And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Dear Friends and Family,

This past month has been reminiscent of last year when Uganda first went into lockdown because of Covid.  It is crazy to think so much time has past and yet we are still battling the same thing.  6 weeks in lockdown seemed like a very long time but last year we actually were in lockdown for 4 months before we had the freedom we have now following an easing of this past lockdown.  For the next 60 days we have what is called a partial lockdown.  People can drive again but only 3 people per vehicle, which makes it hard for families to go anywhere together, businesses can work at 20% but still only essential markets are allowed open.  Churches and any type of religious gathering are closed for these 60 more days.  Schools are closed until the government can acquire the Pfizer vaccine and vaccinate the 12—18 year olds.   Weddings and funerals can have 20 people present.  The government put out strict steps to follow as they ease the lock down but the picture here is a picture taken the day after the president spoke.  It was as if all of Kampala came out at once.

As a church we have been trying our best to minister to those who have been most affected by the lockdown and the inability to go to work.  Our church has many people who live day to day.  We have a few widows and very many children from the slums.  This lockdown, while there were many police checks and soldiers around, was not as strict as the last when it came to getting help to the needy and the movement that was needed to do so. We are very thankful to have had support to help provide these less fortunate ones with the basic necessities.  We were also blessed by our church members who were quick to help one another and to bring to our attention those who were the most in need.  It shows much spiritual growth to see them focusing not only on their own needs but also the needs of others.

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Arise Christian Fellowship helps quite a few church plants and outreaches around Uganda.  We have a heart for God’s Word to go out to the whole of Uganda, Africa and the World.  During the time of the corona virus and lock down we have tried to reach out to those closest to us since movement was limited.  A lot of ministry has taken place over the phone or the internet.  Churches may be closed but ministry continues and we believe the church is growing.  For some of the pastors that Brian has discipled and the church is assisting, they took this time of lockdown to literally begin building their churches physically.  We have a pastor in western Uganda that we were able to help with materials for him and some of the church members to begin making bricks and burning them.  They have made great progress and we are hopeful that in the next 60 days of church closure they will have even began the building of the church.

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Another event that people have made the most of during the lockdown is weddings.  In Uganda weddings are normally very expensive, extravagant events.  Couples often go into debt because their families and friends put so much pressure on them to have a huge gigantic wedding and reception.  With the president mandating that weddings can only have 20 people many people have actually chosen to get married during this time since it makes getting married easier and less expensive.  Arise Christian Fellowship has a missionary, Ivan, we sent to South Sudan a couple of years ago as a worship and youth leader.  Earlier this year he got engaged and brought his fiancé, Maggie, to Kampala to introduce her to the church.  They had planned to get married in June but then it was extended till lockdown was over.  The first weekend of the partial lockdown they were able to get married.  It was very interesting to be at a wedding in Uganda with such few people present.  Only 2 members of our worship team came to provide the music.  The couple only had a handful of family and friends each.  Brian had the privilege of walking the Bride down the aisle and giving her hand to Ivan. Even with the reduced numbers and celebration time because of curfew being at 7pm the couple were very happy and smiley.  We are so happy for them.

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Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.

                           In Him,

                           Brian, Jill, Luke , Laylee, and Liana

Prayer Requests

· Thank the Lord for the answered prayers and for those we know He will still answer. Help us to use our time wisely.

· Pray for the Country of Uganda as they are suffering from a severe second wave of covid. 

· Pray for safety in Uganda as theft and criminal activity has increased since the lockdown.

· Pray for the pastors and Christians who are trying to make the best use of this time to build their churches spiritually and physically.

· Pray for Ivan and Maggie as they begin life and ministry together as a married couple.

· Pray for Brian as he prepares video messages for the church. Pray for Brian and Arise Christian Fellowship as they also try to meet urgent physical needs of the community.

· Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Dear Friends and Family,

We pray you are all doing well and enjoying this summer. We have heard that many places around the world are now opening back up. We praise God for those answered prayers.

In Uganda it is a different story. Covid variants are ravaging the country and the people. It seems so strange because last year when the rest of the world was really suffering, here in Uganda we had hardly any cases and very little death. Now that we are hearing praise reports from other countries we find ourselves back in a strict lockdown with more cases and death weekly than the last wave. All businesses besides food vendors and essential services are closed. No public or private vehicles allowed. To go shopping people must walk or ride a bicycle. You can have groceries delivered but there is a curfew at 5. If someone works in a food market the government has asked them to sleep there. They have provided mosquitoes nets to the vendors since many of the stalls are out doors. 

