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Kyambogo UBF, Uganda Mission News by Samuel Yoo

by WMD
Jan 28, 2015
1903 reads

Key verse John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

We started the year with John 15:5. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” The secret of bearing fruit is remaining in Jesus. So we prayed that we might be fruitful just by remaining in Jesus. I thank God that He granted us good fruit in spite of so many challenges in the year.

1. Failed KTC project : What is God’s will?

Since our Bible center had been taken away by a corrupt minister in Uganda, we have tried to find a Bible center, but failed. One side of the campus was surrounded by government land, and the other by small houses and the price of land is so expensive. When we tried to rent an office, it was also so expensive. In spite of all our prayers and hard work, we could not get our Bible center and our home became the center for three years. It was very difficult to organize a Bible academy for freshmen. So we formulated a project, KTC project, to collaborate with Kyambogo university to lease some land inside of the campus. We contacted a Korean NGO called Good Partners and made an attractive proposal to KYU. Good Partners was willing to invest some amount of money. All our coworkers worked hard to make MOU with KYU. But the result was very disappointing. The former VC of KYU showed a great interest in the project, but his term ended early this year and the government of Uganda has not appointed a VC yet. The project could not make it forward due to frequent change of DVC. The leaders of GP visited Uganda to make an MOU with KYU, but were very disappointed by the poor response of KYU and decided to hold off on the project. All our coworkers were discouraged and disappointed as a result. I myself also lost my courage for some time. However, I thank God that we did not lose our hearts. We believe in God. Though we cannot see any hope, against all hope, we want to in hope believe and see the glory of God by getting a beautiful Bible center for KYU in His time.

2. Coworkers

Even if we have no stable Bible center, God has blessed us with some sincere shepherds and shepherdesses. However, there have been many challenges upon them. Earlier this year, we lost a shepherdess (S. Alison). I had expected her to be a mother of prayer, but she married to a man due to her pregnancy and left our mission. I felt like losing one of my daughters. Our coworkers have very demanding jobs. S. Julius has been away most of his time this year. He had to travel many times to foreign countries and upcountry villages and could not take care of his sheep. S. Dan also could not attend fellowship meetings and prayer meetings due to his busy work. S. John was also busy with family businesses. Two shepherdesses worked for banks and could not attend our regular meetings. When we had prayer meeting on Saturday, usually the attendants were less than seven. This year, S. Gerald proved his faithfulness in serving the Lord. He invited many sheep and carried out Bible studies with them, and served P & W sincerely while sharing common life together.

3. Easter conference, Bible Academy and Christmas service

We had a graceful Easter conference with Makerere brethren. When the new academic year started, we had a Bible academy for freshmen in KYU. We made invitation brochures and invited many students though the turnout was poor. The important point was that our shepherds and shepherdesses took an active role in the Bible academy. All the design of the brochure and printing was done by our shepherds. S. Kenneth took many responsibilities for this and carried out his duty well. I thank God that they have a sense of ownership for the mission. When MAK brethren asked us the possibility of holding Christmas service at Kyambogo, our coworkers were very willing to do so. We shared the responsibilities and all of them did their roles without failure. We could have a graceful Christmas service this year. I am proud of our coworkers.

4. Growth of our sheep.

Brothers Isaac and Wilbur, sister Enid have become regular members in the service. They participated in Christmas preparation actively. Brother Nelson has studied the word of God with me for almost four years and now has a strong desire to be a shepherd. He and his wife, Grace, have become regular Sunday service attendants. I pray that he may find a job in Mulago hospital and live as a shepherd from the new year.

5. To Swaziland.

I personally, have experienced so many challenges and changes this year. I lost a job again. I had worked as a WFK advisor for three years, but the limit of the job was three years. Since July of 2014, I have no regular job and have been working part-time jobs. Though the income was minimal, I had no worry about it because my Lord is Jehovah Jireh. He will provide. I believe I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

However, the Lord leads me in a new way this year. The medical team that tried to set up a Christian medical school in Uganda shifted into Swaziland and tries to implement a medical school in Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland. I was the founding dean of the project. They asked me to come over to Swaziland several times. Since I have worked for a long time in the British medical system, I know what to do in British medical education. They need my help urgently. However, I have to serve Ugandan sheep. So I was torn between the two options and prayed to find His way. With prayerful heart, I applied to a KOICA job in Uganda. Mulago/Makerere University in Uganda wanted me to continue to work for them, and they filled in the application form in favor of me. There will be no one that fits the condition except me. But I could not get the job for some unexplainable reason. Before the application, I prayed that I would go to Swaziland if He did not open the way for me through the job. I could know that God leads me into a new mission field. I have visited Swaziland twice this year and found that the nation needs a medical school and good shepherds. I pray that God may use me for His will in Swaziland.

The challenge we have now is two-fold. The first one is establishing leadership in Kyambogo mission. The senior shepherds in KYU are dedicated and mature in serving the flock of sheep, but they are so busy with earthly duties. This is why I pray that He may challenge them to make decisions of faith. I now think under the leadership of a shepherd, four senior shepherds make unity to please God. May the Lord raise a sacrificial servant of God for KYU.

The second challenge is we have no established Bible center. This is why Msn. Mary Yoo should stay in Uganda until either we find a Bible center or a missionary family comes and takes over the house we have rented. May the Lord open the best way for us!

There are many personal thanksgiving topics in the year 2014.

The growth of my children. All my children showed remarkable change this year. I thank God for this. (Grace Yoo was tired by many things. She visited Uganda and studied the word of God diligently and attended the European conference in Germany this year. She has grown in faith and found her future direction and entered PG study by faith. Little Mary also graduated from her university and found a job and works in Tanzania. Sam Jr. has finished his army service successfully. He served in the reconnaissance unit in the marines. He received very hard training --so-called hell training-- and became strong physically and spiritually).
Last year, I received Anhaeng Daesang, that is the alumni award of KPNU medical school. My name was inscribed in my old school, and I got the award with a gold medal and some money. I could glorify the name of the Lord through this ceremony.
I was appointed as Honorary Professor of Makerere University this year, and nominated as “Lecturer of the Year” (in medical school of Makerere university) by 2013/2014 medical students. All the glory belongs to the Lord!

Prayer topics for Kyambogo center 2015

A powerful and sacrificial leader
A new Bible center
May God grant us exemplary house churches

I want to take Zechariah 4:6b as my new year key verse

'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. I started pioneering KYU taking this verse as Key Verse. I would like to take it again because I must start pioneering work again in the new year. I have experienced pioneering work twice: Makerere and Kyambogo ministry. I know how difficult it is to start something from the bottom. At the same time, I have actual experience of starting from the bottom. I should not rely on my experience and power, but on the Spirit of God. I plan to go to Swaziland in early January, that is a few days away. May the Lord grant His mercy that I may glorify His name and raise good disciples of Jesus there!

Prayer topics