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!

A Woman In Gutu

We got an early start Wednesday morning, Emanuel met us at the gate and we were off to the countryside. Backpacks filled with food, water, gifts, everything we would need for the long hike to the village of Gutu.

Our mission, to find and meet with a  widow from the village of Gutu and to verify the information she had given to Emanuel and I a few days earlier. First things first, we would need transport atleast part of the way there. After a few calls on the Mobile, Emanuel assured us that a ride was on the way.  Soon we were bouncing up the steep and rutted road , Sandy and I in the cab with the driver and Pastor Emauel in the bed of the pickup wearing my sunglasses.

We drove past many donkeys laden with packs and people on foot and horseback heading towards Burayu. As we climbed up higher into the mountains we were able to see a deep gorge to the west and beyond that miles of open land dotted with small farms. After a short , steep and fast descent we crossed a small stream and  pulled off the road into a field and parked. We had arrived at a construction site for a new road that would connect the remote villages in the mountains with the town of Burayu.

It would be all on foot the rest of the way to Gutu. Up the trail we go, its almost a road, wide in most places but suitable only for foot, donkey, or horseback due to many deep ruts gouged out by torrential rains.We hiked for about an hour and met some young men chopping trees down that were in the way of the road under construction further down the mountain.  Pastor Emanuel took up the axe and began to chop away at the tree trunk, all the while sharing about Jesus Christ with these young men. I was amazed at the easy way he just became one of them and spoke to them as though they were treasured friends. Then as just easily as he began the conversation he handed back the axe ,we said our goodbyes and once again we were climbing the steep terrain.

Another hour of climbing and the land began to level off, we had reached a high plain. Time to take a short break and visit a chapel in the area. Basically it was a mud and stick house in a large compound set aside for use as a church. Only a young girl was at home so it was back to the trail. Now we  were hiking along a smooth path stretching out to the west with vast rolling hills and small clusters of trees and huts scattered here and there. We continued hiking til noon and that’s when we saw a small hut along the trail and a huge fenced compound just beyond. We were at a school and a pleasant young man came up to greet us. Emanuel told us the man was an evangelist serving this area. We were graciously invited to tour the school which caused all sorts of excitement. It’s not very often that ferengi come up to this remote area. With a promise to return with books for the library we were back on the trail again.

The evangelist would be accompanying us for this leg of the trek. In the distance we could see some large stands of trees and Abate told us that one of those was the home of an influential witch doctor. It is very common for them to hold a powerful position in these areas. This man had gained his influence through his wifes ability to foretell the future so we were told.  He was one of the reasons the widow had come to Burayu, he had persuaded her oldest son to leave home and Jesus and to serve him instead.

Further on we could see more clusters of trees and farms and we were told that we would stop there for lunch, it was One  o’ clock now and we were about 40 minutes away from those trees. Lunch was sounding really good by now. After a nice break in Gutu ,sharing our lunch and believe it or not a pepsi bought in the village we were on the trail again . It was only a short way to her home, passing by small compounds with curious children and sheep, cows, donkeys and dogs.

The widows home was in a very sad state of disrepair, rotting  timber poles supporting  even more rotten thatch roofing. Inside it was spacious but the air had the acrid smell of sheep urine. She sheltered sheep in her house at night to earn a small wage from the owner of the animals. Inspite of the air and the animals and the dirt floor this woman was clean and bright looking. Emanuel and Abate discussed with her the materials needed to build her a new house and she told them she had enough timber poles and thatching but she would need nails and also she had no money or food to pay the laborers  with. Soon we had a plan in place to return with the necessary tools, materials, laborers and food to raise a proper home for her and the 3 children still at home. We prayed for the safe return of her oldest son and gave her an Afaan Oromo bible and some money to help her  gather the supplies needed for the house. Now it was just a matter of hiking another 2 hours out to the main road  and hopefully catching a bajaj to take us the last few kilometers to Burayu.

We had started our trek heading north then turned west towards Gutu and now we would be heading south eastward down hill to the main road. We hadn’t gotten very far when we came across some men taking a break from threshing grain. They were drinking a yellow colored beverage which they offered to share with us. Emauel took a sip and asked Sandy to try it, Oh my that’s very fermented she told him. Once again we watched Emanuel gracefully lead these men to a discussion about Jesus. They were Orthodox and believed they must follow the priests  instructions to fast from meat  but that it was alright to drink alcohol. He encouraged one of them to ask the priest about Grace and Law and to meet with him.I would love to hear that conversation. I am always amazed at Pastor Emanuels way with people , he challenges them with the Gospel and the truth and yet they always have a smile and kind word for us when we move on. Well down the road we traveled finally reaching the paved road just a half hour before dark. Sisay arrived with a bajaj and we were soon back to Burayu.

