FHLM April 2018 Newsletter
Rain, rain, and more rain….mud, mud and more mud! With rain comes mud and that best describes the month of April in Masaka. But along with rain comes the abundant harvest of fruits and vegetables that we are so blessed with! Psalm 67:6 Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.
Director’s Update:
Our Easter/Resurrection Sunday was very blessed! Rogers and I had 15 people, including our youth and his brother and nephews, at our home for Easter lunch. It was a joyous day of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus our Lord and Savior with much food, fellowship, stories and laughter.
Since we are now sending two more off to university, I did the “parental thing” and went with Babirye, Joseph to Ndejje University for a campus visit on the 11th. Ndejje Univ. is an hour and a half north of Kampala so we had a long day, but it was a good day, as we were able to talk to the heads of the teaching and agriculture faculty to discuss Baibrye and Joseph’s courses, requirements and placements at the school. We also had a tour of the campus and its facilities. Than on the 23rd Babirye, Aunt Liz and I went to visit, and tour Uganda Martyrs University. We were able to meet with the head of the Faculty of Education, Harriet, take a tour of the beautiful campus and meet with admissions. UMU is a proper university with an amazing library, lecture halls and facilities for the students. I pray that the funding comes in for Babirye to attend this school. Please also keep Joseph in your prayers for funding for his diploma course at Ndejje. If you are led to support these two youth please go to our web-site at www.faithhopelovemissions.org and click on support/sponsorship. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support!
Youthz Update:
SOAR Youth Leadership: On the 6th I held meeting with the “elder” SOAR Youth; William, Joseph, Alpha and Babirye to discuss their role as leaders within the organization. We discussed the influence that they have on the “younger” youth in the program and how they can be living as examples of success, leadership, and faithfulness. We also discussed their role in our monthly programs. They decided that is was important for each one of them to lead a program each month, so Babirye & Alpha led a Bible study, Joseph led Movie Day, William led J.A.M. this month. I’m proud of each one of them for “stepping up” and being the leaders they were born to be!
Back to Success: This month’s program was held on 07th & 14th April in order to prepare the secondary youth to be successful in their end of term 1 exams. Faridah led the program again and began by asking everyone about their homework—seeking out academic friends. Eddy and Oliver had so far found two of them and they were still searching for more friends. Justine had not yet got any academic friend since she was in a new stream and she was still studying them. Here are some of the tips she gave the youths on how to approach more academic friends who seem to be hard; Study the person, know the likes and dislikes of that person, know their behavior and then befriend them.
Faridah advised that the friends they get should only be purposed for academics not any other business. She added that wherever they go they should purpose to leave a legacy there. She told the youths that they should know that selfishness is a killer disease, so they have to avoid it because it can cause them to fail. She than focused the remainder of the day on Examinations; What to do in an examination room, Things that ease the examiner’s work, What to do when in an exam, and What causes exam panicking. To end the program Faridah had the youth work out actual Math Exam questions. She had some of the youth solve equations and after gave them “tips” on how to answer Math Word Questions. The 14th was also focused on how to answer essay questions and also more math questions, as the youth struggle with Maths. All in all the two Saturday’s have really prepared our youth to be successful exam takers!
End of 1st Term Exams: Secondary End of Term Exams was from 17th till the 24th. We pray that Joshua, Oliver, Justine and Eddy preformed well! They will be in their 1st Term Holiday until Term 2 starts on 28th May.
Movie with a Message: We had our monthly Movie Day on the 21st and we started watching of 23 Blast until the power went out! Since everyone was into the movie we postponed watching it until the 30th. On the 30th everyone was so happy to re-watch the movie! Joseph said that at 1st he was shocked that a blind person be allowed to play football and thought they were stupid for allowing it, but in the end he realized by allowing Travis to play it gave him hope for his future and allowed the team to unite around him! God does work all thing together for the good of those that love Him (Romans 8:28)
Impact Church Ladies: Wow, we were so blessed by Kim, Kristen and Elisah’s visit from 26-29th April! On the 26th Joseph, William and I picked them from Kampala and Entebbe and brought them back to Masaka via a stop off at the Equator for pictures and shopping. Upon our arrival to Masaka we went straight to the Centre and our Thursday evening Bible Study on John 10: 1-21, which Alpha led. By that time the ladies were exhausted, so we retired to our home for the night.
The next morning we were all up bright and early for another adventurous day! We went to the centre by 10am and waited for the other participants of Amazing Race Masaka to arrive. I know the ladies didn’t fully anticipate what they were getting into that day by running all over Masaka Town with their race partners, picking up clues and then on to the next until they had collected all 10 and ran up to the Center again; but they were all great sports about participating in the day’s event! Thank you ladies—sorry if we almost killed you! A BIG CONGRATS goes out to Kristen and her partner, Febian, for winning the Amazing Race and to all who participated!!! The afternoon ended with all 27 of us eating lunch, followed up by a mini sing along. Thank you Aunt Jane and Oliver for cooking for us!! What a FUN DAY!
The next afternoon we had our monthly J.A.M. (Jesus And Me) Session! It was a 1st full J.A.M. at the new centre and it was so wonderful. William and Joseph led the day and William kicked things off with a prayer and then one of his original Rap Gospel songs. Of course MC Joseph had everyone, including the ladies participate. We were able to see some dance moves from Kim and Elisha, hear newly composed and recorded songs by Babirye and Joseph and get a very moving testimony from Kristen. J.A.M. is really about sharing our God given talents and Alpha gave us a wonderful Word on just that from Matthew 25:14-25. Oh and when Aunt Liz and all her youth showed up they gave us a song and a little dance. I was blessed by the day and we all went away with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts!
The days the ladies were here flew by and soon it was time for them to depart! After church on the 29th the ladies, Alpha, Babirye, Aunt Liz and I all loaded in the van and headed to Kampala to drop Kristen and Elisha at the coach for their trip to Kenya. After a late lunch that blessed us all—especially Babirye as it was her 1st time to eat a burger—we headed to Entebbe Airport to take Kim to her flight.
The ladies were only here for a few days, but they have made a lasting impression and impact upon our youth. I thank you; Kim, Kristen & Elisha for coming, for your amazing hearts and your love that enveloped us! You are such a blessing!!
Wow, what more can I write? It was an amazingly blessed and full month of joy, and love! Thank you God! Have a blessed May everyone!
Love,
Rita
Missionary and Director-Faith Hope Love Missions
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