Merry Christmas

Christmas in Uganda is always great. We have no snow and we have no Santa's, but we have Jesus and it's not against the law to put a manger scene up in the city. Most people look forward to this time of year to be in church on Christmas Day and then with friends or family in the afternoon. The whole world does not revolve around what you will "get" or "shopping" or many of the other things that take away from the real significance of this season. Most people think about giving a person a card, sending them a message on their phone or just saying a kind word as a gift. It's mostly about encouraging a person in whatever way you can. If you do give a gift - it's not so much what you got - but more on the fact that you got anything at all. We will often go through our house and find whatever simple gift we can to bless some of our church members, it could be shirt (a 2nd hand one), a pen or watch (not new). The people will enjoy just the fact that someone was thinking about them - more than the gift. I thought I might share these few words with you in hopes of you having a simple Christmas and not getting too busy as tough as I am sure that will be. However it turns out, please do have a wonderful one. We we will be blessed to my Mother here for about three weeks, until the 26th. We will also be having our annual Christmas carnival at the church. Otherwise - enjoy your December!

Uganda goes to East Timor

This is our missionary in East Timor, Pastor Brain Korton. We sent him there in January of this year. We raised the money needed locally in Kampala for his airfare and have been sending him money for his upkeep. I had a chance to visit him last month (East Timor is about a 3 hour plane trip from Singapore)and He has done a great job! He learned the local language in just three months. He is from the Acholi tribe in Uganda and only God knows how - his local Acholi language is similar to the Tatum (a combination of Portuguese and Bahsa Indonesia) language that the local people speak. There are missionaries that have been there in East Timor for over two years and they have to yet to learn the local language as well as he can speak it. He has also been given great favor by the local people and has been able to construct a 5 bedroom house for the team that we are sending early next year. He has also been the given the money to build an orphanage in the town in where is. He has many testimonies that I hope to share in future posts. Otherwise, Uganda has arrived in East Timor and God is doing tremendous things.

Here is short clip of him speaking with the local people.

Prime Time at the Pool

Prime Time at the Pool is an evangelistic outreach that takes place at Uganda’s largest University. Usually about once a year they ask me to come and speak for them. The crowd consists of both Christians and non-believers. There are usually about two thousand or so young people that crowd around the pool every Saturday night. Every year they have a week long series of meetings that I spoke at this year. It’s not an easy crowd to preach to – being that it is outside and much of the crowd is a bunch of unsaved rowdy university students. Many come only for the music, so by the time the preacher comes there is a lot jeering and hollering. But, I really thank the Lord for the students who were bold enough to step out in front of their friends and make a decision to follow Christ. It turned out to be a good evening.

"To each his own"

That's right! Want to gain some weight? Especially around the hips? I don't think you will find this advert many other places in the world, but here in Uganda people actually want to make their hips bigger. I remember once when a couple was getting married in our church. The girl was tall and slender. Her relatives didn't approve of her getting married so thin. What did they do? They told her cousin to "fatten her up". I am telling the truth!!! Needless to say these days the girl has met the expectations of her family and is now nice and uhhhh (what's the word to be politically correct?) big.

Teen Challenge Uganda

A few weeks ago we had tremendous time with two brothers from Teen Challenge in the States, Bernie Gillot and Mike Zello. They came here to Uganda to help us transition our Recovery Home into an official Teen Challenge. Though we still have few things to iron out – it looks like we will be called Teen Challenge Uganda in a few months. We are looking forward to the relationship we have begun and are believing God for greater things in the future in helping us reach the hurting in our city.

We visited High Schools, slums, churches as well as did numerous Television interviews for a great time of impact. Bernie is an accomplished singer/song writer who raps, plays the guitar and keyboard – almost all at the same time. Mike Zello the Africa Director for Teen Challenge who has one of the most powerful testimonies I have ever heard. We thank the Lord for sending them to us at this time.

New Church Web Site and CD

We have a new church website that you can log into at http://www.vccntinda.org/.

We have also published our first 5 song CD entitled "Forevermore". You can download the songs for free from the website. We wrote and produced all the songs ourselves. They are birthed out of our love and devotion to the loveliness and beauty of Jesus. Listen and let us know what your think.

