STEPPING OUT PROGRAMME CERTIFICATION

For the first time we had a formal certification for the ministry training Stepping Out Programme in Evangelism, Discipleship and Leadership development. This training covers 39 weeks and over 200 pages of material. It is both simple and comprehensive. We had 30 prison pastors and 60 leaders from over 15 churches complete the training. The prison pastors cover 15 prisons in northern Uganda and what we are seeing in the prisons is nothing short of transformational.

We are implementing a clear reporting system this year so we can identify genuine commitments, growth in the local churches, people growing in their faith and leaders who know what it means to take responsibility for another person who has come to faith.

LITERACY GRADUATION DAY

We held a Literacy Graduation day for learners who are part of the Functional Adult Literacy programme. During the ceremony the Community Development Officer announced that our students had received the highest marks in the district! It is one thing running a school so people can read and write. It is quite another taking people who are illiterate of various ages and achieving excellence.

Quite literally while doing the Certification I had to apologise for being late because one of our Boer goats gave birth to twins! In Africa you have to be adaptable and ready for anything at any time.

GL12 CHURCHES LITERACY CLASSES

We have also started Literacy Classes attached to local churches and there are 15-17 in total; six classes have already started.

SEWING CLASSES

The Sewing School certificated its first students after 2 years of learning. They then put on a wonderful drama and song to demonstrate their passion and appreciation.

SITE WORK

Our site just outside Gulu is so beautiful. It is the centre for much of our development projects and over the years has much growth. During the mission we were able to set in place a stronger infrastructure which is so important in our growth.

We have connected internet access at the site and obtained another motorbike to facilitate the ministry. These things are such cost savers in time as people are then not reliant on local systems.

10 bee hives are now occupied and we are expecting our next harvest at the end of March.

HEALTH CLINIC

We have set up a pilot health clinic on Site that provides treatment for the Agape children and immediate staff. The churches are developing their village health teams and we have set up a year's programme to serve church communities initially to pilot immunisation and community health initiatives. The hospital visitation team had a further time of training but it's their compassion and ministry to the sick which shines through so clearly.

All our team members on this mission were extremely busy and highly productive. I am proud of their commitment and love of the local people. Our vision is there to serve and support the vision of the local people and the unity and relationships which have built up over the years is unique.

Please do commit all these things and indeed the people to God. The biggest battle is sometimes not in times of war but in times of peace when wars cease.

There are always many needs but change begins with HOPE. Let's begin with hope and then move into faith where anything IS possible.

In love and appreciation

Dr Liam Chapman

Our visit to Gulu in April was our third time to Uganda - this visit was particularly special for two main reasons: we were joined by Daniel's brother Aaron (who travelled from Australia and met us in Kampala) and also we stayed with a local family (Ps Gabriel and Pauline Lajul) and was able to personally experience overwhelming Ugandan hospitality.

One of our aims for this trip was to make 200 or so mini chalkboards for the adult literacy students. But once arriving in Gulu we realised that only 2 of the 20 locations for classes had a chalkboard for the teacher. So we decided to make 19 teacher-size chalkboards and enough mini chalkboards for the literacy classes at Layibi. Jody was able to spend some invaluable time with Nyeko Jefferson, the local literacy co-ordinator, and visit three literacy classes, along with spending a day at his primary school. It was a great experience to see first-hand what the classes are like and to be able to present them with resources to help make teaching and learning easier. Jody took her hand at learning Luo and with the aid of some good instructors was able to make a speech at a literacy presentation in Luo (the local language) - she had to be interpreted back into English for her husband and brother!

Another aim of ours was to make a couple of beehive boxes. This is where Daniel's brother became invaluable - Aaron worked very hard with the local staff to finish these. This was Daniel's first time of physically dealing with the African bees and he certainly received a baptism of fire! Even wearing his own protective clothing he was still stung at least 25 times! They did manage to harvest about 3kg of honey, the amount was a little disappointing but the flavour certainly helped to dampen some of the pain!

All in all it was a great time away and our best visit yet to Uganda!

Daniel and Jody Unterrheiner