Flour Wars and Junior High Bash

On Monday, we had our annual "junior high welcome" to those in the current 6th grade who will be joining us in junior high come August. With the help of our current junior highers, we played a few games, ate some ice cream and toppings, and had a devotional. It went pretty well with about 22 teens attending.

But don't blame me for what happens AFTER a youth event! Using flour from a game we'd played, a number of the kids got into a flour-war. Yep; they ended up with white hair, pasty faces, and clogged ears... Observe the photos and you can see for yourself.

This photo is of Nick (WGM VIA and MK from Bolivia) and Fred (a funny guy from here in Uganda, who has a lucky toe -so he says). The next photo of the girls is Lebo (from South Africa) and Donatella (from the USA and Italy). The girls told me that it took an hour to shower off the gluey, sticky, messy flour in their hair. Ugh!

More Flour Faces

Mugisha Graduates and is now our Youth Pastor's Coordinator!

Mugisha Emmy is officially our Africa Gospel Church Youth Ministries Trainer and Youth Pastor's Coodrinator. I still retain the title of Youth Ministries Coordinator, acting in an advisory role, but really Mugisha is the "go-to-man", answering questions, planning and teaching in trainings, and leading in discipleship of our youth pastors. Wow! God is GOOD! He has done a LOT in these 2+ years! :)

Photos: Mugisha is being prayed for/over by all the youth pastors as well as Rev. James Ouma, who came as a special guest and a representative of the Administrative Council of the AGC, Uganda.
Next: Mugisha receives the diploma and Bible from Rev. James.

After 2 years of planning and work, we have 22 people who are graduates of the Youth Pastor's program. These people were sent to the trainings by their churches, and they have worked faithfully for the past year and more, to grow and minister to the youth in their churches and areas. As graduation gifts, and as a thank you for their hard work and commitment, we gave each graduate a Bible and their certificate. They were very proud and excited!

Our Youth Pastors as Graduates!

TAA DAA! Here are most of the graduates! Pray for wisdom, faithfulness and strength as these dear people are responsible for a lot! They are the ones God is using to build all the Africa Gospel Church Youth Ministries. They've got a lot of standards to meet, some to set, and many historical markers to establish. Pray for them as they love and evangelize and disciple the teens in their churches, towns and areas. pray for unity for this group; they are spread out all across Uganda now, but pray they will be faithful in praying for each other, too!

Caroline Works on a Bible Study Lesson

One of the things we practiced during the Workshop was writing Bible studies. We wanted to reveiw some methods, assign topics, and then share what we'd studied. Learning how to clearly express ideas and staying on topic are two of the areas which showed us the exercise was necessary. But once everyone learns how to be clear in their writing, and once they stay not only on topic, but meeting all criteria (including putting at least 2 questions into each lesson, for the youth to discuss during the actual studies), we will begin to have some really wonderful lessons. Pray for us as we create this curriculum! Thanks!

Heritage Girls...

These (top) 5 girls are some of my youth. From left to right: Manouk (Holland), Mirthe (Holland), Meki (Kenya), Shanille (Canada/Uganda) and Vuyo (South Africa).
Next (middle) photo is Bec (Australia) pulling a funny face.
Lastly, you have Anna (Finland) who fell through the trampoline. No, she didn't make the hole- it was already there.

Ugandan Scarecrow

On the way to the Youth BBQ party, we observed a mango tree that was about 120 feet tall. On top of it, someone has hung a shirt to try and scare away the storks and egrets which apparently like to rest there. Who on earth climbed all the way up there to do that? Apparently, it isn't working! Funny!

African Gray Parrot Attempts to Escape

While at the Stevenson's for a youth group BBQ for the Heritage teens, we visited a bit with some of their wild African "friends". They have 2 African Gray Parrots. They are pretty rare to find, but we do have them flying free overhead at times. One bird likes to be petted on the head. The other likes to snip at your fingers. Yes, it hurts!

HIS Retreat, Spring 2008

Last weekend, our grades 7-12 traveled to Jinja, staying at Kingfisher Resort at the Source of the Nile facing Lake Victoria. Yes, they were awesome views, and the pool offers a lot for fun in the sun(see top photo)! The Bible study sessions were shared between two of our VIA (Volunteers in Action), Nick Strong and Lacey Mackey. It was evident the Lord was speaking through them, through the worship times, and through the small group times. We had a total of 8 adults along (see second photo), and the volunteers leading the games did a fabulous job! All around, I am thankful for the weekend and I thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray that youth will respond to Jesus for salvation (for those who have yet to choose Christ), a closer walk (for those who have chosen Christ), and for faithfulness by us all as we daily seek to know and serve Jesus! Thank you!