From Jay in Uganda:

Have you ever had one of those really great worship times, when you were gathered with a community of believers, and you felt such intimacy, such joy, such closeness to the heart of God that you were overwhelmed? Did you know you can experience that kind of worship, even when you only understand about 50 percent of what’s being said?

That’s what happened today. It was such a joy to watch all of God’s people at the Mbarara church this morning worship, and to join in that worship. There was wonderful singing and dancing (even the two rhythmically-challenged white guys in the room joined in!).

As Pastor Emmy addressed his congregation, he did so with great humility, but coupled with the authority that is given to him by God. Those of you who are supporting PCM might at times be wondering what kind of a man Pastor Emmy is. We all know and love the Barrets, and trust Mark and Monica, but what about Emmy? Rumpf captured what we were both thinking when he said that Emmy is the “real thing”—a humble, godly servant leader. We saw this for certain as he rebuked his congregation for some political lobbying that had taken place at church on several Sundays leading up to a local election. He told them that politics was in a separate realm of authority given by God than the church, and that they were not to bring their politics with them to worship. He rebuked them gently, with patience and love, and they received it well. It was obvious that it wasn’t done for our benefit (I mean, who in their right mind would rebuke their congregation for messing up in order to impress visitors! Put another way, if you had a board member present, as well as a pastor of an American church with whom you wanted to build a relationship, wouldn’t most pastors wait until NEXT week, when we weren’t around, to counsel their people?) It was a very authentic moment that revealed a lot to me about this man and how he leads his people. This ministry is in very good hands from the Ugandan end.

Rumpf did a great job of bringing the blessings of Christ from America and Texas. The people loved him, like we do. I had a Holy Spirit moment, as well. Rumpf and I just assumed Emmy would be preaching. Toward the end of the worship singing, right before he got up to introduce the offering and prepare for the sermon, Emmy leaned over to us and asked, “Which one of you will be preaching?” We were both thoroughly unprepared for that. I hopefully looked over at Rumpf, who boldly swelled up his chest and uttered, “Not me.” I looked down at my papers, and I had two Bible verses written down-that’s it. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would speak through me. I got up and preached those two verses. God got me through it. It was not the best sermon ever preached, but Rumpf said it went okay. Nobody to praise but God on that one!

In the afternoon, we met with 15 of the PCM pastors to discuss our continuing pastoral training plans.

We had some ideas about what to share with them over the next several years, but really wanted their input to see whether our ideas were relevant to where they were with their congregations. Turns out that the issues pastors face in Uganda are pretty much the same ones they face in America. It just goes to show you—human nature and the community of Christ are all universal- same issues, same struggles, same solution, same redemption.

The depth of the pastors’ insight was very encouraging. We’re going to be able to share a lot with these folks, but we’ll learn much from them, too. I think the general idea will be to come once or twice a year over the next three years. Please pray that God would be glorified through our time with the pastors over the next few years, and that their congregations would be transformed through our sessions together.

We must be heading in the right direction, because Rumpf and I have both faced some unwanted attention. We have faced some heavy spiritual attack over the past few nights as we slept (or attempted to sleep). But, God has given us victory and rest in His Son’s name. What a blessing to have a great Provider and Protector.

I’m going to try to give this sleep thing another try now. Good night.

From Christie in Orange, Texas:

Justin and I attended North Orange Baptist Church twice yesterday.  I guess Justin did more than attend, because he was the preacher!  He gave a strong, clear message from God that challenged us to ask ourselves, “Which kingdom am I building?  Is it an earthly kingdom or an eternal kingdom?” I wish I had a picture of him preaching, but I thought it might be a little strange to pull out my camera during the sermon. 

Last night at their evening service, we presented PCM.  North Orange is the church Justin grew up in and the church his parents and sister’s family still attend.  The presentation was a great time of sharing what God is doing through PCM as well as in our lives.  It was nice to look out and see many familiar faces who were excited about hearing what Justin is doing now that he’s a “grownup.”  Everyone was so welcoming and supportive.  Thank you, Pastor Scott, for the privilege of being at North Orange this weekend.

