The Harvest is Plentiful

Dreams Coming True

Can I just tell you, a 10 year dream is coming to life, one little step at a time. From our founding, it has been our vision and heart to be more self-sustainable and less dependent on outside resources to serve the hungry and most vulnerable in our villages. Thanks to donors who recently gave to build the fence around our AEM property in Northern Uganda, we planted several plots of maize secure from any roaming cattle or goats. Our summer mission team saw first hand the young and growing crops. Read about this week’s beautiful harvest:

Unforgettable Day

“Today was an unforgettable day, filled with laughter, excitement, and a sense of accomplishment. Our AEM-sponsored children joined forces with us (Daniel and David) to harvest a bounty of maize and bananas. The adventure began before dawn, as we set out from town to the village, eager to start our day.

Upon arriving at the AEM Outreach Center, we delivered the food for the day’s meals and then embarked on a mission to pick up the children from their homes. We were thrilled to find Jesse already on the job, ferrying the kids to the center on the trusty Bajaj motorcycle. As everyone arrived, we headed straight to the fields, where the children enthusiastically joined in to pick corn from the garden.

The atmosphere was electric, with songs, stories, and laughter filling the air. Even the youngest ones couldn’t resist joining in on the fun, making it a truly unforgettable experience. As the sun beat down, we excused the little ones and Daphine to prepare breakfast and take a well-deserved break. Meanwhile the rest of the team persevered, driven by a sense of friendly competition to collect as much corn as possible.

Richard and Simon worked tirelessly to ferry the harvested maize to the property, while we also managed to harvest a bonus crop of bananas. These will be distributed to the vulnerable members of our community, spreading joy and blessings to those in need.

After a morning of hard work, the kids refreshed themselves with a cool shower, followed by a well-deserved rest. We then gathered together for a prayer session and a briefing on the upcoming Christmas party, which sparked immense excitement among the children.

As the day drew to a close, we reflected on the success of our endeavors. With full hearts and happy memories, we bid the children farewell and returned them to their homes. As we made our way back to town, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for the incredible experience we share with our AEM-sponsored children. The countdown to the Christmas party on December 20th has officially begun, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our young friends once again!”
DANIEL OKWARA, AEM Country Director, Dec. 11, 2024

Bumper Harvest ~ Making a Difference

We grow maize to grind it into posho, a staple grain (shown in photo below). Posho (think very fine grits if you are from the south) is boiled and we serve it with all meat stews. For many Ugandans, posho – an inexpensive starch, is all they have to survive on and it becomes the main course. Posho is the first item we purchase for a vulnerable person who receives nutrition through a sponsor. Our HIV+ beneficiaries receive monthly nutrition that includes posho, beans, fruits, and vegetables. Likewise, we give the same to the disabled or elderly who are unable to provide for themselves any longer. Often a neighbor steps up to lovingly cook the food provided by a donor like yourself through AEM.

We give all the glory and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of the Harvest. Agriculture gives us a picture of planting and harvesting. You give. We plant the seeds. God waters the plants. We harvest the crops. People are fed. Significantly greater, is our mission to plant the love of Jesus Christ to see a Harvest of eternal hope. Give today and help us plant love and harvest hope! Every gift is being multiplied to produce a harvest and make a difference in the lives of more people.