A Deep-Rooted Thank You!

Colin is 20 years old from Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver, WA and has spent the last five months serving in Uganda. From the deepest part of his heart, he would like to say “thank you!”

Dear Sponsors,

Right now, I am in the final month of my six months of field time in Uganda, and words cannot express how bittersweet it is. First and foremost, I’d like to extend many thanks to all of those who sponsor and support the work of Potter’s Field Ministries around the world. Every ounce of what you have poured into the work that God is doing is producing fruit that will last eternally. Sometimes it can be difficult to see how God is working in the day to day, but as I reflect on the past five months, it’s obvious how much your support has blessed the ministry God is doing in Uganda. Without your help, we wouldn’t be able to reach these children each week with a warm meal, lessons from God’s word, and personal relationships that nurture and grow them into who God has created them to be.

Colin spending time with the children at PFK Uganda!

What God has chosen me to be a part of through IGNITE is beyond my wildest imaginations, and I have been so blessed not only to love children but learn to love those who I’m surrounded by each day. Without IGNITE, so many stones in my heart would have been left unturned, leaving me entangled in sins and not genuinely growing in my relationship with the Lord. Being away from the distractions that American culture is so indulged in has allowed my heart to be slowly and properly tended to, healed, and grown. I would most liken God to being a gardener in this season of my life. He has been cutting away the branches which aren’t bearing fruit, pruning those which are so they may multiply, and continues watering and feeding me through the Bible and prayer. I genuinely have no idea where the Lord will take me beyond this year, but the one thing I’ve become confident in is Him and His promises. What is said in Proverbs 3:5-6 could not be any more of a reality for me, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” This year has been teaching me what it means to trust Him with all my heart and to acknowledge Him in all my ways, and each day that passes I realize on a deeper level how much I truly need God in all my life.

Team Uganda!

At the start of this year I was so uncertain as to what God had in store for me, and I never honestly felt like I was changing. But now looking back I can say I would not be who I am today if God hadn’t taken me away for a year to work on my heart and set my feet upon the solid rock who is Jesus Christ. IGNITE is without a doubt the best decision I’ve ever made, and I’m thankful that God called me to be a part of it, for it truly has helped to direct me onto the path God has for me. I would be lying if I said it was easy, but I would also be lying if I said it wasn’t the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. The fruits of this year will not only abide forever but will continue to multiply as the seed which was sown in me produces and I am able to sow into the lives of others.

Thank you again to all who support the work of the Lord through Potter’s Field Ministries. All of your prayers, financial support, and sacrifice, big or small, are seen, heard, and felt in each and every life we get to be a part of here on the field.

A Joyful Smile

IGNITE Class 14 Intern, Emily, from Calvary Chapel West Side in New York shares about a young boy, Dalton, who has blessed her during her five months while serving in Uganda!

 

A child after God’s Word, Dalton, is a 6-year-old boy that I have had an opportunity to teach these past six months here in Uganda. The joy that his smile brings all the teachers when he does something silly or achieves a goal has been some of the sweetest moments for me. Dalton lives with both his mother and father. He shares his one-room household with his two older brothers and younger sister. Dalton is very quiet but full of knowledge for his age, he is always looking onto the old kids in class and around the playground. He watches the way the older kids interact with each other and their walk with the Lord, looking into ways to improve and do better. His goal is to be able to share the Word of God to the people he loves and to know everything about the Bible.

Daltons mother has been struggling with many sicknesses for three years now, he doesn’t share much about her because of how ill she is all the time. He did share about how much she does try to be with him in his day to day life, but even Dalton at such a young age seeks to understand why she isn’t able to. His older brothers take care of him and his younger sister most of the time. It is his willingness to be driven by the Holy Spirit along with his little legs that get him to Kids Club every Saturday. PFK Uganda has been such a blessing to him and an outlet that allows him to grow further in learning more about how much Christ loves His children. He has shared a lot about how the meals at Kids Club are the biggest and “the best” meals, and at most points the only meal he will receive all weekend.

Dalton is a proud and faithful attendee of Potter’s Field Kids Club and loves the environment with the teachers and kids that also attend. He has greatly enjoyed the Bible stories and the way the “funny teachers” act them out. Even though his time coming has only been a few months he has learned many Bible verses which he has been able to memorize and apply to his life. He said he still has his very first prize from memorizing Psalms 139:1 “Oh Lord you have searched me and know me.” Dalton says he keeps his little rubber rabbit next to his favorite feather and every morning remembers how his Father in heaven is with him. He shared how he has never ridden in a car before, so he has walked far for many things, but the Saturday Kids Club would be the one place he would gladly walk the farthest on any given day. Dalton even in class has voluntarily come up beside me and brought the rest of the kids into prayer before ending class. He has been able to learn many new games, meet many sweet people at Kids Club and counts them all as his friends.

The way the Lord has blessed me with knowing this full-hearted young man of God is just another reason why I know the Lord’s hand is entirely over this place, that I now call home!