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For such a time as this

FEBRUARY 2019

7/2/2019

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Dear friends of PCM,
 
We realise that an update is well overdue and so this is where things stand at the moment.
 
Chris Spree from the UK, along with the head of PCM Switzerland, Markus, spent a week in Uganda last Autumn. This proved to be a productive and informative visit and Chris was able to give a full report.
  
It is very clear that PCM Uganda continues to face massive challenges.  The debt has been reduced significantly through the sale of assets. This has helped in the short term but cannot solve the issue of massive underfunding following the pull out of the USA.  There remains a significant debt problem.
 
The board that was in place in Uganda was put in place by the USA and, following their withdrawal, several of the board also pulled out.  They have since put in place a provisional board that is working with pastor Emmy and us in the UK and Switzerland. 
 
There are policies being put into place to seek to reduce costs and increase local income.  They are desperately trying to keep all the schools, the clinic and the baby home open but realise that some may have to be let go.  The teachers have all agreed to a reduced wage to try and play their part.
 
As Chris and Markus discussed the need for an improved structure with the leadership in Uganda, we were also aware that we also need to become more structured in the UK.  As a result, several committed and capable people met as a new management team for PCM UK.  We are praying over what the Lord wants of us as PCM UK.  We realise we are not the answer to all the challenges, but know that we do have a part to play.
 
I am planning a visit to Uganda in April together with my brother-in-law Steve.  This is primarily a relational visit when we plan official openings of the buildings that have been funded and built in memory of Marian and my sister.  There is the question of a regular team later in the year, depending on any expressed interest and available leadership. 
 
Thank you again for your continued support and encouragement in these testing days.
 
Nigel
 On behalf of PCM UK

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Our God is Able.

7/3/2018

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When we took the first team to Uganda in 2009 and by 2010 realised we needed to either stop going or be ready to commit for as long as we could, we had NO IDEA what they journey ahead would look like.

All we know was that we respected Pastor Emmy and Mama Sarah highly and would pray and do what we could to help them in their fight to provide for those who had little or no hope for themselves in terms of getting out of the cycle of poverty.

Since then we have been amazed at what God has done. Schools, churches, a prison, Pastors' Kids, individuals, young, middle aged, elderly, have all seen the hand of God at work on their behalf. THANK YOU.  

We are currently getting a team ready to go back from July 3rd to 17th this year. Five of us have been before and two are coming for the first time.  Would you like to join us?? Please get in touch if you feel this is something that you are interested in.

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Heavy hearts but no regrets.

27/9/2017

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We were on holiday enjoying the amazing scenery of the West Coast of Scotland when the call came that Nigel's sister's health had deteriorated rapidly and we needed to make our way to Milton Keynes asap as she had been given just a few days to live.
It's amazing how quickly you can get back to your campsite and throw everything in the car and be on your way to try and cover the 600 miles in time.
Just before crossing the border into England the unbelievable happened.  Ruth had passed away and we would be too late to see her.
This has been so hard for Nigel to accept.  He wanted to see her, to thank her for being a great sister, and also to thank her for visiting Uganda with us three times and for all the different things she had done to help in the support of Pastor Emmy and Mama Sarah's ministry.
As we have gone over this scenario several times wondering if we could in fact have done anything differently, which we don't really think we could, we have realised how comforting it has been to know that our relationship with Ruth was such that we had no issues to sort out, no apologies to make, no forgiveness to request.  This is really very healing in itself.
We miss her terribly.  We can hardly think of going to Uganda next year and her not be with us as planned and yet we know she has been saved the trials of chemo, and who knows except God, what else.  She is already in a better place and we are grateful for all the memories we have, and all that she has done.
We hope her memory in Uganda will continue on with the building of the classroom for the reception class at Kyehimba as outlined on the home page.
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We're getting a new toilet seat!

14/5/2017

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​Why on earth would that be a heading for a blog to do
with  raising funds for people in Uganda?


Well, we have needed a new toilet seat for at least a year.  Many times I have apologised to visitors and explained that it’s an awkward size, Nigel’s busy, we keep forgetting……
or whatever the latest excuse is that comes to mind.