Doing the hard things

My wife and I recently decided to stop in and check out this "Health Club" as it is called. It's quite close to our church and home and so we thought it might be a convenient place for us to "work out". We stepped inside and looked around and then we were taken on tour. We first went to the left which led us into a room where there was a lounge and you could watch television get a facial or a massage. Then we were shown the Sauna and the Steam rooms. Then we were led around the corner to outdoor lounging area and then our final destination was a fully stocked bar (not a juice bar - but a fully stocked alcoholic bar). At that point our tour guide informed us that our tour was over. We asked "and where are the weights and the aerobic machines, you know the treadmills, bikes and fitness equipment?” The lady said "Oh, they are coming" well I lived here long enough to know that this was probably not the case by the way she answered us. She told us they were going to be put in upstairs, but I have since noticed a sign advertising for a hair saloon in that place.

If we are not careful our Christian walk can be like this. Our Christian experience can be reduced to: church attendance, cell group, tithe and a daily devotional. It becomes a Christian club with very little discipline involved. We are saved, yes - but are we "working out" our salvation with fear and trembling as the word tells us in Philippians 2:12 .

I recently bumped into a website called "do hard things" it is a website put up by two of Josh Harris (the writer of "Why I kissed dating goodbye") brothers. The website is for young people and it challenges them to do something with their lives and not settle for being an iPod professional. They are convinced that many young people (and their parents) have bought into a lie – which says - life is about them and their comfort. They have written a book by the same title that I have not read but I am intrigued by the subject. Some people would say that we are doing “a hard thing” by living in Uganda. But I know the reality of what my life is challenged by and what has simply become “everyday life”. A few days ago, in our family devotion time I challenged our 5 year old son to take a cold shower. Why? He asked. I told him because someday you may go to the village where they don’t have hot water and because you’re not used to cold water you will complain and end up seeming “rude”. He understood the logic and agreed it would be helpful to take the cold shower once in a while. Maybe your thinking that I am tough…he is only five. Let me assure you ….it’s only water and it’s really not that cold.

Do you need to take a cold shower? I know I do, otherwise I too - will complain and seem rude when I challenged with small and minor things.

Passion Uganda

The Passion Youth Movement came to Uganda at the end of May for two days of outreach ministry to University students. They had about 25,000 students attend the meetings. Worship leaders Chris Tomlin (Best known for his song -How great is our God) and Matt Redman (Blessed be your name/Heart of Worship) were here along with the speakers Louie Giglio and Francis Chan. It was a great event for our city and for the students - the message was clear "God has great things for Kampala as we yield ourselves to Him - He alone is to be exhalted"

Chicken anyone?

I know it's kinda hard to see what is wraped around this scooter but these are actually chickens. I have tried to count them and it seems there are around 15 of them. They are not dead but alive and clucking. You might be asking why would someone be transporting chickens in such a manner? You see it's cheaper this way. The cost of hiring this boda boda man (that is what they call these guys who drive scooters for hire) is about 1/4 the price of hiring a truck to do the job.
Some may call this cruelty to animals - but when your headed to the slaughter house, even driving in a limo won't do you a lot of good.

