February 12, 2011
New Boarding House a Reality

Two weeks ago I shared how God worked in Uganda to defeat a local witch doctor who threatened death upon Fountain of Hope construction workers. This week let me share the story behind the construction of the Boarding House.
Last summer, a team traveled to Uganda on our annual summer mission trip. During their stay and visit to the village of Bukeeka, an actual human sacrifice was committed as the local butcher was taken at night and killed. The community was saddened and our team was shocked that such a thing could actually happen. While human sacrifices are not common in Uganda, they still do occur and highlight the spiritual battles being fought. This incident weighed on the team's minds as they later found out that the school's current boarding house about a mile away from the school was being rented from a witch doctor. The team became concerned for our student's well being.
Once back in the U.S., team members from Pilgrim Lutheran began an effort to raise enough money to build a new boarding house. At this same time, GGI received a few undesignated donations for our Uganda project. As always, God was at work without anyone knowing it.
Late in 2010, Pilgrim Lutheran announced they had raised a good portion of the money for the building but we had one small problem - our current piece of land did not have a proper space to put the new building. With the undesignated funds in hand, Pastor Robert contacted the families living behind the school and found that they were interested in selling. Within a month, two parcels of land had been purchased and closed on at reasonable prices with just the amount of money GGI had to spend. Once again, God gave us just what we needed.
With the coming school year approaching, construction workers were hired and the land was cleared and the foundations were poured. While the money raised and sent to Uganda would not finish the building, we were learning to trust not on ourselves but on our Father in Heaven to provide - and He did.
With construction already started, GGI received an email from a person interested in supporting our work in Uganda. After hearing our needs and the projects we were working on, we were presented with a $20,000 check! The amount turned out to be the shortfall we needed - amazing.
During this time, the witch doctor threatened death upon the construction workers not realizing that he wasn't just threatening Fountain of Hope, the workers, or the local church, but he was threatening God himself. The witch doctor paid the ultimate price.
For us, the dedicated team in Uganda, and for supporters such as yourself, the work in Uganda continues to show us just how active and alive our God is and just how much we have to learn to trust in Him. It's been an amazing ride so far - I'm excited to see what 2011 will bring. Enjoy the photos!

Measuring foundation - school's outhouses in background

Boarding House brick construction

Roof beams and plastering outside walls

Blue tin roof in place and window irons installed


Do you like barefoot soccer?

The 2nd annual Fountain of Hope Sports Festival in Uganda will take place July 2nd and 3rd during our summer mission trip. If you want to help touch the lives of 1,200 children from twelve different schools then come over to Uganda with us!
Coinciding with our summer trip to Uganda, you'll have the opportunity share the love of God with those less fortunate, visit and help widows, brings gifts to the Fountain of Hope school, help with small construction projects, and be a volunteer at our two day sports festival. Each of the district's twelve schools send their best boys soccer team and girls netball (like basketball) team to Fountain of Hope to compete for top honors. Last year Fountain of Hope won both the boys and girls competitions and took home the grand prizes - full grown bulls. They school decided to have a big party and bar-b-que the bulls!
If you'd like more information, visit our website Mission Trip tab and check out the itinerary. We leave June 22nd and return home either July 9th or 14th depending on how long you can stay. It's a trip that could change your life forever. For more information you can also email John Kimsey at john@gracegivinginternational.org. Blessings and may the soccer field be free of rocks!




Fountain of Hope boys soccer team - notice the villagers in the background waiting to watch the game!

February 5, 2011
Pastor Robert Robbed - Again

GGI's work in Uganda is overseen and managed by Pastor Robert and his wife Sarah. Their vision and heart for the village of Bukeeka is like none other. Pastor's and churches have come and gone in Bukeeka but none have managed to stay and change the village as much as Robert and Sarah. Their perseverance and dedication to serving others is surpassed by none.
In their efforts, many Americans have come along side them to assist. This association with Americans and perhaps their Christian witness in a non-Christian village has left them marked for persecution. In 2010, they were robbed of their household belongs five times. The robbers took everything including the bed sheets. Not only were they robbing a Pastor, they were robbing a Pastor who lived in a simple self constructed house with no water or electricity and no different than anyone else in the bush. Robert and Sarah never took advantage of their association with westerners for personal gain.
At the end of 2010 they moved into a walled compound house closer to town where their association with westerners wouldn't be so conspicuous. They also opened their house to orphans attending Fountain of Hope School who had no place to stay during school breaks. Unfortunately, the persecution has followed. Last month, they were robbed again while taking the children into town. Everything was taken including the children's belongings and blankets. GGI asks that you pray for protection for Pastor Robert and Sarah and for those targeting them for robbery to be self-convicted and confess their sin and glorify God. If you'd like to give financially, to help Pastor purchase bed sheets, blankets, and the necessities of life for himself and Sarah and the children living with them, and perhaps hire a guard, please visit GGI's website and use our online giving option.

