What did you give up?

 It was our pleasure to carry soccer balls to Kenya for Zeb's Foundation. Kariz is a Pastor in Nairobi who has a deep heart for kids and prisoners and believes in the power of the Gospel. He was saved as a young man and continues his ministry in the slums of Nairobi. One statement he made as he shared his testimony has stuck with me: "After I was born-again, I still didn't have work for about 5 years. I couldn't steal anymore, since I gave my life to Christ, so I ate out of the garbage dump." Wow! What excuses do we use to continue in the "old ways" we practiced in the past? What convictions will we follow no matter what happens or what is required? I have to ask myself this today and every day. Kariz has chosen to STAY in the slums with his wife and kids to minister to the people there. And you can see the JOY that radiates with his obedience. What will I give up?

Orwaka Church - faithfulness of God's people

 After we left Uganda in September, 2019 (our last trip before covid hit), the school leader of Future Joy Primary and Nursery School called Ps. Simon Okuni and asked what would they need to do to start a church. Simon said, "You need land." He called back a few days later & said, "We have land. What else." Simon answered, "You need bricks." A few weeks later, the response came, "We have bricks." The people began to pray for someone to "stand with them" to provide mortar for the bricks. An American family and business decided to "stand with them" and sent money to begin building. Later 85, then 30 more were baptized as they professed faith in Jesus Christ. What a JOY it was to see all these 300 students and adults waiting for our visit to their beloved church building, started and built DURING covid in 2021. Then Matt Osborn Elizabeth Osborn had the privilege of preaching there last week and 100 more people indicated their choice to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.

Windows, doors, floor and plastering are yet to be done. God is GOOD! God's people were faithful and blessed.

Gentle Moses

 Looking back at old Uganda photos, I found this one from our second trip to Uganda in 2008. The man between me and Hugh taught me many things - One very important one. I called him "Gentle Moses", because there were 2 called Moses, and he WAS a gentle servant man who made sure the clinics ran smoothly (from the outside). He was a true Deacon & Associate Pastor. He would come to me and say "Millie, I have a suggestion." And he would make what always was a GREAT suggestion on how to do things better. (If you know me, I'm always looking for ways to do things better).

A few years later, Moses married sweet Harriet. He was in his early 30s and had saved a LONG time for his dowry of cows, goats, chickens, etc. for his bride. A couple of years later, Moses was hit by a car as he traveled the harsh roads on his bicycle. Taken to the local hospital, they said it was hopeless. Agnatius Okou Asalamuka took him to a larger hospital and they saved his life. But, after working with him one more year, he succumbed to ongoing effects of his accident and went ahead of us into the presence of His Lord and Savior. Thank you, Moses for teaching me servanthood and gentleness. You are forever remembered and our friendship cherished. Simon Okuni please share my love with Harriet.

Uganda church Building

 Did you know it takes about 12-14,000 bricks to build a village church in Uganda? The church members make those bricks, BY HAND, 2 at a time in a wood form. They are made out of mud which is dug from the ground (or from anthill dirt, which is very fine). The bricks are laid out and dried, then built into a huge stack with openings for a fire inside, perfectly stacked to bake correctly. (This is how bricks were made in the early 1900s in America before Acme Bricks came into being). Imagine doing all this by hand!!

One good thing we can do for churches is to help supply mortar and iron sheets to help them build their churches. Many churches are waiting for that building to enable them to meet for worship out of the rain or hot sunshine. It costs about $7000 to build a church in Uganda. (Town churches are usually larger to accomodate the hundreds of people who come so, of course, they cost more. The walls with the older stick church inside is a town church, Ebenezer, waiting on a roof).

This new church plant, Abila, has their land, and has made their bricks, in anticipation of their new building. The other church, Nazareth, is what a fully completed church looks like (missing only the wooden benches for people to crowd on to. Meanwhile they sit on the floor or mats if the floor is dirt).

Your Sunday School class, or church, or family might like to do a "building program" and build a church for people in Uganda! Check out our website at Partner135.org.

Church members make the bricks and wait for a Partner to come alongside them to build.

Ebenezer is waiting for a roof while they meet in the old, traditional stick church.

 Also when the government closed down all public gatherings in Uganda, the Uganda Christians invited people to their homes to read the Word of God and worship and 10, yes TEN, new churches were birthed out of the pandemic!!

