This reflection captures just 24 hours of my recent visit to Uganda – a day that held both sobering challenges and surprising moments of hope. It was a powerful reminder of the complexity of the context we work in, and the difference that even small seeds of support can make.

Crippled Systems, Growing Desperation

This was my first trip back to Uganda since the latest round of global aid cuts began to severely disrupt services for refugees. Uganda remains home to Africa’s largest refugee population, with over 1.8 million people seeking safety here. But the international response is faltering.

In May, the UN Refugee Agency announced that food rations for around 1 million refugees would be cut entirely. The rest have seen their monthly rations slashed to unmanageable levels. We arrived in Palorinya Refugee Settlement – home to many South Sudanese refugees – where we were met by Robert, our Nutrition Officer. Normally an unshakably positive presence, Robert didn’t mince his words. “The health system is crippled. Education is crippled. Nutrition is crippled,” he said as we travelled along the dusty tracks towards our HHA projects.

What does this mean in practice? It means services that once offered a lifeline are now reducing or in some cases gone. NGOs and UN agencies have made huge staffing cuts. Essential, life-saving supplies are running desperately low.

Take Plumpy’Nut – a therapeutic food used to treat severe acute malnutrition. Since 2018, HHA has partnered with Edesia (a US supplier of Plumpy’Nut) and UNHCR to help plug supply gaps, shipping this life-saving product to frontline clinics. But the pipeline is now critically strained. One aid worker told us plainly: without extra support, they soon won’t be able to treat malnourished children at all.

The result? Children who could be saved will die.

I struggle to write that sentence. Many of you know our personal story – my wife and I lost one of our sons, Noah. Yet amidst that grief, we carry the comfort that Noah received the very best care possible. The very best support, the very best love. That’s a gift every parent should have. But it’s no longer the reality for thousands of families across the world – families who watch helplessly as health centres run out of the basics they need to save their child’s life. To then face the prospect of losing your child inside a health facility, not because the treatment doesn’t exist, but because it’s simply not there – that leaves me speechless, and angry.

Hope amongst the cabbages

And then, on the same day, against this harrowing backdrop, we stepped into a field of cabbages – more cabbages than I’ve ever seen.

Walking through maize fields to one of our agricultural sites, we found ourselves in what felt like an oasis of peace. A refugee father welcomed us, proudly overlooking his crops. “Before I was introduced to HHA, it felt like I was walking through a desert,” he said. “Living in the dark, with nothing to show for my efforts.” Now, he’s harvesting over 800 cabbages – enough to generate over £475 for his family and others, a huge amount when many families in the settlements live on less than $1 a day. Beyond that field, over 100 acres of HHA-sponsored farmland stretched to the horizon.

Further along, we found 100 wheelbarrows, each filled with tools and seeds funded by one of our amazing donors. These will support 100 new families – most of them including a person with a disability – to join this growing movement of hope. It was a joy to see each family walk away smiling, carrying not just equipment but renewed purpose.

A powerful reminder of the ongoing need

At the edge of the crowd of this distribution, we noticed a mother and her beautiful daughter, who has Down syndrome – much like my eldest son. They arrived in recent months, having fled the war in Khartoum, Sudan, with seven children. As she shared her story, I was struck by the familiarity of her expression. It mirrored the faces of South Sudanese mothers I met in 2017 when this settlement first opened – a mixture of grief, confusion and quiet resilience. A kind of dignified calm in the midst of deep upheaval. They’re not yet enrolled on our programme, but our team took their details to ensure follow-up support through our Community-Based Rehabilitation team. Meeting this family was a sobering reminder that this refugee crisis is ongoing; that, just like when I first visited in 2017, new people are arriving every day and are in desperate need of support.

Extraordinary News – and an Urgent Need

And to add to this extraordinary 24 hours, we also received a message from our partners at Edesia. Not one, but two containers of Plumpy’Nut had been secured for our joint efforts. Over 3,400 cartons. Each one representing a child who can now be saved from malnutrition. It’s extraordinary. An answer to prayer.

But here’s the challenge. We’d only budgeted to ship one container this year. The second wasn’t planned – and isn’t funded. We’ve taken the decision to say yes anyway. Because how could we not? We’re now urgently working to raise the additional £7,500 needed to ship both containers and get them to Uganda as soon as possible.

