Wednesday, March 13, 2013
It’s getting late and I find myself resisting bedtime. It seems this is the case every time I come to Uganda...the end of our last full day...the night before we leave to begin our journey home.
This morning I began my day with a prayer, asking God to really show himself on this, our final day in Uganda...and boy did He “bust a few moves”!
One of the things we needed to accomplish this week was to meet with a contractor. Due to the winds coming off of Lake Victoria, there are a few repairs needed at the church. We met with the contractor yesterday and we were given the quote today. We were able to pay for the first of three areas of work, which will complete a 2 room house on the property.
There is a man named Muhammed who moved to Bweya Village to specifically begin a children’s ministry at the church. He has an amazing testimony that would blow your minds. He was a Muslim and is now a converted, “born again” Christian. Muhammed has demonstrated tremendous dedication to Bweya Community Church by leaving Gaba, his friends, etc...to come to Bweya to serve AND receives NO pay! Pastor Robert had been using some of the stipend ekissa has regularly been sending him, in order to pay rent for Muhammed to remain in Bweya. It is vital to the ministry of Bweya Community Church to have a leader remain there in the village full time. This full time presence provides stability as well as an opportunity for community development/ building relationships, and building trust with the new friendships. It’s an opportunity for daily ministry to happen.
As many of you know, we have been in the process of building a pig farm (piggery). We’ve been praying for someone to step forward in the church to take the daily responsibility of caring for these pigs. Well, God has answered that prayer! Muhammed approached me about the fact that he is in need of finding new housing. The house he’s renting is in extremely poor condition with the “bathroom facility” ready to collapse to the ground. He also is in need of some regular income...
Jack, in all his discernment, suggested we offer to move Muhammed to the small, 2 room house on the property and pay him a fair wage to be the property security as well as the one to care for the piggery. We are praising God, as Muhammed has accepted this offer!
Today was a long day for Debbie, Bethany, Muhammed and Mary Lee as they were able to take “baby Whitney” and his 20 year old mother, Sharon, to see the specialist today, while the rest of the team met with the contractor for the church.
The baby had no intestinal blockage and it was determined that the child’s struggles were all due to severe malnutrition. The mom informed Mary Lee she hated her current method of employment (prostitution) and wanted a better way of life. She is a single mother as her husband was killed in an accident prior to Whitney being born.
Our prayer has been that somehow we could get Sharon, the mother, to leave the prostitution behind...yet we recognize her desperation to simply provide for her family. So, it was a relief when she said she hated it and didn’t desire to continue! In order to alleviate some of her financial burden, we offered her an opportunity to be Muhammed’s assistant in providing daily maintenance at the piggery. Again, we are praising God as she accepted this position
For the next couple of weeks Sharon must spent her time with Whitney, caring for him and feeding him every 2 hours. So this will be her focus for now. However, as Whitney’s health begins to improve, Sharon will be able to take on more responsibility with respects to the piggery.
So, the blessings of the day have been:
- God answered our prayers in providing a caregiver for the pigs
- God answered Muhammed’s prayer for a safe place to live such that he will move in the next 2 weeks
- God answered our prayers with someone to provide security for our land
- God answered our prayers for someone to care for the piggery
- God provided an amazing contractor to evaluate our repair needs at the church
Another amazing blessing is that everyone was gracious in their gifts for Abbey before we left the US; so much such that he is able to have the much needed surgery to remove the metal rod in his leg, which was the result of a terrible taxi accident about 9 months ago. Due to the accident, Abbey lost his job during the recovery period. I don’t know how he has done it until now, but despite all of the opposition he’s encountered. He remains strong and dedicated to the 10 orphaned boys he’s taken in.
I must also recognize the blessing that God has given ekissa through the relationships we have with ‘Landowner Robert” and his son Mark. Mark is the individual who has been responsible for building the piggery. He has selflessly given his time and talents while working his father’s farm and attending a local university...all, accepting no compensation but doing it for “the glory of God!”. We are grateful for the leadership he provides at Bweya Community Church.
Added to this list of relationships is also Bob and Mary Lee Bolitho. It seems God is not only blessing their ministry but they bless ours every time we are incountry as well as they assist us in the ministry at Bweya after we return to the US! We couldn’t be as effective without them!
.....It is now Thursday afternoon and we packing for the airport. We intended to write some more but here in Uganda we have learned to be flexible every day in every situation. We will finish details when we safely land in North Carolina. Please pray for safe travel.
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