Mountain of Glory Church in Gede

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 because they were created in the image of God gives them the courage and desire to try to break free.

For example, in Uganda women use a broom that requires that they bend at the waist all the way to the ground to sweep. As a result the mindset is that unless you are bending to the ground you are not really working. Yet women in Kenya added a handle to that same broom which does not require such strain. Why? Because they were able to identify a problem, visualize a solution, and then make that solution a reality. The example is simple but life-changing…just ask any American woman how she’d like to bend to the ground to sweep her patio or driveway.

Pr Daniel Kadenge graduated from Bible School in a Briefcase in Watamu about two years ago. He invited Surprised by Hope to teach a sampling of the Entrepreneurship series workshops as a teaser for a bigger workshop after the new year. Initially, the participants were few but as the days progressed the number almost doubled.

We spent a considerable bit of time helping the group develop an understanding of what it means to generate an idea in their mind and then translate that idea into reality. Although the concept was difficult to grasp at first, I believe we planted some good seeds that they’ll harvest before we return for the bigger conference. 

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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 in the church at large and am thankful for his leadership and wise counsel in these churches.

Invited to participate in a ladies conference in April, thank you Lord.

Pastor Owino is also a 2010 Bible School in a Briefcase graduate at Grace Abundance Church in Watamu. Pastor Owino hosted the Entrepreneurship series workshops just over a year ago and I distinctly remember addressing the idea of church differentiation. From that lesson, Pastor Owino realized just how gifted he was in the area of evangelism and thus sought to focus his efforts through the church in this area. As a result he is constantly holding revivals, crusades, and the like thereby helping more people come to know Jesus through this gifting.

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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 foray into missions. I saw Randy a few times after that trip during my visits to that group of people I love so much and he never failed to mention the importance of my eating grits. Well, Randy…this one’s for you.

My dearest and oldest friend in Uganda, Augustine and his new wife Angela, are so welcoming when I visit them, wherever they are. It was during one visit that Angela served porridge (grits). I immediately thought of friend Randy and gritted my teeth in order to swallowed it down. If I can eat goat, I can eat grits. What? Wait…yum!  Randy went to be with Jesus not long ago and I never got to tell him about my happy discovery and so this is my little tribute to him.

Augustine and Angela had their first “supposed to be a boy” baby a few weeks ago and I’d set this specific Randy-like dolly boy aside for that tiny one whose maama served me my first yummy grits. But when they said “it’s a girl” I thought…it figures...this dolly is a boy with bib overalls and a bit of a tummy. Still, Randy Rann…I know you’re with Jesus now but I want you to know that you made a forever impact on my life. I love you and miss you and some tiny memory lives on in the arms of this new little life.

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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 footings and laid its cornerstone.
• I shut the sea behind doors. I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in darkness. I fixed limits for it and set the doors and bars in place.
• Who cut a channel for the rain or a path for the thunderstorm? Who father’s the drop of dew?
• From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost?
• Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind?

How Small We Are

• Have you given orders to the morning or shown the dawn its place?
• Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
• Have you seen the gates of death?
• Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
• Do you know where darkness resides?
• Have you entered the storehouses of snow or hail?
• How do you get to the place where lightening is dispersed or where the winds are scattered over the earth?
• Can you bind Pleiades? Can you bring forth constellations in their seasons?
• Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with water? Do you send lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you?
• Do you hunt prey for the lioness or provide food for the raven?
• Do you know when the animals give birth or when the young grow and thrive?
• Is the wild ox content to serve you?
• Does the eagle soar at your command?

You can read the rest for yourself. As for me, I am in awe of God’s power and presence over everyday life. Not one question to Job can be answered favorably by him…or by me. Not one single question.

And so...if God laid the foundations of the earth, and we cannot know one single thing about which he asks, can’t we have faith that he’ll move our mountains?

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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 been FRIED, let alone the 3 hour ride we had.

Agnes, this woman I love and admire so very much, came running when I arrived at my little mud hut. Such a joy to witness true sacrificial service to the Lord. The 12 hour journey along with a residual cough rendered me exhausted and so Agnes fed me well and sent me to bed. My normal sleeping habits are rather poor – four to five hours – but this night I slept in my cozy hut for 12 hours without waking.