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Many of our church members work in the market place. The churches, schools and all public gatherings are banned completely. Police are out in full force on the streets ensuring everyone is obeying. Failure to obey the lockdown rules or to be caught with your mask down can mean 2 months in prison. One of the problems the country is facing is lack of vaccines. They had an initial push for the vaccine but quickly ran out when people who had received the first shot had not yet received the second dose and less then 1,000,000 people were vaccinated. Recently the government procured enough vaccines to finish giving those the 2nd dose. The end of next month is when they are expecting that they can begin to vaccinate again. The president has said he can not relax the covid measures until 5-7 million are vaccinated . While we understand having the SOPs for people’s safety we are hoping this strict lock down will not last that long. During the last lockdown the government tried to assist the very poor with food but this time they are not. They have said they will give the equivalent of $30 to the very needy, only time will tell how this turns out. We have been trying to help the members of Arise Christian Fellowship and those in our community who are in need the best we can.

The last time we were in lockdown and the church was closed Brian would put his written message online and send in messages for the church to read because many of our church members do not have smart phones or computers.  This lock down he has been doing the same but is also doing a video service for those who can view it. With the severity of this wave and with so many deaths close to home we felt that being able to see their pastor and hear the message would be comforting.  

For those who can’t view Brian is trying his best to stay in contact through phone calls.  Last year many people in Uganda did not even believe covid was real because most did not know someone personally affected.  This year at least 3 church members have lost a parent and many others a family member.  In the missionary community, we have lost 3 missionaries, one a young lady who had just given birth 2 weeks earlier and leaves behind her husband and a 2 year old as well.  We continue to pray for these families who have lost loved ones and for this pandemic to come to an end.

We often say God’s timing is perfect.  Recently we have seen how true this is.  Right before the lockdown we got to experience two wedding celebrations.  My oldest nephew had invited me to come and be apart of his wedding in Ohio.  I wasn’t sure if I should go because I knew I couldn’t take the kids but since the last five times I went home sickness and death were the main reason everyone agreed I needed to go home for a happy occasion.  Brian and I went for a week and had an amazing time with my family as well as me being able to get an extensive eye exam that I was needing. Besides the wedding we also were able to see my youngest nephew graduate from high school. The timing was perfect. 

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While we were there is when Uganda really began to get bad.  We made it back just a couple days before the total lockdown.  Literally the day before the president closed the churches our drummer, Timothy and our bass player, Ruth had their wedding with all their friends and family present.  If any of these wonderful events had not taken place at the time they did, either they would not have happened or we could not have been apart of them.  God’s timing is perfect and we will trust and pray for His perfect timing to bring and end to this lockdown and to the covid pandemic.

Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.                          

                                                                    In Him,

                                                     Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

· Thank the Lord for the answered prayers and for those we know He will still answer. Praise the Lord for His perfect timing.

· Pray for the Country of Uganda as they are suffering from a severe second wave of covid. 

· Pray for safety in Uganda as theft and criminal activity is on the increase due to people not being able to work during the lockdown.

· Pray for the families who have lost ones to find comfort in the Lord during this time of mourning.

· Pray for Brian as he prepares messages and tries to reach as many people and church members as he can.  Pray for Brian and Arise Christian Fellowship as they also try to meet urgent physical needs of the community. 

· Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Dear friends and family:

This time of year always fills me with so much hope. Knowing that my Savior is not dead but Alive!  There is no other religion that can claim and prove that their God is alive. This renewed hope comes with a sense of urgency.  An urgency to tell others that they too can have hope if they put their faith in Jesus Christ. Just as this time of year brings about new birth for plants and animals we are praying for spiritual new birth for the many people hearing the Word of God through all the different ministries and outreaches taking place.

Since the reopening of churches during the pandemic, we as a church have been meeting out in the gardens for all our services.  We have plans to move back inside as soon, as Uganda is entering the rainy season, but it has been a great opportunity of outreach to our neighbors while we have been outside. Our church building is on the property of a health club and restaurant. As we have been meeting outside in their gardens we have had people come and observe, some sitting distantly away and others who actually come and sit in the service. The owner of the place has said that he himself has enjoyed the public aspect of the worship and how it seems to be enjoyed by his patrons. 

