An Appeal From Eleanor – Annual Operating Expenses 2025
December 24, 2024
Dear Friends of the Binji,
In over 40 years of ministry, the Lord has led me to varied places to serve Him, from the West Indies to Wyoming. For the past five years, the Father has connected me to Uganda, specifically the more remote villages of Eastern Uganda, working with a dedicated family of Ugandan believers. In 2025, we want to have an even greater impact in this region as we reach more people.
What have we been doing for the past 5 years?
I began ministering in three village locations in 2019; our team now regularly serves in NINE locations in the Iganga and Namutumba Districts. I formed The Binji ministry with my Ugandan partners, and we focused on caring for the widows, the abandoned families and fatherless children. We taught the Bible to the congregations, challenging them to live lives that reflected God’s image. We taught people how to pray for their family, their marriage, and their children. For most, it was a completely new way of life, and the impact on the communities was palpable. One village in particular, near Kaliro, has been the source of four more village congregations, as people who heard the Gospel taught in Kaliro begged us to come to their village, too.
In the past five years, more than 500 people in these villages have prayed for salvation and become disciples of the Messiah. Our Ugandan team continues discipling these people (whether I’m in Uganda or the US), teaching them Scripture, and empowering them to share their faith. In addition to the spiritual impact, we help feed approximately 70 families and provide tuition for 75 students. In 2024, we’ve raised over $30,000 for medical needs. The size of the harvest is growing, and we are ready to facilitate a larger harvest in the coming years.
Welcome to Uganda!
Beautiful Uganda is aptly nicknamed the Pearl of Africa. The mighty Nile river begins from the waters of Lake Victoria, dividing Uganda as it surges northward to the Mediterranean Sea 4,000 miles away. Agriculture is by far the main product of the country; the rural villages where I minister sit among expanses of sugar cane, owned by large companies, as well as private farm land cultivated by individual farmers.
Poverty is very real in these villages; most people live in simple brick huts with no electricity, and carry their water from the village borehole (well). The average income of the rural villagers is about $82/month USD. Roughly 50% to 65% of the rural village population is illiterate; school fees for their children are often a challenge for these people to pay. HIV/AIDS affects 57% of the adult population, contributing to an average life span of only 47 years. Life is hard. Life without God is filled with despair.
I am uniquely called and qualified to reach this community.
Ugandans tell me that most ministries who come to their country remain in the cities and towns. No one ever came to the people in these remote places. Until I showed up. When, after my first trip, I continued to return to the first three villages, the locals took notice (there is NO ONE my color anywhere near these places!). We lovingly helped people in need, Christian or not, putting hands, a voice and a face to the Love of Messiah. I go to their homes, walk through their village, and speak with everyone I meet, building connections. This has resulted in invitations to share the God of the Bible and His message with many types of people, leading to the aforementioned six additional locations. More villages want us to come.
Will you give financially to impact more Ugandans in 2025?
OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $40,000 BY MARCH 31, 2025 FOR OUR OPERATING EXPENSES.
Our Financial Breakdown: $40,000 Annual Operating Expenses:
$3,600 ($300/month) – Children’s ministry. In each village, we have 20 to 60+ children attending. Rewards (for correctly answering questions), coloring pages and crayons, and more supplies are rare treats in the villages. This also helps us buy clothing for some of the most destitute. It would allow Kusasira Evelyn, our Children’s Director, to lead every weekly children’s ministry class.
$18,200 ($1,400/month) – Weekly Gas Allowance ($350/week). This gets us through our weekly circuit of villages.
$7,200 ($600/month) – Auto Maintenance. The rugged dirt roads are rough on our two vehicles. Tires are $300 each, plus the annual insurance and license fees are about $1,700/year.
$5,000 – Annual Marriage/Family Conference. This four-day event teaches Ugandan leaders a Biblical perspective of marriage, parenting and finances they can then teach to their congregations.
$6,000 – My Travel/Living Expenses. This would cover my two 3-month trips in 2025, and free me to focus full-time on The Binji. (Each trip: ~$1,500 travel, $500/month living)
Individual one-time donations.
This is an individual breakdown of what we need to reach our goal. Would you take one of these slots?
1 person at $10,000
1 person at $5,000
4 people at $2,500
7 people at $1,000
9 people at $500
10 people at $250
10 people at $100