It is now six days since Aunt Jen left for Kampala after her two months of volunteering with Joy of a Child Ministry. She was such an amazing and initiative lady who benefited this ministry a great deal. The kids are definitely missing her so much. This morning before she boarded her flight to the US, she called and talked to the kids, most of them went into joyful screams when they were told that Auntie wants to speak to them. Each spoke for a few minutes because they were hurriedly going to school. They are surely missing her so much.
Danelle the new volunteer from the US has already got into the JOAC system; she is slowly getting bonded with the kids and young women in the home. They are surely enjoying her presence and ministry. Danelle has also began volunteering at Holy Innocents Children`s hospital.
We thank God for the new keyboard that was donated to David by Hillary Musinguzi. This has supplemented the worship in the home mostly the kids’ church Sunday worship.
The kids` church is expanding every Sunday with more members joining from around the community, the chairs (from the JOAC seating room and dining) have not been sufficient for the growing number. It is our prayer that we shall have over 500 chairs for the kids` church; this means a vision of over 500 church members. We believe that as time goes by, we shall be able to penetrate this Moslem dominated community through our Sunday services. We have sometimes had Muslims join us for prayers. We in the process encourage them to bring their friends along the next Sunday. We are yet to see Muslims give their lives to Christ and start an intimate walk with him.
Prayer Requests: As a ministry we believe in sustainability through prayer. We therefore present to you dear readers, partners, and friends our needs asking you to pray with us as we trust God for provision.
1. Because of drought, we have had no clean water for the last two months. The boys and girls have been collecting contaminated water from a well quite a distance from home. We have been using this contaminated water for cooking, bathing, laundry, and drinking (though after boiling). It has not been the best, with some members getting sick of Typhoid. Better still this has tried to manage the crisis for some time. However, the Lady owning the well has turned her back against us (probably due to our over consumption). She has barred us from collecting any more water from her well. We therefore ask you to pray with us for the purchase of a 10,000 liter tank that can be filled by local trucks selling water.
When we have rains, the harvested water would also reduce on the water bills. With this, we shall have water for the entire season and we can easily manage future water crisis.
2. A few days back we had our Ugandan Board members hold a meeting to discuss the challenges faced in the ministry and possible solutions. One of the major challenges discussed was the habitation of the JOAC girls and boys in one house, as it is currently. Given the fact that these kids come from different backgrounds, this proximity has been challenging behaviorally. And therefore, the board resolved that it is better for the boys and girls to be separated. This means that, for a better management we need a house for the girls. It is something that is quite expensive, but as you pray with us, we believe that God will provide.
3. As reported in an earlier blog, Uganda`s inflation rate is growing worse. Prices of most items are going higher by day. Products have almost doubled in price, and this has not exempted the food prices. This has put us as a ministry in a tight corner, because of the price changes, our budget (mostly food) has been affected so much. We therefore ask you to pray with us that we shall be able to purchase a piece of land that we can use to cultivate our own food to cater for future uncertainties such as this impromptu inflation.
4. Our kids` church needs a 500 sitter tent which will manage the scorching sunshine that the members suffer every Sunday as they hold their service in the trivially sheltering mango tree shade on the JOAC compound. After a thorough research by David, it was found out that the tent and chairs would also be used as a source of revenue for the ministry through hiring out the tents and chairs to different events like weddings, seminars, conferences, and various parties that are held around Mbarara. The money collected from this would be a supplement to some of the needs in the JOAC home.
Thank you so much for your prayer and support!
Blog by: Joseph Ochwo
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