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On Easter morning we were at first little discouraged because we woke to heavy rainfall. As the morning continued though the sun began to shine. Church started about 40 minutes late because in Uganda the rain delays everything. As we began there was only a handful of people present but soon after people came flooding in. Many were delayed by the rain, but some I believe were our neighbors who upon hearing the sound of church beginning decided to come out for Easter service. Brian’s message clearly told the story of the resurrection and presented the gospel to everyone listening. A few people came for prayer after the service but we are praying that even more took the message to heart and will seek Jesus as their personal savior.

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In Uganda, the day after Easter is a public holiday. It is called Easter Monday. Due to Covid, there have not been too many gatherings outside of church. Weddings, funerals, births, and birthdays have all been celebrated privately with a bare minimum number of people. This Easter Monday, the sound man from our church, Danson, took the chance to host a celebration for his friends and family to remember all the important events that have taken place despite the pandemic. It was a lot of fun as there was a barbeque, and lots of fellowship.  We saw people we had not seen for over a year. 

Of course everyone was amazed at how big the kids were now.  The kids had so much fun.  Since Danson lives outside the city there was a lot of space to run and play without worry of traffic or crowds.  They also played football.  We had a cake to celebrate the birthdays that had taken place.  Brian prayed, giving thanks for all the Lord has done for us and how He has continued to keep us through this time.  We all look forward to the day that gatherings like this are once again more commonplace though we are very thankful for the freedoms we do have: to meet, to share the gospel openly, and to worship with one another.

After Easter services with Arise Christian Fellowship, we also had an Easter event / outreach for the kids in the village kids’ club.  This ministry began during the pandemic due to churches being forbidden from having children under 13 and no Sunday school classes.  While the law has been relaxed a bit we have continued the kids club since many of these children still would not have the opportunity to make it to church on a Sunday morning. Plus it is a great time of discipleship with them in a more informal setting. Together with a ministry called Nehemiah Ministries, run by Peggy, a member of my women’s Bible study, we were able to show the Jesus film.  Along with the film they played games, ate nice food and colored pictures.  Our desire is that not only will these children grow up knowing Jesus as their personal savior but that their families would know Him as well.

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Thank you for praying for our family and for the people of Uganda.

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Thank the Lord for the good things He has done! Praise Him for all He will do!
• Pray for Arise Christian Fellowship and all the ministries they serve alongside .
• Pray for many opportunities for outreach and the sharing of the gospel. Pray restrictions continue to lift so more ministry can take place.
• Pray for the people in the neighborhood around Arise Christian Fellowship that they would hear the gospel and come to salvation.
• Pray for the Bible club, that the children would understand and follow Jesus. Pray their families would know Jesus as well.
• Pray for the Kanyike family to remain healthy and safe.
• Pray for Brian as pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.
• Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her — Ephesians 5:25

Dear Friends and Family,

For the first time in what seems quite a while I feel like I am ending this month and approaching the new month with real expectancy and hope that things are moving forward: away from covid, away from elections and riots and towards something more real and full promise.  Numbers of covid have been going down dramatically here in Uganda and the rest of the world is beginning their vaccines. Ministry outreaches and new studies are taking place and we now have freedom to gather together in large numbers once again.

This month has been a very exciting month for us here, especially at Arise Christian Fellowship.  The restrictions for church meetings have been relaxed quite a lot.  The children and I are now able to attend every service.  There still is no Sunday school allowed but we are just rejoicing to be there full-time fellowshipping and worshiping with the body of Christ, our church family.  The church is still meeting outdoors in the gardens as the social distancing mandates are still in effect.  It is a good thing though because every service we have been to has been a full house or more.  With social distancing we would not be able to all fit in the church sanctuary indoors.  This month we had an afterglow with worship, prayer and communion.  

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We are so thankful for how the Lord has provided and kept us all safe during these months, or should I say year, of lockdowns.  Our church can be very charismatic when it comes to worship but this afterglow was more than what I normally experience from the congregation.  It was like the flood gates of worship had been opened and every thankful, loved heart was being poured out as an offering before the Lord. It was quite emotional for me.  I cried tears of happiness to be once again in fellowship, I cried tears of joy to see the heart of worship of the People at Arise, and I wept during communion for the love Jesus showed us on the cross and continues to show us everyday through every circumstance we face.  We had not had real communion since the churches reopened because one of the covid mandates for church was no eating or drinking or open items during church service.  We were able to order these sealed communion cups that had the bread sealed with it.  This meant each person had their own unopened communion and we could pray and take communion together as a body but still fulfill the no sharing food or drink rules.

