News From the Frontlines

June 2008 Mission Trip, Kabale Uganda

2008-01-06T16:17:00.000-06:00

June People For Missions trip to Kabale, Uganda
Trip Dates: June 7-23, 2008
Size of team: 20
Estimated Cost: $3,400 per person includes airfare, hotel, food, ground transportation. Not included Visas, passports or medicine.

Team Leaders: Bruce Georgi, Margaret Noblin

Activities:

House of Hope Kabale-one-on-one discipleship, sports ministry (soccer, basketball), help with bike repair, more bikes, gardening, resource center books, clothing, school supplies, garden tools, seeds bought in Uganda, encouraging the mum, helping with cooking for the kids

Villages-Crafts training in basket weaving and jewelry making, Bible Study-spiritual warfare, Jesus film (evangelism), Evangecube, medical mission, mosquito nets, safe water, Life Application Bibles for pastors reading English, need to research water wells and mosquito nets main problems

Mercy-Kabale Hospital and Nursing School available to people wanting to work with AIDS patients and children

Crafts Ministry-basket weaving, jewelry making, learning about business and how to evaluate costs, setting prices, evaluating designs, quality control

Bunyoni Lake Ministry to Orphans-1000 orphans are living around the lake without homes. We plan a field trip by boat of the area and to the island to educate our team.

AWANA and Children’s Ministry-opportunities to assist with the AWANA program or teach Sunday school in Children’s ministry

Senior Youth Ministry-opportunities to mentor secondary and university students in basic life skills, (discernment about dress, how to budget with the envelope system, part time jobs you can create when there are no jobs, honoring God in all that you do, being a light in the community 24/7) These are just a few areas where help is needed.

Travel Arrangements: We will fly into Kigali, Rwanda (3 hr. drive to Kabale, Uganda) and spend the first night in Kigali because the border closes at 7:30 p.m. then on to Kabale in the a.m. $50 visa for Uganda. Required. Just passport for Rwanda. Team will fly in and out of Kigali, Rwanda. We will be staying in the Stipp Hotel in Rwanda or comparable hotel and the White Horse Inn in Kabale. For information and application please email margaret_noblin@msn.com or call 214-366-0425.

Pray for Kenya...Violence Continues

2008-01-04T14:23:00.000-06:00

Please join us in prayer for our many friends in Kisumu, Nairobi and Eldoret. The church that had the women and children in it was an Assembly of God church in Eldoret and there were mostly children under 15 that were killed and burned. Around 30 were in the church and the others had gone. The women and children thought they were safe there.

Our friends in Kisumu at the church there are from several tribes and trying to shelter each other and help. One of the Rock businessmen who is Kukuya had his store burned down but fortunately we were able to get his inventory out before the looters. Some friends have it under protection. One of our scholarship students was stranded in Nairobi and we were able to get online with KLM and book an e-ticket for him to fly out to Entebbe. He is safe now. Praise the Lord. However we have been told all other transportation is closed and the road from Nairobi to Kisumu and on to Uganda has been ravaged with horrible things going on along the road. We have heard reports of killings with machetes and bow and arrows prior to Wednesday. This was why we felt we needed to get our Rock university student out of Nairobi as fast as possible.

Our friends in Kisumu are at home and Wednesday was the first day they could get food but only two groceries were open and the military was present so they could prevent riots. Many have fled to the villages but they are not safe either. The enemy wants to deceive, create mistrust, divide and conquer. The ladies in the crafts ministry have been so frightened for their lives especially the ones from the president’s tribe because there are gangs of young men just looking for an excuse for violence. The church is trying to do what they can but the military has been told to “shoot on sight” because the whole downtown area of Kisumu has been looted and many buildings burned. We were suppose to go to Kisumi in March so we are still going to Uganda but will see how things go. It is so shocking the horror that is taking place in this pretty little city on Lake Victoria we have visited regularly.

If you google “Kenya elections” you will see much of the video and details of what is happening. At least the demonstration for yesterday was stopped which had the potential for much more bloodshed. Our Rock student was an election official in Nairobi and has been in touch with us since last week. It seems from what the international observers said from Canada and the U.K that when the district tallies came into Nairobi this is where the numbers were changed. He said they were different that what the grassroots tallies were in some districts so the international observers requested a recount of those districts. When they refused and the President was quickly sworn in the violence began.

