Grandpa & Grandma in Obulle!

We had lots of fun with Grandpa & Grandma Beute here!
The kids even got Grandpa to play red rover :)

Josh and Dad made easels for the school to put chalk boards on

Greeting at our churches school - Christ the Answer

Shopping at the second hand market

Dare I put this on with so many Lion fans?!

Market run

Walking to our friends home in the village

Little Miss Tutu, boots and all 

Grandpa did lots of reading

and playing games

Our little local market on Thursdays

Helping with laundry

And at the well

Church!

Poor Malai was sick

No fun testing for Malaria - ends up just a virus

Butcher shop

Family worship night.

The girls love to dance while we worship.

I love the prayers of our children.  

Lydia thanked God for everything we can share from little things like skidles to big things like our faith.  Amen!

Visiting our pastor and family

The kids love to play

Chicken and rice anyone?

The 3 Marys

Our guides home

Bedtime routine: bath (or at least wash feet!), check for jiggers (sand fleas on feet), brush teeth...

School 

Luka kept Grandpa very busy playing any kind of ball or hunting

Thanks for coming G & G! 

Surprising Changes

I was once required to memorize Psalm 32:8.  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  We are resting in those promises today. 

Our time of serving with International Teams has come to an end.  We praise God for the way He has used us in Uganda over the last eight years.  We are thankful that we have seen lives transformed by His Spirit’s power.  We are thankful for the good people we have been privileged to work with.  We are thankful for each one of you who has prayed for us and partnered with us financially. 

Since our time of service with International Teams is completed, we also want to let you know that no further financial gifts are needed.  Mandy and I still feel called by God to serve in Uganda.  We will let you know when God has shown us “the way we should go” (Ps. 32).  For now, we want to thank you for partnering with us and we want you to celebrate what God has done.

Picture Update - G&G are here!

Luka celebrated his 6th birthday back in January.
He is a gift from God!

Having a little fun -- a break from the heat.

We are so thankful for our children!
They bless us with true joy each day.

Oh Malai!  She is a character.

Lots of imagination - her potty training toilet seat tutu!

Dad & Mom Beute are here!

We spent the first night together at Siysi Falls near the mountains

God made everything GOOD!

God's creation is awesome!

Our "driveway"

Filling our rain tanks because there is no rain right now.
Water is a blessing you don't take for grated.

Visiting friends in Obulle

The neighbor kids came to play and Grace led them in singing for Grandpa & Grandma

Visiting friends in Obulle center

Just sharing daily life with G & G

We celebrated Valentines yesterday with friends

Always LOTS of goodies when we get together

Valentines games

Stay tuned.  Sooo many more great pictures to come in the next blog!!!

God at Work

It is HOT here!  I am just not good in heat.  I want to complain, escape, I don’t feel well (the dryness hurts your throat, the dust gives you a headache, and the heat makes you tired).  I know this too shall pass.  It is literally 93 degrees INSIDE our house today with 20% humidity.  When our thermometer is in the sun it goes off the charts at 120 degrees.  I find it hard to want to cook supper when it is this hot.  There is not air conditioning to escape to, no water to find relief in.  We are more than thankful for fans and cold water!  We are also glad it still cools off at night after the sun goes down.  We look forward to rains again, which could be any day or 6 weeks.  Until then we will keep drinking to stay hydrated and find ways to smile in the heat.

We continue to be excited about what God is doing in our church.  Our church began building a permanent structure two years ago (had a big hut like building but grass is becoming less and less available to keep the roof covered).  They had a five year plan to build a little more each year as people gave.  In November a mission group from South Korea who invest into building church buildings came and offered to pay basically half the of the building cost if the church would do the other half.  They gave the church till the end of January to build the church.  So for the last eight weeks or so our church has been working hard building a church building.

Although we were leery at first, it was exciting to see our church give in every way.  Everyone seemed to give generously animals, crops, and money to pay for our half of the work.  Others gave their time, strength, and talents.  Everyday people were there working together to fetch water, cook, dig rocks…  They worked so hard!  Day after day they gave of themselves.  I was humbled each time I went and saw what people can do when they work together and give generously.  I was excited to be apart of a church like this.

