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!

Chickens On The Way To Market

Sometimes- well usually- poor village people sell their chickens to vendors who bring them to Kampala to sell at a higher price. These chickens, hung by their feet on the back of a taxi here, are alive still. They'll arrive in Kampala and be brought to one of the many markets. Yes, meat costs a lot here, and chickens themselves are pretty scrawny. If you think this is weird- or perhaps abuse to animals- you ought to see how they crowd in the cattle going to the meat market! Ugh. Oh, and don't forget the fact that Lake Victoria's Talapia (a fish for those not in the know) is caught then hung on the FRONT grill of the taxis, being transported in "fresh air" (never mind the bugs hitting them as they make the trek to the city). Yum- anyone for kebabs or a BBQ?!

Teens Worship Through Dance at Katale

I thought you'd like to see some of our Ugandan youth as they lead a worship song through dance. I'm continually amazed and humbled by the faith of our Africa Gospel Church family. Life is not easy for the majority of our people, and yet they choose to praise the Lord anyway, knowing He is in control and He has good plans for them!

Singing in Luganda or English, Grace (top photo, in green and white) leads the choir each Sunday. Worship is enthusiastic and sincere and enjoyed by all.
Pastor Wilson, right (the fellow on the left is translating for him so it is a duel language service), teaches key concepts each week in the church services, and then models them during week-days as he helps his neighbors, serves those rejected or abandoned, shares the Gospel with individuals and humbly and faithfully exemplifies Christ. Pray for Pastor Wilson and his wife Grace, and for their 4 children as they all seek to minister in Katale and beyond!

Sunday School at Katale

Ministering to people of all ages, our churches are here to grow God's Kingdom by teaching Bible lessons and sermons on how to grow in relationship with Jesus. Through Sunday school lessons (pictured above) in a classroom, or in the main sanctuary, many people come together to praise and worship the Lord, and to hear more of His Word and Love for us all.

In church at Katale

Each week, our WGM team attends different churches, offering encouragement and enjoying worship together with believers around Kampala and its suburbs. Okay, so here, suburb really becomes "urb" as soon as you get about 2 miles from downtown, despite the fact that Kampala is nearly 3 million in population! We have about 130 Africa Gospel Churches across Uganda, but the Kampala team can only reach about 5 on Sundays (due to distance), so we try to visit all of them. Then, when we are out of town, we work at visiting the other churches to offer encouragement and support as best as possible.
The lady in this photo is a mother of 3, with a godly husband. Both she and her husband have gone through the Youth Pastor's trainings, and are working as possible to help grow the church, personally grow in their walks with Jesus, and encourage others God brings their way. They are examples of what we're praying for here- committed Christian families complete with husband and wife (usually we have singles or only one spouse), to build a foundation of a church on the FAMILY. Will you pray with us for more couples/families to come to Jesus and be faithfully committed to Him and His Kingdom?

Kids Swimming

Yes, on occasion I do take time away from ministries and work. The Easter break from Heritage gave me time to sort of retreat away from most things. I traveled to Jinja, the town where the Nile begins at the north of Lake Victoria (you can sit at the hotel yard and see both the Nile and the Lake blended...). One day while away, a school of about 100 children came to use the pool. They were too cute, these 6-7 year olds, as they splashed and swam and cooled off.

Easter at Heritage

Above you'll see photos of our Easter Chapel at HIS. The Kindergarten class performed a drama acting out Jesus washing the disciple's feet, and the HIS Faculty and Staff sang a special hymn, "Because He Lives". It was a very nice time to worship the Lord together in this Easter Season.

Grades 6 & 9

The top photo is of most of grade 6 (there are now 8 in the class- 2 came to HIS after I took this photo). They also show us quite a bit of international flavor: Italy, Uganda, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and South Korea!
And the bottom photo is of grade 9. This year I've not had opportunity to teach grade 9, due to conflicting schedules at Heritage. But I have been able to spend a little time with them, which is a blessing. Last year, we had about 12 or 14 in this class, but as is common in international schools, a number have moved away. Down to 7 students in the class, only 6 were there the day I took this photo. Of those present, we have England, The Philippines, Canada, South Korea, Italy and Holland represented! Yep- we are an international school alright!

My Schedule So Far...

My class schedule this semester at Heritage International School is pretty okay. I only teach Tuesdays and Thursdays, with 4-5 classes per day at school. I teach grades 7 and 8 Joshua and Judges, in 2 separate classes. Pictured here is grade 7 in their Bible class. I also teach grades 10-12, in a combined class, studying the theme of Apologetics. Then I have Spanish 2 for only 2 students (this is a fun class!), and in the afternoons I teach grade 6 Bible (general subjects in the Epistles mostly). My "off school" days are filled with prep for evangelism classes which I and 5 others will teach (rotating) at Kampala International University, and my continuing ministries with youth both at HIS and in the Africa Gospel Church. We're preparing for a workshop on curriculum development for those already trained as youth pastors, coming up in April, Lord willing. So although it sounds like I've got a lot going, it is sort of a rotating schedule so I can handle it, so far. However, we do need help- hint- so come on over! :)
Last but not least, I am in charge still of the Volunteers In Action (VIA) program, where we have people aged 30 and down through their 20's who come for 2 weeks to a year at a time. Currently we have 1 VIA here, with about 6 more on the way between now and June! I'm "feverishly" working to communicate with them as well as set up the ministries in which they'll work once they come. It is so wonderful to have these helpers to lift some of the load!

The Prettiest Bird (okay; one of them)

The Kingfisher is, to me, one of the prettiest birds here, as you can see. I love the bright teal and markings! This one was outside my front door and just sat quietly for so long. There are other colors of Kingfishers, usually black and white shades, but this one is my favorite.