Reversing roles

We live in world where more and more people are changing roles. In some families the head of the home is no longer the husband it’s the wife - who wears the pants. In some work places it’s the employees that tell the boss what to do. In some homes it’s the children that tell the parents what to do. And believe it or not - some people today are the ones directing God around and telling Him what to do. It reminds me of a time where I reversed roles with a policeman here. I was traveling back home with a church member and forgot to put on my seat belt. The police man pulled me over and explained to me my "offense" upon when he asked for a bribe. I refused and then he asked me if "I wanted to get right of get left?" I told him I didn't understand what he was saying. He then tells me that we will need to go to the police station to sort the matter out (I know this game they play and he did not want to go the station it was his way threatening me). So he gets in the car (that's the way we do it here, they usually don't have a car [this guy in picture above is the exception]- so they get into yours and you drive them and yourself to the station) but now I can smell alcohol on his breath (and now understand why he would ask such a stupid question as whether I wanted to get right or get left). He says lets go to the station and I say "sounds like a great idea because you not only tried to bribe me but your obviously drunk and I am sure your boss would like to know these things". He quickly changes his mind and wants out of the car – I refuse – At that point – we reverse roles. I am now taking the police man to the police station. I tell him I am taking him to the police station to turn him in. He then tells me several times that I am abducting him. We proceed to the police station and explain the situation to the Officer In Charge and tell him what happened. Of course at this point the police don’t know what to do. I have now become the prosecutor – they are dumbfounded and want me to drop the whole thing – which I don’t feel comfortable about. In the midst of the whole – the drunk and disorderly police man some how sneaks out and runs away like scared cat. By the time I realize what has happened – he is gone and so I decide to drop the whole thing and go home. Yes, a humorous but true story. As funny as it may sound I wonder how many times we also trade roles with God and begin to tell how we would like Him to fit into our plans. I really don't want to be a police man, I have enough things going on as Pastor. In Uganda we may not be able to trust the police - but we can trust God. He is not going to let us down - he doesn't need us to do His job for Him. Let's let Him be God and let's let us be us.

Prayer Requests

It's always good to pray for each other. Pray for us as we pray for you.

1) Uganda is much more violent and hostile than it once was. Though we don't feel threatened or at risk - pray for God's protection over us.

2) The nation has seen food prices almost double in the last six months. Pray for Uganda and for the people. Pray that God will strengthen their hearts during this time of testing.

3) We are also feeling the effects of the current economic situation. Keep us also in your prayers.

4) Pray for God's wisdom as we minster in a nation and on a continent that is sometimes hard to understand in terms of spirituality. People are open to listen, but discipling (commitment) is a huge challenge here.

5) Pray for us as parents. Raising children as MK's (missionary kids) needs great wisdom and insight.

Thank you so much for praying. It means a lot to us.

God bless you. The Woodsons

Give Him praise!

This guy is imagining he has a microphone. You think I am making a joke - but I am not - he is singing into his hand, leading in praise songs.

The lesson here is - "If your voice is loud enough - no one knows the difference" or is it "make a joyful noise unto the Lord".... - I will take the latter.

So sing unto the Lord - even if you don't have a mic - the idea is to sing praise to God.

Go ahead just try it. Hold your fist up to your mouth and sing. That's it "Holy Holy Holy - God of power and might....."

Whatever is going on in your life today - praise Him in the midst of it and may He be gloried.

God bless you!!!

Pray for us!

I pulled this out of our local paper here in Kampala. As I am sure you know by now that we are headed into a world wide financial crisis. Experts tell us that it is going to hit us the hardest in the Third World. People living in the first world usually have a "cushion" on their income so when recession comes they still have some room before it affects them in places like "not eating as much" because the economy is not good. But for the average person around the World that is exactly what is happening. One Indian man in Uttar Pradesh (India) said this "We had to stop eating lunch. And we had to completely stop drinking milk,". Here in Uganda things are not too bad.....yet, but food prices are rising so fast - I am concerned for the future. Rice has gone up about 40% in the last six weeks. Every week the prices seem to be going up on everything. Our meat is being (especially fish) exported all over the world to China, Europe and other African countries, plus surging gas prices and the construction boom around the world (India and China) is making life more difficult for us here.

We are praying and meditating on the promises of God. Last week I preached on the subject of God hiding a blessing for us in this time of economic testing. I used the illustration of Joesph being hidden in Egypt during the time of famine. Joesph had access to all the food in the land. But His family did know he was a alive. When they went to Egypt looking for food - they found a man (Joseph) that said he could help them - but he wanted to see their younger brother (Benjamin). Benjamin had not gone with his brothers to Egypt for their father (Jacob) feared he might lose him, as was the case with his son Joseph. So when his sons returned home to their father and said the man in Egypt want to see Benjamin - Jacob cried.

"You're taking everything I've got! Joseph's gone, Simeon's gone, and now you want to take Benjamin. If you have your way, I'll be left with nothing." Genesis 42:36 (MSG).

But if Jacob did not release Benjamin he would never see Jacob. The bible says - Jacobs whole life was bound up in his son.

