FHLM APRIL 2023 NEWSLETTER

GREETINGS:

Greetings from Masaka everyone! It has been a very wet April. “For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud. That is may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.” Isaiah 55:10.  Below is how the Lord used us in April. 

DIRECTORS UPDATE:

Home Visits: Throughout the month Sharikah and I went to all of our youth’s homes. Since she is new and had never been introduced to the youth’s parents or guardians I went with her. We were able to visit each of the youth’s homes see their living conditions and environment, discuss how the youth are doing at home and get to know the parents or guardians more. These visits give us a deeper look into the care and concerns of each of our youth and help us to individually address their needs.    

Charles: After 3 weeks of leave for family issues Charles turned in his resignation on 6^th April. He is still dealing with family issues in Busia, in Eastern Uganda, so he has decided to move back there. I had been filling the gap over the 3 weeks he was away from work, but now that he has permanently left there is an even bigger gap. That said, we are in the process of receiving applications and we hope to start interviews the last week of April. Please pray for Charles and his family. Also pray for God’s wisdom and discernment as we seek out replacements for his office manager position. Thank you!     

Easter Weekend: On the 8^th many of the youth came to my home to bake and prepare food for Sunday lunch. Then on Resurrection Sunday after church we had the youth along with invited guest, 14 in total, to the house for luncheon. After delighting in the blessing of food, we all relaxed a bit and then enjoyed a few hilarious rounds of charades. Of course that got our appetites ready for all the sweet confectionary treats we had baked.  It was a lovely day with family and friends.   

YOUTH UPDATE:

Justine: After much research and prayer she has decided to attend Kampala International University—Kampala Campus. She wants to obtain a Degree in Statistics. She has applied and we are hoping to visit the university sometime in May.     

Ruth: Because of continuing issues with her mother, Ruth has been moved from her Aunt’s home to my home. She is staying in the apartment with Justine. We felt it necessary for her safety, wellbeing and mental health. Now she will be able to fully concentrate on school and not be distracted by the issues brought on by her mom. That said, she is now considered a Residential Sponsored Youth, which adds an additional cost to the ministry. If you are led to sponsor her academics and cater for her residential needs please contact me at reetsindiego@yahoo.com. Thank you!! God bless.    

By the way, Ruth’s 19^th Birthday was on the 17^th but we celebrated it after Bible Study on the 19th with balloons, cake and a lively round of Happy, Birthday!    

Secondary Youth: End of Term exams took place from the 17^th to the 27^th. We pray that the youth completed them well.  On 28^th April First Term Holiday began and we started the holiday off with a “relaxed” day, playing games and hanging out. It was very nice to have the youth back!     

YOUTH PROGRAMS:

Good Friday: On 7^th April we had a Good Friday Remembrance Day at the Youth Centre. The 50 people that were in attendance enjoyed the day’s activities. Pius was our greeter and welcomed people to the Centre. As people entered we had board games that they could play and various youth including William and Eddy sang Praise & Worship songs. Once everyone had arrived I welcomed everyone, opened in prayer and we had a yummy lunch. After lunch Uncle Rajab led the youth in exciting, and fun-filled life application games. We proceeded with praise and worship as Pamela and Shakirah lead the people into the throne of God. This prepared the way for a wonderful message by Uncle Rajab. He spoke on our theme verse 1 Peter 2:24. We ended this wonderful day with a special song by Pamela and Team, ‘’In Christ Alone’’ and a closing prayer by me. I’m so thankful to God for days like this, were we can gather together in celebration of Him and all He has done for us. 

Bible Study: This month we finished up the book of 2 Peter and started our Term Holiday Theme; The Fruit of the Spirit. This month’s study in 2 Peter 2:1-22 from 12^th April stood out to me as a significant teaching. In this chapter we see Peter talking of people that were once God’s and then turned into false prophets. He says that it would have been better if they didn’t know the way which is Jesus, the way of righteous. (vs. 21) Here is what we learned: 

• Pamela- (versed 9, 6) We need to know that such evil has not just come, it stared at the beginning at the fall and got worse in Sodom and Gomorrah. But this verse is clarifying that God knows how to rescue the righteous. God may rescue us from that fire, but in verse 14 it says many of us have adulterous hearts. Even when we think or see evil, sin comes into our lives.
• Pius- (verse 18) God is enlightening us on false prophets. You are given the knowledge to determine the rights and the wrongs. Get saved, run away from sin. We should repent from our sins, in verses 3, 5, 6 when you move in a righteous path God can’t leave you, and we see Noah and Lot being saved from the sinful nations.
• Immy- (verse 18-19) False teachers promise fake things like a new life of freedom, free to satisfy our bodily desires, and they bring people back into slavery. These promises should not be relied on. We are not supposed to rely on people, but instead let’s rely on God. Some people may be in church and just pretending.

