Nayiga was a poor woman who had endured more hardships than most could imagine. Living in a small, run-down house on the outskirts of a slummy area, she struggled daily to provide for herself and her children. Her frail hands were no longer strong enough to work as they once had, and her resources had long been depleted. With no family to turn to, Nayiga had no choice but to seek help from others in the community. But each time she knocked on a door, the answer was the same—a harsh refusal or a door slammed in her face.
Days turned into weeks, and the weight of her situation began to crush her spirit. She had approached many wealthy individuals, believing someone would indeed be moved by her plight. But she was met only with coldness and indifference. People who had once been kind now saw her as a burden. Their harsh words stung, leaving her to wonder if anyone cared.
On Sunday, while walking back home after another fruitless day of seeking assistance, Nayiga met JFM. She shared her sorrowful endurance in the past days and how she has tried to seek help from multiple partners, but all in vain. Could this be her answer? Could there indeed be people who still cared enough to help?
With a heavy heart but a glimmer of hope, Nayiga decided to seek out JFM. As she approached JFM outreach center, her mind was filled with doubt. “What if they are like the others?” she thought. “What if they turn me away, too?” But something about the people she saw there seemed different.
As she walked closer, I noticed her and immediately approached with a smile. Our kindness and humble demeanor put her at ease, and she felt seen for the first time in a long while.
“Welcome, Mama,” I said warmly, “How can we help you today?”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Nayiga began to speak. Her voice cracked as she recounted her story—the many days of hunger, the doors closed in her face, and the harsh treatment she had received from those who could have quickly helped. She told me that she had reached out to so many people but was only met with cruelty and rejection.
“I was losing hope,” Nayiga admitted while sobbing. “But I heard about JesusFedMe and felt something inside me say, ‘Try, one more time.’ And when I saw you, I knew you were different. You were kind, and you didn’t look at me like I was a burden. You listened.”
“Here at JesusFedMe, we believe in more than just giving food. We believe in sharing the love of Christ and treating everyone with the dignity they deserve,” I told her, “No one should feel invisible, and no one should suffer in silence. You are not alone, Mama.”
Nayiga was given cash (Uganda Shilling) 120k worth of a sack of rice and food and offered a place to rest. But more than the physical help, she was given something she had longed for—hope. As our custom, I prayed with her, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, who never turned away the needy or rejected the broken-hearted. I reminded her of God’s love, a love that sees even the most overlooked and hears the cries of the forgotten.
We thank donors for the sacrifice they make to see such people are helped.
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