And now when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, since his life is bound up in his life, it shall be, when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Genesis 44:30,31

Joesph was still alive - but as long as Jacob held on to Benjamin he would never know God's provision. He had to let go.

God had hidden Joseph until the famine. It was God’s plan to reveal him in the time of the famine – because God knew that is when they would need him the most.

What we have done on our end, is to encourage our people to give and be generous during this time. We are taking up special offerings to provide food for those who will need it in the coming months.

As I close I feel impressed to encourage you with this: Don't hold on to your "Benjamin" - God has had Joseph hidden for a reason, and I believe He is saying "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord,…. Jeremiah 29:13,14

- God will not do your part (the seeking) as you can not hurry Him to do His part. His timing is perfect. Let go of Benjamin and let God reveal Joseph.

God Bless you.

Check this kid out!

Is blogging like boasting? Well you know how parents can be about their children. Boastful!

Check out Josh on his drums. I think you will be impressed for a 5 yr old.

Stay blessed we love you!

A blog from a old man

This thing was walking around in our house one morning. We caught it and decided to eat it, but before we ate it we snapped this picture. It tasted like chicken. Well..... not really. Actually we took our kids to a crocodile farm where they let you "pet" the crocs (for a small fee). Don't be fooled by his size- this little guy was tough! and just getting him out of his holding tank was not easy for the croc keeper. After I handed this “little snapper” back over to his owner I had small cuts on my hands from his sharp skin. In Uganda they breed these crocs for their skin and then sell off the tail for eating. I have eaten crocodile tail in both Uganda and the States (Cajun cooking on the US side), quite good! A meal you would not want to pass up.

Otherwise, just short blog and update on our life. Things are going quite well for us. Josh is now about 5 1/2 years old and is being home schooled by a fantastic teacher (Lorraine). We started him in the 1st grade, which began in March, he is young for the 1st grade but he is keeping up. His main interest is playing his drums - I hope to upload you a video sample in the next few weeks of him playing. Breanna is now about 2 1/2 years old and she is quite the adventurous one (except for the water) she climbs hills and jumps off steps to keep up with her brother, her main interest is picking out her own clothes - "I never knew women were born with this clothes thing". For Lorraine, she is extremely busy with trying to balance; Home schooling and ministry and being a housewife. Not easy, but she enjoys the time she has with the kids and opportunity to be a home with them and "me". As for me (Darryl) I am finding that life is quite satisfying at 42 (April 8th is my B-day) and feel as though God has been so good to me. I find tremendous fulfillment in living wholehearted for God at this age. It’s… well….Let me blog and blah for minute. It's interesting these days for me to look around the world as I travel and log in (Internet) and keep up on what people seem to be "into" these days. Christians seem to be wondering as much as anyone else - as to what will make them happy. Everybody seems so focused on being happy. Whether it's here in Uganda, in US or Asia - people to want to be happy. That seems to be the main issue in their life. Personally, I find even trying to answer that question a bit peculiar because it tends to make a person inward thinking rather than looking out to the needs of others. But since we all want to be happy (myself included) it’s best to look at how Jesus answered the question. In Matthew 5 Jesus described to us what makes a person happy (most translations use the word blessed rather than happy but the Greek word is really translated happy) by telling us in the Beatitudes. These thoughts are so far different than today’s current mindset. For example: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake or blessed are the poor in the spirit. These are totally contrary to the current trend in a post modern world – where most are consumed with themselves. Even some (as we see so often in this part of the world) who “carve out a niche for themselves” in helping others are only doing it for some kind recognition.

