By Godfrey Kyazze, Head of Curriculum Development
Musana 107.8 FM on air.
Psalm 124:1-8
“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say––
“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;
Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.”
Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”
The words of the Psalmist above, make lots of meaning to us as Musana Radio as we come to the close of our second year of service. We praise God for your love and support through the prayers, encouragement, counsel, giving and the many ways in which you have been part of what God is doing here at Musana Radio.
If it had not been for the Lord, Musana would not have survived this year.
Twice last year, our station was hit by lightening and our consuls were damaged. We are so thankful to God that some of you responded and we got urgent help to replace them. What we did not realize was that the transmitter had been affected and was gradually losing power. By the time we realized this, it had dropped from 1000KW to 15%, literary only reaching that fraction of broadcast. We had to close the station. Experts took it for repair and found out that the damages were big and that we needed to replace it. This was a big blow to us and to our listeners who had become so used to their Radio that it had made them one big family of Musana. Incredibly, we were off air
Our new transmitter.
for three weeks ONLY and through your very generous support the Lord provided for us and we replaced the transmitter. This was a miracle!
By the time we went off air, we had started a teaching on witchcraft which stirred a lot of issues and many people were being set free. This has been a big issue in our country and there has not been a clear voice to address this matter. Musana Radio has been a tremendous tool in addressing this and many are testifying of how they have been set free from witchcraft ever since these teachings started. The teachings have been very vital in preparing the Nation for the 49th Independence celebrations which we had on October 9th as we ushered in the year of Jubilee for our country.
For the big part of the year we have not had enough electrification. We have mostly depended on a generator and fuel to power our station. This has also been very costly.
But through it all we want to thank God for you, our esteemed supporters. Thank you very much for standing with us in our mission of “SHINE AND TRANSFORM”. Through your prayers, encouragements and financial support, we can say, Ebenezer!
We are also thankful for our listenership. Despite the circumstances of being on and off air, our listenership has continued to grow. And more so in terms of what the Lord is doing in their lives. Again and again we hear stories of how people have learnt how to work hard, invest money and start up small projects like poetry, fish farming and others. All as a result of the teachings that we do on Radio, in which we promote three main values, that is, Hard work, Integrity and Love.
To mention but a few, we cannot fail to be thankful for our team that has worked tirelessly and patiently with little pay but believing in the growth of the station. This team of young men and women, most of whom were not believers by the time we took them on, we are grateful for what the Lord is doing in each of their lives. Some have come to know the Lord from there, some have sanctified their marriages, others have got married and others are continuing to amaze the community in which they live because of the big change those who knew them before are seeing in their lives.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Support Musana FM Radio by sponsoring one full day of programming for $110 or give any amount to the general radio fund – to donate click here.
Praise God that we have almost completed our Standard of Living Matching Funds grant. This grant is already starting to be used to help in providing some much-deserved raises for our national staff and to do some home improvements. Unfortunately, we have had to go very slowly on the home improvements simply because we currently have a serious shortage of construction staff.
While we continue to look in-country for construction help, we could really use construction experts and handy-man types help over this next year. We have 40+ solar units to install (this reduce our reliance on the unreliable grid system here) and a number of water tanks and indoor plumbing to install. If could help us install these items or do general maintenance and would be available to volunteer here for a week, one month, three months, six months etc., we would love to talk to you.
Please contact us through our website.
I’ve always wanted to visit Africa, and especially do medical work there. I’ve come to Uganda with a medical outreach team from Washington state, and New Hope Uganda has been such an amazing way to accomplish my goals. When we got to Kasana Children’s Centre, the welcome from staff and kids was incredible. Even though there are visitors all the time, there is still such tangible excitement to meet everyone who comes by. The Ugandan people are so friendly and generous–they genuinely want to know how your day is going. At first, it seemed difficult to be able to open up to people you’ve never met, but in truth, it is refreshing to actually be able to be sincere in asking how others are doing and being able to answer with feeling.
Things do feel different here, of course, but not in any kind of a bad way. Kasana feels so safe and comfortable, it’s difficult not to feel at home here. The food (which for us has mainly been prepared by Auntie Gertrude and Auntie Janet) has been wonderful. I’m a vegetarian and they had no trouble accommodating that request. The rooms are comfortable and feel very safe, and Auntie Jovia has done an incredible job keeping everything clean for us. We’re carefully advised from staff on how to prevent malaria and other sicknesses, and the support we receive from (especially Auntie Mallory and Auntie Hannah) them is so helpful.
I’ve especially enjoyed working in the clinic with Auntie Jennie and Uncle Roger. It’s been such a blessing to serve people who appreciate every smile and caring touch. Many of us, even those with medical training, were unsure of how we’d be able to help here, but we have been lending a hand wherever we can and it seems to be so appreciated! As our time at Kasana comes to an end and we go on to Musana camps, I can’t wait to see what else Uganda can show me.
- Kat King, part of Alexander Team
Hello
I am James.
I have been blessed to be part of this year and seeing what God has done to my life through IY. It’s an enormous blessing to me
personally. And my special thanks go to the different ones of IY staff for way they have spoken into my life and generally given of their lives and time to be used by God to facilitate and coordinate this program. Its through this that my life has been impacted.
As an individual, I specify that last part of this year has been so influential to me since we had father heart retreat. My heart
was revealed to me as I had lived as an orphan having a stony heart which tried always to ignore everything which concerned such a topic in many sermons I had heard. But knowing the truth that I am a son of God has made a relevant change in my life and I have things that have changed due to this. I.e my trust to God and to people as I have learnt to be vulnerable as a son to my father God for full dependence on him.
