Each month of ministry looks a little bit different, and this month we wanted to provide some insight into the “day to day” ministry operations that happened throughout July!
Rice & Beans
One of our most practical areas of ministry is our Rice and Beans fund. In July we sent $2000 from this fund to purchase rice, beans, potatoes, fruit, sugar, and more for families who are struggling to survive. This fund is also used to provide nutritional porridge that we serve our primary school students each day. This porridge is packed with vitamins and minerals and has been a much needed health booster for our children. Thank you for providing food each month for families in such great need!
Sponsorship
We send sponsorship payments for our primary and secondary students at the beginning of each term in January, May, and September. This month we sent $3500 from our sponsorship fund for vocational & college students who are starting a new term or semester, more on that below!
Construction
We’re currently praying and planning for our next construction project, a piece of farmland that can be developed and used for several long term goals. This has been on our radar for a while, and our team In Uganda has been diligently searching for the right piece of property. This will be used to grow food for our families, to engage our students in educational farming, and eventually to have a property large enough to build a secondary school. That’s the dream! It seems like a big dream right now, but we serve a big God and we are trusting His timing and His provision. (We remember when building our primary school seemed like an impossible task!) Pray with us for the right piece of property that will meet many needs and take our ministry into the future.
Teacher Education Fund
This month we sent $270 each for Teachers Clare, Frank, and David to continue their education this semester. Our teachers are working to complete their bachelors degrees and this fund has been instrumental in helping them.
General Fund
Every month is a different adventure, with new needs and new opportunities to support those experiencing great difficulties. We utilize our General Fund to provide for these needs and to lift up those people who need a little extra support. This month we sent $970 for an incinerator that the Health Department determined was needed for our girls and boys dormitory. We sent $400 to support our two V127 administrators in Uganda and $150 to support 2 maintenance workers at the school (who are also parents to V127 children). $55 was sent for electricity at our House of Hope and $40 was sent for a birthday gift for one of our students from their sponsor. As an example of the variety of uses of this fund from month to month, in June we sent $770 for medical expenses.
Scholarship
This fund was busy this month! It’s hard for me to even grasp that we have 9 students headed to college this fall. Wow! This was a distant and unlikely hope for these students, but they have worked so hard in their studies for this opportunity. As a ministry we are committed that if their grades are good enough & they have the initiative, then we will support them throughout their higher education endeavors. We also have 11 students in vocational school, and 8 others who are awaiting graduation dates in the near future. That is 28 students total in higher education!
Most vocational schools cost $320 per term ($960 per year) and for our students in college the cost can range from $800-$1850 per semester. The cost of sponsorship is $420 per year, so the scholarship fund pays for the remainder of the cost of their education.
Along with school fees, this month we sent $150 for bicycles for Mordecai, Caleb, and Alvin to go to and from vocational school, and $1080 for Hellen, Mary, and Brenda to stay together in a hostel close to their school for the year.
In total we sent $14,190 from our scholarship fund in July! It truly is amazing that whenever and whatever we have needed, God has already provided.
He promises to do that for you too, found in Phil 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Here are the names of our college students and what they are studying. Join me in praying for them and in excitement for what they will bring to the future of Uganda!
- Melvin Sempa – Petroleum Engineering
- Rose Nakanwagi – Education
- Hawa Nakato – Biomedical Engineering
- Judith Nansamba – Civil Engineering
- Deborah Midrash – Psychiatric Nursing
- Esther Nobawanguzi – Nursing and Midwifery
- Jeremiah Katumba – IT
- Jovia Kisakye – Gulu School of Law
- Zula Babiye – Gulu School of Law
Vocational Students:
- Mathias Matovu – Architecture
- Mordecai Kwagala – Electrical systems and Maintenance
- Caleb Alima – Electrical Systems and Maintenance
- Brenda Muduwa – Plumbing
- Mary Nankinga – Plumbing
- Alvin Muwonge – Auto mechanics
- Hellen Taulya – Building and Concrete practice
- Caroline Asiimwe – Catering and hotel management
- Pius Kategere – Journalism & Media Studies
- Joseph Mwebaze – Journalism & Media Studies
- Joshua Alima – Diploma in Accounting
Students about to graduate:
- Shumayiya Kuganda – Medical School
- Phionah Nakate – Catering and Hotel management
- Angel Mukisa – Catering and Hotel Management
- Davis Musinguzi – Welding and Metal Fabrication
- Jovia Namubiru – Agriculture and Animal Medicine
- James Mugabe – Water engineering
- Hillary Apaye – Fashion & Design
- Angel Nabukalu – Electrical Engineering
And that’s a wrap for July! As you can see, God is working in a powerful way through all of you. Thank you for all that you give and do. Be encouraged today that in this upside-down world we live in, “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:6
Much Love,
Jan