FHLM Jan 2016 Update—Director, SOAR Youth, Holiday Program and Prayer Retreat

Director News

Happy New Year Everyone!! Wow, can you believe that I am now in my 8th year of serving the Lord here in Masaka? It sure has gone fast and I have seen God do so many amazing things in the youth, community and me over the years!!! He is so GOOD!! I’m looking to Him in faith and anticipation for all the remarkable, wonderful and incredible things He is going to do this year and in the coming years with Faith Hope Love Missions (FHLM)! As you read on you will see that the Lord has kicked off the New Year with a BANG!

SOAR Youth News

All of our SOAR Youth have been attending our weekly youth programs, but here are a few highlights of some of the extra things that have been going on in some of their lives:

Babirye (Babz) was blessed to go to Kampala to ring in the New Year and the first 2 weeks of Jan. with her half brother, Sadat Kizito. It was a wonderful time of reconnection and reestablishing family ties for the two of them. On 29th Jan. we received Babz’s Secondary 4 (U.S. sophomore year) National Exams results back and she was very successful! She received 2nd Grade status out of 5 available grades. She was only 4 points from receiving a 1st grade, so we are VERY Proud of her and all the hard work and effort she put in! She will now be able to be admitted to Secondary 5—High School. We are now in the process of praying about the school she will attend and the education combination she will take for the next 2 years. We thank God for bringing her this far!!

During the Holiday Alpha has been working hard as a porter (general worker on a construction site) to earn pocket money. He has also been writing a few new songs and recording them at our pastors’ sound studio.

David has also been busy working during his Holiday with many photography and videotaping jobs. He has been back and forth between Masaka, Entebbe, and Kampala for functions for the Catholic Seminary, friends’ weddings, and helping out another Masaka photographer. With only 1 more semester of university you can see his future is already being guided by God!

William has spent the Holiday helping out his grandparents—planting crops, and doing some much needed repairs to their house. He has also been doing his Industrial Training Internship work for school with Arpha Electrical Centre. He said this hands-on training has helped him out so much!

Center & Youth Program News

The 3rd Term Holiday is the youth’s longest time out of school, usually 3 months, but this year it is extra long because of the upcoming Uganda Presidential elections to be held on 18 Feb. This means that we have had additional Holiday Programs and have been extra busy with the youth. During the month of January we had our normal programs of twice weekly Bible Studies, Door to Door Evangelism and Life-skills. But we also had some special days; painting murals in the garage, craft days were we made soda bottle earrings and we also learned how to use and apply our Connect Journals in our personal devotional time.

From 15-17 Jan we had our 3rd Annual Prayer, Praise & Fasting Retreat at Ndegeya Camping Site. This year’s theme was “Be An Example”—taken from 1 Timothy 4:12. We had a lovely group of 20 youth this year along with 5 facilitators, and 2 camp babies in attendance. We had an amazing weekend, filled with the Lord’s love and the Holy Spirit. This year’s activities included Quiet Times, Prayer Walks, Bible Studies, Recycle Art Workshops, and Sports & Games. My personal favorite activity this year was our prayer walk times, as we declared healing, peace, and love over the land and the people of Masaka and country of Uganda. We were met by the Holy Spirit and many saw the breaking of spiritual strongholds upon the land, in families, and marriages.

This year’s fasting time was a first for most of the youth. Many said they never thought that they could complete a fast, but they did. And they also said how powerful fasting for a purpose is and how praying and reading the Word during fasting releases the Holy Spirit.

Here are two personal messages and testimonies from the youth who attended:

PROSPER:  “I am so grateful for all the sponsors of this retreat and I urge all the youths who have retreat. “This drew me more close to God and taught me how to conduct myself with the people around me,” he said. He further talked about purity, he stated, “at once we were pure, but because of the sin of Adam and Eve, we become impure, but the blood of Jesus neutralizes and makes us pure when we receive HIM as our personal LORD and Savior. God Bless You!”

WINNIE: “Dear fellow youths, lets conduct ourselves positively to the people outside there, such that we set a good example to them and that nonbelievers can also turn to God. We as well need to walk by faith not by sight”. She added, “Great thanks go to all the sponsors to this retreat, may the Almighty God richly bless you!”

The week after our Prayer Retreat 2 young men, Roland and Reagan, came by the Youth Center. Roland was approached by John, a youth from Soweto Youth Fellowship. John sat and talked to him about Jesus and Roland accepted Christ. John than came to me and asked me to speak to Roland. So I prayed with him and gave him a New Testament Bible and asked him to read the book of John. The next day Regan came to the Center and told me that Roland talked to him and he wanted to accept Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. We talked, prayed together, and I gave him a New Testament Bible. He came the next day to one of our weekly Bible Studies. Since then, Regan has been a regular attendee of our youth programs and he and I have had several talks about life. I praise the Lord for these young men and all He is doing in their lives!!!

On 30 Jan we had our 1st J.A.M. Session of 2016! We had a wonderful turn out thanks to Joseph’s mobilization. It started out with memories of our nursery school times, as we all sang songs of our baby classes like; There were 12 Disciples, Ffe Turi Embaata Nto, Father Abraham, Jesus Loves Me, and Twajja Turi Mbuzi. Alpha said, “This JAM was enjoyable to everyone.” Pastor Sam spoke to the group from Ecclesiastes 11: 9-10 about being young and rejoicing in their youth, but being aware that God is a God of judgment, so be aware of the things as youth that lead you astray. He then led us in a closing prayer and alter call. I thank God for these days!!

As you can see we have had a joyous and fruitful January! I again thank all of the people that prayed for the Retreat, and for those that always keep us in prayer! Please know that your prayers are felt and the Holy Spirit is moving through your prayers and supplication! God bless you all!!!

Have a blessed day!

Much Love,

Rita-Director

Faith Hope Love Missions