Diana's News Spring 2012 pg 1

      Moyo CWWC

 

Big News, Big Savings!!  I have decided to rent a house in Moyo because it is more cost effective. It was costing the team 680,000 shillings to stay one week in a hotel; one month’s rent for the house is 700,000 shillings, which translates to approximately $10 a day. The house has space for conducting additional classes and accommodating more people, and we can stay longer than a week at no additional cost.

              I have also rented some land for planting cassava to help feed the school students. Cassava is a staple food for breakfast in Moyo. I could not find enough each time to feed the students. Now I will have plenty with extra to sell and for replanting.  I also have planted  cowpeas (field peas) and ground nuts (peanuts) for the school as well.

              

         First  Moyo Youth Camp

         CWWC ministry held its first Youth Camp in May, and it went very well. There were about 120 youth to come for 3 days.

         Mr. Luzira and Elizabeth taught leadership, savings, family planning, and business. My Pastor, Floyd Paris, brought a team that assisted in the teaching and had a successful cultural exchange with the Youth. I was not able to accompany this team due to my bout with mononucleosis.

         The youth event was a tremendous success as there was much sharing of the gospel.  There had not been much interaction in this district with foreigners in the recent past because of the unrest with Kony’s rebels.

              In Uganda, a person is considered a youth if he or she is between 18 to 30 years old. US Aid estimates those under the age of 30 to be 78% of the population. The Youth of Uganda have problems as a result of AIDS, a weak economy, drug abuse, adolescent pregnancies, underemployment, and unemployment.

              Our prayer is that the ministry we have begun will begin to counteract these problems; the only hope there is JESUS!   

Mononucleosis

        

         I have been dealing with mononucleosis for the last 2 months. I was diagnosed on April 24 and was in bed with a high fever (102) for 7 days. My white blood count went down to 1.9, well below what it is supposed to be at least a 4.

         Since mononucleosis is a virus, there is no cure, and my treatment has been rest and eating right. CWWC was scheduled for teaching, travel, and visits with our teachers in Western Uganda in June, but I had to cancel this work because I had no strength to travel.

         Now that my energy is slowly returning, we will be making a new schedule for the rest of the year.  In August, we plan to travel for at least one week to Western Uganda, and Moyo School will begin in September. In Moyo we will again have about 50 ladies training with us from the last sub-counties of Moyo District.

CWWC New Name

        

         You will hear a new name for CWWC. This next class starting in September will have 10 Muslim ladies who are willing to come to train to help in their villages. CWWC will stand for Compassionate Women Working in Communities in Northern Uganda and whenever we have Muslims in our school.

         Our curriculum will remain the same as we train women. We will still teach the Bible and witness to these ladies. The Lord is the one who can change their hearts.

          In West Nile region of Northern Uganda there are many more Muslims. I see that to fight the poverty in Northern Uganda we must minister to all people no matter their religion. I welcome all women to hear the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit woo them to be reconciled to the Father.

         I read a book recently called Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Greg began to build schools in Pakistan in the poor areas where the Pakistan government promised to build schools but never did.

         Greg argued after 9-11, “How to fight a terrorist is to build schools.”  Through education, we hope to meet the needs of the communities and change one village at a time for the Kingdom.     

      Clinics in Jinja & Moyo

        

         The Jinja Children’s Clinic is working well. Sarah Kronhna and Nursing Sister Florence are managing as Betty is still working only part time.

         We received a wonderful gift from our friends at Stoney Point Presbyterian Church in Richmond, VA. They sent a 40-foot container of medical supplies. These supplies will not only help us in Jinja, but in our Moyo Hospital as well. There are also things for other government hospitals all over Uganda.

         I appreciate their love for the Ugandan people and this generous gift!