Beginning at 11 am, the graduation ceremony was fully packed by 1:00. As is the custom in Uganda, various speeches and performances rendered small cash tokens donated for school development. I took the opportunity to remind people that God’s economy is like a river (never ending abundance) rather than a cake (finished when the last piece is gone). I reminded them that faith means believing that we can give it all away and that God will still take care of our needs…sometimes even more plentifully than we had before we gave it all away. And the people gave…

As the guest of honor, a position that felt very awkward in this community where I’ve many friends, my speech making was scheduled for last. I took the opportunity to tell the story of the shoes – this time the story was entitled Little Black Shoes. The school shoes illustrated the difference between the life of a child with a Christian education and the life of a child without a Christian education. The simple illustration helped people see the value and need for specifically Christian education particularly given that so many parents are ill equipped to teach their children from home.

We discussed the various people who have an influence on children and their Christian education (parents, community leaders, church leaders, those gifted by the Spirit, and mature Christians).

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).

We discussed the content of a Christian education (Law of God, general wisdom, fear of the Lord, and knowledge of Jesus).

“My purpose for writing is that…they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

We discussed the purpose of a Christian education (impart information, inspire trust and obedience, inspire wisdom, holy living, and preparation for adulthood).

“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless…” (Proverbs 2:6).

I believe that people resonated with these admonitions in that they can see these results in the children who attend Victory Nursery and Primary School. I thank God for Pastor Patrick’s faithfulness to teach the children the traditional academics alongside biblical principles for holy living. His small school is making a difference in this community and I covet your prayers that he would continue to be encouraged to follow the vision God gave him about helping these children.

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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 our knowledge and understanding of the teaching-ministry material. These six apprentice facilitators are either teachers at Christian schools or pastors and so investing in their growth and development serves to strengthen an already solid spiritual base for both Surprised by Hope and for their own professional careers.

Our meeting was one filled with fellowship and learning. We all left feeling relationally closer to one another and strengthened in the Lord. I thank God for Pr George, Pr Fred, Pr Ephantus, teacher Vickie, teacher Alone, and business student Alex. Of course we can travel wherever needed but we now have apprentice-facilitators whose reach extends to Northern, Eastern, and Central Uganda as well as coastal Kenya. Please pray that God would continue to provide for our needs as we grow and that he would bless these men and women for their investment in his Kingdom – pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

(I reminded myself at least a dozen times to take a picture…and then promptly forgot. Boo!)

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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 school for the children in his area? As a result of what he learned about asset-based development, he began making bricks on a small plot of land his family owns near his home. He’s selling the faster than he can make them.

Another man remembered my comment about portion size and the ability of the community to pay for larger portions. As a result he takes even the smallest items – Christmas streamers, body oil, laundry soap, and the like – and makes them available for sale in smaller portions. Such small portions allows those who have only 100 shillings to purchase what they need for the day.

 

An old woman and a young woman each saw the need for a small shop near a hospital. Both opened their own shops by starting with small quantities of plastics. Now they’re offering a wide variety of items to the local community.

The stories go on, though the ability to visit all the projects and show them all in pictures was limited. I’m so thankful to see that the content of our workshop is effective and that the people here are seeing results. God is faithful!

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Pastor Geoffrey, Ex-Prisoner

Friend Jonathon with Andrew, Geoffrey, and John
in 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 but for a much shorter stay. I easily remembered that bright smile, though.

A few of you invested in Geoffrey’s Bible school education and I want you to know that the teachers at that school had so much faith in his abilities as a pastor that they established this church for him. It may only be four sticks and a few iron sheets, but we all know a church is its people.

Carpenter John and I had a wonderful time in prayer and fellowship with these men and are so thankful for what the Lord has done in their lives. As always, John’s influence is long lasting…and so is yours. Our prayers do not go unheard. Please continue praying that they would stay close to the Lord and that they continue to be strong against all temptation.

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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 the room, mostly sitting on the floor, as they enjoyed their rice and bean lunchtime. But once they were finished they knew what was in store.

After a three-sentence lesson about giving thanks – with emphasis on giving thanks BEFORE we receive what we ask for – the kids dug into shading their picture. I watched as the various children exhibited differing levels of skill but each making progress as they learn. Most pointedly, LoHire was coloring perfectly inside the lines. All the adults remarked at the shift in this tiny tot from barely making a scribble to full out shading inside the lines.

But where was this masterpiece when we finished? I wanted to show you before and after proof. Instead LoHire decided she wanted to keep her art and hid it away somewhere that even Michael couldn’t find. Ooo…that girl is smart as a whip!

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