Another fun event that took place at Arise Christian Fellowship this month was an Album launch.  The keyboard player for our church, Eddie Mwesiga, is a very talented musician.  He plays many instruments but keyboard and saxophone are his specialties.  Eddie plays all over Uganda for events and weddings.  He also writes many of his own worship songs.  Recently he has launched a follow up album to his last album Suubi.  His newest song is a remake of a Luganda worship song called, Tumutendereza Yesu.  The name means, “we worship /praise you Jesus”.  The church members are very supportive of him and turned up in big numbers to encourage and participate in his launch.  Some of the guys even joined him up front to dance along in worship.  We are looking forward to how the Lord will continue to use Eddie and his gift for music to reach the people of Uganda for Christ.

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A very exciting occasion happened this month.  Our missionary to South Sudan, Ivan, got engaged.  We have been praying for him for a very long time.  He had once been engaged and tragically lost her during the 2010 terrorist bombings here in Kampala.  We are praising God that in His timing he brought Acen to Ivan.  Ivan brought her down to Kampala to introduce her to his family and to Arise.  There was much celebrating that day.  Ivan led worship and shared how they met and officially introduced her to his home church family.  Brian prayed for them and the whole church lifted hands and prayed for them.  Their wedding will be sometime towards the end of this year.

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Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.

In Him,

                           Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Thank the Lord for the Good things He has done! Praise Him for all He still will do!
• Pray for Arise Christian Fellowship and all the ministries they serve alongside  as they look forward to what the Lord is going to do this year.
• Pray for many opportunities for outreach and the sharing of the gospel. Pray restrictions continue to lift so more ministry can take place.
• Pray for Jill and the children as they continue to figure out the rhythm for this school year .
• Pray for Eddie and the gift God has given him for music and writing songs. Pray that many will be blessed by him.
• Pray for the Kanyike family to remain healthy and safe.
• Pray for Brian as he pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.
• Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” … As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” —Ephesians 4:16

Dear Friends and Family,

As I continue to look forward to what this year holds for our ministry the Lord has reminded me that it is not just “our” ministry.  It has caused me to reflect over the things the Lord has already done and the people he has brought in our lives along the way.  We Christians are truly one body, Christ’s Body.  In Uganda, Brian pastors Arise Christian Fellowship, but we work together with many other churches and pastors.  We spend time helping to build up their congregations and communities as we also receive encouragement and counsel from them.  While there are so many people who bless us daily and support us through their wisdom and spiritual giftings, I wanted to mention a few that we work with most closely and Brian even is part of some of their boards. 

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Calvary Chapel Entebbe is near the airport, right on Lake Victoria in Uganda, about one hour from us.  I am blessed to have been a part of that church from the beginning, when the missionaries who planted it were still meeting at their home. Those missionaries, Craig and Loren, are actually the ones who did premarital counseling for Brian and me.  Over the years we have done many conferences and outreaches together as well as covering for each other on Sundays when need be.  Not too long ago the church as turned over to an Ugandan pastor, Isaac.  Brian still sits on their board and the sweet fellowship and encouragement continues.

The fellowship at Calvary Chapel Fort Portal really feels like an extension of our own church or our church as an extension of theirs.  Fort Portal is about 6 hours west of Kampala but the distance seems like nothing compared to how closely we have always served Jesus together.  Some people may not know this but Brian and I actually lived there for about 5 months the first year we were married.  Every June, except this past Covid, June and I help put on a women’s conference and Brian teaches at the church.  Our worship team and theirs often collaborate together for conferences or youth outreach.  Brian and I did the premarital counseling for the senior pastor Nicolas and his wife Grace and we are the God parents to his assistant’s children.  We usually visit there and serve a couple times of year as well as they come and minister at Arise when they are in Kampala.

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Calvary Chapel Cush is in Nimule South Sudan, at the Far Reaching Ministries Chaplain compound.  The pastor is Michael. Needless to say they are like family to me since we have grown together since I moved here almost 22 years ago.  I love being in South Sudan as their desire to learn the Word of God and their joy in the Lord despite the suffering they have gone through and continue to go through is encouraging and inspiring.  Since Calvary Chapel Cush is quite far, about 11 hours from Kampala, we don’t get there as often as we would like but we try to at least once a year.  When we go we fill the time with all sorts of ministry and fellowship.  Any conference or out reach produces hundreds of people hungry for the gospel.  Since many things are not available in South Sudan Brian helps with the logistics from here in Uganda to make sure they have the supplies or whatever they may need. The pastors, missionaries and staff stay with us at the guest house when they are in Kampala so we fellowship with one another throughout the year.

