Acts10 Incorporated

ACTS10 HAS COME FAR IN 2022. AFTER BUILDING RAPPORT WITH A YOUNG MAN WHO RUNS A SHELTER IN THE GREATER KAMPALA AREA FOR THOSE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. I WENT ON AN EXPLORATORY TRIP TO KAMPALA FROM APRIL 1-9TH, 2022. THERE, I MET THE LEADERS OF THREE SHELTERS AND GOT TO VISIT THEM ON THEIR RESPECTIVE PREMISES. I FOUND TWO OF THE THREE SHELTERS WELL RUN AND TRUSTWORTHY. THE LEADER OF THE THIRD, MY INITIAL CONTACT, HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE AND FRANKLY DECEITFUL. FORTUNATELY, THROUGH HIS INTRODUCTIONS, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE OTHER CONTACTS AND ALSO GAIN A MUCH STRONGER WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH A CITIZEN OF UGANDA WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN WORKING THERE FOR YEARS TO REDUCE STIGMA AGAINST THOSE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. HE IS WELL-EDUCATED, AND HAS TIES TO MY PASTOR HERE IN THE US. ACTS10 HAS UTILIZED THESE CONNECTIONS TO APPLY FOR GRANTS TO SUPPORT SHELTERS AND ALSO TO HELP SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL SHELTERS BY PROVIDING MONETARY ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, FOOD, AND MEDICAL CARE. WE ATTEMPTED TO GET A STUDENT HERE ON A STUDENT VISA, BUT ALTHOUGH HE WAS ACCEPTED TO A LOCAL UNIVERSITY IN INDIANAPOLIS, HIS APPLICATION FOR A STUDENT VISA IN UGANDA WAS DENIED. WE PAID FOR HIM TO TRAVEL TO NAIROBI TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM AS HE WAS NOT SAFE IN UGANDA. I HAVE ALSO GOT TO KNOW THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF MAREPA, AN ORGANIZATION IN NAIROBI THAT MINISTERS TO LGBTQ REFUGEES IN THE AREA. THESE GENTLEMEN HAVE RECEIVED ASYLUM AND NOW RESIDE IN THE US. THEY STILL HAVE CONTACTS IN NAIROBI THOUGH, AND THEIR ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO BENEFIT OTHERS. NOW, THROUGH THESE AND OTHERS OF THE ABOVE CONTACTS, ACTS10 PLANS TO GO TO NAIROBI AND TO KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP IN FEBRUARY OF 2024 FOR A MEDICAL MISSION TRIP. PREPARATIONS FOR THIS ARE UNDERWAY. ACTS10 ALSO PLANS TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH MAREPA AND WITH IRC INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, MAREPA HAS CONTACTS IN THIS ORGANIZATION, SO NOW ACTS10 DOES AS WELL. THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ABOUT NETWORKING, BUILDING TIES, AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. ACTS10 NEEDS TO RELY HEAVILY ON THOSE ALREADY ON THE GROUND WITH EXPERIENCE. WITH THE ABOVE IN MIND, 2022 WAS PRODUCTIVE.