I want to send our sincerest thanks to everyone out there who has decided to assist us in some way or another.  It is only because of you that we were able to minister so much this Christmas season.  I cannot describe in words how thankful we are for this opportunity.  So many people believe in us and how the Lord is working through us.  I want to give a few examples and testimonies for your gifts...

The Christmas baskets... if you haven't read already, these were a huge success!  In giving out 21 Christmas baskets, 8 people heard the Word of God and decided to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  This is the first time that I know of where I/we were a direct instrument for bringing people to Christ.  If I left today, either Uganda or life completely, I would be happy to know that we were able to do this.  I think Jesus would give us a high five!  So thanks to those of you who were able to give, it was a true blessing for the recipients, and the givers.

Goats... through some very nice donations, we were able to give four families goats for a Christmas present.  These were a little harder to give out.  The recipient really needs to have means to food for the animal and have the time to care for it.  So we struggled with who could receive such a blessing.  Thankfully, we were directed to the right places.  The first recipient was a young family who lives near us.  The wife was forced into marriage at a very young age (estimated at 14 yrs) because her mother had died and her grandmother could no longer care for her.  Now, at what we can only guess, she is between 16 and 18 years old.  She has been married for a few years in a Muslim marriage.  They have one child from her husband's previous marriage and they are now pregnant.  They are very deserving and the need is ungraspable.  They were extremely gracious when receiving their goat and they are really looking forward to having it produce babies and some means of food/income.  And thankfully, she had decided to accept her salvation a few weeks ago as she attended our church through our invitation.

Goats... cont... another recipient was inspirational.  She is an older woman with two children.  She is a member of our friend's church.  She has gone lame, meaning she relies on a wheelchair for transportation.  She has become extremely sick.  The sickness has been diagnosed as typhoid.  So she has become extremely depressed with her dwindling health.  When the goat was brought to her, she was a bundle of excitement!  It seemed insignificant to us, because we are too familiar with everyday blessings.  But this woman had been seeing hard times too often.  That goat could not have a better home!  Thanks to gifts provided, this woman got a new view of God's greatness.  One that would lift her and encourage her to keep pressing on.  Please pray for her physical and emotional well being.  It is hardest to love God through hard times, so keep her strong through prayer!

Clinic and School in Palissa... while Liz's sister and nephew visited, we were able to deliver a beautiful message to the people of Palissa (Chelekure Agule is the village name).  They are to be the recipients of a gift of construction.  There was a donation that allows them to build a clinic, start construction of their school, and supply teachers to start educating the community immediately.  You may not remember this project.  But it was one of my very first posts.  It is a community that does not have a clinic or a school within a reasonable distance.  In three months, three women had died during child birth.  The common casualty in that area is child death due to malaria.  That's right... CHILD DEATH!  Can you imagine for it to be common to have children die?  For these reasons, the clinic for this community has taken priority.  So a gift has been received to aid them in that effort.  Over twelve thousand dollars was given to these people.  Together with WWCS, we will make this money go as far as possible and hopefully build a complete clinic, start the construction of the school, and equip some teachers. 

Brick making machine... I mentioned this in our newsletter.  Just weeks ago, I was told that a machine, that can revolutionize the construction method for our projects, will be given to WWCS Uganda.  The Vermeer BP714 compressed earth brick making machine is capable of reducing construction costs between 30-50%.  It will allow for money donated to be used more effectively.  This will allow WWCS Uganda to be better stewards of the money received for assistance.  The added benefit of this opportunity is that it gives WWCS Uganda a means of raising funds themselves, allowing self sustainability.  This is the heart of the model that we discuss with each of our school projects.  A huge need in Uganda is to break the tendency of dependency.  This machine will allow WWCS Uganda to raise money with no foreign assistance.  That means that not only can they save money for schools, they can help cover some of the costs!  This is an exciting opportunity for us and the people we work with here.

So as you can see, this has really been the "Season of Giving."  I am glad to have been the recipient in some cases, but I am really happy to have been the delivery man too!  Again, thank you everyone for giving outside of yourselves.  Thank you for helping our ministry evolve.  Thanks be to God for allowing all of us to glorify His name this Christmas season.

