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Jalia Muntu and her family had noticed a family when they had attended a funeral in Isingiro district. This family lives next to Jalia’s friend who had lost his mother. The old woman, Natukunda Sarah, offered Jalia and her family a place to perform their prayers after the burial.
Sarah is a single mother of 3 children and 5 grandchildren. She has been living with HIV/AIDs virus for over 6 years prior to and her husband succumbed to the disease. She provides for the family by farming on her neighbors’ land. One of her daughters is deaf and another is suffering from a chronic disease.
To Jalia and her family she asked for simple help, school supplies, books for the grandchildren’s studies, foot to help feed the family. Jalia promised to return in the near future.
The discussed how to best help, and decided to visit in July. The family prepared food, sugar, millet flour, cooking oil, salt, other supplies like detergents, soaps and a jerry can to carry water, and of course pencils and books for the grandchildren. Jalia’s daughter joined in to help pack the gifts.
Jalia’s niece, nephew and aunt joined the trip. They spend two hours with Sarah and her family and delivered the gifts. “We ended our visit with a vote of thanks from Sarah as she prayed for us. We promised to be giving the school going kids’ scholastic materials every term,” added Jalia.
Jalia and her family shows us the beauty of connecting, family to family. We can be a source of support and love for others. Sometimes it take a little extra effort to listen, see and act.
It is through such moments that we are able to show what it means to be one family under God. We applaud Jalia and her family for championing the GPW vision of ‘One Family under God’ in her community. If you have a Sunshine Family Volunteer story to share or your family wants to start a project, email younshim.park@globalpeacewomen.org.