PADER

Pader is essentially an IDP camp that has consumed a tiny, dusty trading center near the Sudan border in Northern Uganda. Now it is home to twenty-five thousand people, most of whom have not known any other life. Less than 1% have any opportunity to attend secondary school. There is no secondary day school within ten miles of Pader and the children there have no chance of obtaining a secondary education. Without an education, young people feel they have no hope for the future.

Traveling to Pader this month, Phil found that construction at the secondary school is well underway. The first two school blocks (consisting of four classrooms and two offices each) are completed up to the roof line. Local leaders have expressed profound appreciation for the gift of this new school in Pader. "You are leaving an inheritance for our people," said the local government chairman.

Last October, Phil was introduced to an ingenious (albeit somewhat dated) building technique championed by Makerere University professor of Technology, Dr. Moses Musaazi (the one on the left in the photo). Phil was struck by Dr. Moses' brilliance and integrity. He decided to engage Dr. Moses and his organization to construct the Pader school. Over twenty thousand bricks have been hand-made at the site. A mixture of local soil and a bit of dry cement is compressed into bricks using a simple mechanical device which is made in Kenya. The bricks are shaped like large Lego blocks, with interlocking notches. Construction involves very little mortar because of the strength of the interlocking design. Since all of the bricks are made on-site, there is no need to purchase wood-fired brick.

        

The result is a project cost savings of nearly 40% and the added benefit of preserving scarce local forests, which are cut mercilessly for fire wood. In one sense of the word, this project is leaving a dual inheritance -- education and conscientious construction. Ugandans have been slow to adapt to this "new" construction concept, and the school project has thus been shut down three times by bewildered local officials. Dr. Moses travelled with Phil to Pader on one recent trip to enable him to convince local leaders that the finished buildings would outlast them all. Dr. Moses has several other innovative "Appropriate Alternative Technologies" that we will employ at the school. We also plan to promote the use of Dr. Moses' compressed brick construction for other projects undertaken for the Church of Uganda.

KITGUM

The squeals of 750 girls at YY Okot secondary school in Kitgum greeted Phil as he presented a donation of five computer systems from a supporting church in the U.S. Headmistress Gladys Aber warmly welcomed Phil to an assembly of the entire school. YY Okot school is bright glimmer of light in the darkness of Northern Uganda, bringing the vision of a productive future to the girls, 200 of whom are formerly abducted child soldiers. Gladys expressed the appreciation of the whole community for the love and generosity of our friends and supporters in the U.S. The creation of a computer lab has catapulted the school into the 21st century, to equip the girls with the tools of commerce they will need as future leaders in Uganda. Gladys invited the staff to a dinner in Phil's honor, where the conversation was lively and the food was delicious.

Bishop Benjamin Ojwang was present with the Diocesan Secretary, Wilson Katara, to also receive a computer for Kitgum Diocese. Bishop Ben expressed an emotional "thank you" and said the Diocese will function much more effectively with this gift. Our warmest appreciation goes to Truro Church and Uganda Christian University, who graciously made twenty computers available for Northern Uganda. Phil will deliver the remaining ones on a future trip to Kitgum.

NORTH KIGEZI

At the invitation of Bishop Edward Muhima, Phil travelled to Rukungiri, near the Congo border, where he stayed for about six weeks teaching Worship Foundations principles to various leadership groups within the Diocese. He spent time with youth workers, chaplains, lay readers and clergy in seminars at North Kigezi Diocese, training young worship leaders from a number of parishes and travelling to outlying areas to bring the message to hundreds of people. Phil also took a generator and projector to show the film, The Passion of Christ, at many outdoor locations. Phil sent this report of ministry there:

I just returned to Rukungiri from two days of traveling upcountry to Bwambara. It is unbelievably beautiful countryside, although exhausting travel over the toughest roads I’ve been on. Ministry is exhilarating but physically and spiritually demanding. Issues of spiritual warfare are strong in this region of Uganda, and prayer ministry is very deep. I am leaving again tomorrow for other parishes.

The Holy Spirit has had amazing impact. People are exclaiming “I am totally changed!” “We have prayed that God would bring someone to bless us with the Holy Spirit. The Bishop did not send you here, God did.” “Now I know that we can worship God the way He desires.”

One man in Buhunga parish was very skeptical and sat with arms folded, scowl on his face when he first arrived. After the first day of teaching, he said, “I am senior warden in this parish, and have gone to this church all my life. I have never heard such teaching from anyone. I will never be the same. Now I am free to praise God and let him come into my life with joy. I know that He will bring me into the Holy of Holies where I can worship Him truly for the first time in my life.”

It has been remarkable. The worship of the church is surely on the heart of God, as His Word has blessed the participants mightily. They walk each day for several miles to reach the church where I am teaching. Rev. Enoch, the Diocesan Youth Director, is accompanying me and translating. He is elated with the results. He feels that people will take seriously for the first time the concerns of the youth about the worship of the church.

I will be returning to Rukungiri, May 2-6, 2007, as Rev. Enoch has invited me to speak at the Diocesan Youth Conference. This is a vital and timely gathering of over 600 young people.

What a joy it has been to be in No. Kigezi. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will ignite the people of No. Kigezi Diocese in praise and worship, and that they will receive His empowerment for ministry.

PRAISE REPORT

Last month, All Saints Cathedral, in Kampala, celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the Anglican Flames praise team. Phil has worked with the Flames since his first short-term mission trip to Uganda in 1994, when they attended the Worship Leadership conference held at the Makerere University's St. Francis chapel. To mark the anniversary, All Saints hosted the leaders from dozens of churches from all over Uganda to attend a week-long series of workshops and evening events focusing on the Worship Foundations principles. Phil was the keynote speaker, and the week culminated with a stirring challenge to pursue the power of the Holy Spirit given by the Archbishop on Sunday. This was an extraordinary opportunity to share the vision of renewal with many church leaders from throughout the country as they gathered together for Bible teaching, worship and fellowship.

The most enduring inheritance we can leave is the one brought by the Spirit of the Lord. Pray with us that the Lord will stir the hearts and minds of the people of Uganda to seek a deeper encounter with the Living God through our worship. †