Our First Year Is Complete

The Ruth House

The year has come to an end. Amazima students went home for their two-month break, having left on December 7th to return in early February. Denny and I are back in the States.

We cannot believe the changes and growth that we have seen in the 24 Ruth House girls.  They are divided into 4 rooms of 6 girls each. They have grown to love and respect and care for each other.  No girl wants to switch rooms next year. Each room has taken on the personality, heart, and soul of the six girls living together. They function as one. When a girl has been sick, the entire room rallies around her, serving her, caring for her. we saw a girl switch her bunk bed with the sick girls so the sick girl could be on the bottom bunk until she felt better. We saw girls do laundry, daily, for a girl suffering from a fungus infection that required daily washing of her clothes. They also donned gloves so they could apply medicated cream to her body in order to treat the fungus.

The girls from the Risen room

Our last week in Uganda we spoke about going home well. These talks included everything from attitudes to boredom to sexual activity. We have one member who was so delighted with the Ruth House service project for one of the village families earlier this term that she put together a list of 13 other Ruth House girls who want to continue serving the same family over the break. They will wash clothes, cook, fetch water, and pray with this family, a grandmother and her seven grandchildren. The member explained to us that the break is long. What the Ruth House started they need to continue. She has even done a very non-Ugandan thing by planning ahead, asking the Amazima administration for help to purchase the soap that will be needed to wash clothes and bathe the kids.

The Unique room members.

This past term we studied the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-24. When we look at the actions of the girls these past few months, we rejoice at the fruit being produced through their lives.

Since Thanksgiving, we have had three girls commit themselves to Christ. One of the three is a shy, quiet, very intelligent young lady, who committed herself to Christ on Thanksgiving day. Amazima's on-campus pastor told me privately that he cried when this girl accepted Christ. She is not one who jumps on the bandwagon. She is thoughtful. She knows who she is and decides on her own. Our pastor knows all of this about the girl, and was very honored and humbled when she reached out to him.

The True room.

Our daughter Lexi has been with us this term.  Before Lexi arrived, one girl told me she would be able to greet Lexi because she no longer fears white people! Lexi became close with the girls. They love her as she does them. My prayers are that Lexi will come back with us in January.

The Holy room.

We are excited to be back in the States and enjoy the holidays with our family, whom we miss so much. We want to see friends and experience the Christmas season at home. Unfortunately, we will not be able to see everyone who has followed us, prayed for us, and supported us financially this past year. Thank you so much all of you. We hope and pray that everyone of you has a very merry Christmas.

If you wish to give to us monetarily, please do so through Shepherd's Staff, our missionary facilitator. Just click on the link below. Our missionary number is 6075.

Link to Shepherd's Staff