;)
Georgina & Solomon Ayagri, Rev. Charles Bameka, and President Noah IsangaAfter 9 and a half years on the Ugandan mission field, missionaries Solomon and Georgina Ayagri are returning to their home in Ghana. Solomon has been an Ablaze! Alliance Missionary from Ghana - funding for his work in Uganda was provided through LCMS World Mission. Solomon and Georgina worked most recently in the Mbarara region of Uganda, in the southwest part of the country. They had a farewell celebration at the dedication of Grace Lutheran Church in Mbarara as well as a special recognition dinner here in Kampala the night before they flew home to Ghana.
Solomon and Georgina first came to Uganda and began work in the Jinja area. They also spent some time in Kampala, before following God's lead to the southwest. They were the pioneering missionaries who brought the Lutheran faith to this southwest area only 6 years ago. ;)
Georgina and Solomon Cut the CakeSince then, God planted 11 congregations in this area through Solomon and Georgina. Twenty lay leaders were raised up in service to those congregation and three men from this area are in Seminary today. Five of the congregations have received permanent church buildings through Solomon's hard work partnering congregations here with LCMS congregations in the United States: Ishongororo, Kemihoko, Ibanda, Kinyamugara, and Grace Lutheran Church - Mbarara. The Mbarara church was the last to be constructed, even though Mbarara was Solomon and Georgina's base of operations for this region.
Solomon and Georgina will be missed as they return to their home in Ghana. As a new missionary to Uganda, I will especially miss their experience, wisdom, and insight into Ugandan culture. We celebrated their service and God's work through them with a party at a local restaurant. Krista baked a cake (always popular - although American cakes are sometimes too sweet for Ugandans). We praise the Lord for their service here and pray that we may somehow continue what God started through them. -Shauen