Greetings my friends and family
Here in Uganda if you are not been seen at a particular meeting for some time you are greeted with ‘you’ve been lost’. So Im sorry I’ve been lost since my February update, forgive me.
I've lived in East Africa for 7.1/2 years and I guess I've seen more rain in this rainy season than any other time and it seems never ending. The tropical storms are somehow fantastic to experience and after a short time the sun is glorious again. The difficult days are like being in England on those drizzly cloudy days, but usually it is warm. But this season we have had too many cold days. The Internet weather tells me at is 24C, but it is hard to believe, when Im searching for one of my two jumpers that have already disappeared onto one of the boys backs.
The year has had many challenges for us here and my extended family in the villages. One example is mid-teenager Denis, a boy whose father died some years ago, who struggled along with his mother year after year of abuse due to alcohol and witchcraft. Some years ago Denis met a pastor who introduced him to Jesus and was ‘Born Again’. Eventually Denis escaped from his mother and found his way to Kaliro and was taken in and cared for by pastor Anatoli, who became a friend of ours when we did a conference and crusades at his village Church about 18-months ago. Denis really wanted to continue schooling. So at the beginning of this school year (late January) I agreed to fund him in senior 3, as a day student. We bought him a bicycle to go the 3-miles to school in Kaliro town each way each day. He would leave home in the dark and arrive back home also in the dark. Toward the end of February he was on his way to school and a motorcyclist knocked him off his big and did not stop. Paying school fees now becomes also paying hospital fees; here is a photo of Denis wearing his brace to help the healing of cracked ribs, and a photo after it was removed; although at this time he could not ride his bike.
Some of you may be wondering how I decide to educate certain ones; I guess most of you realise that need is great. Holy Spirit said to me very clearly early 2012 in Yei, South Sudan that East Africa needed Godly Young Men properly educated. He is faithful and makes it clear who I am to add to my growing family and his timing is perfect in terms of providing friends on three continents to partner with me with funding.
When we first visited Anotoli’s Church, Denis was the appointed Youth Leader, but he was the one facilitating the conference; a young man somehow on fire for God.
News may have filtered through to some of you that a lorry hit our van on Saturday when Malik was driving home; the police are being very helpful and they have traced the owner, but the driver has disappeared. The owner is being cooperative, which is to be expected, because if he doesn’t pay for the repair to our van he could be sent to prison, which really does nobody any good.
We are looking forward to this coming weekend when we will be hosting Rolland Baker and eight of his pastors/staff from Mozambique. They will be with us for five nights and Heidi one night. Wow we are so blessed to be able to host them. We are praying fervently for a loan van to move the team each day to the Prayer Mountain AfriCamp conference.
I'd better stop and press the send button…
Love & Blessings
David T Atkinson
E: david_atkinson@me.com
BLOG: http://www.davidinafrica.me.uk (needs updating)
M: Uganda +256 788 702 375
