Mountain of the Moon

Shouting over one another is seldom a problem with the mild mannered, soft spoken Ugandans. But Bishop Hannington raised up these pastors to be go-getters and so I could hardly contain them as they shouted out answers and ideas during our entrepreneurship exercises. More than 25 pastors and a few school teachers gathered at Mt Zion Church in Bundibugyo, about 20 km from the Congolese border. They had the goal of learning more about how to expand their pastoral services to those in their church by developing themselves and their churches financially.

We use simple but relevant exercises designed to awaken creative and critical thinking skills, and these people went to town. Every pastor had so many ideas to share I had to explain that we couldn’t’ get to everyone but if they arrived on time tomorrow we’d have more time for more people to share. The subtle message being that we didn’t arrive on time today and so lost the opportunity to allow everyone to participate. Oh the joys of culture.

I’m always sad when the time of teaching ministry comes to an end because I feel like we’ve just gotten started. This group is particularly quick in learning and I hated to leave them only half finished. But I know the challenge to return to their homes and churches and apply what they’ve learned until I return again to add more teaching will not go unmet.

Thanking the Lord for the connection to this Bishop and his pastors. What a joy to work with such eager, quick, and passionate people.

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Afayo Means "He Cares"

Focus on one particular community is an excellent approach to ministry in underdeveloped nations. Needs in such a country are most certainly vast and holistic. And so the focused approach allows for a more complete healing and restoration of that community. Afayo is a ministry that takes just such an approach. They’re primary concern is for the education and livelihood of this community so that the orphans can thrive.

I was recently invited to introduce the Entrepreneurship Series of workshops there and enjoyed the first two sessions with them. Before the teaching ministry began, though I got a tour of the church, the school, and the farm project using the Farming God’s Way method. Though I don’t know much about this farming method – or any farming for that matter – the point seems to be that being more efficient in the way farming is done will produce higher yields. Given that agriculture is such a big part of the economy in Uganda, it makes sense to teach these methods both to adults and in the schools. I believe what Afayo is sewing in these children will most certainly be harvested in their generation to come.

Our first two entrepreneurship sessions together went very well. About 50 people attended and slowly caught on to the fact that they have the ability to do so much more if they accept that they are created in the image of God, have the mind of Christ, and are called to be imitators of God. As always, I loved watching the light bulbs come on and see the change in their overall attitudes as compared to when they first began.

I look forward to following up with them to find out all the ways God has used the teaching to change the way they do life and business.

Alex is a boy magnet. They love him wherever we go!

These girls are practicing Farming God's Way

Alex co-facilitates, he's an excellent teacher!

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A Dolly for Biso from Frank

Biso is Mary’s boy. I met Mary two years ago when she and her mother were trying their best to enjoy a muzungu Christmas meal at the Luckey’s house where all the misfits (including me) gathered for food and fellowship. As part of the Afayo project, the Luckey’s identified Mary as having a very high risk pregnancy in part because of having congenital heart failure. Because of the tender care offered up by this team of missionaries, Mary survived the pregnancy and delivery which resulted in healthy baby Kevin.

Mary was the second wife to her husband, who chose to live with his first wife and their eight children. His responsibilities, as is not uncommon, exceeded his abilities and so Mary and their first son, Biso, stayed with her mother even after baby Kevin came. But just a short time ago, Mary went to be with Jesus leaving Biso and baby Kevin behind. Biso, as you might expect of any 3-year-old, doesn’t quite understand where his mother is or when she’ll come home.

Frank is Judy’s husband. I met Frank and Judy many, many years ago as we all worshipped at New Life Christian Fellowship. Frank was a funny man, a man filled with an abundance of love and compassion. When my own husband died unexpectedly Frank and Judy…sitting just a few chairs down from me…could often be found wrapping their arms around me. Frank died just a few days ago, April 6, and my heart breaks to be so very far away and not be able to wrap my arms around Judy.

Biso’s ongoing state of confusion meant that he needed some arms wrapped around him…and so I gave him the Frank dolly. That boy’s face lit up, although only momentarily, but the children who immediately surrounded him seemed to quickly comprehend. Biso had a new friend to remind him of his maama and of all the people who love him like Jesus does even when his maama isn’t around.

Frank, your love continues on.

