What's New with Diana Ferrell

I have not written a post since I don't know, 2014. I don't think anyone out there was reading anyway. Where you? But I decided to start this up again as we are all in this new normal.

First, let me tell you things have changed in Uganda. My ministry is now called Compassionate Women Initiative. I have a staff of about 30 Ugandans, and we are doing all kinds of wonderful things to expand the Kingdom of God. The name change came about because of having Muslim women in our class in Moyo District, Uganda. They really loved the training, and I hope the teaching of the Word of God touched their lives and their community.

Next, CWI began two (2) major sustainable projects for the support of the ministry. First, the CWI Farm, which has over 900 laying birds. They are producing twenty-five trays of thirty eggs a day. Before the end of the year, we hope to buy another 1000 layer chickens to increase income-generating. CWI also bought five (5) acres of land for expansion of the farm. We have 18 pigs at the home of a staff member. We need to move them to a larger area. These five acres will have pig houses, an office, staff housing, and a butcher shop once we have it all done. We will have farming as well to feed both the chickens and pigs.

Second is the Craft Studio, which makes unique handmade cards and crown earrings. We also buy from other artesian who made crafts to support their families. Soon you will be able to buy these crafts on our online shop at www.craftstudiousa.org. Ugandans make all these crafts, and all the money made goes back to Uganda to help with our ministries.

This is what's new to get you up to date on Diana Ferrell and CWI ministries. 

How to Pray Today

I know I am not very good at posting. Today I thought I should let you know how to pray for us in East Africa. Too may terrorists want to tell us how we are to live our lives. We need not live in fear for we know who stand before and behind us. He will be with us even to the very end of our days.


http://www.mnnonline.org/news/uganda-churches-warned-al-shabab/

Praying!

It is really raining here in Lynchburg, VA. I am sitting in my bedroom/office just watching the rain come down.

Wanted to share some praises with you all:
1. Betty Luzira is doing well after her 3rd surgery. The right leg is straight and getting stronger as she has PT every other week.
2. The Medical Outreach went very well. On May 23 - 25 the medical team help 486 people and 26 accepted Christ as savior.
3. Doreen is recovered from her surgery in May. We are praising God that she was in Finland and not Uganda for this surgery.
We serve a great God!

Prayer Requests:
1. Basheti is my pastor's son in Uganda. He is very sick for a 10 year old. The Doctors don't know what illness he has. Pray for his healing.
2. I'm speaking in the Tri-State area (KY, WV, & OH) in the next 10 days. Pray that I will be able to get new supporters. I need at least 100 giving $30 a month. $30 is not much a month. I told the SunRay's here in Lynchburg to put a jar on the table and put a dollar in every evening and pray for me for a month and just see what happens! Your kids and grand kids could help out and learn to pray for missions.
3.  My general health. I will be seeing a specialist on June 17, an infectious disease doctor. Not sure if I am infectious? But pray that she will be able to give me a way forward to better health.
4. June 23-28 I have 7 teachers from Moyo coming down to Mbale for a training in Wise Choices for Life. An NGO that teachs about Reproductive Health. This will be added to the CWWC training to go into the schools to teach boys and girls how to make wise choices about their reproductive health. Take a look at http://www.wisechoicesforlife.org or at their Face Book page https://www.facebook.com/wisechoicesforlife?fref=ts both have great videos about the work. I need $700 to help me send these 7 teachers to the seminar. If you would like to help get in touch with me ASAP and I will direct you to how to give.

Thanks so much for reading and praying!

Missing Uganda!

Medical Outreach with Victoria Baptist Church Jinja, Uganda

This is what the out reach will look like

30 April 2013
This year is flying again!

I wanted to tell you about a Medical Outreach that I am helping with even though I am here in the US. The Medical Outreach is with my Jinja Children's Clinic Staff and Victoria Baptist Church. Victoria is where I attend when I am in Uganda. I am also a member of the Missions Committee there. My Clinic Staff asked me to see if the Missions Committee would like to have a Medical Outreach at its church plants to help with their work in the different communities.

Victoria has 8 church plants within about 50 miles of its location in Jinja.

The church plant which the Missions Committee chose is in the village of Nakivumbi. The outreach will take place May 22-25 at Liberty Baptist Church. This church was planted and built with the help of a church from the States. Over the past 6 years the church had stopped functioning. A very sad state!

The dates again are May 22-25 there will be 2 days of Medical Outreach to the village and then 2 days for Bible Study and Revival. The Outreach will commence on Sunday with the worship service in the morning.

Along with my Clinic Staff there are 28 volunteers from Victoria Baptist Church going to help with security, presenting the Gospel, clerical assistants, pharmacy assistants, and in-take clerks. Victoria also has 2 Doctors who will volunteer.

