News From Pallisa

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see…” Heb 11:1.What a joy to have faith and leave by Faith. I am so excited to reach you once again with grate new about our ministry that you are part of.

My Family

We thank God so much for His protection and provision, God has kept us well though John Mark had some breathing problems but now he is improving. We thank you for your prayers and support.

R.O.G Church and Evangelism

God is continuing to pour out is blessing that is overwhelming me as the Pastor. We see many people coming with Spiritual wounds and God touches them. Four years ago I never knew where the Lord was taking us but as we stay faithful and focused we can see where we are going. Thank you for being part of this. We are continuing with our Evangelism Campaigns, more Souls are coming to the Lord. We reach in collages, streets, markets and House to House visitation. Our number is growing each Sunday; I am not scared of this because each Member is reaching out to some one during the week. Most members know how to use FAITH which makes the campaign easy. We also provide Bibles to new believers and Pastors who have old ones that miss some pages, Engaging in open debts with Muslims.

Kerith

Each day I see the lord working through our Children, providing for them and healing them. Several changes have taken place because of your giving financially toward this project. Children’s lives are changed in the home. Our staff is working hard to see positive changes.

Water Project

Since our Church came to this area it has been our prayers that God help us get clean water. Since our School, community and filing our baptistery with water was a big problem. Many of you have been praying and finding ways off making this happen. Am happy to inform you that God did it through some people I have never seen but felt the burden. Now we have clean water. Below is the spring where every one around our community has been getting water but now God has provided. Thank you so much for your prayers.

River of God Christian Academy

What a blessing to our Church to extend a hand of support to the community and opening up a channel of Evangelism to our Muslim family neighbours, Already we have 2 families that joined our Church through their son Hasan who attends our School.

Next year the Lord is leading us to step up our in Faith again. We want to help more Children to access good education. This is how we are going to do it.

  1. If we have 50 Children able to pay school fees, we shall admit 50 who are less privileged and orphans for free education. In other words 50% of our school children will be accessing free education.
  2. The Church Board selected a committee that will work with the local leaders to determine those Children that are most needy.
  3. Every Saturday all the sponsored Children will be required to come to Church for 3 hour for discipleship and other Christian activities.
  4. Once a month we shall be having a School family day, where all our Children will come with their parents or guardian to school. On that day time will be set apart to share Christ with them. We are confident that through this program many Muslim families will have escape to hear the Gospel.

In order to make this dream come to pass next we have need of completing our school structures above. Please if you feel touched and you want to donate any amount you can contact me for more details and costs.

Up Coming Events

  1. Mega Open Air Crusade from 20th -26th Nov 2011
  2. Launching of a Lunch Hour prayer meetings in the middle of the town.
  3. Our End of Year Annual Believers Conference. From 26th-31 Dec 2011
  4. Karamoja Mission 8th– 21st Jan 2012

Prayer Requests

  1. Prayer for Gods wisdom and proper leadership as the ministry grows.
  2. Please pray for my families provision
  3. Pray for more souls to come to Christ during this season of our Church.
  4. Please continue to pray for Gods provision towards all our projects that are aimed at changing lives.
  5. Pray that God will bring the right people to work with us both in Spiritual and physical support.
  6. Please pray for a ministry Van; we need $16000 dollars for a 4WD van.
  7. Pray for our up coming events.

We thank you so much dear for your time, prayers and financial support without it; it would be so difficult to see all this happening.

Pastor Samuel and Mercy Mwesigwa

Taking Ownership through the Lord’s Blessings

I sometimes forget what it is like to not have a climate controlled building, comfortable chairs, a great sound system and overhead projection when I go to church.  There are certain things that are so easy to take for granted here in the United States, but in many parts of the world church is far less formal and comfortable.  In Africa, many of our partners meet under a tree.  Our partner in Pakistan struggles with not having a building to meet in, and thereby not having the respect of his congregation and being in danger of being arrested for sharing the Gospel.

