FHLM OCTOBER 2025 NEWSLETTER
GREETINGS:
Greetings from Masaka! Thank you for your prayers, for it is finally raining in Masaka and we praise God!!
Isaiah 55:10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.”
DIRECTOR’S UPDATE:
WORKSHOP: On 3rd Oct we had a Positive Parenting Workshop for all of our SOAR Youth parents and guardians. It was led by Pastor Patrick from Scripture Union Kampala. The workshop was a full day, so we gave the parents a small breakfast first before we began. I started the workshop with a prayer and introduced the Scripture Union team, Immaculate, Paddy, and Pastor Patrick.
Patrick kicked off the sessions by reading Proverbs 22:4-6. He stated that discipleship begins in your living room not in the church Sunday school where you only go once a week. It is about Training = teaching + modelling + discipleship + Guidance. The day’s morning session encompassed the following topic: how to raise a well-behaved child. After lunch, Patrick focused on how to parent a strong-willed child, and teaching our children responsibilities. At the end of the day Immaculate had a time of questions and answers. She asked the parents their way forward with their children. Many of them said that they learned how to now handle their strong-willed children with the techniques that Pastor Patrick gave them. We thank God for the SU Team and for all of the Godly wisdom and knowledge they imparted to the parents and guardians!
SEMINAR: From 06th to 8th Oct the Shakirah, Juliet, and I attended a seminar on the Theology of the Holy Spirit at Willow Resource Foundation in Masaka. Over the 3 full days we covered the topics of the Holy Spirit as a man, and the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
Day 1: It was mostly a review and introduction day. Which included learning the terms and gaining an understanding of the topic.
Day 2: We learned that as a person, the Holy Spirit, has a personality, and an intellect. We learned from John 14:26 that the spirit teaches and He also testifies or witnesses. We also looked at the attributes of the Holy Spirit; He is eternal, without beginning or the end (Hebrews 9:14), He is omnipresent, existing everywhere at all times, and He is omnipotent–all powerful.
Day 3: Our final day we focused on the divine actions of the Spirit; creation, inspiration, regeneration, intercession and sanctification. We also saw how the Holy Spirit is symbolized in scripture, as a dove in Mathew 3:16, in fire in Acts 2:3-4, in water in John 3:5, and in wind in John 3:8. We also learned that the Spirit’s work is invisible, just like we cannot see wind. The Spirit is sovereign just like the wind blows where it wants, and that He is powerful. The Spirit comes in oil also, in Luke 4:18, in the seal or pledge in 1 Cor. 1:22.
Also there are a number of ways that the Spirit of God empowers all believers in the New Testament. The indwelling presence, boldness for witness, guidance and direction, in prayer, Spiritual gifts, illumination of scripture, enablement of holiness then comfort and assurance. We ended as we looked at the Spirit and Jesus’ life and ministry.
This seminar was educational, impactful, and eye opening. I thank Pastor Jeromy and the team at Willow for giving the Christian community of Masaka these amazing opportunities to learn and grow in the Lord.
PUBLIC HOLIDAY: 09th Oct was Uganda’s Independence Day. Across the country people celebrated it’s 63 Years of Independence! Uganda gained independence from United Kingdom, as a protectorate country, on 09 Oct, 1962. This year’s main festivities were held in Kampala at the Kololo Independence Grounds.
BOARD MEETING: On 11th Oct we had our 4th Quarter Board Meeting. All but one of the members were in attendance, so we covered a lot of material. After the reading of the 2nd Quarter Meeting Minutes we discussed items that the members needed updates on. Then it was on the new business. I shared about the yearly Sept and Oct staff reviews, and Babirye coming on as a volunteer. Pamela gave the members an overview of the Youth Outreach and Ed trip that was taken in Sept. We also reviewed each SOAR Youth’s quarterly assessments and had discussions about a few youth and if there was a need for disciplinary action. Our board member, Immaculate, who works for Scripture Union, gave the members a review of the Positive Parenting Workshop. We ended with the members approving a few new items for the Youth Centre; promotional stickers, and a 100 seater tent for programs and large events.
BIRTHDAY: On 21 Oct everyone celebrated Juliet’s Birthday. Since we celebrated on Tuesday evening after Bible Study, her two children were able to join us. Of course we enjoyed cake and sang a few rounds of Happy Birthday!
GRADUATION: I traveled to Kampala from 22-25 Oct for some meetings and then for Oliver’s university graduation. Her ceremony was on 24th Oct on the grounds of University of Kisubu, outside Entebbe. This was the universities 10th Graduation Ceremony and this year’s theme was Pilgrims of Hope taken from Isaiah 49:15. The key note speaker shared these inspirational words with the graduates.
“Pilgrims of hope are those leaving a footprint and building lasting value. You are to serve in integrity and truth for your generation and be the change you wish to see in the world. He said they are to walk through life with light of God. For faith is your oil and may your character be your flame. He finished with these words of wisdom, hold fast to truth, moral justice. Use the tools of transformation you’ve gained here.”
