CELEBRATING SUMMER REUNIONS

This summer has been a season of reuniting

God’s children from across ocean borders.

Susan Burgess, Pillars U.S. based CEO and

friend from New Hampshire, returned to

Pillars to teach and encourage the

children using her gifts and talents. Pillars

hosted Susan from May through July with

her son joining her the last two weeks of her visit.

Jonas and Natalie McBride and their family are currently with Patrick, Madinah and the children in Uganda. Jonas and Natalie were in Uganda in 2017 and it was their experience working with Patrick and Pillars that inspired and united the HUGS team to help with the daily challenges in the community. We want to thank all the many people who have joined HUGS as trees planted bearing fruit in all seasons.

(Ezekiel 47:12 “ Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”)

It has been a rough few months for the Pillars children and staff. Illness, lockdown, and inflated prices have made life challenging. However, God continually shows us His faithfulness by meeting these needs in very unexpected ways. We may be limited but when we put our confidence in God we become limitless.

2 Corinthians 9:9-10 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

Thank you for being prayerful giving partners as we excitedly experience God’s continued faithfulness to our families and our Pillars family.

Jonas shares his first few days being reunited with Patrick, Madinah, and the Pillar’s family.

“We arrived late at night in Uganda and didn't make it to our temporary home till after 1am. Because it was night I wasn't able to see all the things that had changed since we were last here just over 4 years ago. However, the next day after sleeping in and feeling jet lag, we were able to walk around and see all the changes. First, we stopped at the Pillars Nursery School. I was amazed. Not just because it wasn't in existence on our last visit but also because it was so well built. The paintings on the walls of the school were beautiful, and the classrooms were in good order. There was also a well- constructed bore hole for the children to easily access water.

As we moved along on our walk we next stopped at the Pillars Office. We were greeted by friendly staff members in a waiting room with a very professional looking check-in desk. What was basically a two sided apartment with one large room each, now was a neatly divided 4 roomed office building with 3 offices and one waiting room.

The office to the far right is for the Pillars Empowerment Program (PEP), which was full of unique Ugandan crafts for sale made by women being supported through this initiative. The first office to the left of the entrance waiting room is the secretary's office as well as for other Pillars leadership. Then finally, Director of the Pillars Kunihira Patrick's office is located at the far left. On our next visit we saw the girls’ dorm, where we found beautiful welcoming smiles and a space that had been fully utilized to help as many girls as possible. Next we visited Patrick and his wife Madinah's house. But on the way we noticed 2 more things that were new to us. There was a medical clinic stocked with different kinds of medicine and a nurse behind a counter. Just next door was a beauty salon where one of the previous Pillars children named Sarah had been trained and empowered to transform women's hair into works of art (my wife, Natalie, is soon taking advantage of this new enterprise).

Then we arrived at Patrick's house and found their house in good order. Behind his house, and attached to the clinic and hair salon, are apartments where many of the leaders live. Last time we were here all of these buildings were used for a nearby Islamic school, but it seems Jesus decided they would be better used for Him . Our last stop was behind a large gate---the boys’ dorm. We weren't aware why we had skipped this part of the tour earlier until we opened the gate to find all of the Pillars children welcoming us with loud drums and dancing, which rivaled any previous experience in my life of being celebrated. We were then introduced to each member and leader. Each one showed us more respect than we deserved, with unabashed smiles that are rarely ever seen in America.

The leaders here seem to have a depth of character and maturity that can be seen in their eyes. The combination of their strength, kindness, and humility makes for a relational experience that feels like a taste of the way God made it to be. Overall the conditions here have changed so much in the last four years. Financially everything feels much more stable. There is more overall organization and the children have scheduled activities throughout the day. There are a few farm animals being taken care of now and there seems to be new opportunities God is bringing on the horizon. We look forward to seeing what God has planned for the future.”

I know God is delighting in being able to share the miraculous transformation that is occurring in the Pillar’s family and community with all of us. Please continue to share this message with family and friends and keep updated on Jonas McBride's facebook page as they spend the next three months in Uganda.

Also enjoy the Pillar's children's bio videos being shared on our Hearts United in God's Facebook page and visit Hearts United in God's Service at https://www.hugsforuganda.com

Please feel encouraged to contact Melissa Street our HUGS President at info@hugsforuganda.com

Blessings to all,

Jannie McBride

HUGS Vice- President