On May 1, 2009 I departed on a three month adventure to visit Bright Hope's church partners who are working with families living on less than $1 a day.  In Zambia a small organization with five staff members have united 22 churches and are providing care for individuals with HIV, orphans who want to go to school and desperately poor families that would like to eat more than once a day.

With the help of Bright Hope the poor families in the community are growing crops and building businesses with micro loans, one thousand orphans are receiving uniforms and school fees so they can attend school and church volunteers are visiting HIV+ community members to offer help around the house and encouragement on the more difficult days.

In Uganda I met incredible men and women of faith.  In personal sacrifice they have devoted their lives to reaching out to their nation.  In the north Bright Hope has helped our partner start a micro loan program (see video!) that includes trainings in business management, agriculture and christian leadership. 

Near the capital, on an island of Lake Victoria, I visited a school started by our partner who is providing the opportunity for education at a fraction of the cost of government schools.  We discussed rain collection for clean water for the students and looked into starting gardens for the teachers so they could generate extra income.

The indigenous organizations that Bright Hope partners with are the real hands and feet of development and relief.  The nationals involved volunteer their time, give of their resources and continually strive to uplift the poor.  It was a pleasure to spend time with them and listen to their suggestions for how we can better work with them.