FBC- CONNECTION POINT

MOSES AGABA

WHO IS THIS? MOSES AGABA

BIO:  Chuck Norris of Uganda.
Moses is married and has 2 children. He lives near Kampala the capital and business center of Uganda. He is the Amigos Representative for southern Uganda. He has a teaching degree and runs his own tour company.

​WHAT IS HIS MISSION?
Moses is the eyes and ears for Amigos
ministries in Southern Uganda. The Shaminah children's home in Jinja is one of his primary missions. The kids call him Uncle Moses. He negotiated the purchase of land where Amigos is building to expand the children's home that Shaminah operates. He is working on and developing a strategy to rescue children from sex trafficking. This is very dangerous work. Moses is a can do guy. Just give him the task and he will work until it gets done. His skills and contacts are very valuable to the Amigos mission.
HOW DID GOD CONNECT US ?
Michael Ryer (Amigos president) rented a car and driver on 1st trip to Uganda. The driver was Moses. On Michael's 2nd trip he requested Moses because of the excellent job he did on the 1st trip. Moses was even better on 2nd trip. Amigos was contacted with a request to help a starving family near Kampala. Michael asks Moses to check out since he was nearby. Moses found the family and immediately took action to get them food.
Michael could see that Moses was a man of action. Amigos offered him a job. Moses was guide/driver when FBC team went to Uganda. The team was very impressed with this amazing man of God. He is a man of many talents and heart to serve the people of Uganda and most importantly loves the Lord.
​WHAT TO PRAY FOR : Safety, His family, for wisdom as he gives Amigos valuable information.

SHAMINAH NANKWANGA

WHO IS THIS? SHAMINAH NANKWANGA

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BIO:  Shaminah is the founder of Amigos first children's home.  She started by rescuing 4 teen brides from being sold to older men.  She lived in a one room place that would flood every time it rained.  After her connection to Amigos, she received a brick-making mold and started making and selling bricks.  She earned enough money to buy the place where she is now living with 28 children, her sister, her child and her husband Kenneth. Frost Africa team visited Shaminah in Jinja.
 
WHAT IS HER MISSION?
She takes in, feeds, clothes, loves and educates orphans in and around Jinja.  Showing God’s love to her kids is top priority.
 

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HOW DID GOD CONNECT US?
 Amigos was not looking to start children's homes, but God had other plans.
Michael Ryer (Amigos’ president) hired a plumber (Doug) to do work at Michael's church in Commerce, TX. Doug tells Michael about his friend Deon. Deon is a senior adult man living in Sulphur Springs, TX. Only 20 miles from Commerce. Deon saw a plea for help on Facebook from a lady in Uganda who was taking in orphans. He started sending money to Shaminah. When Deon could no longer help, he asked Doug did he know of anyone that could help. Doug contacted Michael and Michael got with Deon. Amigos began a relationship with Shaminah through these connection points. The next problem was how do you get money to buy land and build a children's home? At the same time Michael was talking with Deon, God provided a benefactor who was interested in building children's homes in Africa. Michael got connected to the benefactor through a connection in his wife's Sunday school class. As of today, land has been purchased and plans are being made to start the building process. Amazing. ​

PATRICK KIBWOTA

WHO IS THIS? PATRICK KIBWOTA

BIO:  Lives in Gulu. Single (at the moment) has girlfriend Julia. Has degree in social services from university. His sister Gloria also works for Amigos. He is the Amigos Representative for All Uganda.
 WHAT IS HIS MISSION?
Patrick has a large responsibility. He handles all Amigos land transactions. His main focus is orphan sponsorship's. He investigates the child's situation and determines if they qualify for help. After they have a sponsor he makes sure the money goes directly to the child's need. He visits each child 2 times a month. He also monitors the progress of the school and church in OGUL. Patrick is so genuine. His heart for children just comes through. Loves the Lord and his country.
 HOW DID GOD CONNECT US ?
Amigos got a request from “NECHEDI” on Facebook to help with a Christmas Party in Gulu, Uganda. Patrick seen the event and sent Michael a request for information because he is from the area and wanted to donate his time to the event. Michael asked Patrick to check out this group to see if it was legitimate. Patrick made a 30 page report with details on the group with ID's. Michael was so impressed by the professional report he set up a meeting with Patrick. Amigos offered Patrick job and he has exceeded all expectations. He was with the Ugandan team from FBC and they got to know him and really see his heart. 
​WHAT TO PRAY FOR: Wisdom in dealing with all that Amigos has entrusted to him. To stay faithful to the mission that God has laid on his heart.                                                                               

