As we near the end of 2016 I would like to ask you to consider giving a special year-end gift to Bukasa School.  There are two campaigns currently in place to help make a life changing difference for the children and families of Bukasa Village:

1) Of the $21,000 needed to expand Ever Increasing Children’s Center to K-7th grade, $7000 has already been raised.  The school faces closure in Feb. if expansion is not underway by then.  

Construction not only expands the footprint of the school, it also provides local jobs- including positions for 2-3 additional teachers. It also ensures schooling for 40-60 more students.  Could you provide an additional gift to help us reach our goal?  

2) The Pig-Project has 30+ families on the waiting list.  With each gift of $250 (less than a set of tires, often equal to a wireless or cable bill) Pastor George is able to provide one male and 3 female pigs to a needy family.  This provides the family with a means of income (breed, sell, barter) and with a means of putting food on the table.  Each sow can birth 8-12 pigglets per litter with 2-3 litters per year.  Doing the math, it could mean as many as 72-100+ pigglets per family, per year!


Note “School” or “Pigs” in the comment box after clicking the "donate" button below.

On behalf of Pastor George I want to thank you for your prayers, your continued support, and your faithful giving.

Happy Thanksgiving with friends and family!  

BeachBoys 

Support Bukasa School

During my recent 50th high school reunion the BeachBoys were the featured entertainment.  At the close of the evening a BeachBoys autographed surfboard was auctioned off and $1150 was raised to help support Bukasa School! I am grateful for the donation and was happy to spread the word, among the 1000+ attendees, of Pastor George and his ministry.

 

A Visit and a Need!

         In late July we had a wonderful visit from Carol Biyinzika from Bukasa Village.  She was our guide, interpreter, friend, and traveling companion while were in-country during our mission trip there in 2014.  

As a nursing student she had the opportunity to join the medical staff for Team Uganda during their international netball competition in Miami, FL this past summer.  Luckily, Carol received permission to extend her stay and visit the Howlands in Santa Rosa, CA.  John and Lynda drove her to southern CA to spend several days with us.  She was introduced in church during weekend services and connected with many supporters and individuals who were interested in her story.  We held an open-house for her Sunday afternoon and welcomed those who wanted a more intimate and informal time with her.  We had a great time of catching up and introducing her to life in America!

Thank you to all who made Carol feel welcomed and loved.

Carol shared with us a dilemma that Pastor George is facing: the city of Kampala declared in early July that Bukasa School must expand facilities to include grades 4, 5, 6, and 7. Currently the school accommodates primary to gr 3.  If this requirement is not met by the end of the year, it is likely that they will not be allowed to open for the new school year starting in February, 2017.  Pastor George has found local properties to purchase that could be renovated to house the required classes.  The total cost of the buildings is $15K with a price tag of $6K for renovation.  Would you prayerfully consider your part in helping Pastor George acquire the funds to satisfy this new requirement?  All donations to Bukasa School, through Project Love International, are tax deductible.  Thank you for your heart for this ministry and for the parents and children of the village that will benefit from this new expansion.  

A Visit From Bukasa

Dear Friends and Supporters of Bukasa School-

Our good friend, Carol Biyinzika, from Bukasa Village is coming to Thousand Oaks!  While on our mission trip to Bukasa in 2014 Carol was our gifted interpreter and delightful companion.  She is working her way through nursing school and has been assigned as part of the medical support staff for a traveling Ugandan sports team.  While the team is in the USA she is taking a California side-trip to spend a few days with us.

She will be sharing news, updates, and current needs of Pastor George's school in Bukasa.  If you are considering joining us for Bukasa Mission 2017, Carol would love to talk to you.  She will be announced at Living Oaks Church and will be available in the foyer following each service to answer questions, make new friends, and meet many Bukasa supporters.  

The Bukasa 2014 mission team is hosting a reception for Carol on Sunday afternoon, July 24.  We are looking forward to you meeting her and having one-on-one time with her.  You will enjoy meeting this delightful and energetic young woman.  Hopefully she will ignite in you a passion to travel to Bukasa someday and experience this ministry for yourself.

What: Reception for Carol from Bukasa Village, Uganda

When: Sunday, July 24

Time: 3-5 pm

Where: Rhoads' house, 838 Silver Cloud St, TO

REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED

We Invite You to Join Us as a Team Member on Our Summer 2016 Mission Trip to Bukasa Village, Uganda, Africa

       At Pastor George’s request, my daughter Blythe and I are working to assemble a mission team of various ages, backgrounds, abilities and experiences to serve in Bukasa Village this summer. This might be your first venture into short-term mission trips or you could be a seasoned veteran. No matter, you are invited to join us!

       The itinerary will focus on serving in Bukasa Village, but we will also spend at least 3 days at God Cares Schools- both the primary and high school campuses. These schools were founded by Pastor Dongo, who was the pastor of Kabalagala Pentecostal Church in Kampala, from which Pastor George was commissioned to plant the church in Bukasa Village. Sadly, as some of you remember, Pastor Dongo passed away this fall after a lengthy battle with cancer- but God’s work, through Pastor Dongo’s family, continues to thrive!
     Our specific tasks will be clarified in the weeks ahead as we have further dialogue with Pastor George. But we do know that, as in past trips, an important aspect of our visit will be to build relationships and share the gospel. We want to get to know the people we serve and they want to get to know us. We’ll enjoy meals together, share about our families, discuss every-day life in our homes and communities, share celebrations, fears, challenges, goals, and future plans. We’ll also be invited to share lessons learned from Scripture, exchange favorite passages, and present encouraging messages to groups or individuals.
       Pastor George recently purchased a building, adjacent to Bukasa School, with the goal of transforming it into 2 more classrooms- thus accommodating 2 additional grade levels. Completing this goal would mean expanding the school to include 4th and 5th grades. Depending on how quickly funds can be raised, the project might be finished by the time we arrive in Uganda or, if not, we may get to help with some aspects of the renovation while we are there.

                             Dates: July 3-15
                             Team: 10-12 members
                             Travel Days: 4 in air, 9 on site
                             Cost: $2,900
       
You can expect to be inspired by God’s work in Africa and you will be humbled by its beautiful and gracious people.  Please prayerfully consider your participation in our mission trip this summer, and contact me if your are interested:

Bob Rhoads 
cell: 805-428-5032 
home: 805-492-4020
b.d.rhoads@verizon.net

Mission Team 2014

Happy children

   

Students at work