Andy & Karina “Keeky” Smith
The Smiths – Andrew, Karina, David, and Johnathan
As Shepherd’s Heart’s administrative director, Andrew “Andy” oversees staff development and the coordination of each ministry. Using his leadership and pastoral ministry degrees, plus past experience as a youth pastor, Andy is passionate about training island pastors. From his first visit in 2007 his heart was stirred by the pastors’ plea for training. After much planning and prayer, Andy, Samson Mumbya and Bob Peterson, launched the two-year Pastors’ Training School (PTS) in February 2012 at the SHIM base in Kyoya. After the successful completion of the Kyoya PTS and one on Namiti (ending April 2017), a third two-year school is ongoing in Lingira Village, with about 28 active students.
Having lived on the island for 15 years and being fluent in Luganda, Karina is considered a resident of Lingira. She is the founding president of SHIM, co-director of our Educational/Child Development program, and a member of Family Ministry. Her background as an RN and heart for the marginalized island communities give her a passion to see God transform the islands through holistic development at all levels. Her favorite role is that of wife to Andy and mother and teacher to David (8) and Johnathan (7). She also enjoys serving expectant mothers with prenatal services at our Kyoya base.
Pastor Wafula Robert and Carol
Robert and Carol were married 13th January 2018.
Robert is the vice-president of SHIM, founder of the Buvuma Islands Savings and Credit Cooperative, and a founding board member of Lingira Living Hope Secondary School (LLHSS). Robert also leads the economic development branch of SHIM, co-directs the Educational/Child Development program, and in 2017 founded PEN (Pastors Empowerment Network) to encourage and uplift Ugandan pastors. Robert was the first Buvuma Islands resident we are aware of to graduate from university (2007). He completed a master’s degree in Organizational Management at Uganda Christian University in Feb. 2012. He married Carol on January 13, 2018.
Pastor Mumbya Samson
The Mumbya Family, Easter 2018
We are so blessed by the friendship and wise counsel of our SHIM Director of Evangelism and Discipleship! Pr. Samson is an evangelist, church planter, and discipleship trainer in the Buvuma Islands. He is not only trained in ministry, but is a builder by trade. Samson oversaw the construction of buildings for YWAM, LLHSS, and SHIM on Lingira Island. He is presently active leading Marathon Missions International (MMI), an international team that puts on crusades and seminars in various locations on the islands and mainland Uganda. Samson also serves as the Director of the Lake Victoria Sanitation and Pure Water Project. He is shown with his late wife Joy and their seven children. (Our beloved “Mama Joy” went home to be with Jesus April 14, 2018.)
Okoro and Olive – “Papa and Mama O”
Papa and Mama O with their daughter Grace
Drawing on 35+ years of personal experience, including successfully raising six outstanding children and now being grandparents to 10, Okoro and Olive are the directors of Family Ministry. Their professions of teaching and nursing have proven very helpful to their ministry. Completing a Family Ministry School in South Africa in 2014, God continues to broaden their “borders” as they conduct house-to-house counseling and seminars throughout the islands and on mainland Uganda.
Richard and Prossy Kasanka
The Kasanka Family – Richard, Prossy, Jovian, and Jolie.
Joining the SHIM family in early 2014, Richard and Prossy faithfully serve as our island Base Manager and Assistant Base Manager, respectively. In addition to overseeing the SHIM base, Richard conducts film evangelistic crusades and continues to serve in a mainland church on the weekends. When not busy with base and “Mommy” duties, Prossy is involved in Sunday School and women’s ministries with the local island church, oversees weekly Bible classes, and actively disciples island children and youth. Their family includes daughters, Jovian (3) and Jolie (1), niece Patricia, and nephew Favour.
Oriagi Geoffrey and Immaculate
Oriagi and Immaculate on their wedding day, March 8, 2014.
The “chief mechanic” of our water systems and a gifted teacher, Oriagi is an asset to the Lake Victoria Sanitation and Pure Water Project. He also serves as SHIM’s faithful boat pilot. His leadership in the church and in the realm of community health on his home island of Namiti is helping SHIM to expand its reach to those southern islands. Oriagi and Immaculate sanctified their marriage as a testimony to the surrounding communities in a special wedding ceremony March 2014. Immaculate is active in church and children’s ministry, especially in the upper islands, is a teacher with SHIM’s Pastors’ Training School, and serves with the Islands of Hope medical outreaches. Oriagi and his wife Immaculate have six children.