After both services many people came to our tables to find out more about our ministry and to buy t-shirts and necklaces to support PCM.

The really neat part of it is that 7 more children were sponsored by the members of North Orange!  What a blessing these sponsors will be to our Ugandan children.

One last thing…during the evening service there was a thunderstorm, and the power even went out for a minute or so.  It was fine because it came right back on and the storm was over when we were finished and heading out to the parking lot.  But as we walked to our cars, we saw an amazing thing.

It was a huge double rainbow stretching across the entire sky above the church!  Justin’s dad said, “I think this is a good sign for your ministry!”  We pray that we will continue to see God’s blessings and provision for these sweet Ugandan people.

Greetings to the PCM Family,

It has been a few weeks since we have blogged but now that we are back at home base……. and the rest of our luggage was located near the Holy Land in Jordan somehow not making connection 3 of 5 on the return……….and actually was delivered in Tyler with all our contents…………we have decided it is time for a post.

Here is what is going on in Uganda:

At the school the children are enjoying their first holiday of the year. They have 3 terms.  The children that have a home and that have pastor fathers actually go home and the orphan children stay on site.  It’s a time of rest for everyone but a special time of fun and games.  I am sure the children will be playing the new games we brought as well as with their own games until everyone makes it back.

Pastor Charles is busy finalizing the new dorm so it will be ready for occupancy on their arrival later this month. Many of you know Charles as our construction pastor and leader for all we do with building at our site. He is battling every day of his life with HIV.   He was SO ENCOURAGED by the visit to Kampala with us where he and his wife spent their first night ever in a hotel, had a hot shower, and rode their first elevator. He sent me a  note of thanks saying basically thank you from his wife Grace. She had been really discouraged and wondered what he was working for with PCM, and now I think she might be our biggest fan. Praise God that we could give them this time together. It is only fitting to treat them like the king and queen they so deserve. I just wish I could more accurately display the joy on their faces as they sat at breakfast buffet each of the two mornings. Praise God for letting the Deuce and I share those moments.  It makes me want to pile all of those pastors and their wives in the Miracle Van at once……….and shower them with the love the Lord has prepared for them for their amazing sacrifices they have made for HIM.

Supermom’s hallways tend to expand with children during the break time as well.  She brings home her 18 or so adopted kids (most orphaned in some way) and they hang out at the Nnyanzi house for a few weeks.  Here is a picture of them having a meal on the floor of the passage way at their home. Supermom…….you are an inspiration to all of us parents !!!!  

Pastor Emmy is never still.  Always moving, always doing something.  He of course can’t stay off his cell phone…..always planning and talking to his 43 pastors.  He had an amazing time in Tanzania right after our trip.  Look at this email and how our sound  equipment with the help of our Happy Little Dump Truck is doing to serve God

Here is a portion of Emmy’s email:

We really give the glory to God for his amazing grace he gave me and the entire team while ministering in Bukoba Tanzania. My friend Pastor John Balole had invited me to preach in the Conference and Crusade he had organized. They had invited another guest Speaker from Canada. The conference and crusade started on 22nd to 25th April. Unfortunately the Canada Pastor didn’t made it because of Volcanic mountains who erupted and disorganized all flights. The Pastor in Bukoba called me and requested me to go with a team of preachers and singers,He also asked me to help them with our PA System for the crusade. So we went with a team of 18 People, and 3 of them were my children. I want them also to love how to serve the Lord. When we reached there,the Lord indeed gave us much grace in both meetings the conferences and crusades. So many people attended the Conference and also in the Crusades. The Holy spirit moved so much and we prayed for the sick people, some with demons and they were delivered. At the Crusade many mature people came to Christ. By the end of the crusade at least 84 mature people gave their life to Jesus Christ. And also so many Children which was about 90 gave their life to Jesus. People came in front of the parupit to be prayed but some of them were crying tears of repentance. The Pastor’s chairman and pastors of Bukoba Town also came to us and told that we have blessed them so much with the messages you have been preaching and we wished that it would be very good to organize another Conference where we shall bring all our churches together and we get one big conference hall. They all thanked Pastor John for organizing this one alone with his only church but they said let the coming conference not be organized by only one church but all other Churches will come together.They asked us also to help them in organizing this one. They said their church members have missed alot they are asking us kindly to come again.  Praise God.

