Rejoicing in the Truth

     So many things compete for our attention; house repairs, school lessons, various difficult needs of children and relatives, health… I think of the verse in Romans that speak of creation groaning, “even ourselves who have the Spirit groan within as we eagerly wait for the redemption of our bodies.” Rom. 8:22,23.  I think I have been groaning lately and I am not comfortable with where I have been emotionally, dragging by.

     However, the deep truths of Romans 8 have encouraged me. Verse 24 says, “For we were saved in this hope.” Our adoption and redemption draws nigh! We have this hope! … “If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare His own son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not freely give us all things?” Christ, who is at the “right hand of God, makes intercession for us”. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” … “In all these (difficult) things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us… Nothing can separate us from the love of God!”  So what is my problem?

     It has been difficult to stay ‘up’ all the time like when I was going to Uganda and when we first came back. The battle against us is on. There have been attacks within and without. Day to day work done with asthma, has wearied the body.  It’s been a huge task to prepare the house to sell. There has been delay after crazy delay getting it actually listed. There have been water leaks in the house, break downs with our cars, mower and other equipment.  Some of our children and grandchildren are having tough struggles. The list goes on….

     But, I was reminded that I need to “take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5. I had ‘let’ the enemy steal my joy. I must “REJOICE in the Lord ALWAYS.” “In the Lord”, means my mood should not depend on my circumstances if God is my center. God is in control and He deserves my praise no matter what. I need to remember the TRUTH of God’s Word; and not just remember in my head alone, but, really Rejoice!

     Make a joyful noise! Get serious about celebrating God! Commemorate His Goodness! “A merry heart is good medicine.” Prov.17:22.  Break the ‘poor me’ attitude and Celebrate all God has done and will yet do!  It is not about us, but GOD! Let Praises Ring!

     Numbers 23:19 says,  “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” He has spoken to me and He will fulfill His Word.

     God is Faithful. He is in control. I have this hope!  Faith says I have a firm foundation that I can have a confident expectation in. Jesus and His Word are my confidence! Always!

     “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts… and be THANKFUL And let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual song, singing with JOY in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, GIVING THANKS to God the Father through Him.” Col. 3:15-17

     I hope you have found the Word of God sufficient to met your deepest need. As I read the Bible and write it I get excited. The active power of the Word fills me with more energy then food or anything else ever can. 

     “Your Words were found, and I ate them. And your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your Name, O Lord God of Hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16.  "Taste and see that the LORD is Good! Rejoice!"

Waiting and remembering God is faithful

    As the days go by and the further we get from our trip to Uganda, the memories tend to fade like all memories do. I think of the Israelites when they settled into the land of Canaan and the many admonitions by God, for them to remember His mighty works of old. Why is remembering where you’ve been and what God had done so important? I have seen as we plough through each day’s duties, that without the moorings of God’s faithful direction of the past, I can wander aimlessly and get discouraged about the future. It takes effort to stay focused on God and remember His faithfulness to us, especially when storm clouds gather above us.

     As we walked the base, as we ate meals with the staff; the sweet spirits of all the people there challenged us. They told us their stories and how they greatly desired to go back into the Congo or Sudan, so that they might witness of Jesus’ redemptive power and His great love for each hurting individual torn by sin. They had so little, yet were willing to live where they would have even less.

 

    These new dear friends remembered God’s faithfulness and they could not forget those they left behind in their war-torn countries. God had spared their lives through the wars, gave them new meaning through salvation in Jesus, and healed their hearts. What about those who never heard the good news of Jesus? Our friends in Arua would not forget them.
     Now that I am ‘saved’ and safe, do I forget those left behind that still need to come out of the terror of war, the war against their souls? Do I forget God’s great miracles in my life, get comfortable in the Promised Land, and then just live for myself? Oh, God forbid.

