Sunday, June 24, 2018

Getting down to the Nitty Gritty

I am a numbers person.  I love numbers, trust the hard facts, and like that everything that reconciles on a nice, neat spreadsheet. You can imagine this can drive people nuts (like Larry or even me).

I appreciate that...
Pastor Peter spent a lot of time gathering numbers, verifying information, and securing tangible costs for this project.  He developed a budget with detailed cost information that assures all interested that when we reach the fundraising goal of $10,000 there will be a wonderful building for the school, Siloam Junior Academy. That budget can be found on the Lake Union Church website, http://lakeunionchurch.org/by_the_numbers. Siloam Junior Academy is the school operated by the Siloam Community Outreach Church. Peter Mabonga is the pastor of this church.

(Pastor Peter on the new land.)


How you can help! Today at the Lake Union Church service, Brent shared with people they can support this project by

  • purchasing t-shirts, string bags and water bottles (http://lakeunionchurch.org/siloam_project)
  • giving financially (ANY amount impacts the project positively); this blog has the PayPal link or go to  (http://lakeunionchurch.org/siloam_project)
  • donate needed items (good used laptop, basic printer, smartphone, iPad or notebook, camera) (contact me if you can help with any of these)
  • pray for the 140 kids/souls each day who need this school (you have a direct link to the Big guy; no web link needed)

Where are we at on the project!? We are posting progress on the building project on the same web page, http://lakeunionchurch.org/by_the_numbers.  With a portion of the contributions to date, the church this week will give Pastor Peter the endorsement to work with the architect and processing fees, securing licenses, etc. needed by the government to proceed with the building.  This can take a while so we are excited Pastor Peter can begin.

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson










Monday, June 18, 2018

Who is Pastor Peter Mabonga?

Pastor Peter, founder of Siloam Community Outreach, shares his story and passion for children. He does not share all his hardships here.  "But Jesus said to him, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'” (Luke 9:62)

Here is his story, in his words.


"Briefly, let me share that I grew up with a single mother; despite the hard life I went through I feel bad seeing orphans and vulnerable children passing through a similar life. After completing my course as a social worker in my life, I love helping others in need so one day God told me to leave the job and go and serve Him. On November 18, 2012, I started Siloam Community Church-Jinja after observing and assessing the community I found that many children in church were not attending school due to the hard life and being parentless. This made me ask God how I could help these kids and we finally opened up Siloam Junior Academy and registered the school with the government as a faith based organization on January 26, 2014. It was at that time I shared with mama Lynette about the ministry and she started praying with us and supporting us.  Since that time, Lake Union Church also began supporting Siloam for which we are grateful.
My passion is to see these children uplifted spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, economically and physically. I want them to be encouraged and supported to be fruitful citizens to the kingdom of God and their communities.  Thus, we nurture them through the church.

Our ten-year dream/plan is to see these children graduating in various professions and/or serving on missionary teams. We plan to establish secondary schools, vocational training schools, and a health center to support vulnerable people and orphans around the community. Together with your support for a permanent school on land we own, Siloam will not have to pay rent for the land or permits from the government of Uganda due to temporary facilities. This reduction in cost ($500/year for rented land) directly helps the children in many ways.

Thank you very much and God bless you all as you support us.  We love you; much blessings. Peter"

Friday, June 1, 2018

Why Siloam? 

Our daughter, Tara, and I visited Father's Divine Love Ministries (Jinja, Uganda) in September 2012 and Peter worked there at the time. (http://lynetteandtaragotoafrica.blogspot.com) He was our translator as we went out to the villages, and Pastor Peter and I connected spiritually.  I have wonderful stories as to my time with Pastor Peter. Since that time, he started a new church/school (Siloam Community Church). 

Due to my connection with Peter while in Uganda in 2012, I continue to communicate with and support Pastor Peter and Siloam.  Since that time, our wonderful church (Lake Union) also supports Siloam.  Our collective support meets their basic education and food needs each month.  The level of support does not meet building or administrative needs although we did help purchase the land and build the new pit latrine.

