FHLM MAY 2024 NEWSLETTER

GREETINGS:

Greetings everyone and Praise God! We are all doing well here in Masaka! 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.

DIRECTORS UPDATE:

CENSUS: From 10^th to 20^th May Uganda had a National Census which the country conducts every 10 years. Its theme was, “It Matters To Be Counted”. It was conducted by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The 180 question surveys will provide data that underpins national development preparation, resource allocation and policymaking.My household was counted on Saturday, 18^th May.  

WORKSHOPS: On the 10^th and 11^th May, Shakeriah went to two workshops at Willows Resource Foundation. The 10^th’s program was titled INSPIRING MOTIVATORS FOR LEADERS. She said that she learned that Leadership is knowing your own limitations and celebrating the gifts of others. It is also caring for people; always hoping for, and expecting the best for them. One of their exercises was to write down the qualities of a good leader. This is her leader list; should be exemplary, trustworthy, God fearing, good listener, confidential, and creative. They also looked at the four Cs of Christian leadership and the four things Jesus taught about leadership:

1. C- calling means doing what God wants us to do John 5:30, 1 Samuel 3
2. C- competence means being good at what you do, doing what you do well. Genesis 47:6, Exodus 31:1, and 1 king 7:14
3. C- confidence means knowing what you can do, self-perception, Mathew lifted his faith and Peter walking on water.
4. C- character Psalm 1:1-6, 2 Peter 1:5, 1 Timothy 3:2-7, Titus 1:5-6, James 1:19-27, 1Peter 2:1, 2 Peter 1:5.
5. Relational investment is essential
6. Seek the Lord’s protection and guidance
7. Discern others capabilities
8. Some or many people will disappoint you, be prepared for it.

The 11^th’s program was titled PARENTING & BIBLICAL DISCIPLINE; HOW TO BUILD POSITIVE LOVING RELATIONSHIPS. They started with writing down the joys they had when looking after children. Then they discussed both good & bad behaviors of children, along with believing in God, looking after them, caring about others, physical growth, extension of the next generation and quick at forgiving. They also looked at nine different ideas of raising children. All in all she said these were beneficial workshops for her work and life.

KAMPALA/ENTEBBE: On the 17^th Eddy and I traveled to Kampala to do his university admission.  Afterwards we were able to meet up with Justine and have a small tour of the campus. Though Eddy is attending the KIU campus in western Uganda being on the Kampala campus of KIU it was an eye-opening experience for him. Afterwards I treated them to a nice lunch. Eddy traveled back to Masaka and I spent the weekend with my dear friend Sarah and her family near Entebbe. It was a blessing to catch up and share how our lives are going.

YOUTH UPDATE:

COUNSELING: During the month Shakirah took an hour or more to meet with Mark Elvin, Pamela, Milly, and William individually to discuss how they are doing emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

YOUTH SPONSORSHIP: We are continually praying for Mark Elvin to receive a school sponsor. Mark has aspirations of becoming a Civil Engineer, so giving $30.00 per month to help him fulfill his dreams and change his life. You can find out more about Mark and his situation by visiting the FHLM web-site at www.faithhopelovemissions.org 

If you are led to contribute to this bright and joyful young man’s education please contact me at reetsindiego@yahoo.com or make a donation via the Shepherd’s Staff at https://ssmfi.denarionline.com/donate/?missionary=6050  Thank you!!!

FASTING: At the end of last Term Holiday the youth decided that we should have another day added to our January Prayer, Praise & Fasting Camp. I told them that another day cost money, so they made the decision to fast a day per week of term holiday. That usually totals 4 days. Then the money saved from lunches for those days will be used to pay for the additional day of camp.

These fasting days not only give our youth discipline, and dedication to our camp, but it also helps them to grow spiritually by focusing solely on the Lord for the day. During the fasting days we are taking the 1 hour that we usually use for lunch time to pray and read the Word of God. I am so blessed to see our youth being faithful to our Lord!    

BIRTHDAYS: Charity’s birthday was on 20^th May and she turned 18 years old. Pius’ day was on 25^th May and he turned 17 years old. After our cooking day feast we celebrated their lives together on 24^th May. It was yet another treat to have cake, and more joy and laughter!

