PCM is proud to announce that we have hired two employees at PCM: Justin and Christie Hayes (also pictured are PCM supporters Marley, London and Carter).  Let me explain how this came about.  Many of you have come to know our volunteer extraordinaire Christie Hayes who has been sending the blogs since last year.  Well, we got board approval to finally start to pay her in 2010 for all the time she is spending staying in touch with you and organizing the orphan sponsorship program.  What we didn’t know is that the Lord was going before us and he had so much more ready for us that we couldn’t imagine it.  We have seen the friendship grow between the Barrets and Hayes this year and have spent much time praying for their family and the direction they were taking.  We thought at first that Justin would have a part time job at a church and spend the rest with PCM. The PCM Board was sensitive and knew that we needed to be a good steward in spending our first administrative dollar. We also realize that we are at the launching point and without staff, it is going to be hard to grow. However, we knew that we couldn’t afford even a single full time employee (as talented as Justin) as we have yet to meet all of our operational expenses in Uganda at our Mbarara site. What we would soon learn is that God sometimes has bigger plans than you can ever imagine.  I write this blog today in full amazement of what the Lord is doing with this ministry.  We now have 2 employees and PCM is still only paying for one 1/2 time employee with what the board approved. Wow…….it’s a great story……ask us about it sometime.

I am here ready to announce the positions of our 2 employees:

Justin Hayes will be PCM Director of Ministry Operations. He will direct all of our operations here in the US via working with churches, schools and individuals, but he will also travel back and forth to Uganda taking teams of pastors, parents, and students to experience PCM Uganda. He will report to the PCM CEO yours truly.  We are calling him “the Deuce” for obvious reasons. Monica and I can’t tell you how blessed and excited we are to work alongside someone so talented as Justin.  You will all soon begin to see what we mean.  Just don’t ask him to play any musical instruments with his nose.  Justin and I leave for Uganda in less than one month.  More on this trip coming very soon.  (PCM quiz: Can you tell the difference on Justin’s 2 photos?…..if you can tell him about it)

Christie Hayes will wear multiple hats as well…….She will be the PCM Child Sponsorship Coordinator and the Director of Accounting as well.  You already know her talents and her nickname as “DC” …….”Double Check.”  The Lord knew that Monica and I needed someone who loves to make lists, check them twice, be excellent at communication in person and email, and have a huge heart for Jesus at the same time.  Bullseye.  Right now we know these days for her are busy with 3 kids under age 5 running around the house, but we know it won’t be long before DC is in the Miracle Van herself traveling those dirt roads of Uganda we have come to love so well.

I wanted to share a bit of the email they sent today to all of their friends and family that they have come to love this past decade at Green Acres.

Here are their words today March 7th, 2010  (2 years exactly from the day the Barrets got on the plane headed for Uganda).

Several months ago, even though we were still enjoying Justin’s role as High School Minister at Green Acres, we started feeling God calling us away from student ministry.  It wasn’t all at once, we just slowly felt our hearts changing.  We still loved students (and always will), we just felt the Spirit stirring things up.  I can’t explain what an exciting time it has been for us to know He was moving and leading and guiding and that we were just along for the ride!

We continued to seek God as we were feeling this way, and we allowed Him to guide us through each step.  Since January, through none of our own strength, He has opened doors–and opened them WIDE–for us to take this step to work together for PCM.

He has also solidified our family’s friendship with the Barret family, making this ministry partnership feel like it is exactly what He had planned all along.  The PCM Board of Directors met in London over the New Year holiday and began planning out the next 5 years.  One of the top 5 needs identified at the meeting was help for the Barret family.  A position was approved and less than 2 months later it is filled.  Justin will finish his student ministry job in early April and he and Bub will leave for Uganda soon after that for a two week trip.  Justin and I will both be traveling to Uganda as often as we can.  We can’t wait to bring our family with us one day too!