After the graduation ceremony Oliver, her two sisters, Justine, myself, and Oliver’s friend Grace and her family all went to a restaurant near the university for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised that Oliver and Grace had took it upon themselves to have a private room for us to celebrate and it was decorated very well. We all had a lovely afternoon/evening taking pictures, sharing stories, and communing together as we celebrated the lives and accomplishments of Oliver and Grace.
SCRIPTURE UNION: Back from 2010 to 2013 I was the S.U. Masaka Regional trainer. Since then, FHLM has collaborated with S.U.. I am now taking on another partnership with S.U. for the next 2 years as Volunteer Community Outreach Specialist. This is a new and exciting collaboration that will open doors for both FHLM and S.U. within Masaka and the greater Masaka Region.
SOAR YOUTH UPDATE:
HOME VISITS: As 3 Term of school has commenced Shakirah has started her quarterly home visits to each SOAR Youth’s parent or guardian. Each Wednesday she spends the afternoon at one of the youth’s home accessing the living situation, asking the parent pertinent questions about the youth and their character, and counseling the parent. The information that she gathers is vital to the holistic transformation of each youth.
VISITATION DAYS: On 4th Oct we had two secondary visitation days, one at Masaka SS and one at Timothy Girls HS. Juliet went to Masaka SS, collected the youth’s reports and meet with their class teachers.
In turn Shakirah and I attended the day at Timothy Girls. We arrived and were welcomed by both Ruth and Charity, who are now part of the school student leadership (prefects). We arrived early and sat in on the parents meeting and the dedication and prayers for the secondary 4 and 6 Candidate classes. Once the meeting ended we were able to have some time to talk with our young ladies, as the caterer prepared to serve lunch. We also gave them a few items to help supplement their school food; bread, sugar, corn nuts, and cookies. After a yummy lunch, we went to talk to each of their class teachers and get their beginning of 3rd Term Reports. Charity’s report was average with her best marks being Fine Art. Ruth did ok also, but she still needs to learn how to balance the scores for the multiple papers in each subject. We had a lovely day with the young ladies.
PAMELA: She had her UNEB Briefing 10th Oct and start of National Exams on 13th Oct with Geography in the morning and Biology in the afternoon. It was a full month of exams and practical sessions, but she said it was God’s grace, wisdom, and protection that got her through. We give God all the glory and pray for success for Pamela!
MARK: He was picked by his Chemistry class teacher as an invigilator (supervisor) for the secondary 2 chemistry students to ensure that they are conducting their exams fairly and according to regulations. I’m happy to see him being chosen for such leadership opportunities.
RONNIE: We are congratulating him because he has been nominated as the Agriculture Chairman for special farming projects in the ordinary levels at school.
YOUTH PROGRAMS:
BIBLE STUDIES: Throughout the month of October we read and discussed chapters 17 to 20 of Exodus. The study on 07 Oct was great, as the youth really opened up about what they had learned from the chapter reading. Here are their comments:
- Pamela- She shared a testimony of how hard it can be to be in leadership. As a school prefect God gave her courage, and wisdom in a hard situation she went through with students. Then she shared on verse 6 and said that it is God’s instructions that helped Moses. But why did God use a Rock? It signifies Jesus, the rock of our salvation and the living water that He is to us.
- Mark- (verses 1-7) I see ungratefulness in these people and it is ridiculous. God had given them so much and they showed God it is a sin. We need to be grateful for the little we have, for 1 + 1 makes a bundle.
- Ronnie- (verses 1-7) He said the song of these people was grumbling and complaining. They had an evil spirit within them and it was all about wanting to go back into “slavery”. How can these people ask such questions when they’ve seen God provide amazing miracles—manna, water, and protection?? Like today’s believers who go back to their small gods instead of seeking out the real big God that created all.
- Pius- (verses 8-16) Day to day God says draw close to Him and win battles. When we pray, fast, and seek Him He encourages us and gives the power of unity and help.
CENTRE DAY: The 18th Oct we had farming and general cleaning day. Since rainy season has started we prepared the land for planting. We also gave the compound and the Centre a much needed clean up outside by weeding, and trimming hedges, and inside wiping walls, dusting, and mopping! I guess since Masaka lies in the southern hemisphere you can say we were Spring Cleaning!
BROTHERS IN CHRIST: Once again Uncle Alpha led the young men of Brothers in Christ on 25th Oct. This month’s topic was Anger. He kicked off the session with a reading from James 1:19-20 and discussed the 3 main points; quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. He then went deeper into the causes of anger—lack of self-control, mental insecurity, disrespect, abuse, humiliation, and family issues. He read from Proverbs 14:29 and communicated that anger is a spirit that needs to be broken. Alpha then shared his own personal testimony of overcoming anger and how God broke the anger chain that bound him.
We are so thankful to Alpha for bridging these hard topics with the young men of Brothers In Christ. Blair, from the group, gave a testimony of how the last four months of attending these programs has helped him in his life and to grow in Christ! We praise God for such a testimony
BELA BULUNGI (GOOD-BYE):
With the Holiday Seasons are upon us, we are looking forward to the next few months. As you and yours prepare for the Holidays may God protect, guide you and bless you.
Love and Blessings,
Rita Bulegeya
Missionary & Director -Faith Hope Love Missions
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