Hotel
In Update #3 I talked about the hotel. I have stayed here since I first began coming to Uganda. They truly are family. The owners are Mr. & Mrs. Otile. They are an older couple who manage not only our hotel but the sister hotel next door. When I arrived I found out Mr. Otile had been sick the past three weeks. They were not sure what the main problem was. I didn’t see him until the last week of my trip. But when I finally did see him he was looking great and feeling stronger.
I normally see Mrs. Otile multiple times during the week. But we kept missing each other. I thought it was because she was going home to take care of Mr. Otile. When we finally had time to just sit and talk, I found out why she was spending less time at the hotel. They have taken two very young children into their household. At this stage of life they should be enjoying grandchildren. But now they are back to raising two toddlers who are both under 2 years old. They were originally helping the mother of the two children. But Mrs. Otile said, “the mother was going to throw them away,” meaning she was abandoning them. They decided to take the two young children in. They are keeping them very busy! Her desire is to give these two young children a hope for a brighter future. They are investing in their lives so that they grow to have a deep faith in Christ and make a difference in the world. It is inspiring to see the commitment they have made to help two who now don’t have a family become a part of theirs. Please keep them in your prayers.
Their son, Robert is the General Manager of the hotel. He and his wife, Sylvia are precious friends. Andrew is our dear friend who is like the Assistant Manager. His wife, Rachel works at the sister Hotel next door. They are all dear friends of the Raining Hope family. Most mornings I would see one of them when I went down for breakfast. Selevus, our friend who I mentioned in another update is the food and beverage manager. They all attend and minister at Glory Be to God Church. I will be writing about that in another update. I didn’t see our friend, Esther until the last week I was there. She works in the financial department.
The only one who had left the hotel since COVID was our friend, Apophia. She used to manage the little business center. I always would pop my head in to say hello. It was sad to not have her there.
Even though the hotel was not opened during COVID, they were able to continue operating because of the catering side of their business. They catered food to the businesses that did remain open. They also were able to do home food delivery service like our “doordash” or “grubhub”. They said it was very eerie having no one at the hotel. Things were so quiet. But they found themselves going down to where I ate breakfast each morning and just enjoying the peace. One of them told me they take for granted the beauty of the Nile. COVID caused them to slow down and stop and be thankful for what the Lord blesses them with on a daily basis.
KAMPALA
One of the days in-between the Send Off Celebration and the Introduction, Godfrey and I were able to squeeze in a day to drive to Kampala. It is tricky because of traffic jams. You have to time everything just right. Not only is there traffic in Kampala, but now it gets bad through the town of Mukono. Thankfully because Godfrey use to live in Mukono and Kampala, he is an expert in working his way around the jams. Most of the time that means rough dirt roads! But it works!
I have friends, Troy & Leanne that are serving in another town about 5-6 hours away (depending on traffic) with another ministry. They moved there about a year and a half ago. Carol & Diane actually met them on vacation a few years ago. They have been supportive of Raining Hope over the years. I spoke to them by Zoom before they moved giving them as many tips as I could about the Ugandan life.
We met in Kampala at a restaurant near where they were having a meeting. It was good to be with them in person! I had brought some of their favorite “Kind” granola bars as a reminder of home. I am glad that we were able to find the time to meet them. It was a just a good time of fellowship and encouragement!
We had a wedding meeting that night back at the house so we had to get right back on the road by 3:00 pm. Thankfully, because of Godfrey’s local knowledge of how to get around the jams, we made it back right at 6:30 pm!
Sylvia, one of our graduates actually lives in Kampala because she got a job in the city. But she comes back to Jinja every weekend to lead worship for our ministry. She told me she is trying to move back closer to our home. Sylvia said where she lives the congestion is so bad, you continually breathe in the exhaust from all the automobiles. Pray for her that she will be able to find another job and move closer to home!
RECONCILIATION
The wedding of Hilary & Florence had more purpose than we could ever imagine.
