Park Family Update

The Park Family, from Lisburn IMC, are currently on mission in Kiwoko, Uganda.

Christmas in the heat!

It may be the beginning of February, yet here at Kiwoko Christmas cards and gifts are still appearing thanks to the traditional delayed postal service over the holiday period!! Although we naturally missed family, we really enjoyed our second Christmas season at Kiwoko. It was wonderful to strip things back and focus more on Jesus, the greatest gift of all. 

One of our Christmas highlights was the traditional Christmas Eve trip around the wards singing carols, praying and giving gifts to patients including soap, sugar, toys and Gospels of John. Another was the traditional Christmas Day bring-and-share style lunch on the grass under a mango tree – the mixture of Ugandan and European type foods was as always tasty and strangely satisfying, and the food, fun and fellowship just heart-warming! 

Although we didn’t spend Christmas in Northern Ireland a number of you have commented on hearing us on the Radio Ulster program “Calling Home”, which was broadcast on Christmas day. We thank God for the opportunity to take part and the small amount that we were able to communicate about our faith and the work at Kiwoko Hospital.  

A new year…

The start of a new year is always a good opportunity to review the previous year and plan ahead for the incoming one. On looking back, we have so much to thank God for – so many changes, so many challenges and opportunities, happy events, difficult times…yet God was with us through everything, sustaining and strengthening us.  And when we consider 2019, we know there will be yet more changes and challenges, some welcome and some less welcome. But God is the same faithful God. 

Please continue to pray for Becky’s visa situation. We praise God that it has been extended until March 2019 and we continue to pray that she will be able to stay until June as planned. Her current plan is to travel to Kenya for a few weeks in March, praying that she will be granted a further visa at the Uganda-Kenyan border on return. The boys are thoroughly enjoying having Becky to help with home school, and are keen for further volunteers in the future, starting in November 2019 (see our recent advert). 

Our main house helper Janet returned from maternity leave in January. We thank God Timo has settled well, spending weekday mornings with her. This has enabled Linda to increase her involvement in teaching, training and protocol development in addition to helping in OPD and the diabetic clinic. 

There have been quite a number of visitors to the hospital already this year! Continue to pray for Stephen as he is involved in visitor coordination, through pre-visit emails and then “on the ground” roles including overseeing accommodation, food etc. We will shortly welcome our first elective students of the year and there will be a steady flow throughout the rest of the year. 

The hospital mission team recently met to discuss ministry plans for the incoming year. Pray for Stephen as he organises discipleship type courses for staff and students at the hospital. Remember the team as they coordinate many different ministries including prison work, children’s clubs, morning prayers, student work, missions to local villages etc.  

Home Assignment

We are excited to have another family wedding in Northern Ireland this year and are hoping to return to Northern Ireland for slightly longer to combine this family event with home assignment. Our currently plan is to return to Northern Ireland in July for four months, keeping our speaking engagements predominantly to September and October. We appreciate prayers for the planning and preparation required for this. 

Thanks for your ongoing interest, support and prayers,
The Park Family