This was one day. One glimpse. But it says so much. It tells the story of why your support – your prayers, your donations, your advocacy – matters so deeply. In a world of overwhelming need, your generosity is changing lives.

If you’re moved to respond, we’d love you to consider helping us fund the second Plumpy’Nut container. We have the product. We have the team. We have the need. We just need the means to deliver it.

Donate Now – and help us bring hope and healing, one carton at a time.

With deep gratitude,
Carwyn

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the year! As we reflect on the past six months, we are so grateful for the incredible progress happening across our projects – all made possible through your prayers, generosity, and partnership.

It’s been a while since we shared a big update, so this news item is a little longer as we celebrate some of the most joyful highlights from recent months.

This major global acknowledgment is a true testament to the team’s dedication in making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable households and communities. With this incredible honour, HHA EA is empowered to expand the impact of the winning project, providing critical agriculture and livelihood support to further 100 vulnerable refugee-households in 2024/25.

By strengthening food security and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the most vulnerable, the project is not only combating hunger, but also breaking down barriers and stigma against people with disabilities. It’s absolutely wonderful to see this holistic approach recognised for its innovation and celebrated by the global community!

Our heartfelt thanks to the prestigious awards jury for recognising the exceptional efforts and impact of the HHA EA Nutrition team. This acknowledgment will inspire us all to continue our commitment to creating positive change.

Here is an update from our Haiti Director, Michael Goldsmith:

Many of you have reached out to us in the past few days. As you may have heard, Haiti is experiencing heightened instability and gang activity, casting a shadow of fear and uncertainty over the country we hold dear. Thankfully, we have not experienced any violence at our partner hospital, HCBH, and services are operating as normal. Yet, even in the midst of turmoil, we stand firm in our commitment to serving those in need, guided by the unwavering light of our faith.

We recognise that our work is more vital than ever, providing hope to those affected by the chaos surrounding them. Our team on the ground remains steadfast in their dedication, facing each day with courage and resilience, fuelled by the love and support from all of you. We can assure you that their safety and well-being remain one of our top priorities.

In times such as these, we humbly ask for your continued prayers for our staff, volunteers, and the vulnerable communities we serve. Your ongoing support sustains us through these trials, giving us hope in the darkest of times. Where our faith remains, love triumphs over fear. We will keep you updated on any developments and how they may impact our work. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our mission and the people of Haiti.

Michael and the HHA Team

Follow our social channels for up-to-date news as this situation develops. 

A few more of the things we’ve bought that have made a real difference…

Battery chargers - enabling us to keep vital equipment (like blood pressure machines, thermometers and calculators) working, even with limited access to electricity

Zip ties - helping our technicians to make specialised adaptations to wheelchairs, to make sure that beneficiaries are comfortable and well-seated, and most importantly to help avoid pressure sores 

Footballs and coloured chalks - for students at Amazing Grace School

LED light strips - used for our sensory classroom at Amazing Grace and in New Hope Rehabilitation Center BidiBidi - to create safe, inclusive and educational spaces for children and adults with disabilities

Post-partum maternity pads - to provide dignity to new mothers at our clinic in South Sudan

Coloured chopping boards - to help improve food hygiene standards in our staff kitchens in both BidiBidi and Kajo-Keji

Safety glasses and ‘quality’ power tools for our workshop, where we custom-make prosthetics and orthotics

Brackets and wallplugs (particularly difficult to buy in-country) that enabled us to construct shelves in our pharmacy in Kajo-Keji - keeping the space organized and tidy!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this campaign making the purchase of these small, but hugely important, items possible.

1. GLOBAL DISABILITY CARE

We continued to provide empowerment, dignity, and support to people with disabilities in Haiti, Uganda, and South Sudan. Last year, we provided over 1,450 wheelchairs, more than 300 prosthetic and orthotic devices, and thousands of rehabilitation sessions. We also opened a new rehab garden for patients with spinal cord injuries in Haiti, hosted another wonderful 'Night to Shine' for young people with special needs, and got a new vehicle in Uganda, enabling us to reach more people through mobile clinics.

