Bethel

With my family!
Dissan, Deborah, Jeb, me, Daddy, Mommy, Mukisa

Ya'll. I've probably turned into one of the worst bloggers in the world! Sorry about that, but things have been moving SO quickly, I've hardly had time to think long enough to write everything! Now, hang onto your hats! The things God has done in the past month still continue to amaze me and blow my mind.

I'm now living in Masaka with Mommy and Daddy - which has been SUCH a blessing to me. Being in the same house with my family (including my amazing new siblings!) has probably been one of the best things that's happened to me since coming to Uganda. For now, however, I'm going to pass on all the awesome things I could tell you about my Ugandan family because I want to tell you about the orphanage!

Monica, one of the girls who will eventually
moving to Bethel Orphanage.

The orphanage now has an official name: Da da da daaa!!! Bethel Orphanage!! Bethel means "House of God," and we've been praying and asking that God makes His house there with the children in Kagalama. He led us to that name through specific passages like Genesis 28:10-28 and Genesis 12:1-9, and He's been making promises to us through those same scriptures,

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

-Genesis 28:15

Gideon, Monica's younger brother, will also
be moving to Bethel eventually.

God's provision and blessing has been upon us in everything we've been doing for Bethel Orphanage. The church members in Kagalama were SO excited to hear about the vision we have, and they wanted to start the school as soon as possible. They took the initiative while I was gone to get classes started for this year. Now we have two classes of children being taught by a qualified teacher there at the church!! God is so good! If anyone would be interested in "sponsoring" the teacher (as in paying the salary, which is currently $115/month) please let me know! But there's another development starting soon - the sponsorship program! We're starting to work on each child's profile so we can begin looking for sponsors. If you're interested, keep an eye out here on the blog and on facebook for the children's profiles and the sponsorship information. I can't tell you how excited I am to see you all get involved because I know that God has already started preparing your hearts for various works within the ministry He is starting - whether it's donating, sponsoring, visiting, praying, or spreading the news - your part is SO important! And we've been praying for you! We're planning on going to Kagalama soon with an architect to start getting the blueprints for the school, dormitory, clinic, and other buildings. The initial building plan is to start with a 3 room structure that will eventually be part of the school. However, to start with, one room will serve as a room for the children to sleep in (divided in half for girls & boys), and the other two rooms will serve as classrooms. Currently our estimated budget for that structure is around $30,000 total or $10,000 per room. We're praying for people and churches to stand for this ministry and for the work God is doing, and we're confident that He will provide because He is a rich God. So, for now, in short, that's what's happening in Uganda! Now that we once again have internet access at Mommy & Daddy's house, I'll be trying to keep you all more informed. PLEASE contact me if you have any questions! This ministry isn't about what I'm doing, it's about glorifying the name of Jesus - which means the more people involved, the better!!! 

Blessings!