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And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 Dear Friends and Family, Recently we have been blessed with fellowship, much needed fellowship. As full time missionaries, sometimes it can get lonely. As you minister to others and others come to you for discipleship and counsel sometimes you long for someone that you can share with and be encouraged by. ...

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 Dear Friends and Family, This past month brought us to another season in Uganda. Its not the rainy season or the dry season, it’s the soccer season! In Uganda, soccer, or as its called here, football, is almost everyone’s favorite pastime. Schools have soccer teams, businesses have soccer teams, the police have soccer teams, churches of every faith have soccer teams and even the various market places here in Uganda have soccer teams. Whether they play it themselves or they watch it from the sidelines, football is a national pastime. This time of year is when the local teams are in their playoffs or tournaments. ...

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 Dear Friends and Family, In Uganda the short rainy season is almost over. This season follows our very hot season when everything dries up and turns brown and dusty. Now with the short season of rain we have had everything has come back to life and it is very green. Flowers are everywhere you look and you can smell them in the air. The dry season was about 4.5 months it has only rained on and off for 6weeks. It amazes me how quickly the rain can make a difference and restore life. This somehow speaks to me about how our witness of Christ can be that life giving water to someone who desperately needs it. ...

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18 Dear Friends and Family, We want to thank you all for your prayers. I know many of you have expressed concern about what has been happening in Sudan. The fighting there continues but we are very far from Sudan and safe in Uganda. While we are far away and safe, there have been many missionaries and even chaplains who have been stuck in Sudan and have had trouble getting out and to safety. Thankfully the Lord has provided for us to be able to help in different ways. One of the ways was to help one of the South Sudanese chaplain guards and his family to get to safety. Abraham is one of the chaplains who came to help us with security after our robbery in 2019. Due to covid he and the other chaplains ended up spending many months in quarantine with us in Uganda. That time of quarantine brought us all close together. Abraham had been in Sudan serving near Dafur when the fighting broke out. His wife was north of Khartoum about to deliver a baby. Via Facebook he was able to keep us informed of what was happening up until he was finally able to secure transport out of the danger area and to his wife. Here are some of his communications. ...

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said…” Matthew 28:6 Dear Friends and Family, HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! This past month we had a very nice time preparing for celebrating Jesus’ death and resurrection. As we prepared there were other new beginnings taking place amongst our church members as well. Recently, two of our church members, Wilbur and Leona, announced to the church their intentions of getting married. In Uganda the process of getting married is quite long. Of course there is the normal courtship / dating time. When the man wants to take the relationship further he doesn’t ask the girl to marry him, he has to ask the father and uncles. This is called the visitation. At the visitation the man will go with who ever would be his bestman and one of his uncles. They will meet with the male heads of the girls family and there they will discuss dowry and whether the family believes the match is acceptable. The man normally comes with some gifts to show his seriousness about the marriage proposal and his ability to pay dowry. After the families come to an agreement then the man may ask the girl officially to marry him. After the girl accepts his proposal they then publicly announce their intentions to the church. ...

I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. Psalm 138:2 Dear Friends and Family, This month Arise Christian Fellowship celebrated completing the New Testament on Sunday mornings. The church began just over 8 years ago. It began as an out reach to the market people. This was no easy task as many of them suffered from alcoholism and drug abuse. When the ministry first began there Brian was actually advised by the local officials to run away because it was too dangerous. God had other plans and with in a short time there was a Bible study meeting under a tree outside of the market with 20—30 men and a study meeting in a little shop with market women. ...

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Dear Friends and Family, Happy Thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving season there is so much to be thankful for. As I meditated on all I have to be thankful for, the number 1 reason that kept coming to my mind was my family. Being in ministry there is a tendency to always be occupied with every-one around you and their families and prayer requests. Recently, while I was missing both my parents, the Lord showed me my family and I realized I needed to always be sure that I was ministering to them first and with my best, not with what was left over after ministering to others. I am so very thankful for each of them and their unique personalities and giftings. I am thankful for my husband Brian. For his upright, loving pastor’s heart. I love the way he takes time to talk and pray with everyone who needs it, when they need it. I love how he is gifted with teaching the word in a simple yet challenging way that draws the people to want to know more. ...

"..And you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 Dear Friends and Family, We pray that you all had a wonderful holiday remembering the birth of our Savior and looking forward to this new year and all that God will do in it. For us the season was very busy and very blessed. As is true for most of the world, Christmas and Easter are the 2 times a year when people are most receptive to the Gospel and to coming to church or church related activities. We try to make the most of these opportunities and plan many events and community evangelism, ...

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” Matthew 28:19-20 Dear Friends and Family, Happy 60th Independence Day to Uganda! Uganda received independence from England 60 years ago. One of the lasting influences from those days is the freedom of religion, specifically Christianity. Uganda is by name a Christian country and the ability to share the gospel openly, anywhere is a privilege most countries do not have. After saying all of this, the truth is Christianity in Uganda is “a mile wide but only an inch deep” as the saying goes. Ugandans are very traditional and most Christianity is mixed with witchcraft and other traditional beliefs and practices. Uganda is a country where human sacrifice, especially child sacrifice, still takes place. As missionaries in Uganda while it is easy to share the gospel it is a more challenging task of discipling people in obeying and following God’s Word above all else. ...

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:36 Dear Friends and Family, This has been a very interesting time in Uganda, our family and the world. It seems only fitting that recently Brian started the book of Revelation. He did not start it because of the events taking place in the world but it is literally where he is teaching by going book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse through the Bible. It has been a interesting study for the church as many of them have ever done more than skim through the pages and decide it was too difficult to understand or too scary to read. I believe now through hearing teaching on it, instead they are now expectant and excited. ...