Halleluiah! We are finally returning to Uganda, leaving May 7th!
Lucy, our HAN Office Manager has been extremely hard working while we have remained in the US. She has kept up with the prison classes and village classes taught by Isaac Odongo, the artist who produced all of the pen and ink illustrations for the Primers and the new Bible Translation into the Lango language. The system of ordering and shipping of HAN Primers from Kampala has proven workable without difficulties. Lucy has continued to visit the street beggars and give them some funds for food, and helped people who arrive at the HAN Compound gate with significant health issues. She has also helped facilitate the release from jail, the sister of a woman who helped feed and care for patients HAN supported at Dr Opio’s hospital. She was in jail for several weeks and was just released, praise God!
A Member of Parliament representing part of Lira, recently called Lucy to say that he would like to purchase the Primer Books for 250 people who live in his district and who cannot read and write!! We will work out the training of new teachers. Our plan is to see if we can take the new teachers into the Lira prison to be trained there as those trainers are the very best. They have trained many teachers and have been teaching their students 5 days a week for several years. In our minds it will help people outside the prison realize that those inside the prison are people just like themselves so that when they meet a released prisoner in their village/town, they will have a more positive outlook about them returning to society.
Other wonderful news is that Isaac Odongo, the teacher mentioned above, who had 2 classes when we left last year, now has started 9 classes! We’re not sure how he is organizing them and where they are, but he has requested 9 more blackboards and supplies. Visits to those classes will be one of our first activities.
Your support of Hands Across Nations is crucial in these continuing programs! The Lord has done mighty works through these humble people because you have shared your funds and prayed for them.
Isaac is teaching many of the poor in his village how to read and write in their native language. Later they may learn to read and write in English which is the national language of Uganda.
Thank you ever so much. Go with God, Keith and Carolyn Jones