The Latest at Bethel...

Well.... I obviously fail at blogging. But there's SO much to update you all on! God is so good and His faithfulness continues to just blow me away.

The foundation of the building! 

Mommy and I recently spent a week in Kagarama with our children there. It was absolutely amazing. We started building!!! The first building we're working on is a 3 room set of classes. Eventually all of the rooms will be part of the school, but for a while, as we're building the dormitories, the children will sleep in one of the rooms. Anyways, the foundation is almost finished!! It was so amazing to watch the bricks being put into place. It was just one of those moments when you realize, "Wow. This is really happening."

But seeing the building wasn't the only wonderful thing.

During our time there, God began to grow even more love in us for our children (although I didn't think that was possible). I started to learn their personalities and see how God had moved in their lives since the first time I went to Kagarama. On the day we arrived, we had the chance to talk to all of our children as they were waiting for supper. 12 of them decided to be saved that night. It was amazing! Through the week, I was able to laugh with them, comfort them when they cried, sing with them, and just pour love out upon them. And I realized how blessed I am! I never deserved this great calling. I was never worthy of it. But despite the fact that it's SO hard, the abundant blessings that God has poured out upon me far outweigh the struggles.

Working on our English - DANCE! 

Helping carry bricks for the builders.

With our 3 kids here in Masaka
Monica, Gideon, and Ibra

We also have 3 of the Bethel children living with us in Masaka right now (Monica, Gideon, & Ibra) because they were from this area. Along with them, we're planning on bringing Nelson (see previous post) to come and live with us so we can take care of his needs. We're also preparing to send them Monica and Gideon to school in the next week or so. They're SO excited to start schooling.

The two biggest needs we have right now are sponsors for our children and more financial provision for buying a second piece of land and building. But we live by faith, and we know that God is going to provide because it's not our ministry - it's His! Give Him all of the glory, honor, and praise - He alone deserves it!

Other than that, I'm preparing to head back to Soldier, Kansas in June. It seems to be approaching so quickly... Seems like just yesterday I was moving to Masaka! But I know some big things are going to be happening in this next season of my life, and I'm so excited to share with everyone I can about God's work here!

Please be in prayer for Bethel and our children!

Abundant Blessings!

Nelson Ahimbisebwe

This son of ours is called Nelson Ahimbisebwe. As we were recently in Kagarama, we became aware of his condition. Although he's smiling in this picture, he's very weak and only sits watching the other children play. Because he needs extra nourishing food and care, we've decided to bring him to live with us for a time as we bring him back to health. In order to do that, he needs a sponsor asap... If you're interested, contact us!

Bethel Children

This hansom young man is 10 year old  Elisa Mushaija.
He previously lived in a nearby village with his
parents, but when both of them died of AIDS,
one of his relatives brought him to the church.

This young man is one of our awesome sons,
Godfrey Ndyanabo. He's 10 years old. When his father
died of AIDS, his mother left him with some neighbors
and moved to another district. Then, the neighbors
brought him to the church. 

This great son of ours is called Francis Mugarura. He's the
older sibling of Augustine and Vastina. Nothing was
ever known about the father, and their mother died. 

This is one of the older boys at Bethel, Denis Turindwamukama.
He's 7 years old and was brought to the church
by his mother after his father had died of AIDS.

This little guy is Edison Mucunguzi. He's 5 years old.

As his father was dying, he sold everything to pay for treatment.

When he did eventually pass on, he left his wife and 

children with nothing. 

Ibrahim Kyambade

Hey all! This little guy is Ibrahim Kyambade (or Ibra for short). He's 3 years old and has just come to stay with us here in Masaka, but will hopefully someday be able to stay in Kagarama. Anyways, Ibra needs a sponsor as soon as possible due to medical needs.

Ibra's mother recently died in childbirth along with what would have been her third child. Because Ibra and his elder brother were not the biological children of the woman's current husband, they were left without parents. While the older child was taken into another orphanage in the area, they were not able to take in Ibra  due to the fact that he tested HIV positive, so he's been staying with his grandmother. However, the grandmother's health hasn't been good, and she's not able to properly care for Ibra's needs. When we heard that he had been sick and needed help, we felt burdened to care for this child of God. He has many medical needs that need to be taken care of as soon as possible, which is why we're so urgently looking for a sponsor. If you've been touched by his story and feel led to help out the new son God has given us, please contact us as soon as possible! Blessings!!

More Sponsorship Children!

These are some more of our awesome kids at Bethel. If you feel let to sponsor one of them or just want to know more, contact us at lmichelle14@yahoo.com, emily.c.holliday@gmail.com, or surrenderuganda@gmail.com. Blessings!

This is one of my wonderful sons, Augustine Turyasingura.
He's 11 years old and is the middle child of the three
in their family. (His older brother is Francis, & his younger
sister is Vastina.) Random fact, "Turyasingura"
means "we shall be victorious."

This is one of our little guys, Barakatu Rubagasira.
He's 5 years old and along with his two siblings
 (6 year old Shakira & 3 year old Sharifu) were refugees from
the Dominican Republic of Congo. Their parents fled with
the children, but both died after reaching Uganda.

This is one of my beautiful daughters, Beaty Nabukera.
She's 5 years old and has two older siblings (Sarah and Joseph).
After their father died, their mother brought the three
to the church and left them there. She's a bit shy around us right now,
 but we know that as God starts to work in her heart, she'll open up!

