Team Spiritual Retreat

September 8

Thank you for praying for our retreat it was great.  For those of you who don’t know, on Wednesday we were suppose to go to Mbale for our team spiritual retreat but because of all the rain both routes to Mbale were closed due to the bridges being out or underwater.  We were disappointed but found out God had good plans for us right here in Soroti.  We all hung out at our house Wednesday and organized for a retreat here.  Thursday our children went with our teammates Karen and Beckie for the day.  They did a Bible story, sang, danced, walked to town, got lunch, did a craft… and loved it.  The adults on our team met at our house for a morning and afternoon session of worship, listening to Prayer Remix by Louis Gigglio, discussion and pray.  We all learned, were challenged, laughed and grew.  We also enjoyed a wonderful lunch together at Soroti Hotel – and other goodies and coffee at our sessions.  Sometimes I forget how much I need to stop the rest of life and be fed (not with food but spiritually).  It was a blessing to me to relax and be renewed in God’s presence.

Friday we resumed for a morning session and ended our retreat with lunch at the hotel with everyone.  How thankful I am for our team, for this retreat and God’s plan in it all.  I was a bit tired and bummed when it was done and we had to go back to normal life, but most of all I am so grateful.

In case you wanted to know, the word in town was the bridge opened up the next day but it also rained every day this week so you who knows.

I want to share with you a little what we learned at our retreat. 

1.  We are completely blessed with all God has for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:13-14 and Eph. 1:3-14).  SO we need to change our prayers from God bless me, this, my plans… to I want to bless you God.

2.   We often pray, “God be with us” but God lives IN us through His Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17, Eph. 3:16-20 and Col. 1:27-29) so we need to change our prayers to, “God live through me.”

3.  Our prayers for God to watch over us and protection us need to be prayed in the light that God has a greater mission on earth.  (Examples; Jesus the Son of God still suffered and died, Stephen a man of faith was killed, Paul suffered greatly for Christ…) We need to learn to pray, “God uses me in the mission.”

After our fun week all of our kiddos have colds and are in need of some extra sleep this week.  

You can be praying for Grace.  She is our child who doesn’t like change.  Change is upsetting to her.  With two weeks left before we go to Michigan she is becoming emotional.  When we didn’t get to go on our retreat to Mbale Grace was crying I tried to cheer her with the fact that we would get to go to Michigan soon.  That only made her cry more because she only has a couple weeks with her good friend and cousin Avalien.  We all know Grace is excited to go to Michigan but it is hard to leave here too.  We all feel some of it. 

Hey, the girls finally felt the baby move this weekend!

Praying all of you have experienced God this week and know His blessings upon your life.  May we bless Him this coming week! 

Worship with our team

Kids games at their retreat

The kids with Auntie Beckie

Lydia, Grace, Avalien with Auntie Karen

Trucks lined up waiting for the bridge to be repaired and reopened

     

Change in Plans

Just a quick prayer request. Today our team was suppose to go on our spiritual retreat at a hotel in Mbale (about 2hours away) but we didn't make it. A couple days ago we heard that the main road was closed because the bridge was underwater. Since then we have gotten more rain and this morning we heard the other way to Mbale was now closed too because the bridge went out. So we waited a couple hours then Josh went to town to hear the lastest word at the taxi park. Town was full of trucks that couldn't pass but the taxis said they could get through. We all packed up and headed out. 72 Kilometers and two hours of bumpy road later and we were right back where we started in Soroti. There were trucks everywhere - some of them stuck - and no way even to get to the bridge let alone accoss.

So the team regrouped at our house. Our kids and some of us were quite bummed but what could we do. Some wanted to try again tomorrow but most of us were worried about crossing but then not getting back home in a couple days. After some talk and prayer, we decided to have a fun, relaxed day today and then tomorrow have our spiritual retreat. We called our speakers to cancel (we were really bummed not to get our teaching on Father's Heart), canceled our nice hotel and call the resturant in Soroti to make supper since none of us had anything to cook nor wanted to.

