Canaan Farms-Uganda

Our first stop in Uganda was in a town called Masindi to visit a ministry called Canaan Farm. Far Reaching Ministries has partnered with Uganda natives, Richard and Susan Angoma who own the farm & ministry. After doing a few home visits, it was evident that it is a place where healing the wounds of war takes place in the heart of the people. The ministry incorporates a tailoring school, bamboo jewelry making ministry, literacy program, and agriculture training.

     The ministry started about ten years ago at the time when the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) was terrorizing people in Northern Uganda. People who were running from the LRA requested to stay on the Canaan Farm. It is owned by Richard’s family and located in the Kiryandongo District. Richard was living in Jinja at the time, and when he came to visit the farm he found that the people had been traumatized by what they had experienced from the evil attacks of the LRA. He then felt a burden to come and help these people. After praying about it, the Lord led him to move to the farm and minister to their broken hearts.

     He ministered to them through evangelism, discipleship, and agricultural training on the farm to empower them to be able to farm their own land someday. The people sell the crops that are harvested to generate an income to support themselves. Richard lead a fellowship and prayer group to help meet the spiritual needs of the people.

      Many of the people who came to live on the farm had medical needs as well as spiritual needs. Money from the crops was used to buy medications for the sick. When Susan, a Registered Nurse, came to work on the farm as a volunteer she developed a burden and vision to help with the physical needs of the people so she started doing medical outreaches which are still taking place today. Currently there is a building project in effect for a medical clinic that will opened next year. She is praying for a doctor and a few nurses to come and serve at the clinic.

     Richard and Susan’s vision is to empower people to be able to generate an income for their family while also healing the war wounds of trauma. Besides training people in agriculture, the tailoring and bamboo jewelry ministry was also developed to help provide people with an income.

     The bamboo ministry started when Richard saw that the people needed a way to earn money in between crops. From the bamboo, earrings, napkin holders, and bracelets are made and then sold in America. The income generated from selling the items goes back to support the people. Through the Rabuna Fi Ministry of Far Reaching Ministries, the jewelry items are sold to raise support for the ladies providing them income for their families.

      The tailoring school started about two years ago and trains people to go on and start their own tailoring businesses. Tailoring school is everyday and includes a Bible study. When they graduate they’re given a sewing machine to help start a business. It was discovered at the tailoring school that some students were illiterate which led to the development of the literacy program. In this program students learn how to read and write in English and Acholi and they practice using the Bible.

Richard and Susan Angoma have vision to continue evangelizing and discipling the families who came to the farm. At the same time, they want to continue to see these families become empowered with the practical skills they need to get back on their feet again. While partnering up with Far Reaching Ministries to accomplish this vision, they have already seen many families to come to a place where they are farming on their own land and growing in their relationship with Christ. Please pray for the work of Canaan Farms to continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a place where there is much need for healing restoration in the lives of the people.