KYEZU, Kabale: Giving is imperative, according to God and the Bible. So, our giving is a reminder of the blessings God gives us and gave to us through Jesus Christ. In the Bible, we find in John 3:16 three thoughts that should be the foundations of all our giving. God’s motivation for giving was love. He gave himself in the person of Jesus. And God gave in response to our needs.
The Bible again teaches us about taking care of the needy via Proverbs 19:17. “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs continues in chapter 22:9 and tells us thus; “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor”. God’s persistent concern for the poor and powerless is inherent in the intensification.
The Story
So, equipped with stuff ranging from clothes to food, Godly and good willed people, representatives of Render outreaches, set off from Kampala to Mbarara where, they connected with like-minded Watoto Mbarara history makers. The mission was to give to some really needy community in Kabale, called Kyezu, under the theme “Caring for the least of these.”
Under their team leaders Steven Tumushabe of Render outreaches, and Pastor Chris Ongeimungu from Watoto Mbarara history makers, a solid team was, thus, formed and missioned to the far and remote Kyezu Community in Kabale. There, they were destined for God’s cause of “Caring for the least of these” who are ‘these’? The kids, the poor, the hungry, the widows and the disabled. In summary, the less privileged.
But before their final destination, the team first had a quick stop over at Satellite Hotel in Ntungamo, where they would first organize, prepare and orient themselves on their mission of giving and caring. Finally, on Saturday morning, they were in Kabale ready to hit the final destined base, Kyezu. But before we address you on the Mission Trip and the giving to the community, lets know Kabale itself.
For quick facts, Kabale is a town in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the chief town of Kabale District, and the District Headquarters are located there. Sometimes nicknamed “Kastone” as in the local language, Rukiga, a “Kabale” is a small stone. Then, Kyezu, is an impoverished, isolated, hopeless remote community Island in Kabale, just before you cross to brotherly Rwanda.
Of course, there is a ‘panya’ (shortcut), not the renowned Uganda-Rwanda boarder of Katuna, or Gatuna, here in the Kyezu to Rwanda. As a warning, this Panya will earn you a price as a penalty for trespassing through either Uganda or from Rwanda, depending on which Country’s respective authority captures you. When in Kyezu, you will feast your eyes on children of school going age roaming around aimlessly, languishing and not in school. For they lack scholastic materials.
Women and men of families who cannot afford to fend for their family members. They are at the extreme end of poverty my dear! Mothers breastfeeding but also need food to feed on well before they breastfeed. Care free fathers for they need and are waiting for God’s miraculous hand every morning, evening and night each day. That is Kyezu for you! And, that is why God gave vision and guided that the team chooses this community to give to.
Very isolated in nature. No schools. No Health facilities. And no proper access roads. They must cross by a boat to and fro Kabale for such education and health facilities alongside other basic services. So, our team board a canoe to reach Kyezu. And this water crossing process, though an experience for many of the teams’ first timers on boat, took us about two to three hours to the Kyezu island.
Here on the Kyezu island, the team was welcomed with ululations, cultural dances, hugs, smiles and gazes of hope from the kids, the women and men who had expectantly waited for a good Samaritan, angel of hope and something to restore smiles onto their faces. All those, as the team arrived, were received at least, at last.
With guidance and counsel from our liaison officer, who had first visited the community before the team, with the stuffs from the different good will, and genuine partners from Kampala, immediately started to distribute clothes, food stuffs to the different needy families. The Mission trip concluded with a church service the following day, Sunday 23rd October, with the word of God that further gave hope to the prior hopeless community.
For Jesus answered, it is written in Matthew 4:4; “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” In her local language, one breast feeding mother, smiling, OH My God, thanked the team, “Mwebare munonga okutuyamba,” a local direct formation to loosely mean; “Thank you very much. You have helped us. You have saved us.”
Sharing his experience of Kyezu, Pastor Chris said, “The long enjoyable boat ride with so much expectations from the other side, I couldn’t wait to get there and see the smiles on people’s faces. I had been warned about the welcome and dance on the island so I couldn’t wait. The hike…that was a massive hill…! I complained my whole way up, little did I know that coming down was going to be another trick…! But here I was, covering up all the pain in the name of putting a smile on someone’s face which was absolutely worth it.”
Then, Gloria Mbabazi from Render Outreaches shared her experience by commenting on the daily life Kyezu people lead. “I think I have no right words really. My heart was just humbled. These people live without a thousand shillings for months! Oh My God, and I can’t survive for a day without at least five thousand shillings! Again, I saw God’s faithfulness and goodness regardless of the little means these people survive within, they have a happy life. Its fulfilling at the same time because what else more satisfying than making other people happy.” At least, by the time we left Kyezu, hope had been restored, the breastfeeding mothers and the children had something to feed on well for some time and big smiles were visibly seen on people’s faces. God, please bless Kyezu.
Author Profile
- Joan Atuhwera is a Business Administration Graduate, a Human Rights activist and writer with over five years’ experience in pursuing justice for others via her keyboard. She can also be reached via email: [email protected] or WhatsApp +256774334595
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I was blessed enough to be part of the history makers, holding hands with render outreaches, I was able to experience this first hand.
“Deeply Inspired” is really an understatement, I couldn’t think of a better phrase to describe the experience. My expectations were far surpassed, I could see gratitude written all over their faces, the traditional dance performance spoke it all.
God is faithful!
I couldn’t have done it without you 🙏
Wowowo what a beautiful story told about Kyezu. I was on this trip and surely I got to know that God is a wonder working God, for His love goes far and beyond and nothing can ever separate us from this. I believe God is still going to do amazing things on this Island because His plans are to prosper us no matter how much small we have, He’ll use it to bless us with Hope and always remind us that He is God.
Thank you so much Joan Atuhwera
God Bless you
I’m humbled and grateful 🙏
It was a great time all in all
Render outreaches 🔥
Thank you 🙏
Yowwww… I have never been more grateful for being a part of this. For the few hours we spent up there, I saw how GOD really has blessed us and calls us to pass on from our overflowing cups to His people. The joy they had despite the barely little they had left me questioning my content with what He’s blessed me with. Nevertheless, kudos to the Watoto Mbarara History Makers and the Render Outreaches team for making this happen! GOD surely Bless you all.
Thank you Joan Atuhwera for putting that unforgettable memorable weekend down into a whole nice write up.
Thank you for your kind words !
Ooh Next time take me because kabale is my home town.
Good job done and be blessed for your kind and giving hearts.
Sure,will do .Thank you !