I press on toward the goal for the prize
of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 3:14
Dear Friends and Family,
This past month has been a bit of the same old, same old as we continue in partial lockdown. I can’t believe we are still battling through Covid and as of now there seems to be no end in sight. As we went through the month other things began to pop up on the news, Afghanistan, Fires, Hurricanes, and the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks on 9/11. All of these have had us spending much time in prayer and look upwards with hope to Jesus’s soon return.
Every year as we approach the anniversary of 9/11 people ask, “Do you remember? Where were you?” For me I remember very clearly where I was and what I was doing. I was in the Sudanese Refugee Camp. Most of my team members were away but I had visitors from Kampala, Ken and Gigi Ames. Ken and Gigi were the fist people I met in Uganda after my team members. We stayed with them while we were setting up our ministry in the refugee camp and they were like family. They had come to visit but had left their 4 boys at home in Kampala.
Every year … people ask, “Do you remember? Where were you?”
We were sitting and vising on the porch when Gigi’s cell phone rang. One thing I must say here is that was an almost unheard of occurrence in the refuge camp in Uganda in 2001. It was Gigi’s younger son and although the connection was bad she thought he said something about America under attack. The connection dropped and she kinda laughed and said it was probably just his way of getting her attention to ask if they could go for ice cream or something. While we were still laughing and talking about how unusual it was for the phone to have rung it rang again. This time it was their oldest son and he said America was really under attack and they were watching it on the news. We had no power in the refugee camp let alone a tv. I remembered one of my team members, who wasn’t there at the time, had recently bought a satellite radio that could pick up BBC. I went into their house and found it and right when we were able to get tuned in we heard as they described the 2nd of the towers collapsing. We were in shock. Needless to say Ken and Gigi immediately left to get home to their sons. I was left wondering what would happen, would I be able to go home to the USA anytime soon or were they going to go to war? I also had a guilty feeling of being in the middle of nowhere in a country not really on the World’s radar at the time and pretty much everyone I loved and cared for were in the States facing uncertain dangers. Little did I know that with in a little over a months time I would be right in the center of my own “terrorist attack” but that’s a story for another time.
As we remembered 9/11, we also were glued to the news watching the events unfold in Afghanistan. There are many missionaries both foreign and national that we know of there. While we know that some of them were able to get out we do not know about others. We have been praying continually for them. We trust the Lord to be with His children wherever they are. One person we know who has been taking the happenings of Afghanistan personally is our security guard Jacob. A couple of years ago Jacob had asked to be allowed to leave his position so he could go serve in Afghanistan. He only returned to Uganda in January. We were blessed to welcome him back as a guard and pleased with the knowledge and experience he had gained while serving there. During this time he is both relieved to have left before the Taliban took over yet feels for the nationals and others he served with who are still there. Uganda has opened it s doors to Afghan refugees who need a place to go or to transit through. They have prepared for 2000 but as far as I know we have only received about 52 families. At this time they are keeping them quarantined and are not allowing the public to interact with them. We do pray that at some point they would hear the gospel and have a chance to really experience the Love of Christ from the many believers here in Uganda.
Uganda has been facing so many crises. The covid delta variant is prevalent, while we also have a polio outbreak in Kampala. We have a couple children from church hospitalized with severe sickness. We have not had a proper dry season in almost 3 years so the flooding occurring now that we are entering the heavy raining season is out of control. Because of lockdown and other circumstances crime is rising and we heard of an American who doesn’t live too far from us being robbed violently at home. One of our church members who works in the market, Blessing, was attacked and badly beaten. We have had him admitted to the hospital to have his wounds treated properly.
This has not been an easy month, even during this past month Luke ended up in hospital for a day with what turned out to be parasites. Our whole family had to take the treatment. We take comfort and find hope knowing that God is in control and is working things together for His purposes. We covet your prayers and are so thankful for you praying for our family and the people 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 multiple crises.
- Pray for safety in Uganda as theft and criminal activity has increased since the lockdown.
- Pray for the refugees arriving in Uganda from Afghanistan to find comfort and hope. Pray for those Christian in Afghanistan to remain strong.
- Pray the children from Arise Christian Fellowship who are very ill. Pray for the young man who is also in hospital recovering from being beaten.
- 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.
