Over 8.4 million people in Uganda live without access to safe, clean drinking water.

For mothers, this means the risk of parasites and dangerous waterborne illnesses threatening the lives of their children. For young girls, it means walking kilometres every day with heavy cans down dangerous roads instead of going to school. Water is everything: education, good health, gender equality, food security. Water is life.

So, ECC partners with ACTS to help bring life to villages in Uganda.

JANUARY 2024 PRAYER Update Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support over the past many months.  It has been an incredibly busy season, but everything, from your check-ins to the unexpected grace that our team here and in Uganda has felt, has been so appreciated.  We know that this work is more than what meets the eye. A few specific things I’m giving thanks for: A few of our team members were injured on the job in the fall, but thankfully, their injuries were minor, and all have recovered. A Ugandan colleague gave birth to a healthy child, and the sicknesses were overcome. After some very difficult roadblocks with funding partners in Uganda and Internationally, our patient, persistent Ugandan team has been able to successfully resolve differences, maintain relationships, and keep the partnerships going. After a very slow October and November financially (frightening), the middle of December really turned around for us, and we more than made up the difference in fundraising! We find ourselves being able to look ahead to do amore than initially planned in Uganda at the start of the fiscal year. What a blessing! A few items I’d love your prayers for: Open doors with governments & partners. As we continue to work in deep connection with local governments and agencies, we need real progress on what feels like bureaucracy and politics standing in the way of potentially promising outcomes for all.  Dependency and Discernment. That we may be deeply dependent on Christ to lead and wise in discerning how and where to go. I think listening and trusting well, in a very noisy world, is increasingly important for us. There is always more I could write, but I wanted to mainly reach out to say thank you, I notice you, I appreciate you, and I value your role in this work.  Please keep praying, and please reach out any time to me for coffee, or just a chat. With Gratitude, -Jeff DECEMBER 2023 Update Dear Emmanuel Christian Community, I recognized her smile right away. When a team of us visited Irimya a few weeks ago, we stopped in to see one of the entrepreneurial workshops (skills training for community members) in action.  There she was - sitting casually with her friends, laughing.  Rosette, in real life! If you caught my email in October, I shared about her. How she’d told Athens about the hope she has now that clean water is on its way because awesome people like you feel kindness towards her community.  Like you, I’d only “met” her in pictures. But seeing Rosette there, in person, made this project so much more real.   She was light and FULL of hope. While her community waits for clean water to arrive (It’s on its way - see the project progress on our blog), Rosette is learning practical skills like how to sew sanitary pads and make soap and jelly for her family - all things she can do with the time she’ll soon have back in her day when she no longer has to walk kilometers for water. With progress like this, we know it’ll be sooner than later:   80% of the entrepreneurship training has already happened in Rosette’s community 40% of the hygiene education is complete 2 of the 3 new latrine blocks have been built at the schools  11 km of pipeline has been dug This Christmas season, having your heart in their corner means more than ever to moms like Rosette, who can now hold real hope for the future.  With Gratitude, -Lisa

SEPTEMBER 2023 UPDATE from Jeff

SUMMER 2023 UPDATE

CLICK HERE to read a quick update on all that is happening in Uganda!

MAY UPDATE

I have a lot of memories of spending the summers at my grandparents’ house by the lake and sitting for hours in that hot, beachy sand, watching everything the water reflected. Totally enthralled.

Do you ever catch yourself doing that? 

There’s something about the way water has the power to reflect incredible things around it.

I can't help but also think about the incredible reflection your kindness has left on communities in Uganda. Water, just like your generosity, brings life, health, and hope to those who need it most. 

You’ve made an incredible mark by helping:

• Double the dollars sent to Uganda to extend water systems,

• Double the teams to work on two systems at once, and

• Double the people reached with clean water! 

Click here to see the full reflection of your kindness in our newly released Impact Report.

Thank you for giving the gift of clean water this fiscal year.

Because amazing people like you stayed the course with us during challenging times, it became a year that 41,451 more people will never forget because they are experiencing their first sips of clean water and can now put down their jerry cans to pick up the things that matter most to them: their kids, grandkids, school books, and more.

So deeply grateful for your generosity,
Lisa 

Lisa Beiderwieden, with Acts for Water

PS. Your generosity made an incredible mark this year. Soak up the reflection of your kindness in our newly released 2022-2023 Impact Report. I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to hit reply and let me know what caught your attention on these pages or what you’d like to know more about. 

