Developing the ability for abstract conceptualization was
the motivation behind The Art and Science of Thinking workshop. Under educated
people often find it difficult to be creative, to generate ideas, and then to
transfer those ideas to something that becomes real. This skill is essential to
helping people break out of their present circumstances. Further, that people
realize they have this ability...
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Visiting Friends on the Coast
Pastor Tsofa is a 2010 Bible School in a Briefcase graduate
and bishop of Jesus Gathering Center churches. His own church is in Watamu and
I surprised him and his family with a visit. Then he surprised me with the
opportunity to preach. I so enjoyed my time with him and his church leaders in
the Marereni area last September. We had several opportunities to talk about
the various joys and struggles...
Monday, December 9, 2013
A Dolly for Agatha from Randy
Randy Rann is one of the first characters I met during my very
first mission trip to Nome, Alaska. I say character because…well…he was a
character. Red haired, big bellied, and gentler than a teddy bear. His life’s
mission during our time together became convincing me to eat grits. Randy came
from Beaverdam Baptist Church in South Carolina and that whole group who
befriended me during that first...
Faith Rises!
Sometimes we need a booster shot of faith, don’t we? I love
reading the story of Job when I feel a bit weak in the knees. Chapters 38-41
inspire me to a level of faith I simply can’t keep to myself. Two points surface:
1) God is big, and 2) we are small. Ya, I know…simplistic. But sometimes that’s
exactly what we need…down to earth, practical, applicable wisdom.
How Big is God
I laid the foundations of the earth. I marked
off its dimensions. I stretched a measuring line across it. I set the...
Victory Nursery School Graduation
My travel to Barrio Lira was relatively uneventful. Though
at one point we paused for about an hour to unload the “tipper” of its cement
baggage. Yes, about 30 people rode atop this tipper along with a few chickens,
my box of Bibles, some lumber, and several kilo of salt. Never have I been so
grateful to use my white skin as an excuse to ride in the cab. Thirty minutes
in this sun and I would have...
Team Development Meeting
Demand for the teaching ministry offered by Surprised by
Hope far exceeds our capacity and so for the past six months or so we’ve been
inviting select East African’s to join with us in facilitating portions of the Entrepreneurship
series of workshops. Apart from this individual learning, we need to increase
team building and training opportunities so that we can expand our reach beyond
only my own ability.
The six apprentice-facilitators met to get to know one
another and to work on developing...
Testimonies from Kamlui
Pastor Semitimba invited me to return to Kamuli for the
specific purpose of hearing all that God has done in the lives of those who attended
our entrepreneurship workshops a few months ago. I love hearing the
testimonies, but I have to admit his group has the largest application rate and
the success has been transformational in so many families.
Recall the man who desperately wanted to build a...
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Pastor Geoffrey, Ex-Prisoner
Friend Jonathon with Andrew, Geoffrey, and Johnin front of their new church
The boda driven by Carpenter John pulled into the beautiful
church yard where we found Geoffrey and Andrew anxiously awaiting our arrival.
You may remember
Geoffrey from Bugembe Prison. He was the tailoring teacher who, when
released, began attending Bible school to become a pastor. Andrew was at
Bugembe at the same time...
Smart as a Whip!
Spending Thanksgiving Day with the children at The Sanctuary
Babies Home – now called Sanctuary Children’s Home – was a joy. I love the warm
welcome these kids offer and I love getting to know the little ones who are now
becoming big.
The children were never so quiet as when I arrived this day.
Why? They were eating. My goodness, you could have heard a pin drop. The
children were sprawled around...
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