Highlights from the Field Vol. III
April-July 2022
EDUCATION:
JOYOUS GRADUATION
Namara Peace graduated in Computer Science studies.
It is always pure joy whenever one of our children at DCM is graduating. DCM celebrates Namara Peace who graduated in Computer Science studies, Ssembatya Rodgers graduated in Dentistry, Sarah Nampija graduated in Psychiatric Nursing and Nasamba Aisha graduated with a Human Resource Management degree.
These celebrations often bring tears of joy as we remember how far the Lord has brought these children. From children who once had no hope for their next meal to adults that are not only supporting themselves but also giving back to their communities through their different careers. On days like these, DCM celebrates the victorious fulfillment of the purpose to which God called us to serve. But also for our children, we celebrate their victory over generational illiteracy and poverty.
Our joy is made complete when we see such children think about their future with hopeful smiles on their faces!
We thank God who has equipped DCM to holistically transform the lives of thousands of children through education. DCM’s sincere gratitude goes to the staff that has mentored, equipped, and cared for these children. We also thank our partners and sponsors who sacrifice so much for these children to have a bright future. May the good Lord forever bless you!
Ssembatya Rodgers graduated in Dentistry.
Sarah Nampija graduated in Psychiatric Nursing.
Nasamba Aisha graduated in Human Resource Management.
EDUCATION:
children return to school
DCM praises and thanks the Lord for the children that are returning to school for their second term studies after their short holiday.
While in their first term holiday, our children expressed a lot of joy and happiness to have been able to complete their first term without any disturbances like it they experienced for the last two years because of Covid-19.
DCM primary schools also went through their first term successfully, praise and glory goes back to our Father in heaven who protected and provided for them while at school. Even as schools open and children go back for their second term, we pray that God will protect and give them knowledge to understand what they are studying.
DCM thanks the teachers of Divine Hope and Divine Grace Primary Schools for their dedication towards the hundreds of children they invest in everyday. We also thank our partnering schools for looking after our children in the best way possible. May the good Lord reward your efforts.
We thank our partners who financially sacrifice a lot to make sure our children get quality education which would have been otherwise expensive for their parents and families. Your efforts are highly appreciated and may God continue to bless you immensely.
Praise the Lord!
Children boarding the DCM van on their way to school.
Uncle Silver and the team checking on some of the Karamoja children we sponsor.
EDUCATION:
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Sophie, from the DCM staff, addressing children and their parents during the activity.
At Divine Care Ministries, we aim at making sure our children excel in everything they do, this is why our education department makes it a point to review the performance of all our children attending school each term. The parents/guardians of these children were also encouraged to attend such activities so that they were able to actively participate in being aware of the performance of their children.
Aunt Enid, our DCM counselor, having a session with children at Divine Hope.
Over the first term holiday, the education department held these academic performance reviews at the different centers of DCM. It was good to note that most of the DCM children performed well in their academics even after being away from school for such a long time.
Assessing our children’s academic performance helps both the organization and parent to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the learner. This knowledge enables our education experts to encourage each child and give them the best career advice. In these activities, children get to learn from
Elijah, a staff member of DCM, attending to a group of secondary students.
each other and get inspired to press-on, especially in the areas they are finding trouble.
The children who didn't perform well were encouraged that with God on their side, there is nothing that is beyond their reach.
Also, as the children gathered together with their parents, the counselors had an opportunity to address any challenges that the parents are facing with their children or the challenges the children are facing as their bodies evolve to different stages.
At the end of the day, we realised that our children are steadily improving both in their studies and personal lives. We thank the entire team at DCM that grooms, disciples and mentors these young lives.
May the Lord richly bless you!
SCHOOLS & PROJECTS:
Renovations At Divine Grace & Divine Hope
The girls’ dormitory at Divine Grace was renovated.
Even with schools closed due to Covid-19, DCM thanks God who has continued to provide resources, strength and wisdom to our leaders and workers who have in turn kept the schools open and active. The closing of schools came as a blessing in disguise that availed time for the schools to be renovated. At Divine Grace, the pupils were faced with a challenge of dilapidated latrine that always filled up with water in rainy seasons. The dormitories and some class blocks were out of shape and needed renovation. All of this and more was worked on last year. As an organization that deals with children, DCM endeavors to raise children in a safe, clean and healthy environment. We are glad the renovations have made the center more comfortable for children as they return from their long break. We are confident that with this, children will find school more enjoyable.
