*Story and photo published with permission.
“I didn’t even have a fork.”
Looking at her gregarious nature and infectious smile, no one would have guessed that just five years ago, chased out of her in-law’s home after her husband tragically met with a fatal accident, that she had roamed and lived off the street.
“Four months after my husband died and I was living on the streets, my father passed away.”
From tragedy to the next, Fatumah lost hope. Without a job, clothes, property and any of her belongings, which had been taken over by her in-laws, she found herself helpless.
“I had nothing I carried with me when I was on the streets, not even a fork!”
But the God she believed in carried her through.
“When I met Pastor Mukisa and came to Cornerstone Church Entebbe, my life changed. He was like a daddy to me. He helped me find a roof over my head and food to eat. He did not care for his sheep just from the pulpit, but he did it for me in reality. ”
In the Ugandan language, “Mukisa” means blessing. Truly, through Pastor Mukisa, the Ugandan pastor whom we partner, who helped and continues to help us adjust to and enjoy Uganda, many, including us, have been blessed.
It was then when things took a sharp turnaround. With Pastor Mukisa’s encouragement and help, Fatumah enrolled herself into Bible School for a year. Shortly after, she found a job selling mukene (local dried fish), and a one-room home to stay in. Instead of only receiving help from Pastor Mukisa, she started to bless him with bags of sugar, bought with her hard-earned money.
Most importantly, she found hope.
“I followed God, and He followed me.”
Beaming, she points at a 2nd-hand wedding gown carefully wrapped in a yellowed bag. “Look what I bought,” she says, “Guess how much I paid for this!”
“Fifty dollars!” I say.
“Nope.”
“Twenty-five?”
“No! Can you believe I got this for 30’000 Shillings (11 USD)?”
The dress is her pride, the only luminous thing shining in her dark, dank quarters.
“No, I don’t believe you!” I exclaim, teasing her. “WOW, that’s SUCH a good deal!” We laugh together.
More than just another white dress, Fatumah’s 2nd-hand wedding gown symbolizes her long-awaited fresh start. Having rebuilt her life with bricks of faith, Fatumah’s hope in God has cemented joy within her heart. She is looking forward to wed next year, and her fiancé shares her same strong faith.
Today, her eyes of hope and faith belie her heart-wrenching past. Not only has she picked up the pieces, she has found joy, strength and faith again to live each day.
“I followed God, and He followed me.”
Fatumah, us and her nephews