HHA are taking part in this global day of charity where, for 24 hours, every donation will be worth more. The fundraising platform Global Giving is offering $1.2 million of ‘incentive funds’, and the more we raise on the day, the more of these funds we receive. This is an amazing opportunity for us, a great way to kick off our Christmas campaign, and can have a huge impact on our year-end fundraising (last year we received over $20,000 in incentive funds alone, just from this 24 hours of fundraising!)

If you are able to make a donation to HHA this Giving Tuesday, and increase the value of your gift at no extra cost to you, please make your donation directly through our Global Giving project today! 

We will be using this opportunity to raise vital funds for our maternal and infant health projects globally. Pregnancy and motherhood should be a time of joy and hope - something we are reminded of at Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. But for thousands of women and girls around the world, it is simply a time of fear: a girl in South Sudan is more likely to die in childbirth than finish secondary school; 1 in every 39 babies born in Haiti will not survive their first month. 

We provide maternal and infant healthcare in Haiti, South Sudan, and Uganda, to make pregnancy, birth and childhood safer, happier, and less scary. This includes community outreach to identify and refer high-risk pregnancies, expert maternal and neonatal care at our dedicated clinics, training and resource provision within communities to make home births safer, and nutritional support and vaccinations in early childhood. With our new clinic in South Sudan, rapidly expanding community outreach projects in Uganda, and growing awareness of, and demand for, our services in Haiti, we have more capacity than ever to improve outcomes for mothers and babies. But we desperately need funds to be able to do so. 

Giving Tuesday kicks off our period of festive fundraising, and is a great opportunity to make your Christmas donation go further. But don't worry if you can't donate  today - we'll be sharing other ways to support our maternal and infant health work very soon, so stay tuned!

The next phase of the project began with food distributions for all of the households, to address immediate food insecurity (particularly acute at the moment following recent ration cuts in the settlements) and ensure participant households are physically able and strong enough to participate in the project. We also distributed seeds to all the households, which have now been planted. When these crops are harvested, they will provide a sustainable source of food, as well as livelihood opportunities for some families that are able to sell their extra produce.

On top of the provision of resources and land, a key part of this project is training - crucial to making a lasting impact. As well as education sessions on planting, cultivation, business skills and income generation for the 1,100 households involved in the project, we have also recently begun nutrition training for the beneficiaries at New Hope Rehabilitation Center. This means that while they wait for treatment - whether that’s a wheelchair, physiotherapy or fitting for a prosthetic - they are provided with information about basic nutrition and food groups, empowering them with knowledge to improve their own health.

Stay tuned for updates on this life-changing project!

We were so grateful to the team of 7, who traveled all the way from the US to visit our projects and see the incredible impact of our partnership. As well as seeing our work in the north of Uganda, we visited Nakivale – a refugee settlement in the south of the country that is home to over 175,000 people of several nationalities. It is the world’s eighth-largest refugee camp, and continues to grow: since the closure of a transit camp in nearby Kisoro in October 2022, 30,000 people from the Democratic Republic of Congo have arrived in the settlement, fleeing fighting linked to the resurgence of the M23 armed group. Despite the huge influx of people into the settlement, very few extra resources or infrastructure have been provided – and this, combined with recent ration cuts, means that thousands of people are living without the basics they need to live a dignified, healthy life.

Thanks to our collaboration with Edesia, we have been able to provide Plumpy’Nut to thousands of children in Nakivale, and as our support becomes more needed than ever, we are incredibly grateful for their continued partnership.

Sunday 6th August

Hi Church Crawley, and those that supported us to be on mission here - greetings from Uganda.

We had a long but great journey via Doha. The immigration queues at Entebbe were epic in length, but God wastes nothing. As we queued we met an ICU nurse from Sheffield. He spoke of his catholic upbringing in Eritrea and its oppressive regime and how you cannot leave the country until you’re 55. He made the precarious journey 10 years ago to Ethiopia, then to Libya to the mercy ships in Italy, and then to the jungle in Calais and finally the Uk. After being sent to Liverpool he was accepted  to train at Sheffield as a nurse. He’s now married with two children. He was queuing waiting to meet his parents for the first time in ten years - unable to go home they were meeting in Kampala. He was full of Joy and was declaring that God is good.

