Starting in June, Uganda experienced another Covid-19 related lockdown. Shops, schools, and churches closed to comply with the government regulations for keeping people safe. Two weeks away from finishing the semester, seminary classes were not able to be completed on campus. Students went home. Pastors and congregations could not gather for worship.

Doesn’t that seem discouraging? We were certainly discouraged. Yet, let us share some good news! The Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU) pastors met with congregational and national church leaders to develop plans. This was not the first Covid-19 lockdown, so pastors had experience on how to best share the Word of God and hope of Jesus Christ under these circumstances.

Pastors in the southwest and eastern side of the country shared the Gospel via the radio. Each Sunday, they connect with people in their heart language through worship and study on the radio. In the eastern and northern regions, pastors and seminary students translated materials into the local languages. The translation assists the pastors in sharing the Gospel in worship and evangelism activities. In the midwestern and eastern regions, they are building a permanent church structure for several congregations. All areas continue to deploy pastors, seminarians and evangelists to meet with congregants and community members one-on-one through door-to-door visits.

Since the end of July, we have been in the United States since we had some scheduled medical appointments. During this time, we have been able to connect with congregations in Colorado and Iowa. Mark traveled to Charter Oak, Iowa, with Mr. Gary Thies from Mission Central to share about the Lord’s work in Uganda at Immanuel Lutheran and St. John Lutheran. Megan flew to Colorado to meet with one of our Together in Ministry partners, Trinity Lutheran in Franktown. We also had the opportunity to travel to the LCMS International Center in St. Louis for a Service of Thanksgiving. The service recognized missionaries retiring from the mission field and sent out new missionaries preparing to deploy to different regions. Three missionary families were retiring from the Africa field, so we were grateful to worship together and support them as they end their term. Please keep them in prayer as the three families transition back to the United States to lead as God calls them. It is a time of transition as the families re-acclimatize to life in the United States. Moving back to the US often involves joy in anticipation of what’s to come and grieving relationships and ministry from their country of service.

Even though it is challenging not to be in Uganda this summer, we are thankful we get the opportunity to visit with congregations that have steadily walked with us through prayer and financial support these past five years.

Why were we ever discouraged? The Lord has a mighty plan to continue the growth of His church. Even with the challenges, the Lord provides for his people. We thank God for continuing the work of his church in Uganda through the hands of the LCU.

Mark and Megan Mantey serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as career missionaries in Uganda. Mark serves as the project manager for the seminary, and Megan is the seminary’s instructor of Christian education and counseling. You can follow their work at www.facebook.com/MissionMindedManteys.