This month I get to report openings! The first is the reopening of churches – Praise the Lord. Around September 23, President Museveni of Uganda announced that religious gatherings are now allowed to meet in Uganda up to 200 people, as long as strict SOP (standard operating procedures) are kept. This means wearing masks and having temperatures taken and washing hands and using hand sanitizer. The Bridge Calvary Chapel held its first post-lockdown service on October 3. The health department director was among those in attendance. But the church did well and we enjoyed a lot of fellowship. This also means that Sunday mornings are again one of my busiest days. For the first two weeks I was teaching a Sunday-school class called Oluntindo during both first and second service. The students in this class are ages 10 to 12; a very fun age to do some very fun activities. We are starting off again by learning about important values taught in the Bible. The students were about halfway through all the lesson when lock-down closed the church. I am doing some review, before picking up where the class left off. These values include truth, honesty, purity, forgiveness, obedience, and self-control. I’m hoping that someone can be found that will teach during the second service, so that I can actually attend one of the two services.
The other opening was the village Women’s Bible School. The first class met on October 13. We started out by talking about what we want to expect from the class and using that to set classroom rules. They all signed the rules before the end of class. They were assigned homework to describe the gospel. Most were not able to tell me what the gospel actually is – they said things like preaching the Bible to other people. While this is important, it doesn’t describe the specific good news that is in the Bible. This is what we discussed in our second class this week. By the end of class, they were able to describe in detail the good news about Jesus. I always start my classes with the gospel – I feel it is the most important foundation to start with.
Here is a list of my new students:
Sarah Chedikioli, Rosemary Nyakecho, Sylivia Nandube, Aminah Magawa, Gladys Namuwanga, Olivia Kagoya, Eunice Ayo, Florence Auma, Loyce Namakaka, Catherine Mbasaalaki, and Nakalanzi Sumini
In the afternoon girls’ group, we have been talking a lot about purity. In a devotional we are reading together there was mention of a promise ring and the girls all asked if they could have one. My answer, of course, was “yes!” It is on my now to order the rings, which I would like to get from the US shipped to me through Buy2Africa – a shipping company specifically for Uganda. The girls have asked some good questions concerning these rings. Like what exactly are they promising with these rings? And what if they mess up? I think they are unsure if it is even possible to wait until marriage, and so this becomes a big commitment for them. It was a good conversation that I think opened their eyes to some of the lies the world is telling them. Here I have a request: Do you have any good materials on a certificate that can be signed by girls that goes with the rings? Or any other good suggestions for a ceremony? Also, if you would like to contribute to the buying of the rings, please use the Shepherd’s Staff website Shepherd’s Staff | Missionary Sending Organization (ssmfi.org) , click donate in the upper left hand corner and search for my name or number 6071. Also, send me a little note on Telegram, Whatsapp (+256781576323) or Messenger, just letting me know you have sent something. Thanks so much for the support!
Prayer requests:
- A teacher for second service Olutindo, so that I can attend church.
- That the village students can understand my accent and that we will not need a translator
- God’s protection over the teen girls wanting to wait on God’s timing for marriage and sex and that they will be serious about the promise.