Then an hour into queuing another flight arrived and we looked round and in the line was Tracey, one of Joshua’s guardians. We had travelled hundreds of miles to meet fellow Christian’s from Crawley! We had a wonderful couple of days in Jinja celebrating Liz and Joseph birthdays. Joseph was 12 but we can’t tell you how old Liz was!

 We are travelling through the Gospel of John as families during our time here. From John 1, Liz reminded us of our identity in Christ - that each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made and the security Jesus had in who he was. Then Reninca pointed out that Johns Gospel begins with water into wine but moves quickly to Jesus in the temple - dealing with injustice. It reminds us that our identity as beloved children of God leads us to fight for justice for others. She had just finished a book about Oscar Romero - the Catholic bishop that faced head on the injustices of Central America with the love of Christ . We are praying God will break our hearts for what breaks his and at the same time encounter his Joy. In difficult circumstances there is so much Joy.

Blessings from the Burstons and the Hills x

Monday 7th August

We woke up early packed up and travelled to the smallest airport in Jinja to get a MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) flight up North. We travelled up on a 12 seater plane landing in Arua it was super exciting. It was a long journey to new Hope centre but we were amazed at all we could see along the way.

We arrived at the Centre and were greeted by lots of smiling faces. It was incredible to meet the team and see the awesome work being done by all the staff at the New Hope rehab Centre. We had a lunch of rice, beans and greens then Steve and Carwyn went straight to work training the New hope team on leadership. This was greatly received by the team who were overjoyed. Steve and Liz cooked dinner over charcoal which was yummy.

 It is incredible to see all that God is doing through this small but mighty and passionate team changing lives. We are so grateful for Gods protection. Love Burstons and Hills x

Tuesday 8th August

 Wow, what an epic day beginning in the early hours with a torrential downpour which continued along our 1.5 hour journey along a dirt red road and over a rickety bridge to Amazing Grace school. We got stuck in, the moment we arrived; teacher training (Grace on her own for the 2nd session!); Pastors conference (Steve & Gareth); class lessons (well done Alice and Lily, you weren't expecting that!); sensory room (such hard work Abby, sweeping the floor too!).

 Throughout all this, around 100+ men, woman and children arrived looking for help for their children with disabilities. After Reninca did an impromptu session with them she and Alice carried out assessments, however with still 50 to go at 4pm it was all hands on deck...such heart breaking stories and humbling some had walked/cycled for 3 hours to come and be seen, such is there desperate need. Big thanks to Carwyn and Isaac for holding everything together!

 On a lighter note, Joseph being cycled around by Anthony our driver, chapatis for brunch, fresh (and i mean FRESH!) chicken for lunch cooked by Florence, Isaacs wife, on a charcoal fire, and the school children's fascination and delight with our activities was a sight to behold!

 We thank God for each other and for the community of New Hope and Amazing Grace. We pray for the sun to shine on the solar panels which will kick start the generator which will give us running water...the sun may even heat it up for a lovely warm shower!

 All your prayers so appreciated.

Much love, Hills & Burstons xx

Wednesday 9th August

 Day two at Amazing Grace school. We continued with the teacher training and Pastors conference. A broken plug socket, a hole drilled into the concrete floor later, and the Sensory Room was finished!

 We were hosted once again for lunch by Florence who cooked a delicious meal of beef, rice, beans, greens and maize. Sitting under the shade of a tree with a slight breeze was a welcome break in the hot hot hot day.

 We ended our time there with a football match between the HHA staff and the Amazing Grace staff with the school teachers winning 4-3...all down to some dubious refereeing of course, and a ridiculously unlevel pitch!

 What a joy to see the kids captivated by the game, and all running onto the pitch with screams of delight when their teachers won! Liz had the honour of presenting the trophy, it really was just as if they had won the world Cup final...what a scene!!!

 We thank God for His provision through generous donors for the Sensory Room (you know who you are...thank you!), for such joy, fun and laughter at the school and for keeping us all safe along the treacherous roads.

 We'd value prayers for Grace who has an ear infection, that she can get the right treatment, and general protection over the team, especially Joseph, Abby, Grace, Alice and Lily, for good health, deep sleeps and bountiful energy!

