Six Hour Birthday Bash

It was an 80 Year Thanksgiving for Mama Florence like we have seldom seen. Celebrations happen frequently in the Philippines…but are more rare here in Uganda so this was a true treat! It was a “family affair” but Beth’s sisters (three of them, 2 of whom we know) insisted that we be invited since we didn’t have any family here in Uganda to celebrate with—how thoughtful! The venue was the Crested Crane Hotel a two hours’ drive East from Kampala. That scenic drive was made even more delightful by having the Scripture Union Director and his wife with us—the stories we heard! Once there, we were seated outside at tables under tent coverings (watching the dark clouds depart and be replaced by a nice cloud covering) giving a bit of welcomed “shade.” Eventually, the celebrant and her entourage arrived (African time!), greeted by the loud squeals of other African women (you really have to hear it to believe it!). But…we had difficulty discerning who really was the celebrity—her peers hovered very close which gave us another new insight into culture! Her children (6 still living of the original 8) and grandchildren came from as far away as South Africa and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. God was certainly given first priority as a couple of pastors and a choir started the ceremony with Christmas carols and a message (all done in a mixture of three languages!). By the end of the worship service, the crowd had peaked at more than 200. Family and friends gave tributes and family stories. Ernie was asked to make an appearance for the sake of the children which proved to be a challenge since the audience was on all sides.  Some chuckled at Ernie’s attempt to greet in the vernacular and wear the tribal robe. Of course, the children were darling and the adults also entered into their delight of meeting Ernie. Eventually, about 3:30 pm, we lined up for lunch which offered lots of variety, including Beth’s family’s favorite—matooke (cooked green banana). Praise God for this godly family and the huge blessing the oldest girl of the celebrant, Beth, continues to be to us as we move forward with the godly values program of VOICE Africa.

Let's Celebrate!

Rather than write our own blog, we simply want you to celebrate with us as you read an article written by SEND International. Here's the link:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015SENDInternational/12VOICE/prweb13132690.htm

SINGING IN THE DARK

This week has included some wrestling matches between what is seen and what can be seen only by faith--unseen as yet. We continue to believe that we are here in Uganda in the perfect will of God, and our partnership with Scripture Union is also according to His will. But just how the VOICE Africa program will be fully integrated into Scripture Union and how it will be embraced by churches as a school outreach is still quite fuzzy and tenuous. We thought maybe we were making progress…but then again, maybe we’re not!

Such thoughts were filling my mind a couple of mornings ago as I prepared my hot drink. All was quiet; it would be another 20 or 30 minutes before the birds would break out in their exuberant burst of praise that welcomes each day here. And then…could it be? Yes, the unique song of the King Fisher—so unique it cannot be confused with any other bird. I don’t recall ever hearing his song in the morning chorus; it’s usually full day light when he gifts us with his concert of praise maybe once or twice a week when he chooses one of our trees to perch on. I stopped and listened with amazement…and with the realization that what he was doing is what God desires…singing in faith in the dark! Thank you, Mr. King Fisher! I’ll try to follow your example!

SEE TO IT...

Col. 4:17 - “Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’”

I received sad news in an email Thursday night—my friend, Mission Chairman of a supporting church, and champion for missions had been suddenly taken home through a road accident. Earlier that day we also had been dealing with some of the mammoth pile of reports, etc., from while we were gone…and one item had somewhat discouraged us and caused us to once again question…will VOICE truly be sustainable? I didn’t sleep well with so much going through my mind.

Friday, Ruth and I were off at 7:00 a.m. heading to Scripture Union to join their daily one-hour devotional period and then meet with the Administrator to discuss how VOICE might become more a part of SU as they do their 2016 planning. As we rode along, my struggle continued. I was also wrestling with the fact that we still had not been able to begin preparing the Honesty Modules for printing…that sense of being overwhelmed once again was stealing my peace. I struggled to pray. Ruth shot up a silent one, “Lord let us sight You as the Lion of Judah today.” The SU devotions centered around the difference one person can make, King Josiah, and the realization that he came from an ungodly family…which meant some unnamed person had spoken truth into his life and what a difference that person had made. After closing prayer, SU always reviews the memory verse of the week and it was Colossians 4:17, “Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’" As it was recited, Ruth was hit “right between her eyes”—she had sighted the Lion of Judah and heard His word to her. But just in case we may not have heard it, the leader then spontaneously (not knowing anything about our struggles), went on to say, “Ruth and Laura, finish the work God has given you to do.” Suddenly God was there assuring us and helping us to not let the mysteries and trials of life detract us from the work He has given us to do. With renewed encouragement, our meeting that day doubled in length as four of us shared together about the work God was giving us to do in 2016. It also slowly dawned on me…yes, Jay had completed the work God had given him to do, and God took him. Join us in doing all we can to complete the work God has entrusted to us.

(Link on the accident that claimed the life of a supporting Church Missions Chairperson: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/kindergarten-teacher-jay-keddy-killed-biking-on-claremont-access-1.3348586)