Only $700 needed for borehole / thoughts on 2020

[EcoMercy International]

Dear Friends,

I hope you've had a happy Thanksgiving. I just sent out a financial report to those who are monthly donors, our “strategic stewardship partners.” If you set up a monthly donation at Ecomercy.org you will also receive those reports.

The big news is, we now have $5,806 saved for the borehole well! Glory be to God.

Only about $700 more is needed to reach our goal of $6500. Donations are 501c3 tax deductible. Donate at EcoMercy.org.

Jesus is King

Our progress is very exciting as the matter of water goes to the heart of the Gospel. Jesus is king of the whole world and He doesn’t want any of his servants to go thirsty. He wants to forgive everyone, to welcome everyone with kindness. Therefore, whatever we do for one of the “least of these” His brethren in His name we have done for Him.

[A photo from October 27th, my father in Christ, Stephen Lunagula, with children from Nawango village.]

When we express kindness to someone in a tangible way specifically in Jesus' name, such as through providing water, and even permaculture training and Christ-centered academic education as the Lunagula’s are seeking to do, we are also opening the door for them (and ourselves) into a society where all of our Lord’s word is honored and kept, not just what He said about water and food, but much more. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. This is the beginning of wisdom and freedom and everything good, the fear of the Lord!

This is the society we need. A society where our Lord’s word is regarded as worthy of respect and where people do His word. Does our society, in the United States or Uganda or anywhere, honor Jesus as King, not just with lip service but with deeds and righteous living? I’ll leave that for you to answer. May our refuge be in Christ.

2020

Certainly 2020 has been a trying year for everyone. Many problems and frustrations loom in people’s minds. Perhaps it is just that problems under the surface have been suddenly brought into 20/20 vision.

Our political leaders say they can solve all problems, whether real or perceived or blown out of proportion, and generally we believe whichever leaders tickle our ears the most. Or, if you’re like me, you've just wanted to hide under a rock until the commotion blows over! But I know that I must continue to shine the light of Christ. A city on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:15).

Let’s not be either distracted or discouraged by society and whatever state we perceive it to be in. We can pierce through all of that by getting back to the basics. Jesus, not any one politician, is our protector and provider. What can we do now, wherever we live, for Jesus and His Kingdom?

“Thoughts and intents"

The word “pierce” brings to mind this verse: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” What matters is not what other people are saying or doing, but what is the intention of our own hearts. And this can be revealed through prayer and reading God’s word or hearing it preached. But we have to keep in mind that some preachers are actually lulling us to sleep both literally and figuratively. Many preachers are in rivalry with the true spirit of Christ and that is why their ministries do not bring forth lasting fruit.

St. John Chrysostom

One preacher who was faithful was St. John Chrysostom, the namesake of the school we are partnering with. For any who think that skillful preaching (directed at specific sins when necessary) has no place in the Church, consider the legacy of St. John Chrysostom, which lives on even now in America and Africa—"the ends of the earth!” (Mark 16:15).

Chrysostom was known to confront sin of all kinds head on and to be a defender of the poor. A famous quotation of his is this one: “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”

The epithet, “Chrysostom," means “golden-mouthed,” a fitting name for a school where students study English in order to learn to speak for themselves and their communities using the language of the ruling elite. May they be able to speak well from hearts turned toward God.

Please pray

If you would, pray that everything will go smoothly with the well installation (once our goal is obtained). May God bless those who have donated and who will donate.

I’m going to be publishing another Facebook fundraiser ASAP to help us obtain the remaining $700. I would encourage you to recommend it to your friends as we approach giving Tuesday. And also remember our web address, ecomercy.org.

What is EcoMercy International?

If you had to describe EcoMercy to your friends, how would you do it? This is how I describe us on our website which I updated not too long ago:

Welcome! We're are a grassroots organization for people seeking to protect, nurture, and actively promote:

• Our children and the Earth,
• Our country and our freedoms (wherever we may live) including the freedom to gather,
• And a good life with justice for everyone in our communities.

We believe in working with like-minded individuals and families toward local sustainability & self governance. And we believe in putting our values into action in creative, concrete ways, such as through homeschooling, micro-schools or larger schools with a teaching emphasis on the wonders of God's creation.

Does that make sense? I’m trying to convey that what we are doing together is bigger than what we are currently funding in Nakyaka, Uganda. Your patronage of St. John Chrysostom School can even have an impact in your own community simply through directing people's minds to the needs of children.

And this is our specific mission at this time:

To empower Nakyaka, Uganda, children and youth with the mastery of permaculture concepts and solutions, while facilitating their academic schooling, for the strengthening of families and the glory of Jesus Christ.

Lockdowns

One result of the lockdowns is that the Lunagula’s have been unable to run St. John Chrysostom School, which is their livelihood. The government shut down all schools in March and this order is still in effect. But as you know the Lunagula’s have used this respite from administration to plant gardens, beautify the school grounds, install fencing and build rainwater capturing tanks—thanks to assistance from many of you reading this today.

Now at the end of November, as their corn and potatoes are not yet ready for harvest, we have also been able to help them with a purchase of food that can last them until January, when their crops shall be ready. Of course our goal is that by next year at this time they will have more abundance at the permaculture farm including animals, which can sustain them.

Please pray that the school can open in January. And please give for the borehole well either at Facebook.com/ecomercy.org or EcoMercy.org.

A blessed day to you,
Martin

A few recent receipts and photos:

This bicycle is being fixed in order to allow my father Stephen and his sons to better travel between Nakyaka and Nawango to conduct services, attend to the school grounds, and transport vegetables. My father Stephen has chosen this option for the time being in order to save money, although we hope to maintain the car in working order as well.

Roll of PVC pipe and seeds (in the cans):

 

 

  

Three new airless wheelbarrow tires:

Camon X phone to replace Joachim’s older phone.

 

New soccer ball for the children at Nakyaka (the old one broke):

 

Food purchase to help the Lunagula’s till the next harvest: 

—— THE END ——