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James and Claire's Sept/Oct Update
The Gibsons in Uganda
Our Update For Sept/Oct 2016
 
Then Samson prayed to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please God, strengthen me just once more,"
Judges 16:28


Wherever we feel we are at, God can still use us for His purposes.
Coffee and Pigs Revisited
Some of you may remember me mentioning a project that my colleague Daniel and I were helping with in the West of Uganda with a coffee development agency. The agency is a community group started by Joshua and some friends to assist local coffee growers by diversifying into pigs.

Daniel and I returned to Kihihi in September and it was a delight to see Joshua and his colleagues again. The pig houses, which were only being talked about when we left last time, were almost finished! 

Daniel and I were able to train the volunteers in some further matters of pig health and management then the task in hand was to buy some pigs. We were able to visit a few local pig farms who had some good stock. After some deliberation and negotiations we settled on two young sows from one farm and a boar from another farm.

Daniel had a limited budget for pigs and I had saved some work funds for this purpose so was able to contribute so that three adult pigs were able to be purchased, thus starting the aim of breeding sooner for the project.

We were able to be present when the pigs arrived at the finished pig house and made themselves at home in their new residence. We showed the staff some techniques they would need to know and made sure they were happy with the management knowledge they had been given. We will be happy to announce when the first litter of piglets is born!
 
The new pig houses being finished. Teaching injection technique for deworming. Joshua and two of the pigs in their new home.
A New Opportunity to Help

Since the start of the new term, things have been pretty busy for the Gibson household. Claire has had some new teachers to orientate and support, as well as running the school and teaching some classes. I have had an increased teaching load at the university, covering the third and fourth years lectures. In addition to this Emily and I have taken on a new project. We were asked to assist the USPCA (Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals), the only animal shelter in Kampala, as their vet had left for pastures new and they wanted to set up a clinic.

We were initially involved with the selection of a new vet, and since then have been setting up procedures and training him in surgery. Dr Benard Lukenku is his name and we have also been training one of the USPCA support staff, Jackie, as an assistant/nurse.

Benard and Jackie are doing really well and Emily and I enjoy their company. Both are Christians and we aim to encourage them in their work and faith. Next month and into December we will be having a number of short term visits from vets, coming to help with the large number of animals that need neutering at the USPCA. They will help with training and we will also be having some fifth year students from the vet school being trained at this time. It should be busy, but hopefully fun too!
 
Benard and Jackie at work at the USPCA.
Life at School
As the school continues to grow there are always new things to learn. God has blessed the development of the school in many ways. The senior school campus has expanded and now has four more large classrooms in an annex building.

This year is our first for IGCSE examinations which is another exciting challenge for students and staff. Do pray for those exams and that they will be a success.

The school has increased in size and also appointed some great teachers who really are an asset. One of the things that takes up the majority of my time is supporting staff and training them. I spend lots of my time in lessons and in developing and training teachers. Pray that the the school will continue to have great teachers who will be blessed by working at Acacia and also be a blessing to the students with whom they work.
Acacia International School 2016-2017. End of quarter prize presentation. Senior school band. Pinewood Derby fun!
Claire preaching on Samson at Kampala International Church.
Birthday Time Again!
Recently we celebrated Ruby and Jessica's birthdays. Ruby is now eleven and Jessica turned nine! Ruby had some friends for a sleepover then swimming the next day. Jessica had a party with the paddling pool in the garden.

The girls are doing well at school and have good friendships in their classes. Ruby has recently started going to the church youth group on a Friday night. We feel like, "Is she really old enough for this?", but she has been enjoying this new taste of independence. 

Florence had a school trip to a pottery last week and also did a rendition of John 3:16 in Swahili for the school chapel!
Ruby Opening presents with friends.
Jess and Florence enjoy the paddling pool.
First day of School.
Daddy's Girls!

Prayer points

 
  • Praise God for the new teachers and students at Acacia. Pray that they would continue to settle into the school community.
  • Praise God for the new annexe building that Acacia was able to purchase over the summer, which has meant the school received 4 new badly needed classrooms.
  • Pray for Joshua and the Kigezi Coffee Development Academy. Pray that the pig project would be a blessing to that community.
  • Thank God for the opportunity to assist with the development of the USPCA. Investing in Benard and Jackie so that they can help the stray animals of Kampala.
  • Pray for Ruby, Jessica and Florence as missionary friends from around the world come and go from their lives. Pray for their security and identity in God.
The Queen of Katwe
If you have a an hour or two free and fancy a great family film, based on a true story, with Oscar winning actors and the Disney stamp of quality, look no further than The Queen of Katwe.

Katwe is a slum district close to where we live in Kampala and the film shows many of the struggles many people living here have to cope with. The film stars one of the students, Edgar Kanyike, from Banunule School that Claire is on the board of governors for. Our kids really enjoyed it, we hope you will too!
The Gibson's Sept/Oct 2016 Update
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