Through the close fellowship we have with these churches and their pastors we have also been able to be a part of church plants and outreaches all over Uganda and South Sudan.  Through their visits and testimonies to Arise our church has been given a love and vision for church planting and outreach.  While we are not physically together all the time we are one body working together.

This past month was elections not only in USA but also in Uganda.  The elections are over but the contesting of votes and rioting is still going on.  Our president, President Museveni won for another term.  To keep violence and wrong doing down there has been a very heavy military presence all over Kampala. Two houses down from us the government moved some offices in so now our road has pick up trucks of police and soldiers on it.  Brian said it should make us feel safe.  We are praying it all settles before the inauguration in May.

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In Family news, this past month Liana turned seven.  I can hardly believe that my baby is that old.  Also this month the children and I started a new school year. In Uganda the school year begins end of January.  The whole of Uganda closed schools last February and only the graduating classes have returned.  Homeschooling has allowed us to stay on course and keep busy during the lockdowns.  I pray for the children in Uganda and around the world who do not have that opportunity during this time.

Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.

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In Him,

             Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Thank the Lord for the Good things He has done! Praise Him for all He still will do!
• Pray for Arise Christian Fellowship and all the ministries they serve alongside as they look forward to what the Lord is going to do this year.
• Pray for the many church plants in Uganda and South Sudan. Pray for them to continue to frow spiritually and to multiply.
• Pray for Jill and the children as they continue to figure out the rhythm for this new schools year .
• Pray for Uganda as they conclude the elections and for no more riots.
• Pray for the Kanyike family to remain healthy and safe.
• Pray for Brian as pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.
• Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Dear Friends and Family,

2021! Only God knows what this new year is going to hold for all of us.  We are praying that there are great things in store and that many opportunities to share the love of Christ and the Gospel will present themselves.  I believe the important thing is to live each day for Him, expecting those opportunities and while they may not always be as we planned or hoped, they will be there.

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One of the most exciting things that has happened recently is that the children and I were able to attend the Christmas Eve service and dinner at church. Since the government allowed the reopening of churches they have kept a ban on children under 12 attending, unless they are an infant being carried. On Christmas Eve, since it was a dinner as well as the service and carols, we were allowed to attend because it was considered a restaurant setting as well as being outdoors.  We were not sure up until the last few days before if it was allowed.  As soon as we got the ok, Luke began to learn a new song on the piano and with only 3 days of practice was able to play it as part of the service. 

It was very emotional to be back at church with the church family all gathered together in one place and to sing and be in God’s Word together.   We have been able to get together in homes here and there with some church members and of course we read the Bible and worship together at home but there is just something wondrous that happens when you actually meet together as a complete body.  I believe that is why Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

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Normally on Christmas Eve we have a huge neighborhood outreach and children’s activities but because of the covid restrictions that was not allowed this year. We still wanted to bless as many people as we could, especially because so many have been really affected and are suffering this year because of all the issues surrounding Covid. At the church we hosted a meal for those who could be there and invited their families as well.  For most that was their Christmas.

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Since there are many people in our church and the neighboring slums that are considered at risk, they could not attend the church service and dinner.  With the help of Brian’s family’s chicken farm and another couple in our church who raise and sell chickens, as well as our supporters who provided the money, we were able to deliver a Christmas gift of chicken to many families who would have gone without this year. In Uganda, Christmas and Easter are often the only 2 times in a year some people get to eat chicken.

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Before covid, Arise Christian Fellowship had more children than adults.  Since the government is not allowing them at church we have been trying to minister to them where they live.  The assistant pastor, Deo, lives right near many children, he has been doing a Bible club with them every week.  For Christmas, my children gave those children gifts of candy and youth discipleship books for the older children and coloring books for the younger children. They miss seeing their friends all the time so they were very joyful to be able to give something. At the kids party we also fed them a Christmas meal and had carols, teaching and games. We are so thankful for those who helped us to make Christmas special for so many people this year despite covid. We are praying that the remembrance of Christ’s birth and the hope that surrounds Him will encourage everyone to keep pressing forward with hope and anticipation of what the Lord will do next.

