Natasha's News

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (Psalm 31:24)

Dear All,

Last June we said farewell to Uganda, having completed our first year of serving at African Bible University (ABU), and travelled home to the UK for the summer. In some ways it was an effort to leave, we had just begun to settle into our home and adjust in a small way to the culture around us. In other ways we were greatly looking forward to seeing family, friends and CPC. So with some mixed feelings we boarded the plane for the eight and half hour flight back to London.

Our summer was such a blessing to us. God used the time to encourage us, mainly through his many saints, whom we met whilst deputising, but also through our families who took good care of us. God truly used His Church to confirm His calling on our lives, and gave us strength to return and continue in His service. We visited many churches, who showed such love and interest in ABU, that our hearts were renewed. Praise God for the encouragement of His people. Special thanks go to Hilary and the Hayletts, whose hospitality was a rich blessing, especially when Sean suffered his heart attack (which he has now fully recovered from).

After spending ten weeks in the UK, we had easily re-acclimatised to western life, and so when it came to leaving, all the mixed feelings flooded back. Please pray for us as we adjust to having two totally different homes for the foreseeable future.

It's now been two months since we arrived back in Kampala and began our second academic year at ABU. Sean is teaching English, World History, Sports, Foundations of Curriculum Development, and Open Air Evangelism this semester. I am teaching Library Orientation and Home Economics, supporting three faculty children with science and maths, as well as taking on the role of Quality Assurance Manager. Please pray for us, as we seek to fulfil these roles to the best of our ability whilst showing grace. Only that which is done for the LORD will stand.

Last weekend we had the privilege of returning to Masaba Grace Missions Church. It is a village church in Eastern Uganda, close to the Kenyan border. Sean had been invited to preach around five months ago, and whilst there, the church had shared some of their needs, one of which was the repair of the community water pump. God heard the prayers of His people in Masaba, and saw fit to use friends back home to meet the needs of the church, and display His love.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will  reward them for what they have done. (Proverbs 19:17)

So, Sean and I, along with Fred (an ABU student), travelled back to Masaba to oversee the repair work and serve the Church on the Sunday. I wish you all could have been there to see the tears in a grown man's eyes, and the joy of God's people as they saw their heavenly Father providing for their basic needs. They sang and danced with hearts bursting, their God had not forgotten them. Sean preached on the living water that only Jesus gives, reminding the people that only those who drink of that water will never thirst. Please keep this church in your prayers, especially that the Gospel would be faithfully preached, Sunday by Sunday, and that God's people would live holy lives.

Recently I have been working hard to fulfil my new role as Quality Assurance Manager. We have been told that the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) will be visiting our campus on Friday 14th November. They will assess ABU with a view to granting our Charter. Please pray for us all as we seek to get everything ready for their visit. Please pray that the Lord would be our helper, that His name would be glorified, and we would be granted the charter so that His gospel may be preached to all nations.

Please pray that God would give us grace to live for Him and to teach for Him. There can be lots of little discouragements that come at once and make you doubt yourself, please pray that we would fix our eyes on Christ and trust Him for everything.

We have such fond memories of you all, thank you for standing with us.

God Bless,

Natasha

Sean preaching, as the workmen are fixing!

The well is 27 metres deep, so nine lengths of durable pipe were installed.

                           Everyone was happy, praising God for what He had done!

On the Sunday, everyone came out for the Grand  Opening Ceremony!

Sean got to cut the ‘ribbon’...Whilst Natasha acted out his sermon, 

‘A woman, a well, and living water!’

Lunch was served!

…and a packed lunch given for the journey home (one of which, we’ll be eating this weekend)!