It was so good to be back in Uganda. I checked my calendar and one year has passed since I was last in this country. I remember God laying on my heart to say yes to taking on the project of the Maternity ward in Bwera. It really didn’t make sense at the time as we were in the middle of a pandemic. Times were tight financially for us all and TREC had never taken on a project of this magnitude. Trudy has always said, “If it’s odd, it’s God” so we said yes and trusted Him. He laid it on the hearts of many of you to give sacrificially, and today there is a beautiful building that soon will be helping expectant mothers deliver their babies and a place where the gospel of Jesus is shared in word and deed.
Pastor Kato wanted to minister to expecting mothers by providing “Maama Kits.” He said that 100 kits would be more than enough. Over 250 expecting mothers showed up to the event and many heard the gospel for the first time! We were able to purchase another 150 kits and also feed the ladies a nice meal. Thanks for supporting this life-changing project.
As excited as we are that the construction phase of the maternity ward is complete, there is still much work to be done and money to be raised. We are in need of $36,806 to buy 24 beds/mattresses and the rest of all the medical tables and supplies needed to run the ward. I know we are in times of inflation right now, but I am thankful that we are working in God’s economy and not man’s. I’m asking you each to give a sacrificial gift so that we can help these moms give birth safely with the hope they will become followers of Christ along with their children. If you think this might be a project your church or Bible Study class may want to be involved with, please email me at [email protected] and I will be more than happy to meet with you. Currently, no funds have been given towards this need.
We spent the first 4 days of our mission in Bwera and then traveled to north Uganda. There were many things the Lord wanted to teach me and show me in this region of Uganda. After a two-hour drive we reached a lake and got on a boat (18 men and 5 motorcycles) and went to the island of Tisai. The main reason we were going was to check out the wells that Chris Bond and Designs for Hope had provided. This island of over 5000 people has never had fresh, clean drinking water. The government told them it was impossible to get water on the island. God made a way and they now have water. As I have traveled this globe I have experienced poverty. The more you travel the more poverty looks the same, except on the island of Tisai. I have never seen anything like this. I have never been to a place where there is no infrastructure. No electricity, no roads, no water (until a month ago), no doctors/medical clinics. Just mud huts with grass roofs. POVERTY! As I walked through the villages I had to fight back the tears.
Here’s a video of what the village looks like:
I had the awesome privilege to share the gospel with many people in the nice cool shade of a large mango tree on Tisai. Six people are now followers of Jesus and are experiencing this eternal, abundant life only Jesus can bring. Please pray for us as we seek God’s wisdom and direction on how TREC can be involved in reaching this island so that all who live there may know Christ.
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Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” What does abundant life look like? How would we, as followers of Jesus in America, describe abundant life? Is the abundant life Jesus is talking about cars, houses, wealth, and health? If it is then the people on this island have never experienced anything close to it. Or is the abundant life Jesus talking about something totally different? I often share with people that as a follower of Jesus our time on earth is as bad as it gets for us because this world is not our home. If you don’t follow Christ, the time you spend on earth is as good as it gets. As followers of Christ are not excluded from sickness, pandemics, family difficulties, tragedies, hunger, and inflation. No, we go through these times just like the rest of the world, but it is different. We don’t go through them alone. He said He would never leave us or forsake us. The abundant life is this: that as we go through difficult, even life-changing times, we can trust our loving Savior, who laid down His life for us, to cause all things to work together for His good. This world is not our home…praise God our home is in Heaven! What a blessing it is to be a child of God and have perfect peace that surpasses all understanding as we go through the trials of life. Thank you for TRECing with us! |