APRIL 2023 PROJECT UPDATE

I’m at my desk, laughing out loud. Surely this is more than a coincidence…

That village we’re super close to project completion in? It’s called Kanywameizi.  Which I just learned literally means: drink water.  

Come on… that’s too good.

Your kindness has led to 100% of the taps and toilets being completed in both communities! People are now literally drinking clean water and practicing healthy hygiene because of your gifts.

There’s a lot to celebrate. 

At the beginning of May, hundreds of people from these two areas will gather for a big party to commission the water system extensions and new taps. You’ve had such a significant role in this community and deserve a front-row seat for the big party. We’ll definitely share a video replay soon!

Your kind partnership is making the best kind of difference. Thank you.

-Jeff

PS. Our original plan for these communities involved a total of 13 latrines and 140 tap stands. Due to a lack of funding, timing, and a few taps that could not be refurbished, our team had to adjust the scale of the project. Thankfully the 111 taps and 10 latrine blocks are functioning, and the water is flowing for over 20,000 more people!!

MARCH 2023 PRAYER UPDATE

Thank You for your prayers and encouragement during my last trip.  It truly was one for the books.  

One of the big goals was to connect with international funders (Governments, Corporations) as well as lead our Ugandan Management team through some larger strategic planning exercises.  Both of these went really well and I can already see the fruit of this work just a few weeks later. 

I was able to witness a community of about 9000 receive their award for the highest standard in hygiene and sanitation - after 12 months of us working with them.  The celebration went on for 3 hours of singing, dancing and speeches.  It was probably the most moving event in Uganda I’ve been to - and it wasn’t even over taps being turned on (this had happened months prior!). 

Unfortunately I got quite sick coming home - a first for me, but have been recovering well.  Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement along the way.

-Jeff

FEBRUARY 2023 PRAYER UPDATE

Could you pray for us?

Tracey and I are heading to Uganda next week, and there are a few things we’d really like prayer for. 

Independent of the trip, however, we value your prayers for this work. I don’t update this group enough, but today I want you to know we’re in the middle of seeing some incredible fruit in Uganda! Unbelievable results of our programming - both on an individual level (i.e. a single project) but also comparatively when you reference it to the sector.

Thanks to our partners, we expanded last year and served around 4x more people than ever before. However, this past year, we experienced a significant decline in revenue, along with a currency swing that is forcing us to make some tough cuts ahead with respect to what schools and health clinics get latrines, etc. We would deeply appreciate your prayers as we navigate these confusing times.

As we head to Uganda, we would specifically appreciate your prayers for the following: 

Partnerships: it feels like we’re really close to finalizing partnerships with some of the largest NGO’s in the world, Corporations, and Government agencies that could really help scale our work or just take it to the next level. These kinds of partnerships are so key for us to build sustainability and greater coverage in Uganda, but I feel like we’re hitting walls or just “stuck.” It’s slow-moving.

Important Conversations: We’re heading to Uganda to continue our ongoing strategic planning with our Senior Leadership Team, including challenging conversations about which communities are next to be served and which ones wait. It also includes a continued emphasis on localized leadership development, future staffing considerations, and budgeting ramifications in Uganda. The reality of an economic downturn right as we’ve been growing in impact has been a challenging tension to hold. Lots more to unpack there if you wish to know more.

Health & Travel Complications: Unfortunately, I’ve managed to sprain my ankle and wind up on crutches just days before we take off. I’m sure it’ll get better. With so much sickness going around (Tracey’s previous two trips have been modified or canceled), we are particularly mindful of this as we prepare to head out. Dealing with airlines, lost luggage, and more. We’d really value your prayers here.

Thank you so much for standing with us in prayer. It truly is an integral part of what we do together! Please do reach out for more questions or comments or just to say hi.

DECEMBER 2022 UPDATE

CLICK HERE for a Christmas update for ECC from Acts.   

HERE is a short personalized video created by Athens in Uganda, to help visualize your impact!

NOVEMBER 2022 UPDATE

Despite some of the most significant challenges ever, we’re doubling down on our commitment to help communities thrive through clean water. We now have three teams running projects, just launched 2 more projects serving another 21,000 people thanks to you. Check out the details to this HERE!

PRAYER UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

Thank you for your prayers and faithful support of this work - I so appreciate it. Our team in Uganda is just coming back from their four weeks home, most of which was spent planting and preparing for the year ahead. I’m in awe at how much more connected to the land the team there is.