The fact is, it has not been very high on our priority list. 
I mean we have used many and varied shapes and sizes of toilets around the world….. so who needs a toilet seat anyway??


BUT, on Thursday we have three guests (not just any guests, but American guests) coming to stay with us so all of a sudden it's jumped the queue on our list and lo and behold one almost the right size is on its way.

In thinking about this I realised it is often the case when we are wondering about inviting a widow for a meal,  giving a single parent a break, attending a church, sponsoring a child, or whatever.  We go along our busy lives muttering under our breath about these things and why we can't do them until.....what?!

A long-standing friend of mine used to talk to me regularly over about 30 years of how she knew God was calling her to be a missionary but this or that was causing her to delay progressing further in that direction.  She died at the age of 55, never having fulfilled that calling or experienced the joys and challenges of taking the risk of faith.

So, as Pastor Emmy comes to visit us again soon and we will be reminded of all the challenges he faces day in and day out, and all the sacrificial actions that have been made for PCM to be where it is today, will I be ready to move forward on more than the purchase of a toilet seat?



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Long time since posting.....sorry.

28/3/2017

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On Friday, 24th March I became a Granny for the first time.  Nathan,
"Gift of  God" was born to our son and daughter-in-law, Colin and Csilla.
 They have both been on teams to Uganda and hope one day to return.  
In the meantime they have other priorities that are the reality of life.



Other "realities of life" have hit us recently at PCM.  Ill health, changes in personal circumstances and death, have all impacted us in recent months resulting in a considerable decrease in giving.  This has coincided with a slowing down of new donors and sponsors coming on board.

The teachers and ancilliary staff continue to need a salary for the fantastic and sacrificial work they are doing, text books are still required, and food needs to be purchased.

What is our response to these things? We pray and we inform.  
There is tremendous blessing in being part of this ministry in Uganda and if you are able to give, even £5.00 a month, it will add up and we will be able to continue seeing the schools prosper.  

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One day we will see some of the fruit in transformed lives and fulfilling careers rather than the poverty that stalks otherwise.

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A loss and a gain

27/9/2016

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Our friend and long-standing supporter John Wright passed away on Monday 5th September.  He struggled with ill health most of his life which limited greatly what he could do physically. It did not however limit his amazing capacity to be interested in what was happening around him, and even further afield in Uganda.
Whenever there was a Table Top sale he was always there, or had sent Margaret his wife with instructions/a blank cheque that she could use up to a certain amount to be part of whatever we were raising the funds for.
John was passionate about the children in Uganda and so the family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations would be made to PCM Uganda.
We looked for something specific that this money could go towards and decided on a small business venture that is proposed to help Pastor's kids get out of poverty.
Basically they will be taught how to make 3000 school notebooks to sell to the children starting the new school year which in Uganda's case is February.  They would like to start the training in November.
The total cost of producing the 3000 notebooks is £1250 and they will then be sold on for a total of £1875 thus creating a good profit to be invested in other ventures, etc.
The family feels this is something that would definitely have meant a lot to John and we are extremely grateful for the £395 that was raised at his funeral on Friday 23rd September.
We wish Margaret and the family God's comfort at this sad time and look forward to Margaret's continued support of the ministry as and when she is able.
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John Wright, July 2016
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A Great Night

28/8/2016

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This beautiful pink dress was one of many that we took with us to Uganda and we were able to let the just over 80 friends who met with us last Saturday night for the Feedback Meal enjoy the delight on this little girl's face.  

Jenni, a long-term supporter in many ways made a declicious buffet meal and the team members gave a varied and interesting report on their experience.

One of the things that stuck in our minds was Doug telling us of a news report he had read where a child in Uganda who has nobody to care for them can end up in prison until they are 18 years old.  What a reminder of the importance of what we are involved in.
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New Website

3/8/2016

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Well, I'm on a sharp learning curve again hoping to have a website that is informative and will inspire you to find out more.
I've decided to do it around photographs where possible, believing a photo can sometimes say so much more than words. . This may mean less text, but hopefully enough to draw you in to ask us whatever you would like to know.
The website is a work in progress and over the next few days and weeks hopefully more will be added.
Constructive comments are welcome!
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