Can no longer call it The Uganda Mission Trip because we are now reaching into Kenya and Zambia.
This year was very good and very blessed. There were some tough times which you would expect however, we were able to overcome them.
While there, Apostle Phil held a Pastors Conference. We were very happy to see our pastor, Bishop Patrick Lumumba, from Kenya arrive and be involved in the meeting. Here is an example of how God works. Bishop Lumumba being new, we were looking forward to meeting and getting to know him. Turns out, he already knew our pastors from working with them over the last 20 years of ministry! God placed his hand on this new connection and has opened the door to help raise up more children.
With the expansion of CII, it is important more than ever for the pastors and mission people to get to know each other and build a team. It is encouraging and meant to be uplifting. Several of our pastors did come. We had lunch together and exchanged information and ideas. Moving forward, each mission trip will have a pastors conference and we will alternate each pastor doing a teaching that will be heavy on gospel and uplifting for pastors specifically. This will be done not just to team build but also to give our pastors tools to stand strong in the faith.
I am still in awe that they all know each other. In December, Pastor Kimbowa will be headed to Kenya to get eyes on the work there at Princedom School by invitation of Bishop Lumumba. To God be the glory. I love watching God be God.
BEDS AT GRACE
All of the 100 beds, mattresses and mosquito nets are all in place at Grace Children's Home. We had to use all but one classroom to house the new kids. However, we have a plan in place to build a new school building and to get the wall completed. There are three sides to the wall left to do and it is quite a long distance. Just off the top of my head, I am thinking $7500 to $10,000 to finish it and one side will be used to build the classroom off of. This will also save time as well as finances. Grace is a big concern at the moment because of the influx of kids. We will keep working at it until we get it completed.
They are still making bread but that has become problematic due to the cost of flour and the other materials needed to make the bread. Prices are going through the roof.
FOOD COSTS
Last year, I reported that food cost had doubled due to the war in Ukraine. Well, this year it doubled again. In fact, it is worrisome how much the food has increased in cost. The 2.5 tons of food we purchased last year cost 3.5 Million Ugandan Shillings. This year, the increase was to 7.3 Million using the exact same truck. The war in Ukraine and global inflation due to the economic inflation in the US and the ailing US economy has caused food prices to double what they were last year. If you remember, we had already seen an 50% increase from 2022 to 2023. Fuel costs have also increased which in part has forced up food prices as well. There is a little tidbit the news here will not report.
I thought we had been sending enough money to help with the food issue but learned when I saw the prices, we are not sending enough and are actually sending about half of what we need to send. We will continue to work on this.
Jireh
I have GREAT NEWS to report on this location. The Ugandan Road Authority has decided to go another route with the new road and they will not be tearing down our school and filling the well. That is the good news. The plan for this location is to continue to build the new school which is away from the road and the mosque which gives us trouble regularly. Once the new school is up, the current buildings will turn into teachers quarters. It is normal in Uganda to supply a room for teachers to live in and now we will be able to do so as the plan progresses. A new well will need to be drilled at the new location and the old well will continue to serve the teachers and the community. The health of the village of Kasasa was greatly improved by the well and the school as we allowed the entire village to draw water from it. That will not change. We will continue to keep everyone advised as things progress.
Victory Tom and Jan School
This is our most advanced school. The school is complete. There is no more building that needs to be done. Such a blessing. It is hard to be there without a smile. This place has gone from a witch doctor haven to a God honoring school caring for kids. It is just amazing what has been done here. CII will continue to help with food. Just because we won't be helping with projects because they are done, does not mean we will leave them stranded. They are still a part of things and we will help with food as needed. I am so happy to see this school actually come to fruition. It is the vision coming into reality.
None of this would be without our supporters being loyal and giving.
Alpha School
Alpha School continues to progress. It is a bit slower than I would like but it is moving forward. The wall that was knocked down by the earthquake is being rebuilt and bricks are being backed to keep things moving. The major problem with getting this school up is bats. Yes, I said BATS.
