January Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friends,

Happy New Year! I’m looking forward with great anticipation to what the Lord has in store for 2019. We have many new children at the facilities where we work and are thrilled to get to share the good news of Jesus with them.

I think our staff has all come back feeling refreshed, renewed and ready to go to battle for the children we work with. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

In December, I wrote about Bekita She is one of the girls who used to be in one of our facilities, but has been living with Bibian, our counselor. On December 4th she ran away from home and Bibian has not heard from her since. However, she was seen two weeks after she left home by Pastor Ernest. He talked with her, but had no idea she was not living at home. Please continue to pray for Bekita’s safety and that she would turn her life and heart to Jesus. Her daughter is safe and sound in Bibian’s loving arms.

We have 14 children in one of our facilities who are from up north and do not speak English or Luganda. They have not had God's word in their language at the facility, but Bibian, our counselor, speaks their language and is now translating for them They are thrilled to be hearing God's word!!! Last week I told the story of Baalam and I wish you could have been here. Many of the children had never heard the story before and were amazed and amused that God would speak through a donkey!! I would tell it in English then Ivan would translate it into Luganda and then Bibian would translate it into Lugba. I pray that God will draw these children to himself as they hear and understand his word.

I love being back in the orphanage, sharing God’s word with these precious little souls. When we drive through the gate, the children start cheering and laughing and lining up so each one can get a kiss and a hug. We sing songs, then I tell a Bible story and then we color or put puzzles together. It melts my heart when they climb up on my lap and wrap their arms around my neck. We may not speak the same language, but the language of love needs no words.

Many of the children we work with at the facilities have suffered incredible loss and abuse. We are so thankful to the Lord that we can go in and share with them the good news of a Savior who loves them and wants them as His child.

The Lord knew that I was nearly exhausted and desperately needed my soul refreshed when I went back to the States. He provided that refreshment in abundance!! Many thanks to each of you who encouraged me, challenged me, spoke truth into my life, and prayed for me. Thank you for the long talks, great meals, hugs, tears, and giggles. I needed all of them! Over the years, people have talked about me being on the battle front as I served overseas. This is honestly the first time that I have really felt like I’m on the front line. Satan is wanting to stop us

from bringing the good news of Jesus into the facilities in Uganda, but God is stronger and we will continue to go into battle!

Thank you for bringing both me and these children before the Father’s throne!

Love,

Ava

Christmas with my family