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This past month Uganda was preparing for elections. It has brought quite a bit of unrest and some days of terrible violence. We ask that you please pray for Uganda and for safety during this time as well as peaceful election results, during and after.

Thank you for praying for our family and for the people of Uganda.

              In Him,

              Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

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PRAYER REQUESTS

· Thank the Lord for the Good things He has done!

· Praise the Lord for the wonderful things that are happening despite Covid-19.

· Pray for Arise Christian Fellowship and the Kanyikes as they look forward to what the Lord is going to do this year.

· Pray for everyone who was reached during the Christmas season, that they would know the love of Christ and have hope for the future.

· Pray for Jill as she plans and prepares to teach the next year of the children’s school.

· Pray for Uganda as they are campaigning for elections and it often turns riotous.

· Pray for the Kanyike family to remain healthy and safe.

· Pray for Brian as he pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.

· Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.

Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

We would like to thank all of you for blessing us through your support and prayer for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.  This has been a hard and unusual year for most of the world.  With the difficulties we have been blessed with many good times and experiences as well.  This year has led us and the church to pray like never before and I believe if nothing else we have  all drawn closer to the Lord.  You are all in our thoughts and prayers as we enter this new year. God Bless You this holiday season as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus!

In Him,
Brian, Jill,
Luke, Laylee,
and Liana

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Pray for God’s direction for Arise Christian Fellowship and all the ministries in 2021.

Pray for an end to Covid. Pray for health  and safety during Covid and the Elections in Uganda

Pray for us to raise our children for the Lord, balancing home and ministry.

Please pray about joining our support team in this upcoming year.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

Dear Friends and Family,

We continue to pray for you all as 2020 seems to continue to challenge and test us.  Things in Uganda are continuing to be difficult.  This path month Uganda recorded its first Covid death and now it is up to 7. Uganda was put at a level three threat which means that there are community cases that cannot trace the origin of transmission. On top of Covid there have been many natural disasters and crime, kidnapping and domestic abuse is on the rise. Many people are truly suffering and are tempted to lose hope.  What the Lord has really been teaching us through this is 2 basic Biblical truths.  First, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.  If our eyes are not on the Lord, where does our hope come from?  Second, love your neighbor as yourself.  We are very blessed to have continued to receive support from our FRM and SGWM families during a time when so many have lost their jobs and cannot provide for themselves.  We cannot keep those blessings to ourselves.  While we cannot help every suffering person in Uganda or even in Kampala we can help some of them.

As we have tried to reach out and help the most vulnerable and suffering around us God has been faithful to show us the way and to provide.  A beautiful testimony of how He works is a friend from my church in California contacted me that she had been contacted from a friend of hers in Germany who supports a ministry here in Kampala.  Her friend was asking for prayer for a young girl who had suffered from domestic violence that led to her getting pregnant.  She had just delivered but had absolutely nothing. She had no clothes for the baby and not even a blanket to cover him with.  Well right before we left for the States for my dad’s funeral I had organized all of my kids baby and small things to sell but since we have not been able to have open markets and such to sell things because of covid I still have everything. I had a bag with little baby clothes, cloth diapers, towels and blankets, etc.  We were able to arrange for all of these things to be delivered to the young new mother with in hours of receiving the message.  God worked all of the details out and we continue to pray for the girl, her baby, and her family.

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Pretty much daily since we returned from the States in March, Brian has been constantly on the phone trying to minister to church members and listen to their needs and what they are going through.  Sometimes all they need is some counsel and to be reminded of God’s love and promises.  Other times they have serious needs that if not met would lead to serious consequences.  We have been trying our best to pray for them and help in whatever way we can.  

This past month we were gifted with 2 months provision of food and soap for every member of our church.  God is so faithful.  To see and hear the expressions of gratitude and spontaneous outbursts of praise for God’s love and sustenance is amazing.  Another blessing we saw out of this provision for the church members is their desire to also want to reach out and help others with what they have been given; a family member deep in the village who can not care for themselves, a neighbor whose husband abandoned her and their many children when he lost his job because of covid.  It has been a blessing to be able to help and even more of a blessing to see those being blessed, blessing others. Acts 20:35 tells us, “… And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

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The government of Uganda is requiring all Ugandans to social distance and wear a mask when ever they are out side of their own compound.  If you go out into the city center none of this is taking place.  People believe there is no covid and because so many are suffering are trying to make money.  An interesting sight I have seen is someone selling masks with out wearing a mask.  Because the cases are rising quickly and deaths are now occurring, the government has issued this warning, “It is now illegal to be found in public not wearing a mask. You will either pay a fine of 20,000/= or serve 6 months in prison.” We are praying that people would take the government and covid seriously, they have suffered enough without now having to pay a fine or go to prison for just not wearing a mask.  On that note many people have been creative with mask wearing.