For our partner’s son, who was recently ordained, has taken over one such church, but by the grace of God, he has begun to construct a building.    The congregation is small, but the people are very dedicated – they are using some of their own resources to help to put the building under roof.  So far the balcony is covered, but the remainder of the church is still in need of a roof.  There are no pews or comfortable chairs – no sound system, organ or even Bibles for anyone except the pastor, but to have a meeting place to call their own is a true blessing from the Lord.

It is interesting to note that this house church has four generations of believers.  This is a rarity for Pakistan and for any Muslim of Hindu nation where there are so many penalties imposed for diverting believers away from the prominent religion.  Of the 187 million people currently living in Pakistan, less than one percent is Christian – to find four generations in one community shows that the Lord is at work in Pakistan.  We are praying that as future generations mature that they will hold strong to the faith of their parents and the number of Christians in Pakistan will grow.

NoChild.org

“ No child should die from starvation or preventable disease, be denied an education, or live without Jesus”

By Peg Ohman – Coordinator /NoChild.org

pegohmanandhersponsorchildEighteen months ago I had no idea that a short-term mission trip to Kenya would change my life forever.  What began as a prayer to do something of lasting value for the Kingdom became a clear calling and a passion for the children of Pokot.  I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve Him thru the NoChild initiative.

On August 5, 2011 a team from Kensington hosted by Harvesters, returned from Kenya where we updated profiles, pictures and did a medical assessment of the children at each of the children’s homes in Kodich, Kauriong and Chemolingot.  We were able to see first- hand the impact the child sponsorship is having on their lives.  Their love for each other, sense of community and especially their love for our Lord and Savior is more than evident in their lives. These children will be forever changed because of the loving support of our sponsors.

I personally had a chance to see the child that I sponsor.  Chepkite had a feisty spirit and a beautiful smile that stole my heart on my first trip to Kenya last February.  I was so happy to see her smiling face again and to spend time with her. Chepkite hasn’t lost her feisty spirit either.  She managed to sneak into a game we were playing with the children after her turn was over!   Sponsoring a child is more than just sending $38.00 per month.  It’s a privilege to pray for her and to help give her every opportunity to succeed in life.  I pray that she will grow in her love for the Lord and that she will become part of the next generation of leaders who will change her community and her world.

In the next few weeks we will be adding over 150 children to the www.nochild.org  website.  I look at the faces of these children every day.  They have been imprinted on my heart.  My prayer is that they will make a lasting impression on yours.

Behind the Scenes

By Fred Hughes

The exciting part about an organization that focuses on mission work in foreign countries is generally a two-letter word – GO.

But, there would not be any going at all if Harvesters International Ministries did not have a few dedicated staff members. And they are few – three to be exact – and they’re not all full time, at least not yet.

We are excited to announce that a veteran member of the Board of Directors, who is a CPA and a frequent visitor to our partners in Asia and Africa, has announced his calling to become the fourth member of our administrative team, joining Ed Hirshman, Sandi Roach, and Jonathan Lancaster. There will be more about this development in a later report.

In light of the small staff, it’s difficult to grasp the growth of the ministry, especially with respect to our annual budget and the number of ministry partners. God is still in the business of miracles. We have seen God work over and over with our own eyes.

Increasing our staff was a “God thing.” The Lord moved in the life of a board member, and that board member responded. His obedience effectively “raises the bar” as it relates to Harvesters and what the Lord has called Harvesters to do.

Each time the board meets, I am amazed at how God takes a little and turns it into a lot. I am awed at the Board’s spirit of unity. I recognize that there’s nothing magic about Harvesters’ effectiveness, other than the Board and the small staff place complete reliance on the Lord.

By bringing churches together with indigenous missionaries from around the world, Harvesters helps local congregations support meaningful and lasting change in even the most remote areas of Planet Earth. Here’s where God has us working the harvest as of today:

AFRICA

  • Pokot Outreach Ministries: Pastor Julius Murgor and his wife, Rachel, are parents of four children.
  • Grace Outreach Mission: Pastor Phillip Ochieng and his wife, Rose, are parents of four children.
  • UEBaptistGoma: Rev. Athanase Habimana and his wife, Rachel, have seven children.
  • To Africa with Love Ministry: Pastor Samuel Mwesigwa and his wife, Mercy, have one child.

