FHLM OCTOBER 2021 NEWSLETTER

Greetings

Hello from Uganda! Yes, I’m back in Masaka! It was a blessing to be in the U.S., but now I’m home. We have been in rainy season, so everything is green and growing. Acts 14:17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony. He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. (NIV)   

Director’s Update:

Furlough Adventures: The month of October began with a “Road Trip” from Indiana to Bethel, Ohio with my Cousin Angi. I spent the weekend in and around Bethel visiting with her, hiking, attending church and even a Memorial Service for one of her friend’s husbands that passed from COVID. I am blessed to have her in my life! As they say in Uganda she is your sister not a cousin!

On the 4^th I was flying off to Colorado Springs!  After one day in the Springs I was on the road again, this road trip was with my brother, Rob, for a few days up in Denver. He had a convention to attend so he took me along for the ride. It had been at least 25 years since I’ve walked around, explored, and checked out downtown Denver’s sights. After all we have been through in the last year, this time was a much needed. I’m blessed to have such a wonderful brother!   

A few days later I was on the road again up to the Colorado State University’s homecoming football game. CSU is where my niece, Blakeley, attends school. It was lovely to see her and spend time with her pre-game, touring the campus!   

That Sunday, 10^th Oct, I was honored to speak at both services at Impact Christian Church. Pastor Scott and the congregation are always a blessing to me and the ministry. Their Missions Team is so gracious and had a luncheon on my behalf. It was wonderful to see everyone and I was blessed with their prayers and love! Thank you Impact!! May God fulfill the desires of your hearts!  

I was able to see a few of my friends, Kristen & Elisha, and Kristina & Adam and catch up with all that God has been doing in their lives. My remaining time in Colorado was spent with family, attending church, and enjoying quality time and talks with my sister-in-law, Jackie.

The 17^th of Oct came up fast and I flew to San Diego! I was fortunate to stay with my friends John and Lily Eastham, who are now permanently back in San Diego after being on the mission field in Uganda for 9 plus years! What a wonderful time we had together sharing stories, old times, and cares.

Another big surprise was the joyful day I had with Rock and his daughter Vivi. Rock was one of FHLM’s original sponsored youth and he and his family now live in Carlsbad, CA. Neither of us wanted the day to end, but I’m so thankful to God that we had that time together! God is good! 

Time at my home church, Maranatha Chapel, was a blessing! Lily invited me to the Women’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study. It was wonderful to be studying and sharing the Word of God with 100 other ladies. We also attended Wednesday and Saturday night church services together. It was a delight to spend time with my mission pastors’ wife Lynne. Thank you dear!  I also want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to my Maranatha Care/Prayer Team! These ladies always go above and beyond for me. This time they took me out to dinner and gave me an “early birthday” party!

One last thanks to God for the Bennetts and the Easthams; for running me around, hosting me, taking me to all the “great eating establishments” of foods I can’t get in Uganda, and helping to prepare to go back to Uganda for the next 2 years. After 6 weeks in the U.S. flew back to Uganda on 24th Oct. After 35 hours of travel in cars, buses, and airplanes I finally reached Masaka the night of 26th Oct! I praise God for everyone that made this Furlough possible! But most thanks go to God for His journey mercies, protection of myself and my bags, and for His love, grace, favor, and care of me throughout this Furlough!! Deuteronomy 28:6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”

SOAR YOUTH UPDATE:

Hanisha Update: Since COVID lockdown we have been praying for Hanisha and family for provision that they were able to come back to Masaka. They had shifted to Kyotera due to quick and abrupt command by the Landlord that they should go out of the house. Because they didn’t have an option of a house to move to immediately, they went to the village in Kyotera. We thank God for answered prayers because her and her Mom returned to Masaka on 12^th October and are now renting a place in Kymannia.

Oliver Update: She is off to technical school at Nagenda Institute of Arts and Design (NIAAD) at Namulanda!! When the president spoke to the nation on 30^th Sept he allowed technical and higher education to resume. That said, Oliver started freshman orientation of 24^th Oct. Her lectures being on 1^st November. Aunt Sarah and Justine escorted her to the school that is on Entebbe Road. Sarah said that they had a joyous journey and when they reached they helped Oliver to prepare the room

and get ready for school to begin. We praise God for Oliver’s patience in waiting 2 years for school to begin and for God’s provision for her to start school! We are still praying for a full time sponsor for her. If you a led by God to do so please contact me at reetsindiego@yahoo.com. Thank you and God bless!

Babirye Update: She’s been at Ndejje University completing her last semester of university. She had her final exams in mid-October and is finishing up her final research paper. Can you please keep her in prayer, as she is pressing the lectures for the unrecorded marks from her ICT classes of the exams that were taken on-line during the lockdown period? Without these marks she cannot graduate in Dec! Thank you!

William Update: Most of the month William has been in the village helping his Grandma because rainy season had begun. He planted maize and beans and helped her weed the gardens. We pray that he can return back to Masaka soon and join in the youth programs.

Sarah & Eddy: During my Furlough I remotely coordinated with Sarah and kept up with her and the other youth via WhatsApp! She was my hands in feet in getting Oliver organized and prepared for school. It was a big job, so I thank her. In her time away from the Centre paying fees, shopping with Oliver for school and personal requirements, Eddy really stepped up!! There were multiple times that he prepared or led the youth programs, including Bible Study. A BIG SHOUT OUT OF THANKS to both Sarah and Eddy for their hard work!!  

