The Folkestad Kids…

These past few months have really flown by! The kids are really enjoying their summer break (which kid doesn’t?). We have had more time for family outings and outreach to a nearby school. This school is predominately muslim and was a little hesitant to let a Christian in to teach the bible. The head teacher met Faith and Maci the first week and it helped bridge the gap between our beliefs. Each week has gotten better and several weeks ago many of the children received salvation.

As a missionary kid, life can have it’s ups and downs. At times it can be very exciting meeting new people, having them around all the time, sights and sounds. At other times it can be lonely, quiet and as a family we really have to ask the Lord to help us be creative in what we can do to keep us all mentally and emotionally stimulated. Here is a brief update on the kids and what they have been up to lately to keep themselves busy.  The kids are currently in a home school co-op on Fridays and are really enjoying it.

Maci has swimming, book club and baking. Her favorite class is baking( mom is the teacher:) She is a real saver lately. She saves all her chore money and refuses to spend it. She has the most money in the house and we are constantly asking to borrow it from her. She is becoming a little banker. We found her a drawing book today at a flea market and she loves it. We also scored on some acrylic paints for the girls.

Faith is enjoying reading these days. She devours a book in several hours. She loves to play with the little kids and is so responsible. She really has a heart for the Lord and a sensitivity to His spirit. At co-op she is in drama, book club and baking. She also loves taking pictures and drawing. She found a picture of an African girl and is drawing her face. It is turning out really nice.

 

 

Noah – oh he’s so fun these days. It doesn’t take much to excite him. He is in to collecting weird odds and ends. He is obsessed with wanting to buy wooden bowls and knick knacks. We went to a market today and he brought his chore money. He also scored some money for losing his front tooth(which makes him even cuter!) He was with me one moment today then disappeared and came back proudly holding a wooden box he had purchased with his own money. It was a cigar box:) he was so proud!! He payed way too much for it but I couldn’t burst his bubble. He has been making envelopes to go on everyone’s doors so we can give each other mail. He is also currently writing a short story on my computer titled, ” The search for the secret key.” He just told me before bed that he couldn’t wait to write tomorrow. 🙂 Lastly, we found a tiny little hole in the wall library with kids books a half hour away, so every other Thursday we travel there to get him five new books to check out. He thinks it’s so cool.

I’m really enjoying our kids!
-Michelle Folkestad

Folkestads are back…in Uganda.

Round Two

We’re back in Africa, which means we have to find time for blogging.  We’ve created a new blog as our current host is revamping their website.

It’s been refreshing to be back in Africa.  The Ugandans as always are very welcoming. The location of our home in Zzana is a very peaceful. We quickly grew accustom to the call of prayer from a nearby mosque. Now that we’re back to something we’ve already started, we are ready to push forward. In the past three weeks I’ve traveled all over Uganda to conduct different projects. There is no denying the need is great in Uganda.  The question for us is where is God calling us to plant His Word deep? Our whole family had the opportunity  to visit an area east of Kampala called Kayunga. This area has a real need for ministry. You can watch this video to find out more about the region.

I was excited to find an airstrip only twenty minutes from this piece of land.

Yet another puzzle peice God added to my mission in Africa. A pilots license. Why? How? Where will God have me travel to? Who does He want to add to His kingdom? I think its the not knowing that excites me the most. To think of how far God has brought me and my family, and what He has allowed us to go through….at times it’s overwhelming. Well, next week I’m taking a license conversation test to get my Ugandan pilot’s license.

My family and I are diving into the language of Luganda. With classes four times a week. The tribal language is becoming a fluid hymm to our ears. The best part is when you know what a Ugandan is saying (about yourself typically) and they have no clue that you can understand. Just attempting to be more like the people your called to serve earns you a lot of respect here in Uganda. To help them feel important, to validate their culture and traditions. Once they realize you’re not here to change them, doors begin to open.

My vision for a long-term mission in Uganda is to disciple those who are truly called to follow Him. Once we are established in a village I have a hope to start a school of ministry for young adults, and a retreat center for church leaders throughout Uganda. We will continue to keep the body posted as God continues to weave us into His people.
-Jason

 

Photo Album

Posted October 2, 2014

Click the image below to check out our Africa photo album!