ASIA

  • Good Samaritan Sewa Kendra: Kamlesh and Ranu Bairwa have one child.
  • Fellowship Bible Church Myanmar Mission: Pastor Hung Ling and his wife, Biak, have four children.
  • Outreach Ministry Pakistan: Pastor Bashir Bhatti and his wife, Rafhide, have four children.
  • Christian Youth Service Center: Edwin Kancherla and his mother, Esther Kancherla.

Growing Among Muslims

ompThere are days when the struggles of ministry in a Muslim country seem so hard, and that there is so little fruit and so much persecution, but as I reflect on the past few months I see that the Lord has truly been at work here in Pakistan and has been using our ministry in a mighty way. When you look at short periods of time it seems like God is still, but as I write of the many things He is doing, I am amazed at how we are growing. Here are some of the things the Lord has been doing:

  • We have ordained a new minister
  • We have planted a new church
  • My son is pastoring a church that is in the process of constructing a new building that is   62 x 16.
  • When funding for the above church was exhausted and elder of the church sold a very valuable gold chain to assist with finishing the building
  • An infant who was born with no sight is now, after prayer, having some vision
  • Two of our pastors have held baptisms for new believers

The fruits of ministry sometimes are assumed and we need our eyes opened to how He is working even in an area where we are a minority. Each soul brought to the Kingdom is a gift and we know that the angels are rejoicing. Please join with us in prayer and praise for how the ministry is being used to further that Kingdom.

Kenya Work Team

pomteamEach year Harvesters sends a work team into different parts of Africa. Most recently those teams have been focused on the needs of the Pokot Tribe of Northwestern Kenya. This years’ team, unlike most in the past, moved around a great deal with their focus being the needs of the orphans. They visited all the Pokot orphanages as well as the Lomut Secondary School located between East and West Pokot where some of the orphans are currently attending school.

The last orphanage visited was the Kodich orphanage in the mountains near the Uganda border. Last year, one of the work teams had installed drip irrigation on the property and helped them to plant a garden to help to feed the orphans. The report back from the team was that garden had grown to occupy most of the field and that it was being used to train some of the children in agricultural techniques. The headmaster, Yonna, has been very instrumental in advancing the work and helping the children and the community to see the great blessing this project has been.

The team had put Kodich off as the final stop as many of the students were competing in a national music competition. The group was the defending national champions and again walked away with first place honors. The team was able to catch up with the students in Nakuru where they were performing for the minister of education to determine who would be able to do a presentation before the President. The team reported that the quality of the presentations by Kodich was far superior to any of the other groups performing – they were much more polished and confident in their approach.

The other thing the team accomplished was to update biographies on orphans, and they will be adding and additional 26 children to the NoChild child sponsorship program when they return. Harvesters has also added several orphans from The Democratic Republic of Congo to our web site which will be increased after the medical team returns in the Fall.

School Adds Much Needed Space

indiaadditionIn the United States we constantly hear of overcrowded classrooms and a shortage of teaching materials. Overcrowding in the United States generally means 35 students per class – oh, how we wish that small a number for our schools in India. At the Jag at Jyoti School in a nearby village we have two classrooms and a small overflow space. We are a small Christian School reaching out to the poorest of the poor and giving instruction in grades pre-school through grade eight. Our overcrowding looks a little different than the overcrowding in the US – you see, we have such a heart for these young people that we find it difficult to turn them away.

This small facility has been reaching out to about 140 students per day, but this year word of the students successes has reach to far-flung villages, and our intent of keeping enrollment at 150 has now expanded to 170. Most of you would think this is a good problem to have, but the reality is that we have many grades sharing the same space because of the limited number of classrooms available. We also have a very long waiting list of students desiring to attend our free school, but without additional space we just cannot accept them at the current time.

We are blessed to have the facility that we have, but the buildings are old and in need of repair. We did some work on the overflow building a couple of years ago, but this year we were starting to get many leaks in the main building, so we have spent our vacation doing minor repairs to keep the water from dripping on the students.

