May 1, 2011
Accomplishments:
• Student Assistance Program
• Christine has finished her three years of computer classes at APTEC.
• Joyce is in her final semester of a BBA degree program in business from Kyambogo University and is working for a telecommunications Company
• Louise is completing her final semester of computer classes at APTEC and is now employed with Security Services – similar to our Wells Fargo.
• We are helping five children with school fees at the senior level – S1 to S6.
• We are helping five children with school fees at the primary level – P1 to P7.
• Lilian and Laban have been accepted at Michigan State University for this fall. They recently completed S6 at Makerere University High School. Now we have to find first year school fees for both of them - $42,000 each.
• Vocational Training Program
• We have 16 students enrolled and attending our sewing/tailoring classes. We are running two four-month classes this year.
• We have completed the second classroom and expect the construction /carpentry class to resume in August with 6 students (already registered).
• We have initiated a two-month summer program where our students can work on various farm projects in order to earn school fees for this fall.
• School fees for the fall have been raised to $5 per week for 16 weeks per term. That fee will allow us to have one teacher for every 10 students.
• Foster Home. We assist Michael and Patience of Kabale in running a foster home by paying school fees for three of the children. They run a Vocational Training program similar to ours where they have 10 students in their sewing/tailoring class. Also, Patience runs a Saturday morning Bible study and leads a choir of 25 children.
• Experimental Farming and Forestry Program
• Trees. Nine of the 20 trees planted a year ago are still alive. Of the 2000 cypress trees planted in December of 2010, 1500 have survived – some are already over 3 feet tall. In March 2011, we planted another 20 Musizi and 5 orange trees. Justice is now in charge of daily weeding, fertilizing and watering.
• Animals. We purchased 4 calves that are about 3 months old that we castrated. We purchased 3 sheep – Emma is pregnant with twins, Olivia has a beautiful black mask, and Louise is the only all white sheep. Plans are in progress to construct a 12’ X 12’ chicken house. We will start with 100 chicks in the fall. Eggs sell for 25 cents each.
• Land. We cleared over 10 acres of the 150 acre project farm. This eliminated plants that are competing for water. The water is needed for the grass that feed the cows (26), goats (80), and sheep (3).
• Water. We are working on enlarging our water tanks that provide drinking water for the animals. The water tanks that we use for drinking, cooking and bathing consist of one 10,000 liter and one 20,000 liter. Since the rainy season has begun, we have been blessed with full tanks.
• Servants of the King (SOK). For the past ten years Kemper Crabb and I have been working with Peter Isabirye, a native of Iganga, Uganda. To date, we have built, rebuilt, or completely renovated 800 Christian Churches in Uganda and Kenya, as well as numerous schools and orphanages.
• This trip Kemper and I inaugurated and dedicated 15 new churches. We also visited another 19 church sites who are requesting a grant or our assistance.
• I left Kemper with Peter to spent four days by myself in a remote area of western Kenya with Mark Ndinyo, a local pastor who currently has a working agreement with us. We visited 14 rural, small churches that meet our criteria and have formally requested assistance from SOK in building/
rebuilding their church sanctuary. One of the churches we visited also has a church primary school with 325 students. Much to my surprise and delight, 50 of the students were able to recite the Ten Commandments.
• Last but not least, Kintantalo Presbyterian Church near the town of Palisa has been completely renovated by us inside and out (in memory of my good friend of 50+ years, Douglas Riddiough). Additionally, we are in the process of adding a three-room school house to the rear of the church building. We delivered two of twenty new school benches to be used by some of the 125 students. At the dedication of the new sanctuary, we enjoyed wonderful music by their school choir. Twenty-five students recited the Ten Commandments and the 23rd Psalm from memory. What a blessing to be in their midst.
• Hand in Hand – an NGO in Mukono.
• I met with Age Bjerkeand from Gran, Norway on my last day in Uganda. He is the director and founder of Hand in Hand. Age is a personal friend of my second cousin, Anne Marie Havattum, on my mother’s side of the family. He has been in Uganda with his NGO for 21 years. It was fun to compare notes on our mutual challenges, successes, and failures. I hope to be able to partner with his organization during a future visit to Uganda.
Thank you all for your prayers and continued financial support.
John Skeel
John Skeel, Director
JOHN SKEEL MISSIONARY FOUNDATION
101 Cherry Avenue
Winona Lake, Indiana 46590-1607
"But when he saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." -Matthew 9:36