  Our home is now for sale. The physical work of selling all is not a fun thought. We’ve been there before.   Change can be very hard. But God is so good. We are His precious children and He has carried us through many a major move, through major life threatening illnesses, through great turmoil with our family and work. He will carry us through each day ahead. He tells us that, “God is able to make all grace abound to you (to us) that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor. 9:8) Note, He says ‘need’, not all I may ‘want’. He gave me all I ‘needed’ even when I was sick, bedridden and hospitalized these past years. I had time with Him. Good fruit was produced there in those dark places of my life. I could rest in His loving care and I learned not to fret or complain that life was tough. Jesus was with me. Those close to me still heard moans and cries at times; but over all I valued the relationship building time I had with God as He slowed me down. I seriously prepared to go ‘home’. I was at peace with God and wanted to be at peace with all.

 It was at that point, that I cried. My heart broke over all I saw who were not at peace with God or others. I wanted to do more, so that loved ones would be in a right relationship with God and others. I wrestled with God over that. Could I do more than lie there? Yes, I could commune with God, but I had family, friends, neighbors, a world around me that needed more. God, can I do more so that the lost will love you?  It was my question then and now… 

   Everywhere we turn here, we see friends really struggling with serious life issues; friends divorcing, major illness concerns, rebellious children, loss of job or home, or worse, the loss of a child, spouse, or parent. Our hearts are very heavy in concern and prayer for them all. These weeks have been heavy and we are praying continually asking God to help each person and to also give us wisdom as to how we are to respond in love to help them. 

   We offer our help and are praying. My dear friends, “My heart grieves with you. May God lift you up and carry you through the deep waters in your life. Please remember His faithfulness of the past and the great love He demonstrated for you on the cross. ‘Fix your eyes on Jesus …who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’ (Heb.12:2,3) Hang on to Jesus, dear ones. For ‘in all these things (trouble, hardships, dangers…) we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Rom. 8:37) ” God does not promise that each of us will be healed, restored, or come out of all trials in this life, but He does promise to walk through all life’s storms with us. Remember God was with Israel in the desert in the cloud and fire. And He led them by the cloud and fire. And by the clouds and fire (what seems so dark, ugly and harmful), He will guide us too. And afterwards, may we remember what he saved us from and go back to share Jesus, so He may save those still captive in the war. 

      As I wrote these words the storm clouds gathered over us….  Was I remembering His faithfulness?

  When we heard God call us to Uganda we were at a good place emotionally. Progress had been made and all signs indicated all would be well for everyone in the family. But now an enemy has reared his ugly head. The attack is on. I tried to prepare for it and my heart is trying to give it all to God. Some days are a real struggle, particularly with a handicapped child. Yet, I have felt the peace of God over me saying “Remember, your times are in my hands.” All life events are in God’s loving hands. My work here is just as important as any work I could do there in Uganda. His will be done. Press on in the strength of God.

Our life has been very full as we wait for the word from Uganda that we are officially accepted; we wait for the house to sell; we wait for Katie’s paper work so she can visit; we wait for healing of children…

We wait and it is hard. Satan is not waiting and we continually feel the oppression from him. We need your prayers. We need each other. We need to pray for one another. We need to Heed the words of God and remember He is still here with us and He is faithful…”  

  

   (How like God to hear my heart and answer! I have been writing with a weight on my heart . And as I wrote, “we need prayer…” the phone rang.  I felt like hanging up thinking “Oh my, another phone solicitor.”, but I waited and heard the voice of a Wycliffe Bible Translators volunteer. Yes, they were calling for a donation, but I love them. We had been to their training program 30 years ago as we first pursued missions.  I told her of our plans to move overseas to work in missions. She then and there prayed for us. She has been where I am and she knew what I was feeling. Later, I again felt the heaviness of an attack and asked God for a friend to pray with. God put a name on my heart to call so I could encourage her. But God used her to pray for me. What a blessing!)

Thank you God. You are faithful. You know our deepest need. You care. You hear us and answer.
Thank you dear Jesus.

Remember His faithfulness of the past and go on in Jesus’ strength; then share Him with others.

We want to pray for you too. Please pray for us.

 Thank you. 

A Bridge of Healing to the Nations

YWAM, Arua - A base living up to its mission.

