Sarah & Henry in front of the house he built

Pastor Henry and his wife, Sarah, operated a fish resell business for many years. Henry rode his bicycle four miles to purchase wholesale fish. Then he returned to his village to prepare the fish for sale. He either smoked or fried the fish and then got back on his bicycle to sell the fish on his 30 mile route! 30 miles. On a bike. Every day. Can you imagine that?

Say Yes gave Henry $200 in 2012 – with that money he was able to increase his fish purchases and keep his bike in good repair. This allowed him to sell more fish, which in turn allowed him to buy land and build a 3-room brick house and keep his children in school – the oldest even going to university. However, the laborious work started causing Henry some health problems. He was having back pain and his heart was hurting. He needed something other than a bike to get his fish sold.

Two bodabodas for Henry!

In 2014 Say Yes took the matter to donors and we were able to provide enough funds for Henry to purchase a new motorcycle (called a “bodaboda” in Uganda). He was overwhelmed with such a gift! His health improved significantly and he was able to increase his business even more. When we saw Henry in 2015 he had already purchased another bodaboda (used) and hired a man to help him sell the fish.

This is a

n incredible success story and is a direct result of the goodness of the Lord! However, life seldom remains the same – challenges come and go and it’s up to us to decide how we will deal with them. That second used bodaboda Henry purchased was stolen some time in 2016. The fish market was in decline – the fish were too small to legally sell.

Although Sarah continued selling produce at their near empty fish stand in the village, Henry had to figure something else out. After all those years of selling fish, what would he do now?  He decided to focus on selling second hand men’s clothing.  He was already known as the traveling fish salesman, it didn’t seem too much of a switch up to be a traveling clothing salesman.  So that is what Henry is doing now. Once again, Say Yes was able to help him get established in a new type of business – used clothing. He is doing well; is very happy with the business; and is still able to sustain his family. His son is even helping him on his route! This is a clear case in point – when you keep your focus on the Lord, and not the circumstances, you remain in peace and wait for His deliverance.  His promises are yes and amen! He will never leave us or forsake us!

Click on the link below to watch Henry & Sarah’s joy at receiving money to “top up” the inventory to their used men’s clothing business – you are sure to smile!

Pastor Henry & Sarah with a picture of their daughter who graduated university with two degrees in 2017 – it was the fish business that made this possible!

Henry in front of his house (newly painted) and the kitchen Say Yes paid for – Sarah is now covered when she fixes meals and she has storage space.

Henry was able to also purchase two goats, which is likely to grow into a herd rather quickly. Another income stream for the family.

Henry with his bike he used to put the fish in the basket to sell

Another view of the local fish stand in their village

The old “kitchen” Henry and Sarah would use to prepare the fish and to fix meals. Thank goodness this is gone, replaced by something much better for now.

Pastor Edith has been a nurse for a long time – she currently works part-time at the Masaka Hospital in Western Uganda.  But when she attended a gospel crusade she found her true calling – sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ! She attended a bible school and became a pastor.  Although she continues to work as a nurse her passion is focused on Jesus.

We met Edith in 2015 during our first trip to the Uganda’s west side. We ministered in her little church (mostly young people!) and enjoyed a meal with her family and church members. As we chatted with Edith we asked what more she would like to do for the surrounding community. She mentioned a hair salon because ALL African women love having their hair styled. But she also talked about a health clinic, which was greatly needed because the village was so far from a town with medical facilities. People already knew she was a nurse and would come to her for assistance on occasion.  It seemed a natural fit: nurse + health clinic = a business! Right up our alley! So Say Yes funded the beginnings of a health clinic on the spot.  Edith and her children live with her mom who has a building behind the house with an extra room. She gave her blessing to transform the extra room into the health clinic.  So we gave Edith enough money to get clinic furniture (chairs, table, cabinet, bed, paint for the building inside and out, etc).

The microscope!

When we returned in 2016 we saw the clinic in action.  People of all ages were coming to the clinic for treatment. Edith is allowed to give simple medications and injections. She works with a doctor to diagnose the more serious health challenges. Thanks to a Say Yes donor she now has a microscope to help her determine disease such as malaria, pneumonia, typhoid and other common illnesses.

As we were talking to the people at the health clinic that day in 2016 many expressed their gratitude for the clinic, including Muslim gentlemen who also said they really trust Edith with their health care.  What an honor it is to be part of what God is doing in a small village in the middle of no where, not even on a map. His love is on display and it’s making a difference in many lives!

There is still much to be done at the clinic.  Solar, water tank & filter, larger inventory of medicine, a computer for record keeping, etc. It is our hope the clinic will provide enough income to allow Edith to be there full time.

Clinic entrance

Edith is interviewing a young patient

Taking blood pressure

Children waiting to be seen

Pastor Ben and his wife, Carol pastor a small church in Wankanya, just outside of Kikyusa. Virgil and Say Yes Board Member, Kevin Wilson, spoke in his church in 2012. We found Ben and Carol to be very hospitable and humble people. One can readily see their hearts are for the Lord and the people they serve.