As a background for those who are new to Raining Hope, whenever we have any disciplinary issues, Godfrey works diligently at resolving them. Multiple conversations happen for as long as it takes and most of the time are resolved.
Unfortunately, through the years there are some issues that despite many opportunities towards restoration, we were not able to resolve. Godfrey still keeps in contact with those individuals to try to encourage them and mentor them. We never give up hope.
I had written in a previous newsletter that Florence was one we had let go years ago. But even before their engagement, the reconciliation process had already begun. We had beautiful and private moments of forgiveness and restoration while I was there. I spent time with both of them separately and together . Those moments are some of the most significant of the whole trip. To see how God has worked in their hearts is inspiring. It is why I wholeheartedly gave my blessing to them as a mum on their union.
The night of the wedding, Robert, the hotel manager blessed them with a room to stay in at the hotel. They won’t go on a traditional honeymoon. So this was extremely kind of Robert to provide them such a sweet wedding gift. They loved being able to be newlywed guests! They decided they wanted us to have one more time together before I left for home. So they asked to have breakfast together with me before I left for church. What a precious time I had with the newly married Mr. & Mrs! They are adorable as a married couple! But we had very deep conversations about their lives, where they believe God is leading them, and how very happy they both are.
ESTHER - This is Florence’s sister who also had to leave us at the same time as Florence. She was one of the bridesmaids for her sister. The reunion that I had with her was also significant. We first saw each other at the Introduction. When we hugged each other it was like the Lord was holding us together. Throughout the two events, we were able to have a shorter but significant moment of reconciliation. I found out from Florence that Esther was able to finish school and now is a school teacher for the primary age group! She is happy and is doing well.
RONALD - He as well was released from our care a couple of years ago. To my surprise he showed up just before the wedding! He was also in attendance the day of the wedding to support Hilary. That moment of reunion was a beautiful, special time. He is attending a church where he is working with the sound system.
RITA & SARAH - These two were a part of our organization from the early days. About 10 years ago one of the other managers let them go. We discovered later it was not for truthful reasons. But Godfrey has kept in touch with them. In the case of Rita, she had gotten married but it was a bad situation. When she had to leave, she needed a safe place to land.
Godfrey told me that Raining Hope is also like a “shock absorber”in a car. When I asked what that meant, he said, “I have always told these ones that they can use Raining Hope as a safe place to come if they need it. He said that we can help “absorb some of the shock” of their situation. She just needed a place to get her feet back on the ground. Once in a while she travels back to us (lives in another town) just to be with the family and have much needed emotional support.
Both Rita and Sarah were there for the wedding. Rita was actually with us all weekend to help. The reunion we had was significant. God truly had more going on than just the union of Hilary and Florence. The RE-UNION of some of those that we had let go was inspiring.
I witnessed repentant and humble hearts. One expressed they now see how we have been committed to building a foundation that would last their whole lives. They didn't always see it when they were younger, but they see it now. They came back thanking us for standing for truth and not compromising our faith.
This is who we are as the Raining Hope family. We stand for truth raising a group of born again believers who will make a difference in the world for Jesus.
Hilary told me that he wants to become a teacher of the gospel. He wants to teach TRUTH from the WORD alone. Because of all we have instilled in these students the past 17 years, he wants to do the same. He wants to influence others with the truth. He desires one day to go back to school to receive the next level of education which is a formal bachelor’s degree. In the meantime, he and Florence are a powerful team for the Lord, proclaiming His Word and reaching those around them for Christ. They are tremendous and a testimony to God’s glory and grace.
Deep before wide. Hilary's example is confirmation of that goal being fulfilled. We are proud of all of them.
After all the updates, I will post formal thank you’s from the graduating students. They are forever thankful to each one of you for your prayers, support and encouragement throughout the years.
We are getting close! Just a few more updates! I pray that I will be able to send the rest of them before the end of next week. Thank you for reading, praying and sending words of encouragement! God is SO GOOD!
Kale,
Mama Kisakye
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