I think we must have covered about 12 miles on foot above 8000 ft elevation, not bad for a couple of  ferengi. I look forward to returning with a crew of cooks and carpenters to build her home and mostly to build a witness for our Saviour in a community under the shadow of  sorcery and witchcraft.      your sisters in Christ, Carole and Sandy

Original Post

New Challenges

 Well I had every intention of writing a lengthy blog about the wonderful visit I had from the  Scott family, but the power was off for the better part of 2 days and now we are faced with a new set of challenges.

  On Tuesday Pastor Emanuel informed Sandy and I that  the owner of the land and buildings  we are using for our GGI program will soon return from America to build a new house on her land. The Church has been leasing that land adjacent to the sanctuary for several years and when we came here with a new program they were gracious enough to give us the space for a kitchen and also one classroom for use on Saturday, not to mention a large play area. The kitchen is kept locked when we aren’t using it during the week so it is really exclusively ours.

   So the new challenge we face is where to have our kitchen and what will we use for a classroom and play area  The office and one other classroom are dedicated spaces and are always in use and there is nowhere else to set up a kitchen.  I am therefore urgently requesting all of our blog readers to turn to our heavenly Father and ask for his provision. We will do the earthly work of searching the area for a suitable location but I am asking you to help support us in the spiritual work of praying for a clear path from the Lord.

    There are many vacant buildings in the area so hopefully one of them will become the new home for our GGI program and the Teen club that  we hope to start soon. I am still seeking a tutor for me  in afaan Oromo and also an interpreter for us who speaks fluent english and Oromo.  So I am asking all of you to partner with us and pray for the needs of this little program still in its infancy.

   I just finished reading the book ‘Fresh Wind Fresh Fire’ and it has left me both ashamed and inspired towards my prayer life. If you haven’t read it get it. Thank you Scott Family for bringing it to Ethiopia with you. I have so much hope for what we can do here but we are so often met with obstacles, I know that the Lord will use these not to stumble us but to strengthen our faith and to draw us ever closer to Him. I am reminded of Guy’s sermon last Sunday about not getting ahead of God’s leading but earnestly seeking His will and His timing.  Call upon the Lord, trust in the Lord, wait on the Lord  and see what great and mighty things He will do.

   Again I ask you to turn to prayer in these matters and let’s see what our awesome God will do. Your sister in Christ,  Carole

Original Post

God's Hand at Work

It is late Sunday evening and it has been an incredible day for me and my Guests. Guy , Debbie and Zapata are here visiting me from America. We had a lot of fun with our GGI kids yesterday and spent the rest of the day pretty quietly but today being Sunday we were up early getting ready for the service. Guy was polishing his sermon and us girls were busy with preparing breakfast and getting dressed. We had just finished our meal when the electricity went out. No matter that happens here all the time. We all had been concerned about how loud the service would be , that it might cause Guy considerable discomfort . We were faithful to give our concerns to our Lord and now needed to move on to the church. Pastor Emanuel graciously met us at the compound here and walked the rest of the way with us. It had been a little inconvenient to get dressed without the power but you learn to go with these things when you ‘re in Burayu.

When we arrived at church the power was still out and it occurs to us that God’s hand is already at work . No power… no speakers….No speakers …no problem for Guy’s ear. Pastor Emanuel had me introduce them and then Guy delivered an amazing talk on Abraham and Isaac with Emanuel translating. It was so quiet in the sanctuary , people were really listening to the message. When he had closed Emanuel gave a very convicting exhortation to his congregation. At that time the worship leader came up and just began to sing a capella and the whole congregation joined him in lifting up praise to our Saviour. It is an awesome sound when the Holy Spirit is moving through people , through their prayers and voices in worship.

This little Church has a dirt floor, plastic tarp walls and poles holding up the tin roof. No fancy technology, no overhead, no upholstered padded chairs. To hear worship in this place unaided by speakers and microphones ,just the pure sound of convicted hearts, WOW! Several people came up to the altar and received the prayers of the entire congregation, we later found out that they all had confessed a life of backsliding. Oh and I forgot to mention how every Sunday all the children are called to the altar to receive the blessings of all who are gathered in the sanctuary. Hands are raised and stretched out towards the children while the Pastor prays over them. I can hear many people speaking softly in their prayer languages during these moments.