Our Staff
We’ve experienced a number of personal events in the lives of our staff this summer. The passing of parents, uncles, and close friends. Weddings, and new babies for Hilda, our Manager of Operations, and Keith, our Engineer. It reminds me of how interwoven this work is, particularly when the team in Uganda lives together in such close community.

Our Funding
We’ve experienced the setback of abruptly losing our second largest donor due to a change in heart. Rising inflation has meant it costs on average 25% more for us to deliver the same amount of water. This comes right as we continue to lean into scaling our team and the work. Some days I’m really unsure of the direction we are to take.

Our Pace
Connected to the funding is the pace. Last year it felt like the wind was at our backs, and in many ways, it still does. However, I’m approaching the subject of growth with more questions these days. Balancing out the desire to deliver water to as many people, as fast as we can with sustainability and quality for the long haul is a matter of much prayer.

Thank you as always for joining with us.
-Jeff on behalf of the team.

MOVING FORWARD: TOGETHER

APRIL 21 2022

CLICK HERE to read Mugisha Patrickis’ encouraging story!

PRAYER UPDATE

APRIL 14, 2022

Hello Acts Prayer Community. It has been far too long. Time is just racing. Thank you for your consistent, faithful support of our ministry, especially during these times. We depend on it. 

Here are two key ways you can join us in offering prayer for our work. I know I can err on the side of “just getting it done” (which perhaps is why sometimes these emails are too few and far between), but I also know this work is not just done by grit and grind, but by grace and goodness. So thanks for being a part of that. 

1. Travelling to Uganda: Tracey, Lisa, Jocelyn (our new Board Chair and longtime Board Member), and Tracey’s daughter Kelsey are all coming to Uganda (with me). We leave on April 21st. I’ll be there till May 11, with Tracey and Kelsey leaving just before that, and Jocelyn and Lisa leaving a week prior. It’s a long trip, packed with meetings, visits, some important interviews (see below) and hopefully just reconnecting with our colleagues after two long years away (or for some, meeting for the first time). We would appreciate your prayers here - for our families at home, and for our well-being and effectiveness while there. Also, unfortunately, I (Jeff) and Tracey have been feeling a bit under the weather as of writing, and Lisa has just had a tragedy in her family. All of these things we would ask you to remember to pray for leading up to, and during our time away.

2. Growth Pains: By God’s grace, we are looking to increase our team size in Uganda by 50%, add more sustainability initiatives to our work as well as dramatically increase the number of people who receive clean water. However, this has not come without its normal challenges. One of the key goals, while we’re there, is to hire a new Director of Operations. This is going to be a key role for us and for the growth of our organization. Please pray for wisdom in particular as we seek to hire the right candidate. 

Lots more we can always say, but praying as you feel led is more than enough. Feel free to reach out anytime along the way to hear more and thanks again for your support.

Jeff - on behalf of the team.

PROJECT UPDATE

february 22, 2022

One piece of feedback we heard from our donor survey was to know quickly and clearly what is happening because of your partnership in Uganda. Our new Project Update emails are simple and designed to do just that: give our generous community a quick glance into what’s happening right now in Uganda.

Every month we’ll give you a snapshot of how our projects are doing and in between Athens will keep a rolling log of the updates on our site.

If you want to dive a little deeper into what makes our water systems so resilient, I've written a post HERE.

YEAR END PRAYER UPDATE

DECEMBER 20, 2021

Merry Christmas Acts Prayer Family,

What a year to be concluding! 

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support of this ministry this past year. The consistency and honesty of the work of providing water to those in need, the presence of our staff and volunteers, and the generosity of our donors and prayer partners like you has led to so much life in 2021 -  a wonderful redemption story in the midst of challenges. 

Here are a few prayer items to join us on as we close out the year and look ahead to the next:

Prayer Updates:

Join us in giving thanks - the last prayer email mentioned an MOU needing signatures for our next project. It’s now signed and we’re good to go. One of the many significant things about this MOU is that it has the largest contribution amount ever from a local district government! 78% of materials and 50% of staffing costs, covered locally!

We’re so thankful to be successfully wrapping up the final phase of a three year journey in the same region - our most comprehensive water project yet. It’s an historic milestone for us, one that we’ll share more on in the new year, but we’re deeply grateful for everyone’s role in making this happen. It’s exciting to share that the latest community also passed the highest national standard for health and hygiene, and soon 17,000 people will have clean water for life! 

