FHLM March 2015 Update; Youth & SOAR Youth News, Missionary News, UG News

Greetings from Masaka! Well rainy season is officially upon us! It has been raining every day for the last 4 weeks. Praise the Lord for answered prayers! Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. Zechariah 10:1.

Here is what we were up to in the month of March. Enjoy reading!

Youthz News:

Our After School Programs are ongoing every Tuesday with Bible Studies and Friday with Life-Skills. We are continuing to work through the Bible by chapter & verse alternating Genesis and Matthew every other week. At the beginning of the month we started watching a DVD called Matthew that narrates the entire book of Matthew. It has been a wonderful supplement to help the youth learn the Word! Our Life-skills this month have dealt with issues of “What type of learner am I?”, “What is the difference between Praise & Worship?”, and “Understanding Peer Groups”.

We had a wonderful time at our Movie with a Message Day on 14 March. We had an awesome time praising and worshiping our Lord before the movie and then we watched Left Behind 1. The movie sparked robust conversations about faith, checking our belief in Jesus, our relationship with the Lord and our prayer life. Wow these youth are amazing! Thank you Lord for making these days happen and for UGoGreen Organization for letting us borrow their projector to show the movie!

We all had a wonderful time at J.A.M. Session on 28 March! Many amazing youth glorified the Lord with song and dance! At the end we ALL had a off-the-hook praise & dance session to Nigerian praise songs–SO FUN! 2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

On the morning of 30 March I really enjoyed sharing the Word with the students of Kijjabwemi Secondary School Outreach. I preached on Matthew 6:20-21–“The Treasure Map of Your Life”. I asked the students; What would it look like? Where would it show you spend your time? Would your map lead to worldly treasure or Kingdom treasure? How can you make your treasure map of life for God? I love youth there and I am blessed so much by them! Thank you Lord for the times I can teach these youth.

SOAR Youthz News:

On 07 March we attended Parents/Guardian Visitation Day at Masaka SS.  It was a nice time to visit Alpha and Babirye’s class rooms and visit with their class teachers. We also picked up there mid-term reports. Babirye is doing great in school with 3 distinctions in Luganda, Commerce, and English! Alpha is putting in lots of effort, but with being out of school for 2 ½ years he is still getting used to being back in class, studying and the new environment. He and I had a long talk because he was discouraged with his grades, but I know in my heart God will bring forth all the wisdom Alpha has and his grades will come up. Please keep them both in your prayers. Thank you!

After Visitation Day Babirye, Alpha and 6 other youth came back to the Office/Center to make Get Well Cards for the sick at the hospital. When we completed we all walked to Masaka Referral Hospital for an afternoon of Hospital Outreach. They decided to go to the children’s wing to pray for the sick children and babies. There were several small children that we prayed for and we knew they would be fine but a few of the babies were very sick and they just broke our hearts. We lifted them up in prayer knowing only the Lord could heal them.

On 11 March I traveled to Kampala to have a meeting with David for a potential Internship at Oscar Ntege Studios. This studio usually gets 30 or more applications each year from university student seeking internships but can only accept 8 students, as they are one of the top studios in Kampala. In 2014 Oscar won photographer of the year, but regardless of this he is a very humble and gracious man. After our two hour meeting with him he accepted David for a 2 month internship starting in May. David is very excited and thanks the Lord to have this opportunity!!

Both Faridah and William are doing well in school and enjoying being part of the Christian Unions at their schools.

Missionary News:

I was hoping and praying to fly back to the U.S. on furlough during April and May, but as you can see from this update I am still in Uganda to do lack of funds for a plane ticket. But everything is in God’s timing and His hands so when He wants me to travel to the U.S. I know He will provide for the plane fare.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Philippians 4:6

It was very special to me to be an honored guest for the Royal Mutessa Christian Union leadership hand-over party on 07 March. I attended the function with Babirye and Alpha. It was Alpha’s first time at a university.

While I was in Kampala for David’s internship meeting I spent an afternoon applying for my Ugandan driver’s license. Normally one can just exchange their international license for a Ugandan license, but since I wanted a license with my married name on it I had to start from scratch. That met jumping though all the hoops, running around and standing in line at the Uganda Revenue Authority for hours, but in the end I came out with a Ugandan Learners Permit! Next step is taking a driving test.

During the time I was in Kampala, David guided me to a good camera to purchase, to replace our old “fried one”!! We got a Sony Cyber-shot with a 5x zoom and 20.1 mega pixels. I was very pleased to have a camera back. Now we can take pictures of all our programs and events. Thank you again to those that made this possible! May the Lord bless you for your giving!

Uganda News:

We celebrated International Women’s Day 08 March. This year’s theme was Empowering Women; Empowering Humanity. But much of the focus from the Ugandan women speakers was on Maternal Mortality. Currently 4% of women giving birth in Uganda die.  UNICEF statistic; 440/100,000 live births compared to 28/100,000 live births in the U.S. This is such a huge issue and one that needs addressing by the government, healthcare professionals and the church, as we need to pray for change in all  these areas to give women’s care a priority in this country. Please keep this matter in your prayers. Thank you!

As you can see it has been another busy and fruitful month here at FHLM and in Masaka! We thank you all for your continued prayers, support, love and encouragement! As Paul wrote, may the Lord bless you and keep you.

Have a wonderful day and month!

Love and blessings,

Rita

Director-Faith Hope Love Missions