Lifting Up to the Throne of God

Early Sunday morning, I woke thinking about the priority God’s work must have and how we need to keep moving forward. As I opened my Bible to do the Bible Study Fellowship lesson for the day, I was struck by the Exodus 17:8-16 passage and the startling reminder that the Kingdom work we are involved is a battle and prayer is a critical need. In the study Bible I was using I read the following “Aaron and Hur stood by Moses’ side and help up his arms to ensure victory against Amalek. We need to “lift up the hands” of [others]…shouldering some responsibility, lending a word of encouragement, or offering prayer are ways of refreshing [others] in their work.” We are fully convinced that the progress we have seen is directly traceable to the many, like you, who are holding up arms of prayer and intercession on our behalf. It’s a good reminder to us, as well, of the vital aspect prayer must have in our own lives as we press on to expand and strengthen God’s kingdom here in East Africa and beyond.

Not only has God provided prayer partners, we’re also thankful for others who have come to our assistance in other ways. Filipino colleagues have done the Cover designs, some art work, and proof reading all sent around the globe digitally!  Earlier last week a dinner guest returned the following day informing Ruth that God had put the ministry of reaching students in schools on her heart and she and her husband were donating $200 to the work. 

What a humbling affirmation from our Jehovah Jirah these weeks as I have carried millions of Uganda Shillings (equivalent to thousands of U.S. dollars) to printers on Nasser Road (where most of Kampala’s printing is done). God has protected and allowed us to negotiate good prices as we have purchased paper, plates, film, sorters of Activity Sheets, and packaging for the Truth Modules we are printing.  Thanks for your part as we trust God together for a quality product and effective tool for volunteers to reach precious children in and out of classrooms here in Uganda and beyond. Don’t stop. Help us this week by lifting up hands in intercession and prayer to the throne of the Lord as the battle for children and youth continues on.

Raising Our Staff in Faith

In the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) that we attend each Wednesday morning, we’re focusing on the Life of Moses. The assigned reading/questions this week included the crossing of the Red Sea. If there ever was an “impossible” situation, the Israelites with the Egyptians behind them and the sea before them qualifies! We were struck with the “par excellence” of our God as He opened up the Red Sea. God could have done it without Moses, but He chose to use Moses and his staff as it was raised in faith.

Our current situation fades in comparison…but we can identify. We know that each step forward is God at work…we just have the privilege of “raising our staff in faith.” Myriads of details easily overwhelm us—proof reading, formatting, artist coordination, illustration adjustments, digital printouts, cover designs, ISBN numbers, purchasing of paper, negotiation of prices, coordinating with three different printers, supervision of work, making payments and getting proper receipts, arranging for deliveries, quality control, and packaging choices (you wouldn’t believe how much time has gone into merely finding the right size plastic bags!)—to name a few! Mixed in have been interruptions and power outages. Parking in the area where the printing is happening is a huge challenge in itself and so, once parked, I have often opted to take the “boda-boda”—motorcycle public transportation where I sit side-saddle due to wearing a skirt and hang on (well, there’s nothing to hang on to!) as they zoom through Kampala at life threatening speed through indescribable traffic gyrations and jams to get me to my destination.

BUT, praise to our Lion of Judah, the TRUTH Lower Primary Teacher’s Manuals were delivered to Scripture Union today and the Visual Aid Books are to be delivered Thursday! God is making a way and accomplishing His purposes…and giving us the privilege of having a small part in what He is doing. YOU also have an important part as you pray with us. Trust God with us that we will emerge on the other side of the Red Sea with all three levels of the Truth curriculum in hand ready to be put into the hands of volunteers who will teach it to the hundreds and thousands of students who so desperately need God’s truth and direction in their lives.

Eleven Years Ago

Can you remember 11 years ago—where were you, what you were doing on Monday, October 13, 2003? If you were in Canada, you probably were celebrating Thanksgiving. Yes, 11 years ago Canadian Thanksgiving also fell on Monday, Oct. 13—a piece of trivia not lost to us! Eleven years ago, Oct. 13, 2003, we headed to Payatas, Manila, (a well-known squatter area built up around a huge dump) at the invitation of Kuya Tony (who’s now with the Lord) and his wife, Ate Zeny, plus two other church volunteers to observe their Monday morning Religious Instruction Class program at Payatas Elementary School. Their regular weekly schedule allowed them to teach each of the 12 classes of Grade six students. Two teams were formed and as soon as each team finished one class, they went to the next until all had been taught. I went with Ate Zeny’s team and Ruth went with Kuya Tony. Little did we realize what God was going to do in our hearts that morning. As we sat in the crowded classrooms, squeezing in to share the worn wooden desks with the students, we were stirred by the huge potential of such a ministry. Ate Zeny asked me to share briefly with the students; Thanksgiving was my focus…and now 11 year later, our hearts are filled with Thanksgiving all over again for that experience. Eventually, VOICE Philippines was birthed and has continued to grow as Bible teaching churches reach out into the nearby schools with His Word and Godly values.  Thousands of students continue to be reached daily and Heaven will reveal the numbers that have trusted Christ as Savior. Now here we are launching VOICE Africa! We remember with praise to our Lord the great things He has done. 

Many details are unclear as yet but we look forward in faith that He who loves the children has a plan that they be reached with His precious Word. This past week we submitted the Lower Primary Visual Aid Book. Today I saw the Visual Aid Book Cover. Tomorrow they will finish the printing and show us a ring bound sample for approval. Minutes ago we approved the final digital copy of the Teachers Manual which should be printed by the end of the week. Thursday I will accompany our Artist to his contacts and we will begin the “hands on” process of printing the Lower Primary Activity Sheets ourselves.

Praise God for those who have prayed and given to make possible the reaching the next generation in school classrooms through the teaching of Godly values. We look to God in expectation as we attempt great things for Him. Thanks for joining us.