It’s been a bit since our last post and we wanted to fill you in on what is happening with PCM.  Flu season is nearly over and spring is in the air .   Yeah…. back to some writing and more frequent communication. Thanks to all for being patient with the complexities of my other job. 

1.  What have the orphans been doing?   Here is a recent photo of our youngest students (Nursery) with their teachers in the classroom. What a joy they are to teach.  Check out our friend Samuel there in the front row with the double thumbs up sign.Our P2 class……such concentration, such thankfulness to be there learning

We have opened a new class this semester P5 for the oldest, most advanced students.  We are using the new land  wisely and have made an open air classroom across the street.  Praise the Lord for this provision. 

For the pictures of all the classes P1-P5 see the media pages on our website.  The orphans have been busy with their studies and have written their sponsors to thank them. We have nearly 1/3 of the children sponsored  after just a few months with 2/3 to go. Recently  the orphans tested out the regular mail system from Mbarara Uganda to the US.  Not quite FedEx  or even good ole USPS…… but be patient and look for something soon if you are a sponsor. 

2. Who is this orphan?

 The answer is Glorius Nuwasasira.   I am 13 years old.   I am in primary four (P4).  I lost my mum but my dad does not care about me.  I am now living with my grandmother who is trying to look after me but in vain. She is a peasant farmer.   My favorite verse is proverbs 13:1.  ” A wise son heeds his father’s instructions but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.”    I am most thankful for the love and care offered to us by our Mum (Supermom) and Dad (Pastor Emmy), teachers and sisters.  I want to be a nurse when i grow up.  I need prayer for knowledge and protection.   I am currently without a sponsor.  You can sponsor me or one of my friends for just $35 a month through PCM.  It pays for everything i need to survive and thrive in my current environment at Mbarara Parental Care School………my shelter, clothing, food, teachers, and security.  Thanks for praying for me.  

3.  What else are these special orphans doing?   Here is a picture of the “Grace Choir” so graciously donated by the orchestra department at Grace High School.  These shirts were not being used and were about to be given away and are a huge treat to each of these orphans.  These children are praising Him on a daily basis.  What joy to be able to sing so well.  We are  currently exploring the option of recording a CD by the orphans for many of you to hear them. Check out  Emmy’s son, Daniel,  third from the left.  He had malaria when we were last there in November.  He seems to have rebounded quite well. 

4.  What about the well?  

Many of you have asked about the WELL. Well….. the work continues,  the underground pump has been purchased, and the storage tanks are being assembled by Pastor Charles and his crew of workers. The water is good and will soon be flowing in to tanks for the orphans to use for everything.  The orphans made a short video to say thank you for the well for all those that have contributed. I haven’t seen it yet but it will be priceless and parts will be posted on the blog as soon as i get it and figure out how to put it on this site.  I will pass on more pictures as they become available to this bountiful blessing of clean water. 

5.  What has Emmy been doing and what about his visa?  Many of you have been following our story of Emmy and his denial of getting a visa from the USA.  Currently,  the consular officers at our embassy in Kamapala assume just because he has a P7 education and is employed as a pastor he is an  ”immigrant to be.”  We have decided to back off going through the US Embassy in Kamapala and rather are trying to deal with this problem from stateside.  We don’t have the budget to go to an immigration attorney since everything we are receiving is going to pay for food and teacher salaries.  We are going to continue to pursue communication with our nation’s highest officials to present our case to them.  We know that God’s timing is perfect  always, and it isn’t always our timing.  We know that if we are just faithful and continue to pray and believe……..it will happen……….someday.  And when it does,  we will look back as one friend of mine says ………” Oh Lord, now I see your ways. They are greater than mine.”

Below is a picture of Emmy in the church tent structure on the new land across the street holding a youth conference for some of Uganda’s future leaders.  He is always serving, always preaching , always encouraging…………with all that God has given him.  His faithfulness is inspiring. He does so continually with a firm belief that the Lord will provide all that is needed for this ministry.

If that is not enough,  just simultaneously try to continuously encourage 34 pastors. Here he is marrying one of his pastors last month.   Pastor Reuben is of course at his right hand and there is beloved Simon on Emmy’s left.  Who is this joyful pastor getting married?  Keep reading ………… 

6.  Who is this pastor getting married?  None other than Pastor Jack.  We got to ride in the Miracle Van with Pastor Jack for one of our day journeys to rural Uganda.  He sat patiently in the back of the van cramped in the very corner.   Every once in a while we would throw some candy back to him to make sure he was still with us onboard. He would graciously take it, eat it and say thank you every time.  We were hoping to get to his church,  but we never made it.  You would think he would have been hugely disappointed but you would never know by his reaction. He was smiling ear to ear and so thankful to have made all the stops at the other churches and the banana plantation  with our group. I am not sure I would have reacted the same way.  Oh Lord,  teach me to be so gracious when I am disappointed. Teach me to be like Pastor Jack that day.  I want you to read Pastor Emmy’s email to me from a few weeks ago.  It gives some great insight on this amazing man of God and the Crusade they put on in his village to coincide with his wedding.  Isn’t it amazing that every opportunity these pastors get for themselves, they use for God’s glory.   A living application of Gal 2:20….” for I have been crucified in Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

Beloved,
Pastor Jack is called Jack Byaruhanga, and he is the pastor of Rwenkorijo Pentecostal Life Church.This Church is found in Ibanda District,Nyamarebe Sub county.It is about 103km from Mbarara where we live.Deep in the village.This place is very dry and people fetch water from a distance of 2miles or more.They people in this area are very poor really but the Lord has given them joy for their salvation.

We arrived and brethren gave us a very warm welcome.We started with an evening open air Gospel Crusade and after preaching two men got saved on that very day and one who is called Kwizera,confessed asking his wife to forgive him for all openly on the microphone when all other people on Crusade listening.He really repented with sincere heart.Really there was a strong move of the Holy spirit that even the Christians were visited by the power of Holy spirit and they received instant healing from many sicknesses. This was a very big encouragement for us and we prayed that the all mission will be a blessing to everybody who attended. It was not easy for us to go for this mission but when we reached and see how the Lord has started working in people’s life,we were so happy and encouraged. 

The following day we had a conference from 9:30am to 2pm,Many were blessed by the message we shared to them,and from 4pm-7pm the Crusade began.And one group from our team went and preached house to house evangelism where by many people in this village were reached.On this day 8 people got saved.

Then on Saturday we had to wed the Pastor Jack. His wedding was such a very big blessing and challenge to many.Pastor Jack is poor and all people couldn’t believe that he can make it. But we all stood with him and his wedding was very powerful. Attached are some of his wedding photos.
Pastor Emmy 

7.  Who is going on the next trip and when is that?   I have come up with a name of the Magnificent 7.

Our team will leave in  July and make another 10 day whirlwind trip.  Our team will include myself and my bride Monica Barret,  Jay and Ashley Ferguson,  Myles Cunningham (beloved Mr C. ),  Doug Clark (Head pastor at  Grace Community Church),  and Kristin Laughlin (a professional photographer  from Austin). We will have more information on this trip, how to get more involved, and what our agenda will be coming in the next few weeks.

Serving a Big God,

Bub