In the remote village of Namaasa, JFM encountered a man named James Oyot—a father doing his best to raise his two little children under very difficult circumstances. James shared with us the painful story of how his wife left to visit her parents and never returned. Since then, life has taken a difficult turn. He now finds himself both father and mother to his young children, Kate who is just 2 years old and Jimmy who is 3. Without any support system or a place to leave the children, James is forced to take them wherever he goes, even to the fields.
When we found him, James was harvesting local groundnuts, a humble crop that many in the area rely on for survival. His children were right beside him in the hot sun, too young to help and too small to be left alone. Despite the hardship, James pressed on—sweating, bending, and working with one eye always watching his children. His strength and endurance were clear, but so was his burden. He opened up about how difficult it is to provide food, care, and safety without any assistance. His biggest challenge remains how to work and care for his children at the same time.
JFM took time to sit with James and speak words of encouragement and hope. We reminded him that even when people fail us, God never does. We held hands, prayed together, and lifted his situation before the Lord. James was grateful, his face showing a glimmer of peace that hadn’t been there when we arrived. There, in the middle of his garden, heaven touched earth through prayer.
Before we left, we blessed James with food for his household—something to ease the pressure for a while. He smiled through tears as he received it, deeply thankful that someone remembered him and his children. Life may still be tough, but James knows now that he is not alone. JFM continues to stand with families like his, bringing hope where pain lives, and pointing people to the God who sees, hears, and provides.
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