God Certainly Works “Outside the Box”

We as SEND missionaries—a mission that doesn’t work in Africa—are in that out-of-the-box category! And the more we observe God at work, the clearer it becomes that He specializes in doing things we might describe as “outside the box”—not in a way that we would plan or expect to happen. Last Sunday, we had totally unconnected conversations with three different people and each one highlighted this specialty of God!

Our first was with a missionary couple from another mission who have had some puppet experience and have been desirous to see that method used here in Uganda. When Laura shared what is happening with the Scripture Union puppet team she’s working with, their eyes lit up and they agreed to come to the next puppet meeting this Saturday. Their contribution (among others) is exactly one of the biggest needs—help with coming up with scripts and music! Not exactly something that we could plan…but one of God’s out-of-the-box ways!

Second was with our day guard—whose own salvation is somewhat questionable although he has heard the Gospel on a number of occasions. Earlier in the day he asked for transportation money to enable him to go to his village for a funeral of an uncle. Laura decided—no doubt a thought from God—to provide that need but with the agreement that he would take and distribute 125 God’s Offer tracts to his family and mourners. Upon his return that evening, he was glowing—“I have given them all out, people kept asking, one requested 25 to share with her family.” Hmmm…that’s a rather out-of-the-box way to evangelize!

And third was by phone with one of guys, Steve, on the Puppet Team. He and others had gone to help lead a Scripture Union Uganda Exodus Camp, especially for students who finished secondary school and are waiting to begin college/university—a 9-month wait here. They used puppets and also trained them to make sock puppets which the campers loved…but that wasn’t the highlight. They also took the Honesty module, Secondary level, to use as part of the teaching sessions. They only taught the first 3 lessons but Steve said the results were phenomenal as campers were convicted of acts of dishonesty that have been part of their lives.  When campers shared their highlights of camp, the vast majority testified of the impact of the honesty lessons.  Steve went on to say that a number of these teens volunteered to teach the curriculum in schools during these months of waiting! Although Laura was the one on the phone, I was close enough so that I could hear…and I immediately dropped my head in shame and worship and exclaimed out loud to God…"You will do it Your way, won’t You?" What an amazing God we serve!

What Deeds Will Follow Us?

Today Ruth and I were privileged to attend BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) with our helper Dorcus. As you may know, it is an international program helping people to seriously study God’s Word. This year the 30-week study is on the book of Revelation; we studied Rev. 15 and 16 in preparation for today's Bible Study. Each day this past week we read those chapters and answered guide questions about what we had read. Then during the weekly 2-hour study, we discussed our answers in small groups, listened to an inspiring lecture on those chapters, and then were given a set of notes to read/study which serve both as a commentary and as application…plus the questions to answer in preparation for next week. Add to this singing hymns with the whole group of usually more than 150 women and you have a picture of our Tuesday mornings. This morning, in my small group, I shared the part from the previous notes which was especially meaningful to me, “As you think of the ways you spend your time, energy and money, what deeds will follow you when your life is over?”

A couple of days ago I received an email from another “Laura” in Canada, with news that God had taken a dear servant of His home. Although our friend was a businessman, he traveled the globe and hilariously used his resources in Kingdom work. He even visited the Philippines one time and my short interaction with him remains a dear memory. He and his wife were at the very last meeting we spoke at in Canada before returning to Uganda…and yes, he gave us a generous donation. I can imagine a few days ago many Kingdom returns from his investments have welcomed Him as He entered the presence of the Lord. As I have been the beneficiary of the generosity of this brother, may I also invest my resources in the many opportunities and needs surrounding us. Our deeds will follow us (Rev. 14:13)—may they be ones that will bring glory to our God and Savior.

Post Election Thankfulness

Today was the first “normal” day since last Tuesday when we were advised to “lay low,” not leaving our compound during Uganda’s election week. It was a great feeling to have our driver Fred, back in the driver’s seat and drive us off our compound to our BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) class on the book of Revelation—we were absent last week due to the elections. Following that, Fred took us to Nasser Road, the printing press street of Uganda where I was dropped off to check on the printing of Honesty, Secondary level. Ruth went to the Post Office to mail letters we wrote during our “lock-down.” We met an hour later at a favorite Coffee Shop. Imagine the surprise when I answered my mobile phone and heard our friend/colleague Beth’s voice, calling from South Sudan. There was no electricity and she failed to bring a printed copy of some notes she needed for the training. Oh, good thing Ruth had her laptop and she was able to find the file and I dictated over the phone to Beth who wrote feverishly the notes. As I paid the bill for our lunch, I slipped a tip into a copy of the small tract, “God’s Offer.” Immediately, the waiter returned with the biggest smile and overflowing thanks. Another waiter joined him and interjected “you gave me one a while ago but someone wanted mine, could you give me another one?” I had printed these booklets some weeks ago in memory of my Aunt Mildred. As we exited the Coffee Shop, I saw the first waiter leaning on the wall eagerly reading through page by page the story of God’s amazing offer of salvation to us. Praise God our National Elections are over and we continue to have freedom to share God’s Word in Uganda and beyond.