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!