Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Justin Hunter and Courtesy of Olwazzi Ministries
In 2009, Jasper native Tanya Evans embarked on a transformative journey that brought her back to her roots with a renewed sense of purpose.
After venturing to Uganda to adopt a child, she found herself captivated by the beauty of the country and the warmth of its people, despite the prevalent poverty. During an 11-week stay in Uganda with her aunt, Martha Holbrook, Tanya’s initial plan to adopt a baby girl evolved into welcoming both a daughter and a son, each just one year old at the time.
Her heart stirred by the pressing needs of the country where her children were born, Tanya felt a calling to make a difference.
“I met a Ugandan man who drove for us and guided us around while we were there. He had gone to visit his mother’s village, and when he came back, he said, ‘I know you said that you wanted to help Uganda. These people need help. They don’t have clean water. The kids’ parents can’t afford to send them to school. They need a lot. Would you be interested?’ And so that’s how we got started,” Tanya recalls.
This encounter led Tanya to establish Olwazzi Ministries. This organization serves the Kamengo village, located in the Mpigi District, 27 miles southwest of Uganda’s capital town, Kampala. Kamengo’s sole income source is its agriculture, and its people rely on just two wells for clean water.
Olwazzi means ‘solid rock’ in Luganda, Uganda’s primary language. The basis of Olwazzi Ministries is the solid rock of Jesus. This is the purpose behind Tanya’s vision for sharing the gospel and providing necessities to the people of Kamengo.
The ministry started small, utilizing various media platforms to garner support for the village’s urgent needs. The initial focus was sourcing clean water and establishing a church, as the existing two-well system wasn’t reliable, and the influence of witch doctors surrounding Kamengo created a dark presence over the village.
The organization has made significant strides since then, utilizing different forms of media to spread the word and acquire funding to address the village’s needs. Glory Fellowship Baptist Church Uganda, established by Olwazzi, has already spawned three additional church plants. Under the guidance of Pastor Adam Brewer from Tanya’s home church, Glory Fellowship Baptist in Jasper, a pastor’s conference was held in Kamengo to educate local church leaders. Tanya says people in Kamengo are hungry to learn more about God’s Word, and the village is full of much more hope and happiness since the departure of two of the village witch doctors.
Olwazzi Ministries has extended its impact to education, establishing a school that began with 20 students and has since grown to over 200. The organization also sponsors 20 students at a secondary school a short distance from the village. School attendance ensures education and a hearty meal each day.
There is a high population of HIV-positive villagers in Kamengo. While the medication for treatment is provided free by the Ugandan government, villagers must find transportation to clinics to retrieve it. Olwazzi currently pays for this transportation and medical emergencies. However, Tanya hopes to establish a health center in the village.
Now faced with the pressing need to address orphaned and abandoned children, Olwazzi is raising funds to build a permanent home named after Tanya’s aunt, Martha Holbrook. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to expand the school facilities and introduce child sponsorships, enabling supporters to contribute $25 per month to cover a student’s tuition, uniform, supplies, and meals.
“Great strides have been made in spreading the gospel in the village. There is a lot more joy, hope, and happiness in the village,” Tanya says. “So, we’re very blessed to have been able to be a part of that. God has blessed us, we have grown, and He has met our needs along the way as we needed them.”
Throughout the years, Olwazzi has grown to more than Tanya could have ever dreamed through the support of her church, several sponsors, and, most importantly, Christ. As she continues to reach out, spreading Olwazzi’s message, she continues to base this ministry on its core purpose – to help the people of Kamengo and teach them about Christ – The Solid Rock. Olwazzi. WL
To learn more about Olwazzi Ministries, visit this link.
