Jesus Miracle Celebration International Ministries

As Bible School in a Briefcase graduate, Pr Oguna is one of many well-trained pastors who serve the Lord in Kenya. His ministry is filled with the presence of the Lord and he has an exhibited passion to serve his community. Surprised by Hope recently had the privilege of delivering the Entrepreneurship Series teaching-ministry at his church in Watamu. My short notice made class size small, but what I loved is the number of pastors who attended. So many from the Bible School in a Briefcase program, one pastor even traveled from Kilifi to attend. I have the privilege of working with hundreds of pastors and am never more thankful than I am when they're BSIB graduates.

Pr Oguna began a school for the many orphans in his area and his love for these children is evidenced in the joy you hear in their voices. I heard the giggles of 30 children seated before the small television screen enjoying some simple entertainment during the heat of the day. I saw those same children sitting tidily around their dinner table gobbling up their simple meal of maize and beans. I saw them playing, and laughing, and being obedient, and caring.

Holding this conference was of personal interest to Pr Oguna because of his desire to expand his ministry and his care for the community. Honestly, each pastor in attendance shared that desire and was incredibly attentive with his head in a note-taking book almost continually. I look forward to the positive reports about what the Lord is doing through this particular group of pastors and their ministries when I return.

The church

The school children (school in the background)

The orphans

Even the older children participated in the teaching

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Sensible Shoes for Jesus Gathering Center School from Sharon

The children of Jesus Gathering Center School in Watamu, Kenya.

Jiggers. Of all the times I've tenderly cared for the piglets attached to so many lovely children's feet, this washing was one of most sad. These tiny shoeless toes are covered with jiggers (sand fleas). Jiggers are a parasitic worm that lives in the ground and burrows into the feet of my lovely shoeless children and multiples. There's a way to remove these jiggers that requires digging into the toes in a very painful process, but I have not been trained in this just yet.

According to Wikipedia, "If the flea is left within the skin, dangerous complications can occur including secondary infections, loss of nails, and toe deformation. These are relatively rare, but heavy infestations combined with unsanitary conditions greatly increases the likelihood of complications." What I hear stories about is children (and adults) missing church and school because they can't walk. My little buddy Benja - Pr Tsofa's boy who attached himself to me a few years ago - has at least a dozen of these unwanted guests.

So, as you think about the value of sponsoring a pair of Sensible Shoes and all that goes into serving these children and praying for their future, please also think about the very practical need for a pair of shoes to separate their tiny feet from the ground.

These are certainly not the best pictures to show the damage,
but I couldn't bring myself to photograph every foot.
I had all I could do to wash them tenderly and carefully.

Praise God this was not one of my children,
but this is what can happen without treatment (and without shoes).

The other half of the story goes like this. As I finished teaching about walking in the way of love, washing the feet of the older children, and praying over their lives, I asked if any of them would like to wash the feet of the younger children. One young girl was quick to give voice to her desire to serve. Madalena modeled my way of washing the feet of these small children and joined with me as we prayed over each one. As I prophesied over Madalena, I sensed the Lord would be using her in a very big way to serve him as she grows. Please pray that this girl would sense his call on her life and walk in it.

Each time I love on these children with a pair of Sensible Shoes, I'm reminded of the surprise of hope when someone else steps in to do the same. I never expected that kind of response to this simple act of worship and love and yet, our Creator knew. Over and over again, Sharon I can't think you enough for giving me the opportunity to honor you and serve the Lord by sharing Sensible Shoes.

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The Shoes Walked Off

Some far away places are best reached by special hire taxi (regular cars whose driver picks up anyone willing to pay). When riding in such a vehicle, perhaps up to nine people in a 5-seater car, all the goods are stowed in the trunk. Sometimes (on purpose or by accident) those goods just aren't there when you arrive at your destination. That's what happened to Francis, a young man who offered to carry some things ahead for me.

Disappointed that I'd not be able to love on 10 kids with a new pair of shoes and some prayers specific for each one, Francis set out in search of those shoes. Though they weren't recovered before my final departure, he did find them all. And what follows is more of a blessing than I would have had were I the one to have ministered to these children myself.

Francis and the most lovely Emma gathered the selected children near the venue where I usually teach and delivered the Sensible Shoes on our behalf. They told the children about the story of Ephesians 5:1 and encouraged them to walk in the way of love. They prayed over the children as they washed their tender, jigger ridden, feet. And they sent them away with a song.

How blessed it is to have others follow your example with such care and love. My heart is all melty.

