FIC Uganda Retreat, Visitors, and Safari

 

FIC Uganda Retreat 2026
-Free to Lead-
We were blessed to have visitors, Jen and Violet Tuinstra, from East Martin CRC in Michigan join us this year! 

I am so thankful that our FIC Uganda team includes South Sudan and Congo!

The South Sudanese teachers led us in their worship. Everyone loved it!

As always Josh did a wonderful job using his gift of teaching.
He taught a condensed version of FIC Free to Lead.
Learning to lead from our being, who we are in Christ.

Sharing and praying for one another.

Fellowship over food!

Makai loved being the soda opener! He collected every one of those soda caps.

Jen shared her testimony from going through FIC.

Our evenings were fun time! One night we played Bible trivia and one night we had choirs/dramas.

Many of the choirs wrote songs about FIC and thanking us.

We are so excited that Daniel has translated the FIC Course into Lingala for the Congo!
The enemy isn't happy about this and Daniel's phone was stolen with the translation on it. Thankfully Daniel still had the hard copy and a friend recovered the translation off of a computer he used.
Glory to God!

Most of the South Sudanese FIC teachers live in Uganda because of unrest, but James lives in Northern South Sudan where he is doing the training to be the first FIC director of South Sudan.

We prayed for everyone before the retreat ended including our guest Jen and Violet.
It was very special to share our FIC team with Jen and Violet. FIC has connected them and their church who have all been through FIC with the FIC team here. 

Our family looks forward to the FIC retreat and staying at Soroti Hotel every year!
Thankful with can do it as a family and welcome guests to be a part of it too.

Bye to our South Sudan and Congo co-workers!

James from South Sudan wrote this after the retreat:

    I thank God that I have arrived safely in Aweil after a long journey. I am truly grateful to Him for His journey mercies and protection.

    My heartfelt appreciation goes to Joshua and his wife, Mandy, for their amazing kindness and warm hospitality, and to Michael Obino for his care and concern throughout my time away.

    The training was life-changing. What I learned about identity-based leadership was mind-blowing, and I can truly testify that it has transformed my life. It was also a wonderful time of renewal and fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

    Above all, I thank God for my freedom in Christ. Going through the 7 Steps to Freedom in Christ has completely changed the way I see myself. I am now free from the fear that controlled me and kept me in bondage for so many years. 

    To God be all the glory for setting me free

    God bless you all. To God be all the glory! Thanks to the Ugandan team and all the supporters!

    Uganda will forever be in the history of establishing FICM Sudan and may all the efforts yield fruitful results for His glory, amen!

    Uganda is setting another phase and may the rest grow into stronger collective efforts for expansions, amen 🙏 

We are so thankful Jen and Violet came to Uganda! (Violet is Jen's daughter.) We met their family years ago through the support of East Martin CRC. Our friendship has grown over the years and we really got close when we went through the FIC Course with their church. God set His people free! Since then we talked about visiting Uganda to see FIC and the ministry the church has supported for so long. Last year I asked if they wanted to come and they said yes! We put it out to the church, several members prayed about coming, but it was Jen and Violet that God called to come. They held onto His calling and came despite the obstacles the enemy put in the way. So thankful they came!

Traffic jam in the city...

Makai showing them around the village.
Our guests get a taste of our normal life in the village, be a part of our church, see the ministry, and meet our co-workers and friends. God always shows them and teaches them just what He wants them to know about Him and His people here. 

Harvesting maze with the neighbor.

Christ the Answer Primary School

Cooking local style

Grinding engine

Buying local treats

We visited our local clinic and stayed for be in the labor room with a neighbor giving birth! Violet in going for nursing and really enjoyed the opportunity. Unfortunately, the mother wasn't progressing and was sent to town to deliver.

Thankfully she delivered a healthy baby boy and we got to meet him when he came home!

Our neighbor, grandma Rhoda, had an eye infection and her eye was removed. We were able to visit her and pray for her.

Town - Soroti Rock

Town Market

Emalai was in her glory singing in church on Sunday.

Josh and Rev. Martin dedicated children Sunday.

And then we went on safari! My family was SO excited to go again. Jen couldn't wait to see the elephants, so I thought this sign was great!

Let the adventure begin!

Amazing!

We saw a leopard!!!

Boat safari on the Nile River

Murchison Falls

One last before our friends leave... Thank you for coming and sharing in our lives and ministry here! Very few people have come here and know fully us, our lives here, the mission and understand.  Your visit was an encouragement to us! Thank you for the sacrifice you made and for saying yes to the Lord's leading.