Summer 2017 Newsletter

        For the Love of Africa Ministries                             Summer 2017 Edition

                                                          April Mission Trip

                                                           By: Cissy Birungi

We send you greetings from Uganda, Africa!  Because of you, we have made a difference and have touched many people’s lives in Africa. We treasure you and appreciate all the efforts and support you have given through “For the Love of Africa Ministries” (FOLA). We are glad to say that for the past 5 1/2 years that FOLA, under the leadership of Momma Mary Linette, has done a great work in Africa.

During previous trips the main focus was on conferences, workshops, and medical camps in Kampala and hard to reach villages like Masindi and Kanungu.  A lot has been done, but yet this trip has had a tremendous impact in our lives as individuals, families, the church, and our nation at large. The major focus of this trip was development. It involved great teachings on the need for Uganda to develop and “how” we can develop.

The team was great! Allison Blum and Devon Edmondson were a great blessing in the youth conference and to fellow youths of all age groups. We found them more mature than their physical ages and grounded in their faith. Special thanks to their mother church and their parents for letting them come to Uganda. Teacher Amy Beshears and Momma Mary were a great blessing to the school administrators and teachers at the Mercy Junior School In-Service Training. They helped strengthen our system and gave us ideas on how to better help our students. Jena Wicker did a great job of overseeing the many ends. Momma Mary was a blessing because of her great team leadership, spiritual gifting testing workshop, and presented to us the Round Table training material.

                          Mass Wedding Reception           Mass Wedding Ceremony

Above are some pictures from the mass wedding that was held while the FOLA team was in Uganda. The couples were so happy and it was a huge success! Special thanks to all in the USA who donated dresses for this very special occasion. 

From the Desk of the President

By: Mary Linette

FOLA is making great strides in the area of development, as we have strategically been “branching out” into some new areas of development. During our recent mission trip to Uganda in April, we focused on teaching Ugandan leadership the importance of development and helped them understand that God has gifted them with talents and abilities that just need to be tapped into or ones in which they need training.  Dr. Gilbert and his team have been very open and receptive to the ideas we brought them and since our return, they have been working on implementing many of the recommendations we shared with them. We are very proud of their progress!  Our goal and mission is already beginning to pay off!!! Along with working in new areas of development, FOLA will continue to pursue development in the areas of medical missions, water, and school projects. The question we always ask ourselves in any project is:  “Is this healthy giving?”

Mercy Medical & Dental Clinic Construction Update

Exciting news! We have been able to double the size of the Mercy Health Services Clinic we are constructing, which is now about 90% complete. This medical facility will be of great benefit, as large hospitals are over- populated and are not affordable for most medical and dental patients. It will house a pharmacy, administrator’s office, reception area, two doctor’s offices, a laboratory, a surgical operating room, x-ray room, examination room, three 5-patient wards, and a dental clinic. With this new medical and dental facility, Mercy Health Services will be able to meet the needs of the community and surrounding area by offering medical and dental services and also provide patient intervention after the medical camps World Born Again Medical Ministries (WBAMM) holds in remote areas.  We are praying for the finances to finish the clinic and also for the needed medical equipment.

                           Kampala Medical Clinic           Clinic Dedication 4/22/17

Masindi School

By: Mary Linette

While we were in Uganda in April, we learned that a bad storm came through the bush village of Masindi, where we work, and totally destroyed the only school they have in this remote area.  The cost to build a permanent tin building for them is $3,000.  Would you be willing to give towards this cause?

                          

                          Previous Masindi School           Demolished Masindi School

Masindi Medical Clinic

By: Dr. Gilbert Birungi

Thank you for supporting and partnering with us whenever we come to you with matters concerning Africa.

Today, I want to share with you about the emergency medical need we have in the very remote “bush” village of Masindi, Uganda, Africa where we do mission work. People in this community live far below the Ugandan poverty level, as they stay in huts made of mud, tree poles, and grass roofs (see pictures below). Most of these people in this village are uneducated and lack even basic life skills. Many even marry as early as age 12.

