IMAGINE ACTS MINISTRY--WORKING!

June and July were no different from other months. We stay quite busy between the children's ministries, church, Sunday school, village ministries, and book distribution trips. ( I continue to do poorly at timely postings to the blog.) I am tired of my own excuses; however, on top of my procrastination, we have been going long periods without electricity. Far worse than I have ever seen it, 12-30 hours at a time several times a week. The good news is that the weather has been quite pleasant, so we can be comfortable without fans; the bad news is that my computer battery is dead and the computer works only when the electricity is on. I have been working on this post since Monday; it is now Thursday night a 7:30. TIA--This is Africa!!

I was able to take a 3-day rest and prayer retreat a few weeks ago, on my own in a peaceful setting about 3 hours from home. It was a lovely opportunity to spend time alone with God and I enjoyed the rest and quiet.

You must realize there is no way I can truly capture in pictures or words all that is happening here, but I hope you will enjoy seeing some of the pictures.

This journey with God continues to amaze me. Thanks for sharing with me through your interests, prayers and encouragement, and donations.

EXCITING NEW POSSIBILITIES!!??

Peter, Henry and I traveled to eastern Uganda in late July to attend a workshop presented by The Navigators, an international Christian organization. Chuck Broughton, center in photo, was facilitating the workshop on various methods for improving Oral Teachings of scripture. I met Chuck, who is from Colorado Springs, in Baton Rouge late in February of this year when he was teaching in Angola Prison.(he uses the books there, too.) He took a set of the books and has been showing them in his travels this summer in other African nations, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, and others. After the conference, he told me that teachers in those nations are asking for copies of the sets of books. We met, Mvula Mvula, the Orality Leader of The Navigators for Africa, on the far right below. He lives in Malawi and told us he had been given a set of the books by Chuck and he, personally, is using them and sees them as "a great resource for Africa!" He would like for us to come and do a workshop with the books in Malawi! We ask you to join us in prayer for God's guidance for future ministries with the books. I enjoyed the conference and Chuck's teachings very much. It was a nice break to be the receipient of teaching!! We learned techniques we can use in our book ministry.Thanks, Chuck!

Henry, Moses, Chuck, Becky, Peter, Mvula Mvula

BOOK MINISTRY CONTINUES

We have been traveling to districts and churches where we had previously distributed books in order to complete the set. Last week we met with two different groups, one being a large Congolese Refugee Settlement we had previously visited in 2009. The hosting pastor told us there were many churches in the settlement and one cult. He was disturbed because the cult issued newsletters and magazines with pictures and the Christian churches did not have something similar for teaching. He expressed his gratitude with a new boldness as he tucked his set under his arm prepared to teach with the illustrations in his books! We have two more trips planned for August and several in September. We receive several calls a week from others inviting us to come to their districts and do a teaching. Now, when we travel, we are really loaded down with so many sets containing 12 books each.

Second visit to a village near Hoima District

Hundreds of children rushed from a nearby school to see the "white" lady.
Timo teaching on the road

NEW CHURCH

In late May a group of us decided to start having church in my front yard. The two American families who are living here joined us as well as many Ugandans. After meeting at my compound for over two months, we have moved to the missionaries' compound where there is a larger shaded area . Also, with my travels with the books, I was often not home. They willingly agreed and Eric is working with the young men in getting everything established and going since he is experienced in church-planting. These photos were taken in my yard.

Setting Up for First Day of Church
Praising and Waiting for Visitors

July Service

SCRIPTURE MEMORY CLASS

At the beginning of the second term, a missionary and I started a Scripture Memory class on Wednesday afternoon with the students. The students learned 14 scriptures, and two weeks ago, we held the first scripture competition drill. Twenty-two students participated and the dining hall was full of fellow students who came to watch and cheer them on. All did a great job and the competition was fierce. Phiona received 2nd place and Isaac and Lillian tied in a bonus round where they each had to recite all 14 verses without error. All students received a sweetie when they had to leave the stage---so everyone won something! It was a great afternoon, and we are so proud of what the children have learned.

A Wednesday afternoon class in the pavilion.

Phiona reciting weekly scripture

Max reciting

 22 competitors

The Winners: Isaac, Lillian, Phiona!

VISITORS BRINGS BLESSINGS

The first week of June, my sister Diane came with her 14 year-old granddaughter, Ellen Feringa from Covington. From the moment they arrived, they both threw themselves into every activity with the children and ministry work. Ellen was amazing with all of the children and blessed them in many ways. The children have only one campus uniform to be worn after school. Most of the uniforms are tattered and torn and many children do not have one. When they learned this, Diane and Ellen worked together in the states on getting all 65 children a similar play outfit to wear every day. Ellen gathered donated navy uniform shorts for the boys from her previous school in Covington and great plaid skirts for the girls. Diane brought new tee shirts in assorted dark colors. Everyone was fitted and blessed to have a new outfit. They looked wonderful; however, it is difficult for children to have only one after-school outfit to be washed weekly.

