Friends, Finances and Fly fishing

Richard


Kenny



Douglas


Dear Friends,

I have been a fly fisherman for over sixteen years. Both of my sons are fly fishermen, too. I’d like to say that the roots run deep, with fathers and grandfathers and great grand fathers, but that isn’t true. In fact, my dad is a bait fisherman. So much for pure bloodlines.

Fly fishing is an elegant, aesthetic and solitary sport. It can become one’s passion very quickly… or one’s obsession. There is an instant camaraderie between fly fisherman, a commonality, and brotherhood.

Interestingly enough, I have not found fly fishing to be popular in Uganda. In fact, most of the indigenous people fish by netting, no rod, reel or fly. My friends in Kampala, had no idea why we would fish for sport, and could not grasp the “catch and release” concept. I explained to them, poorly at best, that this was a conservation effort as well as an eco-friendly endeavor. They could not understand why one would release a fish that was caught! I tried to speak metaphorically, using clever analogies, but in the end they thought that I was crazy! I remember reading once that we in the West treat our relationships similar to a catch and release fly fisherman. Catching when in need and releasing when difficulties arise.

Which brings me to the topic at hand, On Belay Ministries Inc., our non-profit corporation that is helping solve the poverty problem in Uganda one person at a time. To date, we have micro-financed a taxi for Richard, financed one year of college education for Kenny (and one more year to go! Yeah Kenny!), and are assisting Douglas in a micro-business/cottage industry by training him to help train others. We have a commitment to these young men- not a catch and release mentality. We are in this for the long-haul, our commitment isn’t just to these young men but also to their families. Another part of our mission to help the poor involves aiding widows and orphans. On Belay Ministries has partnered with Show Mercy International working at Hope Children’s Home, loving, supporting, and caring for the orphan children. Our future goal is to provide financial aid to those who “graduate” from the home and assist in school fees and living expenses. As our Board of Directors meets to finalize our goals, please visit our website (www.onbelayministries.org) to keep updated and to prayerfully consider your commitment to the work of On Belay Ministries.

Jerry