Together Again…Briefly at Least

As you can understand, after living and serving together for about 37 years, a big adjustment that has come with retirement for both Ruth and me has been living in separate homes in separate nations. Praise God for His gift to Ruth of unlimited phone calls which includes Canada, thanks to her brother/sister-in-law; we keep in touch via phone, text, emails almost daily…but it’s just not the same!

Our gracious God used friends to provide a way for us to spend just over a week together again—house-sitting in Maine. How fun to return to the familiar of sharing cooking, driving, corporate prayer, reading, debrief and discussions, playing games, walking and some sight-seeing…plus, thanks to technology, participating in long distance communication and prayer that included both SEND Canada and Scripture Union Uganda.

One of our goals for that time together was to seek God’s will regarding an invitation from Uganda to return for a 2-month visit in early 2020. After spending time in prayer, we both sensed God’s affirmation, which drove us to prayer again as we started to think through the logistics and goals. As of this writing, we have tickets in hand, health insurance nearly secured, and an emerging tentative schedule which includes both Tanzania and Kenya!

Why Tanzania and Kenya? A couple of days ago, we learned that the Swahili translation of three VOICE modules, Truth, Forgiveness, and Purity, is COMPLETE on all three age levels—answered prayer! As funds are available, plans are to print those three modules in Nairobi (more cost effective) and introduce them to the Ministry of Education in Tanzania in response to their two-year-old request for a Swahili edition. With these developments, training Scripture Union Tanzanian staff to be able to conduct training workshops for Christian volunteer values teachers across their nation is paramount. We hope to participate at least in the early phase of that huge project which has mammoth potential for reaching students for Christ through the teaching of Biblical values. Promotion and training is also planned for Kenya, while providing encouragement for Scripture Union Ugandan staff.

Please join us in prayer for the funds and the expertise to print the Swahili version in Nairobi. Ruth and I are also trusting God for provision for our own expenses for this trip. Pray also for wisdom as plans/dates are finalized for our activities in East Africa, and for our personal preparation and packing. Praise God for this opportunity to once again be able to serve together!

Changed Lives in Tanzania

Changed Lives in Tanzania

Beth B., overseer of VOICE Africa, was on her way back to Uganda via Kenya from Tanzania when she sent us two testimonies via What’s App message:

1.    One Scripture Union Tanzania staff member recently taught “Forgiveness” at a Scripture Union camp. One of the children was struggling with something a school teacher had done to him in the past: she had scratched his very dark skin and asked “what is this? Is this charcoal or black coals or what?” Other kids had laughed and he was called Charcoal. He was so angry but as the module on Forgiveness was being taught, he chose to forgive and stood up to share his story with the other campers.

2.    In another situation where the module on Purity was being taught, a boy who had been sexually abused by his Auntie responded to the Lord by forgiving her.

* * *

P.S. – After writing the above, we heard another amazing story from Beth B. of God at work. I’m quoting almost word for word from her letter:

The South Sudan Bishop that I worked closely with in the past and was promoted to the level of Archbishop earnestly requested me to go and help train his people. So Chris and I got ready to go. On the day of our planned travel, we went to the South Sudan embassy to pick up our visas and passports. It was just hours before travel. I was nervous abut this because if anything happens, then what do you do?

So we parked the car near the embassy but I had to remain in the car since we had luggage and as you know we are always watching that it is not broken into, plus we had no good place to park really, so one has to remain in the car in case police come and you need to move. 

Chris went and quickly came back and said, "Auntie, they have NOT given you a visa! "What?" I asked him why and he said, "They say that because there is no space in your passport." I knew it. I had only one page and had risked! Time was running out very fast, so I prayed, "Lord, maybe it is just Chris who should go?" Then I visualized the Bishop that was expecting me looking very disappointed and confused because it is me he knew and was always communicating with me, besides I was taking Chris for the first time and especially in this part of the world this age thing is a real big deal. Chris is young and I knew that our South Sudanese would prefer to listen to the older. 

So I asked Chris to remain in the car and I ran into the embassy to try and persuade them to give me the visa. I got there and the men and the one lady there emphatically pointed out that "Madam, we have been trying to reach you because there is no space and the remaining page we cannot place the visa there." Then the miracle happened before my very eyes. The lady told the men that, "I know this lady, when I was a little girl in Primary school at Kitente Primary School she used to come and teach us the Bible." She took my passport and went to the Boss and returned with the visa on that one last page! I left the place WORSHIPING at the top of my voice. I was so rushed, that other than, "Oh THANK YOU!" I could not even stop a minute to ask her who she was etc.!