Ellen with children before the new uniforms
Young boys in their new shorts and tee shirts

Sandra and Phiona in the new skirts and tee shirts

Ellen with some of the children

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Diane and Ellen went with us to visit our special friend, Muyontole, who is always excited to receive visitors. They took him bread, sugar and tea, all special treats. Ellen taught the girls at the orphanage to make multi-colored yarn bracelets. Just being together was lots of fun for everyone. We all wish they could have stayed a month! So much to do--so little time! Thanks for coming and sharing with all of us in Uganda.

Diane and Ellen and Muyontole
Ellen and Sandra serving tea with sugar

Lillian, Ellen, Sandra and Phiona making bracelets

LOVE OUT LOUD PROJECTS

Learning scriptures, studying Bible stories, attending Sunday school lessons are certainly all part of anyone's spiritual growth. But through all these methods, we try to get all of our workers and children to understand stepping out in obedience and love is most pleasing to God. My great joy is to see the young people and children seeking ways to " let their lights shine in such a way that others will see their good works and glorify their Father who is in heaven. " Matthew 5:16. Because so many of them want to participate in these projects, I have asked them to become aware of those in the community in great need. This time we had three such projects. The children share testimonies in Sunday school about the project with the other children.

LIGHTS SHINING BRIGHTLY

When Brian saw a crippled man in our area on the road begging for food, he went to his home to see about his needs and circumstances. He brought a plan to me of how he and the children could help, and that very day everyone went into action.

The man's greatest struggle was climbing up into his room because there were no steps. As we looked around the orphanage, we realized that we had some bricks and sand remaining from building projects for the children, so everyone agreed, "Freely you received, freely give."

The small children back at the orphanage began loading the bricks and packing sand into bags to be taken to the older boys who were on the site prepared to unload and begin work. There was no road directly to his home, so the boys had to haul the materials in by wheelbarrow. My vehicle served as "pick-up truck" and I was the driver. It was a grueling day for all, but everyone was filled with joy. In the late evening, Brian and I went to town to get a few things for the man while others prepared his room and bed. Brian bathed him,put new clothes on him, picked him up and laid him in a freshly made bed with new sheets and blanket. I think each person, including the old man, went to bed feeling that he had been the one most greatly blessed that day.

WORK BEGINS

Everyone quickly got into action to help this man; I think he was amazed to see the children working so tirelessly.

The Man

The man exiting his kitchen

The site: kitchen on left; bedroom on right

Children Loading Bricks

Children Shoveling Sand

JOB WELL-DONE!

Unloading bricks from car to wheelbarrow.

Brian hauling a load of bricks to the site.

Henry, one of our students, hauling cement.

Mark , one of the boys, giving water.

A few weeks after the project, Timo and I visited.

AN ACT OF COMPASSION

Late in July when Timo noticed an elderly man struggling to get water and food, he spoke to him and followed him back to his home to assess his needs. For the past 6 or 7 years, he had been living in a hut he had constructed of various accumulated materials. On a Saturday , Timo took several of his friends from school with him to give the man a helping hand. When they arrived, they realized the man was close to death and needed to get to a clinic. Timo called me, and as he and the boys carried him down the hill on a narrow path, I met them on the closest road with the car.
They took him to the hospital where he was given and IV and admitted. Later that afternoon, Timo and Iwent to the hospital and to the market to buy sheets and a blanket, as the hospital does not provide anything, but the bed. We made up his bed, talked briefly with him and prayed for him. He seemed to be comfortable on the soft sheets and bed, thanked us and smiled.
On Monday evening, the doctor told Timo he was discharged. Timo and the boys took him back to his place and Timo left a neighbor the medicines to give to him the next morning. Sadly, when the neighbor went on Tuesday, the man was dead. There was no family, no service, no coffin. Some neighbors dug a grave opposite his hut, wrapped him in the new sheets and blanket and buried him. The boys came just as he had been buried and we prayed.
We were comforted to know that in his last hours of life, he had known compassion, kindness, and gentleness. This experience had a profound effect on some of the young men.

The Hut
The Man

Timo and Charles carrying him


In the clinic

Timo (right) with school friends at graveside.

A Helping Hand, New Clothes, Big Smiles!

Slashing the Grass
Supplies

Brian(l), Lillian(r), Grandmother(c) and 14 children!

Brian and Lillian organized a work day to help their 95 year old grandmother who keeps 14 grandchildren by herself in her home. The grass needed slashing and general clean-up, and a few items were needed: soap, jerri-cans, and clothing for the children. Again, we had been blessed when friends from Texas gathered and sent a trunk of clothes for us to distribute in such a time as this. Boys worked on the clean up and Lillian carefully put together something "new" for each child. All of the children were so happy.