April Newsletter

Good morning to you from Uganda.

It is a beautiful day in Uganda today. It is showering; the temperature is cool; the birds are chirping; it is very peaceful. Thank you so much for praying for rain. It is not the heavy rains that we need to raise the lake, but it is watering the ground well and helps the farmers with their crops. The electricity problems persist, but God is good to provide all that we need and we thank Him for His provision.

This month there have been travels made to an area in southwestern Uganda. We have celebrated two very exciting events. We traveled to the equator and what a blessing all of it was.Sit back and let me tell you what all has happened.

Early this month, Kenneth and two of our dear missionary ladies, Mary Ann and Meryl, went to an area called Rukungiri (Roo, koon, gee, ree) in the southwest for camp meetings. For three days they ministered to these people. They showed the Jesus film and a film about Paul’s life. There were over 75 who prayed for salvation and for other needs in their lives, as well. The picture to the left is the Rukungiri church. Please pray for the new converts at this church. Pray for the godly pastor, Nazarius, to disciple these people into a mature relationship with Jesus.

Easter was a big celebration! What a blessing this Easter season was. During the course of the week, we heard of over 60 people who asked Jesus into their hearts. There was a mission organization that held an evangelistic outreach near us. They gave out over 900 pair of reading glasses and over 60 people were saved. What a blessing it would be to think back and say “during Easter, the time when we remember that our Savior was crucified and rose again, was when I asked Him to be my Savior!” Angels are rejoicing! Also, we had 40 people at our house on Easter Sunday for a time of celebrating our risen Savior.It was a great time spent with our Sunday evening fellowship church group.

April was also a time to celebrate our son Austin! Austin turned 9 years old on April 29^th. He had a few friends over, went to see a movie and had an ice cream cake. Of course, we had no electricity on that day, which wasn’t too healthy for an ice cream cake. Austin loved it, though. He is our ice cream eater! We praise Jesus for our Austin. He has been a blessing to us. He is so sensitive to the Lord’s leading. Please pray for Austin as he continues to learn more about having a lasting relationship with Jesus.Pray for him as he leaves his friends here to go back to the U.S. and jumps back into school there. It is much on his mind right now.

Kaleb, Austin and Emilee were out of school for spring break, so we decided to take a day trip to see the Equator.We have lived three degrees south of the equator in Tanzania and now live one half degree north of it, so we decided it would be neat to go to see this imaginary, dividing line. It was a fun day. We saw a lot of neat things along the way. We will share pictures of our adventure in our next Hopson Press letter.

As I type this message, the Rizo, the table top printer is running. Kenneth has been very busy printing jobs this month. He finished the 240 page Bible study book and will be picking it up from the man who is binding it today. See the picture? He turned the dining room table into the collating department of a print shop.  He ended up going around the table 600 times. Now, he is printing 36 lessons for the next two months of pastor training seminars. Thank you for praying for Kenneth. He has a lot to do on his `To Do List’ before we head back to America in a month. Please pray for him as he slowly is able to mark things off his list. Pray for him as he tries to spend time with his family yet knows all that he needs to get done.

I think this is long enough for this time.  I hope you have enjoyed reading some of what has taken place in our lives this past month. We thank you so very much for your integral part in this ministry. We are blessed by you.

In service for Jesus,
Delight, Kenneth, Kaleb, Austin and Emilee Hopson