Here comes Term 2!

Hello family and friends,

It's hard to believe that we're already halfway through the year. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of what God is doing at Amazima. 

Highlights from Term 1:

Science Club

In Term 1, I was able to lead Science Club at The Amazima School - Primary. It was a lot of fun to have an opportunity outside of regular lessons and without the limitations of the Ugandan curriculum to show how hands on and practical science can be. Some students wanted to be in Science Club, but a few were angry that they were placed in my club - but in the end, everyone loved it and couldn't stop talking about all they had learned. 

Bible

Teaching Bible is one of my favorite parts of my job. This is the third year that I am teaching Bible to two of my classes (I teach four classes of Bible total). We started in Genesis in 2023 and in Term 1 this year we focused mainly on Holy Week (Palm Sunday - Easter Sunday). I love that I can teach so much of the New Testament knowing that the students have some understanding of the Old Testament and how Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies. We've also just started Term 2 teaching about what happened directly after the resurrection (Jesus appearing to disciples, the Great Commission, etc..) I love that the students are seeing how Jesus transformed the lives of his followers and how they spread the gospel throughout the world. 

Medical Outreach

During the term break, I joined Amazima's medical outreach to two villages where our students live. The nurses offered free services including malaria testing, wound care, deworming, and vital signs check. I was able to help by working at the dispensary and giving out medicine prescribed by the nurses. It was sweet to meet many of the extended family members of my students and see their communities. I also loved being partnered with different secondary students to translate for me throughout the day. I was very impressed with each student I was partnered with - they were each well spoken, respectful, hard working, and so caring to those visiting our pop-up clinic. 

Training at Yahweh Tendereza (Praise God)

Over the Term 1 break my friend Gladys (P1 teacher at Amazima) and I were invited by another ministry called Yahweh Tendereza (founded by Ruthie Kato - student life director at Amazima) to run a training for their teachers. We knew the school was "somewhere by Nyenga", which is just a few minutes past Amazima. We didn't know that when we reached Nyenga we were going to turn off the main road and drive down a bumpy dirt road almost an hour before reaching the school. We messaged them ahead of time and asked if they had a projector so we could show our slides or if they needed us to bring our own. They asked for us to bring a projector and they would secure a generator for us to use. Their school rarely has power and other resources I often take for granted. It reminded me to be thankful for what we have at Amazima and use my resources well.

The training went well and the teachers were really eager to learn. Ruthie told us that after our training, the teachers decided to go back through and redo the curriculum plan for the term. They're talking about finding another time for us to visit!

Secondary Students

My students from my first year at Amazima are now in The Amazima School - Secondary. I love that they now live on the secondary campus. This means they get three good meals every single day, family mentors who pour into them daily, and consistent Biblical teaching on Sunday mornings. I'm still involved with my church (Acacia Community Church), but I've decided that each first Sunday of the month I'll visit my kids at the secondary school. It's so sweet to be able to continue the relationships we started in 2022 and continue being a trusted & consistent presence in their lives. They're doing so well and I'm so thankful to get to witness the transformation in their lives. What a gift!

Brazil!

These next two weeks (thanks to the generosity of some loved ones) I have the opportunity to visit Brazil and the ministry where I grew up with my parents. I'm so thankful for this gift and am excited to be back home again!

Please continue to pray for the ministry at Amazima. Pray for our students as they face many challenges each and every day, pray for our leaders as they seek to make wise decisions for the ministry, and pray for our teachers and social workers interacting with children and parents. May all that we do be glorifying to God!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I'm so thankful to be involved in this work because of your generosity!

💜 Jaci

Women's Meeting at
Acacia Community Church

Amazima's Easter celebration
with students and their families

Science Club