Dear Family and Friends,
As we start the New Year appreciative for the opportunities to have visited with many of you, we’ve also begun to identify a familiar twinge of sadness as we are not being able to take you with us when we leave. Yet we know and are excited about the ways God uses the times and places He situates each us in His sovereignty! It also helps that we are able to anticipate seeing some of you in Uganda in the not so distant future. Again, thank you for your continued support of us, and please know how grateful we are for the year end gifts many of you sent in.
Our time in the States presented an incredible chance to reconnect with family and friends, and to introduce the boys to loved ones that will again, be so far away once we arrive back in Uganda. This Christmas season was filled with sweet times with our families, times that have been etched in our minds and hearts, and times we will surely recall when we have settled back into life in Uganda. One of the many blessings we received while in Indiana was our time with County Line Church of God, our sending church Blackhawk Ministries, and Auburn Baptist church. All three churches have been an enormous encouragement to us and we are very thankful to be in partnership with them. Not only have they supported us finically but they have been prayer warriors on our behalf.
It was amazing to see God’s provision specifically through County Line Church of God as they took their once a year Christmas time offering which they call the “Joy to the World” offering. This year the funds raised were designated for New Hope in order to outfit 6 of our family groups with solar powered lighting. On a daily basis, solar light is practical way to meet a need that directly impacts the lives of approximately 140 children who call New Hope, “home”. Often the children are interrupted while studying, and their nightly activities are complicated when power goes out. The church’s goal was to raise $12,000 to accomplish this project. Not only was that goal met, but because of the outpouring of God’s generous people there, the goal was far surpassed with a total of $27,000 given. We hope that each time government power goes out in our district and the solar lights at New Hope are turned on, the children will be reminded of God’s provision for them, and the love of the body of Christ half way around the world. The extra funds will allow other vital projects to the ministry to be completed (solar power for additional buildings, much needed text books for our schools, and general supplies for the children at New Hope).
Our flight is scheduled to depart out of Chicago on the 6th with a lay-over in London, then to arrive in Uganda late evening of the 7th. Please continue to pray for us as we have begun to pack and to say some of the many “good-byes” that will fill this week. Pray for health, safety, and the anxiety that often accompanies continent and culture hopping. We know and serve a God who sees our every need and gives peace that surpasses all understanding. Pray also for our financial support. Currently, we are under budget in the area of “non cost of living” expenses such as adoption fees, health insurance, and vehicle expenses, flights between Uganda and the U.S. along with travel costs while in the States. We plan a 30 month budget and are short around $400 a month. Be assured that we are adjusting our budget like everyone else in this economy and are doing our best to be good stewards of the gifts that have been given.
Thank you again and we praise God for you all!
Caleb, Alair, Nico and Nate
www.newhopeuganda.org
www.calebalair.blogspot.com
Psalm 68:5, 6
