THANKS!
(Posted by: Craig Willie, Chi Pledge Class, Spring 1999)

Thanks to everyone for your prayer and thoughts during this year’s trip! We made it back safely on Friday, May 25 and have been slowly jumping back into ‘life’ here in the States.

What a great trip though! We saw numerous people give their lives to Christ – children in schools amongst their peers, adults and family members in their homes, villagers at our church planting crusades, and church goers on Sunday morning in church. As our new friend Pastor Robert would say, “Hallelujahhhhhhhhh!”

On top of those decisions it was amazing to see the progress in the past year for Arise Africa. Children are attending school there and growing and learning, new school buildings have been built from the help of other donors, and they are currently making progress towards their goal of establishing 400 new churches throughout Uganda. FOUR HUNDRED CHURCHES!

God is definitely moving in this area, and it is so encouraging to work alongside our God-fearing brothers and sisters in Christ there. What faith and expectancy they have! The eight guys on the trip were great ambassadors and witnesses during this trip too, and I myself was challenged by their examples throughout the week.

Although the group is planning on returning to Uganda again next summer, my hope is we’ll continue to pray for them during the next 12 months. In this way we might be witnesses of God’s faithfulness and abundance throughout their region, just as Paul promised to the church in Philippians 4:19 – 20, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

As I am writing this on Memorial Day, thankful for the sacrifices of those who served our country, I’m dealing with a little bit of ‘blessing overload’ – thankful for God’s provisions for this trip, for the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ and His grace in our lives, and for your prayers during our time in Uganda. May God be glorified through your service to our team. Thank you!

Craig Willie
Chi Pledge Class (Spring 1999)