Dear Friends,

It had to happen at least one month. The period when I am supposed to be writing the newsletter I will be "in the bush" so short of finding a friendly pigeon, there will be no practical way of sending out our news. So please be patient and we will send it through a bit later in the month. In the meantime we have put a few on going prayer points below to keep your conversations with God spiced with Youthworx East Africa. Thanks for your concern and support:

    Prosper and I are currently involved in a very big youth conference in Hoima. This is for youth from all over the district organised by Nathan, the new youth worker there.
    Prosper will also be leading a team back to Masindi to continue the youth worker trainings in the district.
    Collin will be over in Kabale and Bushenyi (western Uganda) working with the Compassion International projects and also building the new partnerships with Church of Uganda.
    I will be planning a hiking trip in the foothills of Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda.
    Baala will be rebuilding the campsite roof that was storm damaged last year.
    Late in the month we will be visiting Kampiringisa youth remand centre in Mpigi

    Please pray for the on going insecurity and protests. Primarily these have been in Kampala but a few of them have spread to up country towns. We have seen a number of "peaceful" protests turn violent with injury and loss of life.

    The region is still seeing high inflation with fuel and basic commodities fast becoming un-affordable for a large % of the population. This is a huge concern in a very poor country. Whereas in most parts of the world inflation may cause adjustment and a degree of hardship, here it can be the difference between survival or starvation. The situation is especially bad in the poorer areas of the city as people do not have land to grow food on so they are forced to buy everything.

   In the midst of a heavy work schedule, stress of insecurity and high cost of living, please pray that the YEA team get enough downtime and rest.

   Please pray for wisdom and guidance as we plan work for the coming months.

   For direction for working in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Karamoja region. Collin plans to make a preliminary visit to meet potential work partners in Karamoja in June, and he will be down in Tanzania again in July. I am in discussion with Paz and other friends in Zimbabwe to do training for youth workers in late October.

Thank you for remembering us and I hope I will see many of you when I come to visit UK in June/July of this year.
God bless
Ian.