Impact Testimonies from Three East African Nations

Fairly often we hear phrases such as “praise God for many stories of impact”...but to actually get those oral stories in writing is “like pulling hen’s teeth” (wherever that saying came from!). However, we received three such stories this past month and eagerly pass them on to you so that you too can rejoice in hearing evidence that God is answering your prayers for this ministry! Being “westerners” who love details, we simply have to be content with what we get! 

 

Tanzania:

This picture of a letter written by an elementary student was forwarded to us from Beth. It was sent to her without any further details, but what is there fills our hearts with joy. 

Uganda, South Sudanese Refugee Camp:

A Scripture Union South Sudanese refugee leader shared with Beth his conversation with a fellow refugee (not necessarily a Christian) who is in charge of a certain part of one of the refugee camps.

“The lessons taught by you Scripture Union leaders during Covid lock-down while schools were closed over the past two years helped our children a lot. I recommend that they be taught again.” When I told him our plans to teach the lessons in the schools now that they are open, the gentleman still insisted that in addition to the schools they still needed to be taught at the community level too.

 

South Sudan:

You may remember news from our last blog that Purity was taught by South Sudanese Scripture Union refugee leaders last month at a Scripture Union conference in South Sudan close to the Ugandan border. This is a report that came to Beth from that camp.

Two 15-year-old girls who participated in the Purity lessons told us that they were in a relationship with men from the area they came from. When we asked them “Why?” they replied that “they just admire it.” (Probably meaning that it’s considered a cool or in-thing to do.) After teaching lesson 5, Purity Has No Regrets, [a story of a bright and promising Ugandan girl who got sexually involved with two men over a period of several years while still a student and ended up sickly, not finishing school, and shunned by her relatives] both girls shared their decision to break those relationships in order to avoid regret and failure to finish school.

Serving One Another

Toward the end of 2013, civil war broke out in the newest nation on earth, South Sudan (founded July, 2011). About a third of the population fled their homes and over the next couple of year, more than a million of them entered the neighboring nation to the south, Uganda, where they continue to be accommodated in a number of refugee camps.  

The Scripture Union South Sudan national director was able to remain in the capital city of Juba, but many of those connected with that ministry ended up in Uganda. He and our friend/colleague, Beth, a Ugandan Scripture Union missionary to South Sudan (as well as Ethiopia, and Tanzania), quickly sought ways to minister to these displaced brothers and sisters in Christ. Through a wide variety of ministries, the believers have been built up in their faith, trained and challenged to be salt and light to their fellow refugees. Many of them have received instruction on the use of the VOICE Africa Biblical values curriculum and have taught children, youth, and families in the areas around them. About a month ago, the core group of leaders were equipped to be trainers themselves and enable others to use the curriculum to present God’s standard of righteousness and the need for salvation.

The four South Sudan refugees who taught
Purity to the children and younger teens

About two weeks ago, four of these South Sudanese refugees, leaders of the Scripture Union work in both the Palorinya and the Rhino refugee camps, traveled 6 hours by motorcycle to a town in South Sudan close to the Ugandan border, Kejikeji, to work with the Scripture Union South Sudan national director and others in holding a conference. 

Over 200 believers from that area and some from other areas of South Sudan attended. The overall theme for the conference was “Dating, courtship, and sexual purity.” While others were teaching the older teens and adults, these four refugee leaders taught the children and young teens using the VOICE Africa curriculum on Purity. What a thrill that must have been to serve their own people in their own nation once again!

Seeking forgiveness for personal and national sin

One day during the conference, all joined together to seek God’s forgiveness for their individual and national sins, and then did a prayer walk through that town pleading with God to repair the broken walls of their nation. May God answer that prayer...and in the meantime, continue to bless and use these refugees who continue to grow and serve despite past trauma.

Prayer march around the town

Excitement!

 If you were to paint a picture showing “excitement,” what would it be? I’m certainly not an artist, but I’d have some ideas...including children waking up on Christmas morning!

Earlier this week, a photo came from Africa which brought me close to tears as I sensed the excitement of those people. Don’t you agree?

 They are South Sudanese refugees living in the Bidibidi Refugee Camp with very few of the “comforts of life” that we often take for granted. And what are they excited about...being part of the Scripture Union end-of-the-year Conference, fellowshipping with other Christians, hearing God’s Word taught, being challenged in their Christian walk and service, and (no doubt, but not the overriding reason) the anticipation of having food to eat at each meal.

Just this morning I read Christ’s sobering words to the church of Laodicea, “For I know your works: you are neither cold not hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16) May our celebration of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ be “white hot” with love and gratitude for Him and as “sizzling hot,” jubilant, as the excitement of these refugees toward the opportunity to worship Him, Emmanuel!