Finally,  we want to share what has happened here in Tyler. Our team has been blessed to share at Grace Community Church (Old Jacksonville) and Green Acres Baptist Church (south campus).  We are so blessed for the awesome support of Pastor Doug Clark and Pastor Russ Jackson.  Together their churches have sponsored nearly 60 kids and given nearly 20 cows to our ministry. WOW WOW WOW WOW………….WAHOOOOOOOOOO as Pastor Emmy says. Pastor Doug  (here pictured in a moment of incredible strength from July 2009)……..that is a lot of bananas that you have moved your congregation to give.  PRAISE GOD!!!!!

Pastor Emmy is already excited for that day……hopefully in May where we will assemble those pastors to begin their cow training. Never in our wildest dreams did we think we could have nearly 1/2 of our pastors with a cow by early this summer.  Amazing.  Please be patient with us as we plan and prepare for these special gifts you have so generously given so quickly.  We are in the process also of trying to hire our vet friend Joseph to be our full time vet consultant knowing full well the value of preventive medicine and protecting your precious gifts to these pastors.  We hope to announce something here soon. He also is a pastor.  Yippee !!

This has created quite a bit of work for our PCM team (well ok…….mainly our most excellent child sponsor coordinator and email communicator extraordinaire Christie, or “DC”(  for Double Check as we call her) to handle such a load but she is more than able.  She is busy assembling a team of volunteers to help with our surge of new sponsors and supporters.  These volunteers are going to be so helpful as we are ready to announce our open house for Sunday afternoon ,  May 16th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.  It will be at our new office (come see where our team hangs out)  with a come and go event.  We will have a short program from about 6:15-7:00 pm where the Deuce will share his musical talents to open the program,  we will see some brief but oh so awesome videos (made by the Deuce as well……you will recognize the step up in talent in the video department right away from Bubba Productions), and see 1 or 2 slide shows of some of the pictures I have taken put to music.  There will be some new news to report, some  ways you can purchase some Ugandan special gifts to support us or even pick up a PCM tshirt if you need one.  We will have opportunities for you to pray at a few designated areas as well as our giving our first ever PCM quiz. See if you can get all the answers correct. There will be handwritten notes from the sponsored children to pick up along with your new sponsor sheet………..new and improved.

It will be a fun night so keep your calendar open that Sunday night May 16th………

Come worship WITH US that night at the Green Acres Outreach Center (where Good Sam is located) just about 1/2 mile north from Mother Frances Hospital on Beckham……5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Blessings to you all……….we are so grateful for your support.

Epa, Kiconco, Deuce and DC

We were up early ready and dressed for church.  We had our suit and coats on not to be underdressed as in services before, especially our first trip 2 years ago when Emmy looked at me and said basically, “go back and change.”  I needed to hear that then but not now.
We arrived at school and proceeded to the new P6/P7 classroom.  It takes up the former play area which is frustrating, but it is big enough in itself just to add a divider and we won’t have to build a P7 classroom next year. Yeah !!!! Thank you Grace Elementary School Hearts for Change program this February. The building is beautiful. Our biggest on campus. By collecting pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters over a 2 week period, there now stands a worship building/classroom that is being used everyday.  It will hold the children for school or the adults for church but not both.  That is still the problem. The P3 children and below are in one of the other classrooms.  Our plan this November is to build a new structure to hold all the school children without squeezing them like sardines and on Sundays for this building to be able to hold the entire church.  We have several committed to already going on this trip.  One of our other main purposes will be to install some play equipment for the children as their Christmas present this year.  Oh my will they love that!

