Anointing Service...

As I've stated before I was born and raised in the Catholic church.  Very conservative and the services very much the same in every Catholic church around the world which I loved and believed in the teachings of.  Problem enters when you fall in love with someone from a different denomination and you feel like this is the one God wants you to marry.  If your fiance is baptized in a Trinitarian church you can marry in the Catholic church.  However, they require your fiance to agree to have your children baptized and raised in the Catholic faith.  Well, for us that is not really an option.  Abdu is a pastor of a Christian church and he certainly wouldn't want his wife and future children going to a different church than the one he pastors.  As they say a family that prays together, stays together…  So, I am attending Saved to Serve Worship Center with my husband-to-be.

Now, most of what happens at the church I've experienced before in other churches.  Praise and worship and a pastor preaches.  No surprise.  Pastor lays hands on some people to pray for them. No surprise.  While the pastor is praying for someone, they fall down and start screaming like they are being tortured and kicking and hitting….Surprise and shock!

Abdu had shared some videos on Facebook for me to be able to see what happens at the services before I came.  I always had a hard time watching them because I could not get over the screams of the person.  He tried to explain to me that these people had demon spirits inside them and they were praying for the demon to leave.  The demon was speaking through the person.  The person usually has to be restrained and even sat on because they are fighting so badly.  The videos were so hard for me to watch…seeing it in person is another story altogether.

Since being in Uganda I've actually had time to sit and read the Bible.  Can you imagine?  I've read the books of Mark and Matthew completely through.  There are many instances of Jesus casting out demons and unclean spirits from people.  It doesn't say that they were bad people or had done anything except that they had demons in them.  There are children…Matthew 15:22-28, Matthew 17:14-21 and adults in Mark 1:23-27, Mark 5:1-14.  The disciples were given the power to cast out demons and unclean spirits in Mark 6:7-13. 

I had never had the experience of seeing or really knowing about people having a demon or unclean spirit inside them.  It’s not that I didn’t believe it was possible it’s just that I didn’t know it happened often…

The 3^rd Sunday of each month is an anointing service at Saved to Serve Worship Center.  Abdu had been preparing me for it for some time because he knew how I felt about watching the videos so we had been talking about it and preparing so I would not freak out completely.  He told me that I needed to be praying the entire time and particularly if someone had a demon so that to help that person.

The anointing service was supposed to be in the evening.  However after Abdu was finished preaching he felt like he was supposed to pray over people right then and then did an anointing service in the evening also.  There were two other pastors there to assist with praying and anointing.  Each of the pastors would dip their finger in olive oil (which had been prayed over) and then they would anoint each person’s head and pray for that person.  People were praying for healings from sickness, for wisdom on their upcoming exams, etc.  There were some who were prayed for and then that person went on and sat down.  Then there were some who while being prayed for would fall down overcome by the Holy Spirit.  Some of the teens around would stand behind whoever was being prayed for just in case that person went down.  Then they would carry that person to a cloth on the floor and lay them down and cover them as many of the girls/women wear skirts here.

In the evening service there were several who would go down and you could hear the demon start talking.  Of course it wasn’t in English but Abdu told me afterwards what many of them were saying.  So there was about 3 people that I can recall now that this happened to.  Abdu was praying over a young girl and all of a sudden she started screaming and thrashing around.  The others carried her to the stage and laid her on the cloth.  They wrapped her legs together with another cloth because she was kicking and they held her arms because she was hitting.  The kids that were holding her were praying for her and casting out the demon.  Telling the demon that it was going out of her and it could not have the girl.  The demon asked Abdu “Who do you think you are?  She’s ours.”  Her blood curdling screams were the worst.  But after about 30 minutes the demon was gone and the girl laid there to rest for some time.

Another pastor, who they call Mama Brian (because she’s Brian’s mom), was there also praying for a young man.  Now this young man had stood in the morning service and testified that he had been working as a DJ in the secular music world in bars and discos but he had quit because he had been praying and had heard a preacher who preached about discos and how they breed fornication, sin, etc. and he decided he didn’t want to be a part of that anymore.  He’s probably about 20 years old or so.  He helps with the sound board and music on Sunday services.  So while Mama Brian was praying for him, the demon in him started fighting.  And when I say fighting I mean FIGHTING!  There were 10-12 people at one point trying to hold him down.  He was kicking and punching and thrashing around.  I was praying and watching from a safe distance…but I was close enough to be able to see his face and his eyes.  He was not the boy that I knew.  I couldn’t understand what it was saying but you could see that it was the demon talking to Mama Brian and the others.  His eyes were all crazy looking and certainly not normal.  All of the biggest boys of the church were restraining him.  Two were sitting on his legs and they bound his legs so that he couldn’t kick his legs separately.  They were praying over him and telling the demon that it was going out of him and that he belonged to Jesus and not Satan.  There were times when he was just lay there and they would let up on the restraint and he would flip over or jump up and try to fight.  Honestly I had never seen anything like it but I know one thing for sure….that boy had something inside him. 

