Living Water Ministries

Miniature Beach Balls

Angela — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:33:50 +0000

The miniature beach balls were a big hit with the 50 children we ministered to on Saturday. Steve told the story of Noah and the Ark then each child received their own coloring sheet. Maggie and Angela led the children in some children’s songs, which they enjoyed. Bonny passed out a Noah’s Ark coloring sheet to each child. The children took their time coloring wanting to do their best. We also played outside with the children. Each child got their own miniature beach ball! They were so excited. It was a really fun time teaching and playing with the children.

Prayer & Share Breakfast

Angela — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:34:35 +0000

Today, we had a prayer and share breakfast for pastors in the area. We prayed together for the youth of this nation and we shared with the pastors about the bible school we will be launching in Jan 2010. The aim of the bible school is to train youth pastors and leaders. As far as we know, this is the only bible school of its kind in Kampala. Senior and associate pastors are also welcome, but our main focus is to train youth pastors. We want to thoroughly equip them to raise up next generation leaders in Uganda. The pastors were very excited and seem eager to send young people from their church for this training. Please pray with us as we launch this training school in January for God to bring the right people who will transform this nation!

Friday Sports Eve

Angela — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:50:50 +0000

Last Friday, was our monthly youth outreach. We had a sports eve as they call it here. We had a volleyball tournament Buganda Royal’s college team versus the Revolution leaders team. More than 50 young adults turned up to the event and had a wonderful time. There was also a time of relay games.

Through these outreaches, we aim to attract young adults and college students to get them involved with our leadership training program. We want to see them excel in their leadership skills and abilities and from among those who do well, we select the leaders who will teach the youth in the high schools. Below are some photos from the event. Enjoy.

Back to School!

Angela — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:54:12 +0000

In the US, it’s back to school time for children, youth and college students alike. The same is also true here in Uganda. Whereas the college students are beginning a new school year, the elementary and high school students are wrapping up the last term of their school year.

We are going back into the schools to teach Walk Pure for the last term of the school year. In the last term, it’s a bit tricky fitting in all ten lessons because it is the shortest term of the year, with only 5-6 weeks of teaching before the students begin their year end exams. Our leaders are committed to working diligently to see to it that they complete the Walk Pure teachings. Most of them have started teaching this week. Please pray for the students receptiveness to the purity message and for the cooperation of the school administration. We want to finish this year strong!

Life Lessons

Angela — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:12:07 +0000

As you may know, Matt and I have written a few life lessons curriculum for youth, addressing the issues they are dealing with as a teen, and teaching them how to handle these issues in a godly way. The first Life Lesson is called Walk Pure, which teaches how to live a life of purity and encourages abstinence from sex until marriage. We began teaching this curriculum last year in Kampala (Uganda) high schools. The second curriculum we wrote is called Faithful Friends, teaching youth how to choose the right friends and how to be lead others in a postive way. We introduced this curriculum for the first time to our staff today. They are quite excited about it and have expressed how it builds on what we’ve been teaching in Walk Pure. Our desire is to launch this curriculum in the schools in January 2010. We have been working hand in hand with the graphic designer and other individuals to revise and tweak it to get it ready for publishing, and it is nearly ready. We are sure the youth will readily receive Faithful Friends as they have received Walk Pure.

First Graduation!

Angela — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:18:03 +0000

Today was exciting as we had our first Leadership Academy graduation. The Leadership Academy is 6 months of biblical, leadership, and Walk Pure training plus a teaching practical in a high school. We had 40 graduates, although not all were able to attend the ceremony. Currently, we have another group half way through the academy and Thursday, we will start with yet another group.

Two of the graduates, who have moved several hours away for a job, traveled the distance for the graduation. They said that there was no way they could miss it. Matt shared with the graduates and guests how it was not easy to leave our home in the US to live in a foreign land, away from family, friends and familiarity, but seeing the graduates, the fruit of our labor, makes it all worth it.

