Handfuls of Blessings

Ladies Teacher Training December 2012  What a full and rewarding three days we have had!  We had 47 ladies travel in from 9 different churches to attend an intensive training of how to be effective children's teachers.  Tom and Cris Geer (children's missionaries that train adults and help with Vacation Bible Schools and camps worldwide) arrived for the purpose of reaching African children and teaching adults how to reach them.  Tom traveled on to Tanzania and Zimbabwe, and Cris has stayed with us. Verse Puzzle: Something they had never done before! Cris did a wonderful job at giving the ladies plenty of ideas they can implement for building Sunday Schools and for getting the children excited about coming to church. On the last night, nine of the ladies came for baptism.  Pictures are worth a thousands words, so I will stop the words and let the pictures do the talking - except to say 'THANK YOU, CRIS GEER!" "Dum, Dum, Da, Da, Da, Da..."

One thing about missions conferences - they humble you.  These pastors and leaders express their thanks over and over again for how God has worked on their behalf. Brother James Sebyoto is a Bible college graduate who started Word of Life Baptist Church in Lukaya.  This year he has turned it over to another man to start Light Independent Baptist Church in the very poor fishing village of Kalangala.  Our church has been praying with him about the need for a motorcycle for him to travel back and forth between these villages. Brother Robert is the one who is now leading Word of Life Baptist Church.  He gave testimony of how the church has not lost members in the leadership transition but has instead grown.  Hallelujah! This was the first time for Brother Moses to speak before a group of Christians besides at his own church, and he was so excited that it was hard for him to stop talking.  Lutoboka Baptist Church was also started by the same missionary that started Lake View

Another great evening!  It is so wonderful serving the Lord and watching Him work.  Tonight the testimonies were from Julius (a different one than last night) and Matthew. Brother Julius is a result of our prison ministry.  Because of our faithful men and women that minister to the prisoners every Sunday afternoon, Julius trusted Christ as his Savior and had a desire to start a church in his village after his release.  He has an enthusiastic joy for Christ that is contagious. Brother Matthew is a result of our radio station - Word of Life Radio.  Brother Matthew had a very rough upbringing and eventually ran away when his dad threatened to kill him.  Being just a teen, he naturally found the wrong crowds and spent time in jail.  He moved to the Ssese Islands and became a fish thief.  At a Pentecostal church, he heard the Gospel and trusted Christ.  A Southern Baptist American missionary built a church building on the islands, but soon left leaving the believers with no leader

Tonight was the beginning of our missions conference, and what a great start it was.  Keith is preaching each night, and the pastors or leaders from our other eight churches are giving testimonies. Brother Henry was first to speak.  He pastors Mbirizi Baptist Church and assists with Katovu Baptist Church.  Mbirizi church is praying for land on which to build their own building. Bro. Henry was talking about how their children's program has grown, and they are really needing a room for a children's Sunday School.  A Muslim man was talking with him and said, "You will never be very many.  Your religion takes just one wife.  We take sometimes four so that we can produce many children."  Bro. Henry replied, "That's ok. You produce the children, and we will bring them to Christ." If you have read any prayer letters or updates from us, you already know Brother Paul.  He is the lame man in our church that must crawl everywhere, yet he is ministering to