I met a man named Abassi and his wife Rose while visiting the slums of Kampala this past February. Although they had no beds, blankets, or little else to call their own, they were a family with grateful hearts and lovers of Jesus Christ. I truly felt like I had touched the heart of Christ during the moments I shared with them. They lifted my soul and challenged me to be more like them.

During the months following this encounter, I began to pray that God would allow EWT to bless Abassi in some life-changing way. The opportunity came when I told his story to seven Statesville teens who were going on our summer mission trip. They pulled together and spearheading our first ever 5k run/walk, raising $1500 for Abassi, and another $3500 for other families and children in Uganda. 

There are no words to describe the joy on Abassi's face or on our own faces when we arrived at his home in July to inform him that we were about to buy him a "boda" (motor bike). For a man who had been peddling a bike for a dollar a day, he knew this was the dawn of a brand new day. It was the opportunity for him to sufficiently care for his family as he started his own transportation business.

The thrill of the moment continued as we loaded Abassi's family onto our van and headed to the store to make our purchase. Everything was climatic about that day but nothing surpassed the moment when he received the boda and fell to his knees with his hands raised up in thanksgiving to God. Our mission had been accomplished in the most beautiful way.

Abassi's still can't believe what has happened to him as he runs his new transportation business. He keeps his photo book close to him with pictures of all the 5k runners who gave him a new beginning. 

God bless you and have a wonderful day!

Betty Jo McLelland