Wednesday, September 16, 2009

On Tour

On Friday morning we start off on our speaking tour of Western Canada. We will start in the Okanagan and work our way up through Prince Georga and then to Ceceil lake, which is near Fort St. John. After speaking in Cecil Lake we will travel down through Edmonton and on to Dalmeny, SK. We will stay there a few nights and visit some of my dad's brothers and their families(they are all --4 of them -- in Saskatchewan now -- the sister -all f of them-- are living in BC). After Dalemny we head down to Lucky Lake where we will speak in Beechy as well as Prairie Centre as well as Lucky Lake itself.

It will be so good to see so many friends and family that we have not seen in a few years. The boys are mostly old enough  to now remember and enjoy this trip. Jane has a bit of a hard time with staying with people as we always have to be worried if we are doing the right thing in someone elses home. Most of our friends and family that we will stay with are pretty relaxed so I don't think it should be too bad.

We just had a weekend in Courtneay, BC which was quite good and we made a good connection with Courtenay Fellowship Baptist Church. We're thankful for our friends George and Sharon Henly who helped to connect us to their church. We found the congregation to be quite warm and down to earth. It's interesting that the further you go from the city the more time people seem to have and the more friendly they seem to be. I guess I'm a "country people" at heart. Andre Crouch has an old song called "God Love Country People". Perhaps that's another reason I love the farmers of Uganda.


See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Chris's posterous

Friday, September 11, 2009

a perspective on the curretn Kamapal Violence

Below is some communication forwarded to me by a friend whose dad is currently in Uganda on a missions trip. I think he has a pretty good handle on a lot of the issues at hand. The writer Ron, is a friend of my friend's dad -- more importantly, a fellow believer, so I think his perspective is very good as well as his general knowledge of the political and social landscape there in Uganda

Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009

This report is a bit lengthy but is written to give you non media perspective and understanding about what is going on here at the moment. If you are pressed for time just hit the RED "X"
Varying reports are coming from the four corners here this morning. Anti government media sources report things worse than they are and pro government media underplays things so somewhere in the middle is the actual situation. The streets downtown are mainly quiet as most businesses have remained closed and police have a heavy presence. News media are advising/ordering all foreigners and expats to stay at home today which is logical given the
dynamics at work at the moment. As far as I know, all foreigners are safe and have not been attacked. We live in the southern part of the city and it is peaceful here so far. I spoke with a Police friend this morning and he told me that the intelligence has been at work and the police
will be getting the bad guys soon. He also said that the eastern side of trhe city will be intense today as the melee moves out toward the town of Mukono then on to Kayunga where the Kabaka (Bugandan king) is supposed to be addressing the Youth Celebration. He said the fight will end in Kayunga tomorrow. Kayunga is 40 kms out of Kampala. The President went on the air last night and laid out certain criteria for the event if it is to continue. Make no mistake, this is a planned and orchestrated event to cast a bad light on the government and personally on President Museveni. Trying to grasp all the issues is not possible but this is a confrontation between the tribal king of the largest ethnic group in Uganda and a President, both asserting their dominant positions. The tribal king is a man who actively practices and consorts with demons and withcraft. His nice suit will fool the Western mindset. The real issue being revealed here at least in my view is this...

Without a vision people perish. Uganda is a nation of young people, the median age of a Ugandan being 14 years 6 months. Very high unemployment, a lot of illiteracy and uneducated youth with no job, nothing to do, no purpose in life, no direction to focus their energy, and you have a large group of the population who are very easily manipulated into violence and mayhem. This would be like "party time" for a large portion of them who are
uneducated as to the political motivations for this issue and who, frankly, could even care less.  Protesting the government and the President is not a justification to loot and pillage innocent business people and burn their stores. Last night they stopped buses on the highway into town and beat and robbed the passengers. Lots of stories are emerging about the mayhem that is completely not germaine to the political situation at hand but I think the police will be getting stronger control on these things as the day progresses.

