Sunday, July 3, 2016

Monday - Thursday Update from Uganda

Monday brought us back to Fountain of Hope School to see the campus and to spend time with about 200 high school age kids in their weekly fellowship time. Again, energetic singing was the sound of the day. The song leaders were all high schoolers and the students sounded like a choir. Bruce shared a message with the students of “One Faith, One Hope, One Baptism” that was very well received.

From the school we travelled back into Jinja for lunch at a wonderful outdoor hotel restaurant. Great meal! Bruce tried Stoney, an intense ginger ale-like drink that puts Canada Dry to shame.

After lunch we drove out to the Nile in hopes of giving Ahnika and Nate their adrenalin rush for the trip…bungy jumping at the Nile. Unfortunately, we arrived just a few minutes after the site closed so it was back to Robert and Sarah’s house for another filling, delicious meal before turning in for the evening. This is supposed to be the “light” day for the week, so we are gearing up for what is to come.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday is the time for the major teaching experience of this trip. The church at Bukeeka sponsored a conference primarily for pastors to hear about dealing with conflict from a biblical perspective. About 75 pastors, pastors’ wives, and others—many travelling some distance—came to learn about how to address their conflicts biblically. Bruce taught the three-day seminar on personal peacemaking and conflict coaching using material from Ambassadors of Reconciliation in America. The seminar was enthusiastically received with many participants saying “we need more of this” because of the conflicts they experience in their churches and homes. Attendance certificates are being delivered to those who attended at least two days of the training.

While Bruce was teaching, the rest of the team ministered to students at Fountain of Hope and delivered supplies and gifts to residents in the bush in the Bukeeka area. It is in the bush where you see the greatest challenges to survival. The team was blessed to bring hope and some tangible support to people in need.


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