The government of Uganda recognizes education as a basic human right and continues to strive to provide free primary education to all children in the country. However, issues with funding, teacher training, rural populations, and inadequate facilities continue to hinder the progress of educational development in Uganda.  The only hope for the poor and marginalized in Uganda is an education. Pastor Peter is passionate about helping children obtain an education.  He started Siloam and now has over 140 children in the school.


Why does Siloam need help?

The government of Uganda has strict regulations and requirements for a school to operate and Pastor Peter is between a rock and a hard place.  He either needs to improve the rented land to meet the government's requirements in order to continue to educate the students attending Siloam or he needs to develop on the new land.  Improving the rented land is problematic.  It is very temporary and tempting for the landowner to evict them so they can take advantage of Siloam's upgrades.


Why Larry and me?


Why not? For an organization in Uganda to build a network of support, they need help. You don't know Pastor Peter or Siloam, and he does not have the means to establish a marketing and communications team to get you in the know and on board to help.  So we (Lake Union Church, Larry and I) are helping him get the word out...and about this specific need.


What is Siloam's urgent need?


Toward Siloam being entirely on their new land, a new and permanent pit latrine that meets government regulations was recently built with our help.  The next step to getting to the new land, with approval of the government, is to purchase and pour concrete, transfer the existing structure to the new land, buy new materials needed, and complete a new structure on the new land to accommodate the school children and church.  Cost? $10,000.


We can't do it without you!


All of this depends on you.  Without the funds, our trip will be unproductive and Siloam will struggle to meet the government's requirements.  They will be forced to close and the children may wander on the streets.

Take a leap of faith with us! You will be on the journey with us...making a difference together.  We will share way more information than you may want, but honesty and integrity are important to Lake Union Church, Larry, Pastor Peter and me.  Our collective goal is to change lives, one dollar and voice at a time.


What does the project look like?

Project scope -
  • Concrete slab (pour and finish)
  • Move existing building materials (from rented land)
  • Construct addition to building
Budget -
  • $10,000 (USD) total
Progress to date
  • purchased land (Siloam has papers) in December 2017
  • completed new, permanent pit latrine on new land in April 2018

Design of new school -


Completion of new pit latrine (meets government regulations) on new land -






More about Siloam - In Pastor Peter's words...

Check out this link to a video Peter posted where he speaks more about the project. https://www.facebook.com/peter.mabonga/videos/1975233545880353/

Below is Pastor Peter's 2017 newsletter (sent out in December) telling more about Siloam and their many projects to help others. 


SILOAM AFRICAN COMMUNITY OUTREACHES-UG
Jinja (East Africa) Tel: +256750660127/+256778817783
Email: siloamafrican.ug@gmail.com or siloamcommunitychurch@yahoo.com


NEWSLETTER FOR  2017


Siloam African Communityoutrearches-Uganda is  an independent non-profit ,indigenous Christian   based  faith Registered  with the government of  Uganda as Charity  Organization Registration  Number 291 Under Siloam Community Church-Jinja with  passion for restoring hope to the abandoned rural and urban African  communities through supporting orphans and vulnerable children  in HIV/AIDS –ravaged  communities, economic empowerment   to  improve house hold  income especially widows living with HIV/AIDS  in Uganda and other community in Africa   ,evangelism , discipleship and education support to orphans and vulnerable children around Africa whereby currently with a support of mama Lynette Shererand Larry,Pastor Andrews Mark Lake  Union Evangelical Covenant Church - Mission Committee USA…Siloam Junior Academy- Jinja Uganda  Currently giving education support to  over 145  Children and staff 12


SILOAM  JUNIOR   ACADEMY –JINJA  UGANDA 








Dear our partners and friends this is the new site annual rent for both Siloam community church and children’s school which costs $ 500 and we are so grateful for your generous support  and prayers..towards the above children’s education and church, Every Monday  children assemble as photo shown above….

