Praise the Lord. It is always amazing what God can do isn't it. There is a small church north of Fair Havens called Living Word Church who has always been a blessing to us and supported our efforts. This year their VBS project was to raise funds to buy new mattresses and bed clothes for the kids at Ms Agnes Orphanage in Jinja Uganda. Their goal was to raise $1,000 which because of raising prices, would have only bought about 30 mattress. Well, they raised their $1,000 but then somthing amazing happened - someone in the church wanted to help to so they doubled the offering. It is amazing how child like faith moves the Lord. Now as the season changes every one of the children will have a new mattress and new bedclothes. Praise Jesus!

Ladies Conference in Jinja

Lady’s Conference in Jinja

Henry Ssevirri, Pastor of a local church in Jinja visited our home in Citronelle November 2007. We already knew we would be going to Jinja on mission in the summer of 2008. Henry asked Darlene if she would organize a ladies conference for his church. Henry is always organizing presentations for other churches but rarely for his own folks. Darlene agreed and immediately began preparing . The Lord began giving her the message...Victory in 2008—the Princess Warrior putting on the armor of God. As the team came together, Darlene delegated roles and responsibilities. Donya and Christine would help teach. Kim, Breland, Erica and Sarah would help with skits and dramas. Even the guys got to participate in one drama.
We were told to expect “maybe” 200 ladies to show up for the three day conference. By the end of the third day there was over 500 ladies attending. Some traveled for miles to hear the Word taught. Some slept on reed mats on the floor of Henry’s church. Meals were cooked in the “back yard” of the church. Mary Ssevirri was amazed at the attendance. Ladies got saved and set freed from bondage and all celebrated . We had reports that even after we got home there were some ladies getting saved.
We were also able to bless the ladies with 200 Bibles, reading glasses, soaps, wooden spoons, clothe materials, food for the conference and other stuff. We got to see the Lord multiply resources. Darlene had been praying for 200 Bibles for the ladies. When we left we had enough money for 150. We just agreed the Lord knew what we needed. When I turned over the money to Henry to buy the Bibles, he did a quick calculation and quickly announced that because of discounts and money exchange rates we would be able to buy 200, if that’s what we wanted to do…..dah! Thank you Lord!

Darlene and I left on June 3 for Jinja, Uganda, Africa. The purpose of our mission was to help facilitate a large KGEA team doing a medical mission in several towns around Jinja. Then, on June 16, we had a team of 11 joining us to continue work at Ms Agnes Orphanage and Henry Ssevviiri’s Church in Njeru.
“I miss them already”. These words were sweetly spoken to me by my bride on the airplane as we came home on June 24. We had just spent 21 days away from home, and even though we missed family, friends, church and Fair Havens Farm, there is something in Uganda that has stolen our hearts. I believe it is the incredible openness for the Gospel there. The people are so loving and kind there. We have so many friends there now. God is at work in Uganda!
We have so many stories to tell you about serving in a medical mission, doing VBS, presenting a ladies conference, pouring a concrete slab, Bible and reading glasses give away and much more. They will be posted in coming blogs.
There are on-going opportunities to help and join in. Contact us if you would like to join in.
The Lord tells us to make disciples as we go, so let’s go get em’ and as Pastor Ed would say, “since the victory is already won, let’s go run up the score!”

All in all it was a great mission. We were blessed. Thank you to everyone that helped to get us there!
Richard & Darlene