At HUMBLE United Methodist School (HUMS) there have been a several wonderful milestones in the last year. All we really celebrate with joy.

We celebrated with great joy our first graduating class. HUMS is a primary school. When opened in 2004 we had children in grades nursery through Primary 4. At the end of 2007 those children who started in Primary 4 all graduated from Primary 7. All of the 16 passed the national Primary Leaving Exams and are now enrolled in an academic/vocational secondary school in Mukono district.

We celebrate that the South Georgia conference is becoming more involved at the conference level with support of HUMS. There has always been some interest and they contributed significantly towards some of the construction but had never really become involved in the operations. Their expressed goal is to be able to support 200 children at HUMBLE and the potential for reaching this goal is great because they are a conference of over 600 churches. But it is a goal, not an absolute and won’t be reached overnight. We do believe their goal will eventually be reached as more and more individual churches establish relationships with the people through their own UMVIM trips. 

Finally, we celebrate that the medical clinic is nearly complete. The structure itself is complete, but it needs finishing inside and out, plumbing, electricity, windows, etc. Once it is completed it will serve not only the children and staff of HUMS but also the local community. 

What does all of this mean? Well most importantly it means that no matter how challenging being in mission in a developing nation can sometimes be - God is doing great things through us and through HUMS as evidenced by the 16 children who have been nurtured, educated and loved at HUMS and now begin their journey through secondary school. 

Practically what does this mean? The Crossroads HUMBLE Call Group is focusing attention on four specific areas:

1 - The continuing education of the 16 children who have completed HUMS

2 - The continuing operations of HUMS and the more than 200 children enrolled

3 - The Medical clinic at HUMS that will serve both HUMS and the community

4 - Annual UMVIM mission trips to continue to connect people at Crossroads with the people and children at HUMS and the Uganda UMC. 

In the past, the accounting of Crossroads funds for Uganda have been in three designated accounts - General, sponsorship and 10K, plus a missionary account where individuals' funds are held for mission trips. 

As we move forward we are asking our donors for permission to be flexible. We don't know yet to what extent South Georgia will be able to contribute to the operations of HUMBLE. We do know that with the expense of secondary schools being more than at the primary level, it will cost about $50,000 annually to support these children through secondary. 

Our first priority was the release of funds for the first term of secondary, which started February 18. Due to the success of the 10K last year we were able to wire the needed funds for all 16 children to be enrolled in Hilton High School in Mukono District. We have received a copy of the operating expenses for HUMS and determining how we will be able to partner with others to continue to support their needs. We are in preliminary conversation about the needs of the clinic - first to complete the structure, then to open and operate it with some paid staff as well as mission staff. 

What the call group commits to do is remain in constant dialogue with the Ugandan leadership to assess each month where the greatest need is for the upcoming month. We have reached out to the South Georgia Conference and will remain in communication with them about the operations of the school. Sometimes the need may be for the operations of HUMBLE school, sometimes it may be that those needs are met and we can send funds for the clinic. 

As always we commit to act with absolute integrity regarding the distribution of our donors' generous gifts. We recently received the positive report from the January audit of HUMBLE School. We have established a rhythm of accountability with the school operations that will be maintained. We have the budget for the completion of the clinic building and are waiting on the clinic operations budget and will establish the same rhythm of accountability as we move into that aspect. We have in hand both the budgets for the operation of HUMBLE School for the 2008 year as well as the budget for sending the secondary students to Hilton Secondary School. 

On February 14, members from the call group traveled to the Virginia United Methodist Church conference offices to meet with Bishop Daniel Wandabula. As Bishop, his duties bring him to the US more often than previously and we have issued him an open invitation for whenever he is here. Although he was not able to schedule any time in Ashburn, he was invited by our own Bishop to visit her and her cabinet (the district superintendents) and graciously made time in his schedule for a meeting with our call group. It was a wonderful opportunity to sit and converse, catch up with our friend, now the Bishop, and learn of many of the exciting things that are happening with the United Methodist Church in Uganda and the other four nations that make up the East Africa Annual Conference. Bishop Daniel endorsed our four focus areas as effective and important ways to be in mission in Uganda. We came away feeling very good about the relationship between Uganda UMC and Crossroads UMC. 

There continues to be a great need for funds at HUMS. Funds will be released each month when we have determined where the need is greatest - HUMS Operations, Clinic construction and operation and secondary students (who we still consider part of the HUMBLE family). 

We are asking our faithful donors to continue their support without a specific designation for one of the three areas but having faith in the call group to be in constant communication to determine the needs. It is at the point when the need is determined that we will designate the funds and release them for that purpose. 

By the way, for our fourth focus, UMVIM mission trips, the church maintains a designated account that does not come from donors but from individuals who plan on traveling on one of the mission trips. Each missionary is responsible for their own expenses, whether they pay it all themselves or find others to sponsor them on the trips. Mission trip expenses are tax deductible for the individual or for someone who sponsors them. 

Finally we hope that everyone who contributes to HUMBLE will continue to be a prayer warrior for a child there. We pray that you continue to hold them close in your hearts and in your prayers.