Missions News…

Hi Everyone,

Having missed the 29 degrees English September I am returning to the UK with a sense of satisfaction and hope. Not just because of the impact of the work in Uganda but upon reflecting upon the relationships and fellowship which have deepened and grown over the last 10 years. Our staff turnover is very low and I hope this genuinely reflects our values as a ministry and desire to be sincere in our dealings with people.

Jesus lost only 1 of the 12 disciples and that was destined to be so. He is in it for the long haul and after 10 years of working in Uganda then there are some blessings that only come with time and commitment. Just like marriage and parenting!

To maintain my sanity (just joking!) at the end of an intense week of mission I try and have an hour or two walking around the National Botanical Gardens in Entebbe. Being a Yorkshireman then there is something about grass, trees and the countryside that connects me to hearing God and restoring my soul. David went by the brook, Jesus went up the mountain, some go by the sea but for me - its the countryside. This time was no exception and when God speaks to your heart you will always feel a thousand times bigger on the inside than you are on the outside - I would recommend it!

There were many things God put on my heart but that's for another time.

The significance of the health work has been the testimonies we are receiving from non christians and government officials of how our community health workers are effecting the community. They have come back and said that they are easy to work with, responsive and don't steal! Believe it or not there are people who when spraying the traditional village homes to kill mosquitoes with government or internationally sponsored medicines will empty the cans of the medicine, replace it with water, sell the medicine and spray the home with water! When our health officer shared this then I nearly fell off my chair! I have been around a long time but occasionally I am still shocked! People in the community are being drawn to the church as a result of the witness.

We harvested some honey from the hives although they are not ready for full harvesting. I tasted it direct on the comb and it was quite superb. I don't think I will ever forget the taste. How God came up with the strategy for producing honey I will never know - but I am glad he did! The remainder of the combs we gave to Mama Lucy who gave us the land and is now in her mid to late 80s and the orphans - please check out the pictures on the website in a week or two and you will see how happy honey makes people - they love it and now I know why!

One remarkable thing for me. As I have mentioned before is that we are now working in 21 prisons in northern Uganda and have maintained as the lead ministry to northern Uganda in national records (I say this not for pride but to reinforce the issue of that we are in it for the long haul and want to maintain what we have started where we can). The inmates who came to faith are teaching literacy and this year we are submitting 8 NAMES OF INMATES WHO HAVE PROGRESSED AND ARE DOING THERE P7 PRIMARY SCHOOL EXAMS. These are people who never had opportunities in life or lost there way and ended up in prison. It puts a whole new slant on Jesus words that if you VISIT those in prison then you are doing it unto me. Its not only in the visiting but in the transforming of their lives. One of the inmates who came to faith, did the Stepping Out Programme in evangelism, discipleship and leadership development completed since release and is now Pastoring a church in the village.

INTERLUDE - one of our health workers and the wife of our Project Coordinator is about to have her 9th child!! She looks amazing! How she does it I don't know but you can always give it a try and see.

We have launched the Sewing Enterprise this year. Several of the top students and those with business acumen have formed an enterprise and will be getting contracts in the locality and abroad (so if you want table cloths, dresses, overalls and other items then let us know!) And there first task was 6 overalls for the older orphans who are doing the market garden. They are deep blue and can be seen on the website.

13 tailoring students have been entered for formal accredited exams in November and as a first then 2 of the first years are prison wardens from Gulu Central Prison who have been given time off to come to learn with a view to helping inmates when trained!!

The ministry continues to grow and we have appointed a co pastor in TEAMS Sanctuary Church to support the growth. 2012 is the launch year for our Leadership Development and we are fixing the baptismal tank as we will be having a 3 hour baptismal service in March. Last time it took us one a half hours to baptise 100-150 people so let's see!!

In closing - it was good to see the Site looking fresh and clean. We have done a lot of wear and tear maintenance work in the last 6 months and the orchard plants and trees planted last time are starting to grow.

It was a team effort with one of our trustees, a nurse and two other doctors with us - one of which is the only Community Paediatrician Children's Palliative Care doctor in Northern Ireland. It was a pleasure to have them with us. Lots of medical jokes!

Let me say that there is too much information to communicate in detail so I prefer now to send an update like the missionary letters sent in the old days! I didn't wrestle with a Lion though!

The website is constantly updated and we have created a blog, twitter and facebook for bite size info. EVEN IF YOU JUST CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS ITS WORTH IT!

Also we doing an enewsletter which focus on 3 areas each one only so you can grasp the info in a simple and digestible format.

I think I have put more exclamation marks on this report than any previous - an indication that there is a lot to emphasise!

Final thought - I have a deepening concern for the spiritual condition of Britain and Western Europe. The cradle of Christianity for the last 2000 years since Augustine of Hippo is slumbering into its old age. I am an optimist as well as a realist (especially with God). Britain has many “nice” people but nice people didn't bring revival and reformation over the last 2000 years. Conviction not conformity is the birth pain of change. Stay nice but not without influence!

This is my prayer for you and all of us;

Make your years count - not your bank account. Make your voice heard - not silenced. And make your life heaven sent - not earthbound.

Life is too short to lose the purpose in the details.

Yours in His service and appreciation.

Liam