By Nevaless Masika, Kasese, Uganda (December 2013)- I want to thank the UCE founders for what they have done for Kasese, Uganda. One day at church, I heard an announcement that all the youth should meet together as we would be hosting the UCE team from Kampala. I attended these talks and after the talks I chose to sign a chastity commitment card. Before I heard the UCE message, I had had a boyfriend who was married. I thought that I needed him to support me financially. After signing the commitment card, I left that man completely. I started a new journey of abstinence and the whole of me changed. I changed in terms of prayer. My behavior changed. My life changed, and I took opportunities to join church activities. Specifically, I joined the Legion of Mary and became a pastoral consultant. I began to share my story with young people, and talk to them about how abstinence until marriage was the best choice for the whole of one’s life.
I then become a consultant within the Legion of Mary on how to abstain and live up to that promise. I gained courage, and I could share with them freely. After some time, the UCE program came to Kasese to start a new branch. I jumped at the chance to join the team, and received UCE outreach training. I started to volunteer with UCE Kasese where I found my husband, Francis, who was searching for an abstaining girl. So he saw me and my qualities and how I was committed to abstaining. I told him that we must wait until we are married before we engage in sex, and he was satisfied with that answer. We waited until 28/09/2013, when we were married in the church by Fr. Peter Masereka, who also serves as the UCE programs coordinator in Kasese. So far so good!
My humble request to young people is to be yourself, abstain first and achieve your goals. If you’re still in school concentrate on studying. After school, set other goals. Goals for your faith, health, and life, should be first. Then other things will follow as you want them. God will always bless you when you keep your body pure because your body is his temple. We do not want Him to live in a dirty temple. Remember though that he forgives us, and even if we did not know of His way, we can change. He can purify us. God will call us home to live a blessed life with Him.
Francis and Nevaless on their wedding day 
Nevaless teaching a UCE Chastity Club