     God gave us a wonderful opportunity to get to know and bless the families of the local YWAM missionaries in Uganda, Africa. The area we visited, and hope to return to full time, is in the northwestern corner of the country near the borders of Southern Sudan and Eastern Congo. Those countries have experienced much war in recent years and we met many from Sudan and Congo whose lives were greatly affected; yet these dear people hope to return to those countries to minister to the unreached people who have, like themselves, suffered the atrocities of the war.  Sadly their churches have very little to give to support any worker. These families live by faith, trusting God for all their needs.

     Joyce’s father was shot when she was 14. She left school and found work to help her mother support her nine siblings through school. She and her husband, Emma, (short for Emmanuel) with their three girls, want to reach out to the Issori tribe in Sudan who were abused by the LRA and later rejected by area tribes as traitors. The Issori people have been misunderstood and are in great need after years of isolation. The YWAM team started building relationships with them, and is now seeing some come to faith in Jesus.

     Elida’s father died when she was 4 years old and she, her mother, and village lived continually on the run from the rebels, the LRA, in Southern Sudan. They would hear gunshots and take off for the bush to hide. Raided many times, they would lose the little they had and they constantly had to search for food and water. She never learned to read and write. Now, as the mother of five sweet girls, she and her husband Mario long for their children to have a better life. They are hoping to one day go to the Congo and share their hope of Jesus with those who are still harassed by the LRA. (We don’t know Mario’s early years but he was a pastor of a church and a translator of the Baka language with Wycliffe’s SIL before becoming the YWAM Discipleship Training School leader. He is now a part of the base’s leadership team.)

     John Toburo, and his wife Alice, are powerful witnesses for Jesus. They and their 12 children live in the local village, near the YWAM base, in a brick hut with a thatch roof that leaks. Nearly 60 years old, he has lived there all his life. He saw many flee during the wars and now sees many new people come settle in their poor village. As the pastor of the small village church, he has a great love for his people. (He also leads the Discipleship Training School at the base.)

     All of these families live on very little. Joyce’s and Elida’s families live in very simple rooms (just bedrooms) on the base. They try to supplement their income by baking little cookies to sell. Outside their doors, we would sit and visit as they washed clothes by hand and cooked on little charcoal fires. We were so very impressed with the love and friendship they and their sweet children showed us. They are a joyful, contented people and we rejoiced at their testimonies of thanks to God.

     God made it very clear to us that we were sent to help these beautiful, godly ministers. All three of these Arua staff families, need help to send their children to school.  Because of the wars and the living conditions there, they as parents, were unable to get much, if any education. English is Uganda’s national language and children are required now to go to school at the age of three. The government school is not free, is very crowded and does a poor job teaching.

 

     The village school, Little Angels, run by Christians, is trying hard to do a good job with their few resources. We were able to visit all the classes and talk to the director who now emails us as a friend. By faith, we started the process of sponsoring the 13 children of these three families at Little Angels.

     Joyce and Emma’s three girls could no longer afford to attend the government school. They are so thrilled to now be at the local village school. The girls had to run home each day several miles to eat lunch and run back for the afternoon classes. Their middle daughter never ate lunch because she was afraid to run home by chance she would be late to get back. Now they can be near and have their lunch provided at the new school.

     Elida and Mario’s five daughters, and a niece they support, are able to stay at the village school where they by faith started this February. The very day we felt God tell us to help these families, Mario had gone also by faith, to the school and told the director that God would provide. He gave the director his $50 needed for his visa (He is from Sudan and needed that money to stay in the country) and said that God would supply the rest. The next morning, the Base director of YWAM told him of our plan. He came rejoicing to us and together we went to the school and paid all his girls fees for the first term. (We gave him his visa money as well.) God answered their prayers!

     John and his family’s youngest four children, Richard, 7; Malyamungu meaning “all wealth belongs to God”, a boy, 6; Gloria, 5; and Francis, a boy, 3; never went to school. His other seven children attend the government school, but there was no money left for the little one’s education. Now the little ones can attend the school near their home.

     They are required to start young so they can learn English. In a world where there are few jobs and people live without the basic essentials, it is good for them to get the best schooling possible. 

