Dear Praying Friends & Family--

 Last week while in the capital city of Kampala, we got another crash course on cultural adaptation!  Upon arrival, we went to the U. S. Embassy to pickup Emilie's new passport as well as her Consular's Report of Birth Abroad (equivalent to a U. S.-issued birth certificate). From there we went to a supermarket across the street from the Embassy to pickup a few items.  After locking the car and spending 20 minutes in the store, we returned to the car to find that the driver's side lock had been forced and two bags were stolen: the diaper bag and our bag for money, documents, etc.  All four of our passports, Emilie's CRBA, Dan's Ugandan driver's license, a credit card, our check book, as well as photocopies of other personal information were among the items stolen.  As disheartening as that event was, there are many things for which we are very thankful:

 - Our passports were taken, not our children.

- None of us were harmed -- it was a theft, not a mugging.

- We had not yet gone to the bank for our month's support, so only about $60 worth of cash was taken.

- Amie had packed a second bag (which was not taken) with additional bibs, cups, bottles, etc. for the kids in addition to what was in the diaper bag.

- Since the U. S. Embassy had just issued us Emilie's passport, they had photocopies on file of all but Abbie's passport & information.

- Within 12 hours, our banks had closed our old accounts, issued new account numbers, and ordered replacement checks & cards.

- Within 24 hours, the U. S. Embassy had added our old passports to the fraud database, and we had completed the paperwork and paid the fees for new ones.

- Within 48 hours, we had new door locks and a car alarm installed at a very good price.

- Within one week, our new checks and cards have been received in Tennessee and should be here in Uganda within one more week.

 As we were waiting for the police to arrive, Abbie began singing "This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."  With the reminder that all that we have is God's, we remember that it was God's car that was broken into. His bags were stolen. Now Amie's passport will no longer be in her maiden name which will make completing our immigration process easier.  Now our passports will expire at the same time instead of one of us one year, another a couple years later, etc.  Now our vehicle is even more secure for the streets of Uganda.  Just as before, He keeps us in His hands.  Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.

  For Souls in Uganda,

 Dan, Amie, Abbie & Emilie Dwire

www.TellAfrica.com

Dwires@bimi.org or Dwires@TellAfrica.com

Dear Praying Friends and Family--

We are preparing to send out our regular prayer letter in the next few days, but wanted to update you on the status of our container.  It has arrived in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.  We are going down today anticipating that we will be clearing it through customs on Friday or Saturday at the latest.  How smoothly this process goes is largely determined by the mood of the customs agent assigned to us.  PLEASE PRAY that God would provide a customs agent who is not corrupt or antagonistic toward Americans or missionaries.  Over the last few months, some missionaries who arrived had to unload about a third to half of their container.  Others were required only to remove a few items from the front, verify that those items had been declared, and the container was approved.  Our prayer is that this would be our experience, and that we would be able to be a witness and testimony both to the government customs officials and those from the shipping company that are assisting us in clearing the container.

We do not take your prayers for us for granted.  We know that God is able even to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.  Thank you for your partnership with us as we reach Uganda with the Gospel.

For Souls in Uganda,

Dan, Amie, and Abbie Dwire

dwires@bimi.org

www.TellAfrica.com

 Dear Praying Friends and Family--

 Two rapid weeks of hot Ugandan winds:

More Ugandan souls repenting of their sins.

National Christians actively seeking souls to win:

What a joy to see God work through us and within.

 We have just a few more weeks until the rainy season begins.  This will bring lower temperatures and higher mosquito populations!  We have all had the sniffles the last couple of days so we all took a nap this afternoon.  When we woke up to get ready for church this evening, it was in the upper 90s in our bedroom.  I am still trying to figure out how we got a cold when the temperatures are in the 90s and 100s??

Let us begin by bringing you up to date on the last two weeks:  Last weekend during the weekly visitation time, Dan was able to go out with one of the young men that work at the radio station to visit another young man that had visited the church the previous Sunday when Dan preached.  As is often the case, the young man was not home, but had gone back to his village (about a half hour away) for a few days.  His father was visiting from the village, however, and asked what we had come to tell his son.  Over the next 30-40 minutes, we had the opportunity to share the gospel with this older man and answer many of his questions about Christ's death on the cross.  While he did not trust Christ that day, he did promise to attend the church services with his son the next time they were both in the city on Sunday.  That same day, Amie and Debbie Guimon visited two young ladies who had also visited the church.  Praise the Lord for these two who trusted Christ as their Savior!  Sunday morning, they were at church and before the entire congregation professed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.  That same Sunday morning (last Sunday) another man who has been attending the church for over 3 years came to the services early so that he could accept Christ as his Savior before the morning service even began.  That made the service quite exciting.  Last Sunday evening, five of the children from the orphanage who have been saved followed the Lord in believer's baptism.  Tonight, seven more were obedient in baptism.  Also, the Muslim boy who visited two weeks ago has been continuing to visit on Sunday mornings.  Please pray that he will know the truth of God's Word that salvation is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