So on our arrival the church was in full worship mode.

We were seated and noticed right away the older children’s choir, many of which had on some of the Grace School Orchestra blue shirts that blend in nicely to our PE uniform attire.  Here is a picture of Gaudy, one of our leaders and sponsored children.

Many of our village pastors made the trip to the home church today.  The farthest pastor traveled 130 miles. That is quite a distance on these roads. Many familiar faces were there including one of my favorites, Pastor Simon.  His smile is contagious as you can see.

Then Milly, one of our other newly sponsored kids, got up and led another group. You could hardly see her, but you sure could hear her sing!!

Someone in the church walked forward and gave her a small blessing (500 shilling coin worth a quarter) which is a tradition here in Uganda to bless the singers if you desire. And the children in the crowd also certainly responded.  Here is Alex, another newly sponsored kid, in full worship.

Some of you may remember him from the water video smiling, drinking the dirty water.  He is so thankful to be drinking clean water now. Wow……….such love for his Savior. Lord, help me to love you like Alex does.  We were then blessed by beloved Jude, our 13 year old sponsored son.

Everyone loves this kid when they see him. Many of you know him from leading worship songs on our video.  And I couldn’t also leave out worship leader extraordinaire and Ferguson adopted daughter Abias.

Pure and simply, the kind of girl you would want your daughter to be.  So thankful, so loving of her Lord.
Pastor Emmy then got up and spoke of Kiconco (pronounced “KEE CON SHOW” ) which is his name for my wife Monica.  It means “gift from God.”  You see, none of us would have ever been here today if it were not for her. Her obedience to go to Mozambique with an unknown purpose 3 years ago started all of this.  There she met Pastor Emmy who had also been called to this trip not knowing anyone either. When they met, they both knew immediately why the Lord brought them together. Anyway, the church got up and prayed for her with such love and appreciation like I have never seen. They love her and so do I!!!  Then Pastor Emmy said we have a special blessing from Kiconco. She has recorded 2 songs with the help of a group of others.

“None Like You” and “Wounded Soldier”.  The children rushed to the front and sang along. All were so blessed by this music.  They are waiting for your return Kiconco.  Especially your 2 adopted sons, Ivan and Patrick here seen looking through the church door.

It was then time for offering and one by one the pastors and church members came to the plate. Then I was truly moved by what I saw next.  Milly, one of our true orphans, who is so thankful for her Supermom and Superdad………promptly walked up to the offering basket and gave that 500 shilling piece (25 cents) in the offering plate. It’s all she has……..she gave it all to HIM. Thank you for letting me see that Lord. Help me to go and do likewise.
I introduced Deuce to the church and let him share some words with them, then I went to talk to the small children and read Bible stories to them.

So thankful for that experience. They listened so well and were perfectly quiet as i read to them stories about Zaccheus and Jesus and the disciples in the boat.  I was amazed that they were like a sponge to God’s word. They ate it up. The teacher Jonathan asked them what they learned. One after another they said things like,  “Jesus knows our names”  “Do not fear…..Jesus is with us” “With God all things are possible.”  Oh my Lord, help me to HEAR your Word like these precious children. Help me apply it to my life like these orphan children.  Wow……..

Next we pulled out the B-I-N-G-O and the kids caught on in a jiffy. Here is a photo of Emily, a Tyler Tx anonymous sponsor along with newly sponsored Dickson, sponsored by the Dixons from Tyler Tx.   Thank you to both of these families………Dickson almost won the first game!!