 Blessings from this beautiful country.

Burstons & Hills xx

Thursday 10th August

 A day at the base, New Hope Centre: - - - Morning devotions led by Steve

-HHA team day led by Carwyn and Steve

-Holiday club prep for Reninca, Liz & girls

-Prosthetic leg casting by Abby & Cynthia

-Paddling pool fun for Joseph

-IT training from Carwyn, Gareth and Liz

-Clothes washing by hand...quite therapeutic!

Praise God, thanks to the extremely efficient health centre next door, Grace was given some much needed antibiotics for her ear infection. Praise God also, for the 60 year old who we watched walking on his new prothetic leg for the first time having lost his leg 2 years ago!

We thank God for the opportunity to go out for dinner in the evening, it felt like a celebration at the end of a great day all round. The journey home, through yet more torrential rain was littered with lightning illuminating the whole sky!

 We pray for Carwyn, Steve, Isaac, Pastor Edward, Gareth and Phil as they travel to South Sudan for a few days, also for the ladies and Joseph remaining at the base... for everyone to be safe and to be aware of God's presence so tangibly.

 It’s so good to know people are praying for us...thank you.

Sending love, Hills & Burstons xx

Friday 11th August

 Have we really been here a week already?

 Early this morning Steve, Carwyn and the team left for South Sudan for a few days. The journey wasn't quite as straightforward as they had planned, with a trip to the hospital along the way for an xray on Gareth's leg due to a nasty fall. Praise the Lord it wasn't broken so they were all able to continue. They managed to have a productive team meeting when they arrived.

 Meanwhile, back at the base, the ladies and Joseph had a chilled time in the heat, continuing to plan for tomorrow's women's conference and children's holiday club, plus a bit more IT training.

 One highlight of the day was the achievement of cooking dinner on our home made coal fire, followed by home made Popcorn and jelly...Joseph was beyond excited...well actually, we all were!

 We thank God Grace is feeling a little better and that we all had showers today...yay! We also thank Him for His creation all around us, including all the weird and wonderful, and a little scary, creatures... especially at night time!

 Please be praying for the team in South Sudan, for safety and protection, and for the women's conference and children's holiday club tomorrow. That God will go before us and we will see the Holy Spirit move powerfully, both in the women and children and in ourselves.

Blessings,

Burstons & Hills xx

Saturday 12th August:

 Today, Reninca, Liz and the girls and Joseph lead a women and children’s conference in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement.  Steve and I are in Juba, South Sudan, but it was incredible to see the photos and see the obvious joy and hope the conference gave to so many!  Over 80% of refugees in Uganda are women and children, and with rations having been cut for so many, life is incredibly hard.  This week we’ve witnessed the heart-breaking stories of children who’ve been left unable to talk for years due to the trauma they’ve faced from the war.  One beautiful boy was found trying to breast feed from his dead mother, having lost both parents in the war.  To see hope being bought into the settlement, even for a few short hours was beautiful to see.  Please pray it’ll be an encouragement for all those who attended and they’ll leave knowing their loved and that in some way, it will help in their journey.

 Steve and Gareth have been leading a Pastors conference in Juba, a challenging place. Steve found it heart-warming to hear the stories of pastors who are returning back to South Sudan having been refugees, and others who have stuck it out in South Sudan over an incredibly tough time. With so many challenges, they were so happy to receive theological training and passionate to use it to bring transformation to the country they love so much.  The war has left much poverty in this country and it’s humbling passing through some of the communities as those taking us around share their memories of all this city has faced. Unimaginable stories hard to comprehend.

 Tomorrow, we’ll be at several churches in Uganda and South Sudan. Please pray for continued safety and that those we meet with tomorrow will be encouraged with hope and peace beyond human understanding.

 With love and thanks for all your support and prayers, the Burstons and Hills xxx

Monday 14th August:

Yesterday back at camp, after Reninca cooked us delicious pancakes on the coal fire, we were taken to a local church in BidiBidi where some of the HHA team worship. It was beautiful and one of the highlights so far...a young man led us through a Bible study, James 4:1-4 before the service started, very thought provoking. Then we had a whole mix of worship with drums and home made metal shakers, including songs and dancing led by children and youth, plus testimonies, prayer.

