God the Father sent the vision for The JOSHUA Foundation to Executive Director, Ed Walden, Wednesday, August 15, 2001 while at home taking a shower.Ed often jokingly refers to this moment in history as his “water-baptism” into the world of missions.While taking this shower, the Lord revealed to Ed His plan to restore what Satan has stolen from mankind. The Lord also shared with Ed what the name, JOSHUA implies: Jumpstarting, Organizing, Sharing, Helping, Understanding, All in the name of Christ.

Shortly after that visitation from God, Ed began to search the internet for information on people who are in need. The Holy Spirit led Ed to an organization’s website, The Molly and Paul Childcare Foundation of Masaka, Uganda. Instantly, Ed sent an email to Paul Wasswa, the co-founder of the Ugandan childcare foundation, introducing himself and asking questions as to how The JOSHUA Foundation could help the orphans and vulnerable children. After corresponding several months, working two long arduous jobs daily to save money for airline tickets and shoes for children, Ed found himself on an airplane heading for Uganda to experience poverty and the plight of Uganda’s orphaned and vulnerable children for the very first time. Upon Ed’s arrival to Uganda, God revealed to him his purpose in life, “to be devoted to God and to love humanity”. Seeing the impact of poverty in its harshest form upon the children, women and the elderly became overwhelming to Ed; which prompted him into action immediately after his return to Washington, DC.

The JOSHUA Foundation’s first project was a socks and shoes drive for shoeless children in Uganda to prevent parasite infestations. During Ed’s first visit, he noticed many orphans and vulnerable children barefoot and becoming infested with the smallest known flea, the Chigoe.The breeding female Chigoe flea burrows into exposed skin to lays eggs. Consequently, leaving the host in severe pain, swelling and in extreme cases, spontaneous amputation of toes. The JOSHUA Foundation began sounding the alarm and getting results. Since 2002 nearly 1,000 shoes have been distributed to shoeless orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda.

The partnership with the Molly and Paul Childcare Foundation spurned dramatic change in Masaka.In 2003, The JOSHUA Foundation acquired 12-acres of land to farm and feed Ugandans who suffered from hunger; hence, The JOSHUA Farm.Within months the JOSHUA Farm was feeding hungry orphans, vulnerable children, widows and physically challenged members of nearby villages. The JOSHUA Foundation purchased two additional acres in Masaka during the 2005 year which now accommodates our Ugandan headquarters and medicinal gardens at The JOSHUA Farm.

The year 2006 sparked a major shift regarding The JOSHUA Foundation’s focus in Uganda. Our current program, Mission Possible 2012 focuses on enriching underserved villages in Masaka in an effort to effectively reach the needy households. Mission Possible 2012 promotes the theory of the family being the first line of response and the community being the second regarding the assistance of the needy. The Program has been tremendously successful with 50 households participating and with nearly 400 individuals now enjoying food security.

While being active in Uganda, The JOSHUA Foundation began to consider the hungry at home in Washington, DC which ignited the Manna for Many program in 2002. JOSHUA partnered with local food banks and churches in an effort to provide supplemental foods to elderly and physically-challenged households through a dedicated pool of volunteers. Nearly 4,000 meals were distributed within its first three years of operations. Now Manna for Many has taken roots in Far Rock Away (Queens), New York with hopes of making a major impact as did in Washington, DC.

"Ye are sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." - Eph 5:8

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