Many of you know how much Justin and I both love international missions.  I asked him when we were dating how he felt about missions…because if he wasn’t willing to do missions, I wasn’t going to marry him.  God had made it very clear to me that this kind of ministry would be a part of my life, and I knew he wouldn’t have me marry someone who didn’t feel the same way!  Over the years, we have been involved in missions in different ways.  Now God is calling us to this full time missions ministry, and we are THRILLED!  It is a bittersweet time as we leave the student ministry, which feels like home, but we are so glad to be staying at Green Acres and to have their support in our new ministry as well.   The Parental Care Ministries office will be located at the GABC Outreach Center on Beckham in Tyler  just north of the hospitals (0.8 miles from Bub’s doctor office) where Good Sam is located.  Justin will work there most of the time, and I will too when I need to get work done without three little munchkins at my heels.

We would love for you to check out what our new ministry is all about.  The website is www.pcmonline.org.  We would also love to talk to you about it anytime! We are excited, can’t you tell?

We would love for you to join us in praising God for this amazing thing He has done in our lives!  We pray that each of you would also seek His direction in your life and allow Him to bless you in ways you couldn’t even imagine, too!  Even though I’ve had many sleepless nights lately–some because of a precious baby girl, some from worrying a little, but mainly from pure excitement!– I wouldn’t trade a single minute of this abundant life He has given us.

As we come to the end of one chapter and begin the next one, we are finding that the summary of our whole experience can be found in Psalm 126:3:

The LORD has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

Love,

Justin, Christie, Carter, London, and Marley

Amen. Amen. Amen as Pastor Emmy says.

God has been so good to PCM these past 22 months.

We are so thankful for your continued prayers and support.

We have so much more good news to share and will be doing so very soon.

It is with much joy that we praise God today,

Bub and Monica

Hello PCM Bloggers,

Yes, we have been away for a while, but that doesn’t mean a lack of activity.  We have tons to share.  Here is the latest:

• First of all,  PCM wants to thank the students of Grace Community School who last month during the Hearts of Change Program raised over $3300 literally one nickel at a time for a new P6 classroom for the children of Mbarara Parental Care School.  Amazing!  We were touched by the multiple opportunities we had to share about “the heart”  and the enthusiasm so many had in their hearts to build this new classroom. Thank you Grace Community School!
• So what has happened in the last 2 weeks with the classroom.  Well, 100% of what was raised was sent to Uganda and here are the latest photos from Pastor Emmy. As you can see, the planks are going up fast and the P6 children have a place to learn. Each grade now has their own classroom. Here are the P6 children standing in front of their new classroom. This group will move forward with each year and hopefully all of them will be ready for P7 next year.  After that instead of high school they call it “senior” school and it goes from senior 1 to senior 6.  With this group we want to grow by one grade a year from the bottom up and eventually as our new land is acquired, we will slowly transition the older kids out to this new land.  On this new land they will be responsible and help us farm the field, sell the crops to become more self sufficient, and even use some of them as a ministry tool to bless others who are in desparate need of food. We have high expectations of this group and the classes that will be following.
• What has Pastor Emmy been doing?  Well, take a look at these photos from the Sunday service of a week ago 2/14/10.   Here is portion of a recent email ………                                                   Beloved,It has rained heavily today,we may have more tomorrow.This interupts the Classes because when it rains P6 and P5 suffers a lot.Also other classes are getting disturbed because we need windows and doors to close. But step by step we shall reach where we are going. It has rained after we have finished baptism, we have baptized 20 members from our church and also some children from Parental Care School. Attached are some of the photos we have taken.The Church is growing we are so happy about it.  Emmy Yes this is the river that runs right at the bottom of the school property.  This is the water that the children were drinking and bathing in as of 1 year ago.  The current was up in the river in November of 2008 and this is near the site where Emmy’s nephew fell in and drowned shortly after one of our trips.  We praise God for the river of life that flows through Jesus Christ!                                                                                                                                                                       

