A Thanksgiving Service to be Remembered

This past Sunday was the annual Thanksgiving Service at our church. Instead of the usual two services—one in the Luganda language and one in English—they were combined using a very busy and skillful translator. The songs were perhaps even livelier than usual—we’ve noticed that songs in their languages erupt with power and beauty/harmony. A number gave testimonies—one who received an overdue promotion, overdue because she refused to give the interviewers a bribe, and in the end she got posted in a high government office. Another one saw God provide some property and then a home (over several years) even as they continued to serve God and refused to take short-cuts. And then there was a lady who found out she was HIV positive several years ago through the free medical clinic that the church hosts each year. She at first denied it and left the church. Then she got pregnant and eventually found out that her baby was also HIV positive. She planned to take his life in order to “spare” him from all that might come his way. But throughout that whole period of time, a church lady who works with a group called “A Cup of Cold Water” who ministers to HIV positive people, continued to seek her, befriend her, and point her to Christ. During this past year, that has happened—she is now back in church with her son; both of them are on the Anti-RetroViral (ARV) medication and doing well. She got on her knees twice during her testimony praising God for what He had done in her life. And that was just three of the testimonies.

The message was from 1 Chronicles 16:7-38 where David praises and thanks God for the successful return of the Ark of the Covenant to the Tabernacle. The pastor quoted Charles Dickens as saying we should set aside one day of the year for complaining and 364 days of the year for giving thanks! Many excellent reminders of the importance of expressing our gratitude to God for all He has done for us.

But the climax was the offering during which people were encouraged to bring gifts to the Lord in thanksgiving for His gifts. All went to the front of the church to either give monetary gifts or gifts in kind—vegetables, fruits, sugar cane, a live chicken (with his feet tied—and I must say, very quiet), and many various containers of other things. At the end of the service, the deacons placed a price tag on each of the items and people were encouraged to buy them with the money going to the Lord. Among the gifts were also two nicely decorated cakes of thanksgiving which were then cut and shared with the whole congregation at the close of the service, served with soft drinks—a rare treat for most Ugandans. The joy of the Lord was so evident throughout the service that no one noticed how much time had passed…the service started at 10 AM and finished at 1:30 PM – 3 ½ hours of thanking God!!

Already Being Answered Before We Prayed!

Last December, Ruth’s nephew led a short-term team of seven from Canada for ministry here in Uganda. Half of their time was spent teaching a Values Education Class (VEC) in a near-by school, Kiswa Primary School. The response from the 100+ pupils was positive as was one of the school Matrons, Madam Jennifer, and the Head Teacher (Principal) who happens to be a M. The invitation to return and continue the teaching of values in the new school year seemed to be genuine. But…where would the volunteer teachers come from? What near-by church would be interested in such a ministry? And more questions. So, we and Joshua's team started to pray.

Yesterday, we met with twelve young people, all younger than us at least :), who have volunteered to help in the VOICE ministry including being trained to help lead VOICE Trainings. Eight met with us a couple of weeks ago. This time four new ones joined us, two of whom I hadn’t met before. As a step toward becoming a trainer, we asked each one to find a school where they could teach a VEC during this first school term which begins early next month. All seemed willing to do that and we began to discuss some more details. One of the new trainees, Lucky, said that he already had a school where he would love to teach the VOICE curriculum. In fact the Head Teacher had already asked him to teach there every Wednesday morning from 9 – 11 spending 30 minutes in four classrooms starting with P1 (grade 1). He went on to say that the Head Teacher even offered to help him with his transportation costs…somewhat unheard of! Would you like to guess which school he was referring to?? Yes, Kiswa Primary School. It turns out that he lives in our area and has been helping Madam Jennifer with the Scripture Union Club there. I was stunned!! Of all the schools here in Kampala…and there are many…he was already ministering in the very school that we were praying for! Since it seems the Head Teacher is open for Biblical teaching for all the classes, we challenged him to recruit others to help him and also said we would ask a fairly near-by church to consider taking opportunity of this wide-open door.

