Miracles, Salvations, Terrorism - Keeping Our Focus

Written by Carolyn Figlioli

Wow! So much has happened in just one month! First, we received our renewal Permit to Operate as an NGO in Uganda for another five years! The paperwork process started in March and we finally received it this month, November. Whew! Thank God for His favor with the government. Along with this news, after twelve separate trips to Kampala, I will be picking up my three-year work permit renewal which was approved! That means I am an expatriate for another three years and won’t need to get a visa every time I come and go.

In both government places I had to get help to push our papers through, without paying any extra money, just people being nice and helping in those offices. It takes a ton of paperwork to live here but everyone has been so nice and helpful. And, we just completed our Annual Financial Audit and the CPA said that he would love to have all of his other NGO’s that he audits to come and see our process as it is perfect! He said he enjoys coming here because there is no paperwork to untangle or hidden messes to find. Praising God for His wisdom as my Finance Officer, Betty and I navigate all of our finances each and every day, keeping everything with integrity. Our auditor used that word, integrity.

One month ago, the Lord impressed upon me to set a day weekly to fast and seek only His face. I asked if any of the children wanted to join me and each week I have had about six regular fasters! I have two girls that do three-day fasts every other week, on their own, and they are only thirteen! God is up to something for sure. The Lord also impressed upon me to be more intentional in ministry outside of our gates, everywhere I go. I am amazed at all the opportunities that have been presented to me to pray for people, to help people, to bless people. At one restaurant I was praying for a waitress and when I finished a young waiter came over with his hands clasped asking me earnestly if I could bless him too. People WANT to be blessed. I am excited to see where this will take us. I know it is making a change in me. And I like food so fasting is not a thing I get excited about. But now I look forward to my day each week. And now the kids do too. Kids copy what they see….

In the last month Kampala City has had three separate bomb explosions at government places, killing people and injuring many. ISIS has claimed responsibility for all of them and insists that they will set up a caliphate in Uganda and force the people to accept Sharia Law. Uganda has a strong army and we are praying that these suicide bomb rings will be destroyed. Just today a mall where we go shopping almost every other week was closed and all surrounding streets as a suspected bomb was there. So, we are now living in a terrorist state. It is spreading across northern Africa at an alarming rate. This might be the reason for our fasting, to seek the wisdom of the Lord in our everyday movements.

I still look around at the beauty of this nation, the people and the land, and I do not fear tomorrow. I enjoy the beauty around me and I will continue to love all people and not be afraid to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I find myself sharing more and more especially during these times. Our construction workers come to our church when they aren’t working and two came and gave testimony that they have never experienced love from a contract employer. They just go build and no one engages with them. We love these guys, we go and pray for them, we visit them in the hospital, we feed them. They said that they feel so much peace here and don’t want the job to end. You can hear them all day, laughing and enjoying themselves as they work. Our testimony should always be faith, hope and love, the greatest to be love.

One of the young men came to me after church and said I want this religion. I have been a Muslim for 17 years and then no religion for the last four. I have been searching and this is what I am looking for. He received Christ, has been discipled for a month and was baptized this last Sunday in a small pool of water next to a dusty road with big trucks flying by. It was amazing! He says he wants to now add a Christian name to his name so he wants to learn more about the men of the Bible so he picks well. I just love the innocence of this.

In other news, we had our land resurveyed for the third time and have learned that we lost land, 2.5 acres. Yet we are praising God because much of it is swamp land acres during rainy season and have nothing to do with where our current buildings are located. Talk about a huge sigh of relief and a hallelujah! We now have to dig up all our concrete posts and break the cement all along the old fence line and then move it up to the new boundary. Our local village chief asked us why we are going through all this trouble as no one has complained. Integrity. We do the right thing even if it costs us.

We have had yet another surgery for one of our kids and it was successful. We pray he heals quickly and fully. This is the sixth surgery in two months, all necessary. I am just so thankful that the funds were there and that everyone has recovered well by the mercy of God.

Lastly, our schools in Uganda have been closed for 80 weeks, a world record. The President has stated in a news conference that we shall all go back on January 3rd. Honestly, I don’t see that happening ONLY due to the fact that no one will have any money left after Christmas to now buy all new uniforms, school supplies, and probably inflated school fees. Again, nothing about education is free here. Everyone pays no matter how poor. No uniform? Don’t show up for school. It is so very sad because many never get to go to school. We are really praying that we can help some of the village children to go this year. Right now our budget can’t even support our going back BUT our God is bigger and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He can do the impossible.

I leave you with this: Be so confident in God’s plan for you that you are not moved even when everything seems to be going in the opposite direction from that plan. God bless you and the plans He has for you.