Many of our Kenyan friends are heartbroken and weeping when we talk to them on the phone. It breaks our hearts and we have prayed for them on the phone and encouraged them to sing for comfort to soothe their fear and maybe it may calm the angry mobs around them. Evil is so ugly and good leadership is so important in Africa. Prayer is really needed desperately for the people and leadership of Kenya.

The Rock African Arts Takes Off!

2008-01-04T14:15:00.000-06:00

Revival Crafts shipped several hundred items to the U.S. for sale by The Rock African Arts before Christmas and the ministry is bearing fruit. Ladies and some of the young men learned about U.S. Customs labeling and classification codes since all the items had to be prepared for the shipment. Learning about the export requirements was intersting and exposed the group to many aspects of setting up a business involving international trade.

Children from the House of Hope, Kabale made bracelets and necklaces to help with household expenses and school fees along with ladies in the church and students wanting to participate and have a part time business while in school.

Some of the jewelry is made of unique "trade beads". "Trade Beads" originated in Venice, Bohemia and European countries such as Germany, France and the Netherlands from the late 1400s to the early 1900s. Traded in Africa they were used by visitors as money to pay tribal chiefs. Today these popular, collectable beads can be seen in the Museum of Mankind in London, the Pitt River Museum in Oxford, the Royal Museum of Central Africa in Belgium, and the Murano Museum of Glass in Italy just to name a few around the world. Many styles which were readily available just 5 years ago are no longer seen today. How the beads survived a hundred or more years of wear and travel through at least three continents is amazing. It makes you wonder...who wore them before us and who will have them next. The trade beads, used in our jewelry are handmade from clay and ground glass and purchased as we find them in Kenya. The designs vary due to the unique nature of the beads.

The first shipment to the U.S. back in June surprised many members of the congregation when one Sunday Pastor Johnson announced that "those who had made baskets and jewelry could pick up their pay on Monday." There had been some naysayers who told people they would never sell anything but our Lord is faithful and now the ministry is expanding and many members are excited. Basic business skills are being taught so each person learns how to manage resources, set pricing, pay themselves and keep capital in reserve for more materials so they don't put themselves out of business. It is part of what Pastor Johnson calls "going to a new level." For more information on purchasing the crafts please e-mail africanarts@rockcapital.org. Soon items will be available on E-bay through the Internet.

An Outing and A Life Jacket Adventure

2007-11-30T20:57:00.002-06:00

The outing to Bushara Island with the House of Hope kids and a few friends who help us at the home was definitely a family memory maker. It was a great adventure. Many of the children had never worn life jackets so we had to have a little discussion on how you use them and not to be fearful of the water.

Isaac insisted that he sit between Prossy and me so we could protect him on the way over to the island. By the time we returned he was really loving it and had overcome his fear. Love does that when everyone is encouraging one another and all the older kids were telling him it would be OK and he trusted what they said.

Many thanks to those who made the adventure possible and also the purchase of the clothes we needed for the children. It was the first time the girls could go shopping and choose what they wanted and stay in a budget. I gave Prossy some money and an envelope and said this is what you have to spend…please bring receipts and stay in the budget and be a good negotiator. Also I said please don’t call me and ask for more money because you are not budgeting properly! They all laughed and did a great job buying skirts, shoes and even had enough left to get earrings.

The older boys received an envelope with money for trousers and were told to be good negotiators also. For many this was the first pair of new trousers they ever had and to be able to shop for them was so fun for these adolescent guys. I have to say they made good choices with nice fabric and quality construction. The night before church I found myself hemming John's pants so they wouldn't drag on the ground. We even had a lesson in tailoring. Praise God for his provision and the good stewardship of the children.

This thanksgiving I have had tears of joy to be a part of this precious spiritual family. I love each one of them so much and can’t wait to return in March.

Rock Fellowship On Solid Ground

2007-11-30T19:46:00.000-06:00

In September the Rock scholarship students in Kampala began meeting for fellowship, prayer, Bible study and sharing life experiences. During our trip we were privileged to attend two of the sessions. Many thanks to Ben for fixing two delicious lunches and Lutaaya and Ben teaching about the "condition of the heart" and "who is Jesus." During both meetings the Socratic method of teaching was employed to encourage discussion and evaluation of the material covered. The discussions were stimulating and application oriented.