So we are asking for your prayers as our plans have changed. The kids will being having a fun day with our teammates Beckie and Karen while the adults meet. We are going to do a video serious on prayer by Louis Gigilio.

I'll update you all again this weekend.

Baptisms in Obulle Slideshow

This slideshow design generated with Smilebox

Baptisms

September 4

I feel like I have been through some ups and downs this week.  I have been tired too because of our busier than usual schedule.  But I realized in all of it how much God is at work.  I have been praying that God will really use us and bless the ministry we are a part of in Obulle these weeks before we go on home service.  Today I put two and two together and saw God answered my prayer!

It started with the marriage conference in Obulle, then Freedom in Christ, teaching on baptism, and now the youth conference and baptisms.

On Wednesday Josh went to teach at the youth conference in Obulle that had several denominations represented.  I asked if he was going to teach on purity knowing it is a passion of ours to see the sin of immorality to be recognized and repented of here.  When he got home (three hours late) I asked how it went.  He said it went well and he was late because of me.  He did teach on purity and after the teaching over 40 youth came forward to commit their bodies to the Lord and wait till marriage.  Awesome!  He said one boy was crying so uncontrollably that he and Pastor Charles talked with him for an hour afterwards.  I wish I could have been there.  God is at work through His truth and forgiveness.

Sunday our church finally had baptisms.  What a day of rejoicing!  We started our worship at the church then all walked about a mile down to the swamp.  It was a beautiful day.  We sang a couple praise songs then Josh did a short meditation before the baptisms.  Pastor Robert wanted the church to be represented in doing the baptisms so he has a women’s leader, Sunday school teacher, youth leader and Josh in the water for baptism.  One by one about 20 people – mostly youth – were baptized.  I love seeing people be baptized – it is beautiful.  Especially in a swamp in the middle of Africa.  Our friends joining the family of God and raised to new life in Christ.  Thank you Jesus!  After the baptisms the church praised God in singing.  As we walked back to church it was one of those moments I treasure being here.  What an honor to serve my Lord with the church here.  The church was in joyous worship when they got back – awesome!  A couple of the people baptized gave their testimonies of being angry and fighting before they came to Jesus but now they are not the same.  Then the church prayed over everyone who was baptized.  I thank God for our church and the mighty work He is doing there.  To see Christ command to go make disciples and baptize them and teach them all He commanded is a blessing.    

Friday our plans were changed and the girls were bummed their friends wouldn’t be coming over, so we decided to have a family pizza and game night.  Everyone made their personal pan pizzas, we played Settlers which the girls just learned, and had chocolate peanut butter milkshakes.  Yummy!  What Josh and I thought was a simple night the girls loved and thought was so much fun.  They thanked us over and over when they went to bed.  It isn’t like we don’t play games together or haven’t made pizza before but for some reason it was special to them.  I was so touch by their appreciation and joy in our family night. 

Lydia is one who is full of joy for life.  The other day she got another birthday card and inside was a dollar bill.  She came running to me all excited about her gift from a grandma at a supporting church back in Michigan.  It may be a simple thing to some but to Lydia it was a celebration.  She thought it was so special she hung the card on her bedroom door and can’t wait to thank the nice grandma when we get to Michigan.  Luka also provides lots of joy to our family.  Yesterday he came up to me with his shoulder out of his shirt and said look at my muscle mom.  J

Sunday night we had a team prayer night for North America.  It was a meaningful night of God breaking our hearts for our nation.  As Christians we must be in prayer for our country!  May the church be on their knees and stand in God’s truth as we vote this year, as we repent for the sins of our land, and as we live out Christ in our country. 

Monday our team and other missionary friends had a Labor Day party.  We played kickball and football (yes, I played touch football at 6 months pregnant - very carefully) then had a potluck and campfire.  I bet there are about 25 kids and 18 adults when we all get together so it is a big party.  We are thankful for a mission family here.

