Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Easter Tears of Repentance and Joy



A couple of months ago we learned from the pastor of a supporting church that nine pastors in Albert Co., were meeting for prayer and were planning for area wide “revival” meetings during the week leading up to Easter. Their plans and the meetings were in our prayers and we looked forward to hearing how God answered.
Last Sunday, Easter Sunday, we were in one of those churches. During the morning service, the pastor asked for anyone who would like to give a testimony of what God had done in their lives during the previous week of meetings. One of the two who came to the front to share was a teen boy, carrying his Bible and tissues. He shared, amid tears, how the Lord had convicted him through the preaching of God’s Word, of a sinful life style and his response of repentance and a joyous commitment to live for the Lord…and even "preach in that pulpit someday." Tears welled up in our own eyes as we praised the Lord that He is still calling people to Himself. The deacons of the church were called forward to pray for this young man…and he has been in our prayer since. What an Easter Sunday blessing!

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

The Honesty Song


Dorothy was trained last January and has taught the Honesty module in a Primary School in Mengo, Kampala. She recently gave testimony to the VOICE Africa staff:
“This is the greatest children’s material I have ever encountered so far! The P.4 [Primary/Grade 4] ...challenged each other to be honest. The VEC [Values Education Class] is very interesting and the whole school is interested in it! The honesty songs are sang all over the school. I taught in P.4 and P.5 and I have just purchased a pack for Lower Primary so that I can also teach VEC to the younger children.”
* * *
The “application song” for the Honesty Module was written by a Ugandan young woman and it has proved to be one of the favorites among the VOICE Songs. A few of its lyrics are:
Honest, I will be honest.
I will not cheat or steal, always tell the truth.
I will be honest, I will admit when I’m wrong.
I will be honest. (and then closes with a triumphant “Honesty!”)
Praise God for the privilege of teaching children His values and truths and pray that those truths will deeply embed themselves into the hearts of the hearers and in hearts of those who teach.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Each Day A Gift


Indeed, Africa has taught me more of the value of life and how privileged we are; each day is a precious gift from our God.  I took time to pause this past week and reflect on God’s blessings to me personally.  A few recent blessings include:
  • Yesterday, Ruth and I joined three of my siblings to celebrate my mother’s 91st birthday! After several years of not being here on her birthday, I was overjoyed.  Mom has been a huge influence on me and prayed for us through our growing up years until now.  Having Mom with us still is a wonderful gift from the Heavenly Father. 
  • Mom’s birthday follows mine and as only God could arrange, my birthday was free from appointments and schedules.  Ruth and I took the opportunity to visit a new church and spend time with some family members I seldom see.  
  • As if that was not enough, I got a totally unexpected refund from a furniture store, and the amount, to the dollar, was the price of a chair I had been looking at; it was delivered this last week.  
  • I am also reminded of the great gift of health.  Two neighbours who share the same townhouse roof with me are battling cancer.  I pray they may know the hope that I have found in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Yes, our life goes so fast but each day is a gift from our Heavenly Father. And because He lives, the best is yet to come.  Praise Him!

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Walls Broken and Burned

Bonney boys pausing for a photo April 2, 2019

While spending time with my Mom this morning, we looked out her window over to the farm and saw an exciting sight, walls being erected. Just over four years ago the family watched the barn burn to the ground.  A couple of years ago, the basement walls and floor were restored. Now things were once again taking shape and a replacement barn was happening!  Mom and I just had to go closer by car and celebrate God’s enablement to rebuild the barn.  
This event triggered another memory from almost 10 years ago while still in the Philippines, the morning that God stirred my heart about being available for a change…Uganda. It happened as I was reading Isaiah 58:
“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”  Isa.58:12
As we look back now on our five years in Uganda, we thank God for the privilege of helping produce a tool to help Ugandans rebuild young lives through the teaching of godly values in school classrooms.  We continue to pray that God’s Spirit will use His Word to speak to many students and teachers alike in Uganda and beyond. 
My brothers’ & nephews' example this morning reminds me that rebuilding broken structures is hard work, sometimes must be done in less-than-ideal weather, and cannot be done alone.  As the family looks forward to a firm structure that will bring shelter and blessing, we as believers must be engaged in the hard work of building into the lives of those around us so that others too can know the place of eternal shelter, our Lord Jesus Christ. May the building of a barn remind us to pray for God’s work of restoration and transformation in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

And up it goes!
2 sides up!
The view from the road.