On another topic, I got my first blisters from construction!  On Friday, we went to a school, Kalasa Primary School, and we helped them lay a foundation for a piggery.  This project seems irrelevant to most, but the school needed it to protect its sustainability efforts.  They have been blessed with reproducing swine and it will help support the school so that it can continue to offer education even during hard times.  So as I type at this moment, it is with a little pain.  I have never been so thankful to have pain!  Now we know how to lay brick Uganda-style!  We will continue learning and helping wherever and whenever we are able... soon on a clinic in Palissa!

So Merry Christmas to all of you who read this.  Please give our love and thanks to those who may not have the chance to read this.  We are deeply gracious for all that we are able to do, thanks to you!

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

In baseball, a batting average of .333 would get you into the playoffs.  Especially if each one of your hits were home-runs. 

This past week, we were blessed to be able to give out 21 baskets full of food to our neighbors we live near.  Each basket was stocked full of rice, beans, sugar, matooke (food staple in Uganda), and spaghetti.  Because they were filled so full, we had to carry a chicken outside of the baskets.  These baskets were an immediate blessing for the people who received them.  They gave us the opportunity to meet, greet, and get to know our neighbors to a new level.  To the believers, we now know who they are and that we can relate to them in a whole new way.  To the non-believers, we now know who to pray for and continue to minister to with love.

How does the comment about "one out of three" apply?  It is relevant, because that is the average we had for the baskets.  For every three baskets, one of them brought a new believer to the Kingdom of God!  We had 8 people confess for the first time in their lives that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.  (pause)... HOLY FRUITSNACKS!!!  I feel like we got a high five from the Almighty himself!  I have never been so pumped and in love with my faith more than that day.

One special case, a boy that we see very often, the son of the local "witch doctor", gave his life to the Lord.  That was a HUGE success.  That is a seed planted in a wicked family.  I pray that he can blossom and spread the love of Christ through is family.  I am very hopeful that we are able to help bring his family out of the rut they are in and into the Light!

I will admit.  It never really crossed my mind that we would get to see this happen.  I did not mean to limit God, but it happened.  And now my eyes are opened to the potential we have everyday!  The glory goes to God!

On a side note, our family is here to celebrate Christmas with us.  They have got to see some special things happen while they are here.  I am especially proud of Collin.  He caught a chameleon the first day he was here.  I haven't yet, and I have been here 9 months!  On top of that, he got to lay hands on the first two ladies that gave their lives to the Lord.  I cannot imagine how and what he was thinking, but it was really cool!  His mom is pretty awesome too!

It may be a little time for our next entry, just because the holidays are busy.  I will write about the brick making in Palissa and the building we are going to do there.  Also, this Friday we are going to build a small building for another school... a piggery!!!  It will be a pig house founded in Christ!

Merry Christmas,

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

First of all, I have been seeing a ton of media, either through online news or Facebook, about the trendy, secular change from Christmas to "the Holidays".  That is extremely shameful.  If anyone is sending us a Christmas card , it better not say Happy Holidays.  We celebrate Christmas!

So the other day, I was talking with some of our friends about religion in Uganda.  There are three main religions:  Christianity, Islam, and Catholicism.  It was prompted by my question... "How do the Muslims minister and grow their body of believers?"  I wondered that, because I often see street preachers on the roadside preaching to the vehicles in a traffic jam or pedestrians walking down the road.  However, I have never seen a Muslim holding the torah and preaching about Allah.  So I asked... how?  The answer was quite surprising...

Before I give you the details, I want to tell you that the Holy Spirit impressed on our hearts before we knew the relevance.  The plan to do Christmas baskets to families in need around us, was developed before we knew how Muslims minister.  But you will see that the Lord is working through us and we are excited!

Rev. Paul Ssemwanga had the insight I was looking for... the Islamic motto in Uganda is "what has Islam done for you?"  They say that as an argument to the people questioning whether they are convicted of faith in Christ Jesus or Allah.  They turn it by saying, "what has Christianity done for you?"  They present these questions with the follow up that they are willing to give people money for having action in the Islam faith.  An example, a mosque is willing to pay a family if they choose to circumcise their son.  They will give them money for random acts of faith for the sake of Islam.  Occasionally, they will also give food or school fees to entice the believers.

As you can imagine, this is an expensive ministry.  This ministry WAS heavily funded by Gaddafi.  I don't mean to be thankful that anyone is dead, but I am thankful that his financial assistance to the cause is finished.  Pray that the other wealthy, Muslim believers are not moved to take the place of where Gaddafi left off.