Robert (far left) and Sarah (far right) with Fountain of Hope students living with them.

Sponsorship Changes a Village
GGI's child sponsorship program changes more than just a child's life - it's changes a village. Bukeeka, a small village in eastern Uganda, lived without hope and in fear. Fear from spirits, witch doctors, human sacrifice, hatred, hunger. There was no hope for a future or happiness. Pastor Robert's vision to open a school to reach the children of Bukeeka and eventually the adults was truly a vision from God. Not only has the school flourished to over 650 students but the village has transformed and is continuing to do so.
An important part of this success has been the child sponsorship program. Enabling a child to attend school, receive a nutritious lunch, provide their school uniform, and give them hope in their future was only the door to the greater opportunity that awaited. Child sponsorship allows us to share God's love with the community, the parents, the politicians, families, local businesses, and everyone who comes into contact with Fountain of Hope School.
Evidence of this change was again voiced in an email today from Uganda. Pastor Robert shared the following.
"Today we had a great day at school celebrating the good 7th grade test results and handing over certificates to them. We had politicians come to the celebration that we didn't even invite, educationists, and other well wishers all came. The mayor of Bukeeka came and excited everyone with the dreams that he is getting these days when Fountain of Hope has opened up a medical center and treating every kind of sickness. He saw in the dream when there is life in the whole community of Bukeeka. All the local leaders were so excited and congratulated us for the good performance."
Child sponsorship helps us make these comments possible. These are comments from leaders in a village that had previously given Fountain of Hope and Pastor Robert death threats for sharing the love of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The same village that just two weeks ago buried one of their own witch doctors 24 hours after he threatened death to the school's construction workers. Sponsorship helps the child, the school, and the village have hope for a future of truth and happiness.
With only 120 out of 650 student sponsored, GGI has many children waiting for sponsorships and a relationship with someone who cares for them unconditionally. Would you consider, or do you know someone who would consider, sponsoring a child in Uganda or Ethiopia? Please visit www.gracegivinginternational.org to sign up for a sponsorship under our Donate tab or email John Kimsey at john@gracegivinginternational.org for more information.


Ali is one of many waiting for a sponsor.

January 28, 2011
Opposition and the Power of God
Intent on stopping the Christian development and success of the Fountain of Hope School in Uganda, local witch doctors and Muslims took action recently. When construction began on the new boarding house and kitchen for the school (funded by generous donations from GGI supporters), a local witch doctor sent witches to the site threatening the workers with death should they continue to help the school. The witch doctor himself cast spells telling that one of the workers would die.

Traditionally, the people of the village would heed the witch doctor's threats and obey his commands succumbing to spiritual fear. Pastor Robert, Fountain of Hope School staff, and the local Christian Church would not allow threats and fear to work this time. Encouraging the construction workers to not fear and trust in Jesus, the church began praying for protection and advancement of the true kingdom of God. Pastor shares what happened.

"We prayed all night and during the evening we received a confirmation that our prayers were heard and that death would not befall us but rather the witch doctor responsible for the threats would come to defeat. Later the next day, we received word that the witch doctor's two wives reported him missing.

They searched everywhere and eventually went to check the outhouse and found him dead on the toilet. This news has spread quickly through the entire village and brought fear to the hearts of those who have been against us. Sula, the formal local chairman who has been against our efforts since the beginning, came to me after the hearing the news and for the first time in seven years asked for forgiveness and reconciliation."

The news of the power of the Christians and their God spread quickly through the village. The witch doctor's wives begged Pastor Robert to spare their life. One of the wives, Harriet, later came back with two of her children and gave her life to Christ. She explained that if she had done so before her husband would have killed her.

From the beginning of the work in Bukeeka, God has continuously turned the opposition's efforts around to glorify himself. A village living under the fear of evil, witch doctors, and Muslim influence has made a tremendous change in the last six years but more is still to come - I'm sure of it! Glory be to God!


















Harriet and her children - free at last.

Ethiopia Church Construction Has Begun!
Groundbreaking work is completed for the future site of the new church building in Burayu, Ethiopia. This site will serve as the GGI training and outreach center and eventually be home to the GGI Academy School that is presently off-site in a rented building.

We are so pleased with the swift progress and work done to the land and foundation laying. Thanks to your continued prayer and financial support, we have enough funds to start the next phase of pouring the concrete foundation and support beams for the new church.

In addition to our child sponsorship program ensuring children are given hope for a better future, GGI's partnership with the local Burayu church ensures that the spiritual needs of the village are also taken care of. With enormous need in Ethiopia and the area where GGI works, your partnership with us will help meet the needs of those with little hope for a better future and help share the gospel with millions who have never heard the good news.

Looking forward in 2011, more funds will be needed to complete the remaining two phases of the building construction. Please prayerfully consider how you can support this exciting project!