God's Encouragements via Friends

Even though I feel we are progressing fairly smoothly through this time of adjustment, transition, and uncertainty, God knows our deepest needs even when we sometimes cannot identify them. This past week, we received our very first piece of mail, a greeting card, via our post office box. Besides a wonderful hand-written note of encouragement and assurance of prayer, it carried the verse, James 5:16, “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” Even as I read the card to Laura, the tears welled up in my eyes. Thank you, Lord, You, as a prayer answering God, remain the same through the transition mazes which sometimes leave us feeling helpless and unable to do anything significant or helpful.

And then, the next day, an email came from a friend who used to serve with her husband and family in Kenya. She shared her thoughts gleaned from Genesis 35 which she had read that day…thoughts about various “losses” which Jacob sustained but which were then replaced by God with “gains.” She correctly assumed we would be feeling the weight of some of our “losses” as we transition from the Philippines to Uganda and wanted to assure us that God would replace those “losses” with gains. Quite unexpectedly the tears started flowing again…yes, I was missing the familiar and feeling weary of constantly dealing with new and unknown. Thank you, Lord, that you are so gracious and faithful—You faithfully replace the things you choose to take away with even better gains…in Your time. (And in fact, He is already doing that.)

Later that same day, we joined the WorldVenture ladies for an afternoon tea. Our hostess made name tags and chose a verse for each of us. She asked us to read the verse and share whatever we’d like. My verse was one God gave me fairly soon after He had confirmed His will to transition to Uganda, Isaiah 41:9-10, “You are my servant. I have chosen you and not rejected you. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!” What a timely reminder! Thank you, Lord, that You Who have chosen me, as amazing as that thought is. You are my almighty God Who promises to be with me, to strengthen me, and to hold me…and You always keep your promises. And Thank You for friends who journey with us and encourage us, using Your Word.

Another "Chance" Meeting...and Confirmation from God

Monday early afternoon, we left our cluttered house and headed in a “special hire” (taxi) to the Scripture Union (SU) headquarters on the west side of Kampala, taking many side roads in order to avoid the inevitable “jams.” As arranged last week, the SU Director, Dickens, met us there and took us in the SU truck south toward their camp property where most of their national workers were meeting.  After negotiating 30 minutes of high volume traffic and “round-abouts” (traffic circles), we left the paved surface.  Following 6 kms. of dusty and bumpy narrow road riding, past homes, massive greenhouses, and many pedestrians, we arrived at the beautiful 46 acre camp of Scripture Union which borders Lake Victoria.  We were treated to a short tour of the property by none other than our new friend, Beth (Ethiopia and South Sudan SU Coordinator). Besides the beautiful Lake Victoria shore, Beth pointed out a huge towering tree which used to be a village shrine but has now been claimed for Christ by His followers. We then joined the staff as they assembled. While Ruth and

Joshua is holding the visual aid while Ruth teaches the definition of "Values"
using actions

I chatted individually with various workers, I was "amazed" to find that the very first person I talked with was Joshua, the SU Coordinator for northern Uganda and he actually knew the Ugandan man, Bosco, who wrote that "fatal" email back on Sept. 14, 2009, asking us if they could have the Biblical values curriculum in Uganda. In fact, he co-taught (at a children's camp) with Bosco the module of curriculum that Bosco had received from our Philippine missionary friends who took a copy of the VOICE Curriculum to Uganda back in 2009. Wow...God's network is astonishing! Truth be told, I did struggle with a rush of emotion as I introduced ourselves to this special group of God's servants.  Following our sharing, Dickens asked all to stand and form a circle holding hands as several of the workers, including Joshua, prayed for us. We left encouraged and more convinced that God has gone before us and will direct our paths.

Praying For God’s Plan

We thank God for an encouraging meeting this past Friday with Beth, Scripture Union Coordinator for Ethiopia and South Sudan.  We heard her name during our first visit to Uganda in 2010 but were unable to contact her. The first Sunday after arriving in Kampala, we joined a fellow World Venture missionary, Connie, who attends the Kampala Baptist Church. God, in His sovereignty, put the four of us in the same small Ladies Sunday School Class! When Connie introduced us, she immediately perked up and stated that she wanted to get together with us!  We scheduled a time at a near-by coffee house where we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her a little bit better. I gasped when I heard her say she has actually visited New Brunswick and was mentored by a missionary couple from Moncton, NB (we know their daughter who is also an African missionary), while she was a student in Kenya.  Not only that...she also took the Mass Com Graduate studies at Wheaton a few years before I studied in the Ed Min program. We also learned that she had heard of us from the Director of Scripture Union in Uganda (whom we will meet with this week, Lord-willing).  Beth recently returned from South Sudan and described the dearth of materials in the Protestant Churches.  She shared how she was able to lead a number of South Sudan leaders to Christ during her teaching sessions.  As we showed the Biblical Values curriculum sample she smiled with enthusiasm to know of our plan, Lord willing, to have an African Edition printed and available.  We closed our time together with prayer and made a schedule to meet again later in the month for prayer for specific people who might join our Start Up Committee. Hmmm, seems God is continuing to show us His plan, step by step...person by person!