Liz gave her testimony and looked at the story of Hannah, finishing with choosing joy despite hardship. It was so humbling to be with such worshipful and committed  people. The building itself, mud walls; corrugated roof; wooden beams decorated with bunting; lectern; dirt floor laden with plastic chairs and wooden benches; had been built at such great cost to them.

Today we visited a church in Palorinya for a smaller kids club this time, only about 100! A few children with disabilities came, including a young lad in a wheelchair whose mum was going to leave at home but he insisted on not being left behind! A teenage boy with downs syndrome arrived early with his adoptive mum (his birth parents didn't want him due to his disability) and absolutely loved it, especially playing foot all with Joseph and the girls, it was so heart warming!

The women's conference kicked off with worship and was well received, we never quite know if what we're saying has 'landed' but then the women respond after and we realise it has!

Steve and Carwyn arrived home safely early evening laden with goodies from Juba - it was a great celebration, sharing with each other over the camp fire, all that had happened over the last few days. Steve or Carwyn will provide an update on their visit later in the week…

We thank God for Steve and Carwyns safe return. We pray for healing for Phil who has Malaria. Please also pray for all the kids we've seen so far, especially those with disabilities, that they all felt seen and loved and they learnt more of God's love for them no matter their ability. Also for those who run the local churches, for God to sustain them through all the challenges they face.

 Much love, Hills & Burstons xx

Tuesday 15th August:

 On our final full day at the centre, after devotions and breakfast, Steve, Liz, Reninca, Grace and Lily set off for another day leading a women’s conference and kids club at a church in Marobi.

Another day of insightful teaching pressing into community and identity, delivered to the women. We heard powerful testimonies, one woman recounted how, when she lost a baby at birth, she was blamed for killing her baby by being careless with pushing during contractions. This happened again with her second baby. The third baby she delivered in hospital successfully as she had the right support for the issues she had during the first two deliveries, however she was so affected by the first two losses and accusations that she turned to drink and lost a lot of weight. She then started going to church where she found a supportive and loving community and gave her life to Christ. Since then she has stopped drinking, put on weight and her life has been transformed! In the final session Graces bracelet making went down a treat…so much so that one women burst into song with joy!! At the end there was worship and prayer ministry during which a woman came to know Jesus…Praise God!

During the women’s conference the team led a lively session for the many wonderful children of all different abilities that came and joined us. We learnt about the Bible, played games and sang songs…some led by the new addition  of Steve who brought lots of fresh laughter to the room! 

Meanwhile back at New Hope Alice was given the opportunity to spend the day with the doctors and nurses in the on-site paediatric ward. This gave Alice a great insight into the workings of healthcare services in refugee camps and common conditions children present with. Alice was slightly shocked by the nurse to patient ratio with only a handful of nurses for about 30 child inpatients, most with malaria.  This was a valuable experience for Alice to take home and apply to her children’s nursing degree. 

Carwyn Joseph and Abi spent the day at the centre, Abi assisted the team in making prosthetics and was very pleased with a finger cast she made! Joseph was in his element in the wheelchair department, making the wheelchairs fit for purpose and can survive some wear and tear!

In the evening we were privileged to be invited to baby Bernice’s (daughter of Florence, the centres receptionist) 1st birthday party. We had a great time singing, praying and eating cake in celebration of her life. We ended the night with pasta and sauce (chef Liz’s speciality) and a bonfire.

 We praise God for our amazing time at New Hope and the wonderful people we have met.

Please pray for our next leg of our travels, as we help lead a conference for the Community Based Rehab workers in Moyo.

With love, the Burston’s and Hill’s xx

Wednesday 16th August:

 We woke up early having all had a fractured night sleep from the epic thunderstorms happening during the night. We packed up and went for a final morning devotion with the staff.  Steve shared which they found really moving. We then said a sad goodbye to the centre staff at New Hope.

 This centre is amazing and it has been incredible seeing the staff literally changing lives every day through physio, providing wheelchairs and making prosthetics and orthotics, though that is just what happens on the surface so much happens underneath to change lives everyday. It’s been a privilege to see the team working so hard, who all sacrifice living away from family and only seeing them periodically to work at the centre and help the last the least and the lost.

