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

“We were like those who dream…”

“We were like those who dream…”

   ... says Psalm 126. We still feel like we are dreaming. Could we really be planning to go back and live in Africa? Were we really there; in a place so removed from our Missouri home?

   “Then our mouth was filled with Laughter!…” the Psalm continues.  Yes.  We were there and it was good!  So, what was this place like?  Some may think, “Oh my, what a poor, rough place.”  However, for us, it had the familiar look of the slums of Brazil, just more spread out.  It was no big shock.  Streets were dirt and littered, most homes were without doors or windows, and we used pit latrines and had no hot running water.  We felt oddly at home.

   “… And our tongues with singing!” Psalm 126 continues.  We had hearts that were bursting with song; so full, so amazed we were there.  We felt we belonged.

   We stepped off the plane into the hot Ugandan night thankful to be on the ground after 4 flights and very little sleep.  We were excited!  The heat felt good after freezing on the plane and in St. Louis.  Thank you God!

   It was midnight and though it was easy to get through the airport and get our visas, our check-in luggage did not come with us.  A very sleepy customer service attendant gave us sketchy details as to how we were to get our suitcase.  Although we were skeptical, we blessed her and entrusted it to God as we went in search of our driver Godfrey. He popped out of the mob of taxi drivers with our names on a sign and we were off.  Godfrey, a nice Christian man, helped us a lot in the next couple of days and we were so glad to have him at our disposal.

Andrew and Theresa

   We stayed at Bethany House, a Christian retreat center in Entebbe, where we were met by old Mother Theresa. Really! Tiny Theresa, our hostess, was so sweet.  After our short night’s sleep, she made breakfast for us and helped us try to call the airlines throughout the day.  We knew if the bag was not delivered by dark, there was little chance that we would see our clothes for ½ a week or more.  (No one ever answered all day.)  Theresa let us use her personal computer to let Gabriel know we were there.  She kindly made us a special meal I knew I could eat so we did not have to hunt for my special food in town. We had fun with Andrew, the gardener, learning his story.  Theresa, Andrew, and Godfrey all made us feel so welcome with their big beautiful smiles, friendly conversation and laughter. 

   It turned out that no one with the airlines is in the airport until just before a flight is scheduled.  It was crazy to us to think they would close; and this is the only major airport in Uganda!  Godfrey got a tip that we could try going up late that night and took us there to try.  At the airport, we went through a crazy conversation with the baggage man.  He said there was no way that the suitcase would come until the next day after our final flight out to Arua.  Since that small airline only flew 3 times a week and their next flight was on Tuesday, we might get our luggage then.  We were very friendly and positive though we were not following each other’s line of thinking.  We tried to tell him where we were traveling so they could deliver it once we left Entebbe, but he said it was not important.  (Why?  It wasn’t important to him maybe, but it was to us.)  We joked, laughed, and talked in circles.  He finally got the idea to check the code number on our bag and check the flight coming in.  A good idea!  Surprise!  It was due in on the next flight in two hours.  Would we wait?  Sure, it would only be midnight again and we had a trip back to the guesthouse to get a few hours sleep before we were to be back there for our early morning flight to Arua.  No problem!  J

   Our baggage man said our bag was tagged RUSH.  However, the African idea of Rush is something different from ours.  It was last off and the place cleared out before a man sloooowly brought it to us.  Thanks!  God gave us the ability to peacefully wait!

We were reminded God was in control.  We could wait and be at peace!

   Our next day started at five thirty.  Theresa had a meal for us and then Godfrey showed up.  Then…we had a fun time at the airport security gate.  We had to get out of the taxi and the woman guard fluffed all of Sheree’s hair.  What a good place to hide something! That was a first!  We laughed and said “God bless you. Have a great day! ”

   Everyone seemed so somber, but as we said, “Hello, Good morning! How are you?” with a big smile, they would often startle, then return the smile, a Big smile.  So… we greeted everyone…. What fun we had… bringing joy to others.  Do we think about doing that everywhere we go?

   In each airport, God had helped us identify with someone.  In Brussels’s airport we met Dave from Maryland.  He was reading a book I had just seen in a mission magazine so I asked him why he was reading it.  Boldness just seemed so natural the whole trip.  What a great time!  He was on his way to Uganda to help put in a well for a ministry there.

   On the plane later, we met Brad, a Christian from Montana, whose girls were lambing while he left.  He was going to help with the set up of a vocational school for an orphanage.  We were able to hang out with both of these men, even on our return home and hear what God had done while they were there.

   Kayumba Polepole was born in a refuge camp during the Rwandan genocide.  He was so excited to tell us about his faith in God.  He is now a bank manager in southern Rwanda and so proud of the reforms his country has made.

   Ramona is a German community development student we met on our Brussels flight. She was actually headed to the same small town of Arua as us.  She too was fun to talk to and we plan on writing.

   God was blessing us with special friends, people who encouraged us every step of the way; people we could share with about Jesus and the hope we have in Him!

