Silence!

God recently challenged me about my need for perspective, as we have put our “nose to the grindstone” in attempting to complete the first Module of VOICE East Africa for test teaching.  There are innumerable details in finalizing the Teacher’s Manual, art work for the Visual Aid Book, and original music to reinforce truths of the lessons.  In addition to the Curriculum there is the program and how to tweak it to best fit the context.  Finally we are wrestling with the Training, the best way to orientate and help those volunteers who, for the most part, are not used to having any curriculum to teach from.

While we puzzle in our new culture and context observing and asking questions, God waits for me to turn to Him and request wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Himself, Ephesians 1:17.  Oh to open the eyes of my heart to know Him.  This includes knowing the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance.  When I feel weak and disconnected in the new culture, He waits for my request of Him to know the exceeding greatness of His power that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.  This strikes such a chord in a land when death, heartbreak, and needs are so common.

When all is said and done, yes, eyes on Him.  He is the Risen Lord, exalted at the right hand of the Father far above all – thrones, dominions, principalities and powers.  Is there anything too hard for Him?  Is there any burden He cannot bear?  Is there any difficulty and suffering that will not also pass and be solved by He who has been given authority and sovereignty far above all of the things that challenge and stretch us.  Silence, eyes on Him.

God’s Timely Encouragements

The day had been long and full. Despite our best efforts, we knew the day-long training hadn’t been as helpful as we had hoped. Maybe we should have used this method rather than that, or dropped this and included that, or…and on it went. We bumped along in our blue Rav over the long dusty road leading from the camp site on the shores of Lake Victoria to the main road that would take us to Kampala.  Dusk was falling quickly as it does on the equator. Once on the main road, we were glad we were going toward Kampala rather than joining the bumper to bumper traffic headed home after work. Our Ugandan colleague sat beside me as I drove and the three of us debriefed the day of training. Not everything had “bombed out”—the Cross Talk evangelism tool had been received with enthusiasm, participants had freely and eagerly entered into the discussion, some truly “caught” the potential and thanked us, a closing circle of prayer initiated by the National Director during which several prayed for the program and for us, and more. But, it’s so “human” to focus on what didn’t go so well, and there was plenty that fell into that category!

Our living room wall where our Christmas cards are
displayed (and almost for sure more will be added)

Ah, our gracious Shepherd knew the turmoil…we had done our best but… This morning, while sitting around our dining table, once again discussing with a friend what had happened, of all things, a cell phone text arrived from a friend in the Philippines, “I’ve been really missing you.” Tears immediately welled up…and it was then that we realized that we were also deeply missing the Philippines…the known, our comfort zone. Thank you, friend, and Thank You Lord. Looking at our living room wall, God reminded us that those Christmas cards of 2013 were from people who loved and prayed for us – some daily! Thank you Lord! While still debriefing together, a phone call confirmed that two and maybe three of the Scripture Union of Uganda Regional Coordinators and their team had volunteered to pilot the program and would meet us again on Friday—Thank You, Lord. Then as if all these encouragements were not enough, just when I needed to “lighten up,” I read an e-mail prayer letter that erupted both me and Ruth in uncontrollable giggles. Speaking of something totally different, they ended the paragraph with “memorable moments we were eager to forget!” O yes, living and ministering in our new culture has caused us some of those moments. Thank You Lord for giving us a new perspective and comic relief!

Yes, our gracious Shepherd is faithfully leading us and providing for all of our needs, even those emotional needs that others don’t even know about. How good He is.

Christmas with the “Lions”

Several weeks ago Lillian, from our Sunday School class invited us to her family home for Christmas. Later we found out that this family (a widow and her six grown daughters and their families and friends) is known for their hospitality. Our mutual friend, Connie, has been their guest for many years now. We deeply appreciated their willingness to include us and looked forward to experiencing a Ugandan Christmas.

Christmas proved to be like no other Christmas in our experience. After an amazing Christmas breakfast with Connie and a few other friends, enjoying her delectable kringlers—all five kinds, we joined her and others at KBC for the Christmas service. Not only were the familiar carols sang with meaning, they vibrated with joy—who can match the African joyful celebration? The pastor spoke from Luke 2, a very thought provoking and heart-warming message centered on God’s love and care for each individual as seen in the Christmas story.

Five of the six sisters with their mother--the delightful
"lions"

Eventually we made our way to the den where the lions lived…but what a warm and loving den it was! You see, this family belongs to the “Lion Clan” of the ancient kingdom of Buganda. There are many other clans but theirs is one of most respected and honored. We had delightful visits with our friends and met new family members and friends. I was intrigued to learn that the head of this family clan, a 78-year-old widow, had studied in both the UK and Israel and remembers how it felt to be away from home for Christmas.  No wonder she and her six daughters (one lives in the UK was unable to come home) have a special heart for hospitality to those of other nations.  This delightful widow/sister in Christ was also once a teacher and had many stories which she enjoyed sharing. Around 4 pm, the meal was ready and what a buffet awaited us on an outdoor table. For the first time (as far as we can remember) potatoes and cooked vegetables were not part of the meal. The first (and perhaps most important) dish was matooke (green mashed banana, their staple food). The special Christmas meat was freshly barbecued chicken and pork ribs, all cooked over charcoal. A pasta dish and a type of salad were also part of the main course. A couple of hours later, that same table was laden with desserts, especially a cake baked by one of the sisters. Three kinds of ice cream (which judging by the comments is a rare treat) were part of the spread too.

Almost all of these “lions” also belong to a more important clan - Lion of the Tribe of Judah! They represent Him well. We were blessed to be among them. Never did we dream that our first Christmas in Uganda would include the privilege of eating “lions.”