Most of our vacation time was spent doing renovations to the Jeevan Jyoti school near the city where a violent monsoon took the roof off of a temporary structure that we had at the back of our first building which was really just a porch covered with corrugated plastic sheets. This area has now been made into a formal addition to the building, and by God’s grace, despite a great deal of rain which He controlled on key days of pouring concrete, we are now under roof and the electricity, painting and tile flooring are all that is left to complete. This school is also overflowing – designed for 100 students, grades pre-school through eight, in two buildings; we are now at an all-time high enrollment of 130 students with more registering daily.

TAWL July Update

“…. so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus…” Acts 20:24.

Greetings to you all our big family members overseas, Mercy my wife and Don Jr send their love to you all. God has given us life and we are all doing great. We appreciate you all so much for loving us and believing in our calling in this community. You have made us believe that He surly called us. Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific Purpose for which I was created and called for in Christ Jesus. June is past and July is also moving so fast, we are grateful to God that He has continued to be gracious to us as a ministry. Paul speaks about Grace and Faith; we have enjoyed every bit of it.

Kerith Children’s Home

One year ago Karim was picked with is brother Abed in one of the slums here, at 3 yrs Karim could not walk and sit by himself nearly to death, today he is lively, health, loves the Lord he is one of my Energizers, next is Jamal who had Tuberculosis but after treatment is now free from T.B, next week he will undergo a surgery on his foot next Tuesday, this is very expensive for us but the God who called us to do this he will provide. Please keep him in prayers. All other Children are doing well expect the food shortage that our community and the country is undergoing, we now buy a 100kg of maize flour at $110 dollars. This has made us begin to trust God to buy land for faming and now we are looking at 2 acres which will cost us $ 4,000.

River of God Christian Academy

ugandfeedingchildrenEarly this month we received a Family of 5 from the U.S.A. They blessed our people by doing bible Clubs, Women and Widows meetings, feeding school Children and starving families and even in the construction of our first permanent Class room.

They raised the money to start 2 class rooms, which are now at wall height, but the funds are exhausted. We have set goals of how we shall build the Eight Class rooms; we shall be building two classes at a time. The two classes above need $2,640 Dollars to be completed. To finish the remainder of the school will take about $29,100, and we believe God will finish it and that many non-schooled children will begin to access school. The volunteers will send us the plan for every one to see and pray about. We also continue to trust God for the expansion of our Ministry land in order to be able to construct our school and dormitory buildings.

River of God Church

“All things work together for good to those who love and trust the Lord” these have been our words since last week when our Church roof was put down by a heavy storm, surprisingly on Sunday when the members saw it many where touched and with their ability we have been able to raise $56 dollars so far, though this is a hardest time of the year. I believe soon our room will be useable again until we shall be in our permanent structure. (HIM was able to send the balance of the funds for the roof repair).

Evangelism

Our greatest goal is to reach out to the Lost by training indigenous pastors and empowering them. Pastor James from Kabole village is one of the many pastors that serve God under challenging circumstances, but despite all that, Pastor James travels from village to village sharing Jesus. He has 11 children and is now overseeing 2 Churches. For years he has been trusting God for a bicycle to ease his movements, Today he was shocked when he received a new bicycle from To Africa With Love Ministry. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Harvesters International Ministry, which has endeavored to support our ministry here in Uganda and become a channel of blessings to other growing Churches. $65 dollars can help a village pastor to extend the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with a bicycle.

We thank God for our old 4WD which is now in Dangerous Mechanical Condition. It was donated by one Missionary who is based here in Uganda and we are glad to let you know that it serves as a multipurpose vehicle in our ministry – it helps with collecting fire wood for the school and orphanage, it drives to 8 villages in a week, it is also used as an ambulance for critical patients in the community. It helps us to find water during dry seasons and every time I drive it I can’t tell what will happen next. We therefore send out a cry for a better means of transportation that will help us to be more self-sufficient in our services. A good 4WD Toyota Van will cost us $16000 Dollars.

