FHLM MARCH 2025 NEWSLETTER

GREETINGS:

Greetings from Masaka!! I hope you are all well and preparing for Easter and the Passion Week. Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  

DIRECTORS UPDATE:

PREACHING: Back in September 2024 I started looking for a new church to attend. After several months of visiting churches and praying I decided to make Full Gospel-Katwe my new church home. This church has been in Masaka for 43 years and is a pillar of the church community with very solid Bible based programs and teachings. Attending the church has breathed a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit into me!

That said, Pastor Elijah asked me to teach at both services on 09^th March on the church verse for 2025, Leviticus 20:24 But I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples. After praying, God put on my heart to teach on Your Promise Land. I shared onkey points about the promised land, 1) How the promise was made, 2) The promise land is a symbol of redemption, 3) Beyond physical land; our spiritual inheritance & promise land. I emphasized our promise land is; a place where God brings forth a great harvest, a place where God is willing to work untold wonders and a place of aiding in Christ’s love. I am very thankful to God for giving me this Word and for Pastor Elijah entrusting me to teach.       

PRAYER REQUESTS: Please pray for your Annual Good Friday program on 18^th April . This year our theme is Passover and Making Room for Jesus. Last year we expected 50 guests and had 65. We hope that this year there will be even more attending to learn about Jesus our Passover Lamb and find out what is so GOOD ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY!    

YOUTH UPDATE:

BACK TO SCHOOL: Since Pius, Charity and Ruth, all performed well. Each of them passed and received an Ordinary Level Certificate of Completion they went back to school the week of 3^rd March. Both Charity and Ruth have decided to attend Timothy Girls High School. Ruth is taking Physics, Chemistry and Biology and Charity is taking History, Divinity, and Geography. Pius is back at Masaka Secondary School taking History, Entrepreneurship, and Divinity.  We pray that God imparts His wisdom and knowledge to them as they navigate the next two years of Advanced Levels.   

IMMY: She is doing well in Kampala where she is working at a wholesale shop keeping inventory and accounts for the owner. I phoned her on 10^th March and she was anxiously awaiting her S6 national exam results. Then on March 13^th the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) released the Secondary 6 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exam results for 2024. During her Advanced Levels, Immy took Divinity, Economics and Literature. When she received her results she had done well with a cumulative point score of 9 out of 15—2 principle passes and 2 subsidiary passes. This may sound like a foreign language to Americans, but the translation means that she can attend university for a degree program. She is leaning towards a degree in Law at Bishop Stewart University in Mbarara. We hope to go visit the university in early April. We thank God for the wisdom He imparted to her and for guiding her into a bright future!     

UNIVERSITY YOUTH: Both Eddy and Justine are doing well. During the weeks of 10^th and 17^th March they had their mid-semester exams.  Justine is still trying to get her internship for her break in June sorted. She has applied at several places, but no responses yet. Please pray for God’s favor and guidance. Oliver is in her last semester at University Kisubi and is in the midst of making her Final Project for a fashion show on 12^th April. This project will weigh heavily in her final semester grades so please pray that she finishes well.   

VISITATION DAYS: Masaka Secondary School had their visitation day on 08^th March, but we did not attend as it was the Board Youth Fellowship. Also it was just “Club Exhibition Day” and none of the secondary youth had exam results to review with their class teachers, so we decided not to attend. 

However, on 22^nd March Shakirah and I attended the visitation day at Timothy Girls High School to visit Charity and Ruth who are in Advance Level boarding school there. When we reached we found the parents’ meeting still in session in the main hall. After they elected parent representatives for the PTA we were free to meet with our students. After waiting in line for our lunches we gathered together with them, ate, and talked about the new school. They shared about their dorm mates and how they are like sisters. Ruth said that she has joined the Netball Club. Charity she said that next term she will join the Music and Drama Club. After eating, we gave them the packaged snacks we brought and the items that their Aunts’ sent for them. They were so excited, happy, and appreciative! Of course we had a photo session and a few selfies. Unfortunately, our time together was too short. We pray that they continue to remain well, and happy at their new school and perform well in their end of 1^st Term Exams in April.    

YOUTH PROGRAMS:

BOARD FELLOWSHIP: On 8^th March we had a fellowship with the SOAR Youth to review the new policies and programs that the board laid out in the 1^st Quarter Board Meeting in 22 Feb. The major focus of the fellowship was to explain the changes that the youth requested in their Group Talk. These are the changes to our 2025 Programs: 

During Term Time the youth will be given one Saturday off per month to catch up on personal things since many of them go to school 7 days a week. We will also forgo Visitation Day Lunches and instead use the money to fund week long Holiday Training Programs in Hairdressing, Basic Auto Mechanics, Tailoring, Computer Skills, and/or Soap Making.  They also requested a reward for Best Overall Secondary Student. We also explained the assessment will be based on discipline, program attendance, academics, and Centre work. It will be awarded at End of Year in December.

