FHLM OCTOBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

GREETINGS:

Hello Family and Friends! Greetings from Masaka!! Wow I cannot believe we are in the last few months of the year already! October has flown by!! I pray this Newsletter finds you all healthy, happy, and being blessed by the Lord.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

DIRECTORS UPDATE:

New SOAR Youth: We are pleased to announce the acceptance of Charity Natumanya to the SOAR Youth Sponsorship Program!! Charity is 17 years old and in Secondary 2 (8^th Grade) at Masaka Secondary School. She has lost both her Mom & Dad and she lives with her maternal Aunt in Nyendo. She’s had the challenge of being passed from her aunts to her grandma, and they have lacked schools fee for some time now. This is why she is a bit older for her class, but she enjoys school. She is good in sciences and hopes to have a career in the medical field—nurse, doctor or pharmacist. She is a good natured and God fearing young lady. We are praying for a full time sponsor for her school fees and requirements at $35.00 per month. If you are led to sponsor her please contact me at reetsindiego@yahoo.com and/or click on the link      

Teaching: On Sunday the 16^th I was humbled to be asked to teach the youth Sunday School class at Full Gospel Church- Katwe. I shared with them from 2 Peter 1:5-11 about Nobel Qualities of Faith. I discussed each of the qualities; virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, Godliness, kindness, and love and shared how we must put these into action in our lives. It was a blessed morning.     

Preaching:  On the 30^th the pastoral team was in Busia with Pastor Sam at the new Hilltop Church plant, so I was asked to speak to the Hilltop Church Masaka congregation. The Lord gave me the theme of Reverence for God. He said to me, “It’s lacking in the church today so teach”. I was obedient to His voice and shared several verses about why and how we are to give our Lord reverence on a daily basis. I’m very thankful to be able to sow into the congregation of Hilltop Church.

Family Sustainability: This month FHLM was able to bless some of our SOAR Youth’s families with seedlings of carrots, cabbages, and skima wiki, and laying hens. These items will lend themselves to the families’ long term sustainability and help to elevate them from poverty.  We hope that in the future we can give the families more hens, and even a pig or a goat.   

Prayer Request: The Impact Church team of 11 persons will be flying to Kenya on 17^th Nov and then arrive in Uganda on 21^st Nov. As they prepare their hearts and minds to depart Colorado please continue to keep them in your daily prayers. We ask for the Lord to give them journey mercies, to fill them with His Spirit so they can be poured out as a “drink offering” to the people of Kenya and Uganda and to keep them healthy as they travel. Thank you!!

SOAR YOUTH UPDATE:

Home Visit: On the 1^st Kellen, William, and I went to his home village in Kiserekete- Magili, Kyesiga. On the way William led in a prayer asking God to lead and protect us. The distance to William’s home is very long. When we reached his Grandma’s home everyone welcomed us. They had even invited family friends to come and greet us. William’s grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, aunt, uncles, cousins, sisters and brothers were all there. The family is doing well though William’s dad is still very sick. It was my third time to see John (William’s dad). The doctors think he has a form of Parkinson’s and he is in much pain, but he still managed to sit with us. Since the doctor’s visits to Kampala and the medication are so expensive it has brought the family to experience poverty. But the family is spiritually strong! William’s grandma, who is a pastor, has a big heart and she feeds more than 15 people every day. In addition to caring for her family, she is also caring for some village orphans. The family was so happy to have us there, they said that the day has been like Christmas! We were so blessed to be with them, and it was lovely to spending time with the family. William left the village so happy!   

Visitation Day: On 08^th we had visitation day at Masaka Secondary School where all of our secondary students attend. This day is mostly for the boarding students’ parents to visit their children. Though it was a rainy morning Charles, Kellen, all the youth (minus Immy) and I endured the weather and met up at school. We broke into teams to pick the students beginning of 3^rd Term reports and discussed with their class teacher each of their performances. Over all the youth performed well, but Pamela was the most successful of the Ordinary Level Students and Eddy, who is in Advanced Level, was praised by his class teacher for improving so much from 1^st Term. We congratulate all the youth on their exams and we know they can make it for very successful end of term reports!!

Milly’s Birthday: After visitation was completed we all went to Elgin Restaurant for lunch. This is where we celebrated Milly’s 17^th Birthday with cake and balloons! Since it had rained in the morning I told Milly that was her birthday water blessing! We had a very nice day together!