We then met with the Pastors after service and went over the progress we are making with PCM USA. They were so encouraged.  We spoke at length about the Cows for the Kingdom program where we are providing a milking cow for each of the pastors . They can take the milk and earn $2-3 daily and provide some milk for their families. We will visit the 3 pastors later this week who have been given cows to see up close and personal the program.  I would like to thank the Warr family as they have purchased our 4th cow and we are praying right now for who that pastor will be.  We hope to announce, complete the training needed, and deliver another 2-3 cows very soon if the Lord allows this program to grow.  One of the pastors’ obligations will be to give the first born of each cow to the school to build up cows for the kids and our desire to give them milk and let them eat more meat.  Yahoo………..thanks again Warr family.
Finally we made it back to the hotel and changed, ate at the Chinese restaurant which is on the hotel grounds (it has gotten even better Mr Ja and Mr Cha).  I might eat cashew chicken for 10 meals in a row.
Our last stop of the day was the crusade.

Here is one of my favorite children from the night.

Once again we climbed atop the stage, watched it rock back and forth with the worship team and then each of us got a chance to share.  I spoke on the beatitudes and being happy and humble. The Deuce did an excellent job. He asked if anyone would be willing to trade something that was in his pocket.

He wouldn’t show them but asked if anyone was willing.  One of the local pastors walked up and produced a white iphone and gave it to Deuce. Then he pulled out the prize in his pocket for the trade……..a single smartie. Wow, what a trade. A “smartie bomb” (as we call them as we throw them out of the van) for an iphone.  The Deuce went on to explain the unfairness of this trade and for the trade Jesus made for us.  Our sin for His blood.  I am so blessed to be working alongside such a talented pastor and teacher to these Ugandan people.  Before we left we got to pray over another 6 or so new Believers.
God is so good………all the time.
Siba bulungi “Good morning for us”
Epa and the Deuce.

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!

Wanted to share some terrific news about what is happening with our ministry these past few weeks. It’s time for a PCM GOOD NEWS blog:

Hello PCM Supporters.   We are excited about our 2009 Christmas project……..a little dump truck and some evangelism equipment to go with it.  That’s right!  We are looking for a truck similar to this one to serve multipurpose functions in our ministry. Our fundraising goal is $25000 for this project. There will be primarily three main objectives of such a vehicle:

1. We need a truck to carry evangelism equipment to the rural villages where our 43 PCM pastors can share God’s Word like they never have had a chance before to do so.  We are having a crusade 12/21-12/24 near Emmy’s first church site and we need a truck to carry the generator, speakers, microphones and worship equipment which is all still needed.  This will hopefully be the first of many evangelism outreach opportunities. We will also have a projector and copies of the “Jesus film” to share with thousands of Ugandans.  We are thankful for our “Miracle Van” and it’s many uses, but to reach the masses…..we need a happy little truck like the one above.

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2. This truck will allow us to travel directly to the village farmers and purchase food at a 30% cost savings. Currently our food bill to feed 270 people each day is our single biggest expense.   At 10 cents a meal, we are doing the best we can with the current options available in Mbarara.  This truck would allow us to not only buy fresh fruits and vegetables, but to give our orphan children more variety in their diet.  It would allow variation from beans, potatoes, and bananas at every meal. That will make for even healthier and happier children.

3. Finally the third purpose will be to assist in the construction process at our school and other future sites. In Uganda,  it seems they use the motor bike to carry everything from bed frames to bananas to people.  To make our building process more efficient and cheaper, we need a truck like the one below to help us finish out our current school site and be able to move on to other projects.

We hope you will rejoice in the “truckload of love” the Father has given you through His Son Jesus this Christmas!!!

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Hello PCM Bloggers,

Check out the article by Patrick Butler in the  Tyler Morning Telegraph. Click   here

It is a story of how this card below started it all………..

We have included some more text, pictures  and video below for our new readers who need to see what we have been up to in this ministry.  Thanks for reading.

