MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 01-09-2012

Happy New Year! Everything went well out at Nakivale for the Christmas service and Children’s Christmas parties. We handed out the toy cars to the boys (huge excitement) and the stuffed bears to the girls and the infants (also huge excitement). Anna taught a Bible lesson, and we had KoolAid and cookies. It was tremendous fun. Then on Sunday, we had our Christmas service, on Christmas this year. I preached a Christmas message to the three churches. I rented a lorry to help get people from the other point to Sangano (transportation is an issue). With my family size, I just don’t have room for passengers, especially when hauling items out to Sangano for a meal. Then, we ate a meal together. Beans, matoke, roasted beef, and mandazi (fried round cakes – tasty). Mmmmmmm. There was enough for all and then some. No one left hungry, which was the goal. It was a great day for everyone.

In the New Year, I am working on trying to get the Juru building finished. They are nearly up to the eaves now. Construction was badly slowed by the heavy rains this season brought out there. The adobe bricks they make are dependent on sunshine and reasonably dry conditions, and we have been getting neither for several months. Once they, finally, get that done, and a latrine constructed, I will buy the sand needed, and start carrying bags of cement out there. Djuna is looking into getting a carpenter for the doors and windows. Meanwhile, I am trying to encourage them to finish the latrine at Ngarama. They had the same problem out there with the bricks, but now that we are entering the dry season at last, i expect they will progress more rapidly. Pray they make good progress.

Near the end of the month, possibly the first of February depending on when the Bassett’s come back from furlough, we will be doing another VBS. This time I want to include Kabazano (the fourth and youngest preaching point). This will take our marathon VBS up a notch. We will shorten our stay at the other three by 30 minutes, which will give us enough time to go the fourth point, and still be able to get back to Mbarara before dark. Pray for us. It’s a lot of work, and requires a lot of planning and preparation.

Pray for us as we seek to organize Juru and Ngarama this year, and possibly commence some new preaching points. Pray for souls to be saved and for growth. Pray for truth to be known, and the voice of the cults to be diminished.

God bless you!