FHLM May 2016 Update-Director News, SOAR Youth News, Holiday, General News
Director’s News
Greetings Everyone and Praise God! We are all doing well here in Masaka! I am happily active with FHLM Holiday Programs with the youth and serving the church and my family. Rogers is working hard on court cases, on the building project, and serving the Lord every Sunday at Tabernacle Church-Bulyi. Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
We were very excited to hear that Kristina Sargent is coming back to Masaka to volunteer with FHLM from 30 June-13 July. This year she will bring her husband, Adam, who will be putting his computers skills to work teaching youth at Providence Vocational Institute. Kristina will once again be conducting a Youth Emotional & Behavioral Training for NGO Workers and Life-Skill programs with the youth. Please pray that the Lord will be with them as they are fundraising for their trip to Uganda and that He prepares them for all the things He is going to do in them and through them while they are here.
SOAR Youth News
Schools Out! 05 May marked the end of 1st Term for William, Alpha and Babirye. They are all on holiday for the next 4 weeks. William finished the 1st Term of his 2nd year of Electrical Installation with good marks. During Holiday he is working as a porter on a building project, digging, fetching bricks & water, whatever needs done. Both, Alpha and Babirye did well in 1st Term at secondary school, but they are doing Holiday Studies from 8am-1:30pm each day. Since Alpha is a Secondary 4 candidate and Babirye is in high school they need the extra study time and the one-on-one with the teachers and small classes enable them to gain a deeper understanding of their more difficult subjects. Cephas 1st Term at Providence Vocational Institute ended on 13 May and he passed with high marks. Joseph is also working during the Holiday to gain pocket money and buy a few of his personal requirements for farm school that starts on June 5th.
As most of you know, David is in his last semester of university at NIAAD. For the last 2 months he has been diligently working on his 7 final projects; photography, graphic design, design illustration, drawing and more. He also started a few of his end of year papers and wood cut printing projects. Some of you purchased his wood cut pieces while I was in the U.S. last year. Maybe he will have some new ones for me to bring this year! He should be completing this last semester sometime the end of June. Please pray that he completes everything well, has no re-takes, and passes at the top of his class! Thank you.
We sponsored all of our SOAR Youth to attend the Soweto Youth Fellowship Camp-out weekend at Lake Nabugabo from 27-29 May. Their theme for this year was “Break Free, Ignite!” Romans 8:2. All the youth came back saying “WOW! We had a great time swimming, praying, eating and learning about the Lord”. This was Oliver’s very 1st Camp. Here is what she had to say about it, “And I enjoyed swimming very much, games and sports and discussions. But I learnt you need to sit alone some times and keeps silence so that you think about the creator.” We are thankful to the Lord that we can provide opportunities like these to our youth so they can grow in the Lord.
Baptisms! Since many of the Hill Top Church youth that had been through Baptism Classes were out at the SYF Camp that Friday Pastor Sam Sombi meet them and they were baptized in the lake! Praise the Lord, as the group included Alpha and Babirye!
Youth News; Holiday Program
Board Game Day! Of course we played monopoly, but I also taught the youth how to play UNO. Our game of UNO got very competitive. Some of the youth played Ludo—an African form of Sorry. And others put puzzles together. It was an all around fun day!
Bible Studies with a Twist was very well received by the youth! We met every Tuesday & Thursday afternoon for 3 hours. We had 4 different sessions; reading the word & discussion, watching the corresponding section of The Bible DVD, taking a Bible Quiz, and finally acting out the day’s lesson with a drama. Jane said, “It was all interesting and it allowed the youth to know more about what they studied. When they read from the Bible and then watched what they read, it opened their minds and threw more light upon what they had studied.”
Recycled Art Day! Oh my, this was a fun day seeing the youth’s natural artistic talent and creativeness come out. They took an old board, plastic bags, calendar pictures, soda bottle labels and paint and created a beautiful piece of art that will be hanging in our office corridor very soon. Thank you Grandma Love for sending the calendar pictures—they have been put to good use!
On 13 May we had an Equip Leadership Workshop on Priorities & Decision Making. This was a very enlightened Biblical perspective of how to make the most of our time, Biblically setting our priorities, knowing our purpose, gracefully saying no, and then doing a self-evaluation of our priorities and future decisions. I am amazed at how deep these Equip Leadership Sessions take us and how we Biblically learn to conduct our lives.
Along with the other programs each Wednesday we had Life-skills Talks. Each week was uniquely based.
- Week 1-The local GISO (Gombolola Internal Security Officer), Mr. Umar Ssempijja, spoke to the youth about his role as a GISO and how it plays into the overall security of Uganda. I along with the youth had many questions and learned a lot about our local security. We are thankful for the collaboration between local government and our organization.
- Week 2-Pastor Charles Kiguddu conducted Man2Man Talk with the young men.
- Week 3-I and Aunt Serah Sombi led Girl’s of Grace Talk with the young ladies. I led the 1st Session on Gossip discussing from the Bible passages in Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 17:27-28, Proverbs 15:28. Teaching the ladies about watching our words. In the 2nd Session, ‘Stay in Your Father’s House’, Serah talked to the girls from Genesis 34:17-27. It was a very wonderful and instructive afternoon.
14 May was our Monthly Movie with a Message Day! This month we were blessed to be ‘bursting at the seams’ with so many youth in attendance to view the magnificent movie Courageous! Alpha blessed us by leading the discussion with the youth after the movie. Here are some of his insights and comments: “I enjoyed this movie because it was educating and strengthening to my soul and heart. I learned from this movie what it means to have courage, love, and patience. Also we should listen to our parents/guardians.” For all of Alpha’s News About Courageous please see our web-site at www.faithhopelovemissions.org
We held Joint J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) Session on 21 May. It was a J.A.M. like no other! We were thankful to SYF for letting us hold the event on the back veranda—we sure needed the space! We had so many wonderful singers, musical performers, spoken word performers and dance teams, and during it all Joseph Nabitiri drew chalk pictures on a blackboard easel reflecting the events of the day. It was AMAZING!! Babirye said, “This time JAM was so special! I was surprised when Meddy sang, because I didn’t know he could sing. Also the number of people that attended was larger.” Joseph said, “It was HOT! And the Lord’s glory fell”
General News
On 07 May we had our 2nd Quarter FHLM Board Meeting. Much was accomplished in the way of decisions for future programs. Also Pastor Sam Sombi was elected to replace Pastor Chris as the ministries’ Assistant Director. Faridah was elected to fill Sam’s position as Treasurer. Congratulations to Sam and Faridah on their new posts! The board also approved the entrance of Oliver Namuwunda into the SOAR Youth Sponsorship Program.
As you can see the Lord is moving and shaking in Masaka and we are so excited and happy to be a part of all He is doing!
I pray that all of you are doing wonderful and are truly Blessed by the Lord! Thank you for all your prayers, support and love!
In His Grip,
Rita Bulegeya-Missionary & Director
Faith Hope Love Missions UG
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