Latest updates!!

Happy Spring everyone! Though there really isn't a 'spring' season here in Uganda. Currently it seems the rainy & dry seasons are confused, they keep fighting back and forth - one week is very rainy and cool, the next is terribly hot & dry! I hope wherever you might be you have some new flowers to admire and the Hope of New Life as well.

Here in Nansana, Uganda, we're gearing up for the busy summer season of volunteers coming. I'm currently the only American here at CLD as the others are preparing to come in May to kick off the summer. But I'm not alone, of course, all our Ugandan leaders and friends are busy moving along the projects and working hard with spring cleaning. There are always too many stories I'd love to share with you, but not enough time or space to write them up. This month I just want to share some brief stories of our Ugandan leaders here, who I am blessed to know both professionally as leaders and personally as friends. They are amazing people, striving for huge dreams and allowing me to be part of celebrating what could come with them.

Julius is a phenomenal entrepreneur and businessman with a heart for helping people. He's the Warden at our Children's Home, which as I understand it, means he's the guardian of the children staying there and the social worker over their 'cases'. At the end of March I went for a weekend with him to his village in the southwest of Uganda, a region called Mbarara. We drove around the gorgeous hills of his family's land, visiting many towns along the way, for Julius is contesting (or campaigning) for the next election to be a Member of Parliament! He was speaking to people about who he is, what are his hopes and plans for new bills to be passed that will help out their area. He was warmly welcomed by most people, his family is very large and well-known in his sub-county. It was really exciting to see and be part of Julius, only around 25 years old, speak with such passion and care to his people. Though he knows his chances are slim to be an MP next year, he says he should start now in getting his name & face out there in hopes of future involvement. He really sees such a need to help his community, and I know his heart is genuine. We even visited his brother's small hotel, where Julius stayed from age 8 through secondary school. Here he began his first business from his room, selling drinks and small snacks to local people. This then flourished and became the restaurant and hotel that they have now! He is a sharp man who is going to go far. Let's pray for him to truly keep the humility of heart the Lord has blessed him with - I wish you could meet this man, his smile and laughter are truly unforgettable!

Florence is a beautiful woman of God with a deep passion for encouraging and empowering women. She is an intregral leader here at CLD. When we have American volunteers in, she helps us host them and brings so much knowledge about the issues facing families here. She has been counseling and mentoring our kids, women from Katanga slum and is beginning to talk also with our ladies at the Thread of Life sewing shop. Recently while hosting some potential donors, she met and impressed one of the higher American officials from the US Embassy here. He was so impressed that he is recommending her for a highly esteemed leadership program in Washington DC, which brings together emerging leaders from all over the world to interact about leadership, learning from different cultures and worldviews. I've been able to work with Florence on her application and am thrilled at her excitement as well as amazed by her story and passion. Though this program may not work out (we're praying hard that it does, what an amazing opportunity!), Florence has been tremendously encouraged and is well on her way to being a key influential leader in this community and eventually to Uganda.

Ben is our Finance/Office Manager here at CLD - you may remember some stories of him from past updates and blog posts. He graduated from Makerere University officially in December with his degree in Finance. He is a joy to work with, so committed and integrous. He not only works full time for CLD, but is a pastor at Light the World Church and a partner in Jubeso, Inc. AND he's 24 years old! This past Friday, I came home to our 'conference room' full of beautifully wrapped baskets filled with fruit, tea, vegetables, etc. and 2 huge bunches of matoke (plantains). It seems that on Saturday, Ben was going to meet the family of the woman he is hopeful to marry! When I asked him about her, he was just beaming, so excited and nervous all at once. This would be the first of two Introductions that is tradtional and would determine if this family would accept his offer of marriage. Well, it went VERY well, which I could tell when I walked into church on Sunday morning to Ben leading worship & then giving a powerful message, blessing God. On Monday he came with many pictures to show us - what a joy to share in his excitement!!!

Praises!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, in the last email I sent, I mentioned how my financial support was a great need, at $1500 still. The Lord provided miraculously for me, over and above what I would have ever imagined. Some old friends of mine who are heading to the mission field themselves (with their 3 kids and baby on the way) generously donated the balance of what I needed to cover my support here. WOW! Praise the Lord, that was mind-blowing and soul-deep encouragement for me!! THANK YOU ALL for your generosity and care in helping to provide for this ministry, and my calling!

We have Piglets!!!!!!! I know that seems a funny praise, but it truly is!!! We've had 2 deliveries in the last month - one pig at our Farm had 8 piglets and one pig at the Kaliro community piggery had 12!! These cute little ones have been longed for by many over the past 6 months as their presence speaks Hope and Life to those caring for them and to benefit from them in the future! It is growth and sustainability for our leaders here. Praise God!

Internet access for Mark in DR Congo & his holiday! They finally have a connection at his base that allows us to have more consistent communication with each other, which is making this time apart so much easier than before!! He just returned to DRC after a holiday with me, which was much needed and enjoyable for both of us. Only 6 more weeks for both of us before heading to the UK and then to the US.

Prayers:
~ Strong finish here with work and friends at CLD
~ Vision and strength as the CLD team moves into the busy summer season of hosting volunteers and moving our projects further forward

~ Focus for me on the relationships I truly need to be investing in our community here

~ Greater understanding and appreciation of cultural differences and similarities, to extend grace & peace as well as receive them!

~ Humility to serve, day after day after day

~ Continued strengthening of my body to fight illness and be back to normal

~ Mark and I as we deal with the long-distance relationship and preparations for the wedding/marriage!

Thanks again for your love and care for me and CLD!

Jennie