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.

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HT Mission Team Member Christine Mossman went to Uganda in 2010 and here's her story... 
"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

Women of WOrth

Heavenly Treasures partners with WOW Uganda through the sale of handicrafts. These women have been greatly affected, displaced and some disabled by war. Sarah Adams is a missionary who has built the WOW (Women of Worth) ministry in Kampala Uganda. After 5 years of ministry in Kampala, she and her husband David, were able to give the ministry back to the women! Talk about Changed Lives!!

Read Sarah's most recent Update: 

"Within WOW changes have been happening over the past year, much like the maturing process in a child, so this as this “mama” can let go. WOW is taking off in a direction and identity all its own. There will still be WOW, the women’s ministry of Hope For New Life Foursquare Church (formerly called Kampala Foursquare Church) but to distinguish the roles of ministry and business, the handcrafters have formed a women’s cooperative  called Gifted Hands, a name the women chose themselves. “Gifted Hands”  beautifully captures who these women are, richly endowed both spiritually and skillfully to serve . . . as bread earners and caretakers in their homes and communities.

Women of Gifted Hands looking smart!

It is exciting to see the women not only being the crafters of  products but being crafters of their own business! From the moment of choosing their own name, Gifted Hands have been defining their mission, setting their goals, finding their markets, setting their own prices, emailing correspondence, keeping accounts, doing banking, even pursuing developing a website! My functions are taken! For that I am so grateful.

I have read an email from a woman I haven’t heard from in 5 years. Furaha was a Congolese refugee with WOW 7 years ago before returning to Congo. She writes that her husband is now pastoring a church in Kinshasa and that she started a WOW group first in the eastern Congo town of Bukavu and now in Kinshasa with a total of about 500 women interested or involved!  This news gives me such joy! “Furaha” is the swahili word for “joy”." - Sarah Adams 

WOW Artisan story....Mama Abraham is from Uganda; she is a mother of six; two of her own and 4 of her brothers children.  This woman is an amazing woman of God. She was blown up in a landmine during a family funeral; lost her eye and a full term baby; doctors would not operate on her as they felt she was already gone.  God had another plan for her.. she slowly recovered with some lingering problems, a Christian Doctor told her that this is her cross to bear as there is not any solution for removing a shard from her brain.  Mama Abraham joined  WOW and her life has changed from near death to a thriving life in Christ.  She has taken the proceeds from the sale of her handicrafts and saves her money.  She did not raise the standard of living for herself and children, she purchased two acres of land with a vision for a church and Bible college.  She organized a crusade and seminar for pastors and others on her land, with no building, and fed them lunch with the little that she had.  255 people came to Christ in 3 days and 84 were baptized,  8 were pastors.. her life has changed and she is becoming a change agent in the camp for displaced persons.. her life is leading others to becoming Heavenly Treasures!  People knowing Jesus and receiving eternal life!  

The sale of WOW handicrafts has changed the lives of hundreds of people.  

Your participation in purchasing handicrafts has healed Mama Abraham, emotionally, physically, spiritually and most of all giving her God’s plan, multiplying even the smallest investment in her life.  

Every Product Represents a Changed Life!!