And now we are on a three week countdown till we will be flying to Michigan.  We are very excited yet it is hard to leave our ministry, friends, team and home here.  Keep praying for us as we prepare to go.  Also we have our team spiritual retreat this week for two nights.  We pray for renewal and refreshment as we are taught and for fun fellowship as a team.  Thanks! 

Freedom in Obulle

Make your own picture slideshow

 

Big Week

August 27

We had a busy week.  All went well but it was just fuller than normal.  Josh was really busy.  Between writing the curriculum for Freedom in Christ and having it translated, working on our paper for a work permit here, team leader stuff, and teaching.  (Not to mention all the time his family takes – Luka loves Daddy time when he comes home!)  He was a bit stressed at one point but the week ended really well. 

Josh has been teaching Freedom in Christ for about 9 months with about 12 people or so and Friday was the day to go through the seven steps to freedom.  For those of you who don’t know the seven steps to freedom is a time of prayer, confession and renouncing sins, false religion practices, idols, generational sins, forgiving others…it is like a spiritual bath.  Forgiveness brings great freedom!  I went with to be a prayer warrior.  I have done the steps years ago so it was also a good bath for me too.  We started about 10:30am and ended around 3pm so it was a long, good, but tiring day.  Josh led each step and then the people would spend time in prayer.  It was evident that God was with us.  His Spirit was at work and it moved me to tears.  People were also crying, down on their knees, lifting their hands in surrender…it was really moving.  I wish you could all be there to experience God at work in people’s lives with us.  After the seven steps they took their papers with all the sins and people to forgive and burnt them.  They joined in praise and worship as their papers burned.  It was beautiful!  Their smiles singing, “I’m so Glad Jesus set me Free” was true praise.  They are free!!!  After the steps we had a celebration meal of posho and pork.  It was one of those days that I thankful to be here and be apart of our friends in Obulle coming to know freedom in Christ.  Exciting!  Thank you for praying with us.         

Saturday I gave a baby shower for Angie and Tanya.  Tanya’s family adopted Kate in April and Angie had Eliana in June.  It is fun to get together as women.  We just talk and laugh.  It can be a challenge getting everyone together but I know we all need it and appreciate it.  There were 9 of us at the shower.  We ate, played a couple games, wrote notes on material to make a quilt for both babies, ate again (dessert J), and talked some more.  I love decorating, organizing, getting together, and blessing people.  So thankful the ladies enjoy it too.

We were supposed to have baptisms at church Sunday, then it changed to Monday and now it is next Sunday.  I have been extremely frustrated with time and planning here the last couple weeks.  I know their culture is different and I may never fully understand some things, but some things would be of great benefit for them and their culture to learn and change.  The waste of time here is a true problem.  But Josh was a great example of getting over our frustration and letting God work through the situation.  God eventually got to my heart too and changed my attitude.  So thankful He is in control over all.

So today (Monday) we got to church at 11am knowing it would never start at nine and Josh had a meeting before we went too.  There were a few church leaders and a handful of youth waiting at church.  We sat and waited with our teammates who were also there.  Lydia led “school” for Grace and the youth while we waited but Luka was kicked out by the teacher for bad behavior.  Youth continued to filter in but no adults.  I said to Josh we can’t have baptism with no parents present.  He talked with the leaders and they decided to teach those being baptized again today but postpone the baptisms till Sunday.  The youth seemed bummed but I was thankful for the leader’s decision.  Josh did a beautiful teaching on being saved through faith in Jesus and why we are baptized.  I also added my encouragement about Jesus being Lord of their lives and growing in Him.  I challenged them to get a Bible and read it every day.  Our pastor asked if anyone wanted to receive Christ (not everyone there was being baptized) and one girl came forward.  One of the female church leaders, our female teammates, and myself took her to talk with her and make sure she understood what she was doing.  The girls name was Florence and she didn’t say much (very common in the culture to play shy and not speak).  We explained to way to salvation and asked if she wanted to receive Jesus.  She said yes so we led her in prayer.  So the day didn’t go as planned and there were no baptisms but God did do a work through the teaching and salvation of Florence.  I just love being apart of God’s work! 

