FHLM FEB 2021 NEWSLETTER

Greetings from Masaka. I hope this newsletter finds you all health, happy, and staying warm! February in Uganda is dry season and unlike the U.S., it is our hottest month of the year. Maybe next year some of you can “skip” winter and come visit us in Uganda!

Director’s Update:

Visitation Day: On 13th Feb Liz and I spent the afternoon at Ndejje University with Babirye (Babz) and Liz’s guys, Meddie and Sseb. It was a nice catch up time with them. I also brought Babz Christmas presents, so she was able to have Christmas in February! She was so thankful to her sponsor for sending those special gifts. We also enjoyed lunch with them and got to know that their semester should end mid-May. They are hoping that by June they can finally have their first internship, that is if the secondary schools open up to full capacity.  Please pray for that to happen. Thank you.     

Water Woes: Most of the month Rogers and I have been out of water at our home. We got partial water back on the 25^th, though the kitchen and bathroom didn’t have. Then it went again a few days later.  So we’ve had lots of jerry can & basin showers with cold water, but it is a little refreshing since it’s been so hot this month. Anyway, I am thankful we even have a house to have issues, but please pray for our water woes to get resolved. Thank you!

Centre Happenings:

We now have 7 rabbits and two of the females were pregnant, but they gave birth on the 27^th and 28^th. That said we now have 10 baby rabbits. We thank William for all his love and care to our furry family members.   

Social Worker: Grace started back counselling the youth every Tuesday. She says the youth are comfortable with her now and they are opening up to her. During her “talks” she has come to realize the youth are growing in their faith walk and commitment to prayer at home and with their families.

She also started back doing home visits of the youth’s families. In March she visited Immy’s home, where she stays with her sister, and Eddy’s family home.      

Centre Schooling: Uncle James came back this month to do tutoring with the youth on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. They really focused on physics, and geography. He was scheduled to continue for the month of March, but he’s been blessed with a full time job. We wish him the best in his new position. Please pray we find a person to replace him. Thank you!

SOAR Youthz Update:

Oliver turned 21 on 29^th Jan.  And we celebrated her life and future on that very day with a little birthday party!

On the 29^th Jan. we also had Baking Day! During lock-down Eddy and I had baked Amish cookies and they were his favourite, so I thought they would be perfect for all the youth to make. They all enjoyed learning a new recipe, but they mostly enjoyed eating their efforts!      

Joshua was back in Masaka for a week break after he finished his end of 1^st year 2^nd Semester exams. Upon his return he said that he’s been at the universities hospital doing practical teaching.  He is doing well and enjoying being back at the church he attends there.  

Monthly Featured Youth: Justine Nalwadda (Jus): started with FHLM in August 2017 and she has been a core member since joining us. Jus lives with her Auntie Prossy and her family because her mother, father and step-father have all passed away. She is such a resilient, God fearing, and wise young lady.

 She completed Secondary 4 at Masaka SS in 2019 and received a Grade 2. In February 2020 she started Secondary 5 studying Maths, Economics, Geography and Computers.  Because of Covid19 she was only able to study 2 weeks before the closure of schools, but will resume S5 when schools open.

Justine is a natural leader and that was evident to me when she first came to us. In 2018 she replaced Babirye as the FHLM Board Youth Representative.  She is also an active member of River of Life Church-Nyendo and attends their Youth Fellowship. As hobbies she enjoys reading the Bible, crocheting, volleyball, and singing praise songs! Please pray for her as she recently lost her sponsor. If you are led to sponsor her please contact me at reetsindiego@yahoo.com.  Thank you and God Bless!

Service Project: On the 5^th we spent the afternoon at the home of Mr. Kalooli, an elderly man in the village of Kitabazi. Benita, one of our SOAR Youth, introduced him to us as each week she helps him with various things and knew that this would be a good service project for us. We were able to wash his clothes, and fetch water for him. We also cleaned his compound and mopped his matt floors. Benita also helped us to know what he was in need of, so we purchased rice, posho, soap, and new sandals for him. Rogers donated a few of his shirts to him and we purchased a new comb and mirror for him too. After working we sat with him, talked more, sang songs and prayed for him. What a wonderful day! It does my heart good to serve like this and share God’s love with people of the community.     

Fun Day Out: On the 19^th we had our Youth Fun Day Out at Lake Nabugabo. Auntie Liz and two of her girls also joined in the fun! All the youth enjoyed games, music, eats and of course swimming! It was Benita and Milly’s first time to be at this lake and though they are not used to water they gained courage and practiced their swimming skills! What a great day in such a beautiful, peaceful environment!  

Bible Study: This month’s theme was “Forgiveness”. The youth did a great job leading this month and many of their study topics and verses were a blessing to us all, but here are the few that stood out.

Benita & Hanisha taught us from John 8:1-11 and 2 Corinthians 2:5-11. Hanisha spoke on verse 11 as we are not to let satan change our hearts and minds, but instead forgive others. Benita shared the “4 Steps of Forgiveness”:

1. Cover your anger
2. Decide to forgive
3. Work on forgiveness—repair damaged relationships
4. Relief from emotional prison brings peace forever

Immy taught on Genesis 45:1-25, the story of Joseph’s unconditional forgiveness and love toward his brothers despite all he had suffered. She also related Colossians 3:12-17 to the story of Joseph’s life as we are to have the peace of Christ in our hearts so we can love out of God’s love, be gentle, humble and and forgive others.

Freedom In Christ: The week of 22^nd Feb we had FIC Training! This time around we did “mixed sessions” so it related to our “Monthly” Bible study theme of Forgiveness. I taught 3 of the sessions; Who Am I Now?, Choosing to Believe the Truth, Truth = Freedom. Grace taught the session Forgiving from Our Hearts and I finished up the week leading us through the Steps to Freedom. It was a blessed week of learning and opening up our hearts and minds to God’s love, and healing. Here are a few testimonies about the week:

• Grace: This was my first time going through Freedom  in Christ and I can testify that through this teaching God helped me to realize that I can take captive my thoughts  and not let the devil get a foothold in my mind or heart. I also learnt that we need to come to God every day to ask Him to cleanse us, because though we are now children of God we are still Saints that sin.   
• Benita:  I testify that I have learnt many things from FIC but mostly that I am chosen, not forsaken, I am significant, accepted, safe and secure because I know who I am as I walk in Christ’s freedom. 
• Milly:  I learnt this—It is not what we do that makes us who we are, but who we are determines what we do!
• Hanisha: I learnt how to forgive from the heart. Also that we should never let the devil defeat us, but defeat the devil by breaking the chains of false thinking

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 below prayer requests in your prayers. Thank you!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• William’s Mom, Winnie, was knocked by a car as she walked home from work the night of the 26^th. She had been in hospital, but is now home recovering. Please keep her in prayer for complete healing!
• Eddy started his Secondary 4 National Exams on 1^st March. He will complete by the end of March. Please keep him in prayer for God’s strength, wisdom, knowledge, and guidance to prevail as he takes each exam. Also that God takes away any spirit of fear, and any sickness.
• Since Justine and Immy (Immaculate) are sub-candidates they were able to start back to school for term 2 & 3 on 1^st March. Please keep them in prayer for God’s protection, good health, and wisdom as they attend classes 6 days a week and play “catch up”.
• Please keep the remaining SOAR Youth; William, Benita, Hanisha and Milly in prayer as they wait to re-join school, hopefully in April.

Have a wonderful day in Christ!

Rita Bulegeya

Director-Faith Hope Love Missions