MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 05-02-2018

Good morning, folks! We survived our trip to Kampala without incident. After making the needed trip to the Embassy to renew passports, we were able to do a few things we don’t normally get to do in Mbarara, like go to Little Donkey Mexican restaurant and eat giant plates of nachos. A couple weeks later I made the harrowing and physically exhausting trip back to Kampala on the bus to pick up the new passports. Thankfully, that’s it for the next ten years for most of us. James and John are over 16 now, so they got the 10 year passports also. It is a great relief of mind to have it done, and continue to be in the country legally. 

We had a great Easter. I showed the Jesus Film in each of the four churches I pastor. While in Kampala, I found a battery powered, bluetooth enabled portable PA system. Coupled with our battery powered projector, it made it possible to show the movie at the churches where there is no electricity, and have it be loud enough for everyone to hear. Our churches were packed each time with around 200 people crammed in at each service to see the movie. Afterward, I was able to encourage people to come to Christ. Between the four churches, 36 people were saved. It went very well as an outreach tool. On Easter I baptized eleven at Sangano Independent Baptist, and last week, we voted to add them to the church. The churches are growing.

The roads have gotten very bad this rainy season. The rains are very good for the crops, and are badly needed, especially after the drought of 2016 that hit Isingiro district. However, they are terrible for the roads. They have not been repairing the roads the past year like they are required to do, which means someone is likely “eating the money” (misappropriation of funds). The result is a road that’s worse than I’ve seen it since we first started ministering out in Nakivale. I have been very careful, driving no faster than 10-15 mph so as to not damage the car, but I still have a bent rear stabilizer that I’m going to have to get replaced this month. Pray for us. If they don’t repair the road soon, it is going to become impassible, even for my tough Land Cruiser with 4-wheel drive.

Pray about funding our church building repairs. Some money has come in for building restoration. We will need more. One church building has been completely rebuilt. Another will have to be entirely replaced (the degradation of the structure is too severe to repair). The other two will only need some repairs, and some new structures, including new toilets, and baptistries. I can’t start projects until the money is available to do the whole job. Please help us, if you can.

God bless you, and thank you for praying!

P.S. Check out my wife, Anna’s, blog over at http://annahuckabee.com She gives a more day-to-day view of life here. While you’re there, why not buy her awesome new Christian novel, Talents? 😀