I do miss the wonderful wealth of deep teaching I can get from my home church and in home bible studies but I have seen nothing in America that even begins to resemble the moving of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of those convicted by Gods word. The Ethiopian people live lives focused on the simple basics. It keeps their hearts soft and obedient to God because they know how greatly they depend on him. There are no distractions to stop up their ears or to cloud their vision .

This week the Burayu Full Gospel church was having a 3 day fast and prayer session . Several leaders and many prayer warriors gathered at the church and prayed from 8 am til 1 pm and then went home to rest until about 3 pm at which time they return to church to pray until 12. They go home and rest a few hours and return to pray . This whole time they are fasting on water and liquids only. I am almost ashamed of our own churches where we are excited to have a few loyal prayer warriors gather for an hour once a week to lift up the needs of the community. I am one of those people and I used to have a sence of pride in my committment to our prayer meetings now I am just in awe of what real committment is.

Oh I know the reasoning, people are busy, they have families and jobs and other activities to attend to and its America not Ethiopia. We have become accustomed to our little luxuries and conveniences and have no shame about it. I hope you can receive this with out resenting the messenger after all I am one of you. I have not joined in on a 3 day fast , My flesh will use the excuse that I come from a different culture or I have low blood sugar or whatever. I pray that one day soon I can summon up the Spiritual courage to atleast try. God speaks to these people and they hear him. The gifts of the spirit are strong here. I do not doubt it is because of their committed prayer lives. I hope to encourage and exhort all of you who log on to read this blog, not to condemn. Our enemy would love to have us read this and give up because we could just never be that dedicated. Please be uplifted by the knowledge that our God is an awesome God and he hears ours prayers . I just want you to know that we can always grow Spiritually if we are willing to be obedient servants of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Faithfully yours in Christ ,Carole

Fish Tale

Sunday early in the evening Sandy was at the computer and I was in the kitchen busy preparing dinner. I heard Sandy making a fuss about something ‘Carole come see!’

At the front door was Sambata, Kifleys gateman.In his hand was a bag with 3 fish, fresh from the Gefarsa river, still flopping. Oh, are these for us? Yes, he says. Can we pay you for them? Yes he says. How much? 50 birr he says. OK, we just want one. Yes he says.

Sandy goes to get her wallet and Sambata is out the door with the bag of fish and up the stairs to Kifleys. When he comes back by our door Sandy takes him 50 birr but now he doesn’t have any fish with him. Sambata, can we have one fish ? Yes he says.

Well, he takes Sandy’s 50 birr and off he goes out the gate. Where do you think he’s going in such a hurry? Sandy asks me. Uh Oh! I’ll bet he’s going for more fish. No way ! Do you really think so?

About 2 hours later our friends Samson and Enat stop by and we have temporaily forgotten about the fish. Next thing we know, here comes Sambata to the front door and what does he have? A bag of fish, fresh from the Gefarsa river still flopping. What to do with 2 fish? We really only wanted one.

Naturally we decided to follow Ethiopian custom on this one and happily entreat our dear friends to take one of the fish, and we will not take no for an answer . I’m pretty sure Enat did not want the fish, but so much gets lost in translation , I could be wrong.

As for the fish, he never quite made it to the table for dinner. By the time our friends had left it was late and we just stuck the fish, fresh from the Gefarsa river, still flopping into the fridge for the night.

This morning when Sandy put it on the counter to clean, we thought it looked a little bloated. I did my best to sharpen a knife for the delicate process of disemboweling it. Bravely, Sandy makes the first cut. OOOPS! That incision was a little deep. Is it supposed to look like that? I don’t think so. She tells me how her dad always insisted that the fish be gutted and cleaned as soon as they were caught. Well, in retrospect that is excellent advise. Sandy just couldn’t quite bring herself to do that while it was fresh from the Gefarsa river still flopping in the bag.

And where was I during all this? Standing at a safe distance offering lots of encouragement and moral support of course. Well the neighborhood cats will love us tonite, we’re just waiting for dark to sneak the fish out the gate . We dont want to face the embarrassment of paying 50 birr to the feed the cats a fish fresh from the Gefarsa river no longer flopping in the bag. CW with collaberation from Sandy