We packed up and drove with Anthony our incredible driver who was amazing considering many of the roads had been washed away and we had to turn multiple times as roads were inaccessible. We arrived in Moyo staying at the multipurpose guest house.

We walked into the market and bought some fruit for lunch, then Steve and Carwyn did some training for the Kajo Kejistaff team who arrived from South Sudan. We were delighted to see Phil and Issac back from Juba, after Phil’s time in hospital with Malaria. In the afternoon we prepared training for the Community Based Rehab team training and got unpacked.

Tomorrow starts a two day conference for the Community Based Rehabilitation team who are an incredible group of volunteers who support people with disabilities in the community. They are an inspiring group of people who love Jesus and seek to be his hands and feet.

The evening involved listening to a four hour worship rehearsal. It was simply beautiful.

Thursday 17th August:

 What a privilege to spend the day with about 30 of the HHA East Africa team for the Community Based Rehabilitation Conference.  Everyone is well and we’ll share more on that tomorrow, but for now a few reflections from our weekend visit to Juba…

To say it was an eventful trip is an under-statement. Leaving early in the dark, our friend Gareth fell badly, leaving him with a suspected broken leg which became more painful as we progressed on the road.  It had rained severely the night before with cars stuck in the dirt tracks, some blocking roads, one bridge broken by the rushing water. We managed to get Gareth an x-ray and fortunately no fracture, but very badly bruised.

We arrived in Juba and whilst all buildings are heavily fortified, it was encouraging that the significant military presence we witnessed in 2016 had reduced and the oppressive atmosphere we’d previously experienced was less so. The hope for South Sudan was perhaps most powerfully highlighted on the Sunday when we visited a small house church in an area with displaced South Sudanese families who’ve fled fighting from other regions.  It was incredibly moving as the pastor explained the house by the tree where we met, had been a location of systematic killing, in which the home owner had been indiscriminately killed due to his tribal race.  This had happened in 2016/17, at a time when there was intense fighting between the Nuer and Dinka in the city.  Despite this history and the poverty around, the congregation of maybe 20-30 included both Nuer and Dinka households who’d reconciled and now stood as ‘one family’, alongside other tribes, denominations, young and old, able and disabled.  It was a beautiful image of reconciliation and hope from what was once a scene of such senseless horror.  The other lasting thought was how many children in the congregation were clearly malnourished. South Sudan has many challenges, food insecurity is one.

Another is malaria, and on Sunday our good friend and HHA volunteer Phil who’d joined us in Juba, had to be admitted to hospital suffering badly from malaria.  With insurance in place we were incredibly grateful for the excellent care he received at a private hospital.  But, it was a humbling reminder of how critical malaria can be.  In fact, in Uganda, it’s the leading cause of death amongst children.  We have the privilege of mosquito nets and anti-malarial drugs on this trip.  The majority of families we work with do not, with malaria claiming a child (under 5) nearly every minute globally.

Despite the challenges we faced on the trip, it was a success, perhaps most significantly meeting the Director General of The Ministry of Health to sign an MOU between them an HHA.  With this MOU signed, HHA can now open their new clinic in Kajo Keji, South Sudan at end of August. On the way back to Uganda, it was amazing having the chance to stop by and see the new clinic under construction.  It’s certainly bright, but is going to be a life-saving facility in a community still trying to rebuild after the devastating war.  The dream of a new HHA health facility that started in 2016 is now a reality and a huge thanks to all those at Church Crawley and other friends/family/supporters who’ve contributed to that and made it a reality!

Saturday 19th August:

After an extremely successful CBR conference we said goodbye to Multi-Purpose and Moyo and set off for our next and final leg of our mission trip - Adjumani, another refugee camp.

The first leg of the journey was stunning - rolling hills, dotted with rugged rocks and mud hut villages, took us down to a ferry on which we crossed the beautiful Nile. We continued on to Adjumani via a pit stop in Gulu, plus a brief stop to purchase some tarpoline to cover the luggage on our roof before the heavens opened!