Zanzibar?

 What comes to your mind when you hear the word Zanzibar? Laura remembers a line of a poem she learned in elementary school..."figs and dates from Zanzibar…” Ruth knew less than that! While we lived in Uganda, a few of our single missionaries went there for Christmas and showed pictures...but never would we have guessed that we would actually be on that island for ministry!

For a bit of a background, in case you too are not aware of these facts, it’s a small island, legally a part of Tanzania but has been given a fair bit of autonomy, partly because it is 98% M’m as compared with 35% of the rest of Tanzania. As God only can do, the evangelical Protestant church is respected on the island and they made it possible for Scripture Union to have a building in “downtown” Zanzibar City which houses their office and a couple small meeting rooms. Among other ministries, they had a Scripture Union club among students in one Primary School (2019).

Newly trained trainers serving with smiles! (2020)

Group picture of 2020 Zanzibar training.

In early 2020, Laura and Ruth went to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with Beth, our Ugandan friend/colleague and spent a week training four Scripture Union Tanzanian staff to conduct VOICE trainings. And of all places, Zanzibar was chosen as the location for the very first Swahili VOICE Training!
The four newly trained Tanzanians did the vast majority of the training while Beth (who knows a fair bit of Swahili) and the two of us (who by then knew about 4 words!!) were their coaches! It was a wonderful “highlight” experience, and of course, none of us knew what God would do as a result.

Charles

Fast forward to late October of this year, Beth and her assistant, Chris, were back in Tanzania to hold a Training of Trainers, not for four people this time, but for 30+ Christian workers! One of the participants, Charles, who somewhat recently joined the work on Zanzibar island, shared with Beth the wonderful report that there are now 15 schools who have Scripture Union clubs and seven of them are using the VOICE curriculum!

Praise God for what He has done! And now that Charles has received training, join us in praying that God will continue the work He has started and use the Biblical Values curriculum to bring many more students and their families to Christ as Savior and Lord.

Who Would Have Guessed? - Missions Near and Far

God surprised me one winter morning as I waiting in-line outside my local bank. “Could it be? Was that the Tagalog language I was hearing, just behind me?” When I turned to look back I discovered a Filipino couple braving the freezing temperatures as they waited their turn to do banking. The couple were stunned when they heard my stammering Tagalog! Thus began visits to their workplace, home, relationship building, helping to provide used furniture to newcomers, and

meeting more Filipinos at birthday parties and on it goes. I have been particularly drawn to the 8-year old daughter of the couple and have ended up volunteering to do child care often a couple of days each week. The child memorizes easily, keeps me energized, and gave me the idea to challenge her family to also memorize Bible verses. They did, and I awarded them an English/Tagalog Bible! Now others have taken on the challenge. I continue to pray for the opportunity in God’s time for a regular evangelistic Bible Study.

Indeed, who would have guessed a mission field right here in my town?

Meanwhile, far across the seas in Tanzania, Scripture Union is trusting God for finances needed to publish the third Swahili values module, Truth...so that they can better reach the children/youth in their “backyard” with the Gospel. And who would have guessed - this month a Canadian gave over half of what is needed! Will you pray with us for the remaining $5,000+ US to complete this SEND International project for Tanzania? If you can help, please mark your donation “Tanzania Swahili Values Printing Project” and mail to:

SEND International of Canada      or       SEND International

1-22423 Jefferies Road RR35                  PO Box 513

Komoko, ON                                            Farmington, MI 48332

N0L 1R0 CANADA                                  USA

 

Or you can give online:

     USA donors - SEND.org/give

     Canadian donors - https://send.org/canada/give-from-canada/

Personal and Corporate Prayer - AND Testimonies from Africa

Today was one of those mornings when the air was cool, the sun bright, and an incredible day to enjoy God’s creation, especially with a long-time (from elementary school!), but seldom seen friend who is also a sister in Christ. We both so enjoyed eating our picnic by the

Kennebacasis River as we caught up, remembered light moments, and discussed significant concerns on both of our hearts. Before parting, we paused to bring thanksgiving and worship to the One Who loves and waits for us to verbalize our praise and pour out our hearts seeking His will and direction in our priorities and calendars. There’s just something about praying with someone else that adds to our enjoyment and meaning.

Thanks for faithfully petitioning our great God with global concerns from our Prayer Zone; probably it is usually a time between you and God—personal prayer. Next month there is an opportunity for you to join others in prayer for those mutual concerns—corporate prayer—albeit virtually via the internet. October 6, Wednesday, is the exciting day, beginning at 1 PM EST—A 2-hour Concert of Prayer (or for as long as you can stay with us). We hope to have live prayer updates from London, Ontario; Claremont, New Hampshire; and Sussex, New Brunswick...and maybe even from Uganda...with opportunity to actually pray aloud with others in small groups. We’re looking forward to being able to pray with you—hope you can join us!

