Here is the latest from Uganda
Schools
We just received word that Primary and Secondary schools will not be allowed to meet for in-person learning until Jan 2022. This is not the news we hoped for, as you well know the challenges of our children learning at home. Once again, our team is working hard on behalf of our kids. Our teachers are meeting with small groups of children in various areas of our dormitory and the church building to work through their curriculum. (It’s pretty amazing that our dorm is now also a makeshift school!) For those of you who have children in primary and secondary school, your school payments are going toward materials and curriculum, food for the children, and paying the teachers during this time when they are not allowed to formally do their jobs.
For those of you who have children who are going into vocational schools and colleges, they are reopening in-person Nov 1st. For several of our kids, this will be a new adventure! We are excited about the opportunities to further their education. Your school payments will go toward their tuition, but our Higher Education fund will fill in the gap between the cost of their schooling and what is paid by your sponsorship. (For example, it costs $420 per year to sponsor a child, but Vocational school costs around $1000 per year. We have to raise that extra $580 per child through our Higher Ed fund.) Since we are essentially providing scholarships for our kids to continue their education, we have decided to rename our Higher Education fund the Scholarship fund. Thank you so much to those of you who are contributing to scholarships for our kids! I’m hoping soon to have a comprehensive list for you of each of our kids who are attending vocational school or college this fall, and what they are studying. They are a great group and they are so grateful for the opportunity to continue their education.
Victory House Phase 3
The third floor of Victory House, which will be our dormitory for boys, is getting so close to completion! The workers are finishing up the plumbing, painting, and doing tile work this week. When I look at this building, I see a beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness and provision.
When we first started construction on Victory House, we knew that we needed a place to house our teachers. I remember on our trip to Uganda in 2018, Herbert shared with me that they had built that first floor with the capability to build an additional two more floors above. That seemed like a distant dream at the time, but since then, we have completed the second floor and we are now watching the third floor become a reality. It is incredible what God continues to do with our 5 loaves and 2 fishes. If you would like to help us complete this project, you can do so here!
Rice & Beans
Thank you so much to those of you who faithfully support our rice and beans ministry. It has always been an important part of our mission, but during these last 18 months, it has become more critical than ever. Our team continues to buy rice, beans, fruit, potatoes, etc. and distribute to our families and others who are really struggling. It’s hard to accomplish anything else when your family is hungry, so this investment is helping in more ways than you know. I just shared with one of our faithful Rice & Beans supporters on Sunday, that you will never know how many people were touched by your investment on this side of eternity.
Herbert’s Home
Thank you to those of you who have been praying for Herbert to sell his home. You will remember that he has experienced several break-ins at his home and it is very small for the many people that he has living with him and Deborah at any point in time. The good news is that he has a buyer! He has been paying in installments, which has allowed our Jericho construction team to start on a new home for Herbert and his family on a small piece of property in a better location. They are hoping to move in by the end of December. The house will also include a couple of guest rooms for ministry teams. (We sure hope we get to use those guest rooms in the near future!)
Please continue to pray for our team in Uganda as they navigate so many obstacles in their quest to educate, feed, help and encourage our children and their families.
Pray also for your child today (and every day)…they could really use your encouragement in these difficult times. If you haven’t written to them lately, you can do so here!
You truly are providing hope in a land where hope is hard to find.
I know it’s been a very difficult month for many of you. Several of you have been in fierce battles with COVID. We are praying for you. Be encouraged tonight by the words of the apostle Paul:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Continue to be a light in this dark world, my friends, and through our love, joy, gratitude, and perseverance we will ultimately point others to our Savior.
Thank you so much for your faithful love and support.
Much Love,
Jan