Thursday, June 4, 2015

ONE YEAR/ thirteenth Year

On May 5th we marked one year since our arrival in Uganda and our thirteenth year in East Africa. Our deepest thanks to all of you who help us to be here. It is interesting to think about what we are feeling this time compared to how we felt in 1988 after our first year in Kenya. Back then we were treading hard to keep afloat with our language studies and trying not to become too overwhelmed by the cultural differences we were struggling to adapt to.

Laurie with ladies after church - 2015

Laurie with ladies after church - 1990
Lydia was 1 yr then, 26 today













Daryl speaking with Bible
Class using Face Time
I remember there was a visitor from the States who brought a video of restaurants and well stocked grocery stores just to tease us about some of the things we had been missing so much. We had no electricity for the first seven months. There was no email or internet available to us, and we were thankful to have a phone with which we could call to the U.S. for a mere $4 a minute.

I mention this only to say how grateful we are that things have come a long way since then. Though we have done (and are still doing) considerable work on our house, we had electricity and reliable water from day one.

Our cell phones and internet work the great majority of the time, making it easier to do several tasks related to our work, and much easier to communicate with loved ones far away.

Allen Family, Daryl and Laurie Bates,
Ty Hayes and Robinson Family
We're also thankful that we have had a great first year with our team. We did not know our teammates nearly as well before coming to Uganda as we did when going to Kenya. But we feel blessed by the compatibility we have experienced with them.

We are different ages and backgrounds, and we function in different roles, but it is a real joy to be co-workers with them. And our team is set to grow!

The Allens are expecting their third child in June. By August we should have new teachers, Ericka Angel and Valerie Oliver, for the team's mission school.

After one year it feels like we are just getting started in ministry, but we are excited to be able to mark some progress toward some of the long term goals that we came here for - equipping
Ugandan leaders and transitioning greater responsibility into their hands.

1) Mbale Church of Christ
David Iyakia - David is a  volunteer minister at MCC. He has a great passion for the Lord and a proven commitment to MCC. David is employed full-time with a local NGO (Non Government Organization) that assists farmers, and he has a few years left on his contract. We envision David developing a full-time lead minister of MCC in coming years.

David translating for Daryl
The goal for 2015 is to assist David to be qualified for further studies at LivingStone International University.  He will undergo testing similar to the GED in the US and should be ready to enter LIU by either the spring of fall of 2016. Our plan is to help David to gain ministry training at LIU over the next few years as he also phases out his work with the livestock project.




2) NTCC - New Testament Church of Christ

Representatives from NTCC from Mbale
(where we live), Mbarara, Jinja and Kampala
Though it sounds strange for those who come from the USA, many nations (including Uganda) require churches to register just like NGOs or other entities in the country, and to submit an organizational 'constitution' to the authorities and hold annual meetings. There must be representatives who interact with the government on behalf of the church. We do all of these things in order to comply with local regulations, while at the same time seek to maintain a Biblical authority structure in local churches. Our churches are registered under the name "New Testament Churches of Christ."

Until recently there were only missionaries who served as 'officers' with NTCC. But in March of this year, two Ugandans, Richard Kweyamba from Mbarara and Isaac Sanyu from Kampala, were selected as representatives. This is an important step in the direction of greater autonomy of Churches of Christ in Uganda.

PRAYER NEEDS:
~ Completion of our guest house by mid July
~ Valerie Oliver as she prepares to join the team in early August
~ Our furlough in the US, July 22 to August 24


THANKS TO GOD FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP!!

We look forward to seeing you soon.