Immy: The week of the 10^th Immy came down with typhoid, but by God’s grace she recovered just in time to start her Secondary 4 National Exams on the 17^th. Please continue to keep her in prayer for a successful finish!  

YOUTH PROGRAMS:

Bible Study: This month we continued our journey through the Bible and the book of Hebrews. We’ve been tackeling the hard chapters of 4 to 7. On the 26^th we read from Hebrews 7:1-10 and I did an introduction and then asked, Who is Melchizedek? To get a better understanding we then read one of the only accounts of Melchizedek in the Bible, Genesis 14:17-24. These verses talk about how Abraham met Melchizedek and what happened. Then both Immy, and Pamela answered my question: He was the king of kings and He was the priest of the most high. Charles said, “Melchizedek was there before Jesus and he has no genealogy, meaning he was like the Spirit or the pre Jesus.” Here are some of the lessons the youth learned:

Milly: Melchizedek was the King of Righteousness, so relating to today we need to be like him and be prepared for Jesus’2^nd coming. God will not use us if we don’t allow him to work in us. We should serve God as the way of blessing Him. Always prepare and make God’s temple clean. God calls us to give Him a little on what we have not much or everything.

Eddy: When Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of the battle spoils, he was blessed. Giving a tenth is a culture from the Bible, so as Christians we should give tithes to the Lord to be blessed. Giving a tenth is a source of blessings.

Pamela: The description and life of Melchizedek was a reflection of what and how Jesus would be. In ministry we have sowers, harvesters and collectors. Melchizedek was a collector of the righteous. In the last days we must be amongst those that are collected by Jesus.

Games Day: On the 1^st while Aunt Kellen and I were visiting William’s family, Uncle Charles and the remaining youth had a fun filled afternoon playing Monopoly. Pius was so excited to finally finish with the most money, but unfortunately Eddy was bankrupt by the end of the game. Charles said it was a great day with many laughs and much joy!!   

Plan A: For sure in Uganda you have to be flexible in life! On the 15^th we were to have Movie Day but the power was out in the whole of Masaka! I’m thankful to God for His Plan A, as we are not to lean on our own understanding but on the will of God. That said, we got out the drums, organized praise & worship leaders and pastors and had a Praise & Worship Day instead! After some spirit filled praise & worship, William was the first pastor of the day. He shared from Malachi 3:1-2. He asked us, “How are we prepared for this Messenger?” and he went on to talk about how should be faithful as we prepare for the coming of this messenger. We should keep our temples pure and clean. I was the second pastor of the day sharing from John 5:24-30 and the life we attain through the Son, Jesus Christ.

Group Talk: Dave & Grace Ziegler and their longtime friend Pastor Mike came to Masaka on the 21st. This was a day later than expected due to a flight cancelation. We had scheduled for Grace and Dave for a Youth Group Talk on the 22^nd, but because of the loss of a day their schedule had to be modified. That said, we had Pastor Sam Sombi speak to the youth. Sam is now living in Busia, where he has “planted” another Hilltop Church, so it was blessing to have him back at the Centre and for the youth to spend time with him.

Sam spoke to the youth about “How We Can Utilize The Opportunities Around Us”. He gave them 6 Habits to put into their lives, so they don’t lose hope and see the opportunities for their future. Here are the 6 Habits:

1. Live Life Proactively
2. In whatever thing you do look at the BIG Picture
3. Do or Put 1^st Things 1^st
4. Build Win-Win Relationships
5. Listen Before we Speak
6. Learn to Work with Others

Crocheting: On the 29^th Aunt Kellen again led the youth by teaching them how to make table mats on the local loom. Most of the youth remembered very well how to go about making the mats, so they led a few of the new community youth that weren’t at the training last month. Kellen did step in to help with a few of the teams that were lagging behind on their threading, but overall every team was proficient this month. By each team completing another mat each team member can now have one for a gift for their family or guardian. We praise the Lord for it was another lovely day of fellowship and learning.  

BELA BULUNGI (GOOD-BYE):

As you have read, October was blessed with God’s provision, the joy of the Lord through programs and visitors and His abundant love & protection. We are so thankful to be able to serve the Lord and pour out His Spirit to these young people. We also thank you for your continued donations, prayers, and support. May God richly bless you!!

Love and Blessings,

Rita Bulegeya

Director -Faith Hope Love Missions

reetsindiego@yahoo.com