This summer, our East Africa development workers have been meeting with twelve youth from Bombo, Uganda every Saturday night.  This time lasts for a few hours and consists of Bible study and discussions about culture and relevant issues in the world today. For the last several weeks the discussions have revolved around God’s care for prisoners. We discussed Matthew 25 and focused on God’s desire for his people to visit and care for prisoners, who are grouped alongside the most vulnerable people in society (hungry, thirsty, sick and naked).  A visit to the Nakasongola Prison was then arranged so that the youth could connect what they were learning with practice.

On July 30th, John Nyago, Cameron Kagay, Adam Loeffler, two of our East African Cooperatives (Reuben Ndwiga and Lawrence Ssemakula), and 10 of the youth visited the Nakasongola Prison.  Although it was the youth’s first time at this prison, this was our movement’s third visit to the Nakasongola Prison this summer (the first two visits were with a SLAM team from North Carolina – they did educational programs and played soccer on the first visit, and teeth extraction, dental hygiene education, and donated tooth brushes and toothpaste on the second).  While at the prison two of the youth gave encouraging messages of hope from God’s Word. The group also performed songs, played soccer, and donated mattresses for the prison’s sick ward. Prior to our donations, their sick ward had no beds, mattresses, or straw mats; they only had a few blankets on which the patients could lay on the cement floor.

Both the prisoners and the prison staff were very thankful for our presence with them, the services we provided, and the goods we were able to donate. The youth from Bombo were also encouraged by their time and look forward for the opportunity to return. While we were there, prisoners were able to step away from their mundane routine and feel valuable because people invested their time and energy into educating, entertaining and providing for them. ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me’ – Matthew 25:40.

Written by:  Adam Loeffler