Dear Friends and Family, Sept 2024
Thank you for your love, prayers and support, what an incredible summer (May-Sept) we have had here in Uganda. Psalm 118:22-24 ‘The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ Thinking and thanking back on the last five months, God is incredible, and He can work and do so much more than I can or even think is possible!
God has worked in four VBS (Vacation Bible School) Weeks so far this school year. Two in the May break, one week in Entebbe and one in Nangombe, with the awesome help from Harvest Bible Church and the missionaries they sent and Ben. Then in August, during break, one in Nangombe and one in September in Entebbe. Each week there are more than 300 children that participate in singing, hearing, laughing, learning, loving, crafting, playing, eating, praying, and memorizing scripture from Galatians 5, learning about Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit. Many children not only get to see, touch and feel Gods love for them, but some have publicly professed and fully surrendered their life to Him! Psalm 34:8 ‘Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!’ Thank you, friends and family, for providing for God’s goodness in this way!
Also, this summer Papa started teaching two new books in the Bible at church. God had allowed Kenny (Papa) to teach all the way through Matthew and Isaiah, so this summer he’s teaching in 1 Corinthians on Sundays and Daniel on Weds at refuge church. Every Sunday at the church, Including children, there is 200 to 300 people. I am so glad at what God has done in this fellowship so far. The biggest transformation in men, to me, this summer has been in a teen named Troy (18) and a man named Paul (23). Troy has been coming to Sunday service for almost two years, but has been kinda on the fringes. This year he started to come to the Men’s Saturday Night Bible Study and then in April volunteered for helping in Entebbe VBS. We started seeing him making friends, laughing, looking at a bible and getting courage to hang out a bit. Finally, this month after Weds Night Bible Study, came up to us for prayer. He told us he finally sees Gods love, believes God is real and here and LOVES HIM. He asked if we would pray with him as he gave his life to Jesus, he’s a new creation! Please pray for Troy as God loves, protects and strengthens him in his faith and in his life. I have never met his family, Troy is in S3(similar to 11th grade) and he has shared in the past that his family aren’t church goers but look what God is doing in Troy!!! Then there is Paul, he started coming this year in March. His two sisters, Jane and Vicky, have been in my life since I got here and they come to everything at refuge church. From what he’s shared, Paul used to be in the music scene and acted crazy. Yet, Paul told Papa in April, ‘I gave my life to Jesus, I want to get baptized.’ So we had a baptism in May where He publicly professed His love and trust in God and got baptized. He has left the music scene and since June has been bringing other men young men to hear Papa teach on Sunday. He is always there early and helps until the end, but quiet. He doesn’t always have the joy that Troy has and exudes. Pray for him. Last month, his sisters told SavHannah they have never had a relationship with their brother because of his craziness but now they see God working in him and are beginning a relationship with him. This summer, Paul has been helping us move to the new place but like Coco doesn’t want us to pay him(this is rare here, payment for serving is always expected). Paul also helped us both in VBS in Entebbe and in Nangombee this August and September, the group he was with nick named him the Bible Man. Pray God shows him, His ways. Those are just two wonderful stories on what God is doing in people here. Please pray for God to continue to work in these men, not specifically around us, but more in their hearts, in their life and where they already are. Its amazing to see God work like this…we are in fascinated and in awe of Jesus.
Finally, we have been too large at our current compound since the beginning of the year but could not find another place that was cost effected, that gave us His peace, and that was large enough for us to grow in. In July, SavHannah and her security guard, found a new place for us and by the end of that month, we signed a 3 year lease. Since September, we have been working on the property, for it to be safe and accommodate the needs for both the church and Poeima Ministry. Prayerfully, Sunday Oct 6th,’24 will be our first church service there. Please pray for us, specifically for our church refuge, for Papa the Pastor, and for us fully moving? This compound is about 6 blocks east of where we are located now. Everyone walks here, the ones we minister to and love, so pray it is an easy transition (we don’t want anyone to quit coming to church because of the rain or distance). Pray also God shows us and we act on how love our new neighbors, three of the church neighbors (teens in muslim families) have given their life to Jesus in the past year at our present location. We pray God works like that in this new area, the captives around us are freed in Christ. Pray that God is glorified there and for clarity and grace, Kenny needs both of those as He leads us serving in Uganda, Ps 46. There are 58 different countries in Africa, most people say that over 40 percent are Christians, but what we have experienced does not support that at all. Africa needs God, the direction and comfort of God the Father, the love and saving blood of Jesus His son and the continued direction, comfort and knowledge from the Holy Spirit of the bible. Death happens so quickly, loudly and often here, many perishing without Him.
Our days are busy, MY back and feet normally ache at night, and our heart is FULL thinking on the grace and being in awe of God. We’ve had days and weeks filled with so much joy we are bubbling, even bursting, and yet we’ve had days and weeks of hard trials that anger, disgust and tears flood our face, giving way to feelings of ‘will this ever end?’ With both, God when we let Him, washes, gives grace, understanding and even peace to help us continue stand firm in what He has asked us, called us to do, make disciples, Matt 28. The longer I am here, the more I understand some of the reasons of those that have left. God has given everything we have asked for but what we have asked for at times is exhausting, for the needs and trauma of living here, never cease. How has God miraculously put 112 children in school? How can we (Kenny, Sav, and I) teach the Word to others at least 8 times a week? Unbelievably wonderful is our God but at times what He wants and needs is all-consuming, draining, Matthew 9:37-38 Sometimes, I hear in my head Jan Merkell saying “What did you think missionary life would look like?’ Knowing me, a lot easier and less messy, lol. Some of you pray for us to rest, keep on praying, He is our rest. God has given and has taken away in the ministry, pray we have open hands to His will as He works, I am so thankful for you. Psalm 55:17 Pray we’ll continue to see His glory, He continues to wooe others to Himself and He continues working in His people here around us in Uganda. There are so many things I want and wish to share, but the work is calling, the battle is raging, and we’re running to receive the prize, I must go my fellow soldiers. God bless YOU, may He keep you and give you His strength in the days ahead, where HE has CALLED YOU. Phil 1:3-5 ‘I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,’
God gets all the glory, Ken and Leeann Crabtree, Vagabonds for Christ!