Up Coming Events:

  1. Medical Team/ Children Workers from U.S.A – 1st to 5th Aug 2011
  2. Evangelism Campaign phase 2 – 7th –Aug to 11th Sep 2011 and
  3. Bible School 7th Semester – 15th to 27th Aug 2011
  4. Samuel and Mercy expects a New Baby Aug 2011

Prayer Concerns:

  1. Pray for Mercy so she can have a normal delivery.
  2. Continue to pray for us that we may continue to stay in the center of Gods will.
  3. Pray for Jamal’s surgery next week.
  4. Pray for a financial break through for all our Projects.

i. Completion of two class room broke. $ 2640 dollars

ii. Farm land 2 acres $4000 dollars

iii. Extension of Ministry land 100 Fit wide by 240 fit long $6000 Dollars

iv. Ministry Vehicle 4WD Toyota Van – $16000 Dollars.

v. Shallow Well with a hand pump – $800 Dollars.

“Commit your ways to God and He will direct your path”

Thank you so much for taking your time to read, Pray and supporting the work of God, may he continue to meet your heart desires.

Pastor Samuel Mwesigwa.

What Would You Do?

What would you do if your grocery bill went up 250% in the matter of a couple of months? Maybe you have experienced increases like this in one or more areas of your life

East Africa has been ravaged, yet again, by a severe famine that has made food staples such as maize and beans increasingly scarce and, therefore, expensive.

Reports are coming in from the field of failing crops, despite good rains in the spring. A bag of maize used to cost K.sh. 1,500. Now the same bag of maize costs more than K.sh. 5,000.

pom-childRefugee camps in Kenya are swelling with displaced people fleeing affected areas trying to find some relief. Both East and West Pokot have been significantly affected by the situation, which is the first time in twenty years that conditions have been classified as famine.  The chronic nature and scope of the situation makes it difficult for an organization like Harvesters to alleviate the suffering of these people in a meaningful, immediate way.  However, there is so much that can and should be done to break the cycle of famine in this part of the world.

What can we do? What should we do? As the situation on the ground worsens, there are several meaningful things that Harvesters needs your help to accomplish through your prayers and financial support.

The most immediate need is to ensure that the more than 600 children in the care of Pokot Outreach Ministry have enough food. The sharp increase in food prices has put a significant strain on the ministry’s resources.

Area pastors and evangelist continue to minister during this time despite them and their families being significantly impacted by the situation. Their commitment to the ministry is inspiring and their sacrifice humbling.

Another, longer-term need is to continue drilling water wells to provide a reliable source of water. Wells at the Kodich and the POM mission stations are a refuge for area residents and serve as a great source of encouragement and testimony. A garden at Kodich is used to teach students small-scale farming and has been a source of fresh food for the children. Other areas in both East and West Pokot have been identified for future wells.

Your gift of any size would be helpful for the ministry to continue to encourage, assist, and support the national missionary initiative among the Pokot.

Uganda Women’s Ministry

sundayschoolchildrencroppedWhat an amazing Savior, His words are still powerful even now to those that take them and move by Faith. Praise the Lord. It’s a beautiful moment again to send out a word to you and thank you for your prayers and care. The Lord has been faithful to heal my family and our extended family of 15. My wife Mercy now feels better and on Thursday she will go back to the Doctor to see how the baby in her womb is doing. All our kids are well and in School; Jamal is undergoing treatment of his leg believing God that he will walk.

River of God Church

Allow me this time to only report about the Church ministry.

On the 19th June 2011 was our women’s Sunday, women ministered in every thing accept the Preaching where I was invited as their Guest speaker. This is the 2nd time their given opportunity to use their gifts and talents. Music, Dance and Drama songs of Praise to our Lord filled the Church. They taught Sunday school classes, Married, Adult Youth, Teenagers and Children.

I want to thank all of you, my wife Mercy and all the women who worked hard to make this day colorful. I want to Invite you to our Church and pay a visit and see what the Lord is doing. I am grateful F2F that helped me introduce Sunday school classes in my Church which have become the main door for new converts. Pray for the women’s ministry of R.O.G that God will use it; you may also want to come and give them more Spiritual and physical skills.

Isaiah 43:1-3 “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”.