Life Training, Church & Change

Last week we hosted Journey of a Life Giver training.  
I have visited and toured Life International in Michigan several times.  On one of those visits I learned they had a team in Uganda who have been trained and now train others.  After years of hoping we finally were able to have the training!  

This training looks at Biblical worldview, sacredness of human life, being a life-giver, God's design for family, Biblical sexuality, human reproduction, abortion methods, after abortion, and repentance, forgiveness and healing.  For many people it was the first time to talk about these issues and to hear God's truth on them.  They were so appreciative and asked for more.

Out of the 58 people who came there were at least eight districts from Uganda (some came from 2 hours away) and 10 different denominations represented.  We were so thankful for unity and new friends.

The team came with four teachers from Entebbe and Mbale.

Teaching on the development of a baby.

A powerful time of repentance, forgiveness and healing...

I am always so impressed how real people are and unashamed when they are touched by God, repent and worship.

Giving certificates at the end of the training.

We enjoyed getting to know the teaching team.  We love when Ugandans teach Ugandans. 
They were very encouraged to see the effect we had on the community. 
What a blessing to serve the Lord together.

I was totally exhausted after the Life training.  It was so good but heavy too.  There were women really hurting, trauma people have been through, the reality of abortion here, and the need for more Biblical teaching on life and marriage was evident.  But, 58 people are now trained and going back to their homes, communities and churches to share and make a difference! 

We had so many people testifying that this training has helped them. Here is what some of them said:
- One said that he will now value life and give life with his words.
-I didn't know that abortion was murder until now.
-Abortion is ramped in our village.  We need to speak as a church.
-Our hands are guilty.
-We are full of sorrow.
-If the Lord provides I want to open my home to adopt children who are orphans or unwanted like I was. 
-Leaders in each district are calling me telling me the people who came are very excited about this teaching.  That means God has begun something.

Many of the FIC teachers also told Josh he needs to rewrite the manual to make it simple for them to teach.  Earlier in the week friends told us after hearing Josh teach that he makes it so simple.  It is true.  Josh's gift is making God's Word easy to understand.
 

The training became a family affair.  Emalai worked in the kitchen the whole time and loved every minute of it.  Winnie was one of the cooks (our neighbor) and she calls Emalai her daughter.  Grace went to most of the training and Lydia did when she wasn't watching Makai.  It was nice to be able to attend the training myself - thanks for your help kids! 

Makai helped too!

Sunday we had baptisms again.

And of course Makai went swimming afterwards!

Everyone watching Makai.

Then Makai got his hands on the microphone and sang for everyone.

(Makai was seriously fun Sunday.  He went to the to the bathroom and he hears the church say halleluiah and from inside the latrine Makai says, "Amen".)

It was a goodbye Sunday for another missionary family - Emalai's good friends!
There are smiles in the this photo but it was a heavy, sad day.  Emalai has been crying for weeks.
Sunday the girls just kept holding each other crying.  Goodbyes are hard.

So hard, so precious...

We thank God for special friends.

My heart is full as we had a busy couple weeks with visitors, training, time with our friends before the goodbyes, Grace graduated (at least finished) high school, and we are packing to leave for FIC conference in England.  Too much for me.  I want to do each thing well, process and enjoy each thing.  We have weeks of not much and then it all hits at once.  Oh well such is life.  We will be gone for two weeks to England with travel time.  Grace will fly to the States from England to spend the summer in Michigan.  We are all feeling mixed emotions.  So good and so hard.  This is a first for her.  We thank God He provided a car to use and two jobs!  Pray for us as we travel and attend the FIC conference in England.  

I'll tell you all about it when we get back!