So the ministry of the Muslims is a lot like canvasing.  They will go house to house telling the families about Islam and offering to assist them financially or through meals.  The weakness to this tactic is that it is not convicting.  Most of the people see the faith as a means to supplement their income.  A way to help through hard times.  So their faith is limited!

So we are going to introduce Christ to the families who would otherwise welcome Islamic handouts.  Except we are doing it with the HOLY SPIRIT!  We are using the baskets as a way to open the ears of the non-believers.  They welcome faith talk when it benefits them.  So with the food offering, we are going to present the story of Jesus Christ, with assistance from some ministers from our church who speak Luganda.  We will pray for them, if they allow us, we will pray with them.  We know that through small steps like these God will be glorified and the saving grace of Christ will be understood.  They will understand that it is through Christ that all is provided.  That conviction is not a dependency on man, but on God.  So please pray that the Holy Spirit moves through this.  Pray that these people can form a relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  And that their faith can grow to know that it is not through handouts that they will see Christ working.  That if God brings you to it, He will get you through it.  At happy moments, we need to praise God.  At difficult moments, we need to seek God.  At quiet moments, we need to seek God.  During painful moments, we need to trust God.  And that every moment we need to thank God!

So please pray in the coming week that our hearts can be made ready for this ministry.  In theory it seems simple, but without prayer and petition all of this can be done and be met with resistance.  Please pray that everything comes together and the village of Kyamula can hear the message and allow it to spread like wild fire.

Merry Christmas,

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

So it has become apparent lately that I have done a good job keeping everyone updated on our personal life, but not so much on the ministry.  So I want to offer a little update...

We are ready to receive work groups!!!  Though it is not our focus to raise groups, necessarily, we prepare the projects and receive them.  The idea is that if someone is interested in coming to Uganda, as a work group, they should contact Worldwide Christian Schools (www.wwcs.org).  They are the US founded and stationed group that manages the sending of teams from North America.  I have prepared and submitted all of the information necessary for them to answer every question had for group sending.  There is a gentleman there named Steve Geurink who is ready and able to explain the process and answer any question regarding work and team logistics.  Those teams are called H.A.N.D.S. teams.

Our ministry here in Uganda is a little separate of the USA office.  Yes they help in the ministry here in Uganda by offering some financial and resource support, but the Uganda team is a separate entity.  The USA office supports projects all over the world.  The Uganda office only supports East Africa.  We have a number of cases that we are working with.  Just in the construction side, we have over 20 projects!  Soon we will enter in an agreement with Set Free Ministries and add another 6 projects.  Right now, we have two WWCS Uganda projects that are totally ready to receive teams.  When Set Free gets totally settled, their 6 projects will be able very quickly. 

The reason we need teams... It is very difficult in this economy to find donors that just want to fund a project based totally on what a group can tell them.  The easiest and most effective way to raise project funds is to offer a trip to mission groups on a short term basis (i.e. HANDS teams).  Those teams not only raise the money to come and work, they also raise some money for the project.  That money funds the work they do while they are here but it also offers funds to continue construction after they leave.  So you can see how our ministry has quite a bit of dependency on these teams.

Our main goal when we came to Uganda was to assess school projects and prepare for teams to come and build.  In the assessment, we would offer construction consulting and design services (Three dimensional rendering and Architectural planning).  And we have done that for most of the schools on our docket (I have two projects that I have to finish yet).  Because the US cannot offer assistance to every project, we have limited our list for HANDS team acceptance, down to two.  We have researched the accommodation costs, building costs, and logistics.  So two projects are ready RIGHT NOW!

Since we have been here, our ministry has evolved.  If you have kept up on the blog and our newsletters, you would see that development.  If you know the Neeley's very well, you know that we cannot settle for doing little.  We inherently have to do as much as we can to serve.  So we have been reaching out to the people we live near.  We are not the typical Ugandan missionary.  We do not live in the isolated missionary neighborhood.  We live with Ugandans, mainly Muslim and some confirmed believers of witch craft.  We do not have connections with the well off.  We mingle with the people that need to see Christ's love.  So we minister as we are able, especially to children.  The Ugandan culture does not offer much attention to children.  They do not get to see the love that can be ministered by playing and just having fun with adults, especially the foreigners.  We have shared meals, helped with gardening, and just had fellowship with many of the non-Christians we live near.

