FHLM Dec 2019 Newsletter

Director’s Update:

Greetings from Masaka! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. Happy 2020 everyone!!

Every year I ask the Lord for a verse for the New Year and this year He has given me Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

We are facing changes with Jane’s departure, possibly moving the Centre again, and the financial challenge of adding new youth to the sponsorship program and our older youth moving forward with higher education. Change is hard, but we know are not alone and He will be with us all through the unknown, guiding our transitions, moving before us as we start a new chapter for the ministry. Please continue to keep our “changes” in prayer. Thank you!    

A BIG THANK YOU all those that have sent our FHLM family Christmas packages and cards! Though some of the packages are still in transit we know that they are on the way. We are ALL blessed by your care and love for us! May God Bless you all!   

Youthz Update:

Babirye: The week of 2^nd Dec Babirye was in Moroto, north eastern Uganda, with the universities Christian Union ministering.  The team didn’t return to the university until the 8th very late and on the 9th we picked her in Kampala, so she could join us for our outreach to Mbale.  Now that is dedicated service to the Lord! She came with many stories of God’s goodness.

Joshua: He finished his 1^st semester 1^st year exams on the 4^th and joined us on the 6^th and 7^th for outreach training. It was a big blessing to have him back with us! God is doing such a huge work in Him and he is falling deeper in love with the Lord!!  

Eddy: On the 6^th we celebrated Eddy’s 18th Birthday!! It was a fun afternoon of cake, soda, and laughs! We are blessed to have Eddy in our program, as he brings much wisdom and care with his quiet spirit.        

Outreach Training: The first week of Dec. was spent preparing for our outreach and praying for all God was going to do in and through us on the trip and for safety while travelling.  The youth picked the verse of 1 John 4:11 “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” and theme “God’s Love and Ours”. We also assigned trip jobs to each of the youth, so they could build their leadership and be responsible for specific areas of the trip:

• Babirye; Outreach & Team Leader
• Joshua; Outreach & Team Leader
• Oliver; Morning Glory
• Justine; Evening Glory
• Eddy; Food Prefect
• Immy; Time Keeper
• William; Transportation Manager
• Hanisha; Nurse

Outreach and Educational Trip to Mbale:  Thank you for all your prayers for us, as we travelled safely despite all the road hazards and getting stuck in the mud a few times! It was a blessed trip! We enjoyed the outreach at the orphanage and the door to door evangelism. But the highlight of the trip was seeing God’s amazing creation in all its splendour and majesty!! We saw at least 5 big waterfalls up close and several more from a far. We even got to go in a few caves and walk through primal forest. What an experience for the youth!

Week Before Christmas: From the 16^th to 20^th Dec we had our weekly Bible studies but since Jane’s departure Oliver & Justine have taken on leading the Thursday studies. It has been a blessing for me and through this I’ve seen them grow in their knowledge and wisdom of the Word as they prepare to teach each week.

We have also had a few festive things. On the 18^th we had a Christmas Craft Day in which we made bottle cap snow men, paper Christmas trees, and star bead ornaments. Then on the 20^th we had our Annual Youth Christmas Party! It was a day filled with much fun and laughter! We had a few “snacks”, and then kicked off the fun with several games. It wouldn’t be a Christmas Party without Christmas Carols, so we had a singing competition between 4 teams, a little like “America’s Got Talent”. I and Mr. Julius were the “Simon Cowells” for the completion rating the teams on style, quality, and overall performance.  It was great fun and in the end everyone was a winner!!   

Christmas Week: We spent the days leading up to Christmas baking cookies, and cake at Rogers & my home. It brought a lot of joy to my heart spending some quality time in the kitchen with the youth and of course we all enjoyed the yummy outcome!!  Christmas Eve was spent at our house chopping veggies, and preparing some of the foods and meats for Christmas lunch.  Then Christmas morning we all went to church service and then back to our home for luncheon.  We had 15 people there enjoying the blessings from the Lord, celebrating Jesus’ Birthday and fellowshipping with each other! What a precious time together.

Prayer Request: Please continue to pray for our Annual Prayer, Praise & Fasting Camp that will be held 17-19 Jan. For the youth that will attend to grow deeper in love with the Lord, for the facilitators to be used by the Spirit to impart the message of God’s love to the youth, and for health & safety for all during the camp. Thank you!

All in all the month of December was very joyous for me and all of us here at FHLM! I thank the Lord all of you and for His abundant provision, protection, and love He has given us through you! But most of all I thank God for His Son, Jesus Christ, that He brought into this world for our salvation.  Luke 2:1-20 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

May your New Year be blessed beyond measure!

Love and blessings,

Rita