What a wonderful day of fellowship and celebration for all the work these young people are able to accomplish. We were thankful to have Jenny, from Anacortes, bring our friend, Bishop Anthony Owor, from Uganda to visit with the Harvest Kids for the second time. Many thanks to our servants, Cathy, Linda and Isaac for helping. We only had a few cans to crush because we just recycled 630 pounds the kids had already crushed and we received $159 to go toward their monthly support of the teachers of the Wambuti pygmy primary school in the DRCongo and the Comfort Africa vulnerable children’s ministry in Uganda. After crushing cans, the kids received the good news that along with their bi-weekly donations, we have picked and sold about 4,500 ears of sweet corn that our local farmer friend donated and had raised $1,775 toward the completion of the school. Everything being totaled, they had the $1,818 to finish the primary school in Uganda and almost all the money needed for their donation to the Africa quarterly support. Amazing, as is our custom, the kids let Laura, our first time visitor complete the red in the school thermometer and Melody, who is celebrating her 11th birthday, fill in the quarterly support thermometer. Afterwards, Bishop Anthony spent time with the kids as they asked many questions about children in Africa and about the country itself. They enjoyed a special “Africa” lunch that Linda had prepared, then a special “Job Well Done” ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. The rest of the time the kids made “vision boards” capturing some of the special things in their lives, including some things they would like to accomplish or have in the future. This was a special idea from a co-worker of Isaac’s named Heaven Lee and we really appreciate her sharing that with us.

 

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans in their distress…” (James 1:27). We are so thankful to the Harvest Kids that were led to support Pr. Christopher, the Harvest Vision coordinator for northwest Uganda, and his vision to provide a primary school for orphans and other vulnerable children in his community. They had a small group, huddled under a tree (when it wasn’t raining), with a teacher and a blackboard. No desk, no chairs and no school supplies when we first were introduced to them last year. These young people donated enough money and received enough donations for the sweet corn that a local farmer planted for them to help construct the brick 4-classroom and office building, as well as a toilet last fall. This summer they raised enough money to purchase the tin for the roof to protect the brick walls during the rainy season, leaving a balance of $1,818 to finish the doors, windows, plaster and walls. Thanks to everyone, they will celebrate reaching that goal, plus having enough money for their regular donation to support the Comfort Africa, vulnerable children’s ministry in Uganda, and to pay the teachers for the Wambuti pygmy children going to a primary school on Idjwe Island in Lake Kivu in the DRCongo. We invite you to come and bring any young people, whether they have been involved before or not, this Saturday, September 14th, from 10am-12:30pm at the Harvest Home, 9467 Pierce Lane, Sedro Woolley. We will be crushing some of the aluminum cans that have been donated, the kids will count the change and fill in the “thermometer” they have been using to track their progress. We will be having games, a traditional Africa lunch and a special dessert to celebrate the event. We are prayerfully expecting our friend, Bishop Anthony Owor, who is visiting in the USA from Uganda to join us for the morning. We are so thankful for everyone, including the parents and other adults and young people, that have prayed and helped these young people that are making a real difference in the lives of these children that are less fortunate.

 

We are again blessed to know that in August our brothers and sisters shared the gospel in the harvest fields of central Africa and over 5,500 new believers have accepted Jesus and are now on their journey of faith to become true disciples. Every outreach is different and we appreciate praying and supporting their efforts. Last quarter we recognized that some of them were doing this at great sacrifice from their own families and were led to raise our monthly support to four of them which requires additional funds when we send our quarterly support. We are praying that the Holy Spirit will lead our brothers and sisters that can financially help to become monthly donors and help meet that need but we are still waiting for that to come about. We have been able to send the financial support to five of our coordinator’s that will provide a long term sustainable income to meet this need so we can expand the ministry by supporting four more coordinator’s that are ready to begin the ministry in their regions. Presently, we will be $1,500 short of sending the quarterly support and we would appreciate your prayers and support. Donations can be sent to Harvest Vision Ministries, PO Box 733, Sedro Woolley, WA, 98284 on be made on-line at www.harvestvisionministries.org.