Living Rays News Letter Volume 18

11/09/2010 Vol. 18

The Kampala Church of Christ sends you all greetings in the mighty Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is with profound joy, that we once again bring to your awareness about what God continues to do in Kampala. Several weeks ago we reported about what befell of our brother and leader in the Kampala church. Joseph Irwaat, was attacked, beaten and robbed by thieves on his way to work in the early morning of 9/16/2010. He was admitted and later discharged from hospital on 9/22/2010. On his discharge, we all rejoiced to know that Joseph was finally rejoining his family with just a little rest to go back to work. We continue to thank all of you who have stood with us in prayer, those who have financially contributed towards his medical expenses and all of you who have shown concern about his condition. We continue to be overwhelmed by all your prayers, concern and support.

However, ever since he was discharged from hospital, Joseph has always been complaining of pain in the neck. We all thought that it was nothing major and that it was something that could heal just like the rest of his body has. A few days back, Joseph had gone for his regular medical checkup when the doctor told him to have his neck x-rayed. The results came out and they were able to reveal two cervical ventricle bones separating. He was later told that he needed to have a scan made on his neck so that they could get to the root problem. The kind of scan that needed to be made on his neck could only be done in one hospital in the country at the Kampala International Hospital. God was able to provide and the scan was made. This scan according to his doctor was to help in determining whether surgery could be an option. All the signs though seem to be pointing towards surgery because he continues to be in a lot of pain. Recently, he has started to feel numbness on his hand palms and on some part of his upper lip. From the little I know I think over time this could prove more dangerous than what it is now. As we get deeper into the reality of Joseph’s medical condition we kindly ask you not to cease praying. We ask that you lift up him in prayer. We believe that God will turn this situation to a healthy smiling Joseph once again.

A few month ago and even weeks ago we, mentioned about the Kampala Church of Christ starting a Goats project as an outreach venture into our communities. We were blessed to have a donation made by the Christian Relief Fund to start a Goats Project to help the poor in our communities. We were divinely able to identify a community that was most affected by the liberation war of 1986 that claimed a lot of lives in the Luwero Triangle in the area called Banda in Wakiso District, sixteen kilometers from the Capital city of Kampala. A familiarization tour and field study was made on 11/22/2010. We met with several families on this day. On Saturday 6^th 2010, we went back in the community to formally introduce ourselves to the community and also to introduce the Goat Project. (Top RightPic. Kids displaying cloths that we gave them.)

(Above Pic. Cross Section of people who attend the Goat Project Seminar.)

On this day, we did a number of activities in the community. A teaching was made about Goat rearing. A demonstration on how to construct a zero grazing habitat for the goats was also made. The expectations of the project were also affirmed to the community; several questions were asked and answered. The Theme for the day was “it is more blessed to give that than to receive” The Theme is what we have embraced for what the Goat Project should be about. We are going to give each family one female goat to rear. We shall have two Hybrid He goats in the community that will be used to cross breed with the female local goats given out in the community. The idea is to have cross breeds that have been proven more productive with much more benefits. In the event these female goats produce, the project will demand that each family gives out one off spring goat to another family. This will in a way create a multiplier effect from the original blessing of one goat given to each family. This model practically interprets the scripture that says “it is more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20:35. Over forty families and several children attended this function. We had Sunday a Class taught for the children. We had the World Bible School initiated in the community. We introduced Kampala Church of Christ (KCC) with Okello giving out a powerful message about the love of Christ for the community of Banda. We gave out old clothes to both the children and adults in the community. We made friends and established relationships. A Bible Study group in the community had already started and meets every week. (Right Pic. Residents of Banda prepare to construct a model Zero Grazing Goat house)

We envision that through the KCC Goat Project, a new church plant in Wakiso is in the making which has been one of the major goals for the Kampala Church for most of last and this year. God continues to open doors for us to plant churches and spread out into other places. We give honor and glory to God for having brought

Okello preaching. “ it is more blessed to give than to receive” message

about a Vessel in the form of the Goat Project that is being used powerfully to minister to the community of Banda. We are now set to give out at least thirty goats on Saturday 13^th November 2010, a few days from now. We have identified where we are going to purchase goats, we have worked out the transportation for the goats, we have identified families that are going to receive the goats. We kindly ask that you stand with us in prayer as we set forth to accomplish phase 4 of the Kampala Goat Project in Banda this coming Saturday.

As I conclude this News Letter, some disturbing news has just come in as I was just about to send this. The results for Joseph’s condition have been conclusively summarized by his doctor:

Diagnosis

1. There is a C5-C6 Disc Bulge on his Spine with Nerve Compression.

Procedure of Treatment

1. Surgical Decompression and Stabilization

Costs

1. Bed and Medication between seven to ten days in hospital – 1,000,000/= ($454)

2. Titanium Metal to be inserted in his Spine 2,200,000/= ($1000)

3. Surgical Fees 2,400,000/= ($1090)

Total 5,600,000/= ($2544)

Prayer Requests

1. Please pray.

In Christ Jesus

Isaac Sanyu