Impact of COVID-19

In March of this year, the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Uganda and measures were taken to protect the vulnerable population. Many businesses were shut down, schools closed, and public transportation was halted, causing most Ugandans great challenge and a lot of suffering. Food supplies have been limited, and most people eat each day from what they earn at their jobs. For people outside of the cities, dependence of their local gardens became critical. For those living in cities, many depended on family in the country for food or they went back to their villages for the quarantine period.  

At Shepherd’s Gate, we had to make serious adjustments during the early days of the pandemic. When the schools closed in Kasanje, we also lost our house mother, who returned to her family. With no one to care for the children and with transportation to and from the Centre limited, Collins Yawe, the Director of Shepherd’s Gate brought the children to their guardians for care. The guardians live closer to Entebbe and Collins was then able to visit and monitor the care of each child and to also support their families with food from the Centre.  As transportation restrictions eased, Collins was able to drive to Kasanje to get food and take it to each of the families.  Collins was also able to mobilize the neighbors in Kasanje to help protect one another’s crops from those who would take the food from the field. Our Caretaker stayed in Kasanje and helped tend the crops there.  

The schools are scheduled to re-open soon, which is so needed. These children will be behind on their studies, as none of our schools have distance learning. We have hired a new House Mother to care for the children and plan to return the children in Entebbe back to the Children’s Centre as soon as possible.  

It is now permissible to have some outdoor meetings of people and we are cautiously planning our gospel outreach events and medical assessments for children.  We are thankful beyond all measure for your prayers and support during this difficult time and are confident that God will continue to bless His work at Shepherd’s Gate. All we do is in service to our Lord Jesus Christ.

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