Pigs for Pastors Project

 About 18 months ago, with the pandemic in high swing, we started a Pigs for Pastors Project to help the 70+ Pastors with whom we work in Uganda. Many of you responded with donations of money to support this project. We provided 2 piglets per Pastor to 50 Pastors and 1 piglet to 25 Associate Pastors over a few months time. We helped with required vaccines, meds and some food for piglets. The Pastors built the homes for the piglets and cared for them. (8 months before breeding, 4 months gestation and at 2 months , it is ready to sell).

This past 2 weeks, we were able to return to Uganda after 2 1/2 years away. We saw some of the offspring of the original piglets and heard testimonies from Pastors of God's provision through YOU. Pigs normally have from 6 - 12 piglets, twice a year. They sell from $30 - $100 (depending on age) so this is a good source of ongoing income for Pastors. THANK YOU for your support.

Pastors are encouraged to tithe from their offspring and keep another female to expand their herd. Many Pastors and Associate Pastors were blessed by this ministry as you gave.

6 out of 7 of the offspring below was female.

The Miracle of Kibale - God has a plan!

 After MANY hours (days) of travel, we finally arrived in Pallisa. Word had spread and we were greeted by Pastor Michael Okoboi of God's Plan, Kibale, Church. What a blessing to hear the stories of the faithfulness of God and His servants for the last 2 1/2 years. They prayed for YOU and thank the Lord for His faithfulness as you shared and supported them.

We stopped by the church on our trip to Moroto. The church members have begun plastering the outside of the church (which protects and preserves the mud bricks from destructive rain). We drove by that "spot" where BOTH vans broke down in 2013 and the faithful team did an impromptu Evangelistic Rally. God had prepared the hearts of 19 young men to hear the Good News! Those men made a decision to follow Christ that day. God's Plan (not in our plan) Church, Kibale was begun. It has grown, and started 2 daughter churches. God is GOOD. SO GOOD! See the story below.

Blessed Goat Gospel Ministry

 What a privilege it is to be part of the "Blessed Goat Gospel Ministry" and to be the "gift giver" to Pastors and widows when generous donors give money for goats as Christmas gifts for their family members. These goats typically have 2 kids twice a year, which supplies income, food and school fees for these families. Thank you for your generosity!!

In 2012, FBC Mabank Youth raised $5000 for goats with a 30 hour fast over the New Year's weekend. One of the widows who received a goat was blessed and prospered. Over time, as she raised her goats, she was able to save to buy a cow. As she continued to work and save, her cow and goats produced and she prospered and she was able to build a house. Years later, Agnatius visited her and she gave him a goat - a thank offering for the investment Mabank Youth had made to her. God is good! The Lord provides.

Hungry for the Word; Committed to read it daily

 As I spoke at Ongilai Church, I told the story of the old Indian man who had 2 dogs, a black one and a white one, He often had them fight one another and those watching would place bets on which one would win. The old man generally won the bets. One day, someone asked him how he always seemed to know which one would win. He said, "It's easy. The one that I feed wins." I used this story to illustrate the importance of feeding our Spirit with the word of God. The people were moved by the story and its implication, but distraught that they had NO Bible to feed and strengthen themselves. So they asked for Bibles. Then I asked them for a commitment to read the Bible every day. These are the ones who made that commitment. We bought 10 Bibles in the Ateso language for $100.

Ongilai Church, Pallisa, Uganda

 I was privileged to speak at the newly built Ongilai Church on Sunday. I was warmly greeted by about 75 adults and as many youth and children. They danced and sang in worship, then sat quietly as I shared God's Word with them through my Interpreter, Simon. I talked to them about the importance of relationships, based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. I used Ephesians 4 and prompted them to "put off the old way of life" and "put on the new". They actively participated in THROWING OFF the anger, lies, bitterness, slander, etc and "pulling into their hearts" love, truth, forgiveness, kindness, encouragement, etc as they walked in Christ's love. We talked about the importance of the Holy Spirit's filling and how we get strength through being daily in the Word of God. As we finished, the Zonal Leader told me that they had a humble request: there was only ONE Bible in the church, the Pastor's. They said they would love to have a Bible where they could read it in their homes and promised to do that every day. At the end of the trip, I purchased 10 Bibles for them to share and read together. A blessed donor will reap the reward of that gift to these humble, hungry people.