Dear Partners in Ministry,
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Heb. 12:1
There is always something refreshing about a new year. Maybe it is the thought of a new beginning or the rethinking and adjusting of goals. Whatever the cause, 2006 is now upon us and much work needs to be done. Language study needs to take a hard push forward to accomplish our goal of communicating the language properly in two years. Our school building is coming along well, but qualified teachers need to be prayerfully located. We are, by the grace of God, going to continue running the race set before us.
Adjusting-to-Life Update:
No one knows the effect certain normalities have on everyday life until they are missing regularly. A drought has taken hold on Uganda causing the river Nile to recede. The recession of water is decreasing the power generated by the Nile Dam thus causing the power company to add more time to normal load shedding or power outages. The schedule for power off has been every other night from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am and every other day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Today we found out the schedule for this month is 24 hours on and 24 hours off. This irregularity of power makes planning much more important. Plus the cost of supplying fuel for generator increases tremendously. The decrease of power has also caused the city water to be frequently out. God continues to remind me to be thankful that we at least have power and water some of the time. (Due to the limited power and the time it takes to read, download, and answer emails, we are asking that you refrain from sending forwards for the time being.)
Culture Moment:
The Lord blessed 2 of our church families with wonderful additions this month. The wife of Moses, our youth leader, and the wife of JJ, our children's leader, had babies this month. Kristy was able to assist Sharlon, Moses' wife, through the labor and delivery process. She spent the night with Sharlon in the local hospital while she was in labor. What an eye-opening experience culturally! In a room approximately 10'x10' there were 3 beds, 3 babies, and 10 women (3 of which were in labor) plus all of the luggage, bedding, cooking utensils, birthing supplies, and bedpans needed for each pregnant woman. Geckos and roaches traversed the walls and beds while mosquitoes filled the air. Paint was peeling off all the walls. Nurses never came to check the patients. If a women felt she were about to deliver, she would take her large piece of plastic (like a large trash bag) and sheets to the delivery room. If the doctor/nurse felt she was close to delivering, they would allow her to stay; if not, they sent her back to her room. The night Sharlon delivered was a power-out night, so when she was ready to deliver Kristy took her pocket flashlight and led Sharlon to the delivery room where the doctor examined her via candle light. There is much more of the experience to tell, but space is limited. Kristy is praying she will not have to give birth in this hospital!
Ministry/Orphanage/School Update:
Our Bible and Missions conference in December was a blessing as 3 national pastors preached fervently and urgently on giving, unity and revival. There were more smiles and encouraging comments than we have heard in a long time. Three different Baptist Churches in the Masaka district sent people to attend. Opus and Moses, two of our young preacher men, gave testimony of goals for church planting in the near future. Masaka Baptist College is in session once again. Teaching is my passion so I am enjoying this time very much. Please pray as we are planning to start a Bible Study in Emmanuel's village, the newly-saved man I mentioned in the November newsletter. The Pentecostal church has such a stronghold on this village, and several times Emmanuel has been taken out of his house and beaten. Emmanuel's village is halfway between our church and our daughter church in Kalisizo. We believe this would be a great place to begin a church and break a stronghold of Satan, but right now weekly Bible studies will be a blessing to Emmanuel. Lord willing we will see his Pentecostal wife come to Christ. Paul, a crippled young man in our church, feels the Lord has called him to preach. Last Wednesday night he had the opportunity to preach in our service. Pray the Lord will continue to strengthen and guide Paul. Please note the change in our phone numbers. The country has added the number "2" to all numbers.
In His Service,
Tony & Kristy Applegate
tony@theapplegates.net / kris@theapplegates.net
phone-011-256-782-903-147 / 011-256-782-903-137
CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISES:
Praises: 5 saved this month; 1 baptized
Prayer requests:Safe pregnancy for Kristy (due Sept. 5); Upcoming presidential elections (Feb. 23)