Praying for this boy went on for what seemed like an hour.  The biggest boys got tired from holding him for so long.  After some time he seemed to have been completely delivered from the demon and he sat up and asked for some water.  Then next thing I know he’s throwing up.  You could tell that he was alone again and was completely exhausted from what had happened.

After the service they asked for people to come give testimonies.  Several people said they had been feeling sick for several days and when they were being prayed for the pain and sicknesses went away.  Then they asked the young man to testify as to what he felt or what had happened.  He went into a long explanation on his life which I will try to summarize.

His mother was dating a man before this young man was born.  The man she was dating was involved in witchcraft.  She left that man and went to another man who turned out to be the young man’s father.  Mr. Witchcraft was furious and told her that they needed to pay him 300,000shillings (about $150 now) or he was going to put a curse the child’s life.  They evidently paid the money out of fear for their child.  But this young man has been struggling his entire life.  When the demon was speaking it kept talking about the 300,000.  It is clear that there is some witchcraft curse that was put on this young man’s life.  Witchcraft is still very prevalent here.  There are many people who pray to their ancestors and do sacrifices.  The curses that are put on people and children seem to follow them.

At the end of the night Abdu looked at me and said “now you have seen and you have heard”.  I had indeed seen and heard.  I had never seen or heard anything like it in my life.  It isn’t that I thought people were faking before I came here but I just did not understand it.  Satan and witchcraft are serious.  I remember on one of our early trips we observed an orthopedic outpatient clinic in the biggest hospital here.  One man came in and his leg was just dangling.  The doctor held up the x-rays and me who cannot look at an x-ray could clearly see the fracture.  The bone was completely broken and dislocated and his leg was just dangling there.  The doctor asked how long ago the fracture happened.  It had been a couple months because he had been going to a witch doctor for healing but eventually realized he should go to the hospital and see a real doctor.  Some of the stories that people tell you about what has happened to them seems unbelievable but it is true.  I’m always learning here in Uganda…

I pray that these children are protected and covered in the love of Jesus and that these spirits that were in them never come back to them. 

Stay tuned….

Life...

So now that it has been 3 weeks and we are settling down I want to share some of my thoughts on things here in Uganda.

