Wednesday in Bwerenga

Good evening from Uganda!  It is nearing 6:00 in the afternoon here and our team has had another incredible day of seeing what God is at work doing in Uganda, specifically among those in the community of Bwerenga.

We met in the home of Pastor Ernest and Momma Katherine and were greeted with a Southern hospitality we have grown to love.  Pastor Boaz shared with us about the vision of the church in Bwerenga and we see that there is a clear passion and vision for children from the Remand Schools (juvenile detention facilities).  For example, Pastor Ernest and Momma Katherine currently are fostering 31 children who would be in the facilities;  Pastor Boaz and his wife are fostering 10 children.  The example of these leaders has created a passion from within their church to raise support for a future Children's Home.  The vision is huge and the dependence on God's provision is even greater.

So as we were hearing the vision, several children between 1-3 years old came into the room and each of our team members became a peaceful resting place for the babies.  It was such a sweet sight to see a few of the babies being so cozy that they fell asleep in the arms of our team members.

After our visit, Pastor Boaz and Pastor Ernest wanted to show us their mission field, a nearby fishing village.  One of the more powerful statements from Pastor Boaz was that "they wanted to take the church into the community, not expect the community to come to church."  That was awesome to hear!!!  So at the village we went to the waterfront and saw the day's catch from one fisherman as the pastors visited with the locals.

Upon returning to the home, there were a number of families from the community who had been invited to the home in order to receive mosquito nets.  So sweet again to see the relief on their faces as the children were given their nets.  This is another avenue of the pastor's claim of taking the gospel into the community by giving away the nets.  One grandmother who has been struck with polio and yet is responsible for her grandson also received a net as Pastor Ernest invited me to walk with him to her home.  She was extremely grateful. All in all in Bwerenga, God is moving and their leadership is following the vision of God and it is awesome!!!

We are on our way to dinner now and we will prepare for our final night in country.  Thank you for your prayers!!!!  All of us will miss this wonderful place.

Pat Bethea