This is one the awesome daughters God has blessed me with.
Her name is Catherine Barireta, and she's 8 years old.
She's the middle sibling of Clinton (10) and Sam (6).
 Don't let the picture fool you! She loves to smile and is a really sweet girl!

This is Clinton (Catherine and Sam's older brother).
He's 10 years old, which makes him one of the "older kids" in Bethel.
As with many of the other boys his age,
he steps up to help out and work whenever help is needed!

This sweet son of ours is called Daniel Nimwesiga.
He's 4 years old and has one older sister, Maxencia (6).
Their father was killed in a fight around Christmas time,
and afterwards, the mother left them at the church,
unable to care for them herself.

Hope Restored!

Right now, I feel like jumping up and down and screaming like a little girl. I feel like embarrassing myself completely by dancing around like a maniac. I feel like shouting to the whole world how good God is. (I also feel like I haven’t written a blog post in a really, really long time, but that’s beside the point.) Our God is good and faithful and absolutely amazing.

A new church we ministered to.

The majority of last week I was in Western Uganda with Mommy, Daddy, and my brother Eddie. The plan was to go minister to a church there and then a few days later go to Kagalama (which actually we found out is Kagarama… but they pronounce “l” and “r” the same! What?!). But anyways, I went thinking that I would be listening to Daddy, Mommy and Eddie preach, and then do all my work in Kagarama. Ha! Was I wrong. The Saturday before we left, I spoke at a youth prayer and fasting day at our church because God had really been laying it on my heart to speak His words and thereafter, receive His blessings. After that absolutely amazing experience, I thought that the calling of “speaking the words God gives me” was over and done with – and I was relieved!!  Speaking is not my forte. But God, as happens SO many times in my life, had a different plan. We ended up preaching in two different villages - spending Monday and Tuesday in a village called Nyamishwiga and one day in a nearby village, Rwampanga (yeah, try to pronounce those!). So, three days of ministering, and guess what?

I was called upon to preach.....

   ...Three times. 

As I listened to God’s words come out of my own mouth and felt the power of the Holy Spirit within me, I came to the realization of how great our God really is. I saw Him moving in peoples’ hearts and encouraging them – through an 18 year old girl from the middle of Nowhere, Kansas who has no college education and has never taken a public speaking class in her life. And again I was reminded of a verse that I shared with people so much before coming to Uganda,

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong…so that no one may boast before Him.”

-1 Corinthians 1:27 & 29

And this one:

”For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

-1 Corinthians 1:17

But do you know what happened after that?

P1 and P2 classes.

God’s abundant blessings began to be poured out, and I didn't even realize it! After ministering for those three days, we left early in the morning on Thursday to go see our kids in Kagarama. Can I tell you how awesome our God is? When we arrived, what I saw made my heart overflow!! Where our children had been devoid of hope and afraid, God came in and did a mighty work! As we arrived, my sons and daughters all came rushing to the car. They surrounded me as I got out, full of smiles and laughter and greetings. One of my little guys even came up and hugged me – that’s a first for my children! God placed a divine hope within our sons and daughters! He has started opening their hearts to the love that we have for them, and they’re responding. God is SO good! I wish I could put in words the overwhelming joy I have just thinking about how God is moving in my children, but words simply cannot express. Not only that, but when we reached home in Masaka, God’s blessings continued to be poured out. I received awesome news about provision for our children, provision for the buildings, and sponsors. God is SO good! And He is faithful. Glorify His holy Name! Praise Him! He is worthy of all the honor, all the glory, all the praise. Worship and praise His name with me, because He is a mighty, caring God who will NEVER fail us, and will ALWAYS fulfill His promises!   

 Blessings!

With Tumusiime
 (one of our 2 new little guys)

With my children! (Plus some!)

And Sponsorship Begins!!!

After what seems like the longest time EVER, I'm finally able to start introducing you all to the beautiful children God has blessed me with (44 of them!!). The love I have for them is truly God-given, and I hope you feel that same love and choose to sponsor one of our kids. I'll be posting more profiles over the next few weeks, so keep checking!! I'm praying that God will tug at your heart for one (or more!) of these children! Currently, our sponsorship fees are going to be $50/month. This will care for all of your child's needs - food, schooling, medical, etc. For more information, contact us!! (emily.c.holliday@gmail.com or lmichelle14@yahoo.com)

This is one of my sons, Abel Pasika. He's 10 years old.
One of the older boys at Bethel, and you can definitely tell!

This beautiful daughter of mine is named Airet Kyarisiima.
She's 11 years old. She was orphaned when her
father died of hernia disease.

This is my son, Alex Bakamushaba. He's 10 years old,
and along with his elder brother, Deus, is one of the older kids at
Bethel who really steps up to help.

I couldn't help but post Alex's brother as well!
They're so sweet! This is Deus Ahimbisibwe.
He's 11 years old and just like his younger brother
 is a great helper and sweet kid!

This is one of my little boys, Alexander Tumuramye.
He's 5 years old and is from the Kagalama area.
His father died, and the mother has never
been seen or heard of.

This sweet little daughter of mine is named Anna Tumuramye.
 (Although she & Alexander have a name in common,
they're not related.) She is 6 years old and has one older brother.
They were orphaned when their mother died of AIDS.
She's a sweet little bundle of joy!

This is Anna's elder brother, Kavari Natuhwera.
He's 8 years old and as I said for Anna,
they were orphaned when their mother died of
 AIDS. Like his sister, a sweet kid!

God's abundant blessings!!