The boys’ dormitory at Divine Grace was also renovated on the outside.
For many years, it has been DCM’s prayer to have teachers’ quarters at Divine Hope to avoid the expensive cost of paying a rent fee. We thank God He has answered our prayer. The teachers’ quarters are under construction and hopefully will be done by the end of February!
We are grateful to our partners who support Divine Care Ministries to make sure children access education in protected and safe environments. May God richly bless you. We thank our faithful God who is making all this possible.
The newly constructed latrine to replace the old one at Divine Grace.
The new staff quarters at Divine Hope.
The interior of the boys’ dormitory at Divine Grace.
MISSIONS:
KARAMOJA MOBILISATION
DCM director, Pastor Peter Sozi, talking to DCM partners.
In June, DCM hosted some of our Ugandan partners who have been supporting the ministry in reaching out to Karamoja through evangelism and education. The intention of the meeting was to inform our partners of DCM’s plan to take 1000 missionaries to Karamoja between August 16th-28th, 2022.
The meeting consisted of new and old partners who are interested in evangelizing throughout the Karamoja region. Pastor Peter and Mummy Phoebe Sozi encouraged the attendees to put in much more effort in making sure Karamoja hears the gospel of God as it is the only tool that will bring about peace, transformation, development and unity in the region. They insisted that God endowed Karamoja with great things, but the devil has tarnished it and it is only when we take the gospel to Karamoja that such beauty will be seen by the world for the glory of God.
Mummy Phoebe testifying of the good things God has done in Karamoja.
Some of the attendants in the meeting.
With the year midway, it is that exciting time of the year when Divine Care Ministries plans for our annual evangelistic mission to Karamoja. Karamoja as a region means a lot to DCM, which is why we have been taking the gospel to Karamoja every year for 15 years. Our mission is to see the entire region saved, transformed and on fire for Christ. DCM invites everyone to join in taking 1000 missionaries to preach the gospel in Karamoja for 14 days. You can partner with us either physically, by being a part of 1000 missionaries, supporting us spiritually, and/or financially.
God bless you!
KARAMOJA SUCCESS STORY
Mark, a Karamajong cattle rustler, who turned into a warrior for God.
In our success story, we bring to you Mark’s story, a Karamojong cattle rustler, turned into a warrior of God. Mark’s story and testimony has brought many souls to the Kingdom of God.
Mark was born into a community and family of cattle rustlers and at a young age with no choice and little knowledge of what cattle rustling was, he was initiated into the social culture of rustling cattle.
As years went by, he was groomed into a seasoned warrior who found no problem in shooting people dead so that he can take their cattle. On many occasions, they went out, stole cattle and left the owners beaten and close to death.
Mark’s turning point came about when his fellow rustlers ran and deserted him as soon as they realized they had been ambushed while raiding cattle. All through the night, Mark fought off a vast number of people and barely escaped with fatal wounds. The last thing Mark remembers was him calling on God to come to his rescue before he became unconscious.
He woke up in the hospital only to be told that he was lucky to be alive. From then on, Mark made a decision to follow Christ and leave behind the societal culture of raiding cattle. Now, Mark preaches the gospel and is one of DCM’s men of peace in Karamoja. He says he has found peace and many blessings in serving the Lord, different than when he was a cattle rustler.
Praise be to God who transforms people’s hearts and makes them entirely new people; for behold He takes the old and He brings forth the new!
MISSIONS:
OUTREACH TO VILLAGES IN CENTRAL UGANDA
Aunt Diana reaching out to a group of young children in Kalyamenvu Village.
Divine Care Ministries praises the Lord because He has allowed us to answer His call, to reach out to deep communities with God’s word and love. This is in line with the Divine Care Ministries’ mission, which is to make disciples of communities by facilitating improvement and the well-being of people including the hurting, orphaned, suffering and other vulnerable children through education, provision of shelter, medication and evangelism ministry.
Uncle Peter, a staff member at DCM, visiting and praying for an old sickly woman.
DCM’s evangelistic and missions teams have recently returned from a week long mission in Kalyamenvu, a far-to-reach area in Kyazanga district. The mission’s major goal was to evangelize the area that is characterized by sorcery and dark powers. The team jubilated and praised the Lord with every passing day as they saw God’s hand upon them. Natives were eagerly accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior, renown sorcerers together with their families denounced sorcery and invited Christ in their families while the sick were also healed in Jesus name.
Enoch, reaching out to the Kalyamenvu community center.