SILOAM CHILDREN ATTENDING LUNCH HOUR FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER WITH THE STAFF MEMBERS….




 



















Siloam children, staff members and internees students from makerere university Kampala cleaning a borehole area. Teaching them sanitation hence this source of water clean….
SILOAM JUNIOR  ACADEMY  CHILDREN AND VOLUNTEERS,STAFF MEMBERS CLEANING COMMUNITY BORE HOLE AT WAKITAKA..











Siloam children, staff members and internees students from makerere university Kampala cleaning a borehole area. Teaching them sanitation hence this source of water clean….

THE VOLUNTEER OFFERED CLOTHES TO CHILDREN AT SILOAM JUNIOR ACADEMY JINJA 






Here our children are very happy with an offer of clothes donated by a team of students from makerere university kampala carryingout internship arround the local community…. 













Nursery children enjoying porridge during  break time at siloam junior academy..your contribution has enabled the above children to access education,feeding. Therefore staff members and guardians appreciate all your generous support and prayers…

SILOAM JUNIOR ACADEMY CHILDREN  PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS.








Our children are so lucky that the school is near the football pitch and every afternoon they do participate in supports and other games hence this help them to grow physically strong and some develop their telants in anthletics and football..we have used this as one of the stratage of preaching a gospel to other children around the community sharing with the love of christ…

SILOAM MINISTRIES NEW PLOT(LAND)AT MAUTA VILLAGE JINJA UGANDA….









Here siloam children very excited in their new plot of land which is in plan of God to establish temporary building and church projects….we  really appreciate mama lynette and daddy larry and our friends Lake Union Evangelical Covenant Church all supporting and Donating towards the above land which costed $2000  and uganda shillings 7,000,000…for the immediate emergency…but we believe God will keep expanding it with time and may the lord bless you whoever sowed in these work….thank you for honouring God with your finances (proverbs 3:9-10) may he increase your finances and bless your family…we love you..


SILOAM COMMUNITY CHURCH ANNUAL CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE 2017






We thank God for enabling us to preach and teach his word to a number of people who been responding from different local communities and we also appreciate your generous support and prayers hence resulted into success…we have observed that this conferences has enables us reach a number of local communities and building strong church network with the surrounding local churches and local leaders within jinja and other districts around Uganda…because in this current conference we had over one hundred (100 People) representatives from other churches including leaders and pastors…

COMMUNITY FAMILY AND FOSTER FAMILY PROGRAMMES
















This is  Mariam a single mother with six children staying in that small grass hatched house….siloam ministry is enrolled her children to access education at siloam junior academy







Pastor peter visited Mariam after her small house being burnt by her young son during Sunday service. So her was burnt one side and she is living in a very poor housing condition whereby she need support and thank God Siloam ministry is currently supporting her children with education….
We once again take this opportunity to appreciate your generous and lovely support towards God’s work and restoring hope in the lives of children here at Siloam ministry in Uganda…May the lord keep up lefting you ,Using you more to fulfill his holy word. As it say Defend the poor and orphans,protect the rights of the poor…verse 4’ Help those who are poor and helpless.save them from those who are evil..(psalms 82:3-4)..We really say thank you  and may the lord bless you  and below this newsletter attached is the next year 2018 Budget…and we would like to request keep on praying for siloam ministries..
Prayer Requests.

Building new classrooms (10) from Nursery-Primary seven
Building new pitlatrines (6 doors) for boys,girls,staff in the new land.
Building a church and its store..
Building kitchen, staffroom and office.
School Desks(30 desks)
Children’s school requirements.
May the lord guide you as you left up all the above list of Siloam needs and next year the government wants all those to be in place so that we can continue with children ministry and school…
By  Pr. Peter Mabonga