Ten Years Later

Ruth (in New Hampshire) and I (in New Brunswick) keep in almost daily contact via phone as we both struggle to adjust to our “new normal.” Saturday, September 14’s conversation was energized by the realization that it was exactly ten years ago, Sept. 14, 2009, while we were in the Philippines, that we both, in our private devotions in our separate rooms, sensed God asking us to be available for a change. For me, it was through W. Glyn Evans Daily with the King Devotional “Keeping the Glow of Victory” and a passage in Isaiah 58.  That day I read “I must look beyond myself to see the ‘hungry’ and ‘afflicted’ person nearby, and then pour out myself for him (Isaiah 58:10)….I share spiritual blessings I already have.  In sharing them, God will multiple and magnify my resources beyond anything I can dream.” For Ruth, it was Luke 4:16-21 which includes a quote from Isaiah 62…“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Her heart burned even more deeply when she read Jesus’ next words “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Neither of us knew what all of this meant…until that very evening when an email arrived from northern Uganda inquiring about our availability to help make a way that children and youth in Uganda could be taught Godly Values in their school classrooms.

Ten year ago we were asked to leave our beloved Philippines. In hindsight was that a mistake? Hardly! Just a week ago, we received an amazing summary from VOICE Philippines stating that during the month of August, 2019, alone, 118 churches/faith-based groups had been trained to teach the Biblical values classes. And even more exciting, the trainings took place in all three major island groups of the Philippines—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao! Undreamed of when we were there! The end of their summary states that due to these newly trained Christians, a possible maximum of 42,000 new students could be taught Godly family values each week!

Ten year ago, we were asked to go to Uganda. God did so much during the 5 years we were there and that ministry continues to expand as well (we’ll save the details for another blog). Now, ten years later, God is challenging us with the potential of Tanzania…no, not to go and live there, but to enlist others to pray and give with us that the ongoing translation of the VOICE curriculum into Swahili could be finished, published, and used in the seemingly wide-open door into the school classrooms of that vast nation--about 15 million more people than Uganda. SEND recently signed an agreement with Scripture Union Uganda to partner in seeing this happen.

Returning to Isaiah 58 - “As a result of giving my portion to others, God will make my light rise at noonday, guide me continually, satisfy my soul in drought, make me like a watered garden, and make me a repairer of broken people (Isaiah 58:10-12).  Join us as we trust God for Tanzania.

*************************
A story from VOICE Philippines too good not to share! - A church in Baguio, northern Philippines (which was closed to VOICE ministry when we left the Philippines but has since opened up wide) started teaching values in their 6th school! Not only were they invited to teach the students, the school also requested them to conduct Bible Study among the faculty and staff while the children were being taught by the Values teachers!

August, 2019, VOICE Ministry "Lion Sightings" (Praises)

As you may know, this blog, Lion Sightings, was used to highlight ministry (usually) situations where Laura and Ruth saw God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, at work. Although we are no longer in "full-time cross-cultural" ministry, we plan to continue using this blog to highlight God's ongoing work in both VOICE Philippines and VOICE Africa now being carried on by nationals. Praise God with us for all that He is doing. For updated prayer requests from these ministries, please click the "Prayer Zone" tab (above). Your continued prayer support is much needed and appreciated.

• During May and June, 2019, God enabled VOICE Philippine Staff, Bevs, Emil, and Raffy, to promote and train volunteers from more than 70 churches in the southern Island of Mindanao including General Santos City, South Cotabato and Northern Mindanao.  
• Only two of the 81 provinces of the Philippines, both in Mindanao, remain without any VOICE Classes--Sulu and Tawi-tawi!  

Uganda

• Volunteer teachers are currently test teaching the new Responsibility Module Upper Primary level.  A debrief meeting was scheduled to happen today, Aug. 17^th. 
• A testimony coming from the Namungona Parents School states that school officials have noticed increased "anger control" among the 200 students who were taught the Self-Control Module.

Tanzania 

• Chris, Beth Baleke’s Assistant, recently traveled to Tanzania to interact with Swahili translator, Christine. She reports that 70% of the Swahili translation of Truth, Forgiveness, and Purity are complete.  
• A recent gift of $1,000 gift was received and receipted by SEND Canada to go toward this project, translation and printing the three modules on all 3 age levels. 

South Sudan

• A VOICE Training is taking place currently in Nimule, South Sudan; the VOICE Curriculum was earlier sent to them from Kampala, Uganda. 

God Knows His Own

I (Ruth) have never set up housekeeping in my passport nation, as incredulous as that may seem. And so when retirement began to loom, I sensed a bit of panic/fear of living on my own in the not-so-familiar culture of my “home town.” I’m still a farm girl at heart despite the fact that for most of our career in missions we have lived in cities, especially Manila, which now boasts of over 12 million people, and even Kampala with more than a million people. So I naturally thought about my 2^nd brother who owns several apartments on his property which is known as the Crazy H Farm. (He makes his living off the farm but puts in more than "full-time" to keep the farm with quite a variety of animals running smoothly.) There were no empty apartments but Peter immediately offered to make an apartment in his basement, something he has been planning to do sometime anyway. I breathed a great sigh of relief that I could at least start in a rural safe place.

Due to a number of circumstances, Peter had not been able to finish the basement apartment by the time I arrived, but graciously offered for me to stay with them until it was finished. Within a few days, I was finding delight in helping take care of chicks and hens and especially helping his daughter with her amazing market gardens, primarily watering the greenhouse and helping with weeding. That has been wonderful God-ordered therapy for me as I have eased into this period of huge transition.