While it is difficult to agree with all the Presidents actions and philosophies, he is trying to steer the country in a positive direction and has moved Uganda a very long way towards a stable free market economy. There is freedom of the press unlikey matched anywhere else in Africa. The move towards a democratic society is well underway. Only the naive think that democracy should have happened overnight. At this juncture in the history of Uganda, he is by far the right man to be President and has a clear and deep understanding of globalism, economics, democracy, and the pursuit of being a nation free from Western support and becoming a nation controlling its own destiny is his dream. Oppositon elements cant understand that and cannot articulate any clear vision that would make them more desirable to be the government. So their methodology is to create violence and fear and intimidation, using the youth and their unfocussed energies to achieve the bent and twisted aims of the manipulators. Pray for the peace and welare of Kampala and for the youth that are misguided and misdirected in their life. They really need Christ to give them purpose. In reality,this event is only a blip on the spiritual radar screen. We continue to believe that Almighty God has plans far beyond the lower human understanding for this nation and we see a massive revival coming. Uganda holds a pivotal position in the spiritual warfare over Africa and this skirmish
is powers of darkness coming against the authority and rule of Christ in Uganda. Last we checked..........mr. d lost seriously. he is a completely defeated foe of the Kingdom of God but knows what the stakes are in Uganda. We sense Uganda is about to be the focal point of a spiritual revival of immense proportions that will have global effects, not just national or even regional.

There has been a corruption of many top leadres in the born again movement here that is of spiritual significance. We believe that even as there is an exposure of the rot in the status quo leaders, there is also a deep cleansing and repentance occuring as well. New leaders are arising and taking the baton with renewed determination to walk uprightly before God.This is one of the most praying nations in Africa if not the world and the Body of Christ is being reinvigorated to unprecedented prayer for Uganda and Africa. These prayers are stirring hell and inviting Heaven and the reaction to prayer is now being seen in these riots. But riots will not prevail nor  become the trademark. Before peace can be achieved, a battle must take place and that is exactly what is happening.

Many of our friends are concerned about our welfare. We are fine and very safe and thank you for your care for us.

Hope this helps you to understand the underlying issues a little better and helps you to know how to focus your prayers for the situation at hand.

Ron


 

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a perspective on the current Ugandan violence

Below is some communication forwarded to me by a friend whose dad is currently in Uganda on a missions trip. I think he has a pretty good handle on a lot of the issues at hand. The writer Ron, is a friend of my friend's dad -- more importantly, a fellow believer, so I think his perspective is very good as well as his general knowledge of the political and social landscape there in Uganda
 
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background to Uganda Violence

This weekend the leader of the Kingdom of Buganda is planning his annual visit to Kayunga District against the wishes of the central government.  The disagreement has resulted in a stand-off which appears to be fueling long-standing grievances between the Kingdom of Buganda and the central government, and between different political factions within the kingdom. The Central Government has said that it did not want to let the proposed visit go ahead because of disagreements and threats of violence on the ground between the Banyala and Baganda in Kayunga District. The Banyala and Baluli have sought to secede from the Kingdom of Buganda now for some time. It is rumours that the main leader of the Buganda Parliament was arrested while going to prepare for the meeting in Kayunga that set off the riots in Kamapaa (which is in Buanda and obviously home to Baganda). The Baganda radio station (CBS) has been accused of inciting the Baganda agianst Police and government very openly on the radio. As of the afternoon of September 10th, 2009, violent protests are occurring in downtown Kampala as a result of this situation in Buganda .

By the way, much of our work (the Sperlings under OKM) in the last few years was done at the south end of Kayunga District so pray that our Ugandan friends will be safe there.

(this post is a combination of Chris's writing and an e-mail forwarded from the US government to it's citzens in Uganda) 

Posted via email from Chris's posterous

Thursday, September 10, 2009

pics of Kamapal violence

Rioters roll tyres to start up a fire at Kubbiri in Mulago

 

Policemen march to down town Kampala to confront the rioters

 

Rioters burning tyres and other items infront of Royal Complex in the city centre

 

An injured policeman on duty on Wilson road

 

A body of a man being loaded onto a pick-up truck. At least three people

were confirmed dead

 

Bricks thrown in the middle of Bombo Road duing the riot

A wounded policeman being helped off the scene

 

Asian women squeeze into a van to escape for dear life after

their factory and residences were set ablaze by rioters

 

People walking back home in the evening after failing to get public transport


 
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Three killed in violent Kampala riots

Thursday, 10th September, 2009
E-mail article E-mail article   Print article Print article
The Police block Buganda Katikkiro (premier) Engineer Walusimbi at Ssezibwa Bridge, a gateway to Kayunga district, where he was going to prepare for the Kabaka’s visit

The Police block Buganda Katikkiro (premier) Engineer Walusimbi at Ssezibwa Bridge, a gateway to Kayunga district, where he was going to prepare for the Kabaka’s visit

By Vision Reporters

THREE people were reported dead as violent riots linked to the Kabaka’s planned tour of Kayunga district spread to the city and across Buganda.

