FHLM DECEMBER 2024/JANUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER

GREETINGS:

As we begin a New Year, we want to take a moment to send you our heartfelt wishes for a Happy New Year!  May God be with you through 2025 and fill your lives with comfort, peace, joy, and love. We pray each day of the New Year holds blessings.

2025 VERSE: Towards the end of every year I pray for the Lord to give me a verse to lead me during the New Year. At the end of November He gave me Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. I am thankful to God and I will rest in, and apply this verse to my life and ministry throughout 2025!

This newsletter is an overview of our December 2024 up to the 1^st week of January:

DIRECTORS UPDATE:

FRIEND: On 6^th Dec I was greeted with some very sad news. My longtime friend and fellow Masaka missionary, Fay Girouard, passed away that day at her home in New Iberia, Louisiana. I meet Fay back in 2006 on my first short term mission trip to Uganda. Then in 2007, when I returned for a longer term mission trip, she and I worked very closely together. Of course, when I came back to Uganda fulltime in 2009 she and I continued to grow our friendship. She loved the Lord so much, and often hosted our weekly women’s Bible Studies. She had a huge, loving heart for babies and children, so she worked in a few baby’s homes and then opened her on baby’s home in Masaka. Over the years we collaborated on many projects, women’s bible studies, and enjoyed just hanging out.

Three years ago she went back to Louisiana with her adopted son, David. Not long after she developed health issues and last year she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She has left a void in the Masaka mission community and in my life and heart as well. God has another angel and she was welcomed by Him with “will done good and faithful servant.” You are sorely missed my old friend, but I know you are in heaven and one day we will meet again.       

WEDDINGS: On 11^th Dec Alpha and Martha had their cultural introduction in Kapchorwa, in the mountains of Eastern Uganda at her family home. Afterwards, they made the long journey back to Masaka and 3 days later, on 14^th Dec, they had their nuptials at Masaka Pentecostal Church. It was a beautiful ceremony of their love for each other and the Lord. Then the celebration commenced with the reception at the FHLM Youth Centre. I am so thankful to God that my spiritual son has found his “rib”. May God bless their marriage!  

Then the next Saturday, on 21^st Dec Shakirah and Julius exchanged their wedding vows at Full Gospel-Katwe/Masaka. The pastor gave a lovely sermon about communication, and sharing. Since William, Pamela, Immy , and Charity were all in the wedding party, I helped out with driving the maids to the photo spot for pictures. After we joined everyone at the reception in the grounds of Shakirah’s church, Latter Glory Assemblies. It was a large celebration with great decorations and even some dancers that entertained the guests. I am so happy that Shakirah has able to wed! May God continue to be the center of their marriage.    

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEARS: In 2023 the youth decided that they wanted to spend the 2024 Christmas in the villages with their family, so I had a very different Christmas this year. It was only the 2nd Christmas away from Masaka in 15 years. I spent the week of Christmas in Entebbe with my dear friend, Sarah and her family. We had a lovely Christmas Eve with her family, parents from the U.K. and Ricky’s parents and brother. We enjoyed a traditional “British Christmas Luncheon”.  Of course Christmas morning was full of joy, as their children excitedly opened their presents from Santa! After church on Christmas Day we went to Ricky’s, mom and dad’s for lunch. Then back to Sarah and Ricky’s for more presents and a much needed nap! The other days I met up with my friend Pastor Tom and also David, one of our former ministry youth. This was a special Christmas week! I am so thankful to Sarah and Ricky for hosting me and for the wonderful memories we made!

On New Years’ Eve Eddy and William, the fabulous baker brothers, came to my home. They baked two beautiful decorated cakes and cupcakes. In the evening Oliver, her sister, Eddy, Ronnie, Justine, and I all rang in the New Year together. We kicked the evening off with praise & worship and prayer, thanking God for His faithfulness throughout 2024! Then we had a great time playing Uno, watching the Masaka fireworks displays, and eating snacks. It was the first time the youth tasted guacamole, deviled eggs, and olives. 

Everyone stayed overnight and the next morning we prepared a BIG New Year’s Day feast. Oh and Pamela, and William also joined us. It was another very fun day and a wonderful way to start 2025!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Please keep our FHLM dog, Spot, in prayer as she is having a surgery on 13^th Jan to remove a breast cancer tumor. She will also be getting spay at the same time.

Please prayer for our Annual Prayer, Praise and Fasting Camp that will be from 23^rd Jan to 26^th Jan. For God to use the facilitator team mightily as they lead and share with the youth. For God also to change hearts & minds of the youth and break any “chains” that are binding them!

YOUTH UPDATE:

EDDY: Though he was at university we still sent Birthday well wishes to him on 5^th Dec for a wonderful day and a blessed year! 