That said, here is Sarah’s update of the youth activities and programs for the month. Enjoy reading her report!!

We thank God for the rainy season that He has given to us. There were just a few days that we had such rain all day that the youth were not able to come to the Centre. However, as much as it rains in the morning hours our youths persist and make it to the Centre for programs. Our General Programs for the month were cleaning the Centre where the youths swept, mopped and dusted the book shelves. I also had individual Counseling & Guidance with them each Wed. morning before our lunches.

Rabbits: In William’s absence several of the youth took it upon themselves to assist in the rearing of the rabbits. We had 6 new baby rabbits born in October and as the youth arrived to the Centre everyone was very excited over the newly born rabbits. We have all helped feed them and care for them.

Bible Study: This month we finished up in the book of Philippians and I did an intro to the book of Colossians. Each of the youth took a week and led a study. Here is one under Eddy’s guidance and the lessons taken from the study of Chapter 4 of Philippians.

• We got to stand fast in the Lord.
• Truly yoke/ fellowship and help one another whose names are written in the book of life.
• Rejoice in the Lord always.
• Shouldn’t worry at anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we should let our request be made known to God. It’s not that He doesn’t know, he knows but we have to make them known to him.
• During times of hardships, let the peace of God that passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The peace of God always gives our heart security of not worrying and freedom and faith in Him the Highest God.
• Be contented at whatever state we are at. Learning to be ok in scarcity or in abundance.
• We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.
• Being thankful to whosoever stands in the gaps of helping us both physically and spiritually.

Centre Schooling: Eddy was able to discuss with the O’ level students in Mathematics- Simultaneous equations and it was good with them. I also taught some lessons in Maths. They also had time to inquire from one another where they hadn’t understood what the teachers taught.

J.A.M. and Fun Day: Everyone was so excited about this day which was on 14^th Oct! The youth even planned a “special meal” which included chips (French fries), cabbages, rice, chapatti, cake and sodas. A few of them came early and began on arranging and cooking as they waited for others. By the time I reached the Centre, every youth was around and very busy. We planned for outside, but unfortunately it began to rain and they shifted it to the garage. It was also Milly’s birthday, so JAM program began with celebrating life. We sang and danced for her. She cut cake and served us. Then we had lunch where Eddy and Oliver were the ushers of the day that they served us with food and sodas, as music played in the background. We had fun time! After eating, we had a joke box, were people picked papers that had names on them. If one picked a person’s name then that told the other what to do. It was fun! Then we had an open dance floor and the youth enjoyed! Hanisha was the most excited youth of all!  

Bible Quiz: We had a Bible quiz, on 21^st Oct. This time round the youth had fun names for the two groups, “Nobody” and the other was “Somebody”.  We had fun time during the Bible quiz. Still there were lessons to learn; reading our Bibles daily; studying the Bible in a proper way not just reading that by following punctuations marks; studying following the what, why, when, how and to whom? And also memorizing the verses that is always through meditations. The “Somebody” group won by a difference of one mark. But they all share equal number of sweets for participation and encouraging them to do a lot of personal Bible studies.

Movie Day: As soon as we were done with lunch on 24^th Oct, we had a movie session. The movie title was “RISEN” and the youths had the following lessons:

• Always hold unto the truth, as the disciples kept believing in Jesus and was always their joy.
• We are always secure if we believe in Jesus. That even the disciples felt so, and they were not afraid of anything.
• God changes everyone even one of the soldiers that gave orders to crucify Jesus.
• Jesus Christ went in heaven to prepare for us.
• Jesus Christ commissioned us to preach the gospel.
• To always believe even when you haven’t seen. Not like the soldier that he didn’t believe until he spoke with Jesus Christ in the last night he was with the disciple.
• Accept to be changed by the truth however bad we may be and always hold on the God has made us.
• Mysteries of heaven can’t be understood by everybody as secretes because to understand a mystery one need the spirit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding who is given by God yet everybody can understand secretes once they are revealed.

Worship Day: On the 26^th we had a worship day and fasting, praying for our lives and the organization at large. We started our worship session with a great worship the praise! We had Milly as our preacher of the session and she shared on the following:

• Theme: LIVE A CHRIST LIKE LIFE.
• Key verse: John 8:2-12
• Be like Christ Jesus that you may be counted righteous as Jesus Christ Himself.
• Don’t be judgmental as we be always the Lord is always there to take us through challenging situations.
• Not to judge God because He is the high priest of us all.
• Always trust God for his hand, he lays it upon us and his grace never leave us.
• John 8:12 Jesus said,” I am the light of the world, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.”
• Romans 6:6 as we know that our old self were crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that we do not serve sin. And let us be dead to sin and live a godly manner.

bela bulungi (good-bye):

As you have read it was a full month of learning, fun, and joy! By God’s grace we all can testify of His goodness in our lives throughout this month. My heart is ever thankful to God and everyone that makes these programs at the Centre possible. May God continue to bless and keep you all!

God bless you,

Written by: Rita Bulegeya- FHLM Director and Kwagala Sarah –FHLM Social Worker

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