Benon Kayanja

I am so thankful to God for your consistent prayers. JLH is currently serving in 7 districts in Uganda and serving a population of 6,000 people directly and 30,000 people indirectly. We thank God for the activities that we were able to do in the last quarter through churches and communities using the Church Community Mobilisation Process (CCMP). It has been so encouraging seeing transformation happening in many people's lives. Re-envisioning trainings for Gulu and Kasese were successfully completed to equip facilitators and denominational leaders in Kasese and Gulu. Relationship Building Trainings have also been undertaken to equip our facilitators with essential skills for deepening trust. One church member from Bugoye Sub-County, Kasese District, narrates how he attended a CCMP Resource Mobilisation training and as a result started backyard farming at his home with his wife. The church members showed interest when they saw the good garden (see the photo of Pr. Kiiza). He later started facilitating resource mobilisation Bible studies in his local church.  As a result, a good number of those who attended the Bible studies were able to realise the different God-given resources around them and committed to start different projects using the God-given resources that can be of help to better their lives. Please pray for the next training on Church Community description, which will seek to equip our church facilitators with knowledge and skills on how the church and community can read into the reality of their situation and desire to transform it.

You will know about the social enterprise-CEK CAM (meaning 'Abundant Food' in Acholi, a dialect in Uganda), which we started a couple of years ago.  It has become a major buying and selling cooperative for all the produce that comes from our farmers.  As a result, farmers can earn value for their effort rather than the middle-men profiting. Thank you for praying for CEK CAM as this second quarter has registered some significant incomes that can enable us to further invest in value addition linkages, mainly grain processing. JLH/CEK CAM will be procuring a grain mill in August which will come as a major boost towards financial resilience. We thank God so much for this move that comes as a result of practising wise stewardship.  This further cements the fact that God is faithful and will provide for needs, even in difficult times.  Please pray for the procurement process and for JLH and CEK CAM team, for them to apply Godly principles that will help to build deeper financial resilience that is rooted in faith, allowing all the participants to navigate challenges with confidence and peace.

You will be surprised indeed to know that in Uganda, approximately 64% of female students miss school due to menstruation-related issues, including lack of sanitary pads and inadequate facilities for managing menstruation. The lack of menstrual products, combined with the absence of adequate WASH facilities, forces girls to stay home during their menstrual periods, creating dangerous gaps in their education and pushing them further from their dreams of economic independence and a better future.  JLH has planned for a series of trainings in the schools where we are implementing our child protection training, as well as schools where we are implementing Gender Mainstreaming for appropriate menstrual product making. A social enterprise is in the process of development which will offer both training as well as social value packs so that girls in Kasese can stay in school. Please pray for the planning and setting up of this unit within our church structures.

You will be pleased to know that with God's leading and a desire to reach those who don't know Jesus, Dorothy and I, for three months now, have hosted a house church in our residence. We have opened our home to friends and neighbours, taking things one step at a time. We are currently meeting twice a week; Sunday for fellowship and Friday for Bible study to maintain a sense of connectedness. The Lord God continues to grow this fellowship as people meet to discuss the life of Jesus and life with Jesus. Please pray for spiritual growth, deeper understanding of God's word, stronger relationships within the church and the community and God's guidance as we continue to grow in number.

JLH has set aside 30th July 2025 as a day when the board, staff, partners and friends will come together to thank God for the work and to commit the next 6 months into God's hands. Please join in praying for us and our work.

As always, I thank you for your partnership in this work.  You are a blessing to us.  Your prayers and faithful support to BMS enables us to be a blessing to so many others.

Blessings

Benon