OPEN HANDS ACADEMY

WHO IS THIS? OPEN HANDS ACADEMY

BIO: Open Hands Academy.
Located on the land that Amigos has
purchased. This is where the school, farm and
church is. This is a part of the Ogul Village
Restoration Project near Gulu. Very rural and
remote.
HOW DID GOD CONNECT US ?
Amigos was not looking for land or school at 1st. Michael Ryer (Amigos president) and Patrick (Ugandan rep) where looking for a way to expand student scholarship program in Gulu area. Patrick & Michael seen this tract of land for sale on Facebook, but location was in rural area called Ogul. It also had an unfinished building on it. Expanding scholarship program would pay for the property. Amigos decided to move forward and developed the Ogul Village Restoration Project. This area is where Joseph Kony started the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in 1990,which terrorized the Gulu and surrounding villages including Ogul. Peace came to area in 2007, but the people are still affected by Kony's actions.
WHAT IS THIS MISSION?
Provide a local school for area children to learn and grow safely. Everyone walks to here. Education is best tool to combat the many issues these people face. We can give money and give money, but if you don't educate then the cycle of poverty/crime/etc. persists. As of 2-1-22: School is open!  Construction is still happening. Water well was dug first providing water to area. Then fence around property. Water tower was installed. Septic system is being installed (dug by hand) and has solar powered lights. Next door to school is the Ogul Baptist Church (spiritual education) that Amigos built and is holding services! School is growing and uses church for more classroom space! The people in the village are paying for their own children to attend. Village has adopted school as “their” school which was the goal. Pray this continues!  ​

JEREMY TALIAFERRO

WHO IS THIS? JEREMY TALIAFERRO

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BIO:  IMB Missionary to Refugee camps in NW Uganda (Arua). Married to Susan, has 4 children. Served 10 yrs in South America & 10 yrs in Africa. Has been a missionary since graduating Hardin-Simmons.

WHAT IS HIS MISSION? 
Jeremy's mission is to minister to the people of the refugee camps. Uganda is very friendly to refugees. He is in the Rhino camp which has approx 125,000 refugees, mostly from South Sudan. If you come to Uganda as a refugee they will give you a plot of land 300 ft square. Jeremy is drilling water wells. Wherever he drills a well he plants a church. Water is a huge attraction point. The IMB has built a base camp in the far end of Rhino camp not far from the Nile river. This is where the drilling rig is kept and other missionaries camp while drilling. Jeremy's team partners with Christians within the Sudanese refugee population to strengthen the church there. They focus on trauma healing, evangelism, discipleship and church planting. The team works on water wells for the community, builds houses for those who are disabled and particularly vulnerable, and delivers food to children schools.
Jeremy also looks over the Borderland Cafe` and Lodging.  It has a meeting room, cafe and rooms to stay in. It is used for church meetings, missionaries that are passing thru and whatever need arises. Funded by the IMB. Jeremy's term is almost up. He wants to move back to Texas and start a training program for foreign missionaries.

HOW DID GOD CONNECT US?
We are connected thru our giving to the SBC's cooperative program and the Lottie Moon Christmas offering that funds international missionaries. Jeremy was needing a cheaper way to drill for water. Texas Baptist men said they would buy a drilling rig. Amigos offered to pay the shipping. Dr John donated his airplane to a group in Tennessee. One of those folks made a donation to Amigos large enough to cover Amigos portion of the shipping. Our Frost Africa team visited this site and spent time with Jeremy and his family.

THE PADILLA'S

​WHO IS THIS? The Padillas
BIO:  Albert and Marta Padilla and their youngest child Angela. They live in Frost and have been faithful members of FBC for many years. Angela is an alumni of Frost School.
 
WHAT IS THEIR MISSION?
The Padilla's have always had a heart for children. When they heard about
​ Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child they knew God had sent this their way. They are the program administrators for FBC. It is also known as the shoe box ministry because the program used to use shoe boxes. Today plastic boxes the size of a shoe box are used because it is more durable during shipping. These boxes go all over the world so a sturdy box is essential. They have done this ministry for 26 years. Angela and Marta keep our church informed as to what is needed for the shoe boxes. They collect
items and separate them into different age groups. Once they have what is needed in each box, they store them. Samaritans Purse sets a week in November as collection week. The boxes are prayed over and then taken to the collection hub. That is where Albert comes in. Albert (the muscle) helps load the boxes and transports them to Waco.
From Waco the boxes go to another collection center in the DFW area. Samaritan’s Purse distribution center stores the boxes until they are sent to their final destination.  Angela says, “We don't know what country our boxes will go to or when they will be delivered .We just pray for the boxes and let God take care of the rest. Also thanks to everyone who helps make it happen.” To learn more check out www.samaritanspurse.org
 
WHAT TO PRAY FOR: For the Padilla’s, safe arrival of the shoe boxes, the child who will receive the box.