• People here are generally nice and welcoming.  The funny part is there are usually two types of people.  Those who smile and say Hi or some sort of greeting and then those who just stare at you like you are a ghost or something.  And that goes for adults and kids.  Most kids say “mzungu by-eeeee” as I walk by which is cute.  They all learn English in school.  The kids are taught to say simple things from very early on.  You can ask a 2 year old how they are and they will say “I am fine”.  Everyone is fine in Uganda no matter their circumstances.
• Prices go up as soon as they see my white self.  When we were searching for the LandCruiser we went to a car lot unannounced and I told Abdu “Did you just feel all the prices go up?”  And they did.  They told us the price for the LandCruiser and we ended up getting it for significantly lower once we were firm in our stance.
• Everything in Uganda is a negotiation.  Very few prices are actually the prices you end up paying.  From rent of an apartment to food to clothing to transportation.  Which is exhausting to me because I do not like negotiating.  Just tell me the price and let me go on.
• I don’t feel like a minority…it’s strange to say that because I hardly ever see another American or European around but when I’m walking or riding around I don’t feel like a minority even though I clearly am.  If it wasn't for the people who just stare at me I would feel like I’m a Ugandan and just going on with my day.
• Traffic in Kampala is serious.  Abdu keeps trying to tell me I have to learn how to drive here…I just don’t know about that…maybe in a year or something.  I don’t understand how they know where to go or what to do.  There’s no street signs, barely any stop lights or stop signs.  It just looks like mass chaos most of the time and you just put your nose in front of someone else’s car and go for it…
• Navigating where I am is still quite a struggle.  Half the time I don’t know where I live let alone where other things are.  I am getting better at recognizing things but then Abdu will take a different route and turns my world upside down.
• I hate wearing bug spray and sunscreen…well really even lotions.  I don’t like feeling slimy or greasy it just makes me feel dirty.  I wear long skirts/pants and a jacket every night to protect me from the mosquitoes.  I never thought I would wear a jacket in Uganda!  My arms are getting darker.  My left arm is darker than my right arm because the left one is in the window when we are driving.  It has burned once and peeled already.  I told Abdu I was going to have to either learn how to drive or sit in the backseat to even out the right arm.  Haha!
• It rains a lot in Kampala.  In all of my previous trips most of my time was spent in Karamoja where it is incredibly dry and doesn't rain often.  It has rained almost every day in Kampala and we have been without power for days at a time because of it.  I didn't realize it was like that.  Makes me nervous about an outdoor wedding reception….just saying.
• I never thought I would say “I’m cold” while in Uganda.  But the other day I was home by myself and it was cloudy and the wind was blowing and I was like whew it is cold.  I started laughing because I actually admitted out loud (even though it was to myself) that it was cold in Uganda!  I admitted it to Abdu when he got home…he laughed.
• Laundry is some kind of work that’s for sure.  I've had help with most of our clothes but there are some things that you don’t want others to do for you.  Never take your washing machine and dryer for granted!  I miss those two more than any other appliance.  We washed on Saturday and they weren't dry so we took them in at night.  It rained Sunday so the wet clothes sat with nowhere to hang them.  Monday we put them back out.  If they were in the sun they dried.  If they were in the shade they didn't.  Back in Monday night.  Then it rained Tuesday….you see where I’m going here.  It is such a process!
• Cooking….so anyone who knows me knows that I do not cook.  Not because I probably couldn't do it.  But that I was spoiled by my parents and didn't need to.  Without the luxury of having a refrigerator you essentially have to buy each day what you’re going to cook that day or the next day.  Abdu cooks some things but we have one little burner.  It’s an electric burner.  We have been without power for 6 days on and off.  It seems like when we need it, it goes off.  Like right now it has been off since during the night and I’m using my laptop battery until it dies…  But I hope to learn how to make some things that Abdu will like to eat too.
• Food is my biggest issue as I knew it would be.  I’m not a fan of the traditional Ugandan foods.  My choices are usually limited to chicken, fish, goat or beef for meat and I usually pick chicken.  I like the fish but they give you the entire fish on a platter and it stares as you while you eat it.  With any meat, I’m not good at cleaning all the meat off the bones.  Abdu tells me to finish it and I look at it and say “it is as good as I can get it.”  I might turn into a potato soon because that’s what I like the best.  Irish potatoes that is cooked in a sort of soup or irish potatoes that are cut up into French fries (or as they call them “chips”).  Rice is ok on occasion but I’m not a big fan after being scarred from our first trip with flies and ants in the rice in the village.  I like fruits but have never been a vegetable person but am trying what I can.  Going to the more expensive places that have pizza and other things like that are not really an option right now because we are watching our spending very closely.  But I’m surviving and not starving.
• I’m losing weight as I expected I would.  Things that didn't fit when I left US are fitting already.  I need to get a scale to make sure I don’t lose too much because my wedding dress needs to fit in about 2 months from now.
• Abdu is a wonderful partner in life.  He is always concerned about my happiness, physical and mental health, safety, comfort, and spiritual life.  I do not know what I would do without him.  He’s going to be a great husband and I am thankful for all God is doing in our lives.  I am constantly praying that I will be as good of a wife for him.

Overall, I’m not surprised by much of what has occurred over the last 3 weeks.  I had been here enough to know how most things are.  I’m okay without air conditioning.  I've gotten used to sleeping without a fan for the noise.  I am comfortable when walking around.  I've learned how to find my way from where we park to our church.  One day I need to get someone to video tape that trek so you can see what it’s like.  So, I’m settling in and we’re settling into life together.

Stay tuned…

Catching up today...

In an effort to get caught up because I can’t stand being so far behind I’m going to quickly tell you about what’s been happening in the week since we returned from Karamoja.

