An e-mail from Brother John Mugabi, accompanied by photos from 2008.  Enjoy!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This is a unique time in our world. I believe that God is taking our greed and materialism away from us. He is asking us to sacrifice.

Miro Jovan, sponsored in 2008

Sometimes we think that we have no say over the circumstances around us, but the good news is that we have the power to listen to the Word of God, and to  use all opportunities to stand together with the hungry, the least of these, and those who have not yet known the Lord.

In this coming year, I remind all of us to become a light of God’s Love.  Let it be a year of self denial and sacrifice.

I am personally happy when I look back on my childhood, I can now perhaps say, the reason I had to eat out of garbage dumpsters was because God was preparing me to become a caretaker of children who are doing so now. I completely cry when I see children going through this.

Rajab (sponsored 2008) and the widow with whom he lives

Today, I am happy to share with you that I do not eat from garbage dumpsters anymore, but at the same time I can’t bear to eat expensive food when there are many children who go hungry. I fight for the children eating from garbage dumpsters.

I look at this new land the Lord has given us as a Gold Mine… cabbages, potatoes, rice, beans, cows, chickens, ducks, bananas, and maize are all going to be grown on it. This will help us feed many more orphans, widows, street children, babies in prison and prisoners. I take this opportunity to thank each of you who have made it possible.

Dining Hall in August 2008

On behalf of Nkumba Ministries, I thank you for all your love, efforts and dedication you have showed this year serving the Master. Your giving has brought many into fellowship with Christ.

Have a wonderful Happy New Year.

On Sunday, I (Cindy) had a nice phone conversation with John. But part of it was heart-rending.

In the course of talking, he shared with me that yesterday after church, he went into Kampala to feed street kids.  They fed 65 children.

Dining Hall December 2008- plastered to keep the sand-based bricks from dissolving in the rain.

These children tried to follow him back to Nkumba, but he doesn’t allow them to come until he has room and resources to care for them.  I know it seems like there is always need, and the truth is, right now there is.

We live in a land of plenty; they live in a land of need.

But we’re both part of the same body of Christ.  There is no difference, except in where we were born.

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality. 2 Corinthians 8:13-14

(In Christ), the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.  Ephesians 4:16