I hope as I advance to next levels of life I will get hold of this and always apply it in life. I really thank the initiators of this program that has not only worked for me but also to the multitudes of the others who have made best use of it in acquiring life skills and spiritual benefit. Thanks to auntie Jennie, auntie Jessica and uncle Steve but also to the Kasana family for all your support. God bless you!
IYs cooking chappatti in the early morning.
Washing clothes.
Chapattis for sunday lunch has become a good tradition – the challenge is getting teenagers up early enough to cook enough for 13 of us before leaving for church at 10.!
The Investment year students who are living with us have to do a lot of general work. With no washing machine and no electric iron, clothes washing takes up quite a bit of time at the weekends or spare moments during the week. Everything generally gets ironed to get rid of the mango fly eggs (mango flies like to lay their eggs on damp clothing…the eggs then stay in the clothes and wait for some nice warm skin to burrow in to ..mmmmm – we should say we have never suffered from such choice african bugs!!)
We spend some part of saturday mornings cleaning the house together, everyone has to get involved before being able to choose what to do with the rest of the day.
I am a recent graduate from Seattle, Washington with my BSN degree. This is my first trip to Uganda, as well as working with New Hope Uganda. I heard about NHU through my cousin who went on the trip a year and a half ago. I decided to come on this trip in hopes of supporting the staff, building relationships with the children, and spending time in the clinic. I have a heart to serve others and I am extremely passionate about caring for others, especially children.
This week I was invited to make dinner with the Jonathon Family! I had the opportunity to learn and spend time with Auntie Constance and many of the children in the family. I was able to work alongside Sarah and Clair making chapate! It started with measuring the flour, water, and oil (no measuring cups, all by hand and feel of course!) to making balls of dough and rolling them out to the right consistency and size. I was able to see another son, George, fry them in a pan. He loves to help cook! Our team ate with the entire family after sharing a time of worship and devotions! It was amazing to see each of the children do their part and take pride in their role in preparing our meal.
During the night I was able to talk with the children and find out what they enjoy studying, if they like cooking, etc. They were so welcoming and hospitable! It also gave me
the opportunity to practice with their names and connect with them on their level. This was their area of expertise and they were able to share it with me! I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to cook with Clair and Sarah and learn from them! I believe cooking is important in all cultures and brings people of all ages together!
Chelsea Van Dalen, Lynden, WA, member of the Alexander team
The Moorpark team working with the Kobwin kids to fence the property.
Recently, a team from Moorpark, CA spent a week serving at our Kobwin Children’s Centre. The team worked alongside the kids to help fence the property. This helped in developing relationship. As our week at Kobwin progressed, I saw hearts open and real transformation happen. Each day that we were there, we covered a certain topic. Faith, Hope, Forgiveness and Love. In the mornings, small groups would assemble to pray and discuss how we see fruit from each of these issues. Then, in the evening, each of the men from the team would reflect on it with a story from the Bible and personal illustrations.
One night that really stand out to me was the night we spoke about forgiveness. Many of the kids, especially boys, came to a point where they faced the fact that they hadn’t forgiven someone for taking their childhood and forcing them into a war driven society.
Their stories and testimonies were heart-breaking, but in the end they were thankful the Lord brought them through those times. For without turmoil, they may never have turn to Him for strength!
-Mallari Page, Assistant Teams Coordiator
IY 2011 Team
Investment Year is in its 6th year, and over the last 5 1/2 years, over 70 young people have completed the IY
The House
programme. The IY programme has proven to be been revolutionary in the lives of our students, turning many of them into cultural influencer and enabling them to become positive members of their families, community and nation..
We are excited with our next step in the development of IY as we seek it to be more effective in the lives of our children. We have now made the move into the capital City of Uganda – Kampala. By relocating IY we believe we will be able to increase the opportunities for our children particularly with work internships as well as helping them with life skills such as decision making and critical thinking. We are living as a family and that is a fantastic place for learning and development.
There are 6 IY students living with us at the moment, doing a variety of internships (construction, dentist, clinic, PA) and so far so good! We are learning what it means to live as family, one of the biggest challenges is all having breakfast
together at 6:30am….Now that is a challenge!!
We are very excited with what God is going to do in all of us and we take this next step with the Investment Year.
Thanksgiving marching!
Every moment is a moment to be thankful, but once a year, we are reminded of the blessings that surround us and celebrate the goodness of the Lord. No, we did not baste a turkey or mixup the months on the calendar. For this kind of Thanksgiving, the traditions are to walk around the compound with your family (I am a member of the Ebenezer family) waving flags or palm branches, followed by a church service that was filled with more excitement than I could describe. We sang in 15 different tribal languages from across Uganda, dancing and jumping, clapping and shouting. It really was a joyous event!
During the service, then, we had the chance to walk around the compound and actually see what everyone was thankful for this year. Each family and department constructed a booth, as an example of Leviticus 23 during the festival of booths. Some people, like me, are visual and to physically see a hut made out of branches and banana leaves that houses the thing we are thankful for brings life to testimonies. As for the Guesthouse/Teams staff, we placed under our booth the photo album of the teams and visitors that have come to be part of the New Hope family in the last few years. We are thankful for their time offered to be here, their skills and talents they share, but most importantly their love and support to create a worldwide family.
Even if its not the end of November, take some time to search your heart. What are you thankful for? Thank God for how He has blessed you and for His grace in your life.
-Mallari Page, Assistant Teams Coordinator