Hello PCM Bloggers,

We have a very big prayer request.  Pastor Emmy and Sarah are leaving Mbarara on Monday 2/8/10 for Kamapala to visit the US Embassy on the morning of February 9th. This  will be the middle of the night Monday night our time.  Please pray that the US consular officer who gets to talk to them carefully evaluates the work that he and Supermom have done over the past 18 months. We have many things to show the officers.  We just want them to look at them before they make an immediate decision.  So much has changed as you know. So many of you have joined us in support of Parental Care Ministries USA.  We really need your prayers Monday night. I will be updating the status on FACEBOOK while he is at the Embassy.  You can sign up to be a friend of the ministry on Facebook on our main page on the bottom left corner.  We would love for each of our sponsors and supporters to meet Emmy and Sarah this spring.  What a blessing that would be!!!!

Here is a letter we obtained from one of the cabinet officials in Uganda.  Take a look.

What else has been going on?  

Well Monica made a visit to Dance and Drill studio to say Hi and thanks to Mrs. Lynn and Mrs Jeanie for their huge support with the PCM Dump Truck campaign. Way to go DND !!

At Grace Community School,  PCM Board members Karla Foreman and Myles Cunningham have been hard at work with our project for the P6 classroom:  Hearts For Change.  Students of the elementary campus have collected change over the past few weeks and deposited them in the big red buckets in the cafeteria.  It has been a joy to see the kids make such a huge difference in the lives of our Ugandan P6 students by just gathering the change we all tend to disregard in our homes and cars. This project runs through February 14th. You don’t have to be a Grace student to give your change.  You can stop by Grace Elementary anytime during the day to give to this project.

Here is PCM Board member Myles Cunningham talking at chapel on his experience in Uganda this summer. He told the students basically, you “can’t judge a book by it’s cover.”  He was amazed ( a jaw dropping phenomenon by his accounts) of what he saw at this humble school.  1 Sam 16:7  The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Monica made another trip to Grace this February to teach art with Mrs Thomas.  She taught the chidren some of the 800+ verses on the heart and then helped each child make a heart based on one of these verses.  Unbelievable beautiful creations were the result from these 5th grade Grace students.

Pastor Emmy and Sarah have been busy on their return from the United Kingdom 1/19/10.  They have had a youth conference at our school for hundreds of high school and young adults. Here was the theme of the conference:

Not to mention they made time for the Ezra School of Ministry by gathering nearly many of our 43 pastors together for a conference and teaching time.  When does Emmy ever sleep?  Amazing!!

School is back in sesssion in Mbarara and the children “are with much Joy” as Emmy says thanks to your prayers and support.  Just look at these genuine smiles.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for what you are doing.

We would love to announce that Emmy and Sarah have a visa on Tuesday,  but we also know Ecc 3:1 “there is a time and season for everything.”  Our work will continue whether they get to come this spring 2010 or some time thereafter.

Updates will be on Facebook  as i get them and the blog when we have a final answer.

Love greetings this valentine season from Emmy and Supermom…….

Bub and Monica

PS  Check out the Pictures Button for the 153 pictures that Christie loaded from Trip #4.  Way to go “DC.”  What we we do without you??????

Grace Community School has embarked on a campaign, called Hearts for Change in early 2010.  By collecting small change until Valentines Day, they are trying to raise $5000 for a new school building at Parental Care School in Mbarara Uganda. Anyone is welcome to donate change for this project.

Here are two videos:

The first explains the Hearts for Change project  and what PCM is doing in Uganda……Click here

The second is a short video of what happened at GCS Elementary Chapel on 1/12/10 with a song from the GCS Elementary children to the orphans in Uganda…….Click here

“…My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.” Hosea 11:8

Join us in prayer for Pastor Emmy and Supermom’s trip to the US Embassy for a visa on 2/4/10 in Kampala. It will be middle of the night on 2/3/10 for us in the states.  (see prayer button for more details)

A Texas sized thank you goes from PCM to a special lady in East Texas!

Lynn Ramey is a godly woman who daily serves the Lord through her dance studio, Dance N Drill in Tyler.  When I think of Lynn, I always think of her growing up in Humble, Tx. (pronounced “umble”) which is just up the road from where I grew up in North Houston.