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A Dolly for Yusuf from Larry

When I entered the pediatric ward of Malindi Hospital, one mama dressed in beautiful bright colors was sitting on the waiting bench with her small boy who was sprawled across her arms. Yusuf was obviously very sick - lethargy from fever and a bit of a garbled breath. Through an interpreter, mama said she'd been waiting since noon to be seen. It was now after 5:00.

Given her attire and her lack of English speaking skills, this mama had obviously traveled some distance from the village to be here and was certainly not going home for the night. I greeted her and introduced myself in Swahili and sat quietly beside her. I could see that she was both wary and weary wondering what this mzungu was up to.

I explained that I wanted to give her this dolly for Yusuf so that he could be comforted by a small friend and reminded that Jesus loves him. Again, she was a bit confused. Let's start at the beginning. I told mama Yusuf about a man named Larry who went to my church in America for  a very long time, who loved Jesus so much that even when he was sick he kept praying for other people, and that if he were here now he'd be praying for her boy. I told her that Larry went to be with Jesus not long ago and that I wanted to give Yusuf this dolly to remind her of the love between Christians (at this point, I'm rather belatedly wondering if this woman was a Christian). I wanted her to know that everyone who sees the picture of Yusuf and his Larry doll would pray for healing and provision for them both.

Still a little wary, I told mama Yusuf that she doesn't have to pay for this dolly. It's a free gift just like the free gift Jesus gave us by dying on the cross for our sins. Quietly and slowly I could see her coming to understand this rather strange encounter and accept this dolly for her boy. I reminded her that when she sees this dolly she should remember that Jesus loves her and that we're praying for her. We prayed quietly together and I slipped out of the ward relatively unnoticed.

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Happy Independence Day, Uganda!

On October 9 Uganda celebrates Independence Day. Prior to its independence in 1962, Uganda was ruled as a British colony. Uganda's early leadership history is marked by first having joint leadership between an elected president and a kabaka (king). The pair was overthrown, the kingdoms abolished, and a new president was appointed without elections. In 1971 Idi Amin successfully overthrew the current leadership in a military coup, where more than 300,000 Ugandans lost their lives and where he forcibly removed the Indian minority (the entrepreneurs of the country). The Uganda-Tanzania war removed Amin and restored the former president. Then the Bush War, led my yet-to-be president Museveni, deposed the former president and carried out mass killings of non-combatants. During Museveni's reign since 1986, the Lord's Resistance Army (led by Joseph Kony) was responsible for child slavery, mass murders and more.

In the 52 years of its independence, Uganda has struggled much and the potential for history to repeat itself increases as Museveni refuses to relinquish the presidency and as those who seek to replace him are somehow forcibly "discouraged." Citizens express a great deal of frustration over this problem and feel helpless to do anything about it.

Despite these exceedingly difficult events in their short history, there are a few bright spots. For example, as a foreigner I am allowed access to the country without a long and questionable visa application process. I am permitted to form a business and a ministry here without disturbance. I am able to obtain a work permit by following the proper procedure and paying the posted fees. I can walk the streets in safety. I can travel alone pretty much anywhere in the country and not be bothered by armies, gangs of thieves, cattle raiders, or other mass problem-makers. I can buy my food in the fresh food market or the supermarket…or I can grow it on my own land. Most importantly, I can exercise my religious freedom by attending whatever church I wish whenever I wish to attend. I can play worship music in my home and spilling out my windows. I can pray with someone on the street. I can love and serve the Lord openly and without fear.

Yes, there are LOTS (and I'm not kidding when I say LOTS) of things that are broken in Uganda. Oh so broken! But instead I chose to focus on seeking first his Kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33) because I can. I can love Jesus freely and openly in Uganda, when there are so many others who can't. 

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A Dolly for Anana from Molli

Anana peeked at me through her mother's scarf in fear of the mzungu, though living in Malindi town should have soothed those fears some time ago. As we waited for Sunday service at Malindi Methodist Church to begin, she continued peeking with such curiosity. One of those peeks, though, was rewarded with this beautiful dolly wearing a sparkly purple butterfly dress. Anana noticed the sparkles looked something like the sparkles on her pink pants. She poked at the doll curiously and didn't really seem to understand the awake/asleep eyes but when the dolly fell to the ground she was quite horrified.

Anana's dolly comes to you, Molli, from your grandma Susan. I saw grandma Rogers when she and I both visited my mom's house in Florida back in July. She thought of you as she carefully chose this dolly to give you for your birthday. I know Susan has gone to be with Jesus now and so receiving this gift might make you a little sad. But she wanted you to know that she loves you in a very special way. I don't think any of us know then just exactly how special this gift would be.

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