When you want to do big things that means a big budget. My Clinic Staff put together a Medical Outreach budget, this included the drugs, lunches for 2 days, and the transportation. The budget is over 10 million Uganda shillings translated to about $5000! I have requested that they look at the budget to cut it down.

I am putting this out to see if someone or many someones who would like to contribute to this Medical Outreach. This Outreach will do two things 1) help a small village with some much needed medical care for about 1,000 people and 2) present the Gospel to many who may have never heard a clear presentation.

Won't you help? If you can please send you donations to Global Outreach International at PO Box 1, Tupelo, MS 38802 or you can give online at http://www.globaloutreach.org/missionaries.html then look for my name and you can donate with credit card or Pay Pal.

I will keep you up dated on this project as it happens next month!

If you would like to be apart of the next Medical Outreach it will be in October 2013. I will be back in Uganda and would love to have you and/or your Church be a part.

Betty's Surgery

Hi all!
Just an up date on Betty's surgery. They were not able to schedule it for tomorrow as first planned. The surgery will be on Sunday, April 28. Please be praying that it will correct the problem of 4 years.
Thanks so much!
Diana

April Thank You

April 22, 2013

Dear Interested Friends,

I am back in the United States for some much needed rest. I will be at my sister’s home in Lynchburg, VA for 6 months. As you might remember this past year, I had two episodes with Mononucleosis and due to that I have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The CFS is really hard on me in the hot weather in Uganda. I have come home to do three things: 1) rest as much as possible to return to Uganda strong and well on October 7, 2) to help take care of my Mom; she lives with my sister here in Lynchburg , and 3) to raise funds for the work in Uganda.

Now an update on Betty Luzira, my director at the children’s clinic, and her surgery on her leg. I was able to raise the $2500 that was needed for her surgery. Betty will go into hospital Wednesday and the surgery will be done on Thursday, April 25. Although the $2500 is there, I am sure there will be other expenses that will need to be met. If you would like to help with Betty’s expenses, just call me at 434 485 4848 or send an email at dfreenhim3@gmail.com. Remember, I am Betty’s health insurance.

The CWWC is still going on while I am away. Elizabeth will handle the training and teaching herself; while getting local officials involved to help us. We are so happy to see Muslim women learning the Word of God. We passed out the Bibles in our 4th class and all the women accepted them and paid the 3,000/= for theirs. The report from the 5th class was their husbands were happy that they had this book. God is really breaking up the soil for the Baptist church and other evangelical churches to have an opening in a predominately Muslim sub-county of Moyo District.

I wanted to give you an up date on my Ugandan daughter, Doreen. Doreen with the help of your donations, finished a diploma in Nursing in Uganda. She was given a tuition free study in Finland. She left Uganda in August 2012. She is there studying for a degree in Nursing. Just last week, she had surgery for fibroids. The Lord gave her the best surgeon in Finland for this type of operation. She is recovering now in Helsinki at a friend’s home. Doreen had the money to pay for this surgery but I am having a hard time with her expenses each month. Her tuition is free but we mush pay for room and board and transportation. Finland is part of the EU and the expense must be paid in Euros. Her expenses are about $1000 a month. If you would like to help me, it would be a blessing to both Doreen and myself. Please let me know and I will tell you how to send the gift.

Sunset in Uganda

Finally, I will be doing some traveling starting in May. I would like to see those of you that I haven’t seen in awhile. If you would call Janie Smith at Unity Baptist Church, She is helping me again with scheduling. She just needs to know when you would like me to come to your church or group. Unity Baptist Church phone number: 606 324 7157

Looking forward to hearing from you and to seeing each one of you! Thank you so much for your faithful giving each month!

God bless,

Diana

Betty Luzira's Surgery

Wanted to up date you all about Betty Luzira, Clinic Director. As many of you know she had a terrible accident in February 2009; I have been trying for these past 4 years to make her leg all right. She has had two surgeries and now needs a third to correct what was not done the second time and well as a bone grift. The cost is $2500 for the surgery and room and other things. If you can help, please let me at my email dfreenhim3@gmail.com  I will let you know where to send any gift. I am Betty's health insurance here in Uganda. Thanks so much! If you could share this with your friends that would be a blessing. Thanks and God bless!

Betty Luzira with medical container at Jinja Main Hospital

Diana's News Spring 2012 pg 2

Betty Luzira

         Betty’s leg has healed. Although the bones are back together, they are not as strong as they need to be. She will go back to the doctor to see about a bone graft, which will mean another surgery.

         Please be praying that the money would come in for the surgery. I’m sure it will again cost about $3500. This should cover the surgery, the follow-up visits to the doctor, her medicines, and transportation for follow-up visits to the doctor.

         Betty’s healing has been a long process since that terrible accident in February 2009, and we pray that her ordeal is coming to an end.

Mistake!