At the end of each meeting the guys gathered to pray and share prayer requests from the heart. Mark and I were so touched by the transparency of the students and the bond of true Christian friendship that is developing. These men are serious about their faith and it is evident they are focused on honoring God in all they do.

EMI Completes Kabale Site Plan

2007-08-16T13:47:00.000-05:00

God continues to open doors in Kabale as Revival Tabernacle Ministries reaches out to the community. Engineering Ministries International in conjunction with People for Missions/Houses of Hope and Revival Tabernacle Ministries has developed an exiting plan for a multipurpose facility in Kabale to serve the area. In May the EMI team visited and designed a beautiful structure to meet the phase one needs of the ministry.

The building will serve as a hub for outreach with food distributed from Children's Hunger Fund, AWANA activities for the children, business training for church members, House of Hope and church administration, church services, Sunday school classes, conferences for village pastors,and periodic clinics for children in the neighborhood needing basic medical attention.

A schedule of meetings is in process to share the vision with friends in the U.S. wanting to partner with us in the ministry. We hope to raise funds for phase I in the coming year and are excited about meeting new people God wants involved with His work.

With the large population of children needing family homes, the ministry feels a burden to expand into the surrounding areas. Future plans include developing construction options of more single family Houses of Hope in Kabale and around Lake Bunyonyi as more children are provided with a new future. Mark and Margaret are available to visit churches or other groups interested in learning more about the ministry work in Kabale. For more information e-mail us at margaret_noblin@msn.com or call 214-366-0425. http://revivaltabernacleministries.blogspot.com

Being Flexible As A Team Member!

2007-06-24T16:18:00.000-05:00

Brittany and Margaret had to make a quick trip in to town to get paint for scripture verses being painted in the homes. This meant riding a "boda boda" (motorcycle) to the public dock 15 minutes away then going across the lake by boat to catch a taxi.

Upon discovering we needed some small bricks, Charles proceeded to use his Karate skill and break a brick with his hand! You never know what skills the Lord is going to use!

Reflections of the Clinic Team

2007-06-24T15:37:00.001-05:00

How amazing after two years to see a vision become reality. More than half of the team returning to Uganda was part of the 2005 House of Hope construction team. At that time Travis Decanter(in boat with glasses) shared his story and the impact the lack of medical care had on him as a child. A vision was birthed and the journey began. Now Travis and the Mississippi team with the help of others returned to have "their hands on the bricks to build the clinic." The group raised over $30,000 to construct the clinic organizing auctions, fish frys and other fundraising events in several neighboring towns in northern Mississippi.

The team toured the main clinic facility which offers support to the Bethany Clinic being constructed. Dr. Martin is the director of Wentz Medical Center and the visiting physician who works with a nurse practitioner at the village clinic.

Below are some pictures of the children being served by the clinic. As one of the Bethany staff members said, "a hug or a pat on the back means the world to these children who have been so alone and without attention." If we didn't do anything else but show the love of Jesus with a hug, a pat or an encouraging word the trip was a success.

Words of Encouragement at Home

2007-06-24T15:22:00.000-05:00

God's word is such an encouragement to the children and parents in the homes at Bethany Village, Uganda. Several team members painted scripture verses on the walls when they weren't laying bricks for the clinic!

Unity A Witness to Ugandans

2007-06-24T11:27:00.000-05:00

The June Bethany Clinic Team at the construction site had such unity that the Ugandan workers asked for prayer for the same unity for themselves.

The Ugandans watched with amazement as team members passed, mortared and stacked bricks quickly organizing themselves for the next task, putting construction ahead of schedule.

Team members distributed free medicine at the dispensary and shared the Good News of Jesus while moms waited with their children.The new clinic will serve the children in Bethany Village and provide emergency care for the community.

One little boy, Mark, captured our hearts as he trusted Jesus hearing the Gospel with the aid of pictures on the Evangecube.

Several team members worked at Bethany School performing puppet shows and assisting teachers grading papers and demonstrating how to integrate Biblical truths in the classroom. Other teaching techniques which incorporate a Biblical world view were demonstrated in the classroom.

Teamwork at Home...Chores can be fun!

2007-04-17T21:43:00.001-05:00

Smiles, new clothes, a sense of belonging, love of a spiritual mum and dad along with brothers and sisters are a few of the elements making the new House of Hope Kabale a home. In addition to the spiritual and emotional side of the family are the practical tasks required to run a household. Pastor Johnson and Evas are training the children to manage the home by creating teams for shopping, household maintenance, meal preparation and compound maintenance. In the future another garden team will be added when the compost bin and garden are ready for planting and maintenance.