Lynn’s place of origin fits her heart  desire- to humbly serve her King all her days.  Our own two girls had the pleasure of attending her dance studio for years and many other children and young ladies have had the honor of learning dance in all it’s splendid forms from her and her great teachers throughout the years.

She serves the community of East Texas in many capacities: As a mother of two, a business owner, coordinator for the Tyler Rose Festival, Tyler Golden Girls and Grace Community School’s drill team the Cougarettes.

Well, this fall the Lord put it on Ashley Ferguson’s heart to approach Lynn to see if she would consider praying about  supporting PCM through her dance studio.  Ashley’s timing was perfect as she ended up asking Lynn just a couple of days before Lynn would spend time in prayer deciding on just the right mission project for her students to be involved in. She quickly felt a nudge to support PCM and with hugs said “I can’t wait to help out!”

Here are some of Lynn’s own words to explain what her desire has been for her studio’s involvement in reaching out to others: “ Our Christmas project began around 12 years ago when I began to think of ways D-N-D could help teach the real meaning of Christmas “in action” by doing for others.  I also challenged the students to think of “these people” that they helped first on Christmas morning instead of themselves and what they would be receiving that day.  The focus was to be on what they would be giving as a birthday present for Jesus, one that would make him smile!  This is a list of what we have been involved in since:

St. Marcus Compassion House

Miss Choy and the orphanage in China

The Moses Project

Full Circle Ministry

Missionaries from Grace Church

The Samaritan’s Purse

Mercy Ships

Various other ministries

The parents and students really love to help!  Dancers go home and spread the word at the dinner table at night and with their friends at school.  We even sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus as we circle the jar of money we have collected before we turn it in.  Certainly a wonderful memory and gift to all.”

Lynn happily accepted the offer to have “show and tell for Jesus” and what He is doing through PCM.   They decided to help Pastor Emmy have a very Merry Christmas and raise money to help fund the work truck that would supply fresh foods to the orphan children and PCM school, carry construction supplies to help build the school and dorms and also to evangelize areas that are remote and have no access to the Good News of God’s love for them.

From right after Thanksgiving up until Christmas the teachers gave the opportunity for the students to hear about this unique work in Uganda and to give spare change towards the work truck.  We had a fun time with an old Golden Crown Book called “The Happy Man and His Dump Truck!” A Parallel story to Pastor Emmy’s desire to have a fun time helping his friends!

Mrs. Jeannie Hines read the book to the younger classes as they attentively listened and then she passed around a jar to allow them to add their sweet little coins.  Their sparkling eyes said it all really - children know how to give wholeheartedly to Jesus!

Mrs. Lynn was so excited to give of her time to tell PCM’s story and this precious little studio ended up raising over $3,500! The most they have ever raised for a ministry. Wow!!!  As Ashley says, “How Awesome is that!”

How awesome is our God indeed!!!

Our friend Justin Hayes sent over a scripture to encourage us recently and I think it really sums up what the LORD was working in all of this….

Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.

Hebrews 10:24

That’s the bottom line and that is what God wonderfully worked out in all who were a part of this story.

LOTS OF LOVE AND LOTS OF GOOD DEEDS!

Blessings to Mrs. Lynn, Mrs. Jeannie and all of Dance N Drill’s students for considering  Jesus’ call to care for His Ugandan friends!

We made a quick trip to the “mall” in Kampala.  We have never been there.  You could see the excitement on Libby’s face. She could relate to this place. It is a multi level structure and just kinda a walking ramp like you would find at any big NFL stadium.  We made our way to the top of the structure and then entered Woolworth’s.  Three items later we had a bill of $350. Higher than in the US is what we thought for some average products at best.  We soon discovered that this was not the place to be and left without a purchase.   Emmy and Sarah had thought we would not like their market…….but we were up for the challenge.

