Africa Gospel Church Youth Minsters Conference

While I was busy with HIS end of year activities, Mugisha Emmy was hosting a youth pastors training for further discipleship of 17 individuals from across Uganda. Mugisha sent those dear folk, committed to Christ and serving Him, back to their homes where they all took new & refined goals for themselves and for their local ministries. 

I do wish I might have been there, but I was especially thankful to hear the good reports coming from those leaders. Please continue to pray for our youth ministries in the AGC, that the LORD will raise up deeply rooted and faithful leaders in order to grow the AGC Uganda even more. Thank you! 

Sorry I've got no photos for this post. Mugisha said it was a successful time and I was so glad to see and hear his enthusiasm after the conference. 

HIS Grad 2012

June 8th was a busy day! We had a half day of school with class parties, end-of-year chapel, awards, goodbyes by younger students and finally, graduation. 14 students from 10 nations graduated from Heritage International School. The outside ceremony was beautiful, complete with student speeches, special music, and all the other pomp and circumstance due the occasion. After the ceremony we had a lovely banquet for the grads, accompanied by a jazz band and delicious varieties of foods. 

An Eritrean who will remain nameless (but her name spelled backwards is "tiabaN") was late for the ceremony, so we had time to have a few before grad photos- unfortunately just without her in them! We missed her in the pics! 

The seniors asked Miss Kate, their English teacher, to be their speaker during the service. She is pretty awesome and they had a great relationship with her! It was hard to say goodbye, right Kate?!  

There was much laughter and many memories shared during the ceremony. 

The backdrop of the international flags and the beauty of the HIS campus made for a really gorgeous setting.  

And the "tossing the caps" tradition continues... :)

  

Above: Yes all these beautiful women are related. I've SO enjoyed having 3 of the sisters at HIS for the past few years. 

I nearly missed getting this photo (thus the blurriness). This was after the banquet the seniors had on the school property along with about 200 of their friends and family. It was a wonderful ending to a great day. 

Middle School Welcome 2012

Each year at the end of the school year, HIS youth ministries seeks to welcome the younger students into youth group for the following August. Hosted by the 7^th & 8^th grades this year, we actually welcomed 2 grades into middle school.

This year Heritage is moving from a junior high department to a middle school department, meaning we’re moving from 7 & 8 only to an age separation of 6-8 for Middle School and 9-12 for High School. So instead of welcoming only grade 6 into grade 7, we also included grade 5- welcoming them into grade 6.

From now on, we are working at keeping middle school and secondary separate in retreats, youth groups, Bible studies and other activities. Pray with us that we have enough youth workers and energy as we put together schedules for each age group!

Anyway, we hosted the Middle School Welcome, with grades 5-8 participating totaling about 50 people. These are exciting times to see our school numbers growing so much! :) 

Getting Mrs. Michelle wet was quite entertaining during the water balloon fight. 

... and the ever popular trolley rides, including bowling this year!  

Below: digging for the buried candies in powdered sugar. Always a messy delight!

Oh slip-n-slide, whoever invented you was a genius! 

  

Annual Goat Roast 2012

As an end of school year celebration, the HIS youth ministries hosts a 7 hour youth group complete with water games, relays & a goat roasted for dinner, then the ever-popular capture the flag before everyone heads home exhausted and with great memories. Here are a few photos from that afternoon/evening… 

 The "egg bop" game (we've gotta get a better name) was a definite hit (no pun intended). While riding piggyback, partners bop the eggs on the heads of their opponents (the ones carrying people).. and yes, eggs got mashed and messy.

HIS former grads Bertha & Lydia (2010), home from university, were also able to join us in the games and enjoy the day. 

Above: The goat before... and 

Below: the goat after... :)

2012 HIS Baptism

A few years back, it occurred to a few of us in the youth ministries area at HIS, that some of our students might not have access to be baptized. While they would have chosen Christ as Savior, due to various circumstances they might not have been able to go to church or be baptized. So we offered this ministry to them, and 14 participated. It was a wonderful time and blessed testimony for so many! 


So this year, we offered it again, for grades 4-12. There were 11 students who participated this time, and seeing evidence of Jesus' work in their lives meant so much. Josh, a WGM missionary and our school chaplain, had offered baptism classes ahead of time, and each student provided a testimony of how they met Christ as well as a brief statement of why they wanted to be baptized. 

Below: the group of students who were baptized.

The entire school came out to watch the ceremony, and I believe the activities spoke to a lot more hearts. We are so thankful to be seeing how God is working in the lives of our students and their families.

Senior Trip: Bulago Island, Lake Victoria

When it came time for the senior class trip, the guys opted out altogether, while all the girls wanted to go. So off we drove then boated to Bulago Island, about 1 ½ hours into Lake Victoria, to our own semi-private colonial house. For 3 days we relaxed together, had some funny times, some devotional times, some TV/video time, played games, slept, took lots of photos (the girls are ALL into photo shoots!), and generally made some nice memories.

Above: On the way out to the island.

Below: Waves on the way out made it a rough ride for some of the group... 

The house had some really unique items inside and out. For instance, they had the largest abacus I’ve ever seen, as well as a life-size carving of a man on a bicycle. Not sure why someone would make them (both are heavy wood) and then bring them to the island, but they’re certainly conversation pieces. There were other wonderful and interesting carvings, an antique tub and bath setting, wooden floors, rustic and attractive bedrooms and décor throughout. We enjoyed the geese, the beach & pool, and overall had a great time. 

We were all amazed by the sunsets on both nights!