Each team has a team leader who is trained by Pastor Johnson and Evas. The leader then trains their team in the tasks assigned to their group. After a month rotating each week and learning different tasks all of the children will be trained in managing the home. When Evas goes shopping the shopping team joins her and learns how to choose fruits and vegetables in the market, budget the money for each week and keep records of what is being spent. The household maintenance team keeps the kitchen and bathrooms clean, removes rubbish, cleans the floors and makes sure the interior of the home is in order. The most popular team function is food preparation which involves meal planning, cooking, setting the table, cleaning the dishes and proper storage of food. Cleaning, slashing the grass, trimming the hedges, plus arranging flowers for the house and sweeping the outside compound are a few of the tasks of the compound maintenance team.

Practical life skills are just part of the wholistic approach to equipping the children for success in the future. Learning to use indoor plumbing is a new experience for the children but as Pastor Johnson reports, "the children are picking up using the plumbing. I'm amazed how they learn things so easily." After only two weeks Johnson says, "Evas is getting used to taking care of the many children. She has had a fun time learning to budget for many children. The children are also doing well and learning to work as a team."

Teaching by example that humility in doing any job is important and that teamwork makes work easy and fun are helping the children learn important principles.

Reflections-Opening the House of Hope

2007-04-09T19:59:00.001-05:00

The following is an account from Pastor Johnson as he observed the children coming to their new home in Kabale.

Today the children entered the house, you missed seeing the great joy and excitement upon their faces. Some of them it was their first time to know they are going to sleep on a mattress, with bed sheets! Others being sure that they will at least have food daily was too much for them. Some of them have never been loved, your first message of belonging was taken seriously and the point went home. They are sure of love, comfort and protection. Knowing that they have a home is enough for most of them. Yet others knowing that their school fees will be paid on time and they won't have to be chased from school from time to time was great inspiration.

We went in a disorganized way because not much was complete by today. The house was not yet ready, but we said they will finish up when we are in the house. Benson too,had not finished all the furniture, I didn't see him to explain, but the children said they would rather sleep on the floor but sleep in their new home!One by one, they started coming in around 4:00 p.m, with their luggage in polythene bags.

On entering the house they would scream and shout with joy!They immediately helped to clean up the place, some mothers came to give a hand to clean the place. It was exciting, each one being part of the solution. They worked together and made the work easier. They already feel they are part of one family. It has been a tiresome day but I just could not go to bed with out sending you a word or two about the experience of entering the house.

Pastor Johnson's wife Margaret with Issac (left), Bruce (middle) and Andrew(right) as they give their testimonies of God's faithfulness in church after being in the House of Hope one week.

Young Businessman Bearing Fruit

2007-03-28T10:47:00.000-05:00

What a thrill it has been to watch John Wasswa grow into a prosperous businessman and a disciple with a strong desire to share his spiritual blessings and business knowledge. In 2005, John received a loan from the men's loan ministry (The Rock Kingdom Capital Outreach) to purchase additional machinery to grow his budding weaving business (he makes sweaters purchased by schools for uniforms). Not only has his business grown, he also has diversified, made all loan repayments on time, faithfully tithed to the church and set a Godly example of how to do business. Now John is ready to share the blessings by training and overseeing children in the new House of Hope in Kabale so that they may learn an income producing skill. We have set a standard that the House of Hope in Kabale be self-supporting within five years by the children being trained and earning income in such areas as weaving, sewing, gardening, arts and crafts,etc.

God Has Remembered Me!

2007-03-28T10:29:00.001-05:00

House of Hope Kabale becomes a reality with grinning children overwhelmed with joy as they step inside the gate of their new home. Developing a sense of belonging was the focus of a game played during one of the evening sessions preparing the children.

Pastor Johnson Bakashaba, Yvonne Pickens, an assistant principal at Prestonwood Christian Academy and the Noblins worked as a team to evaluate the children’s needs and develop plans for the transition of children who have been out of school requiring special assistance to “catch up.” A sewing machine was purchased along with supplies to provide opportunities to learn a variety of skills. The children were encouraged to pray and think about ways to be creative in using God’s resources.