Friday—November 14  We left Matany, Karamoja at 10:00pm and arrived in Kampala at 1:00pm the following day.  It was a long brutal journey back.  Couldn't sleep because I was like a double stuffed Oreo with Abdu on one side and another young Ugandan on the other on a bench seat that was really designed for thin Ugandans not the double stuffed Oreo!  It was dark and when I say dark I mean can hardly see your hand if you put it in front of your face. This is when I realized that this was not going to be fun at all.  Nothing to look at, can’t sleep, and worse of all my knees were hitting the seat in front of me so every bump we hit (which is at least a million) my knees would bang into the seat and I ended up swollen and bruised by the time we got home.  The only thing that got me through it was I had my iPod and I was able to turn on some praise and worship music and just pray and sing my way through the pain.  Traveling during the day isn’t bad because as least if you can’t sleep you can still stare out the window and admire God’s beautiful creation. But it was a long 7 hours before daylight…

A couple times I don’t know if the driver fell asleep or wasn’t paying attention but he hit these holes or something that absolutely sent me and other flying up and hit our heads on the overhead compartment.  The bus is like a Greyhound bus but the Ugandan style.  We were sitting in the back of the bus…and as I posted on Facebook…do you remember when sitting in the back of the bus was where all the cool kids sat?  Well, this was not the place to be…just saying.  The back is the worst but when they go over the bumps because there were several times when my bottom left the seat…not too fun!

I kept thinking that I hope this is like what people say child birth is like… you forget afterwards what the pain is like because then you have another kid and know you have to do through it again.  We are hoping to go to Karamoja every 4-6 weeks and at the time I was thinking….I don’t know about that now…

Saturday, November 15—Josephine is a youth from the church and just a sweet girl.  She’s 16 and lives with her mother right outside the church.  Today she came to help us with cleaning the house and some cooking.  Then in the evening we went to church for dance team practice and choir practice.  I love Saturday nights!  I was in the church choir in high school and I like to sing.  I would love for these kids to be the best choir around that gets invited to sing at weddings and church events and other things like that.  Abdu also likes to sing so we make a good pair.  I’m always pointing out songs that maybe they’ll try in time…

Sunday, November 16—We attended church service at our church, Saved to Serve Worship Center.  Pastor Abdu preached about 10 steps to transformation.  The third Sunday is also an anointing service.  I will write more about this at another time.

Monday, November 17—Abdu and I had been discussing the possibility of us buying a larger vehicle.  He transports children back and forth from church on Saturday for practice and Sundays for service.  On Sunday, he put 11 children in our little Toyota Corolla!  Yes 11 and yes a Corolla!  I was not in the car or that wouldn't have happened.  We also have an idea for a business for the Corolla and if the car is working each day then we would need something to move us around in.  Another thought was if we got a vehicle with 4 wheel drive we could take it to Karamoja instead of taking the bus.  So, Abdu contacted a broker and they took around to several different lots to show us some LandCruisers.  We saw many that were ok and one that was good.  They told us the price, Abdu told them what we would pay and then we left because they said no.  We prayed that if it was God’s will for us to have this vehicle that He would allow us to get it at the amount we needed it to be.

Tuesday, November 18—The car broker called and agreed to sell it to us at the price we wanted!  Praise God!!!  It is an older vehicle as almost all vehicles here are.  I think it’s over 15 years old but it has a solid engine and only minor issues that needed to be addressed.  It was fun to watch Abdu get adjusted to driving it.  It’s much bigger than the Corolla and I got nervous a couple times because he is used to fitting into small spaces but that cannot happy with this thing…

Wednesday, November 19--Abdu and I went to the church that we want to get married at.  Here in Uganda you cannot get married just anywhere.  The places have to be registered with the country to be able to issue marriage licenses.  So we had to pick a church that had the license to marry.  Abdu picked a beautiful church and it was exactly what I was wanting but he didn't know that.  It’s called Full Gospel Church of  Makerere.  We met with the secretary of the church and she gave us all the requirements and forms that we needed to complete.  We have to get labwork done and also they require pre-marital counseling with someone from the church.  Counseling will be 8 sessions of 2 hours each….whew that is a lot of talking.  The secretary was pushing us to get everything done because we are only about 8 weeks from the wedding and she said we are behind.  In the evening we went to church for evening service.

Thursday, November 20—We spent the day downtown Kampala.  We started with getting labwork done.  Then have to wait and hour for the results.  Instead of waiting we went to get some other errands accomplished.  I didn't eat breakfast which was really stupid and ended up getting really weak from the heat and all the walking.  So, Abdu put me in a restaurant and told them to give me anything I wanted.  He went back to finish the errands and got the car and came to pick me up.  I felt weak the rest of the day but I ate more and was fine by the evening.  We picked up the lab results and gathered everything else we needed for the wedding requirements and went back to the church to deliver that and to pay for the wedding to reserve the date.  Thankfully that was done. 

