On 28th Dec., I baptized 150 children at the same time.The pictures from that day are on the way.Interesting enough is the fact that I had prepared so many seedlings for planting. Each child who was baptized took home a seedling or two for planting I saw them proudly walk around the parish with their seelings as great souvenirs of their baptism. You may not imagine that so many children are prepared to be baptized on this day. On a sad note every time I visit a church , there has to be a dying child to be baptized and anointed. What I do is that I baptize and anoint the child and then do all I can to find medication for the child.Many times the mother or even the parents have no money for medication, and they bring the child for baptism as if looking for a miracle to save the child. Am so glad to share with you that all those children I found medication with whatever funds I have, have recovered. It is a great joy to see their parents bring them back to me healthy afterwards to thank me. Those are little moments in Jesus's labor that give me joy and keep me going. The children go with the mothers. I have had to save the lives of several mothers by bringing them out of the village to better medical facilities. Thanks to the new truck. That is how I end the old year 2008 filled with a lot of happy memories of all of you my Friends at St. Thomas.
I have lit a candle in my heart for you all. It will burn aleways.The parish house is renovated, solar power installed and the cisterns are yet to be done this January, then a new kitchen. The parish will officially be opened on 15 February 2009 I will have a CD made from that day and send it to you.
December 17, 2008: “Today I baptized 37 kids in a small tiny church. On 28th Dec I expect to baptize over one hundred. The first chicken coop is done now I already have 10 chicken and am expecting to have 100 chicken by end of January. Am starting to work on the second one soon. I will send you the pictures of the finished coop then later I will send you the one with chicken in their home.
My tree planting project is also in high gear. I have prepared ornamental seedlings(1000) and over 25,000 pine seedlings to plant the next season. I will send you pictures. Thinking of you and praying for you with joy. Your friend, Fr. Francis. November 17, 2008: “I am sending you several pictures showing part of my pastoral work. I am about to complete the first chicken coop... I will send you pictures showing a step ahead as far as our project of empowering our people is concerned...Greet all those who meet with you to discuss ways to carry forward the work of Jesus Christ. Your friend, Fr. Francis.”
October 16, 2008: “...this week I started on the first chicken coop. it should be finished in 2 or 3 weeks time and I will send you the pictures. We are making progress. The priest’s house renovations are in full progress. When it is over by Advent I will have done the water tank and installed solar power and I will be in the house...It is raining so much that when I send you the pictures, you will wonder how we manage. The roads are terrible...in season or out of season, Christ must be preached. Am just happy to share in Christ’s suffering for the salvation of his people. Greet the members when you see them...”
September 18, 2008: “...next week I will send you [description of] the type of chicken coops we can construct in my parish. They are very scientific and efficient. The need for chickens and eggs is so high that we would certainly be
successful in our project, once we start off. I will have the first one made at the parish as a demonstration and will identify homes where we will set up the others. Kindly thank all the members [of St. Thomas] for me for so much love and care and sacrifice. We will succeed to help the people we are focused on. Your friend Fr. Francis.”
September 11, 2008: “I have been struggling to get my Mom and my younger brother William treated. As you know, we have no insurance, each family finds a way to deal with its own health problems. I have been struggling to get my new place in order too. It’s exciting to be a pioneer for Jesus”.
September 9, 2008: I am now writing from Kampala to process my truck ... greet all those who gather to discuss how to help us. Tell them that I appreciate every bit of what they are doing. I love them and pray for them...”
September 5, 2008 "...Next week...I will be cruising through the mud reaching God's people. Already I have had to attend to so many sick people in these three weeks I have been here. They brought me one child with a burnt face and we have to find a doctor who can do skin grafting. Many malaria cases. People come and have no money to reach the better medical facilities. In all this I am doing my best to help."
September 2, 2008: “Am already in my new parish and the work is really overwhelming but we will do it. Here the contrasts are too stark between the poor and the rich. I will send you lots of pictures of what our villages here are like and what we are working on to help them move a step higher is commendable. It is a matter of time you will begin to see results. My mom has been ill with high blood pressure. At one time it was 180/100. So I have been trying to get her treated. My younger brother is very ill with diabetes. He may not live long...”
No comments:
Post a Comment