Heavenly Treasures has networked with one livelihood project in Uganda for the past 5 years.  Mindy Harrison has been an important network builder through her heart to help the poor and introduced us to Sarah Adams.   Sarah has a heart for women, and she has worked with the local community to develop Women of Worth.  This story is truly one of Changed Lives.

In February 2012, The Adams family left Uganda as Sarah’s WOW ministry is now strong and able to flourish on its own, without depending on her. That is no small success, by the way. Indeed Sarah has achieved the true missionary goal of leaving behind a self-sustaining ministry.

"The project that we went to see is called Women of Worth (WOW) Uganda. The missionary there, Sarah Adams, is doing amazing work with the women in her community in Kampala. They have a center there, called The Growing Tree, where they train women in computers, sewing, and handicrafts; they also provide daycare and have preschool during the day for their kids. Sarah took us to visit about 8 of the women.  They are all such amazing women!! Most are single mothers just trying to find a way to take care of their families. And they all make such beautiful handicrafts. It was such an encouragement to us to see these women, hear their stories, pray for them, see what they make, and just try to encourage them however we could.

Mama Abraham uses her extra money to fund a Bible college in Norther Uganda, where she's from. Ann is very creative and thinking of all sorts of new ideas and designs for the paper handicrafts. Amy is the wife of Pastor Martin and a mother of 4 rambunctious kids - all are refugees from Rwanda and who have now started a church in Kampala ministering to the very Muslim community around them. They are incredible prayer warriors, waiting and believing that their neighbors will come to know God through His miracles.

The women made us lunch right before we left - true Ugandan food. But I must say: never have I seen or eaten soooo many bananas before in my life!!! Apparently Uganda is the banana capital of the world or something like that! Sarah said she could probably think of at least 15 different kinds just off the top of her head! But seriously, bananas everywhere: stacked 10 feet high on the side of the road, strapped to the back of motorcycles or bikes going down the street, being sold by whoever, and a part of every meal! Matoke, their staple food (it's Uganda's ugali) is simply mashed bananas, then wrapped in bananas leaves, and then cooked a little longer... that's it. But it was a little better when you put the peanut sauce on top (I guess there's lots of peanuts around too because they  make this sauce that's just crushed and boiled peanuts).

Overall, the three days we spent in Uganda were wonderful! I definitely learned a lot - about Uganda, the WOW ministry there, and about myself and HT - Christine Mossman