Besides being a pastor, Ben is skilled at repairing bicycles, a common mode of transportation for many in the Luwero District. When we inquired how his business was going, we were told he was not able to grow the business much due to lack of inventory for parts. He wasn’t complaining – just stating the facts. Say Yes was able to send Ben and Carol $200 to increase the inventory for the bike business. We saw him in 2014 and learned the business had greatly increased with the help of those funds.

When we returned to Uganda in 2015 we visited with Ben and Carol to see the progress. He moved his shop to a more centrally located area for greater visibility. Because of increased income he is now able to pay the rent for his shop and house and has funds to pay any necessary medical bills. He is also able to help with the needs of his church, including the elderly, and paying school fees for children.

We were very impressed with Ben’s commitment and desire to improve things for his family and his church. And because of generous donors, Say Yes was, once again, able to give him more funds to increase the inventory even more.

A 2017 update to this wonderful story of progress: The owner of the space Ben was renting for his bike business wanted to start his own business using that very location. So Ben had to leave that location – he kept the bike business going as best he could from his own home. However, as it turns out, the owner was not successful in his venture and asked Ben if he wanted to come back. The only stipulation was that the owner wanted one year’s rent payment in advance, which Ben didn’t have.  But God had different plans. Through a network of communication Say Yes found out about this need and was able to pay the year’s rent up front for Ben – $110! He is back in business and doing well once again!  God is Good All The Time!

Ben working on a bike

Ben’s tools for his shop

Ben’s shop in 2016

Ben’s beautiful wife, Carol

Pigs are in constant demand in Uganda as pork is a highly favored meat by the people. It makes sense that raising pigs would make for an excellent business.  Say Yes has started many family businesses like this by purchasing a pregnant sow for bush pastors and others. The sow typically delivers between 6 and 12 piglets. The family is careful to keep the pigs healthy and then either sells some or decides to grow them to butcher for their own needs.  They are encouraged to give at least one piglet away to someone else in need so they can get started in their own business.

A shining star in this kind of business is Prossie, a determined mom of four. She works a part-time nursing job and is constantly planting and harvesting crops to feed her family.  Add to that the two pregnant pigs Say Yes purchased for her that produced a total of 16 piglets!  Of course, the pigs need feed and immunization shots – all of which she is taking care of on her own.  As of this writing, Prossie’s pigs have produced again and she now has about 27 piglets! She is planning to sell enough piglets to purchase a male pig to service the sows.  Prossie has reason to smile with the success she is experiencing!  Say Yes recently provided enough funding to surround her pig pens with a secure fence to prevent theft.

Virgil checking out the pig pens

Everyone is interested in food!

Prossie tending to the pig pens

Say Yes International has been supporting Paul since 2009 when he was still living at Faith Children’s Home in Lugazi. He is an exceptional young man with vision.  He received seven goats when his grandmother passed away in 2015.  He decided to sell them and with the help of a small loan from a friend he started a brick business.

Brick tower ready to burn

During the time this business was in operation he hired people to prepare the clay and soil and then form the bricks; others laid the bricks out to dry and still others stacked the bricks to be burned in the kiln.  He had at least 7 people working for him in this business, which was such a blessing to these people. As happens in Uganda, the rains washed out his third and last stack of bricks, which took him out of the business altogether.  But he was able to set money aside to keep himself fed and with housing. Paul was involved with this business as he worked toward a university degree in social work, which he finished June 2016.  The whole experience was an excellent opportunity to learn how business is done and how to deal with the daily challenges, including the weather!

Say Yes purchased a pregnant sow for Paul to start a piggery. He was able to add two young male pigs, which was prudent as none of the sow’s litter survived. The remaining pigs are growing well and he will continue to add to the piggery in months to come.

The land

Of course, it would seem best if he had his own land to put the pigs and grow feed for them, wouldn’t ya think? Well, once again thanks to generous donors, Say Yes was able to help Paul purchase two acres of land! Paul was very overwhelmed when he learned he would be a land owner. His comment was “who am I that God would bless me so?” He is now dreaming of what he can do with the land to glorify the Father.

Paul has shown over and over again his heart to help others who are in need.  And he has helped Say Yes many times when we needed something checked on or support delivered to someone.  He demonstrated great interest and love in doing all he could to help. He is well received by his fellow Ugandans and they place great trust in him.  He continues to give his time as a liaison for Say Yes in Uganda – traveling with us when we are in Uganda and being our interpreter. We are greatly blessed to call this young man our son….this young man who is no longer an orphan.

We met Agness in 2012.  She is a widow with three children to raise in Gganda Village just outside Kampala.  When her husband died she was left with next to nothing until a local pastor came alongside to help.  He asked what business she might be interested in starting.  She thought she could manage selling charcoal and would like to start a chicken business.  Say Yes International had helped this pastor start a brick making business and it was his desire to help others. So he used funds from his business to help Agness begin a new chapter in her life.  She is thankful to God and to the Body of Christ at her church for the support she has received. Agness continues to be creative in applying her business skills. As is frequently the case, business of varying sorts come and go, so she is ever vigilant to see what the needs are in her community and adapts accordingly.