YOUTH HOLIDAY PROGRAMS:

Term Holiday was in full swing in May. We enjoyed many programs during the month from farming, to picture collage, to community clean up! Here are the highlights of our programs that we had Monday to Friday of each week.

WORSHIP DAY: On 3^rd May we all fasted, so it led to an amazing spirit filled day of praise to our Lord! We started off with prayers and praise & worship. Pamela taught us all about “true fasting and hearing the voice of God”; Isaiah 58:3 and Mathew 6:16-18. We closed with an intercession prayer for the following: God’s provision, FHLM land and building, school candidates, Uganda and its leaders, churches and ministries, C2C camp and campers, FHLM seeds sown during outreaches to grow, Kenya and Tanzania flooding victims, the sick and prisoners, our families and safe journey mercies for all. Each of us took one to two items to be specifically prayed for. What a blessed day for all and I see every youth being more committed to God!

MOVIE DAY: The last few months we’ve watched a lot of “heavy” movies, so on 6th May we watch a fun, lighthearted movie called, Matilda. She is a child prodigy who figures out how to use her psychokinetic abilities to deal with her unloving family and cruel principal. Through it all Matilda finds the love of a parent and a family with her teacher, Miss Honey.  Here are the youth’s comments about the movie and what they learned from it:

• Ruth said that the wrongs we do to others come back to us, as it did with Miss Trunchbull. You defiantly reap what you sow.
• Pamela said that the one who seeks for good life will find it. Whoever seeks knowledge can also help the community. She liked how Matilda went to the library every day and had a reading culture in her.
• Precious talked of every journey having a storm. Matilda’s school journey with Miss. Trunchbull was terrible, but she found Miss Honey, her future Mom at school.
• Charity said that God gives us gifts and we don’t recognize them, so let us discover our gifts and use them to help people like Matilda did for Miss Honey and the children at the school.
• Immy said that there is the right time for everything and Miss. Honey endured a lot from her aunt, Miss Trunchbull but in the end she got everything back, including Matilda.
• Juliet said that families need to get time for their kids so as to discover their abilities. Matilda wanted to read books, not watch TV like her family. We are to nurture kids in their abilities, and balance the love for them. 

BIBLE STUDY: Throughout May we continued in the book of Genesis covering chapters 13-16. Since we were in term holiday we had a few hours to go deep into understanding each chapter, even using maps and visual aids. At the end of each discussion we also took a Bible Quiz on what we had studied to reinforce our learning. There was much to discover in these chapters about obedience, faithfulness, and God’s promises.

Our study on 07^th May in Genesis 13:1-18 stood out to me. In this chapter we read about how Abram migrated from Ur to where God took him with his nephew Lot. Then how they had to part-company, as this was God’s plan for them to do so. We saw that we need the discerning spirit that Abram had to make decisions. Lot chose the beautiful land that looked like the Garden of Eden, but it wasn’t. Many times, we choose something that looks good, but it is not the best for us. We need God in our decision making so as to receive eternal blessings not worldly blessings. We also saw the word ‘’let’s part company’’, God had Lot leave Abram because he wanted to bless him and give him his promises. Sometimes people need to leave our lives, to clear the way for God’s blessings. Here are a few of the youth’s comments and understandings about this chapter:

• Eddy referred to chapter 12 saying the God never told Abram to go with Lot. That is why we seeing Chap 13:14 that they had to separate, just as God had planned. The whole of chapter 13 we see God keeping His promises to Abram. God is faithful and His promises are yes and amen so keep moving toward them. Don’t disconnect from God when it takes time for Him to answer your prayers. Keep the faith like Abram did!
• Pamela supplemented, and said that Abraham always built altars to pray and thank God. He always worshipped God. We ourselves are altars and we need to keep the fire burning for God, as our prayers should not cease.
• Ruth spoke about verses 10-11. She said many things look like they are godly, yet they are not of God, so we should be careful. We read that Lot was not called by God, but instead followed Abram. We need the knowledge of God in everything.
• Eddy supplemented and said that Lot chose the good soil, but he didn’t ask God if that is where he should be. We need God’s guidance and His plan, not our own.
• Pius said that Abram and Lot’s separation doesn’t mean Lot was a bad person. Sometimes we need to let people go and we are not supposed to hold onto things. 
• Milly supplemented saying that when we let go and lean into what God has for us we will not be out of His will.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: On 10^th May we went into the community of Soweto/Line for an Elderly Outreach.  Before we set off I led us in a prayer, and we set off for Hilltop Church, where we staged from and met Local Chairman, Julius. He led each of the three teams to different elderly families’ homes.