They are hanging around the roof during the day. I admit it was fun to toss a stick up and watch them all scramble around. You have to duck because there is a reason people say, "blind as a bat." they will fly right into you. Money was left for more cement to continue getting the school up. The well is still working perfectly and supplying wonderful cool, clean drinking water.
Angering news
Shortly after I left, the local authorities paid a visit to Grace Children's Home. That was just the start of the trouble. They arrested Pastor Daniel stating that he did not have the protective wall completed and because of that the children were in danger. After three days in the local police station they changed the charge to Child Trafficking. He explained that all of these kids were rescued from Human traffickers. The police did check out his story and were able to confirm that he is NOT A TRAFFICKER but has saved them from being trafficked. They demanded a fine!!!!!! Yes you are reading it correctly an fine of 1.5 million Ugandan shillings to be paid.
A fine for being innocent of any wrongdoing. It became real obvious, real fast that they were looking for a pay off. FAST FORWARD. We did not pay it. Let me say this. I had prayer around the globe going for him. We are not going to spend the Lords money given by our donors TO PAY BRIBES. With extortion, once you pay, they will come back to that well time after time. While it was killing the entire CII team, we could not and would not pay that extortion money. Then today they said they wanted 15 million shillings. That on the exchange is about $4,700. Pastor Daniel sat in jail for a bit over two weeks waiting.
Then today after he was told 15 million, they changed their minds and let him out. Just like that! With everything that was going on with this and all the prayer, you will never convince me it was not the Holy Spirit that opened the jail doors. He is known for getting His out of jails.
Daniel is back at Grace and no bribe money was paid to corrupt police or any other official. Praise the Lord.
Video of Pastor Daniel’s Homecoming
Zambia
Welcome to our newest work just begun in Zambia. We began 2 months ago in early August. There are 35 children that we are feeding. All 35 are orphans. Feeding is the big issue. They need beds and we are doing everything from scratch. We have purchased food, chairs and three tables. We plan to get two or three more tables and go from there.
We will be developing a plan for this location to include a proper kitchen. Moses Chibanda is our pastor there and has turned out to be a wonderful addition to the CII team. Please welcome him and help us get this work done for him as well.
Rock of Joy School
The second floor of the school still sits unfinished. While it is important to do so, feeding and maintaining qualified teachers is the biggest problem. Because of the global inflation and food costs, Feeding the 400+ students is quite a task and the teachers need to be paid as well. They feel the inflation and have families to care for.
On the good side of things, Apostle Phil was able to ride in the van with the replaced engine in it. It was running so nice and smooth as well as going up hill there was no fear of the engine dying out. Also the foundation of the girls dormitory is now looking very nice with the new Terraso flooring in place to hold it and protect it.
Remnant
Remnant school is looking very good as usual and the new dormatory has students in it. There have been repairs to the well pump which are needed and completion of showers and such for the girls. The issue here is that things are wearing out and will be in need of replacement and repair in the coming year. That will include the floor of the large hall used for eating and for tests among other things like school programs. Feeding and such are also a problem due to food prices. School supplies are also an issue here.
Currently we are serving over 1,460 children. Four hundred and forty of the children are orphans and all are impoverished. Some families cannot pay for the children to attend school. We do not turn them away. What that does do is create a feeding problem because so few of the families can pay and the cost of food has once again doubled. It can also cause problems paying and retaining qualified teachers.
The donations of our supporters mean so much more than what can be put into words.
ARE YOU BEING WATCHED?
Meet Hannah Gavic who is the winner of the drone raffle. CII raffled off a drone as part of having a booth at an art and craft show and Hannah won. By the way, as she was filling out her tickets, she was talking about how she never wins anything. Well, that streak is broke. Congratulations!
I would like to take the time to thank each and every supporter of Child Initiative International. Your help and heart felt giving enables us to do the things we are guided by the Spirit. Food is still our biggest need and we have to buy it there at the locations. If you should feel the tug to help, we would certainly appreciate it.
Don't sit back and watch miracles happen, become part of them.