Please note that we are also fundraising for these Holiday Training Programs; Here is the list of the items we are prayer for:

ITEMS:                                                                  COST IN SCHILLINGS:                     COST IN USD:

Sewing Machines (2)                                      1,000,000 each                                  $280.00 EACH

Laptops (5) for trainings                                                800,000 each ==                                $225.00 EACH

Keyboard                                                            1,500,000                                             $420.00

Acoustic Guitar                                                 375,000                                 $105.00

We will also need to pay the Trainer for 3 to 4 days at a cost of about 150,000 or ($42.00). If anyone reading would like to donate to our wish list or match the fund that the youth are forgoing for Visitation Day lunches (approximately $25.00) please let me know at reetsindiego@yahoo.com. May God bless you for your prayerful consideration!  

BROTHERS IN CHRIST: On 15^th March we had the 2^nd young men’s fellowship. This month the theme was Challenges of Men. This month Julius was joined by Mr. Isaac from Full Gospel. In the past Isaac has led the youth ministry at the church and is involved in the church men’s ministry. After lunch they began with listing some challenges young men deal with; identity, self-confidence, family, friend groups, mental health, moral/ethics, gambling/gaming, addictions, relationships/affairs. Then they had the guys write their challenges out. Then as a group they discussed as a group these challenges, giving some solutions and encouragement to them. After the closing prayer Julius and Isaac were available for One on One Discussion Time with anyone that needed.

BIBLE STUDIES: Throughout the month of March we were in Genesis chapters 41 to 45. I led our study on 18^th March in Genesis 43:1-34. We discussed Joseph’s brothers’ return to Egypt and the feast at his palace that he had for them. My note is that this chapter highlights God’s grace and the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation. Here are a few of the youth’s comments about the chapter:

• Pamela: Jacob trusted God but none of his sons. I supplemented saying, Though Jacob may not have fully trusted his sons we see Judah is taking leadership responsibility and humbly asking his father to trust him.
• Juliet: Joseph’s brothers were required to bring Benjamin to Egypt as a proof of their honesty, and they did so. Also, if read in Genesis 43:1-10.  It shows that God created us to walk with Him, trust Him, just as Joseph did his whole life. It’s good to trust God and have faith in Him.
• Pamela: In verse 30 we see Joseph moving to the private room to weep. It means that he has forgiven his brothers and really loved them. In our day to day life we can also forgive. Forgiving others takes us to the room in our hearts, but it’s not our strength it’s only God and HIs grace that helps us to do His will.
• Pius: He asked about verse 14 and the meaning of the word bereaved?  I gave the definition; It means to lose someone one you love, relative or the loved one and never to be seen again (by death). In this matter Jacob thought he had already lost Joseph and now Benjamin his lovely son.
• Ronald: Joseph wept because he remembered what his brother did to him before and later God made him a blessing.
• Pamela: Supplemented that Jesus also wept because He loved us.

HOSPITAL OUTREACH: On the 22^nd while Shakirah and I were at visitation day, Juliet led a team of Pamela, Mark and Ronald to the Masaka Referral Hospital for an outreach visit to the Children’s Ward. After asking permission from the doctor and nurse on duty they began by sharing salvation with the mothers and praying for them and their sick children. They also encouraged them to believe in God who created them and that He is more than able to heal the sickness of their children. They also prayed God’s provision upon their lives.  The team said they enjoyed the outreach and were blessed to share Jesus with the parents and patients.

MOVIE DAY: On 30^th March we ended the month with an inspirational and touching movie, Born To Win. This is a true story of how God turned Leon’s troubled past, his many trials, tribulations, hurt, frustration, and emptiness in his life into a testimony of hope, faith, and victory to inspire many to be the winners they were born to be.

“God created all of us to be winners, but we have to discover Jesus” – Pastor Leon

• Pamela said that we should never stop doing good. The Momma (South African Lady) planted a good seed of Jesus and prayer into Leon (Lion). Also that God separated Leon for a purpose and there was a reason why he went through so much.
• Ronald said that it was good that Leon encouraged the handicap guy when he was down. Then when time came for Leon to be encouraged he was there for him. He shared with Leon the dream he had received about Leon and the scripture in Isaiah 40. God can speak in many ways, and in seasons and times God teaches us.
• William said that everything happens for a good purpose. We are not to lose hope, because our life is driven by God not us. Aunt Rita shared Romans 8:28 – 29, that Leon was predestined to be in the image of His son.
• Mark shared that prayer is so important and that Leon rejected prayer till when he went to church.
• Pius supplemented that prayer, mostly intercession for those we love, is so important. This is what Momma did for Leon.
• Shakirah spoke about deliverance. That if we let our past experiences go, we can be delivered. We should also try to look at the seeds planted in us so that they can’t fade out.

BELA BULUNGI (GOOD-BYE):

As you have read it has been a blessed month for us all! I thank the Lord for His protection, love, grace, and provision He has giving us throughout the month. I pray you all have had the same blessings poured out upon you and your family! Psalm 115:12 The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us;  

Have a wonderful day and blessed week in Christ!

In His Grip,

Rita Bulegeya

Missionary & Director -Faith Hope Love Missions

reetsindiego@yahoo.com