• Shakirah’s team with Pius, Charity and Jeremy, found an old Mzee with his wife. He was sick and the family was born again, but the Mzee had not been accepted Jesus. They prayed with him and shared about Jesus and he accepted. They also gave him scriptures to guide him in his new found salvation.
• The second team led by Immy, with Ronald, Milly and Precious went to an old women’s mud home. There they had much to do for her; washing dishes, clothes, and fetching water. Before they departed they shared about Jesus and prayed for her. They said she was very grateful! 
• Chairmen led the third team with Ruth, Mark and myself a long distance to the home of a very sick Muslim man. Though he didn’t need any help around the house, as his daughters had come from Kampala to care for him, he did need prayers. He had been in ICU for two weeks on oxygen. As he lay in his bed, he shared that he was an Islamic Sheikh–a teacher of the Quran. We talked with him and shared about how Jesus healed the sick. He accepted to have us pray for him. We pray that the love we showed to him has planted a seed that God will water. I promised to visit him again soon.  

CAMP: Our secondary youth (Immy, Milly, Ruth, Pius, Charity, Pamela, & Mark) plus Ronald & Precious were blessed to participate in the Come 2 Christ (C2C) organization’s campout at Lake Nabugabu from 18-20 May. William chose to stay back so he would not miss his holiday study chemistry practical and classes. The camp theme was: “My ID Is In Christ” verse Ephesians 1:4-5. Over the 3 days the youth were at camp they participated in Bible Studies, Worship Night, Workshop on sexual purity, and lots of swimming and some games. Some of the youth, including our Immy & Pius, got baptized! All our youth came back raving about the camp, but here are just a few testimonies from them:

• Mark Elvin- “I was healed by God during the praising. My heart was freed from anger. I learned some of the types of fathers we have e.g. Spiritual Father and Substitute Father. I really loved swimming“   
• Precious- “I learned that my identity should be in Christ and that I am no longer a natural person but a spiritual being. I recognized why I am a child of God and He is my Father. Also God delivered me from evil spirits that were following me.”
• Pamela- “I had good encounter with God and it opened up my mind to know that God really talks. I had been listening to many voices, so it’s been difficult to hear God’s voice, but now I hear Him.”
• Ruth- “I know now that I’m not alone in the world.”
• Immy- “I learnt how to honor people that are in our lives.”
• Charity- “I learnt how to pray deeply, so I can be an overcomer.”
• Milly- “I enjoyed the treasure hunting session. I realized that sometimes things may be near us and we don’t recognize, like God. But now I know He’s near. I also learnt how to honor people”.

COOKING DAY: On the 23^rd we had a full day of cooking tasty dishes from Tanzania! We made pilau coconut rice, fish curry, and roasted plantains with a coconut caramel pan sauce. Eddy was in charge of cooking rice, and he was helped by Pius. Charity, Ruth and Aunt Juliet cleaned and prepped the fish. Milly and I were in charge of the fish curry and dessert. While others chopped and prepared the ingredients for the dishes. It was a team effort and all the youth were eager to learn how to cook fish in a different way. All of the dishes were very yummy and we all enjoyed. We thank God for the provision and the learning experience we all had.  

CONFERENCE: We ended our term holiday with a two day Oral Roberts University Youth Conference; Outreach & Evangelism held 24^th and 25^th May.  The first daythe team from ORU taught the 5 practices of Discipleship Making. Then we went out into the community to put into practice what we had learned.  The second day there was more community evangelism and then each team member shared from the Word and their testimonies. We were very blessed by this wonderful training and the amazing praise & worship that ushered in the presence of God each day! We are thankful to Tim Way who brought the ORU Team and to the Hilltop Church Worship Team that is led by our Pamela and Precious. What an amazing way to end the holiday!!

BELA BULUNGI (GOOD-BYE):

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

Director -Faith Hope Love Missions

reetsindiego@yahoo.com