Friday was the big grand opening of our church.  All week we worked last minute details, cleaned up, and prepared for cooking (for up to 1,000 people!).  The day of was, of course, hot and yet the women cooked for hours around huge pots of rice and meat.  Everyone was busy doing something waiting for the Koreans to arrive.  I found some shade and helped the ladies shell garlic (hundreds of leaves of garlic).  I was glad I could help and fellowship.  My kids played with other kids near by and were excited about the cow head lying behind me.  Sometimes I just sit back and laugh about where I live and what is normal. J 

Everyone lined the driveway when the Koreans arrived.  They shouted, sang and waving branches.  It is such a festive sight!  They sure know how to welcome people.  The crowd gathered to cut the ribbon and enter the church.  The church was full and sweaty.  We had a small service and the Koreans, I think, said they would build our church school in three years.  Quite a promise.  After the service everyone was fed – that always amazes me.

Sunday we had our first church service in our new church building.  Through the building process I prayed that our church would have a firm foundation in Christ and that He was the center.  God continues to be at work in and through our church.  There was sincere worship that led to intimate prayer and tears…the Holy Spirit filled our church – the people.  I worshiped the Lord as I watched.  I am so thankful to see my daughter put her hand on friends crying before the Lord.  To see my pastor bowed broken before the Lord.  To hear God’s house filled with prayer.  There was a new believer, someone who fell away back again, and the faithful.  We had a sermon and time of repentance on the second step to freedom – lies vs. truth.  I pray we continue to remove the lies and believe God’s truth about us and others.  Then I know God will use us to bring His kingdom in our lives, marriages, homes, church, and community.

We look forward to my parents visit.  They arrive in Uganda on Feb. 5 and will be here three weeks.  Pray for their safety and good health.  Can’t wait for the kids to have some special G&G time!  Malai learned to say, “Dampa and Damma” just in time for their coming.  She loves to pray now too and usually repeats the word morning over and over.  Once and a while she will add names of people to her prayer too.  So sweet.  

Preparing the food for our churches opening

Our new church ready to be opened - yes it is orange.

People lining the driveway waiting for the Koreans to arrive

Finding Freedom

Sometimes the Spirit is so present I am overwhelmed with emotions.  Tears flowed down my cheeks as I saw God at work today.  I believe we are on the verge of God doing amazing things in and through our church in Obulle.  It is time for a harvest!

A year and a half ago we met a man in Obulle named Sam.  Sam worked everyday helping to build our house.  Sam stood out with his great smile and humble nature.  I would have thought he was a boy only to find out he is married and has six kids.  Since meeting Sam, Josh has been praying for him to know the Lord.  About two months ago our family visited Sam’s home.  We were able to meet his family, enjoy a meal, and share the Gospel with him and his wife.  Since then our family has been praying for Sam and his family to come to Christ.

Sam has been quite sick for months now.  His legs and hands are so weak he cannot drive the motorcycle he drives for work.  In his words he just sits at home.  He was sought help from doctors to witch craft only to remain in pain.  Our neighbor and church leader, Charles, knowing Sam needs spiritual healing has been meeting and sharing with Sam. 

Today Sam came to church for the first time.  And by no coincidence, today our church also began teaching on the 7 steps to Freedom in Christ.  From the songs, to testimonies of people going from bitterness to peace, to the fellowship of believers there was a common message of the freedom God can bring when you submit to Him and say no to the devil.  The first step for believes to live in the freedom Christ has given us is to repent and renounce the sin of worshipping anything other than God.  Yes, people in our church are saved by God’s grace but not everyone lives daily in Christ’s victory.  The beautiful sound of people repenting and dedicating themselves to the one true God makes me rejoice!  This is life!  This is what I want to be a part of and live for!  God’s kingdom coming!

Josh also gave an invitation to come to Christ for the first time, to repent and receive the free gift Jesus Christ offers all of us.  Sam was listening, and Sam came forward to ask Jesus into his life.  Alleluia!!!  I couldn’t hold back the tears as one sinner’s life was made new in Jesus.  God is here and this is where I want to be!  It is at these moments that I realize no treasures or pleasures of this world could compare to the joy of knowing and sharing Jesus. 

Sam was saved today and I had the privilege of being there.  There was no party after church and everyone went home as usual but I know Heaven is having a celebration.  I know our Father is smiling and satan is scared.  God is saving the lost and breaking the chains of sin that don’t belong on His children – Christ has set us free!  Change is coming for all those who submit to God and resist the devil – because then God comes near to us.

God reminded me today through His spirit what I need to be living for.  I had become confused, focused on myself and problems, looked to other things for joy…but today God worked in me: 

-A church member testifying about her life of bitterness and how God used Josh teaching God’s truth to free her and her husband.  They now live in peace even when troubles come.  

