Count Your Blessings!

I praise God for another year of service in Uganda. During our Thanksgiving meal with some of our missionaries and Ugandan friends, we sang the song, “Count Your Blessings.” As we all sang, we would stop and go around the table and talk about what we were most thankful for. It was awesome hearing the different testimonies of God’s faithfulness and provision. To hear people genuinely praise God for their life….for His protection over them, for His guidance and His safety over them as they travel these crazy roads here in Uganda.

As we close out 2009 I also want to “Count my many blessings…” I want to praise God for each one of you who pray for us. For you, who know how to intercede for us, for the many times you’ve said to me, “I pray for you and your family EVERYDAY!” I rejoice greatly for your willingness to ask God’s Hand to be on our lives and on the people of Uganda. For you petitioning God for the souls of mankind, for you seeking Him on our behalf….there’s no greater joy than to know we are loved and prayed for by you, so thanks for standing in the gap and please keep it up!!

I also want to praise God for each one of you who have sacrificially given to the work here. As I was trying to come up with a new budget for the new year, I went through the list of donors for 2009 and I was overwhelmed by your faithfulness in your giving to us! I know every dollar given to our work here was given out of a genuine love for the Nester family and for the precious people of Uganda. Thank you! I am so blessed by your generosity. I know some of you have fallen on hard times and weren’t able to keep your financial commitments to us, but that’s okay….God Knows what we need and He is Faithful! Let me give you a quick report of what you’ve help accomplish in 2009:

1) We’ve been able to start 38 Bible Schools in Uganda and Kenya

2) We planted a church in our house with over 150 people in attendance! We’ve been able to teach entirely through the books of Romans, Ephesians,

I John and Philippians! (We just started a series through Matthew)

3) We’ve been able to host a Marriage Conference for our missionary community

4) We’ve hosted 3 teams from the US this year (5 teams are on the books for 2010)

5) We were able to purchase a new van for the ministry

6) We’ve been able to start construction on two churches

7) We’ve been able to assist in the Macedonian Project to reach the slums of our town, Jinja

8) We’ve been able to show the JESUS film in a number of villages

9) We’ve helped a number of orphans with school fees and scholastic materials

10) We’ve spoken in 6 Pastors Conferences (training 100’s of pastors in Bible Truth)

11) We’ve spoken in 6 Youth Conferences (training 100’s of youth in Bible Truth)

12) We’ve been able to financially help a number of widows with their upkeep

I mean, the list could go on and on and on….but this just shows some of what your generosity has helped us accomplish in 2009. So, Thank You!!! I count it all joy to serve along side of you! Through your prayers and financial support we are making a difference in East Africa.