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: Oliver, Justine, and Eddy were all back in Masaka for the Christmas and New Year Holidays. I got to see them all before I traveled to Entebbe. On the 3^rd Jan they all traveled back to university and on the 6^th Jan they started classes for 2^nd Semester. It was so wonderful to spend time with them, and catch up! I am so thankful to God for how He has transformed into amazing young people for His service and Kingdom!  

IMMY: She traveled to Kampala with me on the 23^rd Dec to stay with her Mum in the village for Christmas and New Year. Since she has now completed secondary 6 (high school) and will not start university until August she is required to work to earn money for her general necessities at university.  She started working at a wholesale dry goods shop in the Busega area of Kampala on 6^th Jan. She is putting her knowledge from Economics to use by keeping books and inventory for the shop. We pray that God keeps her well and provides for her during her time there.       

WILLIAM: He started holiday classes on 3^rd Jan, taking Chemistry and Math. We are hoping this will solidify all he learned in secondary 5 and prepare him for, secondary 6 and his final year of school.      

YOUTH PROGRAMS:

LIFE-SKILL: On 5^th Dec Aunt Shakirah led a Life-Skill Training on Leadership with the youth. She began the Power Point presentation with Servant & Transformative Leadership and helping us understand what it means to be a servant and a leader that helps people transform. She then went on to share the 8 Components of Leadership; SERVICE BEYOND SELF, TRUST/ DELEGATION, ADD VALUE TO SELF, TEAM WORK, LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND, CRITICAL THINKING AND SLOW ACTION TAKING, ADDING VALUE TO OTHERS, and INFLUENCE. She ended with the basic and fundamental qualities of a good leader.The youth really enjoyed this training and William said it will help him in all aspects of his life.     

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS & PARTY:

CRAFT DAY: On 4^th Dec we all participated in making a Christmas decoration out of toilet paper rolls. Some cut them into Christmas tree shapes and others into swirls. Then we decorated them with gold, red and silver paint and lots of glitter! It’s amazing what you can do with toilet paper rolls! They turned out so beautiful, so we punched holes in the tops and hung them on our Centre Christmas tree!

MOVIE DAY: On 6^TH DEC we watched “ANGELIC CHRISTMAS”. This heartwarming movie was about Samantha, a military widow, and her two young daughters Delaney and Loren who moved to McCattysville at Christmastime. When they arrived they were met with sour, unwelcoming faces, but as we watched we saw that miracles come in small packages. The Christmas angel, Celeste, enlists the two sisters in her quest to earn her guardian angel wings. In a race to Christmas Eve, they attempt to bring faith and forgiveness to their town and restore the town’s holiday spirit. Below are the comments and things learned from the movie:

• Rita: When people are heart broken, it’s really hard for them to forgive. Instead they begun to get bitter like Mrs. McCatty, the old lady.
• Precious:  We should not give up on the task we are given. Like when Delaney was angry with the angel and she was about to give up, but the other angel gave her encouragement and was able to finish her mission and get her wings. Read Isaiah 40:30-31
• Ruth: Celeste, the angel, had a mentor and being a mentor is not an easy task.
• Mark: We should show love to people, so that we can change them into good people. If we show love to others, everything can change.

• Pamela: Mrs. McCatty, had bitterness and lacked love inside her. Love covers everything and everything is based on love. Read: 1 Peter 4:8 and 1 John 4:16
• Immy:  For example, the mother loved her daughters but she was sad of losing her husband.
• William:  He gave a brief summary of his understanding of the movie and the importance of kindness, love, forgiveness and reconciliation.
• Juliet: Have got more knowledge of the ministry of the angels to us and also Joy for Christmas for the grown-up countries like American people.
• Charity: Bitterness takes us nowhere and it brings hatred to others. When the old lady repented, she got friends and her daughter come back into her life.
• Ronald: We should be hopeful. When the old lady turned to the Lord, for forgiveness through repentance, her daughter come back.

BAKING DAY: On 9^th Dec we had a baking day at my home. All the confectionery items were for the Annual Youth Christmas Party. The Impact Team blessed us with bags of chocolate chips, so with one of the bags we made 5 dozen cookies. We also made a strawberry cake and a double tiered white cake. The youth decorated the cakes very creatively! 

ANNUAL YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY: We held our Christmas Party on 11^th Dec with the FHLM Youth in attendance and several others from churches and other organizations. Mark and William each shared from Luke 2 about the birth of Jesus and prophesy fulfilled.  Then we played games and had a Christmas carol sing off! After our yummy lunch we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and cut our cakes. It was a fabulous day, filled with love and laughter!! And a great way to end our year at the Youth Centre. We were then officially closed until 6^th January, 2025!

BELA BULUNGI (GOOD-BYE):

As you have read our December and New Year have been 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 2025 be blessed beyond measure!

With much love and appreciation,

Rita Bulegeya

Missionary & Director -Faith Hope Love Missions

reetsindiego@yahoo.com