Reaching Out

We truly believe that there are no such things as coincidences, only divine appointments.  While house hunting, we met a women named Evelyn Komuntale, and have since become friends.  Evelyn shared with us her testimony and passion that lead her to establish a non-profit organization called Outreach To Africa (OTA) to reach out to the people of Uganda and DR Congo.  Since its inception in 1996, OTA has continued to reach out in various ways and through various projects to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people.  Evelyn Invited us to visit two of their projects – Paul Devlin Academy Primary School located about an hour drive (7 miles) outside of Ft. Portal and Rwebisengo Medical Center about a three hour drive (45 miles) due west on the border of DR Congo. 

Paul Devlin Primary School

On the first day, we went along with a small medical team to the primary school.  Several of the team members with medical training were visiting as part of a larger short term mission team from the United States serving in another area of Uganda.  One hundred and ninety four children are currently attending the school.  About thirty percent of the students are boarding at the school, the remaining walk every day to school from the surrounding area.  The medical team was tasked with giving basic physical examinations, administering Tetanus booster shots and testing the children for HIV/AIDS.  Small Pox vaccinations were also given to those children who had not already received them.  The medical team had already worked at the school the day before and attended to more than half of the children.  Our goal was to see to the remaining students.  Although we were just tagging along with the medical team, George and I quickly found ways to be useful.  George worked most of the day alongside of some of the team members who were administering the HIV/AIDS tests and recording the results.  Praise the Lord, on this day, all sixty four of the children tested negative for HIV!  I stayed busy filling in where needed and in the afternoon played games with the children.  Having accomplished what we set out to do, we traveled back to Evelyn’s home and shared in a wonderful evening meal together.

Luan cutting pills in half to make proper dose for children. 

Teddy drawing blood for HIV tests.

George managing HIV results.

Yesu says, raise your right hand and turn yourself around!

Doctor Amy attending to a young patient at the clinic.

The next day, we traveled with Evelyn and two of the women from the medical team, Amy and Annette, about three hours west to Rwebisengo Village bordering the DR Congo to visit OTA’s Rwebisengo Medical Clinic.  Rwebisengo has a population of about 30,000.  A large number of them are refugees who ran away from the DRC due to ethnic warfare.  OTA has turned a hotel into a medical center equipped with a laboratory, pharmacy, maternity and private rooms for patients.  They see some 5000 patients and deliver 300 babies annually with only one doctor, one medical assistant, one nurse, one midwife and several other workers who support the administration and physical needs of the clinic.  An amazing amount of work is being accomplished with such little staffing at the clinic.  We were impressed by the cleanliness and organization of the clinic.  Even more impressive was the genuine care and attention

Private patient rooms provided at the clinic.

 by the staff to the needs of the patients.  Since there is no power in the village, the laboratory equipment and testing methods used are designed to be utilized without power.  Amy and Annette, who are both medically trained professionals from the US, brought along medical supplies that had been donated for the clinic and attended to a steady stream of patients during our time there.  Following our visit to the clinic, we had the privilege to visit the home of Evelyn’s uncle located a little ways from the clinic.  We enjoyed a wonderful meal together prepared Congolese style before returning to Ft. Portal.  Our return trip took a little longer than expected as both lanes of the road were closed for some time while construction crews were excavating the mountain side above.  A large front end loader had to be used to remove the huge boulders and rocks that had fallen and blocked our road before we could continue on our journey. 

Patiently waiting for road construction to clear.

We encourage you to learn more about OTA and ways that you can pray and support their ministry by visiting their website at www.outreachtoafrica.org.  May the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

In His Grip,

George and Luan

Answer to Prayer!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”  (Eph 3:20-21)

Three bedroom, two bath house with large compound.

George and Gladys chatting in the house.

George and I want to thank you for all of your prayers, especially regarding our challenges in finding housing since relocating to Ft. Portal, Uganda.  The Lord has answered in His perfect timing and by providing abundantly beyond all that we ask or think!  We looked at a house a couple of days ago and have verbally agreed to terms to move in on September 1^st.  Please pray as we finalize the tenant agreement and that the owner will be faithful to complete the remaining work on the house.  The house needs to be painted and some cabinetry needs to be completed, but the house is of new construction and built to western design and standards.  An older, single women, named Gladys and a younger man named Samuel will live on the compound with us in the boy’s quarter that is located behind the main house.  They are cousins to the owner Olive, who lives and works in Kampala.  They have been living on and taking care of the compound on her behalf.  Their presence will help ease any security concerns as they are from this village and have family in the surrounding area.  They will help to take care of the sizeable compound which also has a matooke (local green banana) farm and a large garden area.  They have also agreed to share some of the garden area with us so that we also can plant a garden.  The house is located in an area called Kamengo, off the main road leading into downtown Ft. Portal.  It is nestled into a quiet, village setting surrounded by plush, green hills covered with garden plots and pasture land spectacled with grazing cattle.  It also has a view of Rwenzori Mountains in the distance and is very near to one of the beautiful crater lakes.  We can’t wait to move in, meet our neighbors and really begin the discipleship ministry that the Lord has placed in our hearts!

In His Grip,
George and Luan

Continuing to Share Our Vision

George and I chillin', literally, in Gulf Shores, AL.

For the first couple of months after returning to the States we rested, hung out and celebrated the holidays with family and friends.  After all, it had been over three years since George was last in the States and over five years since we celebrated the holidays together with our families.  Since December we have been traveling and sharing our new direction and vision for a discipleship ministry in western Uganda.  George and I continue to seek opportunities to share the desires that the Lord has placed in our hearts for this ministry and we continue to pray for the Lord to multiply the number of supporters that have a heart to partner with us financially and in prayer.  We are currently staying in southern Tennessee with friends who have graciously opened their home to us. 

I have to confess that we are getting anxious to return home to Uganda.  We are trying to use our time wisely to prepare for our return to the mission field.  George successfully completed a pretty intense motorcycle driver training course which enabled him to pass the DMV driver’s test with flying colors.  This is pretty amazing considering that he has not driven a bike in, well let’s just say, a very long time.  The cool part is that Uganda will honor his motorcycle license.  So, when we return, we will be able to move around the village areas much more easily and cost effectively.  Now we are praying that the Lord will provide for us a reliable motorcycle for us to use when we get there. 

Singer Treadle Machine we will use.

I am learning to sew.  Yes, you heard me right!  Several women have offered up their time and resources to teach me basic sewing skills.  Bless them for their willingness and patience!  The Lord has really laid on my heart to start a young ladies sewing project when we return to Uganda.  I hope to reach out to some of the young ladies who have mild physical handicaps, to empower them with practical skills that they can use, such as sewing and small business skills, to provide for themselves and their families.  Even more near and dear to my heart is using that time with them to help them grow in their relationship with the Lord.  I am praying that the Lord is, even now, preparing a godly women who has a teachable spirit and is able to teach the necessary sewing skills to the young ladies.  I hope to share more details with you and how you might be involved in the ministry soon.

George and I sincerely thank all of you who continue to cover us in prayer, sacrificially provide for us during our stay here and have made a commitment to partner with us financially.  “Blessed be the LORD, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our Salvation.”  (Ps 68:19).

In His Grip,

George and Luan