October 2011:
I (Mike Rutter) met an incredible woman today. Her name is Atala Tericania. She is a handicapped widow whose husband died in 1990, but she is an amazing example of God's love and faithfulness. Atala has been unable to walk for a number of years, but because she has been an active member of her church, Atala and her family of 4 children and 1 orphan have been taken care of by well-wishers in her church. Even with this support, her life has been very hard because the church members themselves are very poor.
Two years ago, the members of her church thought so much of Atala they gave her access to a 50,000 Ugandian shilling ($20 USD) loan, even though she had no work history and we unable to walk. Atala took this money and started a small resale business along the main dirt road. She would buy gasoline, flour, beans, and ground nuts in bulk, then resell them in smaller quantities and capture the profit. It was a small business, but she had a good location and many people in the town knew her. Her business did well and she was able to repay the loan and expand her business. Because of her faithfulness in repayment, she was again given a loan this year.
Two days ago, Sept 21, Atala's business (which was also her home) burned down. She was cooking dinner for her family when one of the gasoline cans from her business fell over and started her house's roof on fire. She crawled out, but her house and many of her belongings were destroyed. Members of her church found her a temporary home down the road a bit, and I met her sitting next to her burned down house selling flour, beans and groundnuts only 2 days after her house burned down.
I am so proud of Atala, her church, and her incredible will to persevere. I would like the Bright Hope family to come alongside of her and give her a new brick house with four rooms. Two rooms in the front, one to run her business, and the other she can rent for additional income. Her family will live in the back two rooms. The house is located in such a great location in the town it will be a awesome testimony of God's love for the poorest of the poor. I would also like to get her a wheelchair – her current wheel chair was received 4 years ago and is in bad shape.
Please consider a gift to help Atala and her family. The Rutter family is starting the giving with a $100 gift. Any gifts in excess of the estimated $5,000 required for Atala will be used to support other microloan recipients in the area where Atala lives.
February 2011:
Every project has its own set of ups and downs. But common to all success is a determination to move forward. Overall, the families involved in the Apac Micro Loan Project had a very successful and even transformational year. A wide range of businesses were created. Families took their loans ranging from $80-$250 and planted crops, raised pigs, sold porridge, offered medical care and one person even set up an electronics repair company.
The year didn't run without setbacks however, out of the nine oxen purchased, to help farmers on the program, three succumb to illness and died. Some families had business ventured that failed due to sickness and death as well.
But we move forward with eager expectation. We've formed a special bond with nine churches in remote Uganda. We've helped families in desperate need realize they had the skills and know-how to lift themselves out of poverty. That's a wonderful feeling and we're looking forward to the new stories that come out of a new year of possibilities.