“God has remembered me,” beamed John, one of the children who previously had no permanent secure home.(Top picture in the green shirt and khaki shorts) The children were chosen by Pastor Johnson Bakashaba of Revival Tabernacle Ministries, who already had taken eight orphans into his own home with his wife and three natural children. An orphan himself, he has a special heart for desperate children, including those forced to live on the street. Four of the boys in the new House of Hope were living on the street before God provided an opportunity for us to assist in launching an AWANA Club in Kabale last summer. Through the club, which emphasizes Bible verse memory, awards and games, the four street boys trusted Jesus and now they are loved, housed, fed, schooled and disciipled with 12 fellow “brothers and sisters” in the House of Hope. Pastor Johnson will provide fatherly parental love and leadership to the children, who also will be cared for by Evas, a faithful widow of the church. God provided funds to open the house, but there still is a need for more supporters to meet monthly expenses.

Surprised by God-Given Skills

2007-03-28T10:22:00.000-05:00

Sitting under a tree making beautiful jewelry out of natural seed pods, bones and trade beads is where you find a group of hard-working Kisumu women. There is a wonderful atmosphere of encouragement, teamwork and creativity. Some of the ladies prepare the beads by drilling holes, while others string, discuss designs and package the completed items. The bracelets, necklaces and earrings are beautiful creations of wearable art combining wood, bone, bamboo, glass and other unusual elements.

In November a group of ladies in Kisumu began a jewelry making class sponsored by Deliverance Church. Perez Oselu shared this week that “the ladies had never done anything like this. It was totally new for them.” However in a short time they have developed into creative artisans.

Being able to create, design and produce wearable art pieces was a talent many of the ladies found surprising. If you are interested in purchasing some of the items they are available at the Houses of Hope Gift Shop,201 Sparta Road, Belton, Texas 76513(254)933-8399,which helps support widows, orphans and women in need.

Go and Make Disciples!

2007-03-28T10:13:00.000-05:00

Go and Make Disciples! This is what AWANA, a children’s discipleship ministry is all about. Children from Prestonwood AWANA club are actively participating in making disciples by planting AWANA clubs in Wakiso and Busia Uganda. Between the two clubs over 100 children will be discipled in a special way in their communities.

Susan Kaddu, of Central Baptist Wakiso Church said the week following the AWANA kickoff, “already children are bringing their parents to church when they weren’t coming before.” She said the discipline of time keeping is even having an impact in just one week. “Children showed up early for AWANA the second time which is very unusual for Africans.”

In Busia the children were eager to get started with game time and we are excited to see how this club is going to impact the border town between Uganda and Kenya.

The Kenyan AWANA Missionary reports receiving, “a bunch of requests to start AWANA clubs in various churches in Kisumu.” The first club started just a few months ago. God’s word is powerful and the enthusiasm of children is very contagious.

Hope, Restoration Begins at Home in Kabale

2007-03-12T06:27:00.001-05:00

Pastor Johnson and the members of Revival Tabernacle welcomed the team Sunday morning. Margaret met with the house mom and the children today after church to begin preparations and brief the children as to the status of opening the home. They were such sweet children and all participate in AWANA and Sunday school at the church. Pastor Johnson said he chose these particular children because he felt they already had a natural connection in the church and that all had trusted Jesus as their Lord.

Margaret spoke to them about their identity in Christ, how we are all adopted children of the Lord and needed to adjust to being together as a family. Pastor Johnson and Margaret wanted to set some expectations with the children of what to expect in their new life. Several things were discussed such as having a sense of belonging, standing up for your brothers and sisters, understanding that their will be disagreements, that Pastor Johnson was their new Daddy, being aware that some of the children have bad hurts and that each member of the family must be patient and kind as everyone adjusts. Sharing stories and healing past hurts was an aspect of the orientation. A friend of Yvonne Pickens and the Noblins, Lutaaya Abdul, a former Muslim now born-again, who ministers to street children and orphans in Kampala shared his story and how he adjusted when he was living on the street as a young boy.

Several of the boys who are on the street were suspicious but as Lutaaya told his story their body language changed and they relaxed and listened intently. You could see the relief in their faces as they connected with the experiences of the pain and fear of being beaten by older street kids as they tried to survive in a rough environment. Many times Ugandans “keep quiet” when they hurt so when these things are discussed it is unusual. Margaret talked to the children about bringing the hurts out in the light so they could heal and asked them to pray about a sister or brother who would be their prayer partner and close friend in the family. As the healing process begins there will be many challenges for the house mom and the children. Please join us in praying for these children we believe God has chosen to be restored with a hope and a future.

