Encouraging news from Rugendabri

We have recently received news from Rugendabari that they are rejoicing as three good things are happening there.

Firstly is the rebuilding of the pastor's house which is progressing apace. We sent over £2,400 for repairing the children's bedrooms in April, but we find that they have decided to rebuild the whole house! This was unexpectedly good news!

We have also sent over some money to help bring churches up to the new government standard, and the church floor has been completed (it was only partly cemented when we were there last), and the church painted. It is not clear whether it was our money that was used for this church repair, but we rejoice with them.  It is good to see a picture of the church filled!

And finally, as a trust we have been supporting the Healthy Mum project for some time, and we sent over some money to help them open one at Rugendabari. This has blossomed, and the one group we started has grown to 5 groups, each with 20 members! The groups help the young mums develop a saving habit and to keep their children healthy. They have bought different domestic animals like hens, rabbits, goats and also health insurance.

This is a good start but the area still needs help and support. One continuing problem is in education where children drop out of primary schools because of poverty in their family. It is also a wider problem as the church is hampered from having few educated people. We have considered asking Compassion to start a project here which will help the children who are from the poorest families. This project needs to be sponsored by the church, and we have written to the Bishop to ask him his opinion on whether it would be appropriate to start a Compassion project at Rugendabari.

Please keep this small, rural and poor parish in your prayers.