We traveled through the hustle and bustle of Kampala and immediately began to wonder…….where in the world were we going to park this Miracle Van.  Driver Emmy proceeded with much confidence to a nearby lot just off the market area.  The only problem was this lot was entirely full. How would we park here?  Ahhh…..we proceeded to meet up with “the guy” who runs the lot,  another friend of our awesome driver.  We let this man park the man behind the locked fence and we were soon off.  It pays to have a driver who knows people.  One by one we channeled our way past all the vendors yelling “hey boss”  ”muzungu”  ”come and see”.   We were all hanging on to each other literally.

Finally we met the street and were going to need to cross. Problem is there was about a foot between each of the vehicles and most were moving.  So we followed the lead of our driver and made it successfullly to the other side. Whew.  Soon we were in a clothing area and were able to find 2 nice outfits for Reuben, Hallen and Mary.

They were so excited.  Pastor Reuben otherwise known as “Air Time” also got an upgrade on a nice shirt tie combo.  We spent quite a bit of time waiting on the ladies to complete their outfits with shoes and a purse that we started talking to the cell phone man.  You see Pastor “Air time ” has to walk 3 km to charge his cell phone and that will just last him 3 days at the most.  He would need a new cell phone, one with 2 batteries that would last him 6 days.  Wahoooo for “Air Time.”  Pastor Emmy had left us for some other business in Kampala earlier in the day.  We asked if we could buy him a new shirt and tie for the UK trip.  His answer would stun me.  He said, just use the money you will give to me for food for my family this month.  Wow………ok…….that is what we indeed did.

Next up was the craft area.  You see Bailey and Libby sat so very patiently waiting on the ladies now it was their turn. The craft area was in another busy area but not quite as busy. Still there was no parking. No worries……Driver Emmy tells the police woman he has a van full of shoppers and they escort the Miracle Van to inside the craft area where no other cars are parked. Amazing. We collected several neat gifts and were on our way back to the hotel. We all took a quick shower, packed our bags, and made it to dinner for our last meal together with Driver Emmy/ Mary and Reuben /Hallen. It was another great meal. We all loaded in the van and headed toward Entebbe airport. First though we had to make a stop. You see Supermom had on flip flops. This wasn’t going to work in for the freezing temps in London or Wales for 3 weeks. So we pulled over at a nearby shop near the gas station, parked next to the guys siphoning gas for their motorcycles and Supermom came out with some brand new white high tops. ;o)

We said our goodbyes to the rest of the van and made it inside the airport. So different this time for Emmy and Supermom to be “inside the glass” going with us. What a blessing. There we made it to the security line and eventually in the airplane. It was about 1230am. We had been given three of our six seats upgraded to business class: we would send Monica up with Emmy and Supermom. Soon, Supermom was in the air………..It was a good flight…..not too bumpy. Supermom had made her first flight. She was now in a new land. Culture shock would be an understatement. Once we got in Heathrow there would be another first…….her first escalator. Monica said when they went up the escalator Supermom was grabbing her hand quite tight. ;o) We got in a taxi and were off to the hotel. There Supermom would experience another first….a revolving door. She had never seen one of those. Supermom had heard us talk about the Christmas trees we have in American and asked if everyone had one like this giant one at their homes in America? We rested in the lounge till our room was ready hearing from them, “if this is what London is like, what will America be like?” Hopefully we will soon know. They were so blessed to be sitting with us in London. They said more than once…….”God is so good to have blessed us to come here with you. You are treating us like a king and queen.”

Once in London, we would soon meet up with a few of our PCM board members: Jay Ferguson and Karla Foreman.

We had a beautiful board room and Jay led our group as we spent much of the next two days planning the next 3 years of PCM. Way to go “Mr Ja.” You are so gifted at leading meetings like this. Thank you Karla for your wisdom and great questions. You always have some good ones for us on any continent.