We have been called to spread the Father’s love to children across the world.  Our first area of focus is Uganda.  My wife Monica and I heard this song “You’re not an Orphan” back in 2005 at a conference in Colorado Springs on the campus of Focus on the Family.  We fell in love with it and could not understand then……. why the Father was developing a love for orphans inside of us. Now we know why. Click here for a slide show of just a few of the children we have met along the way with part of a song by Laura Fitzgerald.

Right now most of our work is with the Parental Care School in a tiny town of Mbarara Uganda.  It is in southwestern Uganda near Rwanda.  Some people questioned even last year if we really even had a school. There were no classrooms, one dorm and the teachers were not getting paid. Take a look at the progress being made in the school by clicking here

Pastor Emmy sold his car and his house last year to pay for food for these orphans.  He had faith to believe that we could become spokespeople for the ministry in the United States before we had the faith to believe it ourselves.  He told us in March of 2008 that the Lord would provide the necessary people to stand alongside of us.  In May of 2008 this faith of believing what cannot be seen became reality with the formation of Parental Care Ministries USA.   To read more about who makes up our Board of Directors and what we are trying to do as a nonprofit ministry click here

Some of you may be wondering why in the world do they have a banana plant as their logo.  Click here to read our earlier post about our logo……a banana tree.

We are to PROVIDE for God’s children both spiritually and physically. Currently the orphans have pourridge in the morning and are provided lunch and dinner with beans, potatoes and bananas.  Nearly 1/2 of our operational budget goes to feeding the 200 orphans, and 22 staff.  Click here to view this video on food starring my good friend Esther.

We also were moved on our last trip (November 2008)  by the drinking WATER situation. The orphans had to use this dirty river water as a water source.   One week after our team departed, Pastor Emmy’s nephew Robert fell in the river drawing water for the orphans.  He drowned to death.  Our ministry immediately realized the need for a well, and we knew we needed to ask the Lord quickly to provide funds for a well. This water situation was now a liability.  Over Christmas a campaign was conducted to raise funds for something very special for the orphans. Click here to watch this video to see what happened thanks to the generosity of so many…….

So who is this Pastor Emmy?  Click here to read his story.

We have been called by the Lord to come along PASTOR EMMY, his orphans, and the 34 pastors he currently oversees in rural Uganda. He started with nothing in his pockets, a wife Sarah who lacked parental care herself growing up, and a small piece of land and a few believers. He had only a 7th grade education and he lived in a mud hut with Sarah for about 5 years.  His faith was big then and it has grown even more over the past 14 years.   In June of 2008 the Lord provided a new van, named the “Miracle Van.”    Currently Emmy uses the van to oversee 34 pastors and their churches.  Click here to see  a few of his churches and the main church he helped start in 1994 now led by his assistant,  Pastor Reuben.

We are also very excited to report that Emmy is taking his FIRST VACATION EVER TODAY (5/16/09-5/19/09) on the shores of Lake Victoria with his wife, “Supermom” Sarah thanks to a gift from a generous donor.   He will have 3 days to spend with Sarah and much of it will be time on their knees.

We currently have a ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP campaign taking place. Click here to check out this link to scroll through these orphan children.   Currently we have only 1/3 of them sponsored at $35 a month or $420 a year.  We are providing food, water, clothing, security and education for all the orphan children. Click  here to link to HOW TO GIVE to our approved 501(c)3 nonprofit  ministry.   All of the funds raised go directly to orphan care.  Nothing is taking out for administrative purposes.

Currently all of the orphans have a bed, but the triple decker bunks are so crowded that we need an additional girls dorm according to the Ugandan fire safety officer. The orphans are in desperate need of one more uniform  since the one provided one year ago is getting pretty old having to be worn so frequently. We would like to finish out the classrooms and begin providing more health care for them since many of the orphans’ parents have died of HIV.  We now have a well but have no electricity at the school.  Each of the dorm rooms is lit at night by just one latern for about 50 kids…….Our prayer is that someday we would have a school made of real buildings, running water and electricity.   Until we see that day we will continue to praise the Lord for the gifts he has provided so far for these precious orphans.