We have been blessed as a ministry also.  We have been given access to a projector that we use to reach out.  We have gone to three places now to show films about Christianity.  (which reminds me... if someone has access to the Jesus Film, in English or Luganda, we would love to receive it)  We have reached over 800 people just through this blessing.  Please pray for the people who had this opportunity as their first time to hear about Christ.

We have also breached our "comfort zone."  We have been asked on a couple of occasions to minister to the youth here also.  On one occasion, we held a forum on Christian relationships among a group of about 30.  Another time, we were asked to come to a church and preach to the youth about stepping out in faith at any age.  If you don't know, these are not the areas that we would feel the strongest, but we do it.  We just ask that the Holy Spirit use us as a vessel to say what the youth need to hear, Kevin Rigg style!

Also, since we became a part of the Uganda country team of WWCS, we have not settled to wait for funds from foreign aid.  We have developed a model that has communities support the schools that need to be built.  We frequent these places and we speak to the school boards and community members to offer them advice on how to motivate the community to contribute.  We explain that even if money was falling from heaven in excess, it is not good stewardship to just give it away.  If the communities saw that a school was being built miraculously and looks so beautiful compared to the surrounding homes, it would be alienated.  The worldly mind would take control and the school would be ransacked of its blessings.  So getting the community buy-in gets accountability for the school.  It gets the community in a mindset where they CARE about the school.  Not just because it offers an education to their children, but because their blood, sweat, and tears were put into.  (Don't tell the Muslim folks that we sneak in a Christian education!)

I know that we are not able to measure our success in schools built yet.  Much of our success will only be measured in heaven not on Earth.  But we can see now how we are helping communities.  We can see how the children here are learning about Christ through our actions.  I will write soon about a success story of the Uganda team here.  Though we were not directly involved, it gives us sure hope of the ministry when we leave.  So remember Budembe Primary School...

So if anyone is questioning what we are doing, I hope this helps.  If anyone is worried about their "return on investment" I hope this can offer some relief.  If anyone is interested in joining or starting a work group to the Pearl of Africa, let us know.  If you want to chat with the most popular Mzungu's in Kyamula, Kampala give us a shout!

Chad Neeley

Volunteer Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

I never thought that that would be a milestone for our ministry here in Uganda.  Regardless, after 8 months of being here and over 5 months of filing we have finally got our hands on the coveted Work Permit.  It is even a greater success knowing that we did not bribe anyone or do any immoral tactics to get it.  (tipping aside... if you remember months ago, that was for an extension of visitor pass not work permit!)  The greatest part of the success is that we finally just laid it in God's hands.  And He did it when He was ready.

So now, bring on the work groups!  Just kidding, we have been ready for work groups the whole time.  Just in case you didn't know... We have over 20 projects on the Ugandan Worldwide Christian School docket.  Without work groups, there are limited means to raise support for these projects.  Work groups not only come and help actually build the structures, they are also a means of fundraising for the construction costs.  So our ministry is heavily dependent on these teams.  Unless there is someone out there that wants to just build a school or clinic without ever visiting, then just send some money.  We would be happy to build it for you! 

Seriously, we continue to visit schools.  We continue to pray for each and every school.  Just like with our work permit, we have to lay it on the lap of the Lord.  If He wants people to come here and work, He will send them.  In the meantime, we will continue glorifying God by serving the communities and schools the ways we are able.  We encourage, we pray for, we offer design services, construction consulting, and by giving hope.  We will also continue to minister on a personal level to the people we come in contact with everyday.  The Lord put us in this place for a purpose.  Though sometimes it seems irrelevant, we cannot see the greater plan.

Returning to the work permit topic... now we are just finalizing the "dependents" of the family.  You know, everyone else, the people who really matter, Lizzy and the kids!  Thankfully, it was not nearly as difficult to get the paperwork submitted.  There was a tiny bit of grief, but we overcame that and got the files submitted successfully.  So now, from what I understand, we have about a week worth of waiting until that is all processed.  But thankfully, their visas are covered under the umbrella of my work permit.  So there should not be any random trips to neighboring countries.  Woo hoo!

I want to ask for prayers again, for our vehicle.  It is a great blessing... when it works.  So we are asking for prayers for it to be more reliable.  It is deeply frustrating sometimes, a real foothold that Satan has on our ministry.  But it is just a hurdle, so please pray that we can pass it and give glory to God for our success in overcoming!

By the way, this is not a one way street.  We can offer you prayer from across the world.  Just let us know and we will pray for you.  But for now, we just pray generally for all of you.  We love you!