If you plan to join us, please email Laura so she can send you the needed link. - lbonney2@gmail.com.

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In answer to prayer, God has worked in the hearts of children and families who participated in the online teaching of the Truth module in Uganda. Here’s just a few of their testimonies:

• Dear teachers, I have enjoyed the classes so much. I wish I could attend it every day and teach my friends plus my young sister. I pray that I can be able to spread the word of God to every child who has not been born again so that they can trust in God. The teaching has made me learn to read the Bible very well and be able to preach about it at home during Bible Study and devotions. This has improved me a lot. I love you so much. (Amarorwot)

• Dear Teachers, Thank you so much for teaching about Truth. I used to tell lies to my parents when I have done something wrong because I feared to be caned/punished but after this lesson, I always tell the truth and they forgive me. I know this makes God, my parents and me happy (the truth sets you free). May God bless you so much for the teachings. (David)

• We noticed lots of improvements in the life of our daughter in regards to telling of the truth, and also being able to follow through with what she studies and being able to apply it in our family devotions. We have also deliberately given her and her siblings a forum to take us through as a family in regards to the very subject of Truth, indeed we have been blessed by her rich sharing and deep understanding of that topic. We are grateful to her teachers and classmates. May the good Lord bless you big time. (Parents of Namakula)

• Dear Scripture Union, We are more than overjoyed to see that you are instilling good values to the young generations. When these children hear you emphasizing what we labor to tell them, your added voice is more precious than gold. It’s highly valued by them and we have seen great change in Josiah’s self-esteem because now he knows that he is special. Thanks to all our teachers of the value of Truth. God bless you richly. (Mum and Dad for Josiah)

• Dear Scripture Union, Thank you for your service. You are a blessing not just to the children, but even us the parents. This is just to appreciate you and to thank you for guiding our children in the ways of God. (Carol’s parent)

• Hello Scripture Union. Thank you for always teaching the children these values we didn’t get to learn when we were still young. May God richly bless you abundantly. We will surely keep attending the classes. (Jonathan’s parents)

 

I Want to Get Saved!

(The following is a slightly edited copy of an email written by Beth Baleke.)

Early morning, Sunday, July 25, as I heard the familiar Muslim call to prayer, I once again began praying for this large religious group in my nation. Following a great Lord’s Day worship, etc., I took a 10 minute walk to see a friend. As I started home, little kids playing caught my attention. We smiled and waved to each other.  

“If only I had carried Naigaga (my soft puppet)! Could I call home and ask for the puppet to be brought?” Then I realized I had not brought my phone. “Would I have time to get the puppet before our nightly curfew?” [due to COVID restrictions]

I hurried home, grabbed Naigaga, CrossTalks, and other literature and headed back. An elderly gentleman called the children back for me! More than a dozen came and loved meeting Naigaga as she introduced the evangelistic tract, CrossTalk. I then gave each a tract and used it to explain the Gospel step by step while most listened intently.

As I finished up, waved goodbye and started toward home, one of the mothers, with covered head and a baby, approached me with the words, “I want to get saved.” Somewhat taken aback, I replied, “Why? Who are you?” (I later reflected if our Lord Jesus would have responded this way!) “My name is Mariam. I was a Muslim but I want to get saved. We just lost my sister’s child! When the child was in so much pain, whenever she heard Christian music it would soothe her. We played Christian music for her until the sick child asked us permission if she could follow Jesus. We gave our permission and the child died. Now with all my problems, I also need Jesus.”

I asked her, “How many children do you have?” She answered, “Four, here is the eldest, Helen.” She introduced two others and the baby in her arms. I responded, “Where is the father of the children?” Her face fell, “This is part of my problem. He was a soldier and left me a year ago. Now I cannot even reach him by phone. I was working in the market but now under lock-down we are all suffering.” 

I briefly explained the Gospel and she prayed to trust Christ! Helen, about 16 years, also trusted Christ as Saviour as her mother encouraged her.  After praying for them, I asked “Do you have a Bible?” Mariam answered, “No.” “If I can get you a Bible, what language?” “English.” “I will get you one." "When?" "Today.” She looked surprised. 

I dashed back and retrieved a Bible, Scripture Union devotional book and food! Mariam was so excited to get the Bible she could hardly put it down! She started reading it immediately. She and the children also skipped for joy seeing the food.  

The Lord is AWESOME. I am rejuvenated. I am so thankful to our great God and His Holy Spirit’s prompting. God is merciful and helped me overcome my being weary from walking! Pray as I do follow-up with Miriam and her family. Pray others may come to Christ even during our continuing COVID lock-down.