         I have been told that the “Celebrate Freedom” letter I sent out for the Home Office has caused some confusion. Yes, I heard I made a big mistake!! I will claim it was do to my bout with Mono.

         I am not in the States right now, but I will be in the States next year, sometime in 2013. I have not decided whether I will come in January and stay until April or in May and stay until August. I need to see how my recovery from the Mono is going.

         Sorry for the confusion!

Chicken Project

         I have suspended the Chicken Project. My farm manager, Doreen (also my foster daughter), will be leaving for studies in Finland in September. She has a scholarship for a degree in nursing. It is a 3½-year program. Until I find a suitable farm manager, the project will remain suspended.  Please be praying for a reliable farm manager and workers.

Baraza

Baraza is from the Swahili meaning – a place of public meeting for interaction and education – we will use this forum for educational meetings with the elderly and to cater especially to the men as they have felt neglected because of our training to the women. This will take place along the River Nile at the parish level.

The meetings will focus on introducing:

• Promotion of good health
• Fishing
• Agriculture
• Saving African culture
• Bible teaching

We will use films on development at these meeting for comparison of development in other areas of Uganda and the world. 

        We will hold the meetings when we are in Moyo teaching the women. Mr. Luzira will be leading and will we enlist the help of the local government to teach on many of the topics.

Prayer Points

·       I have had Mono and am discouraged with the fatigue that goes with it. I need strength and endurance to do my work.

·       CWWC will be starting a new class in Moyo in September. I need $5000 to set up the school for 120 students

·       CWWC will be also going back to Western Uganda for refresher classes for the teachers there.

·       Please continue to give generously

·       Betty’s surgery and the cost of $3500

·       Other new ministry opportunities will be coming during the next 6 months. I will keep you informed.

·       Please be praying for Betty and Gabriel Luzira – their oldest daughter passed away on July 13, 2012. She lost her battle with AIDS.

·       My nephew Cody Witt and his friend Drew Weiser will be with me for 3 months. Pray for them as they seek to know if ministry and missions is God’s will for their lives.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

God bless, Diana

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!

Uganda Mama: Letters From Uganda- Donating to African Ministrie...

Uganda Mama: Letters From Uganda- Donating to African Ministrie...: This is a very difficult issue to discuss, but  I pray that in sharing this information you will gain a deeper understanding of African cult...

Uganda Mama: Letters From Uganda- Donating to African Ministrie...

Uganda Mama: Letters From Uganda- Donating to African Ministrie...: This is a very difficult issue to discuss, but  I pray that in sharing this information you will gain a deeper understanding of African cult...

Newsletter

Clinics in Jinja & Moyo

    The work went on well while I was in the States.

    The Ministry of Health came for a tour of Jinja Children’s Ward they were very pleased to see Global Outreach working hand in hand with the government.

     Betty Luzira is doing well. She had the plaster removed in early February. But the Doctor felt it would be best to keep it on for another 6 weeks. There is still a small place where the bone is not connected and strong.

She went in April and had the cast removed. She is walking with the air cast and crutches but the leg is so much stronger.

      Please don’t forget about the clinics in Jinja and Moyo. Staff salaries have to be paid and drugs bought for the children. The work can never stop.

Prayer Points

·       I have had Mono and am down with the fatigue that goes with it. I need strength and endurance to do my work.

·     I have resigned as the Country Coordinator and Chairman of the Board for Global Outreach Uganda. I am also moving to another apartment by May 31 2012. Pray for this transition to be a smooth one.

·      CWWC will be starting a new class in Moyo in September. CWWC will be also going back to Western Uganda for refresher classes for the teachers there. Please continue to give generously

·       Other new ministry opportunities will be coming during the next 6 months. I will keep you informed.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

God bless, Diana

January - March 2012 Newsletter

 CWWC Moyo Graduation

         The CWWC team, Elizabeth, Gabriel Luzira and I finished well with the CWWC training. We celebrated the completion of 8 weeks of hard work on March 16, 2012. We graduated 43 women.

    

We had a brass band and the teachers marched trough the town.

Everyone wanted to know who those school girls were!

Elizabeth getting ready for her speech

Gabriel Luzira

The members of parliament and the LC5 gave speeches. Gabriel also wrote an anthem for the Maudi People encouraging unity among all.

         The following Monday Elizabeth, Pastor Tiondi and I went to visit all 43 teachers in their villages all over the district of Moyo. It took us an additional 10 days to do this.

         In the villages the very sad thing is the drunkenness of the men and women. There is little hope in Moyo for employment other than fishing and farming. The people have a poverty mentality. My prayer is that the CWWC teachers will be able to share the Love of Jesus and bring hope to their lives.

         Graduation would not be complete without a feast! We had about 100 pounds of meat, 25 chickens, not sure how many pounds of fish with posho, rice, and salads. No feast would be complete without a Coke!

                 

Cleaning the chicken

Cooking Posho