These young people are equipped and passionate about changing youth’s lives, impacting their community, being a blessing in their churches, and revolutionizing Uganda!

VBS in Mapama Village for the first time ever!

Angela — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:44:23 +0000

Saturday, as we arrived at the village school, we were stormed by more than one hundred children chanting their welcome song to us. Their faces were beaming and their bodies showed their eagerness and anticipation for our arrival. After four hours drive, we had finally made it.

On Sunday, various pastors and churches gathered together at the village school for service. Many of them had walked for more than an hour to reach the place. Matt preached about the way to receive from God is to touch God with your faith. His main passage came from Mark 5, the woman with the issue of blood.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, Sarah and Rochelle taught 160 students about God our Creator, Father, King, Friend, Shepherd and ……Each day, they did a craft, played games and taught the children bible songs and a memory verse. Not only were the children enjoying program, but also the adult helpers as well!

These 160 children attend the village school, pioneered by Nicholas, one of our ministry leaders. In addition to the school, is a Sunday service. A good number of the students’ parents do not attend the Sunday service, so it was a great opportunity for these children to go home and share with them what they had been learning. On the last day, nearly all of the children accepted Jesus into their heart! That’s what it’s all about…spreading God’s love.

A Community Changed!

Angela — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:43:17 +0000

On Saturday, August 1^st, several thousand youth turned up for Youth Fest 2009! This was the first (and largest) event of its kind put on by the ministry. The majority of the youth came from the schools where we have been teaching Walk Pure the past two years. Their Walk Pure leaders were so excited to see them at the event. The anticipation was high.

From morning till evening, the day was action packed with competitions (eating, tug of war, limbo, volleyball), games (chubby bunny, bubble gum blowing), prize give-aways (t-shirts, hats, bikes), gospel artists (JB Katende, Isaac Morgan, Sammy K and more), dance group (Jericho Breakers), quiz, skit, and the Passion of Christ projected on a large blow up screen. The youth and leaders had a blast!

To add to the success of the day, was the leaders who worked diligently and cooperatively. For most of them, this was their first time to help with such an event; they felt excited and empowered. One of them (Dennis) even mentioned how he would be telling his grandchildren about this day.

In addition to the leaders, many of the youth, graciously thanked us for organizing this day for them. Daphne was blown away by the love we showed them through providing the event free of charge for all Walk Pure students. This day would not have been possible without the prayers and financial support of friends at home. The day went smoothly, weather was great, no problems or injuries, and the students had a great time. A seed of Christ’s love was planted in thousands of hearts this day.

Gospel Artists

Eating Competition

Student won a soccer ball

Volleyball Competition

Bicycle Winner

Equipping Leaders With Computer Skills

Angela — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:38:26 +0000

Computer skills is a great benefit to young people in Kampala. Many of the young adults we work with want to learn how to type papers for school, create resumes, learn how to organize data, how to type letters, etc. Thanks to Rochelle and Sarah, our leaders have the privilege of learning some of these skills. We combined our laptops to make a training lab, about 2-3 people per computer. Everyone got a chance to practice what they learned. Yesterday, many of them worked on creating their resume, which will aid them in applying for a job.

We are using these classes as a trial run, so to speak. Our hope is to continue these training classes, however, we are in need of more computers. If you would like to help us with this project, please contact us.

Is Sex Okay?

Angela — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:48:00 +0000

That was the question posed to the youth at the Walk Pure conference last week. What a great attention grabber! The youth were very attentive and eagerly waiting to find out the answer to the question. We had a great time with spending the day with 50 youth, teaching them about how to protect themselves from sexual temptation, how to walk pure and to save sex until marriage. In addition to the teaching, there was worship time, music entertainment and snacks. The youth seemed to be learning and having a good time. We encouraged them to share this message with their friends.

So, I ask you, what do you think….is sex okay? Why or why not?

Matt & Walk Pure Teachers

Youth Dancing & Having Fun

Enjoying Snacks