     At Little Angels , the discipline is excellent and the children politely recited their lessons. They receive a lunch and uniforms, which are a blessing for these poor families. Their buildings are just shells of brick with open windows. Each class has a blackboard and benches and a few posters. Only some children had a notebook and pencil. We saw no books, but all were so happy to attend.

     We visited the schools several times, as we enrolled each family, but as we walked through the village to the school, we saw so many more children who could not attend. Some were dressed in filthy rags. Some little ones had no clothes at all. Some wee ones screamed at the sight of white people; others came shyly toward us to stare. As we smiled and said hello, as we held out our hands to shake theirs, they giggled and all the other children would run over to have their hands shaken as well.

     The Muslim children would take our hands and place them on their foreheads then kiss our hands. Some would bow or curtsey, or hold their forearm as they shook our hand as a sign of respect. If only they all could be given an opportunity to go to school.  How we long to bless them all in the name of Jesus.

     If God lays it on your heart, we would love to have you come along side of us to see these children and missionary families supported. (Please call 573-459-2375 or email us patrickdharr@hotmail.com for more information.)

We Were Welcomed

Ever step into a new place and ... 

... immediately feel you were welcome and belonged?

When we were picked up at the Arua airport by the base directors and their children we were embraced in love and treated as family. They filled us in on life there as we drove that bumpy road through town.

The hospitality was wonderful. Our housing was the best in the compound. They treated us to dinner in their home. I helped with the meal and Pat jabbered with the children as they showed him their pet rabbits, goats, and cows. We fit!

John & Vikki Wright (Base Leaders), & Family

Vikki is the lone American on base and her husband John is British. They were co-founders of the base 10 years ago with an Australian woman and a Ugandan couple. It was fun to see that they are very like us in personality. John has a great sense of humor and is partly deaf (Just like Pat!). Vikki and I had instant rapport and freely shared our hearts. It was so good to be comfortable conversing.

Our first day at the YWAM base we were able to settle in and later walk their property that was  given by a woman and her family to use for God’s kingdom work. Westerners come visit for various reasons and the locals hesitate going up to and talking to any until they are invited by the newcomers to converse.
We boldly went to them and ask their story and were invited into their lives.

Valence & Sofia, Sheree & Pat
in Valence's Home

We asked hundreds of questions and took notes. I did not want to miss a thing, though I know I did, for there was so much to learn, so many stories. As we bumped down the road in the staff truck or walked the village road filled with potholes, I attempted to fill my little notebook.

Bosco & Edith (Base Leaders) & Family

Bosco is one of the base leaders we connected with right away. It was by God’s design, as what Bosco shared with us on our first full day there got us stirred up and laid the foundation of what we were to do the rest of our visit. God revealed one of the main reasons we were sent. We asked everyone we met on base what their work was and what dream or vision they had for themselves or the base. As Bosco started to share his heart for the work of God there, we got excited.

Most missionaries do not have a large income supplied by a denomination, but must raise their own support. They look to God and pray the church body will see the need. Even Apostle Paul had to exort the churches to be generous and remember that the workers are worthy of their hire. In many foreign countries, the church has a hard time seeing the need to support missions. Missionary families often struggle. In the foreign field where the churches are young and small, their workers receive little pay.

Bosco shared how many of the staff on base had so very little. These servants of God have come from the war zones of Sudan, Congo and Uganda. Jobs are few, the people impoverished, and their education opportunities small. Yet, these are faithful people who have withstood great obstacles and have trained with YWAM and now desire to take the Good News into the neighboring war torn counties. Their biggest need and hope is for their children. (Think of how many of us would love to do things on our hearts but always wonder “What about my kids? How will it affect them?”) The staff here has asked this same question, and they have stepped out in faith to share the Gospel as full time servants of God, trusting God to provide for themselves and the needs of their children.

Bosco’s dream, to see all the staff’s children in a school situation where they would be trained in righteousness, touched a nerve in us. He questioned, if we all as missionaries, are considering how we disciple our own children. As servants of God, we don’t want to neglect our children as we minister to others. Missionaries often appeal to the church for their support of evangelism outreach to the lost and discipleship of the saved, but so often, the emphasis is on that work and their families’ spiritual growth is taken for granted or not even discussed.