Chad Neeley

Volunteer Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

Before coming to Uganda, and dealing with schools everyday, I have learned the meaning of Speech Day.  Speech Day is a time for schools to dismiss their students for their holidays.  It is also a time where the children are presented with their report cards.  More importantly for the parents, it is a time where the children present to whomever comes, the many things they learned through the year.  There are poems, drama, singing, and dancing that best shows the parents what the children have been learning.

As a presentation from the school to the parents, the school invites "Guests of Honor" to also attend these functions.  Somehow, I have been requested to come to three of these events.  Two of which, were this past weekend.  Coupled with an wedding introduction where I was the Best Man, it was a pretty busy weekend!  But given the opportunity, I use these events as a way to minister as best I can.

A little while ago, I thanked the many people and experiences I have had for its usefulness here in the field.  Well I want to thank Knapp Church this time.  Though they deserve a ton of praise in many areas, I want to thank them specifically for the opportunity of being a Deacon.  That experience gave me a better understanding of how to be a godly man with finances.  This has given me a better focus while serving here in Uganda.  I have a better insight regarding stewardship.  I have been working very hard with the team here on doing our best to use the money as it is provided in the best ways possible.  We have started instilling a model to the many schools we interact with regarding stewardship and self accountability.

I have written about it several times, but I am going to say it again because it is such a hurdle while working here.  The preconceived notion in Uganda is that when a foreigner, especially whites, are involved money will come.  So it is a constant struggle to explain that I am not the great white hope.  I am just a volunteer that has the ability to "see" construct-ability and advise best on what can be had with what is available.  I explain to them that I want what is best to spread the Kingdom in Uganda.  And how Christian schools can impact a child and its education.

So I have been using the Speech Days as an opportunity to minister to the parents and community members.  Though public speaking has never been my strong suit, the Holy Spirit has used me to speak here.  I often open to the crowd explaining the position of Worldwide Christian Schools.  Explaining that it is the Christ founded education is the key to child salvation.  Telling them that our program for Educational Care, where teachers are informed about how to teach while incorporating biblical truths, is the best thing we can offer.  A building is not needed for a child to get a quality education and learn about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  After reiterating that WWCS is not as much focused on construction as it is education, I start to explain what I do.  My hope is that they hear that we are not necessarily the money tree and the only hope for constructing a quality building.  After going into a little detail of what I do, I return to the focal point of the model of WWCS Uganda... community buy-in and contribution.  We end our opportunity to speak with asking for pledges from the community for the school construction.  It is actually quite effective.

I am not saying that I have gotten any better at public speaking.  I am still struggling with keeping my focus on speaking while having the delay of an interpreter and having shiny objects everywhere to distract me.  But by the grace of God, I think we are reaching the people.  Pray that they HEAR us and are compelled to support the school that educates their children and its community.

So for now, enjoy the busy time of preparing for Christmas.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you...

Chad Neeley

Volunteer Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

I just wanted to write briefly to let everyone know that our work here is starting to pickup.  While things are still in a state of limbo on a couple of different fronts, it is looking really good.  I think that December will be a nice time to prepare for the New Year where we do what we have been doing.  But I have a feeling that January will be the beginning of a year full of construction!

I am happy to see how the Lord works.  It is amazing!  I will never, ever get tired of seeing Him do what He does so well.  I am very excited to see firsthand how the Kingdom will be improved in Uganda.  But like always, we need prayer.  Just like everyone else, we are still human.  We still have our sinful hearts.  We still have constant pressure by temptation.  So please pray that we can focus on the Great Plan on get the Kingdom expanding while we are here.

There are hurdles here that I never thought about in preparing to come.  And now that we are immersed in it, we need divine patience, wisdom, and perseverance.  There are two things that are hand in hand here that needs constant attention:  corruption and stewardship.  It is horrible that a lifetime of hard times can lead people to make poor decisions about money.  So if anything we do here needs more prayer than the rest, it is financial responsibility.  Not for us as much as the people we are working with.  Though don't get me wrong, eating well is a constant temptation!  But when you have a school/community start getting money that seems to be falling from heaven, there is severe temptation.  Especially for the people who have been hard pressed for money their whole lives.  So please pray that in our efforts, the people that deal with the finances see the Greater Plan and fight the temptation.  Pray that builders and laborers are honest.  Pray that building materials are left alone and used for their intended purposes.  Its a lot to pray for, I know.  But I have faith that this can be done.  That the people we interact with can be over comers.  That they can conquer the sinful temptation even though their mind justifies it for a "good reason."  Please pray.

