Uganda Missions

PipesLine December, 2009

 

I am trying to envision wrapping up this past year like one would wrap a Christmas present. A gift under the tree that is so tempting that one cannot wait to unwrap it. However, life doesn’t come in pretty square packages. I just can’t seem to make all the edges come together evenly, and there’s just not quite enough paper to fit nicely around this past year. It would be nice if life and ministry would be that simple.

 

Last year was exciting and challenging:

 

--After years of prayer and leg work, IM missionaries Dan and Loring Lee Morris made it to Uganda with their 3 kids in tow.

 

--Two interns were sent from Seaside Missionary Training Center, Odessa, Ukraine, to Uganda for six months.

 

--After completing his internship, Kostya, one of the interns from Odessa, went home and raised support and will be returning next month as a staff missionary to Uganda.

 

--IM sent over 25 people for short-term ministry. The outreaches included sewing, discipleship, English camps, pastor’s conferences, and medical camps. The camps were fruitful and the Lord was at work.

 

What a joy and privilege for Alina and me, along with you as partners, to be a part of what God is doing. 

 

As you may know, my deep connection and long-term vision for Uganda is in the rural area of Busanna. For more than 8 years, Alina and I have been pouring our hearts into the churches in that area and into the lives of many. We have been privileged to witness growth and change from the seeds that have been planted. Through the many different outreaches, we have seen some come to Christ. Sadly, many reject His invitation. Some have returned to their first Love, others continue to walk in the ways of the world. Some are growing in their “knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus.” Some friends have gone on to be with the Lord. Others have brought new life into the world. 

 

Our primary focus in ministry is to be a bridge for the local church in reaching out into their communities with the Good News, and assisting them where we can in helping them grow. However, the Lord has also given us opportunities to help them with material needs. As you may remember, a few years ago we built a school at the Busanna church. The school now has grown to 230 students in grades K-4. The school is now self-supporting and receiving no additional funding from an outside source. The students, in addition to receiving a good education that will allow them a chance at the future, they also hear the Word of God and are provided with a hot meal every day at school. 

 

Now, this past year we have begun a church-building project. The focus was on helping the locals purchase land and build 3 new buildings. This is not at all what we might consider a church in the West. In fact, most westerners have better garages then what we are building in the Busanna-area churches. These new building are red brick with a pitched trim roof and cement floors. The size is typically 20 by 40 feet. All of the churches are located in remote areas of the country up the Nile River; none have excess to electricity or running water. 

 

Currently, we are in the middle of one of the constructions.  The old “church” was a building constructed of mud that housed more wasps than church members.  It was torn down last month.  They have started to dig a new foundation and as of right now they have finished about 1/3rd of the construction.  To complete the project it will take 2 more months of construction and around $1000 more in funding.

 

The churches are being built in the area around Busaana. This area is home to many Sudanese who migrated to this part of Uganda as far back as 30 years ago. Many do not speak the main language of Uganda (Lugandan) or English. They are farmers with little hope of education or advancement. So there are little resources available for building something like a church. The pictures to follow were taken during my last visit there during the Sunday worship time.

 

As the Christmas season is arriving, Alina and I want to tell you all how much we appreciate you.  I am starting my 19th year with International Messengers. Many of you have labored with us through all the years and countries—Poland, Ukraine, and now Uganda. We have watched each other’s kids grow from children to adults. Some of us have been hit hard by health and sometimes death. We are feeling the pain of broken marriages and families. And sometimes it is all we can do to just hang onto the joy of knowing Christ. So I want to leave you with these words that mean so much to Alina and me. When it is all said and done—day-to-day, month-to-month, year-to-year—your prayers have been the “workhorse” that God has used to keep us focused.

 

 

For comments and or questions about the Uganda Project please call or write. If you would like to help in the church building project send you check to:

 

International Messengers (be sure to make note it is for “Uganda Project”)

PO Box 618

Clear Lake, IA 50428

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Serving the King of Kings,

John and Alina

 

 

 

 

 

Posture of prayer/Sudanese believer living in Busanna, Uganda 

 

 

 

Expression Faith in Christ