Yes, having children come with some of the women students is a peculiarity about teaching here that one wouldn't always think about in Canada!
The children are good sports...
Graduation and commissioning will be on Sept 27th. Stay tuned!
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Last week, we were in Patongo for the third and final CHE Training-Of-Trainers! The biggest distinctive about TOT3 is that the students themselves are given a chance to facilitate lessons using the CHE adult education method. Here you can see a student-led lesson. We still do have some lessons of our own to cover in TOT3, however. Here you can see Rev. Patrick (CHE Coordinator) leading a lesson. But do you also notice little 2-year old John taking it all in? Yes, having children come with some of the women students is a peculiarity about teaching here that one wouldn't always think about in Canada! The children are good sports... But they do tucker out! The training had a wonderful spirit of unity. We sensed that the Trainers really have the heart for the ministry. Some Trainers in the past have come into the CHE Ministry with a misunderstanding that CHE is some kind of paying relief agency project. But these Trainers really understand that CHE is a ministry for churches to show communities that God really loves them - through teaching about disease prevention, improved agricultural methods, and the gospel of Christ. We're so thankful for what God has done in these trainings! Thanks to everyone who has been praying. Continue to pray for these Trainers as they start awareness raising in their communities. Pray also that the Holy Spirit will put together intercessory prayer groups to uphold the ministry at the community-level.
Graduation and commissioning will be on Sept 27th. Stay tuned!
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Last week we and Rev. Patrick started a long journey down to Kampala and then out to the west of Uganda to a town called Fort Portal. We went to learn. The CHE (Community Health Empowerment) ministry has been active in Rwenzori Diocese for over 15 years and has become very established. We were very encouraged by what we saw! First of all, the scenery was a very refreshing change. It was so beautiful to see the rolling hills, greenery, and tea estates on the way west. Rev. Godeth, the CHE Coordinator for Rwenzori, flagged us down as we entered Fort Portal town and whisked us away first to Bishop Balya Theological College, set in front of the pictureque Rwenzori Mountains. A few years ago, the college was struggling to survive. It had only 3 students. When CHE came and people started praying for the area, the college grew. It now has 60 students. And the surrounding community has started developing and growing as well. The college is implementing the improved technologies that are taught by CHE. For example, they have an improved banana plantation, from which the students are fed. They also have a large locally-made water filter so the students can drink clean water. The filter holds 100 L of water, and was made with only 1 bag of cement, some wire, charcoal, sand, and a tap...totalling to a cost of about $20! They also teach the students to grow the artemesin plant, which can be used to make a tea to help prevent malaria. The Chinese had been doing it for years and years, and the plant was picked up by the pharmaceutical companies - after which the active ingredient was isolated and patented and is now part of many of the malaria drugs commonly used here in Uganda. Godeth also took us to two different areas to see households that have been touched by CHE - one area where CHE has been established for some time, and another where CHE is just starting and people are grouping together to pool their resources and improve one anothers' homes. A particularly important technology to the people in the first area was the construction of large water tanks to collect rain-water in the rainy season. People in this community had to walk 2 km to the nearest water source. Having these water tanks saved people lots of time and effort. (Did you know that each litre of water weighs 1 kg?). The owner of this home went a step further. He made a very large tank and hooked up a pipe with a tap in front of his house. He supplies water not only to his own home, but to his neighbours, for a small cost. This helps his neighbours, and brings him some income. Many people in this community worked on the tea plantations and start work at 6:30 am. Godeth told us that community members gather to pray for their community once a week at 5 am, and they come from all denominations! It's a beautiful picture of the Church uniting to be salt and light in the community. Another wonderful testimony was that of "Jesus Supply" church. Jesus Supply is a church in an area of Fort Portal town that used to be a sort of red light district, called "Water Supply". There was a woman who lived there who prayed earnestly for God to move in the area for years. Then 2 CHE trainers came to the area and started to teach. After some time, a small congregation formed and started meeting under a mango tree. After not too long, the numbers started to grow. The church members pooled together their resources, bought some land, and built a small church. Since then, the back wall of the church has been knocked down three times and walls added on to expand, and the church hosts 3 services. Still, it cannot contain all the people who have joined. Currently, the church is undertaking an ambitious building project to construct a two-story church that will be able to accommodate the growing congregation. "Water Supply" is no longer a red light district, and the community is benefiting from the witness of a church of people who love and serve their community. Our time was capped off with a wonderfully warm show of culture and community togetherness in the area where CHE is just starting to take off. School children danced and sang for nearly 2 hours. It was such fun! We are excited for what God has in store for this new area. Here is a video (click here for those receiving by email) to share some of the fun. Consider it your reward for making it to the end of this long update! |
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October 2021
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