Linda & I were blessed to get up at 4am, while it was still somewhat cool, to load up for Linda’s first trip to visit with our new Harvest Vision coordinators in the Chewelah and Colville communities in eastern Washington. Through the day we saw temperatures above 110, but the spirit of joy and fellowship with John & Lena in Curlew and with Jarett & Brianna and their family was more than enough to keep us on task.

We appreciate everyone that supports the ministry that John and Lena do in the communities of Republic, Curlew and the surrounding areas. We were able to bring food and clothes donated in Skagit County. They distribute these to local ministries that serve those that are in need.

 John & Lena also work with a Christian man in Republic that has recently installed showers in his laundromat and set up a ministry station that will provide Christian fellowship for those that often struggle just to meet their own needs every day. Their vision is to build some housing on the property they have north of Curlew where they have been the last few years.

We also visited the 22 ½ acre farm and slaughterhouse that they will be helping oversee in the future. They will actually be living in an apartment on the property and setting up the attached home to be Bread & Breakfast for renting to hunters, even as the actual slaughterhouse will reopen to butcher domestic and wild game for the community.

John will start working as a hunting and fishing guide in the fall. They also are preparing to set up the barn as a home church fellowship. We are encouraged to see the opportunities to reach out with the gospel and help each new believer begin to use their own gifts and calling to reach others with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

After we left Curlew, we drove to Chewelah and met with Jarett & Brianna and dropped off boxes of food for their ministry. They are both working but preparing to purchase a commercial lot in downtown Colville to build a Christian coffee house for bringing the Body of Christ together to help share the love of Jesus to those that are broken hearted and crushed in spirit in their community. We are looking forward to the fullness of the vision that God has given to them.

We have been in constant prayer for the people in Uganda who were put on a 42-day lockdown over two weeks ago. Two days ago the lockdown was extended to a full lockdown except for agriculture. The schools are shut down and all the children are back in their homes. The situation in the capital city of Kampala with a population of over 3 million is critical. Some of the people that were able to leave the city went back to their villages. Obviously, the situation outside of the few larger cities are not as critical as far as food, but they are unable to get help with other issues, including medical needs. No work and now, no transportation for the people. In the city, for those that have any money, they can walk to a store and purchase and then have it transported to their home using a motorbike (boda boda), but they are not allowed to transport people. Presently, Pr. Martin walks 8 ½ kilometers to the store to purchase food, when he has money. Not a problem for most of the people, because they do not have money because no one has been able to work.

Many people have a sickness with a lung issue, even though the “covid” results are negative and the hospitals are full. Mandela Stadium is being used as a medical facility but the government has told the people there is a lack of oxygen. Pr. Martin said that they have put microphones on the outside of the church building at the Kibuli church in the ghetto slum to speak words of encouragement to the people. Please join us in prayer. Pr. Martin is trying to purchase some staples, like beans, so they can be rationed to the people. Please join with us to pray for the people.