Button, Dan & Rosie, Uganda
Prayer Letter February 2007 (click here for Acrobat pdf version)
HOME LEAVE IN ENGLAND
It was wonderful to see so many of you during our home leave in England. We want to thank everyone who had us to stay, for all your hospitality, especially my parents who gave us a home for the duration of our visit.
We loved seeing all of Rosie’s family and many friends, although we wished we could see everyone for longer, and some people we didn’t manage to see at all, which we regret. We had very encouraging and enjoyable visits to our twelve churches. Some churches have been supporting me (Rosie) since 1992 and then me plus family since 1997, and it was great to revisit and renew all those friendships. In addition we were delighted to visit for the first time two lovely churches. We would like to thank you all once again for the chance we had to be with you and share our work with you, and for your ongoing prayers and support. Please keep praying for us as we take up our work and life here in Uganda once again.
Abigail and Alex loved staying with their Granny and Grandpa, and also enjoyed their term at an English primary school – they made lots of friends there and settled in really well. We were grateful to the staff at Tedburn St Mary school for making them feel so at home.
BACK IN UGANDA…
We have all been back in Uganda now for about a month. Dan had survived (very well!) his Christmas without us, but it was of course wonderful to be together again. His ordination in December went well and he was supported by a good number of friends from the university and Kampala. Thank you for your prayers.
We have been glad to meet up with our students again and our friends here at UCU. Ugandans are so welcoming and warm in general, that it has been a joy to come back and see everyone!
Rosie is teaching the Old Testament core course (to several hundred students, many of whom may not be Christians), while Dan is teaching courses in Theology and the Worldview core course. Please pray that God would speak through us in all our lectures, whether we are witnessing to non-Christian students, or discipling and teaching theology students.
FAMILIES ON CAMPUS…
Most of the theology students are able to live on campus, and there is some accommodation for families who come from other countries. This is a lovely place called “Ordinands’ Village” (pictured) where these families live in a group of little white (very basic) houses. There are probably 60 or more either students’ or lecturers’ children living on campus. For example, William Bahemuka, one of our MA students who graduated last year, has been living here with his wife Irene and four children. This week they move back to Congo – please pray for them all as they settle back in there.
ACTIVITIES
There are some activities on campus for the children
Sunday School – about 60 children come and it is fairly chaotic! Students are being trained to be Sunday school teachers.
Children’s Library – mainly due to the hard work of two missionaries who love children as well as books, and to lots of donations of money and books, the library opened last year and now about 40 children a week come to read and borrow books – they absolutely love it, and it also helps them with their English. Rosie has been involved from the outset and does weekly duty on the desk.
We have recently set up a football club – which Alex goes to and is very excited about. The coach is a former student and university team player, Kenneth Membe.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Thank God that Fred Mukwana has arrived as director of the Children’s Work degree course. He is excellent so this is very exciting. So far the course is going well.
- Please pray for the University Mission, which will be from 11 - 18 February. The speaker is an old friend of ours from Zimbabwe, Phineas Dube – he is a great speaker so it should be good!
- The Theology students and lecturers are having a retreat from 7 - 10 February. Please pray that this will be a very helpful and upbuilding time, where relationships between students and staff flourish and where everyone grows spiritually.
- Thank God that Peace is teaching and has been able to stay in her home on the campus, and seems to be doing well.
- Pray for safety for Rosie and the children driving to school.
With our Love and Thanks, as always, for all your prayers and financial support.
Rosie Dan Abigail and Alex. xxxx
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