  

   Psalm 126 ends with the words, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He who continually goes forth weeping bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him.”  May the tears we have cried through the years and the seeds we’ve sown and continue to sow; be used by God, to bear fruit in the lives we’ve touched.  One day will bring the rejoicing of the harvest…..

   We go out bearing seed ….. Today with a smile!….

Our Uganda Talk this Sunday

This is the promotional video for our Uganda trip that we will be speaking on this Sunday night at 6 PM at Faith Baptist Church.

We would love it if you could join us. There will be another longer video and we will be sharing stories of how God worked so marvelously in our lives.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

It's Easter! And ...

It’s Easter! What does that mean to you?

Today was NOT a normal Easter for us. There are things that happened today that were NOT good, but I have CHOSEN to look ONLY at JESUS. Nothing in our circumstances has changed from our previous blog. My stomach is a mess and spring allergies are now on the move, but my heart is focused on JESUS. I purposefully open the Gospels and see the miracle of my redemption. I find the Psalms pulsating with songs of rejoicing. I want to sing praise and shout, “GOD is so Awesome!” Jesus lifted the “poor me” centered burden I was carrying! Look at all He’s done!

It’s Easter today! I remember all God has done for me and for all His children in the past and what He is still doing in this world. It is a choice I need to make EVERY day to REMEMBER and CELEBRATE God’s saving work. The message of the CROSS IS TRUE and POWERFUL.

As I attempted to write of our journey, I realized how little of the truth of the gospel is really shared in our world today. I thought about all the people we met on planes, in Uganda, here at home, in churches and out, and how little everyone seems to know of the real message of Jesus. I continually hear people say a variety of, “As long as we are nice, do good works, and help folks have an easier life God is pleased. All religions are the same if we just accept one another. Live like Jesus, he was good.” These are good people doing good for others. Yet, few share the gospel in day-to-day conversations or even in churches.

I had to ask myself, “Do I just try to make it easy for people and easy for myself telling them, ‘God loves you and wants to help you with your problems.’ Do I minister to help carry their burden and do my good deed for God, but neglect their real need?

What is anyone’s real need? Do we know anymore in America? What is Easter about? Where is the cross? Can we share the gospel because we have lived it and experienced Jesus?

When was the last time I shared the true full gospel with anyone? Am I afraid they can’t handle it or don’t want to hear it? God’s message to the world is not just “I love you, I have a plan for good for your life and I want to make it all better for you.” Can I tell anyone in America that they’ve sinned against a holy God and will face judgment and hell if they don’t repent of sin and turn to Jesus? Can I tell them that Jesus took their punishment for sin? He was on that cross because that is where we deserve to be. Our sin has separated us from a holy God. Our problems in this world are the result of sin and our separation from God.  Will we bend our knees before Him in humble repentance? Will we thank Him and give our love only to Him because of what He endured for us? Fellowship and forgiveness with God can be restored. Do we realize that Easter is a celebration of our resurrection from death forever? Do we live with thankful hearts that share the joy of a redeemed life and the victory over this world and all its shallow imitations of true life?

People need the truth. Most people know deep down there is a problem. We have an answer. The answer is JESUS. Where will they hear it if not from us?

We were called recently to go to Uganda to see the heart God has for the people there and to know how we can share the gospel in that place. It is not an easy place to live. Hearts there are no different from hearts here. But, there are so many who have never heard the name of Jesus. They have never seen a Bible or never had the opportunity to learn to read. We desire to go and give them that opportunity. We want to teach them to read. We want to give them Bibles. We want to disciple them and let them know the truth. They will go to hell and die in their sins if they never know that Jesus came and paid their penalty for sin.

It is tough to open our mouths and tell people that they are sinners, guilty before God, and they will be punished. It is tough to say that they must repent; tough to say they are truly guilty and can’t pay the penalty themselves. No one is good enough before a righteous God.

But Praise, Hallelujah, let’s get excited, raise our hands, and shout for victory and dance! Jesus paid for our sin when he suffered it all for us on the cross! Easter is the victory shout! Jesus’ offering of His own body for us was accepted by God and IT IS GOOD! Because He lives, I live! PAID! DONE! WE ARE FORGIVEN! We can live forever with the one who bought us and set us free from Satan’s chains and hell.

Does that mean anything to us? Can we share it so others can be free of sin’s grip? Our souls are sick. Our lives don’t just need a bit of cleaning up. We don’t just need help walking though this life. We need to be reborn, changed on the inside and ONLY JESUS and HIS Cross and Resurrection can meet our real need. Do we believe it? Have we humbled ourselves and said “I am a sinner. I am trusting you Jesus to cleanse me from my sin and do with my life as you will. My life is Yours.” ?

If we have trusted Jesus and thanked Him for His sacrifice as payment for our sin, can we boldly, excitedly, tell others here today, right next to us now, that they need Him too?

God demonstrates His own love for us in this. that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

GOD help ME and all of us respond to His gift of love through Christ and share the Truth with others.