FHLM Feb 2016 Update—Birthdays, Family Visits, Freedom in Christ, SOAR Youth, UG Election

Greetings from Masaka! I hope this update finds you all safe, sound, and looking forward to Spring and the Easter Holiday. Zechariah 10:1 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. (NIV)

Birthday News

The month of February was full of Birthdays and here at FHLM we celebrate life! We had William’s on 01 Feb, Alpha’s on 02 Feb and Pastor Sam’s on 12 Feb. Everyone was so happy because there was cake the whole month! Both William and Alpha said that since coming into the program they now know what it is like to have a Birthday. Alpha said, “I’m now 2 years old, because before I came to FHLM my birthday was like any other day. It is nice to celebrate.”

Family Visits

On 07 Feb Alpha and I traveled to his home village of Kisaana, Ssembabula District. After a 2 ½ hour trip from Masaka town in a packed sedan car taxi and a dusty boda boda (motorcycle taxi) trip we reached. His Mom, Zamida, was so excited to see us and welcomed each of us with a BIG hugs! We were invited into her home and sat on mats on the floor. We didn’t stay for long as we were already late for church. See Alpha’s mom was raised Christian but when she got married to a Muslim she gave up her faith until a few years ago when she came back to Christ. Now in the village she is known as Grace. We attended the last part of church service and walked back home. Getting back to mommies’ many people came to visit us; neighbors, aunties, uncles, cousins and family friends. During our visiting mommy and Alpha’s brother, Habab, served us a wonderful lunch of chicken and matooke (cooked, smashed plantain bananas). We than went for another walk to Alpha’s uncle, Richards home—a 3 room mud house with a thatched roof. Our time went very fast and before long it was time to head back. Once again we braved the dusty roads and packed taxi and made it back to Masaka safe and sound. What a lovely and blessed day we had.

On 14 Feb Pastor Sam and I visited Joseph’s house near the village of Ssaza, about 15 minutes from Masaka town. Joseph was given this house by his Jjaja (grandmother) when she passed away and lives there with several other young men that don’t have family or have been abandon. Their house is strong with a tin roof and cements floors and suits their needs, but the house still lacks electricity and water. We also visited and prayed for his younger sister, Linda and her two children who live in a house adjacent to Joseph on family land. It was a very good afternoon and so nice to spend time in Joseph’s home, share stories, and pray together.

SOAR Youth/Youth News

From 01-12 Feb we had Freedom In Christ for Young People Discipleship Course every afternoon from 2-5pm. The 10 days we spent in this course were so exciting for us to see what the Lord did in the lives of the 11 youth that attended! We saw the youth realize; I want to be the way I was made to be—FREE in Christ!!

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Winnie’s Testimony: I thank God for this class because it helped a big part of me in my life. I had so much difficulty in forgiving and because of this un-forgiveness in me, it created strongholds in my life and this caused so much sorrows and unhappiness in my life. Knowing who I am now, I can forgive and I allowed Christ to breakdown all the strongholds in my life. I learnt that “holding anger” is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. I learnt to forgive however difficult it may be and am really enjoying my freedom in Christ and my shekels are gone and my spirit is free because I am a Saint, Child Of God, In Christ Loved and Accepted, Secure, and Significant, Safe, Important and Special!!! Amen!!

I have to thank Pastor Sam and Jane Franc for teaching a few of the classes. Their Biblical insight and cultural references and knowledge helped the youth to have a deeper understanding of each class. We ended Freedom in Christ with an off-site at Timothy Girl’s High School on 13 Feb. This day was for our 7 Steps to Freedom. This day was a personal day of gentle deliverance between us and God. Some of the youth shared with us that they had been holding onto un-forgiveness for years and forgave people that day. Others shared that strongholds were broken like ancestral curses and ties and they finally felt free!

All schools in the country started on 22 Feb. for the New Year and 1^st Term of 2016. We thank the Lord that 4 of our 6 SOAR Youth headed back to school; Babirye started secondary 5 (junior in high school), Alpha started secondary 4 (sophomore in high school), William started his 2nd year of tech school, and David is started his last semester of university. We are grateful to the Lord for providing school fees and funds for school requirements through our sponsors and donors. We also collaborated with Hill Top Church and Abaana Uganda to get John Paul Kasangaki back to secondary 6 (senior in high school). We pray that Joseph & Cephas will be able to start technical school in April. We thank everyone who has contributed to the education of these youth and pray that God blesses you for changing their lives!

J.A.M. News by Joseph Bassoon Ssajjabbi

A sunny day of 27 Feb at 2pm we kicked off J.A.M. with prayer. Soon my first question to the crowd was; “What’s your name, best dish and village?” After polling everyone the number one village was Soweto and best dish was pork. After that fun we got to start with talent. Richard was the artist of drawing a man in space—free style with no pen or pencil. We than ran to the solo n stand alone comedy and were amused. Next came the little boy who played a piano. After the boy came Henry on the trumpet with canon piece solo. We all jumped in with live band to sing and play the songs of Inspire and Choice. Afterward we heard some amazing gospel-reggae songs from Frank & Dawson. John Paul followed up with free style instrumental on the Irish whistle–it sounded wow!! My final question posed to everyone was, “What is your goal?” Some guy told us he wants to make his own city and a gal told us she wants to make a chain of banks. All the answers where good and made us all think!

Directors Note on J.A.M.: A special thanks goes out to Joseph for arranging the day, to Hilltop Church Masaka for always letting us use their sound equipment–you are a blessing to us and for Music Teacher-Kafeero Joakim for visiting!

Uganda News

Uganda Presidential Elections were on 18 Feb. This was only the 5^th Presidential election for the country. It was a fairly peaceful election with only a few incidents in the countries capital, Kampala. The incumbent, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, won by 66% but the opposition parties are still petitioning the results saying they were not free and fare elections. As believers, we know that the Lord answered our prayers and our fastings for peace and the Lord’s will to be done in the elections. Even if Museveni “rigged” the elections we know that it is the lesser of two evils, as the opposition parties are far worse for the country and for believers. That said, Uganda still needs your prayers for peace, and God’s hand of protection.

Have a blessed day and weekend!!

Love,

Rita

Director-Faith Hope Love Missions