Here are 15 stories in alphabetical order that we are working on this summer. This will give you some idea of what we are up to and what we have been doing with your donations. Many thanks to each of you for your support. We couldn’t do this without you. God is truly doing amazing and remarkable things through us. Bless you as you read. May you be full of joy and love as you read, just as I have been as I have been putting this together and as I have been watching these amazing things unfold. God is good.
1. Apio Josephine
Apio Josephine was in our 3rd set of 12 special equipment delivered in the Soroti area of Uganda. She fell very sick so we brought her to the hospital and were able to rescue her from grave illness. She is doing better now. Thanks for your prayers.
2. Emmanuel Kimau
Emmanuel Kimau died from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy about 2 weeks ago in Gikambura, Kikuyu, Nairobi Kenya. We sent over a memorial to his parents Samuel Gichangio and Julia Wanjiku. Please pray for the family and our DMD community. We are grieving very badly because this is now our 3rd Duchenne boy that we have lost in Kenya since this past December 1st. We covet your prayers.
3. Florence Wanjiru's Barber Shop
We helped start Florence’s Barber shop in Dagoretti Centre, Nairobi Kenya in June and she has now had her first few customers. Florence is a Duchenne mother of 2 boys, Julius and Francis. This income will help her become self-sustainable to take care of her boys.
4. Greatness Ogheneovo - age 11
Greatness Ogheneovo has been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy this month in Nigeria (Benin City, Edo State). It is rare for a girl to show signs of Duchenne but here we are. There was even a muscle biopsy done to confirm it. Her mother is Betty Ogheneovo Orhonigbe and has been reaching out for help as any concerned mother would. She found us and we have begun helping Greatness with food and nutrition, vitamins and deflazacort steroid.
5. Kagaba Bellerine
We have been trying to find a diagnosis for Kagaba Bellerine with his mother Kasamire Marion Zainab in Kampala Uganda for almost 2 years now. We are getting closer and closer to a diagnosis. Hopefully we will be able to find some sort of treatment to help our little man to have some relief. He has been so brave don’t you think?
6. Kiguma Primary School
Kiguma Primary School is in Fort Portal Uganda. When I was able to visit Uganda in 2019 we visited this school and 700 kids met us on the front lawn for an amazing assembly. This school is in terrible disrepair and the construction people have estimated it will cost $21,000 to repair. Please pray for these precious kids to have a decent school.
7. Lyanzi Paul
We have been helping Lyazi Paul for a year or so now. He is in the Mityana area of Uganda. We helped him get this wheelchair and make a ramp into his home last year. This year we helped him get these glasses so that he can see better and then this month again he was needing some food and calcium tablets so we sent him some money to help him with that.
8. Momma Mukwaya
Last year we gave Mukwaya a wheelchair and helped him and his mum with some food in Mityana area in Uganda. Pictured here is his mum this month as we checked on them and delivered some more food and supplies this month. The covid lockdown has affected the economy drastically in Uganda and you can see the relief and joy on Mumma Mukwaya’s face as she received some much needed food and supplies. They were at the end of their rope.
9. Onyinyechi Obiyo
Abed Amuzie is in Imo State, Nigeria. Imo State is in the eastern part of Nigeria. He brought to our attention a woman who has been suffering in his village. She was raped and then the baby died and she has been suffering many things as a result. She was going around the village and begging with a loud voice for help. We had to help her. Her story is compelling. She needed a place to stay and some food and some medical care. We sent over some money for that. Please pray for her. Her name is Onyinyechi. Abed is a youth leader in the village, a caring young man of God.
10. Rowan's Down Syndrome Awareness Centre - COVID-19 Relief Outreach
From Mildred Katusabe (Rowan’s Founder): “As we go through second wave of covid 19. Uganda has been hit hard but mostly those who were already struggling with the huge responsibility of supporting family members with special needs are finding it almost impossible to cope. At Rowan’s the story is no different out of the 35 families we are supporting nine families are battling covid with one or 3 members in the family. Ministry of health has issued COVID 19 HOME BASED CARE GUIDANCE ON COMMUNITY PRESCRIPTION for those who have been diagnosed with Covid 19 and are isolating at Home and require treatment. However the challenge is most of our vulnerable people cannot afford these medicines and have resorted to herbs and steaming at Home. Rowan’s center requests The Everett and Austin Project to support by donating the listed medicines or money to help support 15 members of people with Down Syndrome get treatment, any other support through soap and masks will make a huge difference in the lives of these people. Two of the members affected are children 1 and ½ years awaiting heart surgery and 5 years awaiting tonsils and adenoids removal…”
11. Samson
One of our precious children in the Soroti area named Samuel had an emergency the other day. Turns out he had a broken leg. You can see in the picture of the x-ray. We paid for him to get the medical attention that he desperately needed. He will be in this cast for 6 weeks. 5 more weeks to go from now. He is in great discomfort because of the cast. You can see his agony. Please pray for him.
