08/29/2022
Uganda Band and Bible Mission
2022 Success!
Dear Friends of the Uganda Band and Bible Mission
The Band and Bible Mission has been going to Uganda every summer since 2013. This was to be the 10th mission. COVID shut it out for the last two summers. So three years after the last mission in 2019 the team happily returned.
The real test of a successful mission is if the work continues after the missionaries go home. The band director Richard Wallace observed, “We were afraid of finding out what the state of the three bands we had been working with would be. We were more than pleasantly surprised. All three bands performed at the highest level that we had ever heard. The rehearsals and performances were awe inspiring.”
The Nebbi Diocese Brass Band has grown with the addition of a number of younger players. Their joyful spirits were very contagious and inspiring. A significant part of this change could be attributed to the leadership of Bishop Pons Ozelle since his investiture in January.
Felix Kasumba, the director of the Bunyoro-Kitara Brass Band, has managed to keep the band functioning very well during the pandemic. Although the band was somewhat smaller than the last mission, they had also improved a great deal.
The greatest surprise was with the Namirembe Cathedral Boys and Girls Brigade Band. They had requested four challenging musical selections to be added to their concert. The band managed to breeze through all of them in the first rehearsal. All that was left was to polish the selections. You should know that this group has no adult leadership. They range in age for 10 – 20 years old. They elect their Band Captain and are very organized. They manage to achieve this level of performance on their own. It is truly impressive and inspiring!
For the Bible part of the mission the Reverend Eric Fenton brings a different Bible Study every year. This time he introduced the Discovery Method discussion questions being used at Christ Church. They studied Colossians: Meeting Jesus, Walking with Jesus, Our Future with Jesus. The questions were translated into the tribal languages of Alur and Munyoro. The surprise was how engaged they were in their small groups even continuing into the evening.
We cannot minimize the impact these missions have on those who go. Everyone returns with a renewed faith and love for Jesus.
Robert Packer, the percussion instructor observed, “Working with the students on this Mission Trip is always a breath of fresh air as they are not only receptive but all very committed to their service to God. Although they lack many worldly possessions, the Ugandans are very rich in faith. As steel sharpens steel, the Band & Bible Mission trips continue to help build my faith.”
Professor Greg Wene brought his historical expertise. He presented a lesson about the brutal Ugandan tyrant Idi Amin. Many had no awareness of that terrible time in their history and were very attentive. Greg said, “Everyone made us feel welcome. Observing the hope, love for one another, the sacrifices that are made under extremely difficult circumstances has deepened my faith.”
Scholarships have become a very important part of this mission. School fees are charged in all public schools. Even though minimal by our standards they are often beyond the ability of parents to pay. We have helped band members from 10 years old to university. We have had graduates of trade schools – welders, electricians, and TV video reporters. Most recently our university graduates include two Bachelor’s degrees in Information Technology. One is interning at the Provincial office of the Church of Uganda and the other at the Bishop Ruhindi Theological College in Hoima. One student will graduate from Medical School next spring. There are about 20 scholars from the Boys and Girls Brigade Band at Nimirembe, 10 at the Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese and most recently the Nebbi Diocese will be awarding Band and Bible Scholarships. We have many expressions of gratitude. This is from Emily Kemigisa at St Andrea College in Hoima, “I received the school fees you sent and right now am at school learning. All thanks to you. I deeply from the bottom of my heart thank you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and pray to God to reward you for the great things you have done for me.”
The team wishes to thank all who prayed and paid for the success of this mission. You have made a difference in the lives of so many. God bless you!
For more information, to schedule a presentation for your church or organization, or to donate instruments contact:
The Rev. Eric Fenton at 210-887-0067 or [email protected]
Richard Wallace at [email protected]
Robert Packer at [email protected]
Tax deductible donations can be sent with a memo note for the Band and Bible Mission to:
Christ Episcopal Church
Band and Bible Mission
510 Belknap Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
Thank you again for your support and
God Bless you!
pages:
www.facebook.com/bandandbible
www.facebook.com/boysbrigadenamirembe
www.facebook.com/HoimaBrassBand
www.facebook.com/nebbibrassband