Eighty Excited Children in Wakiso Uganda

2007-03-12T06:05:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a day of excitement for the children at Central Baptist Church Wakiso, Uganda. Children from Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano,Texas sponsored the majority of the students while the church “topped up” with the rest. Yvonne Pickens who is an AWANA leader at Prestonwood was on site with the Noblins for the kickoff club time. Consistently the AWANA clubs have drawn more children than expected and had a huge impact on the community.

The children in Prestonwood AWANA have sponsored the start up of several Uganda clubs through their own donations in partnership with the local churches where the clubs are planted. “It is so wonderful to be able to take back pictures to the children who have donated their offerings to these clubs” said Yvonne Pickens. “It really teaches the children about missions in a personal way.”

During this trip the team will be kicking off another club, sponsored by the Prestonwood AWANA, in Busia on the Uganda border with Kenya. We look forward to hearing stories of more children sharing the word of God with their parents and bringing them to church.

House of Hope Kabale, Uganda*

2007-03-02T08:32:00.001-06:00

Do you know people who might want to join us in this amazing opportunity to bless Bruce (left) and John (right) who have been living on the street and joined AWANA recently in Kabale? They have hope because they believe in Jesus and like the other 13 orphaned children know God has a plan for them. Below are pictures of the House of Hope Compound for the 15 children proposed by Pastor Johnson.

Pastor Johnson has had the vision of providing a House of Hope for 15 children who are either total orphans, partial orphans with dying parents, or have been deserted to give them a safe, secure Christian home. We have had many discussions with Pastor Johnson about his vision and how it fosters a growth path for each child to be all God wants them to be.

Below are some of the distinguishing factors:

• Heal the hurts of the children through the use of Biblical counseling (Hope for the Heart) materials and training, fostering an environment of physical, emotional and spiritual security. Many children have been abused, abandoned, rejected and despised.
• Provide for a child who is orphaned, deserted or displaced to live in a Christian home where they are loved, nurtured, and trained to understand what it means to be responsible, contributing members of a family and society.
• Provide tutoring and other educational resources to lay a foundation preparing them to reenter school to get a good education. Some children have been living on the street and are not at grade level educationally.
• Develop entrepreneurial opportunities for the children to work and learn Biblical business skills to counter the corruption in Ugandan society. Some of the activities will include: jewelry making, vegetable gardening, sewing, raising chickens, arts and crafts, tourism activities and hospitality industry skills. The vision includes developing productive disciples and citizens in the community.
• Participate in ministry activities to foster knowledge of the Bible, application of scripture in day to day life and service as members of the body in the church. Some of the children already participate in AWANA Children’s Discipleship Ministry at the church.
• Match the children with mentors to disciple them and establish them in their spiritual growth.

$19,760 Minimum covers all the costs of the home for the first year. Including in this amount are the furnishings (living room, dining room, bunk beds, mattresses, sheets, towels, pillows, blankets, kitchen utensils, pots, pans, dishes, utensils, storage containers for bulk food) rent, utilities, food, staffing, clothes, school fees, medical care and personal items for each child (trunk, backpack, Bible)

The total breakdown of $19,760 is below:

• $4,760 Initial setup fees for furnishing the 7 room home includes: living room, dining room and kitchen furniture, dishes, utensils, pots and pans, and providing basic things for each child such as complete medical exam, bed, mattress, pillow, sheets, towels, blanket, mosquito nets, trunks, back packs, clothes, shoes, Bible and personal hygiene items.

• $1,250 monthly expense includes food, housing, staff, utilities, clothes, school fees and medical care for 15 children.

$2,000-5,000 Job Skills Ministry Start Up extras for materials for jewelry making, a sewing machine, fabric, bicycles for transport business, carpentry tools and wood carving materials, gardening tools, art supplies for greeting cards, chicken raising, and appliances for the kitchen (they can cook on charcoal until we get these for regular meals but Western appliances are needed for catering business)

Thanks for passing the information along to friends who might be interested. Most of the children are ages 12-16 with one 9 yr old and all are total orphans. Several people are being interviewed as house parents this week with one being a widow who is a secondary teacher with one adult son in college.

