A Wonderful “Birthday Gift”

“Ask the Lord of the harvest…to send out workers….” Matthew 9:38

For more than a month now, we have been sensing an acute need of someone else to work full-time with us, especially in areas of our weakness due to lack of the language, culture, and experience here in Uganda. As an example, despite our best efforts to follow-up some of the test teachers, we often didn’t understand each others accents, especially over the phone, and we mispronounced their names so badly that some didn’t recognize it! PLUS, time spent “fruitlessly” on the phone meant time away from other responsibilities. This need became even more intense during the three weeks that Ruth was with her family last month. And so we prayed, discussed our need with Scripture Union leaders…and waited. Little by little this need was becoming more evident to others and a few possibilities were suggested to us. We also asked you to pray about recruiting possible help of a Ugandan just last week in our “Pearl Of Africa” newsletter. Further discussion and prayer with our Ugandan co-worker, Beth, helped us to draft a Job Description.

Throughout this process, one person—Susan—continued to be dominant in our thinking. The more we learned/heard about her, the more we were convinced that she would be an excellent fit. She formerly worked with SUU re-establishing Scripture Union ministry in the north (a remote and difficult area) and opened up the Primary School ministry there for the first time. After several years ministry, for various reasons, she resigned from SUU a couple of years ago, leaving as a highly respected worker. Just before going abroad late last year, we met her when she volunteered to revise the Secondary Lessons on Truth, and did a good job. We also worked with her during an Evangelistic Christmas outreach in Beth's community. But would she be available and willing? She was just returning from being abroad and we didn’t know what her plans were.

Susan teaching the CrossTalk during a Christmas Outreach;
Dec. 3, 2013

Quite suddenly, she got in touch with us and we invited her to an April 3 curriculum meeting at our home. We both were impressed with her comments about various issues and her insights. Once the other people had left, we broached the subject with her and prayed together. The next day, in answer to her request, we emailed the Job Description to her. During the next phone call, she agreed to come to the Scripture Union Uganda office Monday morning and be interviewed by the Director, Dickens.

So yesterday, April 7 we enjoyed a precious time of interaction with Dickens and Susan. And…she accepted the position of Administrative Assistant for VOICE East Africa!  How we praise God for this answered prayer and Susan’s willingness to begin working with us on Monday, April 14. So God gave a special birthday gift yesterday to me; an answer to prayer and we feel a huge boost to this ministry that is seeking to reach the children and young people in this very ripe harvest field. Praise God with us, pray for Susan as she gets started, and pray the Lord of the Harvest for additional workers, including a host of volunteer teachers, for the harvest that is plentiful.