Good-Bye 2012! Hello 2013!!! A year of Building & Growing!

Happy 2013 Everyone!!

I can’t believe that 2013 is here and we are already done with the 1st month! The month of January was fun because we had many activities!

My husband, Rogers, and I chose to ring in the New Year with some of my good friends and a few of his family members at a local coffeehouse/restaurant, Plot 99. While the guys, Rock & David, decided to keep up a tradition and go to the National Prayer & Praise Overnight at the Masaka Recreational grounds. The guys were there enjoying until 6am, but we, their uncle & auntie, called it a night at 1am.

In January, both Rock and David had siblings get married. The weekend of 11 Jan Rock’s half sister, Mary, had her introduction and wedding. The following weekend, 18 Jan, David’s eldest brother, Emmanuel, had his introduction and wedding. Some of you may be asking, what is an introduction? Well it is a Ugandan traditional cultural marriage ceremony. The bride’s family host the ceremony in the brides home village. All the family and the village are invited and the event last all day into the night. The just of the ceremony is for the bride to be given to the groom by the head of the family and her brother. During the event there is an exchange of terms for the bride, which means lots of talking and speeches. There are also many presents given to her family by the groom’s family for the bride price. Going to two such events back to back is a feat unto its own. hehe

Unfortunately just after his sister’s wedding Rock came down with a very bad case of malaria. For 2 weeks of the month he was down in bed, but with medical treatment, anti-malaria medicine, a shot, and a lot of rest and care he is back to his old self, smiling and enjoying life.

Regrettably Rock sickness came during the 6th Annual G.R.I.P. Youth Conference (God Reveled In Power). He was only able to attend one day of the conference, but David and I attended most of the weeklong event. As usual it was a week filled with wonderful speakers elaborating on this year’s theme “In His Presence” Psalm 16:11. Most spoke of God’s amazing Grace. Many youth and people were impacted by the Lord’s presence and gave their lives to the Lord. Glory be to God!!

Throughout all this I was still fighting the pains and symptoms of the large cyst on my liver. On 21 Jan, I had my follow up appointment with International Hospital Kampala (IHK). I had a re-ultra sound scan and found out that the cyst was still there and it was still over 8 cm large. The IHK surgeon decided to refer me to a Professor of Medicine at Mengo Hospital Kampala. Not only is the Professor a specialist with cyst, but Mengo has a “special” probe for aspirating cyst that IHK does not. That said, within two days and two doctor visits with Professor Kawooya at Mengo, the cyst that pledged me for three months was gone—PRAISE GOD!

I took a few days to recover, but by Saturday the 26th I was working again. That day we had another FHLM Board Meeting. We had 5 of our 8 board members attend. All in all it was a productive day. I’m so thankful to finally have a proactive board!

As we reached the end of January both I and the guys, Rock & David, were preparing for them to go back to school. The new school year and Term 1 starts on 04 Feb. This year David is in his last year of high school, Secondary 6 and Rock is in Secondary 3 (Freshman year). They are both VERY excited to start!

As you can see it has been a wonderful and exciting beginning to the New Year! I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings ALL of us! Please join us in prayer for the below requests. Thank you. Till next month, stay grounded in the Lord, the Word and His presence.

Have a great day!
Bless you,
Rita

Prayer Request
1. Reinstatement of the return portion of my British Airways ticket or funding to purchase a new ticket.
2. For favor for funding and speaking engagements with individuals, churches, universities and organizations during my U.S. furlough.
3. We are praying the Furlough will take place late Feb or early March.
4. Implementing the plans, projects, and events that the FHLM Board has set in place for 2013.
5. Wisdom and guidance for Rogers and myself for our ministries; The Tabernacle Church, Youth in Action, and FHLM.
6. Also for our business R&R Services, as jobs have been scarce and income has been very little in the last 3 months.
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