We plan on taking yearly sponsor trips to visit the home so that people will be able to see the ministry in action and meet the children. We appreciate your help in getting the word out.

* A ministry of People for Missions/House of Hope(501c3)and Revival Tabernacle Ministries of Kabale, Uganda. All contributions to People for Missions or House of Hope are tax-deductable. Please make checks payable to House of Hope, Kabale and mail to the Noblins, House of Hope Kabale, 4070 Meadowdale Lane, Dallas, TX 75229.

Construction Trip June 9-24th, 2007

2007-01-12T16:29:00.000-06:00

Funding is complete and we are ready to build the Bethany Clinic in June! People for Missions is organizing the trip from June 9th-24th and the first meeting is scheduled for January 21st.

Please join us for the informational session, Sunday January 21st from 3:00-4:30 p.m. in Room E121 of the Education Building at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, Carrollton, Texas. Would you please pass this information along to the life groups, community groups or any individuals who might be interested in Uganda? We have a few spots to fill and really need an electrician in particular to do the wiring during construction of the clinic in Bethany Village, (located 30 minutes boat ride across Lake Victoria from Kampala, Uganda).

The total trip cost is $3,000 all inclusive of airline tickets, Uganda food, lodging, ground transportation. Not included are passports, shots, personal medications, spending money, and extra personal expenses.

Areas of ministry include 1) constructing a medical clinic for the Bethany Village community (funds have been raised for materials) 2) ministering to children and the house parents in Bethany. There are 10 homes with 12-15 children in each home. 3) lifestyle evangelism with the children in the homes…sharing our personal testimonies and how God is working in our lives, encouraging hurting children. 4) working with the children in the neighborhood school (they are in session in June) supporting the teachers and bringing materials for the classroom 5) visiting the villages nearby to minister to hurting people by sharing hope and mercy and the Gospel. 6) visiting the children who were helped by the PFM team two years ago. If God has given you the desire to go to Uganda we encourage you to apply.

God gets more glory the greater number of people involved! If you would like to participate in the trip in other ways, would you consider praying about helping in one of the areas listed below?

+ Prayer support for provision, health, ministry materials

+ Provide the medicines and shots for team members

+Financial support to go $3,000 per person total cost of the trip.

Application due ASAP.

$150 Deposit due February 15th
$2,000 2nd payment due April 15th
$850 Final payment due May 9th

For more information please contact Margaret or Mark.

E-mail Margaret margaret_noblin@msn.com

E-mail Mark marknoblin@hotmail.com

Being Alert Reaps Fruit

2007-01-01T14:47:00.000-06:00

“AWANA has been a tremendous blessing to our community and to our children. Parents testify that their children can now recite scripture verses and they now pray before eating and before going to bed. Our children know the Lord now than before. The community we serve in is known for breeding thieves and bad boys, but the impact of AWANA is being felt on the community as it influences children to behave godly, our children are influencing the entire children in the community”, reports Pastor Johnson, Revival Tabernacle Ministries, Kabale, Uganda.

Pastor Johnson tells many stories of the children roaming the streets of Kabale early in the morning looking for food in the rubbish bins and living a life without hope. As he went to the Internet cafe one morning he was struck by the sadness and hopelessness of these children. Forty percent of his church is made up of children. The children in the picture above only allowed the picture after Pastor Johnson committed to help them. Many people make promises to help but few follow through. AWANA provides a beginning and the church as it is able helps the children as God puts them in Johnson's path. As the AWANA leaders minister to these children their lives begin to change and step by step God opens doors.

The boys above came from the street and joined AWANA and are now in church. John sat for Primary Leaving Examination and is joining S.1 next year. Bruce has been in and out of school because of being on street and having no one to take care of him. He is supposed to be in Primary 4. Plans are being made to put both of them in the House of Hope home beginning this year for orphans or abandoned children. One child at a time God is placing children in our path. Who knows these young boys may grow up to be strong disciples of Jesus impacting the future of their community.

Merry Christmas from the Noblins!

2006-12-16T21:30:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This year has had many ups and downs but if there were not challenges we would not be as alert to the blessings of the Lord. One of the biggest blessings was the birth of our fourth grandchild, Peter David on July 22th. (Peter is in Mark's lap grinning!) What a healthy, happy little boy! After returned from Uganda this summer the Noblins couldn't wait to get to Columbus, Ohio to visit their family. Samuel, Stephen, Hannah and Peter were a joy to be around along with their daughter Audrey and her husband Chris.