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Whirlwind

Sometimes there isn’t enough to talk about for a full blog post, nor are there any good pictures to go with it, but I feel like there’re so many wonderful God-shaped things that happen I want you to know. Such whirlwinds are definitely created by the Lord and embodied in the Spirit. I’m so incredibly amazed at all that was accomplished in this short time, and then I reflect and wonder what intimate moments were missed.

I do know that I missed the chance to pray with Shared Hope for Orphans and that I missed the chance to be more effective in the conflict management session, both due to time constraints. I need to remember that a single request – for example preaching – is never just a single request. We must visit homes, projects, schools, and churches. We must eat, drink tea, and play with the children. And so, larger time slots are needed.

The best moment? When Pr Sematimba’s son ran up to me and wrapped his arms around me before I even entered the church.

Thursday

Travel to Jinja. About four hours from home.

Bugembe Prison. Preaching about mountain tops.

Sanctuary Children’s Home. Bible story and coloring page about many children.

NGO Renewal. Request for letter from ranking official, and provision of related materials.

Heavenly Hope. New ministry introduction and work planning.

Friday

Pull the Net. Entrepreneurship session 1 teaching.

Saturday

Pastor Fred. Visit new stationary shop.

Pull the Net. Entrepreneurship session 2 teaching.

Pastor Augustine. First friend in Uganda, dinner and catching up.

Pastor Moses. Greeting and setting schedule for next day.

Sunday

Christ Church International. Preaching and leadership team conflict management.

Monday

NGO Renewal. Providing new documents, waiting on response from ranking official.

Kale Uganda. Research and develop board transition plan from US to UG leaders.

Alex. Advising about former boys home problems.

Travel home from Jinja. Another four hours.

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Pastors Pull the Net

The date finally arrived when I would spend two full days with 25 of the many pastors who comprise Pull the Net. Men and women filled the narrow wooden benches at the small church in Buwenge and were ready with their pens and paper. These pastors have arranged themselves into a group called Pull the Net and desire to develop their congregations and their communities both economically and spiritually. But they also realize that they cannot be effective servants and pastors if they too are suffering economically.

The value of teaching pastors cannot be over stated. Not only are these pastors better equipped to establish and grow businesses to support their families, they’ve also gained the skills needed to grow their churches and to assist their congregation and communities to grow. Further, they are at least refreshed about the biblical basis of business and why they can be successful. Of course the knowledge from just two sessions doesn’t stick completely, but with Pr Fred and Alone in the area there’ll be lots of support and encouragement. I’m excited to see what God does with all they’ve absorbed.

So thankful to have the chance to develop and deepen relationships with pastors. Our impact can be exponential!

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The Dollies are Here!

Little is more exciting than receiving a box from home…and this one was BIG! Amidst the fluffy soft toilet paper, 14 dollies peeked their heads up for air. They were a bit antsy, having ridden in this jam packed box across the ocean for the last three weeks, but I managed to get them to pose for a photo. They’re all anxious to have new mommies and are hoping you will help.

Click here to find out how you can give a gift to someone you love by giving a gift to someone who needs love. All the dollies are profiled individually so you can choose the one who calls your name.

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The Cracker Jack Box

Sent from home with love, this box was nothing short of a Cracker Jack box. Each container surprised me with something new. Here’s what I found:

• The box of Band-Aids contained Sun-Maid Raisins
• The box of granola bars contained a camera CD and instruction manual
• The box of cereal contained a solar panel charger
• The box of peanut butter Girl Scout cookies contained a camera (though I had so hoped for the cookies)
• The box of cake mix contained packets of dry yeast
• The brown rice contained ketchup packets, and so did the Mac & Cheese
• The M&Ms contained Benedryl

 Though I’m not sure why it was important to hide the ketchup and the dry yeast, I also received unhidden yummies like Valentine Hearts, brown sugar, cake frosting, baby peas, peanuts, baked beans, applesauce and a pile of other things I can’t get in Uganda. Oh the flavors of home.

Other goodies included a water spout (mine is broken, though I’m not sure how such a thing can actually get broken), nail polish remover, tampons, a skirt, and a few clothes for the kids. Best of all…mom’s peanut butter homemade fudge…gulped down before I realized it was covered with mold.

I don’t take this gift for granted. Shipping alone is outrageous, and the contents…wow! Oh my goodness…you made my month maama!!!…all the anticipation and the final reward. I am sooooo blessed! 

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