Welcome to our first newsletter for 2022! We hope all our updates encourage you as we continue to see God’s hand on our projects and the continuous work we are doing in Gulu, to bring about change and bring hope to this beautiful country.
We can’t get away that there have been challenges we have had to face as a Charity with schools being closed now for almost two years, and many families finding it difficult to survive through lack of food with the ongoing Covid issues.
We are not sure what 2022 will bring, but we do know that we trust in God for provision of finances and resources to sustain and continue to grow our amazing work.
Happy students back at school
Honorary Doctorates
We are delighted to congratulate Bishop James and Phoebe, Steve and Helen Lock as they were awarded honorary doctorates in Divinity, Ministry and Mission. They received their awards in November from Leadway institute of ministerial arts in Nairobi. They also attended a three-day leadership conference with a variety of guest speakers from Mombassa, Nigeria, and Uganda. It was such a joy to meet together as it had been over two years since they had been together.
Child sponsorship programme
Thank you to everyone who has continued to support our child sponsorship programme. During the last two years we have been able to help children through home schooling and feeding vulnerable families. As the children are now settling back into education we will be sending out letters regarding your sponsored child in the coming weeks.
We are also looking for a volunteer to help with our sponsorship programme. If you are interested, we'd love to hear from you so please get in touch.
Trip to Uganda!
Steve, Helen and Bethan Lock are travelling to Gulu for the first time in over two years in April. If you'd like to join them, then please contact us, we'd love to have you come on team.
Phoebe writes:
I thought you might like to know about my new roles in local government in Gulu, as Bishop James now oversees all our work with Bethel schools. I have two roles, one as Councillor, and the other as District Speaker.
The council is the highest political unit in the district and has a legislative role, all plans and budgets are approved by the council.
As a speaker, I am responsible for ensuring that council businesses are conducted. I ensure that council meetings happen every two months. Speaker also ensures discipline amongst councillors. I head the business, welfare and disciplinary committee. Speaker ensures that the council reaches only lawful resolutions that can't be challenged in the courts of law; these require being familiar with the constitution, local government Act, and all other applicable laws. The Speaker also ensures council meetings are conducted strictly adhering to the standard rules of procedure.
So far, the meetings I have chaired, the feedback from different people has been good. People are happy for my objectivity, fairly and firmly moderating the house and in good command of English. We give all the glory to God.
Vocational Training Centre
One of our dreams as an organisation was to provide a Vocational Training Centre (VTC) for those students who may find formal education a struggle.
Thankyou to Heb Ffin for kindly awarding us a grant and for a generous personal donation which enabled us to complete the centre.
Pictured below is the VTC almost completed before Christmas. We also wish to say thank you to Andy Bowdler who successfully secured part of a container with Tools with a Mission (TWAM), to send over starter kits of sewing machines, carpentry tools and garden equipment to begin training in Hair and beauty, tailoring, bricklaying and construction.
Vocational training centre phase one and TWAM tools delivered
Fundraising
Our next project is to build a borehole for the vocational training centre. The cost of this is £4,200. If you would like to make a donation towards this or for more information please contact Helen@gulumission.org. We are so thankful for any support you can give.
facebook.com/gulumission • gulumission.org