 This past week was a busy one, but, then again, aren't they all?  We are working to finish the house we are renting so that we can move in as soon as our container arrives.  Most of the tile flooring is down and the plumbers finished connecting our water filter system so we will have safe drinking water.  Dan is trying to apply the carpentry skills he has learned from his dad by building the kitchen cabinets.  Somehow dad's didn't seem to take so long to build.... As of Friday, our container was still about 3 weeks away from coming.  They also told us it could come sooner, and may take longer.  Answers like that don't instill a lot of confidence in their estimates.  While we would love to have our container soon, we know it is in God's hands, and He will get it here in His timing. 

On this past Friday, we did enjoy a break from the busy-ness of the week and went about an hour away to the city of Mbale to Andrew and Jacky Stensaas' home.  They invited us and three other families in the area over for a cookout and time of fellowship. The men went to the nearest golf course where we attempted to play 9 holes.  Since it was a best-ball competition, the score card didn't keep a permanent record of all of the embarrassing attempts to move a little white ball across hundreds of yards of what is supposed to be grass.  You know the golfing is bad when the highlights of the first three holes is that we had hit one cow on the horn and one goat on the hind leg.  When the golf course only charges 60-cents for a round of golf, it is easier to understand why they have to use livestock for lawnmowers.  I'm still not sure if our golfing skills were worth the 60-cents, but the time of fellowship with other missionaries was invaluable.

 This morning during Sunday School and church, Dan observed the children's ministries since we will be overseeing them for a couple of months after Phyllis Hall returns for furlough later this spring.  It was exciting to see all the children listening intently to the Bible story, and to see the Bible Institute students helping with in that ministry. Amie stayed in the ladies' Sunday School class and in the morning service.  In Sunday School one of the nationals gave testimony of her opportunities yesterday to share the gospel with some ladies in the hospital. In the morning service, Pastor Twase preached a great message and the Holy Spirit drew at least two people to come make decisions for Christ at the end of the service. 

We are excited to see God working through us to reach the Ugandan people with the gospel and to help Christians to grow.  God also continues to teach us and to work in our hearts through everything from our quiet time with Him to those moments that can only be described as "cultural adaptation."  Before the end of the month, we hope to have our house ready to move into.  We will also have a 2-day field conference with all the other BIMI-Uganda missionaries.  Dan starts teaching in the Bible Institute the day after the field conference, and the following week a construction team from South Carolina comes to put the roof on one of the orphanage buildings.  We truly appreciate your prayers for us as we endeavor to make a difference here in the lives of the East African people.

 For Souls in Uganda,

 Dan, Amie, and Abbie Dwire

Dear Praying Friends and Family--

Thank you for your prayers for us as we make the adjustments to Uganda.  Dan is adjusting to the Ugandan method of pouring a concrete slab.  In two days we have poured 117 of 250 50kg bags of Portland cement combining each with 4 wheelbarrows of stone and 2 wheelbarrows of sand.  The finished mix is wheelbarrowed up a ramp to pour the second floor of one of the orphanage buildings here in Soroti.  We have told Dr. Kyle Guimon, one of the missionaries we are working with, that he must be determined to help Dan lose the "Deputation-20" pounds that he gained!  Dan is also working out some of the issues at the radio station.  The station is now at an appropriate sound level and is staying on the air all day long most days now.  Praise the Lord for the privilege of being involved in such a ministry that is bringing the gospel to literally hundreds of thousands of people in Northeast Uganda.  Amie had the opportunity today to go with Jewel Wright, one of the missionary wives here in Soroti who is also a nurse, to view and make plans for the medical clinic that is nearing completion.  Once opened, the medical clinic will expand our ability to minister here in Soroti. Even without a finished clinic, Amie still was able to perform physicals on 6 orphans here in Soroti, and tonight encountered her first patient with a snake bite!  If we ever write a book, this week's events would be included in the chapter titled, "What they don't teach you in College or Candidate School."  This past Saturday was our first opportunity to go out during the scheduled visitation time for the Soroti Independent Baptist Church.  While we did not see any trust Christ during that time, we were encouraged to see many visitors at church on Sunday as a result of the visits on Saturday. Thank you for praying with us as we continue to adjust to living and ministering in Uganda.

For Souls in Uganda,

Dan & Amie Dwire

P.S.  Please pray for the family of Jim Henry, a BIMI CLAIM Missionary out of Dan's parent's church near Chattanooga.  While in the country of Panama this past weekend, Jim and his wife Jennifer were involved in a serious car accident in which God called Jim home.  Jennifer is still recovering in Panama where their two small children and Jim's parents also were visiting.  We know that God makes no mistakes and praise Him that we know Jim is now in a much better place, but we do grieve the loss of Jim and pray for these friends of ours as they cope with his absence.