Update from Justus Matsiko

My wife and I greet you all with much love in the most precious name of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus. It is simply unbelievable how fast 2015 is moving. Time, days, months, years and seasons will always change and fly by but the love of God is unchanging.

I am very thankful to God for having given us another opportunity to live and serve Him together with you all. As always, it is very important to acknowledge your constant prayers and generous contributions of resources and funds to our families and Marumba Christian School. I really do not have proper words to use in extending my deep appreciation to Bright Hope World for your great support of generous giving and changing people’s lives across the world; I am a testimony to you.

Last year we had some big financial gaps in the budget for the school and it was so challenging but we closed the third term with no debt to our teachers. I want to thank them for the effort made on the progress of Marumba Christian School.

Because last year closed successfully with no debt to the teachers, and other members in the community supplied us with maize flour and beans, I hope the situation this year is going to be much better than the previous years. We were also helped by funds from the sale of three bulls in the farm, which has been a big achievement.

Recent Events

School

New Site:
Praise God, we have been able to deposit 10 million shillings (US$3,500) on another private primary school with seven classrooms and have been given one year (30th November 2015) to pay the balance which is 20 million shillings. These funds have been collected from timber sales. We have been cutting timber using Reuben’s chainsaw that was donated by Bright Hope World. It was very important to consider buying this property because the rented premises are hard to maintain and with landlords who are not patient.

New Year:
We are opening on 2nd February 2015. Interviews for new pupils is currently going on and teachers are busy sorting out programmes of work. This year we have added a primary four class and have recruited two new teachers in addition to our eight current teachers. 

1) Tukahiirwa Annet - Head mistress               
2) Kyasiimire Emmy - Deputy
3) Ampumuza Kefa - D.O.S
4) Arinatwe Allen - primary
5) Nimusima Joan - primary 
6) Kyogabirwe Jenifar - primary
7) Kamusiime Monic - Nursery
8) Muhumuza Charles - Nursery
9) Kyohairwe Catherane - Nursery
10) Ainebyoona Anitah - Nursery
11) Mpamizi Dick - head cook
12) Kagorora Dick - cook

This is our new staff for 2015, both teaching and non-teaching staff. Their salaries are ranging from 250,000 UGS to 150,000 UGS (US$90-$52) for teachers only and for the cooks it is 140,000 UGS to 100,000 UGS (US$48-$35). 

Cows (UGA07)

We have had 16 cows; 
a) Mature cows - 8
b) Bulls - 4, three were sold, therefore there is one remaining
c) Heifers - 4
d) This year six cows are expected to give birth and two cows shall be dry

We are still using the initial first piece of land and our tenancy agreement shall expire on 18th March 2015. Concerning the new land, we are working on it making it much better for the cows and I am very sure by the time we shall be planning to shift it will be the most admirable place for cows. This time around we have not had a terrible drought as we have in the past; we really have green pastures in the valley.  

This project is gaining momentum and I anticipate shall sustain itself soon.  

Personal Stories

It has been the school holidays for almost for 2½ months and it has been one of the most challenging holidays ever. I have seen my emotions being tested for the first time in my life because of the terrible situations some people and families are living in. It is like things are deteriorating each day.   

A few days ago, I visited Hope in Marumba community. Hope is a widow in that area and before her husband died, he and alcohol were inseparable. He sold the family land and left her on a very small plot and with four children two boys and two girls. Her first son was struck by diabetes, her two girls completed P.7 and got married, and the other son did not attend school - he does casual work for some people.

Hope is now taking care of her four grandchildren whose father was struck by diabetes. There is Junior, John, Alex and Peace. To earn a living Hope goes to people’s gardens to work for food. These children have been in school one term and the next they are out due to lack of clothes and school fees. I visited her while I was going to the farm - she is on the way. I prayed with her and I hope God will intervene in her situation, she seems hopeless. 

We have also witnessed our Congolese brothers and sisters in the refugee camps who were given permanent settlement by the government of Uganda. Inasmuch as these people have somewhere to live, there are completely helpless, most of their wealth was destroyed by war in Congo.

I have observed that every year hundreds of thousands across the world make difficult choices to leave their homes and seek refuge in other countries, while others make hard decisions to end their marriages, or are addicted to drugs. This however has caused disharmony among families and communities, and children and women have become victims of these issues of extreme poverty with endless suffering. We need Jesus more to revive us!!! 

Prayer and Praise Points

1) God’s wisdom and understanding on managing the school
2) More time for the gospel within the school
3) Change of attitude for the community especially the alcoholic ones
4) Enough funds to run the school, payment for the property and renovations

Many blessings to you all

Justus & Grace