Friday, November 21—Abdu and I spent the day going around to look at places for the wedding reception.  We looked at several places and the one I really liked was booked for the date we wanted so that was a bit disappointing.  The others were either not great or too expensive.  So we will be looking at more.  We then went to church for the bible study they have each Friday night.  I am always amazed at what these youth say.  They are supposed to share a scripture that touched them that week and then preach about it for 5 minutes.  Some even ask for more time to talk.  The wisdom that some of these kids have is amazing.  I get up there and can’t think of two words to say…they are awesome!

Saturday, November 22--Josephine came again today to help with washing clothes and cleaning.  This girl is such a blessing to me!  Not having a washing machine is really tough.  Thankfully I have enough clothes to last for a while because it rained last week when she came and then it rained everyday this week.  Hard to wash clothes and get them to dry outside when it rains at different times each day.  I washed undergarments, swept and washed the walls and tables and everything else to get the dust off while she worked on the other clothes.  Tonight we are going to our first session of pre-marital counseling.  I'm a bit nervous because I don't know what to expect but I know it will be okay.  Then after counseling we have dance/choir practice!  WooHoo!!!

Almost every day this week it has rained and we have been without power so it has been a challenge without being able to use the laptop as much as I want so I can type.  Thankfully it has been on when I’ve been home today and yesterday.   Praise God!

Well, I think that catches me up for the day to day activities.  I have more thoughts to share on things but that will be another post.

Stay tuned…

Thursday, November 13

For our last day in Karamoja we had one school to visit.  It is where our youngest students are…St. Daniel Comboni Nursery School.  Little Paul comes in and as quiet as usual shakes my hand and then just stares at the pictures on the walls in the headmasters office and doesn't speak to me.  Then here some Sarah…passes by Pastor Philip and Agnes and makes a beeline straight to me and gives me her hand and then a hug.  The best part of this was…Pastor Philip and Agnes were convinced that this was not the right Sarah Nakiru.  Evidently there are 3 of them at the school with the same name so they brought all three so we could decide which one was “our girl”.  Of course the first one was the right girl but Agnes kept saying "this girl looks too big.  We just saw her in August and she was small".  To be honest I didn't know if it was the right girl either.  Her hair was styled differently in August but she looked similar to me.  We all got a good laugh out that one for a while…

The correct Sarah is on the left...the other two girls are the other Sarahs

Our best attempt at getting a smile out of Paul.

Since this was the first time I've been at the school the teacher wanted me to go around and see each classroom.  Which means get in front of the class and say something…not my favorite thing to do but they are little kids so what could it hurt?  LOL! 

It goes something like this:

Me:    Good morning students

Kids:  Good morning teacher

Me:    How are you today?

Kids:  We are fine.

Me:    I am from the United States and am just here to visit the school today.

Kids:  Clapping

Done.  Onto the next class….

This is Paul's class.  He is in the middle section in the very last row.

The littlest ones which is call the “Baby Class” were doing a dance and you can see it below.  And my big baby was in there having fun with them too.

Abdu in front of the class teaching them some new English words.
This is Sarah's class.

The headmaster coming back as we were leaving.

Nice playground at the school

Pastor Philip talking to Paul's mother.

After leaving the school our next item on the agenda was to visit a couple villages that received gardening tools and seeds and trees when the Ezekiel 37 Ministry team was there in April to see how they had progressed.

Tractor stopped in the middle of the road...probably out of fuel...

So you blaze your own paths when the road is blocked...

First stop—Lorikitei village

Lorikitei is a tough village.  We've only been there on 2 occasions prior to today’s visit. They need water badly.  When we were there in April we prayed with the village for rain and thanks to God’s grace it did rain before we left from there.  But the sun is so brutal in this area.  There’s nowhere to hide from the sun.  Over time they have cut down most of the trees to use a firewood to cook with.  A water well (borehole) is a long walk from where they are.  They did attempt to plant the seeds that we had given them in April.  Some people were successful at harvesting some.  It must be a tremendously difficult job to keep the crops watered.

They walked us around to see where people had successful planted the fruit trees that were given also.  They are young trees so it will take time for them to produce.  But the people are trying desperately to keep them alive.