I had this revelation while I was thinking about some projects coming up.  I actually saw how some of my previous work experience is helping me manage the work here better.  Having the ability to "see" the project without necessarily being there all the time.  Being able to control cost but maintain excellent quality.  Motivate the on site workers to do their best without constant supervision.  I am thankful for these experiences.  I am really excited for whatever is in store for us each day, for each project, for each opportunity.

Thanks to all of our friends and family for supporting our efforts.  Thanks also to the people who have helped us grow in our faith, and in our abilities.  God has used you all to build schools here.  Also, keep on praying!  (see the repetition?)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Chad Neeley (& his beautiful family)

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

Today was the day!  The work permit was finally approved!  After 5 months of processing and an additional month of document preparation just to get into processing, we have finally got approval.  Now we are just waiting for the payment process to be started, which should be much quicker as EVERYONE wants money.  We still have to get the Dependents Passes.  And according to people here, that is not a big deal.  But you can guarantee it still needs prayer.

I am pretty pumped about this.  It is a true test of prayer.  As our Pastor here has been vigilantly trying to assist us in this effort, he led a full church prayer this past week.  We, the church, all stood and gathered hands and prayed.  Not many knew exactly what they were praying for but God did.  We made every effort that we could to get this done.  However, we limited our reliance on divine intervention.  Once we brought ourselves to pray as one it was done.  Literally, it was done.  I mean there is no reason that the file should have been seen today. There was no meeting, I checked.  It was just done!

On another topic, Thanksgiving is coming closer.  You talk about a time where one might miss their family, this is a biggie.  We are trying to make do by inviting a dozen or so people over for an American feast.  They have no real idea why they were invited.  Though we tried to explain our reasoning.  But at the end of the day, they will know why we celebrate and they will have some full stomachs!

I will write more soon, so stay tuned.

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

Everyday, when we are shopping, we are harassed by vendors to buy from them.  We are called by the same name, "Mzungu" (which means white person or english person).  We are stared at, laughed at, and talked about.  It was annoying, and still is a little bit, but it has become common and every day.  So I would say we are desensitized.  Wouldn't you?

Sadly, I realized yesterday that not only are we getting desensitized to the every day mockery, but I am getting less sensitive to the needs of the schools and churches that I visit so regularly.  I have unconsciously started minimizing the efforts of some schools over others.  I have started "prioritizing" in my mind.  I cannot believe that I have done such a thing.  How dare I allow my personal, possibly evil, thoughts cloud what needs to be done at every school I visit!  I have discounted the schools that have some sort of building and focused on the schools that have intention and nothing to show for it.  I feel terrible!  In fact, I think I have left out the updates and information about the visited schools and focused more on our lives and how we are effected.  When I should be really focusing on the lives of the people here and how they NEED assistance.

For example, I regularly work with a pastor, Rev. Paul Ssemwanga.  He is what I would consider our Ugandan pastor.  He is also my colleague and friend.  He acts as the Director of the Ugandan National Team for Worldwide Christian Schools.  Passionate is not a strong enough word for his relationship with Christian Education.  Not only does he act as the Pastor of a church, a Director of an international organization, he also directs the activities of a modest primary school in Luwafu, Kampala.  Those are just a couple of roles he has as a minister.  He actually does so much more!  It is the perfect example, because I have unintentionally ignored his request to plan a dormitory on his campus.  He has several orphans and dorm students.  He currently has them sleeping in his church.  He has a school built, partially with the aid of WWCS.  He has a decent church.  For some reason, my mind has discounted the need of his school.  I feel pathetic.  This school/church is a close-to-home example of how a Christian school can directly impact a community.  How ministering to children ministers to a family.

His school, Luwafu Reformed Primary School, needs a dormitory!  He needs a place that these kids can call "home."  They should not have to make a bed, a make shift mosquito net, and have to remove it the following morning.  They should not be left outside while there are bible studies going on every other day until late in the evening.  They should be able to rest so that they can do their very best in school to break a cycle of poverty.

The most annoying thing about this whole problem of mine... I know these children.  They all know me.  They do not call me Mzungu.  They call me Mr. Chad.  I feel like a jerk!  I am sitting here in an internet cafe (because our power is off and I need to charge the PC) close to tears because I have neglected the needs of a friend and the needs of a hundred children.  Pathetic!

