Hello from Masaka (Uganda)!
It's week one and there is so much to share! Our contact, Pastor John and his wife, Grace, are incredible people! Grace was a child sponsored through Compassion and Pastor John was severely sick in 2011, but has recovered after a coma and has the busiest ministry I've been apart of on the race thus far; playing the role of father, pastor, farmer, teacher, principal, board member over 2000 farmers, and bank secretary. Truly an incredible man.
The Ugandan people are the most welcoming people I've met and it's encouraging to serve and work alongside such beautiful people and share the hope and love of Jesus with them. We've spent time this week getting our feet wet with the many ministries that Pastor John has his hands in. They own a school, Liberty Preparatory School, that teaches up to Primary 7, which consists of 3-12 year olds and there are currently 150 students who attend. Unfortunately, it is currently the holiday season until the 28th, so we won't really get to see the students. At Liberty, they teach general education, hands on skills like crop training and animal raising, and Biblical ethics. Many of the students are orphans and come from families who are not able to pay the already cheap tuition.
The church meets at the school on Sunday from 9-1, Wednesday for Bible study from 4:30-7, Thursday for netball and futbol, and Friday for intercessory prayer. They also have a farm on the school with pigs, two cows, and many goats. We're the first world race team to help them out and it is beautiful to be assist such a busy couple and in the kingdom work happening in Uganda.
This week we met almost everyone in the village, walking around visiting houses, sharing stories and inviting people to join us at the church. I've had the privilege of leading a few people to the Lord this week and see Papa touch and restore in tangible ways. Wednesday, I got to do my passion and equip people with tips in understanding Scripture. I shared on 3 questions to ask when studying scripture:
1. What type of literature is this (genre)?
2. How would the original audience have understood the text (exegesis)?
3. What does this text mean for today (hermeneutics)?
And then the important task of applying the teachings and way of Jesus (orthopraxy).
Sunday at church, (the 13th) Pastor John referenced my teaching to the congregation which was encouraging to see him taking these principles to heart and wanting to see his congregation properly studying scripture and following Jesus! Prayer would be appreciated for us as we are keeping a busy schedule and are seeing much fruit from the work here in Masaka.
Also, I still need to raise $2,500 and my deadline was January 1st. It has been extended but if it doesn't come in shortly I will be heading home early. It is imperative that I get the rest of my funds fully in so please spread the word and help keep me the field and finish the race!
Shalom and love,
Michael
