Year-End Uganda Prayer & Praise
Dear Faithful Ones,
What a joy it is to give this report! Not a complete list by any means, but highlights of what we have all been a part of this year through our prayers, our time and our giving.
Over 1,200 children have received a year of education this year. About 400 live on campus and have been fed and loved and given medical care as needed. We have teachers and staff who have been paid. Hope abounds.
This beautiful building, pictured above, is the Transition Center at Masaka School. This year we are celebrating a significant gift given to pay down debt on this beautiful building. One of our donors sold some property and gave a tithe on the sale. The amount given was a wild amount I had specifically prayed for, so this served as a gift to Osborn as he works to pay off this building and a reminder to us to pray BOLD prayers!
The satellite support team is growing, with the addition of an Advisory Team, and a co-director for my role. Michelle Paine has been a part of the Uganda team most of her life, and will be stepping up into this role.. You heard from her last letter, and will be hearing from her more.
Sam's Attic Eclectic Thrift store has been growing, and has seen a significant increase of sales this year. This effort supports about 25% of the funds we have been able to send to Uganda, and is an all volunteer staff. We are so very grateful for each person on this team who donates their time - and often their money - to see to it the teachers are paid and the children cared for while sharing the story of Uganda with the customers who come in.
The Ministry of Education has a new supervisor coming to inspect the schools. New relationships are often new challenges. We are grateful he is looking out for the school and for the upkeep of the buildings, however their are always challenges that come with that! He is being diligent in his job - a good thing - and has pulled all the old records to research what he needs to know. With that came the list of all of the items they had determined needed repair, but hadn't been repaired. Since there were no funds, many things were 'hidden under the rug' - the bad thing. New Supervisor, and the rug has been moved and all these items have been brought back up. Reinspection will happen before the new school year starts at the end of January, with progress necessary before school will be allowed to open. His statement "You have a beautiful school. I have seen others that have not taken care of their buildings and the school is now ruined. I don't want that to happen here. Upkeep must happen." We praise the Lord for continually reminding us that we must learn to love a challenge.
Good Samaritan Ministries Uganda celebrated it's 35th year this Thanksgiving Day. The team gathered to give thanks and to celebrate. Louise, Elsa Jane and I were able to join in to offer our prayers and encouragement for the team on the eve of our Thanksgiving here in the U.S. What a gift we have been given - to be a part of this beautiful work being done in the lives of children around the world!
Good Samaritan Ministries International has a new executive director, Michael Niemczak. Our satellite team member Gary Nowell stepped into the position of Pastoral Care as we were transitioning. We are grateful for Gary and excited for this new season as Good Samaritan International is stepping in to their 50th year, and beginning their strategic planning for the next 50 years. Ministry wide celebrations will be held in Egypt, June 2027 for those interested in attending. We praise the Lord for what He is doing in Uganda, in the U.S. and around the world.
The children pray for each one of us daily. Songs of thanksgiving and praise ring out over the school morning and evening. Beautiful things are happening. Lives are being changed. All for the Glory of our God. We are grateful for your support, and expectant as we look out together in to the New Year!
Wishing you a joy-filled and hope-full New Years. Thank you for your care and support. It means more than we will ever know.
With a grateful heart,
Patty