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By press time, 39 people had been injured in the riots, triggered off by false reports that Katikkiro Walusimbi had been arrested on his way to Kayunga. He was expected to prepare for the Kabaka’s visit which was slated for tomorrow.

The city suddenly flared up into chaos in the afternoon as Kabaka supporters engaged the Police in running battles. They pelted vehicles with stones, barricaded roads with logs and huge boulders, lit bonfires, looted property and torched buildings.

The chaos first erupted around Kiseka Market and spread quickly to Wandegeya, Bwaise, Kawempe and Maganjo-Kagoma on Bombo Road, stretching the Police to the limit. Military Police moved in with armoured vehicles to take charge of the situation.

Offices and shops closed down and motorists vacated the roads amid sporadic gunfire, teargas explosions, a heavy presence of regular and anti-riot Police backed by military Police.

In Bwaise, demonstrators set a huge store on fire before going on a looting spree. The Police fire brigade put out the fire. The rioters also set ablaze the Natete Police station, and the vehicles parked there. A Police woman in Natete was stripped naked and beaten up. Reports also said some shops in the city were looted.

In the city centre, Kabaka supporters barricaded Entebbe Road near Centenary Bank with logs and burned tyres. They turned all vehicles away, threatening motorists and stopping them from going to Market Street.

Commotion erupted in Kawempe when four policemen, attempted to stop a rowdy group from barricading the road. They were disarmed and their guns taken. Kawempe Police boss Joel Aguma confirmed the incident.

Outside Kampala, too, rioters resorted to violence and looting. In Kyengera, on the Masaka highway, youth seized a truck loaded with sodas. They grabbed the sodas before burning the truck.

In Nabbingo, also on Masaka highway, irate youth stopped buses and roughed up passengers.
In Mukono angry youth attacked a bus, smashing the windows and injuring passengers. The Police rescued them.

Two of the dead were reportedly killed by stray bullets near Shoprite on Ben Kiwanuka Road.

One was a Saracen private security guard and the other a Congolese businessman who was shopping. A bullet ripped through his stomach. A third man was shot in the eye in Bwaise and died on the spot. The bodies were taken to Mulago Hospital.

“The guard was standing in the door when I suddenly saw him fall down after a military truck fired live bullets in the air,” said a shaken Annet Namusisi, a telephone booth operator.
By evening, more than 30 people had been rushed to the casualty ward at Mulago Hospital with various injuries, ranging from gunshot wounds to broken limbs. Most of them were from Bwaise, Kalerwe and Kanyanya suburbs.

Four policemen were also rushed to Mulago Hospital with injuries. One of them, Alex Wabwire, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, had his leg shattered. He was reportedly shot by rioters who snatched a gun from a guard.

Eliphaz Sekabira, the hospital spokesperson, said 39 people were being treated. Three people were arrested and detained at the Central Police Station in connection with the riot, said Kampala metropolitan deputy Police spokesperson Henry Kalulu. However, many others were reportedly detained at Wandegeya Police Station.

It took the combined effort of the Police and the army to quell the riots in the city centre, which returned to relative calm at around 4:00pm. Thousands of commuters were stranded till late for lack of transport, forcing many to walk home. The few taxis on he road charged exorbitant fares.

By press time, major roads such as Masaka, Jinja, Gulu, Hoima and Entebbe roads, were still blocked by angry protesters with logs and bonfires.

Riots were also still going on in the suburbs of Kampala, such as Nateete, Bwaise and Busega, as well in the districts of Mityana, Mukono and Wakiso.

A motorist on Mityana Road said the road was blocked by protesters at Bira, causing a long queue on either side.

Stranded motorists and passengers, including foreigners, threatened by violent youth, were calling The New Vision journalists, pleading for help.

In Kampala, mambas with military policemen criss-crossed the city at night, while foot soldiers patrolled in single file.

Reported by Steven Candia,
Chris Kiwawulo, Charles Ariko
and Patrick Jaramogi



 
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Uganda Violence

Today riots errupted in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Officially there are three dead but it could be more than that. Gangs of youth looted and roughed up people who seemed to be of tribes from Western Uganda (the same tribe as the President) citing the government's decision to block the traditional King of the Baganda's (the main tribe from central Uganda)visit to Kayunga a district North and East of Kampala. Kampala is in the Buganda kingdom thus, obviously, having many sympathisers with the Kabaka's cause in the city. It's so discouraging to see these riots and violence because they obviously do nothing to solve problems and do alot to take the country backwards into violence and bloodshed. We know that there is a lot of witchcraft involved and associated with many of Uganda's tribal kings. Although these problems have many roots and sides to them we are realising the connection between violence/bloodshed and the country's overall involvement in witchcraft. There had been a meeting today, presumably preceding the violence with top Baganda witchdoctors on how they could get the Kabaka (King of Baganda) to Kayunga. We don't know why the government blocked this movement of the Kabaka but there must be some major reason. Please pray for peace in Uganda but also pray that people would turn from darkness (witchcraft) to light. Please also pray ahead of our return that God would prepare people to hear the message of the gospel and the call to become
 Jesus' disciple.

