FHLM MAY 2023 NEWSLETTER

GREETINGS:

Greetings Everyone and Praise God! We are all doing well here in Masaka! This month Shakirah and I were happily active with Youth Holiday Programs. Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

DIRECTORS UPDATE:

Youth Centre: This Term Holiday we’ve had a few more community youth attend our Centre Programs. I’m thankful that they have come. Actually one of the community youth’s Moms gave a testimony in church and said that she was very appreciative of the Centre Holiday Programs. She said it has kept her daughter focused on God, school, and taught her some new skills. I was blessed by her comments. I am grateful to God that we are able to have such school Holiday Programs for the youth. I see how important the center is for the young people of Masaka! The center gives them a place to make good friends, strengthen their walk with God, and it is an environment that is conducive to stimulating their brains with good, Godly things, instead of the rubbish of this world!  

Tests: We are always making sure that our sponsored youth are spiritual, emotionally, and physically healthy. That said, on 26^th May most of the girls and myself volunteered to get checked for Hepatitis B Virus. Since we were all negative we started our 1^st of 3 rounds of vaccines. We are blessed to have subsidized clinics here in Uganda that offer services like this to the public.      

YOUTH UPDATE:

Holiday Studies: All of our secondary candidates took Holiday Study Top-Up Classes for their most difficult classes. Eddy is took Chemistry and Biology this holiday. William and Milly took Biology, Chemistry and Physics. They started classes at 8am and end around 1:00pm Monday to Friday for the 4 weeks of term holiday. Milly said that these classes have helped her to understand difficult concepts because the students receive more one-on-one teaching.  

Birthdays: Charity turned 16 on 20^th May. Unfortunately Charity missed her birthday celebration, as she was in the village in Ssembabule District caring for her Jjaja (grandmother) who was sick in hospital. We are happy to report that Jjaja is out of hospital and doing better.

Pius’ 16^th Birthday was on 25^th May and he got the “full birthday experience”. Here in Uganda when you have a birthday people like to pour water on you to symbolize your birth. Well the youth didn’t just pour water on Pius they drenched him! Of course is it all in good fun! After changing clothes and drying off we had a cake, balloons and a few courses of Happy Birthday for him!! It was a blessed celebration of his life!!

Justine: She and I traveled to Kampala on 30^th and 31^st May to finalize her admission to Kampala International University- Kampala Campus. She will be starting in August studying towards a Bachelors of Science in Statistics. During our time in Kampala we were able to meet up with Babirye and Oliver. It was a great time seeing them and wonderful to catch up. They are both doing well! 

Oliver: By the way, congratulations are in order for her as she completed her certificate course in Fashion and Design at the end of May. She is taking a week or so break and then looking for a new institution that offers a diploma course in fashion & design so she can upgrade. We pray for God to give her wisdom and direction as she looks.  

YOUTH PROGRAMS:

General Cleaning & Farming Day: On the 4^th we had a general cleaning day of the Centre. We cleaned everything; curtains, swept the compound, mopped the offices, dug around the compound, and cleaned doors and windows. We relaxed for lunch and then we were back at it, clearing out old vegetable beds and cutting some tree brunches so the sunshine can reach our new crops.

On the 5^th we planted sweet potatoes, eggplants, spinach, and bananas (matooke). Both Ruth and Shakiriah had prepared potato leaves the day before, and banana stems too. All of the youth worked making potato hills and putting leaves in the hills. Others cleared and dug the beds for the eggplants and spinach. We all worked very hard for those two days and I gave them sodas as a thank you. But their biggest thank you will be when we harvest and they can have food items for their families.

Visitor: On 8^th Darren Hall from the U.S. came for another visit. He spent the whole day at the Centre with us. In the afternoon he did a Bible teaching from Mark 11:1-26.  As we read in Mark 11:1 we saw Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we also saw two word, Bethpage meaning house of figs, and Bethany meaning Lord’s answer. The fig tree represented Israel under the Law of Moses, the old covenant. In the covenant faith speaks things forth that are believing! We need to have faith in God and get rid of unfaithful things. When Jesus speaks His words have power and so do our words.

He thought in Proverbs 10:19 and Ephesians 4:29, saying that we need to be careful about the things that come out of our mouth. That we need to stop speaking negative over people or a situation. We also need to carry forgiveness in our hearts and throw away all the evil thoughts we carry in our hearts. He said we are to speak life over ourselves and our enemies. He asked us if there was anyone who had unforgiveness on his/her hearts, and many raised their hands. He then prayed for us to be delivered. It was a very good moment and we were all blessed.

Movie Day: On the 11^th we watched the movie based on the life of David Colton called, Lifemark. This movie follows David’s life after turning 18 years old and him coming to terms with being an adopted child. A few weeks after his birthday his life is turned upside down when his birth mother, Merissa, unexpectedly reaches out to him. This marks a change in his life. With the encouragement of his adoptive parents, who told him that God has something special for him, he embarks on a journey of discovery that leads to a staggering truth from his past. This moving and encouraging movie taught us several things. These are some comments from a few of the youth about the movie:

• Charity- She now understands that adoption is good and we should avoid early pregnancies and we should apply Godly ways when we adopt a child.
• Pamela- She said that love can change life. David was loved, his mum loved him because she gave him for adoption. That the majority of teen mums (in Uganda) throw unwanted babies or abort. She said they can change the title of the movie from LIFEMARK TO LOVEMARK. Also, God always does good things to us. God had to make David look for the “piece of a puzzle” of his life and when he found his mum he became complete.
• Eddy- God has plans and purpose for everyone. God was in Merissa and she did not abort. Merissa really listened to the voice of God when she had gone to abort. She even listened to the group of women telling her not to abort.
• Milly- When David was adopted the parents raised him as their own son and they raised him with good character and should him God’s love.
• Immy- When Merissa went to abort her baby, God waited for her to change. It shows that God had given her a second chance.