-Josh shared the story of our dear friend Maryomu in Nigeria and how God worked in her life.  Remembering how we got to see her move from hopelessness and bitterness to a life of joy and peace in the Lord made me cry.  I love Maryomu.  I miss all our brothers and sisters in the Lord in Mahula.  I am so thankful God allowed me to be apart of what He did in their lives. 

-Letting the Lord once again look inside me and show me where I needed to repent.  Letting go of things I gave some of the worship that only God deserves.  Only He can be on the throne.  God alone deserves my time, my thoughts, being my source of joy…  Repenting and submitting as a church is powerful.       

     

Pray for Sam.  Pray for him to grow every day in the Lord.  Pray that God heals his physical illness.  Pray that Esther, his wife, comes to know Jesus too.  Pray for our church as we submit to God and resist the devil.  That God will come near as we repent of sin, renounce evil, and dedicate ourselves to God.

The 7 Steps to Freedom in Christ:

1. idolatry vs worship of God
2. deception vs truth
3. bitterness vs forgivness
4. rebellion vs submission
5. pride vs humility
6. bondage vs freedom
7. generational sin 

Persevering in Hard Times

I have so much to catch you up on.  My brain is full and my heart is heavy.  Do I share with you all the joys from our family life?  Fill you in on our trials and hardships?  Let you know how ministry is going?  Some ways I have simply been to weary to write anything and too low to respond to anyone, but my heart wants to share with you.  How?  I’d love to sit and have coffee with you, soak in some wisdom, be loved in your hug, and covered with prayers.  I can’t share everything but I do want to share my life with you as best I can. 

As a family we are healthy and blessed.  So thankful for all your prayers during so much sickness!  Health is not something to take for grated. 

Malai is two (Dec. 27) and starting to talk more and more.  She has personality!  We are always laughing because of her.  Her new cute thing is dancing – she just has to move whenever she hears music or we are singing.  I love when she says her new favorite phrase, “oh yah, oh yah”, and does a little dance.  Malai now things she has to pray after every meal.  She covers her eyes and gabbers away.  She is learning names too.  She use to call Lydia “LaLo” but now can say “Lilia”.  She now knows Lucy’s name too (the women who helps us).  Mostly she will just yell “boy!” when she wants to call the kids.  More and more I am hearing little sentences from her too.  Everything she says makes me smile.  She is also learning Ateso.  About ¼ of her words are in Ateso.  It is so cute.  She yells for the girls to come in Ateso, tells us to pray in Ateso, and to go.  How exciting to think she could know Ateso in a few years.  Josh hopes she does so she can teach him.  We have all improved and learned more Ateso living in Obulle.  Don’t get me wrong it is VERY little yet but nice to be able to hear and communicate a little more.  

Luka asked Jesus to be in his heart a couple month ago!  How special to pray with him and see him begin to understand and grow.  He is all boy and enjoys making guns out of sticks and playing with his bow and arrows.  He also loves anything with a ball.  Josh is thankful to have a son to share similar interests.  Funny story about Luka, the other day he told the girls we needed to get rid of something because the lady was wearing a “zucchini”.  At first we didn’t know what he meant until Grace said not a zucchini a bikini! 

Lydia continues to grow up.  What a beautiful young lady she is becoming.  Thankfully she still willing to play with her siblings too.  A mix of girl and lady.  I admire Lydia’s faith.  We have family worship on Sunday evenings and her prayers encourage me.  The other night she prayed that all the meetings would stop so the adults wouldn’t have to be overwhelmed and that we were all able to focus on the positive things instead of the negative.  Grace too prays from the heart.  She often thanks God for her neighbor friends and the example they are to her and that she can be a good example to them too.  She prays deeply about the suffering they see and hear about all around them. 

Josh preached his first part of a sermon in Ateso!  I was so shocked and he did it so naturally that I almost missed it.  It was only the introduction but he did great.  The people loved it!  It was funny to have the translator translate his Ateso to English.  Pray for Josh to continue to learn Ateso and find a good teacher.  His goal is to preach a whole sermon in Ateso this year. 

As for me…I turned 36 Dec. 15.  The best part of my birthday was hearing why each family member loved and appreciated me.  I am so glad my girls are thankful I teach them about Jesus, spend time with them, help them as they grow, and love them.  And have a husband who adores me, appreciates me and is my best friend.  Most of all I am thankful God loves me and planned for me before time.  I am made, used and loved by the King!