                             Women Cooking in Masindi                  Masindi hut

OUR WORK IN MASINDI

FOLA has partnered with Mercy House Ministries, whereby, we have held several medical missions in the Masindi area, completed a double water project there, conducted seminars, workshops, and conferences to teach practical skills, and have empowered and supported churches and people in this Masindi community.

FOLA SPONSORED MEDICAL MISSION IN MASINDI

NECESSITY OF MEDICAL CLINIC

Some time ago, some of the children from our Kampala Mercy House Children’s Home went to Masindi to help with “weeding” the crops on our Masindi farm. This was done to help teach the children skills, good work ethic, and to help them understand the importance of growing food for our Mercy Junior School and the Children’s Home. Two weeks later, we received a phone call that some of the children were sick and that one of our Masindi pastor’s children had died.  We were very thankful that FOLA and Empowered Masters Commission gave funds to support the treatment of the kids and helped pay for the burial of Pastor Isaac’s son. We thank everyone who supported these emergency situations.

Through this, our eyes were opened to the true medical needs in this community. We came to understand that Pastor Isaac’s son died because of an untreated bacterial infection that was carried by mosquitoes infected with malaria. Had there been a medical clinic in this area, this child’s death could have easily been prevented by antibiotics. During the burial service the LC Chairman of the Mboila Parish area informed us that 3 people had died within the last week and that many other people had also died recently, all having the same health issue. All they needed was medical attention!

SUMMARY:

Because of the intense necessity, we went ahead and opened the Masindi Medical Clinic by faith. The total budget for the project is $2,500. We have raised $1,000. We still need to raise the remaining $1,500.

“WOMEN OF HOPE”

By: Mary Linette

Imagine your daughter or granddaughter living a life of prostitution or being sold into sex trafficking! Many in today’s society find themselves “caught” in exactly one of these types of lifestyles, with no way out! On our recent mission trip, Allison Blum and I had the privilege of meeting with such a fine group of ladies who call themselves the “Women of Hope.”  Through Dr. Gilbert and the Mercy House Ministries team, these 10 ladies have now been set free from prostitution. They are truly trying to make a new start and deserve a 2^nd chance in life!!!

For the Love of Africa Ministries is partnering with Mercy House Ministries to help bring change to these ladies’ lives! We can change not only their future, but also the future of other ladies caught in prostitution and sex trafficking, both of which are on the rise.  What will keep them from returning to prostitution? Helping to train them and help them find employment. This is development at its finest!

  

If we do not help them or fight for them, who will?

Women of Hope, Mary Linette, Dr. Gilbert & Staff, Allison Blum

They want to begin a bread business, whereby they would make bread, cakes, etc. and would sell them in the market place.  They have put together a business plan, which includes a cost breakdown and projected profit.  The total cost to build a building, constructing 2 brick ovens, training, equipment, and labor, etc. is $7,500.  Besides the commitments that Samaritan’s Purse ($450) and Dr. Gilbert & Cissy Birungi ($150) have made, we need to raise $4,500. Will you help us?

“MARK YOUR CALENDAR” and visit our website for all our FOLA Events!

 We hope that you will become involved in the FOLA fundraising opportunities we have scheduled for 2017. If you would like to volunteer, become involved in any way, or would like us to give a FOLA presentation at your church or to your organization, please contact us by email at fortheloveofafricaministries@gmail.com.

Ways you can support For the Love of Africa Ministries

Amazon Smile: This is a simple and automatic way for you to support us every time you shop on Amazon, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same prices and selection as on Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a percentage of the price of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases to “For the Love of Africa Ministries.” Simply go to smile.amazon.com and login to your Amazon account. Select “For the Love of Africa Ministries” as your choice of charity. Then have fun shopping!

Schnucks E-Scrip Card: Your purchases create automatic contributions to FOLA each time you shop using your Schnucks E-Scrip Card. You may contact us, complete our website online contact form, or email us at fortheloveofafricaministries@gmail.com with your name, address, phone number and email address to receive a Schnucks E-Scrip card. We will send you your new card in the mail.