Health Workshop: On 12^th May Dr. Wilson Kazora from Masaka Referral Hospital & Uganda Cares came to the Centre and gave a Health Talk to the youth. He started by asking the youth, “What does health mean to you? Many of them gave definitions; Someone with no pain or stress, State of being free of diseases, The wellbeing of someone’s body that is free from infections, and Being physically, emotionally, mentally, social and economically well.  

Then he asked, “What does a healthy person look like?” He said we have to remember that beneath every person there are layers of unhealthy issues.  

Then he discussed that fact that we all have Dreams. Between a dream and its fulfillment is time when people can lose hope, but you have to remember that your dream is your drive and every year is a transition. In that time there are Choices between the dream and its fulfillment. He shared the verse John 10:10, that satan will want to steel your dream.  Your health is also a prime target of the devil, for he uses deception. But God gives you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

He said you must have a standard for your life! The things you give yourself to can make or break you! There are 3 things that drive life: time, energy, money.  The Youth Phase of Life that you are in right now is the most dangerous phase of life. In this stage you learn to control yourself, your body and how you feel. Sexual lusts happen when you have too much time and energy, so keep busy with good things!

He then shared a list of Sexual transmission disease and discussed HIV. He said that 5.8% of the population in Uganda has HIV/AIDS. But in Masaka out of every 100 people 12 people have HIV. That is 12% of population!  

He reminded them that there is a time for everything Ecclesiastics 3:1-12. Right now they, as Youth, are in preparation time. That they are to use their preparation time wisely and to be guided by God! Many of the youth said this “workshop” was the most impactful of the Holiday Programs. 

General Programs: Every Tuesday afternoon of holiday the youth had Centre Schooling in the afternoons. They studied subjects that they needed the most assistance with; Physics, Math and Chemistry. We had Picture Collage day on 15th. I printed the “best” or “funniest” pictures from May 2022 to May 2023 and the youth put the collage together. As it hangs in the Centre’s sitting room it is a great way to show people all the fun we have together! On the 18^th we had Cooking Day. We made Gambian beef and aburgene stew, rice and beef samosas. Ruth and Pamela taught us how to make samosas. I taught them how to make the stew and how to use different spices and cooking techniques. The results were very yummy!!      

Bible Study: Throughout the month our Wednesday Bible studies were based on the Theme: The Fruit of the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:22-23. Each weekthe studies were led by teams of two youth and each team taking a sub-theme or “fruit of the Spirit” to teach on. The study on 17 May based on Goodness and Kindness, led by Pius and Pamela, stood out as one of the most impactful.

Pius explained Gentleness, as the quality of being kind, tender, compassionate and considerate. That Gentleness is the spiritual attitude behind repentance. The following were the Scriptures he used so we could better understand; Philippians 4:5, Romans 14:13, Titus 3:2-6, Ephesians 4:2.

We then went on to Kindness. Pamela gave its meaning; the inner disposition created by the Holy Spirit that causes us to be sensitive to the needs of others whether spiritual, emotional or physical. These are the verses that we read through; Romans 12:10, Proverbs 19:`7, Romans 2:1-4, Proverbs 11:7, Luke 6:35, Mathew 7:1-2 and 2 Samuel 9:1-13.

We were all blessed by this Bible study, but throughout the month we all gleaned a new understanding of the fruit of the spirit. I’m grateful for all of the youth leaders and their contributions. It is a blessing to me to watch them as they grow in the word of God and leadership.    

Off-Site Program: On the 19^th we ladies were invited to attend a workshop organized by C2C called Womanhood.  It was held at Willow Resource Centre and there were about 25 ladies in attendance. This whole day workshop had 3 sessions; What is Womanhood, Career, and Sexual Purity.  We all openly participated in the workshop, and shared our experiences. My ladies said one of the biggest take-a-ways from the day was that they are unique, and they are to accept themselves as women not mistakes. For they are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:1-24). It was a good day of learning and understanding of who we are as women!

Worship Day: After Pius birthday party, on 25^th May, we ended the holiday and the month with a wonderful worship day! I opened in prayer and Precious and Pamela led us into songs of praise! Then Aunt Shakirah and Milly led us in a beautiful worship session, and the Holy Spirit opened up our hearts to receive the messages from our two preachers, Ruth and Pamela.

Ruth read Romans 12:1-2 and taught us on worship and transformation. She asked us, do we really worship God? Or do we give Him empty sacrifices? (Amos 5:21-25). Then she spoke on prayer and how Jesus worshiped the Father (Mathew 14:22-23)  

Pamela taught on the Holy Spirit starting with Ezekiel 36:27, stating that the Holly Spirit is put in us but we must be obedient to God. She shared the origin of the Holy Spirit from Genesis 1:1 to John 1:1. Then as Jesus left this earth, He come into us through the baptism of the Spirit (Acts 1:5). She said that the The Person whom Jesus left us when He ascended was the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit you can’t learn, but with Him you can be helped (1 John 2:27).

I’m very thankful for the four beautiful weeks that we had with the youth during this holiday! We learned so much from the Spirit working through them and our visitors! We are truly blessed!   

BELA BULUNGI (GOOD-BYE):

As you have read it has been a full-on Holiday! We are grateful to God for providing, protecting, and guiding us through this Holiday! We are also thankful for God using you to support His ministry!  In return may God richly bless you. Have a blessed June! 

Rita Bulegeya

Director -Faith Hope Love Missions

reetsindiego@yahoo.com