Edgewater Uganda: Tanzania

Posted September 16 2013

17 days

3 countries

3 languages

3 currencies

100 +/-  hours of driving

6,200 kilometers

to fellowship with good friends, explore East Africa, and witness God’s love through those living in poverty. Our trip to Tanzania will forever be tale to tell around the dinner table. With over 2 hours of footage to pan through it may take some time to put together a proper video. But here is a quick look…

 

Faiths Video: Kids in Uganda

Kids are a huge part of our lives here in Uganda. Even as I write this we have fifteen boys in the front hanging from our avocado tress.

ECF asked for a kids video and Faith replied…

God is not Boring

Leadership Training Graduation

Posted May 24, 2014

It has been such a blessing to witness the passion God has equipped these leaders with.  Africa has a bad reputation for false Teachers, Prophets and Pastors. And it is rightfully rumored.  As you walk the streets of Kampala and it’s suburbs, you’ll have no choice but notice the many churches that line the streets. The majority of these church-starters so called Pastors have decided to open a church for one reason…money. When this occurs, that is exactly what their ministry is founded on. Because of this I’ve witnessed a lot of failure among the church community. So when God gave me the desire to start dissecting these churches and analyzing their foundation I knew I had a very large work a head of me. For the past six months I have been training over 90 Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Apostles, Doorkeepers and Leaders. The foundation of my teachings is based on Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

We all know what it is says in the book of Matthew about ” the first being last, and the last being first”, but do we really live it? The average African Pastor does not. A bold, but very true statement to make.  So when teaching of the Pastors role among the church, I felt led to lay out the ground work starting with what it says in Mathew 20:27  -And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. This is a hard verse for any Pastor to absorb, especially if you’re trying to determine whether or not you should follow the calling put on your life. This verse can easily throw a detour sign in your face subconsciously. So I knew I needed to start with it, and God surely moved like the wind when that verse was read out loud.  Some being knocked to the floor, others easily and humbly standing as God pierced their hearts.

 

I have held two separate terms, each running a length of three months. We began looking at 1 Corinthians and what Paul had to say concerning The Body of Christ. The church being the body, we were able to lay the Ugandan Church along side what the bible states about the body, the parts of that body and who is overseeing that body.

 

When truth showed itself through God’s Word, most of the students were blow out of the water. The African view towards the church is the uplifting of the golden calf……or the Senior Pastor. But as we looked at what the bible said of every individuals role within the church we found –  ”the first is last and last is first.”  This verse is the ideal indication of what the world sees as it looks into the church. It sees the Pastor high up on the pulpit wearing his or her 300,000 Schilling suit, sitting in the front seat with their backs turned on the congregation; meanwhile the  world views the doorkeepers (ushers) serving and immediately places them at the bottom of the totem pole. Nowhere in the world’s view are you witnessing Christ move. Simply because they are blind to what the Spirit is doing, and this has made its way into the African church.

Typically I would end the last twenty minutes of each class with a time of discussion.  This is where the Spirit would move in me. The questions, the responses, the transparency, the wrestling matches. I have never been so stretched spiritually. And it felt good. Because after being stretched and ripped, I would heal and become spiritually stronger. I came here to “save Africa”. There are times when the Lord tells me, “I sent you there, so Africa could save you.”  Teaching so many so often has not been easy, but it has been refreshing.

 

 

At the end of the six months, on May 11 of 2014 we were able to throw a celebration for the students who have decided to not just lead the churches of Africa, but to be led by Jesus Christ in Africa. The day was a Sunday and it fell on Mother’s Day; which is not really acknowledged as a holiday in Uganda.  But we wanted to make an effort to celebrate the mothers at the same time; so Faith and Maci greeted those entering the graduation and blessed all mothers with a rose on Mothers Day.

handing out certificates

Certificates of education in Africa are commendable and appreciated. Pursuing any avenue of education, at any age can be expensive. So when I explained to them that the class I was holding was free, many leaders jumped at the opportunity.  The majority would travel great distances to attend class. It was an honor to issue certificates to such a group. The evening was a true blessing.

Folkestad first safari

A great camping trip at Lake Mburo. Kids are in love with Africa!

Excel Christian Center: Kubowa Slums

Posted Marched 20th 2013