Within the first week of my arrival, one of the tenants of a one-bedroom apartment rather suddenly vacated. Unfortunately, there was repair work needed before it could be rented again—which meant Peter had two apartments to prepare amid these extremely busy summer months. So we talked together and it was agreed that he prioritize the recently vacated apartment (which required less work) and I would move into that, taking the pressure off to finish the basement apartment for now. So, God has provided a win-win in every way. I can get settled more quickly without adding to Peter’s work load as he tries to get the haying and pasturing done…and a 1,000 other things! What a gift to be able to live close to family and be part of a fun and busy farm—God knows His daughter through and through and provides so perfectly!

An Amazing “Finale” Weekend

Our “finale” weekend (meaning the last weekend/day that Laura and Ruth would serve together as co-workers) started with an overnight with Pastor Rick, who during his single/student days, pastored the church where Laura’s family worshiped. Under him a Wycliffe missionary came as a revival speaker and at the close of the 2^nd meeting, Laura responded to the salvation invitation. Soon after, she was baptized—the first person Pastor Rick ever baptized. So it was very fitting that she was able to connect with him and his wife on this “finale” weekend. In fairly recent years, Pastor Rick and his wife pastored the church that we reported to the following day, now known as New Hope Community Church.

The current pastor of New Hope was new to us until we met him several weeks ago. Of course, he didn’t know us well and due to a somewhat recent merge with another church, we didn’t know very many of the congregation by name. So we had no expectations that this would indeed be an extra special “finale” report. BUT God arranged it so that a “missions champion” in both of our lives from back in the mid-70’s, had an active part in planning the service, Pastor Gordie and his wife, Marianne. Pastor Gordie was involved in Laura’s preparation for her first cross-cultural missions experience to the Marshall Islands (central Pacific). Back then, the church he then pastored supported both Laura and Ruth under separate missions. It was immediately after a Missions Conference in that church that Ruth sensed God’s call upon her life to serve with Laura as she headed to the Philippines…and that church enabled us to go through an amazing Faith Promise push. Each church that Pastor Gordie has been involved in since then has been a part of our support team and we’ve connected with him during each Home Service/furlough.

Unknown to us, Pastor Gordie and his wife went the 2^nd and 3^rd mile to make this a special “finale” Sunday for us. As he prepared to direct a “Father’s Day Women’s Choir,” he shocked us by sharing with the church a well-researched overview of our Mission Career and read two letters of thanks and congratulations that he had asked for—one from the first mission Laura served with, Bible Club Movement, and one from the first mission Ruth served with, Child Evangelism Fellowship. He then announced that the special choir piece was dedicated to us in honor of our years of training others in children’s ministry—a beautiful arrangement of “Jesus Loves Me.” Flowers, a love offering, and a wonderful church lunch, followed with time to connect more personally with the people, including some from other churches who came special to see us. Marianne, who has served cross-culturally and has experienced some very painful transitions in life, shared a gem of truth with us: our transition from a career of full time cross-cultural work into retirement is not “the end” but the beginning of a new chapter.

We were overwhelmed with such love and interest as we reflected and thanked God corporately. Tears come even now as we think of God’s amazing gift to us of being able to enable others to proclaim to thousands of children and youth God’s truth and salvation and the extraordinary “finale” weekend He provided for us. We look to Him with “New Hope” as we anticipate continued expansion of teaching Biblical Values in classrooms in both the Philippines and East Africa, while at the same time, finding what He has planned for this “new chapter” in our lives. All the praise and honor goes to our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Harvest.

Reunion in Sussex

Back in 2003, six friends, 3 Canadians and 3 Americans, all single with one being a fairly new widow, met together for six wonderful days in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near the Kananaskis River. We had an amazing time hiking, animal watching (including sighting a grisly bear), touring Banff and Lake Louise, viewing the Colombia ice fields, and marvelling and savouring God’s creation together. It was amazing to think that such a fantastic vacation worked out for all of us…what would be the chances of it ever happening again?

God did just that, allowed it to happen again this past week. Last Monday, June 3, four of our friends arrived here in Sussex, NB, coming from Toronto and Maine; the next day the 6^th friend joined us from Moncton. I, along with Ruth, had the special joy of hosting this special group here in Sussex. We had an amazing 4 days of enjoying the local sights as well as touring St. Martins, Saint John, and Moncton. We sampled authentic Maritime homemade fish cakes and fiddleheads, enjoyed ice-cream on several occasions, sampled a Ugandan bean recipe and haystacks (curried chicken and rice with toppings), plus Donairs and Macarons. But the true joy was being together and catching up on each other’s lives, praising God for his faithfulness over the past 16 years. Lots has happened…back then all of us were actively serving the Lord in full-time Christian work. Now, two have retired and another two are close to that milestone (us), two transferred membership to another organization, one moved from western Canada to eastern Canada, and for Ruth and me, we moved from the Philippines to Uganda; back then, VOICE Philippines wasn’t even thought about yet, never mind VOICE Africa! We each face our challenges but rejoice to know that our God never changes and He is actively working together all things for good…even the opportunity for six friends to be reunited. Praise Him!