Hello again from Called Christians/Calvary Chapel in Uganda! Things here have been “normal,” which actually means very crazy, ha ha!
Our security wall that had to be built because our security fence had been destroyed is finished except for putting razor wire on the top. That can be done next month after we get our monthly support. In the meantime, we feel SO much safer! This used to be a pretty secure area in past years, but it is becoming more dangerous every day, especially since the slum area behind us, that almost touches our back wall, has grown to a population of about 2000. It is a place of alcohol, drugs, thieves, and prostitutes – a mission field right at our back door, but a dangerous one.
All of our kids except one are back in school. The one has finished his “Ordinary Levels” of high school here, and is trying to get into “Advanced Levels.” His grades are amazingly good, but he is an orphan and his sponsor dropped him two years ago, so we have been trying to help him since then. Getting funding for his next two years is a bit difficult, so he is searching for scholarships at various schools. Pray that he finds just the right place and gets a scholarship!
Ann Wibbenmeyer and I have been discussing details for the new Bible School for Women that Ann will be leading. We are VERY excited about it! Right now we can only train men because it is a 24/7 program that lasts for two years, with the men living on the compound, and we could not accommodate women. But this new school will train women to read, understand and teach the Bible, and in turn, we will be able to expand our ministries!
The local NGO (Non Government Organization) Board has decided that we must have a separate office for our NGO (Called Christians) and for the NGO The Bridge Calvary Chapel, and of course the place we need to build it is right on top of the sewer line that runs through our compound. So our latest project this week is digging a long sewer line and putting down new pipes. Then we can proceed to make plans for the new office.
And one of the things we will need in the new office is a new copy machine. (sadness) I purchased our copy machine in 2004 and have babied it and coddled it for many years. It has been such a hard worker! But it has finally, thanks to the latest power surge, bitten the dust. Phooey.
There is no place to bury missionaries in Uganda, so we have a small area on our compound where Jesse and one other missionary are buried. One other of our dear friends is within days of moving on to heaven, so very soon we will have a burial here on our compound. Please pray for the family of Jose Nunez. His wife’s name is Sol.
The Calvary Chapel East Africa Pastor’s Conference took place in Uganda in January, and between Called Christians and Pastor Isaac Wootton, we sent 75 men! There were 400 men at the conference, and about 25 of the men we have raised up from here were not able to attend. But this means that Called Christians/Calvary Chapel out of Jinja has trained up nearly one fourth of the Calvary Pastors in East Africa! And one of the most encouraging things about this is that our oldest pastors are now forming and leading associations of Calvary pastors in each of their areas in order to have fellowship with and encouragement from each other. Joy!!
So there’s the news that’s “fit to print.” We at Called Christians/Calvary Chapel are SO grateful for your prayers, your encouragement, and your financial support! Without you, we could not exist to share the “Good News” with the Lost! Thank you for being our partners!
With Joy in Christ,
Bev Rich