FHLM Nov/Dec 2015 Update; Director, SOAR Youth, General News

DIRECTOR NEWS

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Uganda!! Despite me being sick with malaria and than having a severe repertory infection in the last 4 weeks, we as an organization have had a wonderful past 8 weeks and Christmas! I have pushed through and pressed into the Lord and have seen the Lord’s hand of provision, protection, healing, and joy in all our lives! As you will read it has been an amazing and very busy time for all of us. Enjoy!

SOAR YOUTH NEWS

The week of 16 Nov marked end of 3rd Term exams for Babirye, Alpha and William and the start of the long 3rd Term Holiday.  Babirye completed her Secondary 4 National Exams on 16th Nov. These examinations will determine her future field of studies and her next level of academics. We are all praying for a 1st Grade for her! William also sat for his UBTEB (Uganda Business & Technical Examination Board) Exams the week of 16 Nov. We are praying he passes with a Grade 1 also and when he does he will obtain a certificate in Electrical Installation, allowing him to move in his studies to get his Diploma.

The week of 16 Nov also found Aunt Liz and me making the 11 hour bus journey to the town of Pakwach in the West Nile region of Uganda to attended Faridah’s Graduation Ceremony at Uganda College of Commerce. We celebrated with Faridah, her Mum and the 865 other graduates, as Faridah obtained her Diploma in Accounting.  She was also among the students with 1st Grade Honors, 16th best in the college!! As you can see we had much to celebrate! As she said, “We are celebrating Ebenezer, the One, that has brought me from nowhere to where I am. To Him be the glory.”

David completed his 1st Semester of Second year at NIAAD on 18 Dec, but stayed on in Kampala for an Art Exhibition of his and other students work over the weekend of 19th Dec. He returned back to Masaka just in time for Christmas.

Back in June the ministry received an anonymous donation and we were able to use a portion of that money to take 5 of the SOAR Youth on an Educational Trip to Lake Mburo National Park on 3rd & 4th Dec. This is $300.00 U.S. dollars that changed their lives, as it was a trip of BIG 1st for all of them!!! All but 1 of the youth had never been west of Masaka town. Imagine never being on the other side of your town. Why? Well think of the back grounds these youth have came from. This leads us to another 1st. We also went on a boat safari around Lake Mburo. This was the 1st time that all the youth and even Jane, our social worker, had been on a boat. Babirye said she was sacred at first, but after putting on the life-jacket, seeing animals and being on the water a peace came over her. All Alpha wanted to see were baboons and he got his wish, when on our evening Game Drive we saw a huge troupe of baboons hanging out on the road! Joseph said “most people in his family and his village would think it stupid and a waste of time & money to go to a national park, but he realizes that God has given him this opportunity to see that there is much more to his country and the world than the village he comes from.” The others expressed how God blessed them with such an amazing opportunity and all were so thankful for being able to go! As you can see this trip opened up these youth’s eye, world and gave them an experience that they will treasure their entire life! What a blessing from God!

The SOAR Youth have now become Pen-Pals with the kids of Harlan Christian Youth Center! We received a big envelope of letters mid Nov from them and our youth promptly responded with cards and letters to them. I was told that on 17 Dec. the kids from HCYC received our package with great joy and excitement!  We received e-mail replies just before Christmas! Thank you to everyone at HCYC and Happy New Year!

GENERAL FHLM NEWS

The last J.A.M. of 2015 was held on 28 Nov and wow did we send the year out with a BANG! It was the best J.A.M. we’ve had!  This is how our JAM leader, Joseph “Bassoon”, in his unique way expressed the day:

“Music is sound from heart expressing your heart. On the last JAM I saw sounds only making a cool breeze. Friends becoming family. Love impressed and admire to go higher. All want to inspire the world through what they are. In God I believe we thrive!”

That same day we had our FHLM Annual General Meeting with all but two of our board members in attendance. We discussed several matters for the ministry and also voted to include Joseph Ssajjabbi into the SOAR Youth Sponsorship Program and add Jane Franc onto the board as our General Secretary. Our next Board Meeting is scheduled for 05 Feb, as a 2016 Planning Meeting.

Though very tired from our Lake Mburo trip we wanted to give back to God for blessing us, so on the 5th Dec. we went to the Hospital for Outreach & Evangelism.  We met up at the ministry library and made “get well/Christmas cards” for the sick. We set off to the Woman’s Ward this time to pray for and give hope to the injured, sick, and dying woman of Masaka. We were blessed to encounter several “jjajas”, older ladies, with their beautiful weathered faces, white hair, and stories of life. In turn we prayed for healing of their diseases and care for their families. It was a blessed day that gave us all renewed energy!

Saturday, 12th Dec was a very busy day around the Youth Center! We at FHLM had our Board Member’s Christmas Luncheon and then at 3pm the Youth Center was frenzy with a Christmas Market for the Community of Masaka.  The day consisted of many tables of local crafts, jewelry, art pieces, and local food for sale for the adults. The community children were treated to face-painting, fish-pond gift grab, balloons and even a visit from Santa Claus. In the evening we all delighted in dance performances and singing from a few local choirs. Since the community was so receptive to the event, the promoters think this will now become an annual event!

Our FHLM Annual Youth Christmas Movie and Party was held on 19 Dec . We had a wonderful turn out! The afternoon kicked off with games and a Christmas Carol sing-a-long. Then we all enjoyed snacks, sodas, sweeties and some fun fellowship. We ended the afternoon by watching an all time family classic, The Sound of Music. The youth loved the movie and even sang along with the songs!

The FHLM Office was closed for the week of Christmas and New Year, but that didn’t stop us all from getting together. Several of the SOAR Youth and a few others had two Christmas baking days over at Aunt Liz’s house. We made cakes, Christmas cut-out cookies, chocolate cookie bars, and a Yule log. It was great fun and a learning experience for many of them, as they have never baked before. I thank Aunt Liz for letting us use her oven and kitchen—such a blessing! Because I was sick Liz hosted us all for a delightful Christmas Day lunch. All of the SOAR Youth, a few of the HUG youth, and Pastor Sam Sombi’s family, 15 in all, joined in on the Christmas cheer and festivities! I have to send a special thank you out to David, Babirye and Alpha, as if it wasn’t for them cooking and helping me out so much, Christmas wouldn’t have been as special and as lovely as it was!

As you have read we at FHLM have had a very blessed and amazing end to 2015! We are all excitedly looking forward to all the Lord is going to do in and through us in 2016! I thank everyone who has prayed and supported the organization, the youth, me, my family and our leadership over the last year. I pray that our Lord bless you abundantly for all you have done for His children and His Kingdom.  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

**Prayer Request: Can you please pray for our 3rd Annual Youth Prayer, Praise, & Fasting Retreat on 15, 16, 17 Jan? Thank you!!!

With much love and blessings,

Rita Bulegeya- Director Faith Hope Love Missions