We are currently speaking with various groups, schools and churches. If you would like us to come visit and share with your group what the Lord is doing on the other side of the world in Uganda, you can email us at parentalcareministries@gmail.com  or leave a comment on the blog on our website.  We would love to hear from you.  You can also request for us to add you to our blog list for automatic updates each time we make a post.

If you want to see more….. click on the prayer/project button or the media button for more pictures.

Blessings,

Mark and Monica Barret

In May of 2008 a nonprofit ministry was formed in Tyler Texas.  During this past several months the Lord has been helping us understand the work He desires to see accomplished in Uganda.  Our motto verse is,  Isaiah 61:1:  ”The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because the Lord has annointed me to bring the Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners. ”

PCM’s vision:

P is for Provider.  We at Parental Care Ministries are seeking to provide for God’s children both physically and spiritually. 

Matthew 6:31 ” For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.”

Jer 33:3 “Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.”

C is for Comforter.  Our goal is to comfort and encourage God’s children.

2 Cor 1:3-4 “I am the Father who comforts you in all your afflictions.”

Psalm 34:18 “When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.”

M is for Must Proclaim.  We must proclaim the Good News.

Mark 13:10 “And the Good News must first be proclaimed to all the nations.”

Romans 1:16 ” I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

 

The following is an explanation as to why we chose the banana tree as the logo for Parental Care Ministries:   

Banana trees can grow nearly anywhere.  They just need a mild climate.  In Uganda, these trees are everywhere.   We mistakenly thought that each plant just continually produced a big bunch of bananas time after time and all you had to do was cut down the bananas when you were hungry.  We were wrong.  Each mature banana plant actually grows up over approximately 12 months time to produce just 1 bunch of bananas. That is it. A lifetime of growth for one bunch of fruit. 

Matt 7:16 “By their fruit  you will recognize them.”

What most people don’t realize is beside each mature banana plant is an immature, young needy plant.  It is very close in proximity to the parent plant and grows right next to it.  Often when you look at a plantation you only see the mature trees.  But if you look closely,  you will see the young sprouts. They are present but not often noticed.  They don’t have any fruit yet, but they sure are growing.

2Cor 12:14-15 “After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.  So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.”

There comes a time in each healthy banana tree that the fruit is produced. It is a beautiful sight to behold.  The bunch of bananas is cut down carefully and set aside to provide essential nutrition for many. The rest of the parent banana tree is also cut down to the ground entirely. It’s trunk is composed of tiny channels which allow nutrients and water to get to the fruit, but as the tree is chopped down, it is wholly sacrificed for the good of the young offspring plant. It is cut into small pieces with a machete knife giving everything for its young plant.  Nothing on the parent plant goes to waste. Even the leaves are used to wrap the precious fruit so that it may be carried away. 

Heb 9:28 “so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people”

We are thankful to so many of you for joining us in being part of a ministry that is producing fruit: both literally and spiritually.  

We are seeing much growth in the most rural Ugandan churches and growth here in our own United States by those following the ministry. 

We are called to come alongside “these young plants/orphans”and tend God’s garden of believers on the other side of the world.

We are thankful to have a Savior that has sacrificed everything for His children and that we might be fruitful to His glory. 

We are blessed to have a Father who has shown us the way. 

SOME NEWS from Uganda:

• 28 of Emmy’s 34 pastors are meeting in Mbarara for a 3 day conference .  They last got together in November of 2008.  Together they will fellowship, worship and spend much time in prayer.  Some photos will soon be available to share with you all.
• Robert’s well.   Today the drilling crew was to arrive on site at the school and begin drilling the initial hole for the well.  This should be a 3-4 day job.   All of the testing has been completed and we are ready to see that clean water come forth out of the ground.  Praise the Lord.