Ministry Opportunities

Josh was asked to fill in on the radio in Soroti for a few months for a fellow missionary.
He is teaching the Grace Course.  I went with him the other week to see what it is like.  I enjoyed seeing Josh teach with such ease and hearing what the callers afterwards had to say.  Praise God for another opportunity to share His Truth!

Lydia and I were asked to come and share with a group of teen moms.
Our friend Maggie has opened a ministry called Hope for Silent Voices where she trains teen moms different skills and trades.  Lydia is SUPER passionate about prolife and helping girls who have chosen life for their child so it was right up her alley.  I fully agree and support that the issue of Life needs to be addressed here, so I was glad to go and see and share.

I decided to read the book God's Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell.
It is the Gospel in a kids book and it is great!  They loved it too.  I then went on to tell them this is a true story and it is the story in the Bible.  We shared the Gospel again and asked if anyone wanted to receive this free gift of Salvation.  Four girls put their trust in Jesus!  Praise the Lord!!!  I gave every girl a Who You are in Christ bookmark and we read them aloud together and talked about which one they liked.  I tried to over emphasis, if that is possible, how much God loves them.  No need to seek love - you ARE loved!  Then we handed out note cards with verses on that the girls enjoyed coloring.  You cannot understand how rare and special coloring is even to teenagers here.  We are thankful we were able to meet these young ladies and share God's love with them!

Josh is asked to come to churches and peach all the time.  It is more accurate to say they want our whole family to come, but most of the time now days we let the kids stay home and go to our church and Josh and I go to visit and share.  Last month we went to our friend Michael's church.  We had a wonderful day with our friends.  (And I mean all day - 8:30am to 5pm.)  A few of our friends from Obule came with us and as we were waiting in the visitors hut for the rain to stop and for our second lunch (fed at church, snacks, and now a meal at our friends home) they began to share about what life was like during the rebellion.  From time to time we hear stories from the Teso rebellion but this time our dear friend was sharing his personal experiences.  How he had to sneak around, was caught and let go because they though he was only a boy not a man, how it was illegal to transport and sell fish, the death of this father and others, and about his imprisonment.  The way he was tied, beaten, not fed much, worked to almost death, and how God saved him.  I sat back thinking ten years we've known this man and I never knew some of this.  How much my friends here have been through.  I marvel at how they when on with life, didn't go through counseling, aren't messed up...and how they were freed through forgiveness.  Humbled.  There is still so much I am learning.   

Free 2 Lead

Josh wrote the simplified version of Free 2 Lead and taught it to the teaching team here.
Everyone appreciated it.  The struggles as a leader are real and common.  Many of our teachers found healing, were encouraged and strengthened to continue leading at home and in ministry.

I love the emphasis on prayer in FIC and among our teachers in Uganda.
It is beautiful and powerful.

Josh allows anyone to get a Bible if they learn ten verses from the book of John.
FIC classes in churches, prisons, and school continue to learn God's Word and receive a Bible. 

The FIC women.

Emalai was there all week helping cook, serve and wash dishes.

Everyone knows and loves Makai!  It is a blessing to be a part of FIC Uganda as a family.

I love our FIC teachers!  It is always a blessing to be together.  I am proud of them always willing to learn and giving of their time and energy each week to teach God's Truth to others.  I am realizing my role more and more is to pray for the FIC teachers, their families, and the teaching.  I also enjoy giving the group a blessing at the end of the week from God's Word and praying over them.  What a privilege!  

The FIC group is so appreciative and encouraging.  This time we shared that Josh was chosen to be one of the presenters on the new Grace Course and that he is praying about a leadership position with FIC International.  They all agreed that FIC see what they see in Josh.  They also appreciated me for my love and prayers for them and how I respect and support Josh.

Let me leave you with some of the testimonies from Free 2 Lead:

- I did not think some of the steps to freedom for leaders applied to me but as I went through them I realized I need this.

- Anxiety was making leading hard but I failed to see it, now I see a way forward.

- I realize I also make mistakes just like the people I lead do.

- I see leading means serving.

- The steps to freedom were helpful.  I need to give more time to my family.

- The steps left no room for excuses.  I learned to be open with my problems and find help.  I need to prioritize time with God over seeking money.

- I learned not to defend myself as a leader, but to be open and accountable.

Sights from Village Life...

 There are days I just want to capture life here and share it with you.  So here is a blog with some of our daily life in the village.   Simple life, simple beauty.  I hope I never forget.  I am super proud of our kids living and, most of the time, loving it here.  I admire their courage and flexibility.  Enjoy a glimpse of our lives!

I love how kids mimic what they see!

For most kids going to the borehole is work, but for mine it is fun.

Harvesting cassava

Emalai loves being at the neighbors and doing as they do.

Pounding g-nuts (aka making peanut butter).

Every evening it's time to play with friends.  Luka and his friends trying to play Jinga style soccer.

This is sweet John who comes to our church.  He has CP and struggles to walk.
God blessed him with a new bike to get around!

And Makai loves John's bike too.

And Makai loves Dad's bike!

Or when his best friend Nathan pushed him on his bike.

We were visiting another church and this is the sign someone drew for the bathroom.
(A long call is going #2.)  Sometimes you have to laugh!

The kids at the church were playing their version of king of the mountain on a bench.

Sheep anyone?

Sharing at a women's conference.

A group came and did VBS at the Christian School by us.  I was super proud of my kids being a part of it!  Luka and Emalai joined their friends at school each day and Lydia helped the team with translation and leading.

Every little boy wants Makai's attention when he comes.

Luka loved being DJ for everyone!

Lydia and a couple of her friends chatting with Josh.

What can you say?!

Tea and games with friends stuck in the rain.

Best Buds!

I had the privilege of throwing a birthday party for a missionary here.  I love being creative, decorating, making things beautiful and hosting.  It is life giving to me.

We started homeschool again.
Emalai is in 5th grade this year!

Luka is a freshman in high school!

Emalai loves all the babies in the village!
This is baby Candy (short for Candise).  So happy!

And Gift

The newest baby in the village!
Born at home in an early and fast.  Mom was all alone.  Thankful all went well.
Her name is Apeso Lydia Faith after the three ladies who came to help her after the birth.
(Yes, our Lydia is one of them.)

Lydia and Luka also joined the youth to host a group of young people from another church in Soroti.  I was proud of them for going and doing their part as one youth.  They go to youth group every Saturday but to see them interacting with new people and loving the day together was a blessing.  They are so brave to always be the only white kids.  It isn't always easy.  Lydia even taught and Luka led games.  They made new friends and appreciated the worship the other church led.  I even heard Luka compare it to 7th grade camp at HCS in Michigan (a very meaningful experience in his life).  That is huge for him to say he enjoyed the worship that much!  Praise the Lord!  So thankful our kids can have all they need and more here, with their friends, and our church.

July ended with Lydia's 20th birthday!
We love you Lydia!!!

We even surprised her at youth group with a cake.
Luka did a great job surprising her with a "choir" and came out singing Happy Birthday with the cake. 

And Lydia had some of her friends over for games and cake.
A great birthday, great friends, and a great young lady to celebrate!