"Stories About Gratitude and God's Blessings"

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29   Keeping A Kingdom Perspective

 

 

In December we will spend our first Christmas in Uganda. Even when we lived in Uganda we returned to Texas for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Actually we arrive on Margaret's birthday and look forward to celebrating. We are grateful for many things during this unusual time in history. Personally we are healthy, our leadership teams in the U.S. and Uganda are doing well and keeping things running smoothly. Recently we were told the university will open on November 1st for on site classes. Plans are being made to resume movie nights and relationship forums in person at Kingdom View. COVID-19 has brought some challenges but God has encouraged us to be creative in our ministry opportunities. We are grateful for technology which has borne some exciting fruit. UCU students and graduates have been mentored remotely on WhatsApp. On an average Margaret has been developing resumes online with 5 Ugandan students a week. Part of the career planning is knowing your God-given skills and being grateful for "the far God has brought you." (as they say in Uganda). Writing thank you notes is one of the things the students do as part of their career training. Thank you notes honor God and they encourage and reveal a grateful heart. Margaret has found if they pray to God to bring people to mind who have been kind to them, do this sincerely and share their resume, amazing things happen. Often people don't know we are available to work, so communication is key to getting the word out. Law, business, and social work students have gotten great jobs or promotions in the last few months because they were offered unadvertised jobs or they were recruited when a position opened up. The excitement in their voices as they report the results of their journey from fear to confidence is more rewarding than we can describe. Congratulations Joan, Patience,Tabitha,and Phiona! God really has a plan and a future for each of you and He blesses a grateful heart in surprising ways. Especially during this time, people are so encouraged to be appreciated. We can each do this and put a smile on someone's face. God continues to multiply the discipleship being done even in the midst of COVID-19. WhatsApp and Zello apps have been special tools to allow us to communicate with individual students, discuss relationship questions from guys to Mark about long-distance courting, and encourage them during this time. We appreciate your financial support, prayers and standing with us as always. More news to follow from Uganda in December. With grateful hearts, Mark and Margaret For daily reports on news in Uganda you can follow the link below: https//www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national

"Withstanding Second COVID-19 Wave In Uganda"

Second COVID-19 Wave Hits Uganda Hard Please Pray for Uganda Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Greetings,

Things have really changed since our March/April visit to Uganda. We loved hosting at the guest house several newlywed couples we mentored. As they helped facilitate the discussions during Relationship Forum the students received valuable information about courtship and marriage. Little did we know that Uganda was headed for the second COVID-19 wave.

Some friends, Sarah Hilgart and her son JJ, wanted to visit us at Kingdom View while we were in Uganda, but our schedules didn't coincide. They had another trip to Zambia in late May so they visited Kingdom View after we came back to the U.S. Christopher and the staff did a great job taking care of them, doing ministry together, leading discussions, visiting Uganda Christian University campus, seeing the source of the Nile, a charging elephant at Murchison Falls and other sites. Several students communicated to us what an encouragement they were to them. We praise God that they were able to leave safely a few days before the second Uganda COVID-19 lock down.

The staff is OK and we left a lot of medicine and supplements on site for them. We praise God for the improvements we were able to complete prior to the lock down. The road is complete, along with the pavilion floor, drapes for shade, the kitchen, barbecue grill, cabinet for TV, and the landscaping for the picnic area.

Some exciting news developed with Rev. Eng. Waswa Paul Ssembiro, the UCU Chaplain. He has agreed to work with our team as the approved pastor to do weddings in the pavilion. Also he and his wife have agreed to lead Relationship Forum once a month. Of course all of this is on hold indefinitely due to the COVID-19 shut down. God continues to multiply the discipleship being done even in the midst of COVID-19. WhatsApp and Zello apps have been special tools to allow us to communicate with individual students, continue the career preparation ministry and encourage them during this time.

For daily reports on news in Uganda you can follow the link below:
https//www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national

We appreciate your financial support, prayers and standing with us through the pandemic. Being able to maintain the staff and facilities has helped the staff and their extended families when many workers have lost their jobs. More news and updates to follow as we hear from Christopher and the students in Uganda.

If you are interested in receiving the "Choosing Joy" devotional that we send daily please reply to this email.

With grateful hearts,
Mark and Margaret