STORIES OF LIFE WITH HOPE IN KAKOOGE, UGANDA

As told by Pastor Patrick Kabugo, Kakooge Pentecostal Church 

There is nothing that brings greater joy, satisfaction than seeing people’s lives being transformed, participating with the creator of mankind to bring a difference in people’s lives.

People, organizations, ministries have names which never measure up to their meaning but Life With Hope which is an arm of the church to reach out to the rejects, discriminated of society, those suffering directly or indirectly from this deadly disease HIV/AIDS has measured up to it’s name.

It hard to imagine that a person living with HIV AIDS can have a life of hope again. Many people that the church has brought on board through Life With Hope had lost hope. To them to live was of no value, excessive drinking was the resort and many had even tried committing suicide.

LAWRENCE KIGAYAZA now nicknamed LAZARUS had not discovered he had HIV/AIDS until he started falling sick frequently. To him some body was bewitching him. By the time we found him, Lawrence’s body had begun rotting. I had never seen maggots coming out of a living person but this was the condition of poor Lawrence. Nobody could go near his unipot, a small round single room steel structure he called home. A swarm of blue flies became his companions. In his time of greatest need all of his “friends” left him because of the ugliness and stench of his rotting body.

That was Lawrence’s state by the time the church found him. Pastor Agnes Kabugo encouraged him saying, “Lawrence, there is still hope for you.” “I am tired of those mocking words”, you could sense his heart say that. Lawrence is beyond recovery one doctor told us, he actually has cancer that is why his leg is rotting. The only solution is amputating the leg first to avoid the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. “I rather die with my leg”, Lawrence said. 

We took Lawrence to the hospital, put him on special diet prepared by the church members. (Note: hospitals in Uganda do not provide meals for the patients; that is the responsibility of family and friends.) He is now on treatment. You need to see Lawrence now. He is back to a normal life. That is why we nicknamed him Lazarus - recalling the Lazarus whom Jesus called out of the grave he was already rotting (John 11:38-44). Thanks be to God who has enabled the church through the Align Ministries that people like Lawrence can have Life With Hope again

MARGRET NAKIBUUKA

The first days we met her, you could see the sorrow and misery in her face. Margret would greet us with tears. She would look at her 4-children and burst into tears. Margret would ask, “With whom will I leave my children when I die?” The father of the children deserted the family to stay with another woman a common practice for men here. By the time the church became aware of Margret’s condition she had a swollen stomach, you could think she was an expectant mother and she became bed ridden. The church took her for medical check up and it was discovered she had HIV/AIDS and T.B.

She is now on treatment. It is amazing to see the changes in her life now. When you talk to her now smiles fill her face, she now looks younger and healthy. Margaret has come to know that Christ as a friend that sticks closer in times of sorrow and is a committed member of the church.

 

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