We have known ministers whose own children have gone astray as the fathers (or mothers both) are off doing God’s work. Many Christian families assume their children will catch on to what their parents know and believe and the children are given to others, who may or may not have the same values, to be trained in school.

Home schooling is not an option as the parents have had very little schooling growing up, if at all. In Uganda, school is mandatory for three year old on up, but that law is difficult when school is expensive and families have little or no money.

Bosco took us on a hike through the bush to show us land that YWAM had been given. He dreams of the day they can build a school that all their children can be taught in from age three to college. He hopes that one day God will allow them to train their children in His ways and prepare them for godly service. Many in the village also who cannot pay to go to school could benefit as well.

Pat and I immediately felt we were to do something to help in this area. Our prayer before we went to Uganda was that God show us how and where we could help. This second day we were starting to see.
Pat and I fervently prayed that night. I could not sleep. My mind would not shut down. Ideas swam in my head.

Our hearts were open to what God would show us… we prayed…. And listened …

Being Ready

“Watch therefore, …”
 

   … for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming … therefore you also be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect … Watch …”

   Matthew 24 and 25 contains Jesus’ sober warning of our need to be watchful and ready for His return. “To watch” the root means “to rouse”, having “mindfulness of threatening danger which, with conscience earnestness and an alert mind, keep one from all drowsiness and all slackening in the energy of faith and conduct”  (S. Zodhiates Word Study). We’re to refrain from sleep, to be ready, prepared, ever mindful, and fit for Christ’s return.

   I have been mindful of that command these past few weeks as I wait for Matt to call when Erin goes into labor. Being on standby is not easy. Waiting expectantly, I find I need to prepare on 2 fronts. I have a family to care for here, and I must be in the travel mode with my bags packed, food and vehicle ready. My mind is on high alert. It’s hard to sleep when you’re ever watchful. If the call comes at night I will have to wait till daylight. I can’t maneuver in the dark. Will they have help till I arrive?  Then I wonder if I will have time to finish what I start each day. I wonder, will I then be late to the birth and of no help? “God, can I just rest and not sweat it?” These questions make me ponder my attitude to His coming. Am I excited about His return or just busy with my work? 

   God has the time and plan for all things and I remember His perfect care of us as we went to Uganda. The lessons are deep and weighty for me. Do I perfectly trust His way and can I totally rest in His timetable? Am I doing all I can to be productive with the work and schedule He has charted for me each day? Am I living with the view that He is coming at any time, as my granddaughter will? Am I ready for His call? Have I done all here that I can possibly do, so my family and others in my life are also prepared? There’s a balance in productive work and readiness and resting in His plan and time.  But primarily, am I looking forward to Christ’s return with joyful abandon?  Am I too busy to be excited?

   Jesus’ words to be watchful and ready are in the context of the parables of the various servants who have talents to put to use, the virgins who wait for the bridegroom, the signs of the end times and judgment, and the persecution of the faithful. The words of Matthew 24:12-14 are piercing. “Lawlessness will abound and the love of many will go cold, but he who ‘endures’ to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

   How’s my Love, and where is it focused? I am convicted. (To endure – to remain under, to sustain a load of miseries, adversities, persecutions, provocations in faith and patience.)  I may not have a load that is heavy today, but I have a family of believers all around the world who do. As our brothers and sisters suffer, God asks us to come along side of them to aid and encourage them. “Remember those in bonds as if bound with them and those who suffer adversity –since you yourself are in the body also.” Hebrew 13:3.  Who, and how much am I loving? Am I loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and My neighbor as myself? Luke 10:27.

   Being watchful and ready includes considering the needs of those around me, being a witness to all nations, making sure they have been given the Good News of our Blessed Hope, Jesus. I need to care for others with the loving care that God has given to me. I need to watch and not be slack in my energy of faith and conduct.  I should be looking forward to His “call” - that trumpet ring! I’m EXCITED!

   Are you Ready?

We met Sylvester ...