Josh’s parents visited for almost three weeks.  It was great to share our new home with them and for them to see their grandkids play with their friends and speak Ateso.  We also made fun memories on safari.  I am thankful for their visit but over the last few years there has been a switch.  The first 10 years on the mission field I longed for visitors.  I needed them.  Now it seems the visitors need to come and see us.  I am NOT saying I do not want visitors!  I am just saying our family and home are now established I am not so needy.  I am thankful family and friends want to come and see us.  My parents are now coming in February.  The kids can’t wait!

Now for the hardships we are going through.  How do I share this?  We have been on the mission field since 2001 and this has been the most difficult three months we have had.  We have been through sicknesses even near death sickness, loneliness and isolation, threats and danger…but when it is the pain of relationships, confusion satan brings, waiting and nothing you can do, ministry on hold because of the mess and wrongs done it effects everything.  People can really hurt people.  I realize more and more I am a very discerning person – I can just feel to the core when something is right or wrong.  It isn’t something I talk about much or go on because how do you explain it?  But during the most difficult weeks I was distraught like never before.  I just knew things were going very wrong. 

We have gone through all the emotions.  Sometimes it seems like our 8 years of learning and ministry can be ruined or stolen in a matter of days.  Our conclusion over and over is that satan got his hand in this.  The confusion points right to him.  So we know God is at work if satan is trying to attack so badly.  I do admit though it is also one of the times in my life I had to hang on to Jesus with all my might because it was by faith not sight.  Everything around us was painful, confusion, a mess, feeling upset, stress, and unending.  I had to daily – or moment by moment – choose to believe the truth and trust God and His Word.  I didn’t always feel it but I chose to believe it.  It was a roller coaster.  I was tired and low from the continual hurt and wrongs that wouldn’t end.  Who do you go to?  Who do you talk to?  We live in a village in Africa and all the white people know each other, not everyone at home understands especially the uniqueness of the mission field, and you can’t say too much or are too tired to say it – plus who wants to say it over Skype?  I needed to be held. 

Each day we choose to spend time in God’s Word and praying knowing His truth would sustain us.  He would lead our emotions, give us wisdom, and assurance.  Some days it was an act of obedience, but I am telling you there is nothing other than God and His Word that will get you through difficult times!  The promises that God gives us are true.  They are what gave me enough strength to go on another day.  To believe God was with us and at work.  I had no hope unless I truly trusted God. 

One of the big promises I held on to is that God is our Defender.  Everything we did would be viewed wrong so we had to trust God would defend us.  I also held on dearly to God is my Refuge.  He is my place of safety and peace.  He is my Shield protecting me.  My Rock in the storm and when emotions can go everywhere He is my stability. 

The Psalms are an amazing expression of all we have cried out.  Like David we prayed to God in our pain, tears, anger, confusion, stress, fear…crying out to Him to hear and answer us.  Almost every Psalm of David after the despair and complaints ends with praise and trust in God.  That was my prayer over and over.  I am completely honest with God – He can handle all of me – I was broken before Him.  I share my hurt, anger, and my sin.  And in the end I know God is God.  He is in control and I will trust Him.  He is worthy of all our praise.

So here we are.  There are no answers or conclusion yet.  We are still dealing with all that has happened.  But somehow now I have much more peace.  It isn’t over and the future is unsure but we know what we need to do.  Josh and I have chosen to forgive.  We will seek reconciliation but we can only do our part.  We are seeking the Lord’s will so we can follow obediently.  Right now we know God has called us to serve Him in Obulle.

We are also seeking council from wise, godly leaders in our lives. This week God sent three different ways (people) who affirmed us and shared great wisdom.  We were very encouraged by this.  I have been reading Blessed are the Peacemakers by Neil Anderson about Christ’s ministry of reconciliation given to us.  I liked his definition of forgiveness, “forgiveness is accepting the consequence of someone else’s sin.”  It isn’t fair but it is God’s way.  I am seeking the Lord to know what it looks like to love others.  Jesus loved yet wasn’t friends with some.  He even yelled and called names when people were in the wrong.  Yet He is love.  I know my love can only come from Him. 

Well, I guess I shared a lot.  I hope I didn’t share too much yet enough for you to understand and pray with us.  So many of you care about us and have asked how we really are.  Thank you for praying with us.