Posted via email from Chris's posterous

family summer

We had a great time this summer seeing more of my brother and his family and my sister Robin who live nearby. My parents were also out too so here's some pics of good family times... 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Chris's posterous

prayer card

Posted via email from Chris's posterous

better bloggers

Well friends, this should be an easier way for us to blog as we only have to send posterous an e-mail in order to post a blog. Our blogging from Uganda was pretty pathetic as getting on the computer to blog was not too easy and even when we did blog it was pretty irregular. So, since I can use my phone very easily for e-mailing both here in Canada and back home in Uganda this blog should stay fairly up to date. I should be able to blog even from the field as I work in Uganda so it should be almost more like elaborate twittering. It's crazy how much technology has changed since I first arrived in Uganda in 1995. I remember driving about 20km from New Hope up to Luweero town Post Office to check wether there were any faxes to pick up(and of course there was lots of snail mail to pick up too). I also remember my huge first Ericsson phone. My first cell phone was in Uganda, actually. It was the good ol Ericsson 1018 which was best used when I was still courting Jane and would call her in the evenings at the NAREC guesthouse where she stayed on one of her Catering practicums in Kampala and also when she was staying at the Vanderoots in Makindi. Now I have my world phone Nokia e61i (which to many people is already an "old" phone) that I use wherever I am. These tools are great for so many things -- in all they are tools to further the kindom of God. We're so happy to be able to stay in touch with all of you one way or another. So off we go on our effort to be better bloggers.

Posted via email from Chris's posterous

Monday, July 20, 2009



Yes we finally made it back to Canada! We’re so happy to be back and get a chance to see all of you, our dear friends and family. We were glad to see that there was some warm weather here in Abbotsford to welcome us back. Not only was there warm weather but a warm welcome from Bill and Sandi McGladdery who have let us take over the main floor of their home here in Abbotsford. Their house will be our home base while we are here in Canada.


We want to thank all of you who prayed for Jane to be able to get a passport. We had been trying for two years to get Jane’s Ugandan passport renewed without any success. It was SO frustrating to see how the Ugandan officials do not have the heart to facilitate their own citizens in their travels. We eventually decided to try to go to Rwanda to get Jane a passport there as she is of Rwandan decent. What a different story! We were helped immediately when we went into the Rwandan embassy in Kampala. They helped us attain all the documents we needed for a Rwandan passport – including a letter of recommendation from the Ambassador himself! We enjoyed our stay in beautiful and clean Kigali and got Jane’s passport within eight days of filing. Unfortunately we were not able to get a passport for Tugume our nephew (hopefully next furlough we will be able to bring him back with us). It was such a joyful moment when Jane got her passport. We could hardly believe it. We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry so we did a bit of both. Thanks everyone for your fervent and persistent prayers. Please continue to pray as one of the main reasons for having our furlough at this time is for Jane to secure her Canadian citizenship before her Permanent Resident card expires in September.
We are really excited about some new training material that we have been introduced to recently and that we will now be using. FGW stands for Farming God’s Way. Farming God’s Way was developed in Zimbabwe and is basically Kingdom agriculture; focusing on Godly stewardship of our land, energy and resources. Chris attended a FGW seminar at New Hope Uganda and then promptly put in an FGW “well-watered” garden at our home, using FGW methods such as a heavy mulch layer, no tillage, and properly spaced planting stations. FGW takes peasant farmers towards zero tillage and continuous mulch cover – this leads to much higher yields and virtually no soil and nutrient loss. Farming God’s Way does not need high economic input and therefore is a very sustainable method. There’s a lot more to say but you can check out their site at www.farming-gods-way.org .

