent accident due to restrictions preventing friends and family from visiting him. Nor did he lose hope upon learning his wife would be stuck in South Sudan, under lockdown, for a few weeks.
What worries him the most is the spiritual and physical health of his congregation. You see, in addition to his clerical duties, Patrick serves as the health coordinator for 4africa in Yumbe District, a rural region in Northern Uganda.
As a church leader and health worker, members of his community look to him for both spiritual and physical advice.
Because the country is under lockdown, like many regions here in the U.S., Patrick can’t hold church services or visit his church members on personal matters.
However, thanks to an exemption from the government enabling 4africa to continue operating, he’s now able to tend to both the physical and spiritual health of the members of the community he serves as he implements 4africa’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Plan.
4africa’s Rapid Response Plan to COVID-19 in Uganda
Patrick is just one of 4africa’s in-country team members working to implement our COVID-19 Rapid Response Plan, which so far has included:
- The implementation of 130 handwashing stations serving 200,000 people
- The distribution of educational materials sharing vital information on preventative measures seen by more than 50,741 people
- The donation of nearly 12,000 pieces of Personal Protection Equipment to the District Health Office
- Radio broadcasts sharing the hope of Jesus along with important updates and prevention messages to thousands of residents
- Lots and lots of prayer!!!
Stepping Out in Faith
Like you, we had no idea our world would be rocked by the coronavirus. Nor did we budget for a district-wide response to a pandemic in our 2020 plans.
But out of our deep love and concern for those we serve in N. Uganda, and because the local government asked us to take the lead in a district-wide prevention campaign, we launched our COVID-19 Rapid Response Plan in faith, believing that God would bring us partners who are willing to sew into this important mission.
We are making tremendous progress in our Rapid Response Plan to COVID-19 in Northern Uganda, but much work remains to be done!
With your support, we can drastically slow the spread of COVID-19 in Yumbe and save lives! Will you prayerfully consider contributing to our campaign?
Our Prayers for COVID-19
“My sincere prayer to God is that this COVID-19 should come to an end,” Patrick said. “My prayer is that this pandemic would bring us closer to God. Let us cling to God and COVID-19 will pass.”
Please join us as we pray with Patrick for COVID-19 to pass quickly, and for all those affected – in both the U.S. and Uganda – to experience the peace of the Lord and to draw closer to Him during this time.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
~ John 16:33 ~
We were never promised a trouble-free life. But through our faith in Christ, we have been promised the gift of eternal life with our Father. Through this promise, may you experience the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, during this time and always. (Philippians 4:7)
Thank you for your continued prayers, love and support.
While some of us may be feeling uneasy and inconvenienced by our “new normal”, I think we all know just how fortunate we are to live in a place where sinks with soap and free-flowing clean water can be found in virtually every kitchen and bathroom in America.
As you know, hundreds of millions of people around the world don’t have access to free-flowing water, soap, and other basic necessities. This makes them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. This is especially true among the people we serve in Yumbe, a rural region in Northern Uganda that’s home to both Ugandan residents and thousands of South Sudanese refugees. Like you, the people of Yumbe desperately want to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19.
