What a Difference the Summer Makes

Our children anticipate the arrival of Ukids each year. As the bus pulls up to the village, there is a warm and overwhelming welcome with the kids waving palm branches, singing, dancing, laughing and extending hugs! We too anticipate their arrival each year as they set out to accomplish so much in their short visit to the village. We want to highlight some of the wonderful things they accomplished while in Uganda, but know that what we share with you only paints a small picture of what they have done.

Ukids was able to install a water tower with two tanks at the Lira orphanage. What a blessing it is for those children to now enjoy fresh water! Thanks to Rick Chowdry and the team, they were also able to install a transmitter for electricity in the village. While in Lira they also supplied the orphanage with some of the things they were needing: wheelbarrow, hoes, and more mosquito nets.

We are grateful that Ukids makes it a priority every year to have baptisms at the hotel. Around 125 children and moms were baptized this year, to God be the glory! It is nice to see how they really consider all aspects in regards to this event by ensuring they understand what baptism is, covering them in prayer and washing their feet. Thank you Lord for lives changed by the Gospel!

There was a team that hosted a tea party to bless the house moms. They enjoyed tea, cupcakes, and other delicious treats as they were poured into and loved on by the team. Eleven tables were donated to go in the homes so they had a drawing to choose where they would go. Debbie prayed over the names before they were drawn so that those tables would go to exactly who God intended them to go to. What a blessing to our house moms!

While we continue to work on the school, the team was able to complete many of the classrooms allowing our children to move into the new school. We celebrated all that God had done through them and prayed over the school and the children. What a blessing this school will be to the lives of so many.

A farewell party was thrown for the Ukids where they offered many gifts to the ministry on top of all that they had already done. Our head master was blessed with the things he needs to be successful at his job. Our school was blessed with much needed school supplies, and our children were blessed with clothing, shoes, and other fun activities.

The blessings we received are too big to be summed up in words, so just know that God has blessed us abundantly through Ukids' ministry and we are grateful to God for what He is doing through them for us!

See photos of their trip on our flickr account: Ukids Trip!

Because of Calvary,

Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Colorado Team Led by Dr. O'Connell

For several years, Dr. Larry O’Connell and a team from Colorado have come to Uganda on a mission to advance the work of Christian Life Ministries and more importantly the work of His Kingdom. His Kingdom has not only been advanced by the acts of service, but also in the lives of those serving. Dr. O’ Connell has witnessed the growth and maturity in the lives of those who have served with him and in his own life.

When asked what the Colorado teams main priority is during these trips, Dr. O'Connell said:

To assist CLM and the ministries of CLM to become self-supporting and self-sustaining. This process will take years and will only be accomplished through God’s grace and the fulfillment of His will. [He] believes that this will be accomplished through the educating of the next generation of young Ugandans and by providing mentorship to them through this process. [He] is excited and believes in [his] heart that the young men and women of Seeta and Lira will be the next generation for the community and state leaders. This can be facilitated by starting educational and vocational training to both the orphans and the house moms in the care of CLM. The true landscape of Uganda will only change when Ugandans are leading the change, not relying upon outsiders from the community.

The Colorado team along with team members from UKIDS, put some finishing touches on the lavatory they started building last summer. It is looking great and we are excited about being able to use it very soon. The plumbing is completed, sinks hung, natural lighting arranged, and the water towers erected and connected. There are a few kinks we need to work out before it’s in full running order, but we look forward to what a difference this facility will make in the village.

In Seeta, the Colorado team replenished the medical clinic with all the supplies that were needed. New mosquito nets were hung for those children who did not have them and nets that were damaged beyond repair were replaced. The pediatrician, Dr. Cathy Cupp, from Mississippi, spent a total of three days mentoring the clinic staff in the physical assessment of children. Dr. Douglas Clark from Colorado springs, spent the same amount of time reviewing and strengthening clinic policies, particularly the Malarial Prevention Program. The Colorado team also hosted optical, pediatric, general medicine, gynecology, and physical therapy clinics at the Ayira Hospital, which is where the Lira orphans go when needed. Not to mention, they were able to accomplish 35 major surgeries during their time at the hospital.

Something else Dr. O’ Connell is excited about? That they now have supplied the dental clinic. Two dental chairs are to arrive in Uganda later this month and upon getting these they will be ready to provide not only extractions, but restorative care. Their hope is that dentists will now come and work for a week or two at Seeta Village helping to provide and restore dental health to the children.

Christian Life Ministries was so blessed to host Dr. Larry O’Connell and his team in Uganda. We are thankful for the love and dedication they have shown our children and ministry. What a blessing they are to us!

Because of Calvary,

Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Join Us in Uganda!

We need you and the skill set that you hold in multiple ministry projects in Uganda. Please find the multiple areas of ministry and consider how you can add to each one. If you do not think you have a relevant skill set, come with your heart and serve to make a difference!

1. Medical Outreach. With a poor and sick nation comes the need for medical care. Christian Life Ministries has made great leaps in this area, but there is still plenty of need to be fulfilled. This includes providing general medical care, dental care, and eye health care for our children, believers, and non-believers alike.

2. Business Leadership. To help the economy and create jobs, we encourage business professionals in any industry to help us help the businesses of Uganda. This includes participating in business summits, 1-on-1 mentoring, and anything else to influence the business arena of this nation.

3. Serve Orphan Villages. Christian Life Ministries has two operating orphan villages in order to take in helpless orphans and widows in an effort to raise them up to be future leaders of Uganda. The children are given a home, a loving family, an education, and hope for a better future. They are raised to know and love Jesus Christ, and the morals that are instilled in them will help Uganda to be a better place by emphasizing kindness, love, patience, humbleness, peace, and self-control among others. We need your help in many areas in this orphan villages, including giving love to the children, Vacation Bible School, widows/mothers ministry, construction and renovation, decoration, etc.

4. Evangelism. We are always trying to spread the great news of the Lord to all of the eager souls of Uganda. We do this through church planting, church construction, 1-on-1 and community open door mini-crusades, etc.

5. School Outreach. Help from the ground up through school outreach programs. We are specifically looking for teachers and school administrators to influence the academic decision makers of Uganda by meetings and consultations as well as major school assemblies.

6. Other Specific Projects.
A. Building Projects
B. IT Support for Church and Orphan Village
C. Worship Clinics
D. Sports Clinics
E. Landscaping
F. Media Ministry and Improvements

Bring your specific talents and put them to work in Uganda to change the lives of so many!

Please visit our missions website for more information on coming to Uganda!!

Alaska

Thank you for your prayers regarding my trip to Alaska. I am so glad that God called me to Alaska, it was not nearly as cold as I expected it to be!

When I landed Saturday, I had very little time to rest before I met with a group of mission trip participants for this summer. They will be building our orphan village a lavatory and hopefully a computer lab. We are so excited for their time there! Praise God!

Sunday, I spoke during two services at South Tongass Alliance Church with Pastor Cade King. Also, during my trip, I interviewed with a local radio as well as a newspaper. Monday evening, I spoke at a special event where there was standing room only. I was allotted a 15 minute slot to speak, but I really stretched the limits when I spoke for 20 minutes! Don't they know I can't speak for only 15 minutes? It is not in my nature! :)

God was definitely present during my stay in Alaska. All speaking events and interviews were powerful. If that wasn't proof enough, the sun was out the whole time I was there, which according to the locals is rare. They invited me back if I promised to bring the sun again. :)

Blessings,

Jackson Senyonga

Photo Update

Wanted to inform you all that we have updated the photos on our website. Check them out at www.christianlifeministries.org

Blessings

Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries