Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thank you all so much for your prayers as Andrea and I returned to Africa. We truly appreciate your faithful support.

Andrea and I had a good journey back to Uganda. It was a long trip, with approximately 36 hours of travelling, so by the time we reached our final destination we were really exhausted.

Proverbs 3:5 – 6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight

Peter, a brother in the Lord, met us at the airport in Entebbe, and we stayed overnight at a hotel in Mukono before continuing our journey. Our accommodation was arranged at the Divine Guest House within the hospital grounds. After arriving, we were able to rest for three days, which made a tremendous difference. We remain here today while we continue to seek the Lord's leading regarding our future accommodation.

A Divine Appointment at Church

On Sunday, Andrea and I wanted to attend the local Pentecostal church. Unfortunately, we couldn't find it! We stopped to ask a glamourous dressed lady for directions. We assumed by the way she was dressed that she was on her way to church.

Her name was Diana Ruth, and she told us she was also going there and would happily show us the way. She was quite excited to get into the van with us. We soon realised we had been travelling in completely the wrong direction and were very thankful for her help.

The church has a congregation of around 300 people at each service, with three Sunday morning services held back-to-back. By the time we arrived, the only seats available were right at the back, but we thoroughly enjoyed the service. It was a great sermon, and we all enjoyed listening to his message.

God is not limited by human constraints like time, space or divided attention. Because God is omnipresent (everywhere at once) and omniscient (all knowing), He can hear and understand every individual prayer simultaneously, giving each person the same focus care as if they were the only one praying.

After the service, as we were new, we were invited to meet with the pastors and the other newcomers. We enjoyed fellowship together and made some valuable new contacts. One gentleman we met was a heart surgeon from America, and the pastors also kindly offered to help screen members of the church who may be suitable to work with us.

When we left, we offered Diana a lift home. It was then that we discovered she is a talented tailor who also teaches others to sew. She makes beautiful dresses, and we couldn't help but feel that God had orchestrated our meeting. We had no idea she was a dressmaker when we first stopped for directions, but we believe the Lord has brought her into our lives for a purpose, and we believe that she will be working for us and doing some sewing for us in the future.

Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.

A Little Fun

Andrea managed to borrow Boniface's motorbike and had great fun riding it around the hospital grounds. We were introduced to Boniface through the Bishop, and we are grateful for the new friendship.

An Act of Mercy

One evening, an elderly gentleman named Stephen approached us. Although he spoke very little English, he asked if we could help his wife, who was unable to walk. He demonstrated how she had to drag herself across the ground because she could not use her legs.

We agreed to collect her and take her to the hospital.

The journey to their home was not an easy one. It was a very difficult undertaking as the road was extremely rough. There were moments when we wondered whether our van would make it through the deep ruts and grooves in the dirt road. In places the dense vegetation had almost closed in over the track. Stephen waved his arms around directing us left and right along these narrow dirt tracks to his small hut where he and his elderly wife lived.

Stephen called for his wife, Marjory, to come to the doorway. She slowly dragged herself from the hut on her backside. It was immediately obvious that life had been very difficult for her. She smelled very unclean. She had this look in her eyes of sadness and desperation and relief in seeing us. Comforting her, I asked if I could pray. She consented.

As I spoke the name of Jesus, her body started jolting, and this this happened every time I spoke the name of Jesus. And I noticed that the jolting was coming up from her stomach. I knew something spiritual was coming out. After this, she smiled, her face was soft, and repeated Jesus’s name, calling out “hallelujah” a few times. I know that she was set free from what was ailing her spiritually.

Stephen, their two grandsons, Andi and I all rejoiced together as we carefully lifted Marjory into the van and, with her strapped up, we took her to the hospital. In the back of the van she began singing, her countenance changed and her face softened.

When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor lifted her and placed her in a wheelchair. We left Stephen as the caregiver and blessed them. We were exhausted but it felt good to be able to help.

Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Meeting with Bishop Michael

On Monday, we had the privilege of meeting The Right Reverend Bishop Michael, the Anglican Bishop of the region.

We were escorted to his home, where an armed guard greeted us at the entrance. The bishop's wife warmly welcomed us and showed us into the waiting room.

After opening our meeting in prayer, we spent time discussing the vision God has placed on my heart for Uganda and the work He has called me to do here.

Following our discussion, we shared breakfast together before taking photographs. Bishop Michael and his family were very welcoming and showed us great care.

A Visit to Marjory

A few days later, Stephen came to visit us with an update on his wife's condition.

They don’t supply food at this hospital and Stephen asked if we could give him some money for food. Instead, we gave him and Marjory our dinner.

The following day, while we were having some photocopying done on the hospital grounds, we met Stephen again. He invited us to visit Marjory.

There were over ten people in the room visiting. Marjory was sitting on the floor on a mat. She looked clean and happy. Both were pleased to see us. With the help of an interpreter, Marjory invited me to pray for her again. She was soaking in the spirit and felt His peace. Then I prayed for all the whole room of visitors and the entire room.

Support for Mid-land School

While in town, we met a man named George. During our conversation he offered to take us to visit a local school that desperately needed help.

When we met with the headmaster, we learned that the school currently rents both the land and its buildings for 575,000 Ugandan shillings every three months (approximately NZ$272).

Although this amount may not seem large by New Zealand standards, it places an enormous financial burden on the school.

Around seventy students attend the school, each paying approximately 500,000 Ugandan shillings in school fees. However, much of this income is consumed by rent, leaving very little for teachers' salaries, classroom resources, or improvements to the school.

Some teachers are receiving very little pay, while others are not being paid at all. Sadly, this is beginning to affect morale and makes it difficult for them to continue teaching.

The encouraging news is that the school has recently purchased approximately two acres of land where they hope to build permanent classrooms. Owning their own property would remove the heavy burden of paying rent and allow more resources to be invested directly into the children's education.

This opportunity has come unexpectedly, and we are continuing to pray for God's wisdom.

If the Lord places it on your heart to help support this project, we would love to hear from you. Please also remember this need in your prayers.

Seeking God's Direction

As I type this newsletter, the hospital board have had a meeting. The hospital committee and the bishop were in attendance. They were discussing how they can accommodate us because they have three empty houses, and it was the bishop who instructed the hospital reverend to take us and show the houses to us.

So now we are waiting expectantly for the hospital board to inform us on what they have decided.

What amazes me most is that we have only been in Uganda for one week, yet the Lord has already opened so many unexpected doors.

NGO Registration

On Thursday, our new friend, Boniface, kindly helped us submit our documents to Alex, who works at the NGO office, as part of the application process for our permit to operate.

Bishop Michael also wrote a beautiful reference in support of our application, for which we are extremely grateful.

If all goes according to plan, we hope to receive the permit very soon.

Praises

• The open doors and the warmth of people who genuinely want to help and make friends

• Our accommodation at the Divine Guest House while we seek God's direction.

• The joy of discovering familiar foods from time to time—something we certainly don't take for granted!

• 

We Need Prayer

• That the screening process for local workers will go smoothly and that God will lead us to the right people.

• That Andrea will continue to see each situation through Jesus’s perspective.

• For God's provision for Mid-land School and that He will raise up faithful partners to support this ministry.

• For the many vulnerable children in this community.

• For our housing and that we will become settled before Andrea returns to New Zealand at the end of her two-month tourist visa.

Closing Prayer

May everyone whose heart is ready to receive You, Lord, be open to Your truth and Your love. Please strengthen those who are facing trials, worries and uncertainty. Surround them with Your peace, encourage their hearts, and draw them ever closer to You.

May Your name be glorified in all that we do.

God bless you all, and thank you once again for your faithful prayers and support.

Sandra

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THANK YOU FOR READING & GOD BLESS YOU,

Sandra King FOUNDER

Contact

• Sandra's Ugandan whatsapp Phone: +256 7677218367

• Sandra's app number: +64 220938806 (free phone calls and texts anywhere in the world)

• akiwishouseofaroha@gmail.com

• kingsandrajane@gmail.com

• www.sandraking.org.nz

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