We have also continued to forge our partnership with Arise Africa International (AAI) over the last few months. We recently surveyed the future training farm site with an eMi (Engineering Ministries International www.emiworld.org) team. Also, John Sauder, an eMi missionary serving with AAI is helping to put together a project proposal complete with engineering drawings and site plans for us. Thanks also to Lindsay (eMi intern) who is working on the architectural drawings right now. It is exciting to see these plans come together. We plan on opening the training farm in September 2010 to our first students. The farm will be called “Providence Farm Uganda” and has the potential to host a variety of training courses that Equip currently offers only in North America in addition to the planned agriculture training centre.
We are coming to a town near you! We begin our speaking tour of Western Canada in September and will be traveling through BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan until the end of October. We would love to give a presentation about our work and vision to you, your home Bible study group or your church. Chris is willing to preach, share a Power Point presentation or even share about the FGW principles. Please use any of the contacts below to book your spot. We are happy to get together with those around BC before the fall as we will be spending time around Abbotsford with our church family at South Abbotsford Church.
We look forward to seeing all of you soon and sharing with you about what we’ve been doing and where God is leading us.
God Bless,
Chris and Jane, Andrew Kenny, Albert, Isaiah and Ezra

.














Yes we finally made it back to Canada! We’re so happy to be back and get a chance to see all of you, our dear friends and family. We were glad to see that there was some warm weather here in Abbotsford to welcome us back. Not only was there warm weather but a warm welcome from Bill and Sandi McGladdery who have let us take over the main floor of their home here in Abbotsford. Their house will be our home base while we are here in Canada.


We want to thank all of you who prayed for Jane to be able to get a passport. We had been trying for two years to get Jane’s Ugandan passport renewed without any success. It was SO frustrating to see how the Ugandan officials do not have the heart to facilitate their own citizens in their travels. We eventually decided to try to go to Rwanda to get Jane a passport there as she is of Rwandan decent. What a different story! We were helped immediately when we went into the Rwandan embassy in Kampala. They helped us attain all the documents we needed for a Rwandan passport – including a letter of recommendation from the Ambassador himself! We enjoyed our stay in beautiful and clean Kigali and got Jane’s passport within eight days of filing. Unfortunately we were not able to get a passport for Tugume our nephew (hopefully next furlough we will be able to bring him back with us). It was such a joyful moment when Jane got her passport. We could hardly believe it. We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry so we did a bit of both. Thanks everyone for your fervent and persistent prayers. Please continue to pray as one of the main reasons for having our furlough at this time is for Jane to secure her Canadian citizenship before her Permanent Resident card expires in September.



We are really excited about some new training material that we have been introduced to recently and that we will now be using. FGW stands for Farming God’s Way. Farming God’s Way was developed in Zimbabwe and is basically Kingdom agriculture; focusing on Godly stewardship of our land, energy and resources. Chris attended a FGW seminar at New Hope Uganda and then promptly put in an FGW “well-watered” garden at our home, using FGW methods such as a heavy mulch layer, no tillage, and properly spaced planting stations. FGW takes peasant farmers towards zero tillage and continuous mulch cover – this leads to much higher yields and virtually no soil and nutrient loss. Farming God’s Way does not need high economic input and therefore is a very sustainable method. There’s a lot more to say but you can check out their site at www.farming-gods-way.org .

We have also continued to forge our partnership with Arise Africa International (AAI) over the last few months. We recently surveyed the future training farm site with an eMi (Engineering Ministries International www.emiworld.org) team. Also, John Sauder, an eMi missionary serving with AAI is helping to put together a project proposal complete with engineering drawings and site plans for us. Thanks also to Lindsay (eMi intern) who is working on the architectural drawings right now. It is exciting to see these plans come together. We plan on opening the training farm in September 2010 to our first students. The farm will be called “Providence Farm Uganda” and has the potential to host a variety of training courses that Equip currently offers only in North America in addition to the planned agriculture training centre.
We are coming to a town near you! We begin our speaking tour of Western Canada in September and will be traveling through BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan until the end of October. We would love to give a presentation about our work and vision to you, your home Bible study group or your church. Chris is willing to preach, share a Power Point presentation or even share about the FGW principles. Please use any of the contacts below to book your spot. We are happy to get together with those around BC before the fall as we will be spending time around Abbotsford with our church family at South Abbotsford Church.
We look forward to seeing all of you soon and sharing with you about what we’ve been doing and where God is leading us.
God Bless,
Chris and Jane, Andrew Kenny, Albert, Isaiah and Ezra

.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Text Box: P.O. Box 683 Duncan, BC V9L 3Y1 Canada Ph: 828-738-3891  Fax: 828-738-3946 The Sperling Jerry Can

carrying Living Water in practical ways…

Dear Friends and Family, January 21, 2009

“Kulik’omwaka!” This is the greeting that we tell each other here in Uganda after the New Year. Literally, it means “Congratulations for surviving the last year!” We have survived and we thank God that, in Christ, we are more than survivors and we are even more than conquerors. We are trusting that this next year will be a significant year for us in our ministry with Equip where we will see more Ugandans come to know Christ and understand how to follow Him. With so much spiritual opposition to God’s kingdom here, sometimes we just want to survive, but God wants us to be over-comers. Thanks, everyone for your part in building God’s kingdom here in Uganda.

