Here Am I!

One of our aims as we go through Home Service is to be on the lookout for others, especially young people, who are open to or considering cross-cultural missions as God’s call on their lives. This particular Home Service, we have not heard too many express an interest or willingness. So it was a special delight this past weekend to hear a high school person verbalize a desire to pursue the opportunity to invest their life into sharing God’s message of salvation with people in the uttermost parts of the world. This statement was especially meaningful because it was so very obvious that this young person was already actively and whole-heartedly serving the Lord right now in their home church. We passed on some literature for them to prayerfully read and indicated that we would follow them through continued contact via email. Praise God for young people and others who want to pour their lives into building and expanding the Kingdom of God no matter what the culture or language that God directs them toward...and pray the Lord of the Harvest for many more needed laborers.

Unsung Heroes

The evening before leaving Hamilton, ON, we took the opportunity to join the West Highland Prayer Meeting. As anticipated, there were a good number of heroes of mine who have tracked with us for decades, included a precious black lady that has kept in touch with me since the mid 70’s! Just before Prayer Meeting, we shared a meal with the Missions Committee Liaison and her husband and enjoyed a sweet time of catching up and recounting God’s faithfulness through losses and gains…in fact we lost track of the time and were a bit late arriving at Prayer Meeting. But the welcome was warm and so gracious, and almost immediately their discerning questions about the ministry and our plans began to fly! Time went far too fast, but included in those few minutes was a request to purchase a copy of the VOICE Curriculum as well as another person’s willingness to make an audio edition of the VOICE Curriculum on a micro-chip. What a privilege and encouragement to hear these saints pray for specific people, needs, and challenges of the VOICE ministry as well as praise God for His amazing work. Without doubt, what has happened thus far is in answer to prayer and what will happen is also connected to prayer. Who knows how God will use the prayers of these unsung heroes as together we press onward. “God lead us and open the way according to your Sovereign plan.”

Times to Cherish!

A while ago, SEND USA asked if it were possible to stop by (Farmington, MI) at some point before retirement so that they could have a time of celebrating with us the years that we served with SEND. (You may remember that we were hindered from attending the SEND North American Area Conference last July due to the sudden death of Laura’s youngest sister.) As our Ontario planned trip began to take shape, we realized we had an opening to stop by on Tuesday, April 30. SEND then planned a chapel service in our honor during which we shared a brief update of our ministry; Laura and Ernie also added to the celebration. Another heart-warming gesture was connecting via a video call with SEND Canada which made it possible for the SEND Canada Director, “Mags,” to be present via video—we saw and heard him and he saw and heard us during the entire time. Both he and the Personnel Director of SEND US shared humbling and encouraging words with us followed by a time of prayer during both the SEND US and Canadian Directors interceded for us. They unveiled a beautifully decorated cake in our honor with “Salamat sa iyong katapatan,” written on it—Tagalog for “Thank you for your faithfulness.” We left deeply blessed and grateful for the mission God has given us the privilege of working with for the past 32 years.

From there we traveled on for yet another rich blessing from the Lord. A few weeks ago we realized that the timing was perfect to connect our trip to the USA SEND office with an opportunity to see our Ugandan colleagues who are currently in the US, Beth and Dennis, who were staying in Elkhart, Indiana. The hosts were a couple that we met in Uganda through Beth; they were wonderful hosts in every way. What a joy to see all of them again and get caught up somewhat with current happenings in VOICE Africa in Uganda, among the South Sudanese refugees, also in South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Laughter, sighs of wishing we had the answer to some complex situations, expressions of praise over victories, and prayer times were plentiful. The hours went by too quickly but we’ll cherish both of these special times for a long time to come.

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!

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.

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 91^st 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!

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.