Peace Kusasira
Peace Kusasira
Bringing with her a peaceful heart and a cheerful attitude, Peace joined the SHIM family in early 2015 as our cook (following the retirement of Auntie Jennifer). Born and raised in the Jinja area, Peace is trained as a computer network professional. In addition to making delicious meals for the SHIM family and our visitors, she serves as a choir leader in the local island church and is active in children’s and mercy ministries.
Ruth “Ruthie” Howard
With a background in journalism and discipleship, Ruthie became part of SHIM in January 2010, adding heart and organization to our Child Development (sponsorship) program. Passionate about God’s Word and youth, she teaches weekly computer studies and Bible classes at the secondary school and disciples island students. She also assists SHIM with communications, hospitality, and serves as a director. Feel free to visit Ruthie’s blog.
Bob and Michelle Peterson
The Peterson Family
As longtime pastors in the states prior to coming to Uganda in May 2010, Bob and Michelle are sensitive shepherds to SHIM members and other missionaries throughout Africa. Co-writing the curriculum for SHIM’s two-year pastors’ training course, Bob continues to assist as an instructor. He and Michelle are Global Outreach International’s Regional Coordinators for Member Care for Africa, as well as serve on the leadership team of Global Outreach Uganda. The Petersons have four children, Janae, Josh, Jon, and Josiah.
Ronnie and Stella Kakaire
The Kakaire Family – Ronnie, Stella, and Yasha
Ronnie and Stella are passionate about families following Jesus and extended their Jinja-based Family Altar Ministry (FAM) to the islands in recent years. While also serving as SHIM’s accountant, Ronnie began a sports evangelism ministry on Lingira in 2017, involving many youth in discipleship and football training. In addition, they partner with the Okoros in Family Ministry and are dedicated prayer intercessors. Natives of the Jinja area, with extensive backgrounds in ministry and business, Ronnie and Stella married Aug. 31, 2013. They welcomed a daughter, Yasha Abigail, in January 2017.
Clare Hickey (Partner)
Clare and special friend Jane on Lingira Island.
With a background in Special Education, Clare has opened her heart to the islands’ special needs children and their families, seeking to befriend and encourage them. From Texas, U.S.A., Clare came to Uganda in 2016 and began partnering with SHIM later that year. When not on the islands, Clare ministers to MKs (missionary kids) in the Jinja area.
David and Julie Ayer and Family (Partners)
After 4 years of serving at an Ethiopian mission hospital, the Ayer family moved south to Uganda in late 2015. An exploratory trip to Buvuma’s western islands led Dr. David, MD, to partner with SHIM and found Islands of Hope (IOH) in 2016, a medical outreach ministry providing practical help, hope, and the light of Jesus Christ, to these unreached and most needy areas.
Nurses Annet and Margret on an IOH outreach.
The IOH team includes the Ayer family and a dedicated group of medical workers and evangelistic and children’s ministers: Dan and Annet Manoa, Immaculate Oriagi, Nurse Margret Birungi, Richard Kasanka, Ronnie Kakaira, Papa and Mama O, and others. Dr. David also serves as Medical Director for Global Outreach Uganda, works as a pediatrician in Jinja, and trains national medical workers, while Julie teaches and disciples their children, Ella, Caleb, Maija, Riah, Evie, Selah, and Isaiah.
(Visit the IOH web site or the Facebook page for more on Islands of Hope.)
Update on Jennifer Abenakyo
For those who knew and loved “Auntie Jennifer,” she retired from SHIM in 2016, having worked with the ministry since 2007. We continue to consider her as part of our SHIM “family.”
Update on Twali Family
Julius, Ruth, along with their three children, are now investing primarily in their home of Mayuge, eastern Uganda, through agriculture and skills training, church work, and discipleship. We still view the Twalis as part our SHIM “extended family.”
To follow more of the SHIM staff and ministry, visit the SHIM Facebook page.