It was so great to have Jay and Karla join us. Much was accomplished for sure. It wasn’t all business though. On the side, Karla played social director as she had plans for Emmy and Sarah to see their first London show, “A Christmas Carol.” For New Year’s Eve we had some great reservations near the river as we ushered in the new decade together. It was very crowded in the city and not easy to get there as they had shut down the city to taxis and subway traffic but we made it. Yeah!!! We couldn’t quite see the fireworks on the Thames but we heard them! We even got split up trying to find a better view but all of us enjoyed the walk back to hotel as we passed all forms of humanity. Quite an interesting walk for sure.

We all slept in and woke up for some London shopping.

We found some nice shoes for Supermom and enjoyed taking some final pictures together in the city. It was hard to believe but our time was coming to an end with Emmy and Supermom.

Their hosts from Wales for the next 3 weeks had arrived at our hotel. More on them with our next blog. We exchanged some hugs and tears. God is so good.

We are so thankful for these past two weeks with Emmy and Supermom. Thank you all for your prayers, support and messages of encouragement. We appreciate so much everyone going with us on this journey.

We have successfully made it home and the Nnyanzis are now in Wales speaking and raising support for the ministry. Thank you for your continued prayers for them during this time.

Blessing to you all our faithful supporters and Happy New Year.

Mark, Monica, Bailey and Libby Barret and the rest of the PCM Board

So,  the van was loaded and off we were to Kampala.  This would be a trip of many firsts.  Inside the van were 4 Barrets, Driver Emmy and his wife Mary,  Reuben and his wife Hallen, our leader Emmy and Supermom.

We packed our bags this morning, loaded them on the Miracle Van and headed straight for the school. First though we had to stop at the fruit guy to load another bounty of pineapple.

$20 buys about 40 pineapples. Amazing. We reached the school and soon noticed subdued excitement on the children. They knew time was short. We didn’t waste it either. We presented the final blessing, took some more pictures and had them sing us a few praise songs. “My God is Able” is one of our favorites all time ones for sure. I wish I could describe in words how these kids can worship the Lord.

Soon we turned around and one by one these children were walking up to us and bury their precious heads in our bellies. “Thank you” “God bless you“ were the common statements heard. Some didn’t say anything……they I am sure felt like we did. There was not much to say……we were all saddened and didn’t want to face this day but it had once again come too quickly.

I told them we were working hard to find ALL of them sponsors where we would be able to provide more food, more variety on their diet and even MORE FRUITS. A thunderous cheer erupted on that one.

We loaded the van and looked back……..it had been a terrific Christmas week, unlike any other our family had ever experienced.

Soon the van stopped at Driver Emmy’s home and we picked up his lovely bride of 4 years Mary. She was excited to be going to Kampala with us. She had never spent a day away from her 2 children much less ever stayed at a hotel. Welcome aboard Mary.

We then traveled a bit further down the road and made a stop for our friend Pastor Simon. You see transportation is a huge issue for every Ugandan, especially if you are a pastor and live in the village. We made a stop to see Pastor Simon’s motorbike and help him a bit with the balance. He had paid off nearly all of it, but he was forced to miss the last day of the crusade because he was traveling to convince the owner to give him a bit more time to pay off the final third. The Lord provided a way to help Pastor Simon with this last $150 he had needed. It was a true joy to present him with this gift.

We loaded him with cookies and some water and were soon on our way. Pastor Simon always reminds me of “Mowgli” the black panther from the jungle book. He also has one of the best smiles of all the 43 pastors. We were soon on our way and then noticed in my rear view mirror on the side of the Miracle Van. Pastor Simon had taken all of the cookies he had just gotten and was giving all of them away to the children around him. Oh Lord help me to be this generous. When I have been given a blessing, help me to share it with others……right away with such joy as this. One particular PCM supporter did just this before our trip and we are forever grateful. They made a promise to make a donation before God had even provided. And then he provided the exact amount this family was wanting to give to them in a Christmas bonus. They gave the entire $200 to PCM. We are so grateful to them and all the many others who are helping us with this work in rural Uganda.

And then we picked up our last two Miracle Van riders……….Reuben, Emmy’s #2 and his wife Hallen. This is a most incredible story and I will send part 2 of this blog later today.

Mukama Asiimwe “Praise God”

Barret Family