We met Sylvester…

   …as we went through security together. He seemed scattered. He even left his bags at security to run out the door to find his coat. We watched his bag for him and then stood in line for baggage check-in with him. We started a conversation and he took it from there. He shared what seemed to be his life story. We lost him when he got stuck at the check-in desk, but he found us later and picked up where he left off.

   While we would be waiting for our final flight to Arua, we would have over an hour sitting in the airport.  There was wireless internet available and we hadn’t been able to send much word out yet so we looked forward to the hour we’d have time to do so. God had a different plan. Sylvester needed a friend. So we talked. He even asked to use our computer to send a message to his wife in Ireland. Sure!

    Sylvester had a cool God Story about how he, as a Frenchman, living in Ireland, got a job for a South African company, working in Uganda. It would be his first day on the job and his wife and children were at home until he could bring them there. We blessed each other with our stories of God’s faithfulness and he was encouraged by our interest in him. As we walked the tarmac to the small two engine plane that would take us and 16 other passengers to Arua, Sylvester grew increasingly nervous. The plane had shrunk in his eyes as we grew closer to it. The little plane scared him.  On board, his nerves were worse. 

   Remembering my spell with fear only 3 days previous, I opened my Bible and read a Psalm to him. He calmed noticeably. (Did I mention that the 3 of us sat 2 rows behind the pilots and their bag with the words “Survivor Kit”?) We settled back and enjoyed the ride, until we came down onto the DIRT runway...  There, we thought Sylvester would go into shock...J

 

Are you living in the presence of our mighty God? By the way, the name of the airline was Eagle Air. “…I bore you on eagle’s wings and brought you to Myself…” Exodus 19.

We were in His hands. 

LIVE IN REMEMBERENCE!

Ever consider how quickly we can forget …

… how we felt on a vacation, forget the smells, the sounds, the warm air and gentle breezes especially when we come back home to winter, colds and flu, and daily tasks?

I was not able to write while we were in Uganda; too much to do and then too tired. After we arrived home, I felt sick from food changing so fast. Then we also had so much to do in the busyness of regular life at home. Writing helps me remember. I don’t want to forget all the beautiful people. I don’t want to forget all God showed us and taught us there and on the journey.

Remembering takes time and commitment. This past week I saw how vital remembering is. These past couple of weeks I have been plagued with allergies and asthma. I have not breathed well and it has left me very tired. I could not write or even think some times. I noticed that we had stopped singing our favorite new songs The Motions, and Awesome. Everyone was busy this week. Most importantly, I realized that my daily Bible reading had changed. I was weary.

For the past few months, I had hung out in the Psalms and I was daily reminded to praise God. I studied the Hebrew and learned that words translated for praise could mean, lift your hands, jump for joy, or shout in victory … Our worship became fuller and livelier. This week I stopped the reading the Psalms thinking a theological study in John would be good, and it is, but I didn’t get those daily reminders as I did when reading five Psalms each day.

How I need to feed on God’s words to praise Him. If we are not living in a place, we can forget the feel of it. If we are not living in the worship of God and in His presence daily, we can forget His feel.

I am starting to recover my breath, so I am up writing again and thoughtfully remembering Uganda so I can share with others. I am singing again so I meditate and, rehearse God’s awesome work in my life. I am committed to reading and practicing the Psalms, God’s living Word to me.

I’ve marked in red all of God’s wonderful attributes and mighty works so they stand out to me. I need to SEE His greatness daily. I have also marked the response that I need to make to Him in green. Those responses need to stand out so I never forget that I have a responsibility to Him. RED is for Stop. Consider all God is, all He has done, and will do. GREEN is to Go and live my response to His goodness. I open to Psalm 98. “Oh sing unto the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things…”

I want to live in the presence of God. I don’t want to forget all his mighty works in my life. I want to praise Him, lifting my hands. I will shout in victory because Jesus has lived, died and now lives again for me and I am His, saved and free!

LIVE IN REMEMBERENCE! CELEBRATE OUR KING! HALLELUJAH!
BLESS THE LORD OH MY SOUL AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS! Ps.103