This village is where Abdu had met with the older youth boys and when the team presented the pangas (machetes) he had told the boys that they should go cut down trees for firewood and go to schools to sell it.  It was an idea for them to make some money and not just loiter around each day.  It turns out they missed some of the steps when it comes to this.

They went into the forest area (as they call it) and cut down trees.  They have heaps that they have cut but they said no one came to buy it.  Upon further conversation it came out that they never brought the wood out of the forest.  They expected people to just show up…  I had to remind Abdu that we are not dealing with educated people who can think through processes the way that we do.  Start at the beginning and explain every step.  So, he did.  He stood before them and told them that they needed to bring the wood to an area that a vehicle can reach.  Then you go to the schools and say we have firewood for sale it is here and you can reach by road.  They wanted us to see what they had done but it wasn't reachable by road so we couldn't go see the heaps.  We could tell they were really trying and I am proud that they actually did something.  Although it didn’t work out for them at that time we know they will figure it out with guidance and mentoring.

Abdu said these little ones were having conversations and planning what to do

Nice day for a shave and a nap...

Agnes greeting one of the elders of the village.

Loading up to move onto to the next stop

Abdu makes friends everywhere he goes.  He doesn't speak the language in
Karamoja but he's learning it and they seem to respect that.

They told us that this old man on the ground needs a hand pedal bike to be able to get
around however, we could tell his arms are strong enough for that either.  He would
be better suited with a regular wheelchair.

We moved onto another village that I cannot remember the name of…starts with an L…I don’t remember…  Anyhow, April was the first time we had visited this village.  These people had a similar issue with not enough rain and too much sun.  It also turns out that we were a bit late in the season when we gave them these items.  They need to begin planting in March and we didn’t get there until the end of April.  But these people were more successful with harvesting some corn.  They have the ears in sacks and they are keeping some aside to be able to use for planting next season.

Other villages also decided to keep the seeds and use them the next season for planting.  Which is responsible really.  They are trying to make good decisions for the future of their families and village.  All in all I would consider it a success.  With all things we do it is a learning experience.  Really what these villages need most is WATER!  I am hoping that in December when we return to Karamoja that I can meet with some borehole drilling companies to get some information and then we can really start to see a difference for these people.

Agnes and the ladies of the village discussing how the planting went.

On my way to see the trees a woman planted...

Abdu literally took 20 pictures of me getting to the place...

Every step I took he took pictures of.  LOL!

Made it!

This lady was very proud of her fruit tree.

Baby tree

Even smaller baby tree...

Pastor Philip clearing the way for me to walk...so sweet!

You learn after multiple trips to Karamoja villages that you do NOT wear flip flops when you are going.  Between thorns and briars and animal poop you just need to be smart about shoe wear!

I'm becoming a pro at this door entry thing!  It's much easier without a backpack too.

Sorghum they harvested and have not ground yet.

This is the corn that this lady harvested.

Another families corn that they harvested.  The sack was fairly full.

The best part of walking through the villages is that you get to experience how the Karamajong live.  We were walking through and next thing I know Abdu is down under a hut grinding sorghum.  Then they talked me into doing it too!  Enjoy the videos…  Haha!

After a short rest and late lunch, we went to visit where Agnes and some ladies gather together and sew items in order to sell them and make money for their families.  Another organization, Mercy Uganda, donated I believe 8 sewing machines that these ladies are using.  Pastor Philip and Agnes have hired a man to come teach the ladies how to make items that are marketable.  When I was there they were making little girl dresses which were really cute.  They have found that the dresses aren't really moving off the shelves so they want to shift their focus to handbags for women and a type of tote bag that students can use for school.  This group of ladies are in need of some support with sewing materials such as thread, scissors, fabric, etc.  If you are interested in helping with this sort of project please let me know.  They are trying to get established so that they can be self-sufficient and generating some income for their families.

Moses is talented at sewing and cutting the pieces to be sewn.

This is Pastor Simon Peter's wife, Theresa.  She just has another baby...pictured below.

Only a few weeks old I believe...so cute!

The remainder of this evening we spent time with Pastor Philip, Agnes, and the mentors of Ezekiel 37 Ministry.  We discussed their advice and what they would like to see done differently for next year.  These people are the ones who are on the ground there in Karamoja.  They live there, they go to school there, and they are wanting to serve the Lord and His people alongside us.  I am honored to serve with them.

Stay tuned…