Immeasurably More . . . even Charcoal!

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to flip another pancake or buy another bag of charcoal without thinking of Jennifer.  And I KNOW I’ll never read Ephesians 3:20-21 without thinking of Jennifer!

Jennifer lives in the slums of Kampala, a place defined by filth, disease, and violence. It's a hard place to live any time, but since the Covid-19 lockdown, her obstacles have seemed insurmountable.

We know Jennifer because she is the mother of one of our sponsored children. She is also a widow with six additional dependents. She does her best to care for them by selling pancakes, and rarely does a day go by when she is not standing at the top of the road in front of a fired-up griddle. Normally it makes for a sweltering day, from morning until evening. But starting three months ago, Jennifer had to close down her little business due to government restrictions. This left her in a desperate situation with no food for her children.

Jennifer explains, “I only earn enough money for daily food. So I was really scared how we would survive since I couldn’t work. Many times during the first weeks, we ate one bowl of watery porridge the whole day.”

Jennifer added, “All that I did was to pray to God that I get through every day. The situation made me feel so weak. I always prayed to God to make a way where there seemed to be no way. I believed he wouldn’t disappoint me because his delay is not his denial.” (If you are reading this and are a preacher, isn’t that the best sermon title ever—“God’s Delay Is Not His Denial”? Such truth, such profound, undeniable truth in Jennifer’s words!) 

Jennifer continued, “Finally, God came to my rescue through my EWT family. God used them to send us food —enough for two meals a day. We received items like posho (maize flour porridge), cooking oil, and soap—and even CHARCOAL! It has showed me that God responds differently when we pray. At some point, we expect him to respond immediately. It has taught me to always hold on to him in every situation because he provides MORE than what we ask for."

Jennifer finished her story by saying, “I prayed to God for food. I didn’t ask for CHARCOAL, but God has even provided the charcoal I need to cook my food! God knows what is best for us.”

Jennifer says she wants to send a big thank you from the bottom of her heart for meeting her family's big need. Without it, she says she and her family would not be smiling now. 

Whenever I read Ephesians 3:20-21, I will think of Jennifer and charcoal and how we serve a God who provides immeasurably more! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” And Jennifer, we want you to know that there are a whole bunch of folks on this side who are smiling with you and your family. Immeasurably more!

EWT partners, we thank you for all the hungry people you have fed

and for all you do to be the love of Jesus to ourbrothers and sisters in Uganda!

By Gigi Johnston