FHLM NOV & DEC 2021 HIGHLIGHTS
Happy New Year!
I hope that this newsletter finds you all healthy and blessed from the Holiday Season! Welcome to 2022! We pray that this New Year brings us all a fresh start and renewed faith in our Lord, our Shepherd! At the end of each year I ask the Lord to give me a verse for the coming year. In Dec. He gave me Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
This verse may seem common to you and simple, but when you stand on this verse your heart will be deep in God and you can know on ALL the promises David writes about in verses 1-5 are yours in Christ. I praise God for speaking to me this way!
Though I didn’t send out a Newsletter in Nov, here are the “Highlights” of our November and December at FHLM. Enjoy!
Director’s Update:
Back in Action: On 01st Nov I received a joy and love filled “Welcome Back” with a homemade cake and lots of singing and dancing from the youth! I’m very blessed to have these young people in my life. Of course after the party I was back in action working on programs, preparing for the month, and settling in to work and life in Uganda again.
Board Meeting: On 20th Nov we held our Quarterly Board Meeting. This time around it was a bit different, as we spent the majority of our time discussing Strategic Planning for the ministry for the next 2 years. Along with our plans for the youth’s holistic development we also discussed capacity building of the organization and sustainability initiatives for the ministry.
One of our capacity building projects is fundraising raising funds over the next year to purchase a plot of land to build a Community Youth Centre and also funds to purchase a plot for a sustainable farming project. Can you please stand with us in prayer for this? The plot for the youth centre would be in town and would cost approximately $65,000 U.S. to purchase. The farming plot would be outside of town at a cost of approximately $25,000 U.S.. Thank you for your prayers and if God lays upon your heart to contribute to either of these purchases please contact me at reetsindiego@yahoo.com Thank you and God bless!
Saying Bye: Unfortunately on 8th Dec we had to say good-bye to Sarah. We know that God has the right person for us. That said, we are in prayer for the Lord to bring us a social worker that will help the ministry and the youth grow to new heights and glorify Him in the process. Please keep our social worker search in prayer. Thank you.
SOAR YOUTH UPDATE:
General Programs: Throughout Nov and Dec we had the following programs; weekly Bible Studies, Afternoon Prayers, Games & Sports Day, Movie Day, a Discipleship day learning about Salivation, a Worship Day with emphasis on Obedience, and a Community Clean Up afternoon. All giving our youth well rounded learning experiences and focus on their walk with Christ.
Tutoring/Schools: At the end of Oct both Justine and Immy, who are sub-candidates, started taking tutoring classes led by some of their teachers from Monday to Friday. They continued through the 1st week of Dec. Justine studied Pure Math, while Immy has varied classes learning Physics, Math, Biology, and Chemistry. They have both said that going back to classes has “woken them up”!
The other youth are blessed because we continue to have Centre Schooling and encourage them to read and revise different syllabuses. Unfortunately Uganda is one of the world’s only countries that have not opened all sectors of education. Uganda’s secondary, primary, and nursery schools have remained closed for almost 2 years now. Most students remain seated at home and many have started working and may never return to school. This has and will adversely affect this generation, so we ask you to please pray for them. But we praise God because on the 31st of Dec President Museveni announced that all sectors of schooling from nursery to secondary will open on 10th January, 2022.
Annual Outreach & Ed Trip: On 10th Dec we left for 5 day trip to Fort Portal in western Uganda. This year’s theme was: Light of the World, based on John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” We had 11 on the trip, including Aunt Liz and Esther, one of the girls from her ministry. Unfortunately Oliver and Joshua, who were at technical school & university, were unable to attend.
We had several days of outreach in the Fort Portal area including door to door evangelism with The Mountains of the Moon University Christian Union in which 4 people gave their lives to Christ and 2 people rededicated their lives. We also ministered on Sunday to the congregation of Victory Rock Church with songs and a word from Babirye based on our theme. We were blessed to spend an afternoon at Manna Rescue Home. This is a rehabilitation home for 30 HIV positive children. We sang songs of hope to them, like “Lite Your Candle”, and Eddy, Pius and Hanisha shared our theme verse and other hope filled verses with the children. Immy then led us all in fun filled games! It was a blessed afternoon!
We had some fun and educational time mixed with our ministry. We went to Amabeere Caves & Waterfall, and up to Semuliki National Park near Bundibugyo, bordering D.R. Congo. As we drove north and west we passed through the Rift Valley Gorge. The youth were very excited by the beautiful mountains and deep gorges. Many commented that they study this in Geography class, but now they have seen in person. Our day at Semuliki was amazing! It is a very different national park with two hot springs, and dense tropical rainforests with many primates and birds. We all enjoyed boiling eggs in the hot springs, and watching the monkeys jump from tree to tree.
On our last day of the trip we did a morning swamp walk in Bigodi, near Kibale National Park. We saw the Great Blue Turaco bird, and many other birds and monkey species. It was a great way to end our trip! I’m thankful to God for the provision for the trip, the journey mercies, the spirit led ministry, and the amazing nature we saw.
Birthdays: We celebrate life at FHLM and in November and December we have many lives to celebrate! 17th Nov was my birthday, and Hanisha’s was the 14th so we had a joint celebration with singing dancing and birthday cake! On our trip we had a “Surprise” birthday party for Babirye, who’s birthday was 26th Nov, and Eddy, who’s day was 5th Dec. Since their days had already past they certainly weren’t expecting a party. We even brought a special cake with us from Masaka. We had a great evening of love, laughter, and joy!
Graduation: On 17th Dec Babirye graduated from Ndeeje University with a Degree in Secondary Education with Computers and a Minor in Divinity. It was a on-line graduation but because she held a post of Treasurer for the campus Christian Union she was invited to attend the ceremony in person. This marks a great day for her and FHLM as Babirye has been with the ministry for 9 years! It is wonderful to see her accomplish so much, not only academically but spiritually and emotionally. I remember when she came to us, a very shy, lonely, worried and fearful girl. Praise God for how He has transformed her into a confident woman and Godly leader, able to teach the Word of God and give joy, love, care and encouragement to others. I thank the Lord for using this ministry to do such. It’s been a blessing to see Babirye transform and through her teach me over the years. Thank you Jesus!!
Christmas Party & Christmas: On 18th Dec we had our Annual Youth Christmas Party at the Youth Centre. We invited a few other youth from Hilltop Church and Aunt Liz’s organization. It was a wonderful day of food, fun, games, and celebrating Jesus’ birth.
After the 18th we closed the Centre for the 2 weeks of Christmas and New Year, but that didn’t mean that we were not together! From 22-24 Dec most of the youth came to Rogers and my home for 3 days of baking and preparing food for Christmas luncheon. We made our annual Christmas cut-out cookies, and several cakes. This year Eddy made a yule log and Jus and Immy made 3 dozen oatmeal Scottie cookies. Of course Alpha and Uncle William pitched in on the 24th with helping me to cook the chicken, pork and matooke. After Christmas morning church service everyone came up to our home and we feasted! After lunch we played charades, and a few other games.
Of course we didn’t leave Jesus out of the celebration! Hanisha had made Him a birthday cake and we all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus!! Praying and thanking Him for the blessings He’s bestowed upon us. It was a lovely Christmas and I’m thankful for the beautiful day God gave us together as a family!
bela bulungi (good-bye):
As you can see November and December were full of many amazing days, love, and time with family and friends! We thank all of you who made our Christmas a special one and all of you who continue to support us with prayer, encouragement and donations. We LOVE you all! May your 2022 be blessed beyond measure!
With much love and appreciation,
Rita Bulegeya- FHLM Director www.faithhopelovemissions.org
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