Saturday, April 30, 2016

"My God is so Great! so Strong and so Mighty! There's Nothing my God cannot Do!"

God has been doing some amazing work in the village of Naigobya and we are blessed to be a part of His accomplishments.  We have been busy leading Bible Studies, Pastoral training, vocational training, and managing the school at St. Paul. 
Enjoying their porridge under the classroom veranda out of the rain

Bye Bye old classrooms
We have completed three more classrooms which brings the total now to eight classes.  What a joy it was to move P1-P3 students from the wooden shacks with dirt floors to the new classrooms as the rain season arrived.  Needless to say the children will not be learning while their feet are in the mud.  We only have two more classrooms to build.  When the last two classes are finished the Baby class and Top class will move from the church building to the school compound.  Exciting news may be coming soon!

All the ministries bring about a sense of excitement in the two of us! We have now shifted some of our focus to children’s ministries.  Each Thursday the teaching staff held chapel for all the students combined at the church.  We are now able to hold chapel in the school’s P1 and P2 classrooms.  These two classes are open in the middle to be used as one big class when needed, and soon we will have a curtain to separate into two classes as well.


Each week a different teacher would rotate and teach a scripture message with no rhyme or reason. Thank you Mary Sutherland for allowing St. Paul Learning Centre to use some materials previously used by Olivet’s children’s church.  The “ABC’s of God” We are training three teachers how to use the materials and they are so excited to have the subject matter provided.  WE are excited how each lesson builds on the previous lessons!

Simon reading along in Chapel
For fun we have incorporated the music that was used by Olivet for Vacation Bible School last year.  “Sing & Play Base Camp Music” We have been teaching four songs from the CD including the dance moves.  Yes, Simon and Bruce stand up front and show the children all the moves.  Well, at least the ones they can remember.  If they can’t remember the moves they just make them up.  
The children love to watch Simon and I make fools of ourselves.  The reactions from the children differ from giggles and laughter to outright screams of enjoyment.  Yes, we are a class act or legends in our own minds.  LOL!  We also rotate the participants we invite up to join us.  We invite both teachers and students up front to make it more exciting.

singing "My God is so Great, so Strong and so Mighty!  There's nothing my God cannot Do!"

We have gone against the norm for chapel at the school. Usually the message is presented to all students, Baby class-P7.  We now break them into two groups after the music.  Baby Class-P2 now separate and meet in a separate building or outside with Janine.  Janine is spending about an hour reading books and Bible stories to the children from a variety of books.  And she is adding some crafts, just what she loves! 
"What does the Sheep say?"
I slip out of the older class to watch Janine and find myself caught up in the story like the children.  She is so animated when reading and does a great job of bringing the stories to life.  I love to watch the children as their faces and attention are glued to Janine as she narrates.






So Proud of their pictures!

Ephesians 6:4 says “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  We understand the children we are ministering to are not our biological children.  Some of these children are orphans and many live with extended family.  We are not able to meet with their family or caretakers. We therefore realize the responsibility we have to share the love of Christ with them and the responsibility we have to train them and instruct them in the ways of our Lord.


Janine and I both feel such a joy when ministering to the children!  This is something we have been longing to do ever since we moved to Uganda.


Joyfully Serving with you!
Bruce & Janine


                                                         Prayer Needs & Praises

·      We need our Work permits –they have expired and we were given a temporary special pass, which will expire soon also.  Immigration is holding our paperwork.  We need it soon to stay in the country.
·       Praise God for all those who accepted Him this month – pray they learn and grow in their new found faith
·       Protection – while traveling on Ugandan roads it is now rainy season and roads are even more dangerous
·       Stay healthy
·       Vision in ministry – Pray our plans align with God’s and that we listen to His voice as we minister to this community