Dear Friend of Bunyoro-Kitara,

As we enter into this New Year we send you greetings; and we pray that each one of you and your entire family have a wonderfully blessed and prosperous 2007.

Before I get into the main reason for this e-mail I would like to bring you all up to date on something that I mentioned in my last e-mail.

On this past Monday morning, I went by to visit with Sharon, the little girl who was broken up so badly by her stepmother, with three good friends who are currently visiting with us from Pittsburgh. As you know we have almost been smothered with blessings from our Lord and Savior through out this wonderful season. However, when we arrived at Sharon's new home I received the cherry on top of all of our Lord's earlier blessings. Sharon was able to walk out under her own power with no assistance to visit with us. Actually it was more of an awkward shuffle, and it was a little painful to see the amount of effort that she had to put into keeping her balance by carefully sliding her feet along the ground, but her enormous smile and her incredible joy at being able to move about under her own power soon filled all of us with awe and wonder. We really do have an Awesome God!

Now I will try to explain the real purpose of this e-mail. During our last Diocesan Synod Bp. Nathan recommended to the leaders of our Diocese that 2007 be dedicated to all of our children through out Bunyoro-Kitara. The recommendation was overwhelmingly adopted by our entire Synod and 2007 will now be recognized by all of Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese as "The Year of the Child". As a result, last Friday, the 6th of January, Bishop Nathan kicked off the Bunyoro-Kitara Year of the Child with Children's prayer march through the entire town of Hoima, which ended up at the Bishop's home in Duhaga where there were numerous speeches, a feast for all and a children's singing and dancing recital where seven of our different Parish Children's Sunday Schools were given the opportunity of performing for the huge crowd that was in attendance (Bp. Nathan estimated the crowd at over 1,800 children and adults).

Many St. Peter's Cathedral Sunday School kids began arriving at Grace House before 7:00 in the morning to make certain that they did not miss the march; and by 9:00 am, when the lorries arrived to take them in to Town Church, there were well over 100 kids eagerly anticipating the big day that lay ahead. When we arrived at Town Church over 700 kids were already beginning to form up by Parish and the air was electric with anticipation.

The march began at about 10:30 and was escorted by one of our Hoima motorcycle policeman and it was truly a wonderful sight to see. The line of marchers, which was well over two blocks long, was led by Bp. Nathan, his wife Peace, a large number of our own Diocesan Clergy and many of our local Christians. Throughout the course of march, which covered nearly four miles, the marchers stopped at numerous locations to pray for 2007. Some of the prayer stops were:

1. The Light Broadcasting Service (A local FM radio station)
2. The Lord is My Shepherd filling station (Kabagambe)
3. The Hoima Police Station
4. The Hoima Regional Referral Hospital
5. The Hoima Resident District Commissioners Office
7. The Hoima Radio Station (our 2nd FM radio station)
8. The Residence of the King of Bunyoro-Kitara

By the time we finally arrived back in Duhaga at the Bishop's Home, where the crowd was personally welcomed by their hosts Bishop Nathan and Peace, the crowd had grown to over 1,800 excited and clamoring kids and supporters.

The Bishop, Peace, their family and most of our Diocesan Staff had worked long and hard to make certain that all of the preparations had been made to receive and care for the huge crowd that we all prayed would come. Please know that all of the hard work and planning that went into this huge effort was most certainly blessed by the Lord and all had an utterly fantastic time.

1. The Bishop and various community and Church leaders all had an opportunity to talk directly with the kids.
2. There was much singing and praising.
3. A group of local professional musicians and singers preformed for the crowd.
4. All shared in a feast that had been prepared by the Mothers Union Vocational Training Center.
5. And best of all, to me at least, seven of our different Parish Sunday Schools had an opportunity to perform before the huge crowd of eager spectators. It was absolutely SUPERCALIFRAGLISTICEXPELADOSIOUS!!!!

Additionally, on behalf of Bishop Nathan and Peace I would like to let you all know that this, first time ever Children's march and celebration received the overwhelmingly support and cooperation of our entire community. In addition to marching with us and attending the celebration at the bishop's house many members of our community gave generously to make it possible. For example:

1. The tents were freely offered.
2. The bag of rice was freely offered.
3. The Brass Band led the way for no charge what ever.
4. The IGMS singers performed for no charge.
5. The Mothers Union Vocational Center cooked all of the food for no charge.
6. The Hoima Radio Station provided all of the advertising for no charge

The Diocese however spent over 500,000 of its own scarce resources on this function; however, when we realize that the total cost of this wonderful occasion cost over 4,000,000 when you add in the cost of all of the donated support and gifts that were so freely given, you can plainly see that our Lord's Holy Spirit touched hundreds of our people to accomplish what was surely His Own Special Plan.

Bishop Nathan has also asked me to let you know that Diocesan plans are currently being finalized for this years Children's celebration to be repeated through out the entire Diocese at the Parish and Archdeaconry level in January 2008 and hence fourth annually.