We arrived at our destination early afternoon in blazing heat...late 30s, the pool was a welcome sight and a real treat, especially for Joseph and Abi who made the most of it! We chilled for the rest of the day, though a little too chilled later at a nearby restaurant, having to wait nearly 4 hours for our dinner to be served ...some of us got eaten alive by the mozzies as we sat patiently outdoors, telling ourselves that surely it'll come in a minute?!

It was a great opportunity though, to reflect on all the things we had done, people we had met, stories we had heard, some heart breaking, some heart warming. It's been such an incredible privilege.

As we head towards our final day of mission tomorrow, visiting a church to deliver men's, womens and kids ministries, we pray for renewed energy (the forecast is HOT!) and a real expectancy for God to use us and for us to be just as blessed.

Much love, Hills & Burstons xx

2022 was a particularly hard year for agriculture in northern Uganda. The worst East African drought in 40 years further exacerbated the already critical levels of food insecurity in the area, making our project even more vital than when we initially designed it. On top of this, cuts to food rations in the refugee camps meant that thousands were at risk of malnutrition.

Our project provided not only resources, but also training, to facilitate empowerment and sustainably improve outcomes in the long run. As well as providing emergency food aid to tackle more critical and immediate food insecurity, we implemented sustainable, long-term solutions to food insecurity through agriculture and livelihood support, including the provision of seeds, land, tools and training.

We reached 1,100 households through this project, of which 63% reported reduced dependency on food aid following involvement in the project, and 68% reported income generation through partial sale of their crops. Perhaps most excitingly, 99% of households - the majority of which included people with disabilities -  said that they felt more valued by members of their communities as a result of the project.

The below stories illustrate the impact of our work better than numbers ever could. We couldn’t be more grateful to our donors, our wonderful team in East Africa, and everyone else that made this project possible.

Mary’s Story

Mary lives with HIV/AIDS. Thanks to the funds she raised through this project, she was able to set up a sewing business. During a field visit, Mary invited us into her home and shared, 

"God sent you and directed you to me and it’s why I’m still alive. Before HHA came I was about to die as there was no food I could eat. The sickness I have, people would despise me and not come close to me. Only one person stood with me. When I came as a refugee I tried to engage with some NGOs but none stood with me, When I had lost hope and thought maybe I’ll die from hunger and then an HHA Community Based Rehabilitation worker came and registered me. I was very humbled and praised God for that. Thank you very much for helping people like me. The food you have provided has helped me look healthy now because before I was very thin. I couldn’t afford soap before to wash my clothes but now I can. Sometimes I used to just eat one meal a day or sometimes none. But now I can eat 3 times per day. Before I had no bed but due to the vegetables grown through the project which I sold, I now have a bed and mattress. From funds raised through this project I’m also making things to sell and constructing a poultry farm. I know many others who without your support, they may have died."

David & Elia’s Story

David and Elia Rupas are both refugees from South Sudan living in Bidibidi. Their family is led by their mother who is a single parent, with 8 children, including a child with polio. David and Elia help their mother and were happy to be part of HHA’s Nutrition and Agriculture Project. They shared how they were able to learn a lot and are now better able to do farming. With the knowledge they acquired through our extension workers, they were able to produce tomatoes, eggplant and onions, raising 120,000Ugx that they used to buy books, bags and school uniforms. They say that this was very good as they can now concentrate in class since they don't lack any education materials.

Loku’s Story

Loku Morris lives in Mijale and is unable to walk. On a field visit carried out by HHA’s East Africa Director and CEO, Loku explained, ‘Due to my disability, the community looked at me as an animal and not like any other human being. There was a lot of stigma due to my disability but the stigma has really reduced drastically because of the project. I feel valued now. The community mocked and laughed at me saying how can a cripple man who crawls cultivate? Many people thought the project wouldn’t be successful with people with disabilities, but that’s been changed! I feel valued now.’ Loku explained that when he started farming with this HHA project, some people from the community came and laughed and mocked him as he worked, calling him worthless, due to his disability and his attempts to farm. However, after a very positive yield, those same community members returned, apologizing and asking for his help to feed them. Loku had a good harvest and was able to sell some of his produce and buy goats and a sheep for future breeding so he could grow more stable financially with broader farming activities. He’s looking forward to scaling his farming efforts up in 2023.