12. Soroti Area Special Equipment - 4th Set of 12
We have nearly completed our 4th set of 12 special equipment deliveries in the Soroti area of east-central Uganda. We are still trying to reach Kadir. He is in a very remote area and his parents’ phone is disconnected. The covid lockdown is making it even harder to reach him. Please pray.
13. Ssegganga Village
A lot has been going on in Ssegganga Village in Wakiso District in Uganda. We continue to support the Kayonga family who have 3 boys suffering from Duchenne. We pay for a caretaker a monthly salary. We pay a monthly salary to one of the teachers to help run the Hardware shop business that we started for the Kayongas. His mother died recently and we sent him a memorial for that. A second teacher who has been helping the Kayongas so much too just lost her father to Covid-19. We sent a memorial to her. And Mr. Zakaria the head councilman at the village was struck with Covid-19 and we paid to have him rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Thankfully Mr. Zakaria recovered. Also, we have begun construction on Ssegganga Primary School which is in great disrepair, but the headmaster decided to misuse funds so we have a police case against him and we are waiting for him to pay it back. Pray, pray, pray.
14. Taiwo Badmus
Taiwo Badmus is 15 and suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Lagos, Nigeria. His mum told me that he is graduating from the college on the 6th of August. Please pray for him as we consider how best to support him going forward. Lots of changes are coming up and we want to be there for him.
15. Tony Ssimbwa
Tony Ssimbwa is a Duchenne dad in Wakiso District in Uganda. He and his wife Stella found out that their son, Ayinza Ethan, has Duchenne only just last December (2020). Ethan is 5 years old. Thanks to the pandemic, Tony has started an amazing farm with his own money called “The Mighty Farm.” I am amazed at what he has been able to accomplish in so short a time. Please check it out on his youtube channel. Tony and Stella are working on a business plan for a charity now called “Ayinza Ethan Duchenne Support Center.” Please pray with us as we consider how to support them in this. We hope that among other things we will be able to increase testing for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Uganda and in Sub-Saharan Africa at large, including for his daughter Neriah. There are many thousands who are going undiagnosed as of now. There is a lot of work to be done.
This is such great work that TEAPI is doing in Africa. A lot of lives have been changed and the smiles can tell it all. Thanks to the donors and all the supporters. God bless.
Thank you so much Sharon. I agree with you 100%. Many thanks to all of our donors and also to you and all of the other foot soldiers on the ground there in Sub-Saharan Africa. What an amazing team we make. Bless you dear. Tim
Glory be to the Lord for all these great things he’s doing through TEAPI. Changing people’s lives one at a time.
Yes! As I wrote this I grew more and more overwhelmed with how beautiful it is to be used by the Hand of God like this. Truly amazing work that you and the whole team have been doing. God is blessing big time! Tim
Beautiful write up.
Thank you very much sir. So glad to have you on the team Pastor. Much love and appreciation. Tim
Thank you Tim for updating us on the progresses with TEAAPI around Africa, this gives me courage to see that Vulnerable people with DMD and other rare diseases around Africa are receiving a timely hand of hope which actually they need most and the awareness that is beggining to build about DMD in Africa.
Creating awareness about DMD Africa is Key in finding lasting solutions to DMD families in Africa.
You’re very welcome Mr. Tony. Really appreciate all of the energy and successful experience that you bring to the team. I am greatly looking forward to building awareness and care for our DMD kids with you. And as you said, not only our DMD kids but also kids suffering from other rare diseases as well. I know that you are deeply motivated because of your son’s diagnosis and road ahead. So am I. Everett and Austin are deep in my heart of hearts and my love for and experience with them is embedded in me. They taught me a lot. I have a lot to share. God’s love is deep. God knows what it’s like to watch His Child suffer. He has given me a taste. Tim
Amazing testimonials of what God is using TEAAPI to do in the lives of families round the globe especially sub-saharan Africa.
I pray for more strength,resources to carry on in this live saving movement.
God bless you Tim Gillen and all the team globally .
Thank you so much Stephen. I feel so fortunate to have met you this week. I look forward to building more and more testimonials like these with you for the glory of God. Amen for more strength, resources and resolve. God bless you also sir. Tim
Tim! As I read your summary of summer events and accomplishments through the help of Almighty God, and the way that God has used you and is using you through Africa for the advancement of His kingdom , I know that that God has given you a big heart. What God brought you through with your sons Everette and Austin, didn’t happen by chance. He had a plan and purpose and a gap to be filled and it had to be done by you. This passion can only come from the heart of God. I will always be reminded that, only what’s done for Christ will last. Thank you! and God’s blessings always.
Thank you for your love and support Celia. Really appreciate all that you have meant to me and The Everett and Austin Project. Your contributions have been invaluable. I’m so happy that we continue to grow and help more and more people. What a gift to be able to serve our Lord like this. Bless you also, Tim
Great work you all are doing here.
Blessings!
Thank you so much Celine. So nice of you to join us to serve with us. Much love and appreciation, Tim