Aunt Diana leading little children to Christ in a banana plantation.
The missions department appreciates the leadership, partners and friends of DCM for supporting them to take the good news to the ends of the earth as Jesus commanded in Mark, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.
May the Almighty God bless you!
MISSIONS:
DCM Joins Hands With Other Organizations To Reach Karamoja
Director Mummy Phoebe presenting how best Karamoja can be transformed
It was a privilege and great opportunity for Divine Care Ministries to attend and present at a missions conference whose intention was to figure out ways on how the least reached areas in Uganda like Karamoja can be reached with the word of God.
Attended by different organizations, churches and ministries whose interests were to know God and make Him known, the conference made it clear that man’s sole purpose on earth is to take the gospel to those that have not heard of Christ yet.
Aunt Diana talking about DCM’s work in Karamoja at the exhibition table during the conference.
In her presentation, Director Mummy Phoebe emphasized that the Karamoja people are loved by God and it is His will that they be transformed. This transformation will only come by the word of God being proclaimed in the region. For 15 years now, DCM has been transforming Karamoja wholistically through evangelism and education. The results are God-glorifying.
Mummy Phoebe encouraged the attendants to answer God’s call for Karamoja as there is vast work to be done. It was a great day to see different churches coming together for the spiritual and physical transformation of the Karamoja region. DCM thanks everyone who has supported us in answering God’s call to serve in the least reached areas. God bless you abundantly.
Bishop Joseph Abura of Karamoja Diocese, a long term partner of DCM in Karamoja, also attended the conference.
The exhibition was attended by other churches and organizations that reach the least reached people.
MISSIONS:
Evangelism in Western Uganda
Aunt Enid preaching to the pupils at one of the schools the team visited.
God’s word commissions every Christian to go out and proclaim the good news to all corners of the world. Divine Care Ministries is grateful to be amongst those used by God to proclaim His love. In May, DCM was blessed with an opportunity to take the word to Mbarara ,Western Uganda.
The objective of the mission was to check on the families that had accepted Christ during the last mission DCM had held in the same area. It is great news that the Lord has kept the people strong in their journey of salvation. They testify of how faithful and wonderful God has been towards them and their families ever since they surrendered their lives to Him. While having a fellowship at Nathan’s compound, he was one of the converts from the last mission, the team was joined by Nathan’s neighbors who also committed their lives to God at the end of the fellowship. We thank God for Nathan who gives his compound as fellowshipping grounds every week.
Mark, preaching at Nathan’s home, one of the homes DCM visited.
The team had the opportunity to reach out to schools where they preached to children and encouraged teachers to treat and serve children faithfully and with care. The missions team emphasized that only God can enable them to raise, mentor and groom children into responsible citizens and leaders for tomorrow. It was beautiful to see both children and teachers accepting Christ into their lives.
The missions team carrying out an open-air crusades at a village trading center.
The highlight of the mission was when Dennis, a man who was under captivity of the spirit of alcoholism for a long time, received Christ and denounced alcohol.
We bless the name of the Lord who uses DCM and their leaders to take the salvation gospel to all people.
MISSIONS:
Discipleship In Karamoja
Pastor Silver discipling Karamoja church leaders.
Just like salvation comes by the hearing of God’s word, DCM believes for man to keep running the journey of salvation, man ought be disciplined and trained in the ways of God. We thank God who has given DCM the mandate to disciple His people in Karamoja.
DCM team encouraging some of the sponsored Karamoja children.
In May, a team of 3 pastors visited Karamoja region with an intention to encourage and disciple the leaders of the new Karamoja church plants. It was a beautiful moment as Pastors Silver, Henry & Peter took the leaders through what is expected of leaders and how they should treat the people they lead in the church. The leaders were taught that they are to stay before the Lord and ask Him to lead them by His Holy Spirit since He is the best teacher in spiritual matters.
The team also utilized the opportunity to visit DCM’s sponsored children and they encouraged them with words of hope. DCM thanks God for the generous partners who make all this possible.
Karamoja Leaders Team posing for a photo after the Discipleship Training.
Pastor Silver visiting children at Lomirmor ECDC.
Prayer Requests - pray with us
Pray for our children’s safety and protection while in holidays.
Pray for the safety and protection of DCM Staff.
Pray for a new administration classroom block at Divine Grace.
Pray for good health and life over our DCM partners.
Pray for God’s protection and provision upon DCM.
Pray for the homeless and the hungry in Karamoja and in the entire world.