Thing 1: Isaac has accepted an offer to be the new Field Director of ICEF Canada operations here in Uganda.
This is a full-time volunteer position and a one-year commitment, meaning we are now committed to Uganda until January 2016. ICEF (International Community Empowerment Foundation) Canada is a Canadian NGO that works alongside the Tekera Resource Centre in Tekera village, a little over two hours away from Kampala. The resource centre has many different programs that serve the rural community around it. These programs include agricultural development, a primary school, work programs, adult education, and improving access to clean drinking water. As Field Director, Isaac will be working alongside a Ugandan Program Coordinator and communicating with the Canadian office.
I will continue to teach at Heritage International School; Isaac will return to Kampala on weekends, and I will be able to join him on school holidays. Even though this means time apart, this is an exciting opportunity for him to build his experience in hands-on development work. ICEF Canada's approach to development resonates with Isaac; they are committed to the long-term, they have the goal of becoming sustainable, they want to empower Ugandans as leaders, and they try to have a "hand up" rather than a "hand out" approach. This is an opportunity for Isaac to be "salt and light," showing the love of God through his character as a leader and through the humanitarian work he will be doing.
You can learn more about ICEF Canada at their website: http://icefcanada.org/
Thing 2: We are now PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) missionaries.
 |
| Teaching at Heritage International School |
As the year went on, I became increasingly committed to the vision of Heritage to provide sound academics from a Christian perspective. Even though I sometimes don't feel like I am on "the front lines," I have kids in my classes whose parents are planting churches, resettling orphans, running discipleship classes, or training Ugandan pastors. A major reason their families are able to stay in Uganda is because Hertiage exists. I also have a percentage of kids in my classes who are middle or upper class Ugandan, whose parents wanted either a Christian education, or an education based on American curriculum. These Ugandan children will very likely be future leaders in this country, and a chance to disciple them is truly a chance to influence the direction of the nation.
Even though Isaac's exchange program ended last spring, we felt that we should stay in Uganda longer, and I committed to another year of teaching at Heritage. The main problem we were up against was financial. It is one thing to survive here financially for one year; it is another to think about two years or more and what it means to be sustainable here. Heritage can provide a small monthly salary, but it is not enough to cover all of our costs. We turned to the PAOC, the denomination we both grew up in, and found that "Teacher at Heritage International School" was already listed as one of their international missions opportunities! We pursued a connection with the PAOC, and in September we were officially approved as PAOC missionaries.
This means a few things;
1. We have a channel for people to support us and receive a Canadian charitable tax receipt.
2. We have the network of the PAOC. We suddenly feel much more supported in prayer, resources, advice and more. In April, for example, we'll have the chance to attend the PAOC regional retreat and meet with other PAOC missionaries in East Africa.
3. We can think about longer term missionary service, and be open to God's calling if He wants us to stay in Uganda or serve elsewhere in a missions capacity.
4. Besides being financially able to continue teaching at Heritage (rather than pursue jobs elsewhere), this increases our potential to be able to give to other ministries around us or engage in other volunteer opportunities.
If you'd like to check out our profile through the PAOC International Missions site, you can find it here: https://paoc.org/donate/EricaShelley
We will try to keep it updated with what we're doing and prayer requests we have. We appreciate prayers and support! The whole "fundraising" thing is very new to us, and in some ways it is very humbling. We hope that people will not give because they know us, or feel obligated. If people believe that what we're doing is meaningful, and is building the Kingdom of God, and if people want to come alongside that, then this is a way for them to contribute.
Please keep us in your prayers, resting in the knowledge that this is God's work, not ours, and if it's His will He will make it happen.
If you would like to "stay in the loop" with what we are doing and current prayer requests, email me at erica.shelley@paoc.org (or let me know some other way!) to receive a bimonthly newsletter straight to your inbox.