Below they are enjoying a new bicycle for Stephen and the wonderful weather. Walks around the neighborhood, swinging at the playground, reading stories at the library, visiting the zoo and exploring on nature walks kept the three oldest children on the go with their grandparents. Audrey and Chris were glad to have some help with the laundry and other household duties as they adjusted to the new arrival of Peter.

Christmas is the time to reflect and enjoy your families. God bless you richly as you show the love of Jesus to family and friends.

A Hope and A Future for Christine

2006-12-16T21:24:00.000-06:00

Sometimes we think we are in control...but are we really and are we really being obedient to the Holy Spirit when we hear that little voice in our mind talking to us...urging us to do something that our intellect tells us we should be cautious? This is a testimony to God's power and "the fear of man." Do we do what the Holy Spirit is urging us to do are do we do what our intellect tells us?

God was working in Christine's life and had a plan with people He wanted to participate in that plan. But would the people be obedient? First Pastor Johnson and Dr. Michael spread the seeds and continued to pray. Then Christine applied and got accepted in nursing school. Next Pastor Johnson mentions to a ministry friend in the U.S. the need but that person was resistant. "We need to raise money for a new church, a home for the orphans, a crafts ministry and all these other things. How could this person contact people about Christine when there were so many other projects that were so important? " she said.

But God is in control and continued to persist and the Holy Spirit was at work on many. Finally after Pastor Johnson being persistent and Dr. Michael continuing to encourage prayer, the friend in the U.S. was moved to send our an e-mail on Christine's behalf. The Holy Spirit was sending a message..."the fear of man is a snare. Trust God, He has this all worked out you just need to be obedient and present the opportunity to bless another believer." The friend prayed about who to send the e-mail to and the Holy Spirit provided another scripture verse...Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Within 24 hours funds had been donated to provide for the first two years of Christine's nursing school fees. God is faithful when we are obedient. He is in all the details but we play an important part in the process. Even when we make mistakes before we are believers, He is waiting to restore us and wants many to join in the process.

This week Christine began nursing school in Kabale and she has a hope and a future.

What Pastor Johnson E-mailed after Christine gave her testimony at church on Sunday:

Christine came to church today and she was all joyful, that at one time she failed words and tears filled her eyes for joy."God has rubbed tears from my eyes and filled me with joy, for the first time I can now laugh from the bottom of my heart and shed tears of joy" said Christine. It is true, this girl has always been sorrowful, she repented truly and turned to the Lord and she has over the years grown in the Word and in the Lord, but the fact that she was rejected by her own parents left a big scar on her heart, she always questioned herself whether any body on earth loved her. We have always tried to show her love, but the love you have shown her even when you don't know her is overwhelming. "I thank God and i thank all the people God has used to restore hope in my life" Christine said today in service. The whole church thanked God for her, because they love her, she is exemplary and so committed. She volunteers alot in serving the Lord in church. Christine is a friend of every one, children and adults alike. Her testimony is very good even in the community. Everybody rejoiced with her. We are sincerely grateful for the support you have given to her to the glory of God. God richly bless you.

Yours in the Lord,

Pastor Johnson Bakashaba

New Blog About Revival in Kabale

2006-12-02T11:40:00.000-06:00

A new blog has been set up for Revival Tabernacle Ministries in Kabale,Uganda. This ministry is a partner where God is opening many doors. Please visit it to find out more details about opportunities to serve in Western Uganda.

http://www.revivaltabernacleministries.blogspot.com/

Glorious Service of Thanksgiving

2006-11-26T15:59:00.000-06:00

Pastor Johnson reports on the service today. "We had a glorious service today, this was our first service in the church with a roof, a part from the old shelter, which we left more than two years ago. It was today that we could tell the difference, we were kind of used to the open space. There was great joy in the service as people were testifying one by one of the goodness of the Lord.

I also visited the Sunday school and the teachers were distributing the shoes and clothes, I have sent Yvonne some of the pictures hoping you saw them. You should have seen the joy on the faces of children who were putting on shoes for the first time. It was fun for them. Some of them ... it was hard to have the shoe on the foot though it was the right size because the feet were not used to shoes."