Movie Day:  On 15^th April we watched a very inspirational, true story called Hoovey.  It was about a young man, Eric “Hoovey” Elliot. He was an extremely talented high school basketball player in the small town of Normal, IL. His family were born again believers. One day while playing ball he fainted and his father rushed him to hospital, but the doctor discovered a tumor in his head that grown to affect his eyes. By God’s mercy he survived a surgery, but was left with issues that affected his motor skills, sight, ability to walk and speech. He was also told that he was no longer going to play basketball. But he didn’t lose hope he kept on trying. Despite his parents struggle with the hospital bills the whole family worked together to pay the debts. His coach, Wilson, also helped strengthen him with encouragement and the story of Job in the Bible. Coach Wilson reminded Hoovey that though everything was taken from Job, he didn’t curse God. Through all that happened to Eric’s family they didn’t lose faith and they stuck together. Their strength of faith helped Eric to overcome all his challenges. He finally gained his sight and later went back playing basketball. This was a wonderful testimony of faith for the youth to see and these are the lessons learnt from the movie.

• Ruth- Everyone needs one another and when Hoovey wasn’t there the team couldn’t win but when he got better everything came back to normal. His family was also proof of staying together and getting through.
• Precious- Though Donavan fought with the team members, Hoovey was there for him and in the end they supported one another. It’s a lesson that we should not give up, let’s keep on trying, and trust God.
• Pamela- God works at our weakest point. He is always there for us and His delay is not necessarily His denial. That even when we trust God, He will send his angels to help us in every situation. That was proved when Hoovey gained his sight back and started playing basketball again. 
• Pius- We are to always have a positive attitude on everything that comes our way and asking God to intervene. Believing makes it possible, faith makes it real
• William- We should have purpose, we see Eric being purposeful and he was valued. If a dream is good and true then it came from God—mom

Visitors: On 29^th April we were so happy to receive Pastor Juan and Andy from the U.K. and Pastor Ricky from Elim Church, Kampala. We began with praise & worship and a prayer. We then had introductions of ourselves and each of us shared our favorite Bible verses.

We welcomed our first preacher of the day, Pastor Andy. He shared a story of the rain storm that had happened the night before. He read from Matthew 7:24-29 and said, “Storms come and we feel like we’re drowning, but when we stick on God’s word no matter what storm comes He will not fail us. Even if God’s voice isn’t all loud and booming we can stand still and see the salvation of God”  He shared that we all have storms, but when He puts the Word, the solid rock, in our hearts our foundation will not crumble. We are to listen to His teaching and build our life on it, and obey it as Jesus is our solid Rock!

After a applause and thanks for his teaching Pastor Andy handed over to Pastor Juan, who began with a question to us, ‘’Why did we choose those favorite memory verses for ourselves?’’ We went back, one by one to give our favorite verse and the reasons why it is our favorite. As we shared and Juan expounded on each verse it really opened up a deeper understanding of our verses. Juan than started his sermon for the day on John 4:7-26—Jesus And The Samaritan Woman. He said, “When you have the spirit you can worship God anywhere. True worship is that we live in all truth and we are set free just as the woman was. That when we stand in the truth before God just as the Samaritan woman did. We are just like her, He knows everything about us.” He then led us in a prayer about coming before God with the truth and asking to love Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls.

Then Pastor Ricky carried on with John 4:23-24. But before he shared he sang to us a rap song that he composed back in high school. We were very impressed and the youth cheered him on! The song was about being true to God and our salvation. He said, “You can put on a game for your pastor and ministry leaders, but God wants us to be real and in true salvation.  Salvation is of the Lord! God only has sons and daughters, no grandchildren!” He continued saying, “Pastors and ministry leaders are proclaimers of the truth, but it is God and the Holy Spirit that transforms and change not us!”

Wow this was a powerful Holy Spirit led day of teaching! We all learnt so much. I am thankful to Pastor Ricky, Juan and Andy for coming to Masaka and grateful to God who brought them.   

BELA BULUNGI (GOOD-BYE):

As you have read April was a blessed month! We are truly blessed as an organization and a family to have prayer and financial support from people like you. Please continue to keep the youth and our Holiday Programs in prayer. Thank you and God Bless you all!!

Rita Bulegeya

Director -Faith Hope Love Missions

reetsindiego@yahoo.com