I hope you were able to watch our video report on Christmas! It was such an answer to prayer to see all that God accomplished with our gifts. Lives are being changed and hope has come to many as they have seen the love of Christ in action. We are so grateful!
We are also excited to share with you another answered prayer…we have purchased a piece of farmland! We have been searching and praying for the last 5-6 years for a piece of land where we could grow our own fruits and vegetables for our families. We just signed the papers for a parcel of 13 acres! 7 acres consists of a pineapple plantation, and the other 6 will be used to plant fruits and vegetables.
The pineapple plantation is currently being leased, so we won’t have access to the pineapples until the lease is up or we are able to renegotiate the terms. But the potential is there for a tremendous crop! We already have workers clearing the other 6 acres where we hope to be planting by early March, and harvesting this summer. This will be an incredible source of food for our families and a practical way to educate our students in agriculture and farming techniques. We will have several projects on the farmland in the next several months, so if you want to be a part of all that’s happening there you can donate to the construction fund. Your generous donations have made all this possible! Thank you!
I also wanted to remind you that the school year in Uganda starts in early February and goes until late November. There are three terms, with three weeks between each term. Most of our students are starting a new school year next week, so please pray for them as they transition back to school. For many of our secondary students, they may be taking 14-16 classes at a time, with a day that starts at 6:00 am and continues until 5:00 pm. For the students in P7, they have revision both before and after school as they prepare for their national exams in November. It is a stressful year for them, as the results on those exams will determine if they are able to go on to secondary school and where. All that to say, they need your prayers and your encouragement as they face the obstacles ahead. Cheer them on in every letter you write.
It is so gratifying to witness the spiritual growth of our children. For those who have been with us for the last 12 years, it is especially poignant. Precious was in our very first group of children. She and her four siblings lost both of their parents to HIV and Precious also lives with sickle cell disease. She has had so many heartaches and challenges, and just a few months ago had a very difficult flare-up of her sickle cell disease. Yet she continues to persevere. Here is an excerpt from her last letter to her sponsor.
“God has indeed been good to me in everything. At school I have good friends and I really enjoy learning more, especially physics and chemistry. They are very interesting subjects. I have a friend named Dorcus and she is not a Christian. I told her about Christ and she is now starting to believe. By the time I left school, she had requested a Bible from her mom. I am glad that God has taught me that I can do all things through him. (Phil 4:13) Thank you for everything. I thank God for you being my sponsor. I love you so much. Yours faithfully, Precious”
She is indeed precious, just like every one of our V127 students. What you are doing, matters. Your prayers, your support… You matter. Lives are being changed, one child at a time, because you have been brave enough to get involved. Don’t stop, my friends. Keep listening to the Spirit within you and say yes to the opportunities in front of you to share the love of Jesus.
“Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
I Cor 15:58
Much Love,
Jan