Please pray for this school, and all of the others, that are trying to make their impact on the Kingdom of Christ.  Please pray that they can serve their communities and children to the best of their God given abilities.  Please pray that our impact is positive for them. 

On a side note, the Christmas season is approaching.  Surprise!  If anyone wants to help a school, or a family in need, let us know.  We have some pretty cool ideas of how to give little tokens of Christ's love to the people we interact with.  So if it is weighing on your hearts to help someone who would otherwise disregard Christmas because they are not thankful for anything, let us know.  For about $10 you could give a family of 8 a very nice Christmas dinner.  For about $40 you could get them a goat or 20 chickens to raise.  If any of these strike your fancy, please email us.  We would love (and so would the families) to have them know the reason we celebrate Christmas.

God bless you all and thank you for reading!

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

I have a whole new understanding of the saying "when it rains, it pours." Quite honestly, I do not think it can rain any harder than what it does here.  It is amazing!  And I mean it literally and proverbially.

Seriously, it seems like the past two weeks have been a constant struggle.  We were dodging a pouring of obstacles, every one of them making our path the more slippery.  Grace having been sick/uncomfortable for so long.  The vehicle having constant issues.  Distractions, temptations, worries... you name it, things were becoming extremely difficult.  But it has since turned around, though slowly.  I have to give credit to my friend Mary Beth.  She started the turn around.  She sent us encouragement.  She helped strengthen us when we were weak, through prayer.  So I am not giving credit to her, but to OUR LORD who used her to speak encouraging words to us.

I think I mentioned in the last blog, but I will repeat it because I am so happy.  Gracie is feeling much better.  It is such a delight to hear your little girl wake up and not complain.  To sit at the breakfast table and shovel food into her little mouth.  To see her playing, with no restraint... not having to pause or stop because of discomfort in her stomach.  Praise God for healing!

The vehicle is finally running!  It is not the best train in town.  It never would be.  We do not need a fancy ride to get us where we got to be.  Jesus rode a mule when he could have rode a stallion.  So I am fine riding in our mule!  Praise God for a functioning vehicle.

I can truly say that it seemed like we were in a storm.  I am confident that we still are in a storm.  But it is the praise in the storm that makes God happy.  Utter dependence on Him for ALL that we need.  Don't get me wrong, giving up the reins is hard to do, but it is what God wanted from us.  So now that he has them, and I hope I don't try to take them back, we are steering in the right path.  On the path where we are supposed to be.

This past Sunday, we finally made it to the school where we were supposed to help build.  We made it there, and they were pretty much done.  They have the floor finishers in there making it look pretty (something I am not able to do).  I/We were so sad that we could not be there.  But the construction went up anyway.  The classrooms will be ready in a couple of days for use.  Those rooms will be such a blessing to the students at Kalaso Primary School. 

Just today, we finally had the privilege of using our vehicle to get a dear friend over for some dinner.  Our friend, Jajja (Mom to Sarah Dieleman), her daughter and granddaughter were able to come over for some good ol' fashion American food.  Until now, we were never able to have her over.  She has been plagued with a broken body.  She cares for the many children that our friends minister to here in Kampala.  She is a loving and dear woman.  We were soo excited to have them over for dinner.  We mixed it up a little... some American (hamburgers) and some Ugandan (matoke, aka banana diarrhea, and pumpkin).  I believe that they really enjoyed themselves.  I think we may have just offered that lovely woman her first night out in YEARS!  In fact, her granddaughter, who is boarded at a nearby primary school, loved it just as much.  I am pretty sure that she, being 12 years old, ate more food than me!  I think she had a pretty good night too!

So thank you all for the prayers and support.  We are more blessed than we deserve.

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

PS... Just because we live in Uganda, we could not bear to deprive our kids of some good old American tradition.  Check out our album on the blog, labelled Halloween 2011.  We even went as far as to let them trick-or-treat.  But instead of going house to house and confusing our neighbors, they went from the front door to the back door, repeatedly.  Their take was not as good as other years, but it made for a Halloween that we will never forget!  Happy late Halloween from the Neeley's!

From Left to Right... the prettiest witch in Uganda, Storm (Go X-Men!!!), Buzz Lightyear, and a Goofball (who is in the process of kicking in the picture)!