Lastly, I shared how fundraising has been going slower this year. I’m thrilled to say this has turned around and our year end is shaping up to be better than ever! What an amazing surprise!

Unfortunately, the trip Lisa and I had booked to Uganda for January 6th was cancelled due to Omicron. This has implications on programming, team building and fundraising, not to mention overall morale. We’re praying for wisdom and insight into when we should go next.

Your prayers for our staff, for rest and protection over the break - particularly those in Uganda with just over 2% vaccination rate - are appreciated.

Lastly, as we begin the new, very large project and look to scale up our Ugandan team quite significantly in 2022, we value your prayers for wisdom in hiring key positions to help grow their impact. 

Thank you all for how you carry this work with you. It truly matters.

-Jeff on behalf of the Acts Team

WE (OVER)COME TOGETHER

November 24, 2021

Watch Imelda's story and hear about the Sweeter Water Project.

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

October 11, 2021

As a kid, one of my least enjoyable pre-Thanksgiving-dinner activities was going around the table and sharing “one thing” that we were thankful for. It felt like torture to watch the turkey cool while I racked my brain for something. It’s funny that now I make my kids do it, because well, the practice is pretty crucial (but I let my 4 year old eat while she does it, because some battles aren’t worth ruining turkey dinner for).   

In Uganda, these are the quotes of gratitude for clean water being shared around our team’s table:

Now, more than ever it feels crucial to share the big and the little stories of gratitude. I’m feeling particularly grateful for those of you who made it possible for our team to walk with Ruth, Jovlet and Rosette, to help these women [over] come so much, together.  

From our table to yours, Happy Thanksgiving,

~ Jeff

PS. While it may only be Thanksgiving, we’re looking forward to Christmas and hoping we can have 25 people here, empower 25 families in Uganda with clean water, hygiene and sanitation essentials and more, through fundraising $500 from their community. We are over 50% of the way there and only need 12 more Ambassador families! Check out the campaign HERE to be a part of giving Ugandan families the incredible promise of clean water at Christmas. Thanks so much.

FALL PRAYER UPDATE FROM THE ACTS TEAM

Hello Friends

I’m sure you, like me, are stunned to find it’s Fall already. Where does the time go! At our last update, things in Uganda seemed pretty intense. At one point, close to 50% of our team had COVID.. What made it more difficult was that due to the lockdown situation, the field team was required to isolate or lockdown, together. So of course it made a hard situation, harder. I’m always just so amazed at the resiliency and strength of the women and men there.

Since then, just like here in Canada, a lot has happened, and while many of you receive our ‘regular’ communication, I wanted to give just a few items you could specifically pray for as we enter this Fall season.

We’re so grateful that all of our Ugandan team has recovered from COVID with seemingly no lasting side effects and that their family members who had it also recovered! The extended, severe lockdown has also largely come to an end. We also just heard yesterday that School will resume in September (not literally today though). This is so good for the kids. We’re also giving thanks for some really great program results in the field! This past community we've been in has proven to be fairly challenging, but despite that, they ‘graduated’ to the next level of health and sanitation. A really incredible accomplishment for them! Back in Canada, I personally feel grateful for the longest vacation of my professional life (3 weeks unplugged) and the staffing structure here to support that now. It’s been great to see our team work smoothly.

Our Ugandan team is just returning to the field now after an extended period at home. We’re asking for prayer in particular for an MOU to be signed with the District Government for our next project. This would be our largest collaboration with the government yet, reflecting their most sizeable contribution to our work, and more importantly, a show of true partnership in this endeavour.  It's a lot of persistent 'fundraising' from our Ugandan leadership to make this happen.

In Canada, we’re heading into the busy Fall fundraising season. Unfortunately this year, fundraising has been slightly harder than last - and we’re a bit behind on revenue to where we need to be to make our budget. We’re praying for wisdom to think creatively and listen well, for energy to endure this long season and trust here as we keep sharing the stories of hope, of overcoming together, and of restoration through water.

There’s so much more to share, but I’ll leave it here for this moment and invite you to reply back if you’d like to grab coffee sometime or chat via Zoom to hear more.

Thanks as always for your prayer and support of this work, and if you have any prayer requests, needs or anything we can do for you here - don't hesitate.

Jeff

on behalf of the ACTS team