November 25th, 2015
Thanksgiving and Praise – 2015
 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
As we prepare to celebrate our Thanksgiving holiday here in USA, we wanted to share the many things we are graciously thankful for in Uganda also.
Our partners at Palm Beach Atlantic University, Gregory School of Pharmacy have committed to another trip to Uganda, after the wonderful experience everyone had in May of 2015. If you haven’t read pharmacy student Melissa Hubbard’s Reflective Essay (http://wordindeedministries.org/uganda/medical-missions-2015-reflective-essay/ ) please take the time. She shares personal, heartfelt, life-changing ways the trip to Uganda had on her life.
This month we will be ‘breaking ground’ on our production well in Ntenzi. The 5-acres WID has acquired for the Community Resource Center is now actively a project we are trusting God to take from vision to reality. Infrastructure barriers (really bad dirt roads and washed out paths) made the company’s first attempt to drill impossible. So please be in prayer as this well drilling project is continued. It will be a much-needed resource for our many neighbors.
We are also praising the partnership with eMI East Africa (http://emiea.org ). What started out as a conversation with a stranger in Bolder, Colorado in 2014, turned into email introductions, followed up with face-to-face meetings in Kampala with eMI’s Uganda Director, John Sauder. Their team of interns and experts has made their first site visit to the Resource Center property and now their work commences. Please be in prayer for this team as they create design and site plan drawings to turn this gift from God into a blessing for the people in the Mukono District.
On Friday, November 20th, as a ministry we were able to facilitate the showing of the Jesus Movie at the Mpunge Covenant Primary School. We are humbly grateful for the sponsorship to show this movie to the students from the school and invited the surrounding community to the event. Chairs were rented, drinks and popcorn were provided for the children. Here is a brief summary of what we heard from our team in Mpunge after the movie –
“Started on a low note, when we got to the venue, hired chairs hadn’t been delivered. Announcements on the community radio have been running since Wednesday evening BUT no sign of an event. Anyways, I called the guy and the chairs were delivered in a few minutes. Fast forward- movie starts showing and the crowd is mostly children. About 10 minutes later, I don’t know where people – adults came from. You could literally see them running to the venue. Chairs got filled up, brought in benches from the school, and others were left standing. The eats were an icing in the cake. Roughly, we had about 250 people. When Jesus call was made (invitation to accept Christ as your Savior), besides majority kids, about 10 adults raised their hands. Thank you very much.†Rachel Kabejja
“I looked at the chairs being delivered and asked myself who were the people going to occupy them? (Than later)… Can’t believe some people missed seats.” Pastor Kefa Sempangi
This is another example of one person making a difference and what one introduction can make. A supporter of WID living in Florida made the introduction of a young woman, who works for the Jesus Movie. Her role is assisting in translating the production into local languages, so more people can see and understand the movie. Through Amanda we got connected to their Ugandan ministry partners, Life Ministry, Uganda, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ Intl. We met with Pastor Francis Kyotabona in May and through their partnership, WID has now been able to show the Jesus movie in both Ntenjeru and Mpunge schools. Praising God for making introductions and opening doors. Lives are being transformed.
Today we are hopeful that God’s blessings will continue on the many other projects WID is working one. One of our top priorities is the Ntenjeru Covenant Primary School. After our medical mission trip in May, and with the joint generosity from the Palm Beach Atlantic University team, funds were given to finish putting a roof on part of the schools’ classrooms. The needs there are still many. Given the number of students (300+), there are certain health risks now because they lack sufficient water and latrines. Additionally, several of the classrooms are still dirt floors, which can be problematic when the children sit on the dirt. Parasites and bugs in the ground make their way into the unsuspecting child as he sits on the ground. Lack of desks, benches, and educational material, all weigh on the successful chances these students have to obtain a proper learning experience. Please be in prayer for this school as they are seeking God’s provision for these precious kids.
More good news about God’s divine providence. One of our ministry partners, a young Uganda woman who I met 4-years ago, has recently completed her training on health counseling and now holds a certificates in HIV/Aids counseling. Jovelet Kabasinguzi has a passion for these young school children and giving them guidance and counsels to keep them free of this terribly deadly disease. She has worked alongside us when we do our medical mission trips and through additional financial blessings, we have been able to hire her for the next 3-months to do counseling and educational seminars for the schools. She is able to teach and talk to these children on a level they can understand and learn how to keep safe from that which has taken the lives of most of their parents. One person made a financial gift wanting to help the school children. One person followed the passion God gave her to help others. One person’s care can have a multitude of effect.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10
As if this isn’t enough to be crazy, excited about God’s provision, here’s another example of open doors and one person making a difference. A friend of Pete Lytle (WID Board member), who happens to be a well-known orthodontist from Denver, Colorado, shared his desire to travel to Uganda. Dr. Anil Idiculla traveled this past October to Jinja, Uganda to work with a ministry doing dental work. Through Dr. Idiculla, WID was introduced to Hope Smiles Uganda (http://www.hopesmiles.org/programs/uganda/ ) and Dr. Ryan Shimska. We are praising God even more now as Dr. Ryan has agreed to participate with our medical team this upcoming May, 2016 so we can now offer dental treatment to the orphans and families we serve in the Mukono District.
So, never be dismayed that you can’t make a difference, you’re just one person…just believe…God makes a difference and so can you. One person at a time.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. – 1st Peter 4:10
Briefly, regarding our Student Scholarship Program, please check out our FaceBook page and the photo album of students still needing sponsors. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.549609375149923.1073741828.178194625624735&type=1&l=700b3230e2
A young mom in Mpunge recently contacted us asking for help with her 3 young boys. She is at the end-stages of cancer and her wish was to find scholarships for her children. A dying wish was that her boys were going to get to school, she could be more at peace. At this writing, two of the boys have scholarships for boarding school. The annual cost of $275 is doable for almost every American. Less than $1.00 a day! Yup, that’s all it cost to help change the life of a child in Uganda.
So, how about giving the gift of a scholarship this Christmas instead of some random, unwanted ‘something’ that will be thrown in the back of a closet or in the garage. Or for you parents who have children and want to teach them about true giving this Christmas, tell them they will be supporting a child going to school next year. What a gift this truly is. In the name of Jesus!
We are thankful. May God’s grace, peace, mercy and hope be with you this Thanksgiving.
Tags: Gregory School of Pharmacy, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Short Term Missions, Student Scholarship Program, Uganda
Posted in Project Updates, Short Term Missions, Uganda | Comments Off on Thanksgiving and Praise – 2015