As you rejoice with us in this huge surprise/encouragement, pray that nothing will hinder these plans from proceeding…and that others will join him. Pray for much fruit for God’s glory.

Isaiah 65:24 - And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Murders Thwarted, Praise God

No one would choose to live in a Refugee Camp; those who live there have no other option. Since war broke out in South Sudan over two years ago, about 925,000 refugees have fled to northern Uganda, with more being added each day. One of the eight over-crowded camps is called Rhino Refugee Camp. Among the thousands there are pastors and Christian workers including Scripture Union of South Sudan volunteers, many of them from a town called Yei. Beth, our friend, is a Scripture Union of Uganda missionary to South Sudan and Ethiopia. She and the National Director of Scripture Union of South Sudan (who has chosen to remain in Juba) have agonized in prayer over the situation and sought God’s leading for how to bring truth, hope, and love to these many displaced people.

Little did we know last October and November, 2016, as the Forgiveness module came off the press, that one of the first places where the module would be taught would be in the Rhino Refugee Camp. In early December VOICE Africa staff Chris accompanied Scripture Union staff Dennis to conduct a four-day training for 20 South Sudanese Christian workers living in three of the ten settlements within the camp. Twelve boxes of Forgiveness Curriculum, paid for by a foundation, went with them. These 20 were trained to teach this module to children and youth…which make up the largest percentage of each camp. The dates were set for the Scripture Union Conference—the 28^th – 31^st of December.

On the 27^th of December, despite the fact that his wife was expecting “any day,” Chris and another Scripture Union volunteer, Gloria, made the 350 kilometer (217 miles) trip, which takes 12 hours under the best circumstances, loaded with Bibles, soap, jerry cans, used clothes and shoes, and more. After an overnight in Arua, they purchased beans, rice, poshu (corn porridge), and sugar before setting out for the three hour drive (about 30 kilometers or 19 miles over horrible roads) to a Primary School in the Rhino Camp. This became the Team’s Base from which the non-residential conference was conducted; Chris and other workers from outside the refugee camp slept in the school. Food was cooked in huge pots and dozens of plastic jerry cans were filled with water drawn from a “bore hole” (around one kilometer away) around midnight each night due to the many who lined up for that water during the day. About 250 children, youth and adults (which they were not expecting) came the first day; the number swelled to 560 by the last day (or at least they stopped counting then).

Gloria, Chris’ companion from Kampala, experienced real culture shock as she adjusted to her surroundings. But eventually, she began to reach out to the children and youth. One day she determined to get a group of young teens to laugh—something she noticed they did little of. She succeeded…except for one 14 year-old boy. She prayerfully sought an opportunity to find out his story…but she wasn’t prepared for what she learned. Somehow, as bullets flew some months ago in his town of Yei, he was separated from his parents and ended up alone in his home. Neighbours took pity and brought the boy with them as they escaped and fled into Uganda. However, after weeks of harsh survival of the fittest, his rescuers started abusing him. Hatred filled the boy’s heart, so much that he had made plans to murder the entire family. Gloria discussed with him what he was learning during the Conference—forgiveness is a command, is possible through God’s power, and will set you free from anger and bitterness. Praise God that he chose to forgive…and release his murderous plans. Chris learned of another 14-year old girl, mother of a 2-month old baby, who didn’t know if the baby’s father was dead or alive. An uncle had found her in the refugee camp and had been increasingly threatening to rape her that she also had secret plans to murder him…but was set free by forgiveness. (We pray that someone has stepped in to protect both of these 14-year olds from their abusive situations.)

Praise God for His Calvary love and ability to reach needy Sudanese who have lost so much: their loved ones, homes, crops, livelihood, not to mention their significance and security. Thank you for all who pray and give to see the Biblical Values Curriculum contextualized, printed, and put into the hands of trained Christians to use in their communities…even when their community happens to be a Refugee Camp.