A Dream Come True! For many years, I’m sure many have read and heard about our vision to have a Demonstration and Training Farm at which to offer more advanced agricultural training to rural Ugandans - especially to pastors and church workers who need to support themselves in some way. We are so excited to announce that this dream is slowly becoming a reality. Over the last year we have been developing a relationship with Arise Africa www.ariseafricaintl.org (a long-standing national NGO) with whom we will be partnering to offer both training at a proposed 20 acre training farm but also mobile community work that will aim at improving rural agriculture through the Arise church network. The farm will be at the Arise Africa Base at Bukaleba (0º27’00”N, 33º23’30”E) which is 2500 acres of land. The land is situated right on a large bay on Lake Victoria about a 35km drive around a bay from our home (0°28'9.92"N, 33°15'35.05"E). The land is spectacular, with great views out over the lake and west, back towards Jinja. The Farm will be located on 20 acres of the inland portion of the land with good road access and an onsite spring for a clean water source.

Once fully running, the Training Farm will not only host agriculture courses but also hydro missions classes, medical missions classes and community outreach programs. The training farm will also co-ordinate with other work going on at the Arise Africa Training Centre to provide pastors and lay people a fully rounded community missions education.

We wanted to share this with you before we come back in spring so that you are all aware of these changes when we come to visit you. We have begun, slowly, our shift between our current work with YWAM and Bushfire to our next phase with Arise. It is a blessing as all of the Directors of these organizations are friends and companions in mission work here in Uganda. We also are excited about Arise because it continues to broaden our work with the Ugandan rural church. Rise has 198 churches in 21 districts here in Uganda.

Equip Uganda. As we start our work with Arise we are also starting to formally start Equip, Uganda work. Until this point, Equip missionaries have all come under other NGOs; we are currently praying about going through the lengthy and a bit complicated process of registering Equip as an NGO here in Uganda. This will help us give immigration status to our Equip workers/missionaries as well as to conduct some of our own work, in addition to having access to potential funding through large donors such as USAID. We are excited as we anticipate another Equip missionary couple, the Boones, joining us here in Uganda full time in the spring. We look forward to growth here in Uganda with our Equip work, especially as the Training Farm gets up and running.

Please Pray. We ask for your prayers for wisdom and knowledge as we forge our partnership with Arise Africa International. Currently, we have an agreement in principle to work together; we will now be working on detailed documents so w can work together as partners. Chris has a lot of work to do in writing up agreements, policies and proposals let alone course work and syllabus development for the Training Farm. Please pray that this will all go well and smoothly and that we will sense God’s guiding hand as we believe it to be His will to start up the Training Farm.

Our Itinerary: We will be happy to share in your church, life group or home during our furlough which will run from May to October. We will also be setting up some formal info meetings/fundraisers in most of the areas where we normally visit and raise support. These meetings will be excellent times to see formal presentations about the Training Farm and the funding needed to establish this new Equip work. Please contact us via e-mail to set up dates for sharing with your group.

Some Needs. We have a few needs that need to be met for our time back in Canada. We will have a vehicle available to us but we will need some housing from May to mid-August in the Langley/Abbotsford area. We are happy to house-sit or squeeze ourselves into a basement sweet. Also, we need finances for our airfares back and forth from Uganda. As well, we continue to need additional monthly supporters. We welcome any help that God leads you to give. Thanks, already, as we have so many wonderful and faithful supporters.

Hope to see you soon,

God Bless,

The Sperlings – Chris and Jane, Andrew, Tugume, Kenny, Albert, Isaiah and Ezra



Financial contributions can be sent to:

Equip Canada PO Box 683

Duncan B.C.

V9L 3Y1

In the US donations can be sent to:

Equip, Inc.

PO Box 1126, Marion, N.C.

USA, 28752-1126

Cheques should be made out to Equip with a separate note;”for Sperling support”.

Donate online at www.sperlingsinafrica.com