And now we need a day off to rest.  I am so tired.

Baby Shower

The picture the ladies didn't want on my blog but too funny not to share.
Too much fun to stop laughing!

Me & Eliana

Our Week

August 18

Hi everyone!  I am thankful to report I have been feeling good (no sickness) for two weeks now!  Praise God!  It is a blessing.  Life is so much better when you feel well enough to live it each day.  Last Sunday I made it to the half way point – 20wks.  I said to Josh just think of where we will be 20 weeks from now.  He said we would be in the hospital watching college football.  I added and holding our new born baby!  Luka has some names picked out for our little one.  It started out as syrup, then moved to pancake, and now it is waffle.  I think he likes to make us laugh. 

The girls started 2^nd and 4^th grade last week.  They were very excited and it has gone well expect for some complaining sneaking in already by the end of the week.  We hope to get a good month or so in before we go to MI and they join in school there.  

Our church in Obulle had a marriage conference this week.  Josh spoke so I decided to find a sitter and go with him.  The first day Josh was suppose to speak at 11am.  We arrived about 10:30 and only our church leaders were there.  Some were cooking and others were finishing the new latrine.  African time is so frustrating.  By 11am the truck with people from Pingere came, then there was breakfast, worship and finally by 12:30 Josh began to speak.  After he taught he sat down and said, “I am glad that is done.”  He had prepared a lot for his teaching but it just didn’t seem to go well and the people were not in to it.  By now it was 2pm and lunch wasn’t ready so Josh and I ate in town and picked up our kids.  The next day started almost as slow even though all the people slept at the church that night.  Josh’s teaching went a lot better and even his translator and friend commented on it.  Josh asked was my teaching that bad yesterday.  He said no the teaching was good but the people were boring.  Today they were involved.  The people all seemed to be ever pleased with the conference and I was glad I could also attend some, but I don’t think I will ever understand the way they do things here.

Saturday Josh had a very delayed, long, and frustrating meeting at our church.  Then after the meeting we went to our friends in Obulle for lunch – which ended up being served at 5pm.  We love our friends here but waiting 4 hours while they cook for us really tries our patients some day.  I do love the peacefulness of the village though.  Our kids are funny.  Luka loves chasing the animals but Lydia usually is a bit worried about everything.  However by the end she, Grace, and their friend Lucy were in the cow dung with sticks throwing it at the tree.  I just had to laugh.  We prayed with our friends before we left and they shared how they are trusting in God’s protection.  His step sister has been angry with them for years and has put curses on them even going as far as hiring someone with a gun to kill him.  I was amazed to hear their stories and protection God has given them.  I was also very encouraged to see our friend help his wife cook and clean up.  It may sound normal to us but in this culture it is unheard of!  I praise God that they have taken the truth of God taught to them and put it into practice.

My sister Angie and family returned this week.  Our kids were so happy to be with their cousins again.  Lydia said she was so excited she was going to jump out of her clothes.  I was also glad to see them and especially their new baby Eliana.  It is so fun to hold a little baby!  Makes me excited.   Eliana let out a cry with a cute little face and I said isn’t that sweet.  Josh bluntly said not really.  I guess that means the new born stage is all mine. J 

Josh and I finally watched the movie Courageous.  I put it off because I knew I would cry and of course I was balling.  But it was so good.  If any of you have not watched it please take the time and watch it!  I am so thankful for the way they address the issues in our culture and bring us back to the truth in God’s Word.  It is awesome.  It is my hearts prayer that the men in our churches will rise up, study God’s truth, put it into action, take the responsibility God has given them seriously, and  bring change into our homes, marriages, churches and communities.  It is a big task God has ordained for our men so we must be in prayer for them.  It is God’s desire for men to lead.  May they seek God and obey that we may follow their leadership.

Please be in prayer for Josh and the people of Obulle as they meet Thursday and Friday for Freedom and Christ.  They will be doing the 7 steps to freedom which is an exciting teaching and can be live changing event in some ones life.  Also it looks like we will be having baptisms next Sunday at our church!