FHLM Newsletter March 2018

Greetings from Masaka! Just as Paul wrote this is my prayer for you all; Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 2 John 1:3

Director’s Update:

Kampala: On 1^st March Alpha and I traveled to Kampala to investigate a couple of possible technical schools for him to attend. The 1^st one we checked was a bust, as they certainly misrepresented themselves on the web-site! The 2^nd was better, but we are still seeking out the best option for him to obtain a certificate in videoography and production.

Ladies Retreat: I was blessed to attend Journey Together from 02^nd-4^th March at African Village Retreat Centre outside Mukono, near Kampala. It was an amazing weekend with 54 other missionary women from all over East Africa. I was so thankful to be able to go, because the time gave me a fresh in-filling of the Holy Spirit. I hadn’t realized how much I needed the fellowship of other missionary ladies that understand the trials and tribulations that happen on the mission field. We had wonderful sessions in Philippians 4, as the speakers really gave us personal testimonies that related to the Word they were teaching.  Along with that we had times of prayer, reflection, praise & worship, laughs, and many, many hugs & tears.

New Centre: During the month we did some more “tweaks” to the Centre making it homier. We put in a security entrance door in the kitchen, painted the bathroom, some of the youth painted murals in the Music Room and Garage, and we made it more ours. We are so blessed by our new home! Thank you God!

BIG THANK YOU!!: We received 13 new NIV Bibles from our Maranatha Care Team ladies. It has been such a blessing to the youth to get “portable” Bibles, which they can use in their Christian Religious Studies classes. These Bibles also add to our existing NIV Bibles, so we now have enough to have a large Bible Study were we are all in the same version and don’t have to share. Praise God!

Wedding Anniversary: On 21^st March Rogers and I flew to Dubai for 4 days to celebrate our 6^th Wedding Anniversary. It was not only a celebration of our marriage, but also a BIG trip for Rogers, as it was his 1^st time on a plane and his 1^st time out of East Africa.  We praise God for giving us time away together and for our BIG Adventure! We pray that this trip and one we hope to take in late Sept., will assist Rogers with being able to obtain his U.S. Visa, so he can come and visit all of you in the States!

Youth Updates:

Back To Success: On the 3^rd March we started this new monthly program. Faridah, one of our graduated SOAR Youth, talked to the youths about how they can succeed in their academics. She gave them tips on; How to excel, Be focused and determined, Make academic friends who are better than you, Don’t focus on your position but on the marks you get, Know the areas where your weak and find a solution for that, Make research and consult your teachers.

After that Faridah advised the youths that they should always aim at attaining a clean document. She explained that a clean document is one that doesn’t contain a failure on it. She added that if one performs well it would be easy for them to get a job since she or he easily be recommended. She also advised girls not to give boys a chance of taking advantage of them. She added that girls should know who they are and focus on what they want to be. She gave the youths a bit of homework and asked them to write down names of the bright students who they feared to make friends with; such that the next time she comes she would tell them how to approach them for academic friendship. All the youths loved this program and are looking forward to next month!

                                                                                Visitation Day: 10^th March was Visitation Day at Masaka SS for all of our secondary students; Eddy, Justine, Oliver, and Joshua. Babirye also came along with us since she is now an alumnus of the school.  We were hoping to see all of the students class teachers and discuss their strengths or weaknesses, but since the students had just finished mid-term exams 95% of the teachers weren’t there. We didn’t make the day a loss because we were able to tour around the school, see their class rooms, take some pictures, visit with the few teachers that were there and visit the headmaster to get Babirye’s S6 Pass-slip. After we all went to lunch at a local restaurant. It was a fun day had by all!!

Movie Day: On 17^th March we watched a funny and heartwarming movie called The Greening of Whitney Brown.  This movie helped us all realize that changes in life, like Whitney having to move to the country side and giving up her posh, over indulgent lifestyle, can be a blessing in disguise. Colossians 3:1-2 says it best; “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.” Throughout the movie Whitney realizes that all the “stuff” isn’t worth what it means to have true friends. And that going from being “on top” at school to being a “nobody” helped her to see her true friends were really her family. The “new Whitney” realized that life unfolds wherever you are and she found life to be a true joy in the country!

J.A.M.:  Why is it that every month when JAM is to take place Masaka is out of power? Well it happened again on the 24^th! But despite no power JAM went on as life stories day!

Good Friday Open House: On 30^th March we held an Open House to invite the local youth to not only visit our new location, but to celebrate Good Friday! We had a day of fun with music, games, lunch and a word! Throughout the day the many youth in attendance played volley ball, danced to the upbeat Gospel tracks playing on the speaker and fellowshipped. We were blessed to have a delicious lunch prepared by Alpha, Babirye, Jane, and Oliver. After lunch we broke the youth up into teams and had a few hours of fun with several games! We ended the day with a wonderful and inspiring Good Friday Message from Alpha. He spoke of the importance of the Cross and what it means to our lives!

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I praise the Lord for the amazing day we had and all its blessings!!

Team Coming/Prayer Request: We have 3 ladies from Impact Christian Church, Woodland Park, CO, coming to visit us from 26th to 29th April. I have been working the team’s program along with all of their logistics scheduling for their time here in Masaka. Can you please pray for Ladies to be prepared physically, spiritually, and emotionally for all that they are going to encounter while here in Uganda and in Kenya? We also pray that the Lord does mighty things in and through them while they are here!

Also please pray about being a full time SOAR Youth Sponsor of one of our youth. You can see their profiles on our web-site at www.faithhopelovemissions.org click on SUPPORT/DONATE then SOAR YOUTH SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP. May God bless you for your support!!

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! These parting words to you were written on the Centre’s library blackboard by one of our youths: “When you have a strong Faith in God, you can never be shaken by the things of this world”.

In His Grip,

Rita Bulegeya

Missionary & Director of Faith Hope Love Missions