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Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

· Praise the Lord for the wonderful things that are happening despite the Covid-19.

· Praise the Lord for the provision to help those who are suffering.

· Pray for the World during this time of Covid 19.  Pray for many people to turn to the Lord during this time.

· Pray for the young lady who just gave birth.  Pray for her safety and for her and her family to know Christ.

· Pray for the Kanyike family to continue to know how to  best minister  to the church and community during this time.

· Pray for the Kanyike family to be healthy and safe.

· Pray for Brian as he pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.

· Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Dear Friends and Family,

I never would have thought that after all these months we would still be dealing with COVID.  It now seems like years ago that we were visiting America and taking the kids to Disneyland.  It was actually just the beginning of this year and now the world and Uganda are such a different place. Uganda started off with almost no cases and now seems to be having more and more cases daily.  To be honest it is just starting to get scary here as we begin to hear about cases near us and in the city.  I have to try to stay away from the news and focus and the positive things that are happening.

One of the best parts of this lockdown has been homeschooling my kids.  I have always homeschooled them but normally I am doing 101 other things as well.  At this time I have been able to give them almost undivided attention and to catch up from where we were a little behind because of my dad’s funeral.   

It is so interesting that much of the world has had to experience homeschooling as well during this time.  I feel blessed that I was used to homeschooling and well prepared when all the schools (and everything else) were suddenly closed.  It isn’t always easy but has always been my choice and joy to do.  

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I really have been praying for those who found themselves homeschool teachers unexpectedly. In Uganda many parents who have never received a proper education themselves, have found themselves in the place of teacher for their children, probably till the new year begins next February.  Uganda has tried their best to help.  They have been putting classes on the radio, on TV, and in the newspaper.  The president’s wife, who is the head of Education, had this to say as an encouragement to parents, “Spend time with your learners to develop their values and positive attitudes. Tell them stories, riddles, and other life lessons, and support their learning. Help your learners to make a craft or develop an innovation.” The president as well encouraged parents in one of his messages that not all learning is book learning, take this time to teach life skills such as farming, mechanics, cooking, etc. From what I have been able to find out many parents, no matter their education, have been trying.

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At the bottom of the hill on which we live there is one of the largest open markets in Uganda.  Next to that market is a very large slum area.  Many of the people from Arise Christian Fellowship come from that market and from those slums.  Twice since the lockdown in Uganda began we have been able to help out church members and their families with food and basic necessities.  We have wanted to help others but did not know how to go about it because there was a law made that if you were caught providing relief and it drew a crowd you would be charged with attempted murder.  

Recently, we received a letter under our gate.  It was from the LC1, Local chairman of our area.  He had been given permission by the government to gather food and soap for those who were in the most need down in the slums.  His letter was requesting those who were able to give donations towards helping those less fortunate.  We were more than glad to help. 

Uganda has begun lifting some of the restrictions. One of them is the use of vehicles and public transport.  We pray that this will help some of those who have been struggling to provide for their families but we also pray for health and safety as COVID cases are rapidly increasing.  It is mandatory by law to social distance and to wear a mask when in public.  Since the easing of restrictions this has been very hard to enforce and just today, there were riots in Kampala, along the same lines as the riots happening in the USA and around the world.  We are praying that these gatherings will not lead to more sickness or another total lockdown.

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The month also has much to celebrate as Luke turned 10 years old and Laylee turned 9 years old.  We were not able to have a party or to go out anywhere but they enjoyed all the messages and facetime calls they received.  I can’t believe I now have a son who is in double digits!

Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.

In Him,

Brian, Jill,

Luke, Laylee,

and Liana

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Thank you for praying for the  Kanyikes during their time of lockdown

Praise the Lord for the provision to help those who are suffering.

Pray for the World during this time of COVID 19.  Pray for many people to turn to the Lord during this time.

Pray for the Kanyike family to continue to know how to best minister to the church and community during this time.

Pray for the people of Uganda to be safe from all the calamities that seem to be happening: COVID, flood, locusts, hunger, Ebola, and riots

Pray for Brian as pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship. 

Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.