Dear Friends and Family,
The most rewarding experience a missionary can have is being able to see the work he has done for the Lord continue to be fruitful even after he has left the work and returned home for whatever reason. Through the leadership of Pastor Richard Oleo in Masindi, the preachers and graduates of UBBI are enjoying preaching and fellowship for three days this week. On Friday seven students will graduate from Faith Baptist Bible Institute (formerly UBBI). For me the most exciting factor is that all the leading and teaching was done by former graduates of UBBI. Men like Gilbert, Augustine, Oleo and others have been faithful and done the job. To God be the glory! One special note is that one of the seven graduates, Emmanuel, was the first child born to Henry and Cedrik who were the first couple I married after arriving in Uganda. Graduates were: Rwabugahya Vicent of Masindi, Mwesigwa Emmanuel of Buhimba, Pithua Johnson of Kaiso, Uyi Yesu Yosia, Vudriko Stephen of Moyo, Angei Juliet of Masindi, wife of Pastor Oleo and Driciru Grace formerly from Arua ministry now in Masindi.
Pastor Ignace wrote me a nice letter updating me on how things are with Berea Baptist Church in Rwanda. It was one year ago when Kathy and I travelled there to assist him in the planting of a new church. He says they have at least two to join each Sunday and now have 192 members. A couple weeks ago he baptized six. They have a young man that has a burden to start a church in one of the districts in northern Rwanda. Please join us in praying about Daniel’s training for the ministry.
Robert, Denis and Alex continue to send me reports of people being saved and edified as a result of broadcasting from New Life Radio. Pray for more preachers to have programs in the various local languages, especially Alur and Kiswahili. Denis wrote: Teacher Annet from Kyarwabuyamba Hoima town is now on my prayer list. After losing her biological mother she had resorted to drinking, and was full of anger and strife.
But New Life Radio has helped her so much to recover from such dilemma. She got born again and we have shared a lot together. Being a single mother, she faces a lot of challenges. She told me what she went through and for now she is continuously rejoicing for the existence of this station. Personally I may sometime feel exhausted and weary but for such people like teacher Annet, I have always found myself moving another extra mile.
I know many of you have been praying for me and my physical struggles. I have seen seven doctors and getting ready for an eighth. So far they have told me the following: Due to a previous stroke I have damage that causes my speech to be slow at times. It also makes it difficult to sometimes get a thought from my brain to my mouth to say something. I have no way of knowing when this will happen. It comes and goes. I have atrial fibrillation – the top part of my heart beats faster than the lower part and causes my heart to beat out of rhythm at times. It makes me more susceptible to having a stroke. I have what is called pseudobulbar affect. It is also related to brain damage due to my stroke. Signals get crossed and cause me to cry without reason – even to the point of sobbing. Most of the time I have no indication when it is going to happen. With this in mind, pray I might make right decisions.
Your missionaries to East Africa – Tony and Kathy