Dear Friends and Family,
This past month we had a wonderful time celebrating Christ’s resurrection. We began the season with celebrating with Palm Sunday. In Uganda, on Palm Sunday, everyone is carrying palm leaves. Boda drivers attach them to their motorcycles, cars have them attached various places and people walking down the street are waving them. It was no different at our church. Almost every person present was waving palm leaves throughout worship.
In Uganda, they have a Good Friday parade in most villages…
Next, we celebrated Good Friday. In Uganda they have a parade in most villages throughout the country reenacting Christ’s walk to the cross. In Kampala we were able to watch the parade as it came down the main street of the city. It was very emotional watching someone carry the cross while others were beating them and shouting insults. I know it was just an reenactment but it was very powerful. I pray that it was just as powerful to the crowds watching. I hope it caused many to realize what Jesus has done for them and even to have given their lives to Him. At Arise Christian Fellowship we had an evening good Friday service. The church was packed to almost standing room only. Brian taught through the last supper and crucifixion then we shared communion together, remembering what Christ has done for each of us.
Easter Sunday was a beautiful service…the church was filled.
On Easter Sunday it was a beautiful service. As expected the church was filled. We had an amazing time of extended worship. Songs about Christ’s resurrection just bring so much joy and hope, I am sure I wasn’t the only one that shed a tear as we worshipped. Brian taught on the resurrection and specifically that Christ died and rose again for us, for the world, because of our sin.
After his message he opened it up for prayer for anyone who needed it and the worship team led us in more worship. We celebrated together after service with tea and cake. A main part of the service was the children’s play. They acted the story of the crucifixion and resurrection. Luke played Jesus and the girls acted out sinners, and they all sang in the choir. It was so beautiful and we are very proud of them.
Our whole family got to participate in a fashion show.
This past month we also had some interesting events occur. One of them was that our whole family got to participate in a fashion show. When we were first asked Brian and I were like just use the children but the designer really wanted to show a family collection. The designer is a young woman named Sylvia. Since our desire is to help people to become self supportive we agreed to be a part of it. The fashion show was part of a youth outreach hosted by a local NGO that is trying to promote youth development and providing opportunities to keep youth off the streets. Along with the fashion show there were dance and singing competitions . It was a really fun time for us as a family to be a part of something like this as well as knowing we were helping someone. The best news of the day is that Sylvia was the winner of the fashion part of the show and was given a check to help with her business.
Another interesting event happened to Luke. As adult Christians we understand that following Christ is not always easy. We know that “those who desire to live a godly life will suffer persecution.” I would say most children do not have this type of understanding. Luke has always been an evangelist. He loves telling people about Jesus, especially if he knows they are not a Christian. In the activities the kids participate in there are a lot of Hindus and Muslims. Luke is not new to hearing people reject Christ but what happened this month was completely different. Luke had been sharing Christ with one of the boys in his Karate class and the boy got really angry and told Luke that if he continued to talk about Jesus to him, he would have him beheaded. When Luke told me I think I was more shook up then him. When I asked him how it made him feel he said he was not so much scared because he knew he was going to heaven but was sad for the boy who was going to hell. Wow! I was really amazed that at such a young age he could have that type of understanding and compassion. I pray that Luke’s attitude and his love of Christ will only grow stronger as he grows older.
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 all that is being done to reach the people of Uganda.
- Pray for those who witnessed the parade of Jesus’ walk to the cross. Pray that many give their lives to Jesus
- Pray for Jill as she has been really ill. She recently found out she has been being misdiagnosed and actually has a severe thyroid disorder. Pray for the results of the thyroid biopsy she had recently, that the doctor will know exactly how to treat it so she finally begins to feel better.
- Pray for all the ministries of Arise Christian Fellowship as well as the other ministries we partner with.
- Pray for Jill and the children as they continue in homeschooling.
- Pray for Brian as pastors and leads our ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.
- Pray for all the ministries and leaders.
- Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.