These days I am finding that God is helping me to find more contentment in the small things than in the big things of life. The big things seem to steal my attention from the “one thing” (Ps 27:4, Luke 10:42) that’s necessary, while the small things seem to keep it (my heart) focused and alive. One of the areas that God is helping to look at the small thing is in my work or ministry (as some call it). In the past few months (as much as I can) – I leave my office at the church (from doing the “big things”) and go out just walk the neighborhood, talk to the people and pray for them. When I first began to do this I was amazed that I didn't know (I shouldn't be - I never visited them before) “my neighbors” around the church they didn’t know me - these people were living right next to the church. I thought this is not right. I am definitely missing something here. Here, I have been so focused on these “big things” (that I feel I am supposed to do) and I am missing out on touching the needs and the people around me. I decided to change. There has been so many positive things that have happened both in my heart and in the neighborhood since I began. But let me share one that is “fresh”. There has been a Muslim lady I have been going to visit as much as I can. She has eye problems and finds it hard to see. She has not been able to read because of the pain she experiences when trying to do so. For months I have been praying for her and asking her to come to church. Well this past Sunday she came. On that Sunday we had someone scheduled to give a testimony, but when she saw her opportunity she came running to give her testimony also. I was not overseeing the service – I was seated. When I seen her I did not recognize her – she was all dressed up (wherever I visited her she was in clothes that many would call rags) in her Sunday best. She came and gave a testimony about how her eyes are much better (she can now read for a short period and the pain had stopped) and that God was great! She is still not saved (not that I know of -but she is talking like she is) but we can pray – her name is Rashida.

Now here is my point – first I am so glad I have been going out and visiting this lady. Secondly, on Sunday when she came up to the stage the person who was overseeing the service looked at me to see if was OK for here to give a testimony. Since I did not recognize her – my thoughts were “is this lady going to get up and take a long time to testify and take up my time (for the “big” thing) to preach”. Well…..I let her testify and well……I think you can see where I am going with this....

I like being 42 – not because I am 42 – but because God has helped see the futility of giving my life to the big things (thinking that is where my life exists) and missing out on the small things of life that God has given to us to bring fulfillment according to the Beatitudes. One thing I have learned at 42 is that as I do the small things – God will do the big things. The small things (the obscure, the unseen and unnoticed) will bring the everyday fulfillment we all need – and if a big thing comes through – that’s a bonus and if it doesn’t, that’s OK . I realize that my life is not found in the things that I need to "make me feel better” but my life in the small things I try to do daily FOR HIM!!!

Happy Resurrection to you!

I can promise you one thing! In Uganda - we have the best tasting pineapple in the world (yes better than Hawaii). If you don't believe me - I think you better come and try one.

The interesting thing about pineapple is that many people don't know they grew. As you can see it grows like a plant, out of the ground - just one at a time.

Before I seen a pineapple growing - I never knew how they grew. But then again, I never really thought about it.

The bible gives an interesting analogy here as to how Christ "grew" before he went to the cross.

Isaiah tells us that Jesus came as "....a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground...."(Isa 53:2).

If your not familiar with Isaiah 53 - The prophet goes on and describes (as well as prophecies) the death of Christ and how He suffered for us.

This verse "(Isa 53:2) describes Jesus as a tender plant - meaning He was a servant. The Good News Bible says it this way "It was the will of the LORD that his servant grow like a plant taking root in dry ground...."

It would do us (I know it would do me) good to be reminded that Jesus grew as a servant - that we might take on the same attitude. Serving means going the way of the cross for us all. But if we look for ways to serve one another - we can expect a resurrection.

Philippians 2:5-11
For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God bless you as "we" serve our King!

Sri Lanka Missions Trip

This week I am in Sri Lanka (Darryl). I was invited to be one of the speakers at a missions conference called "Arise Asia". It has been a tremendous conference with delegates from all over Asia and the world (many from India and Nepal). One of the testimonies I heard is worth repeating and sharing with you.

His name is Ps. Augustine Jebakumar from a place called Beher in India. Augustine left his home and traveled about 36 hours on a train to a place in India where neither knew one person or spoke the language. He arrived only having felt God calling him to the place, but not knowing what he would do or say. He began ministering to anyone who would listen. Today the Lord has helped them to care for 25,000 children in their schools and 1500 orphans. They also have over 1,0000 churches that they over see. They spend 45% of there general church budget on mission work. But waht really got to me about this man's life was his sacrifice to preach the gospel.

Once, when he was out on the mission field preaching far from his hometown his father died. It was 6 days before the news got to him that his father was dead and it took him 7 days to get back home, before he could be with his grieving mother and family (13 days later). On a second a occasion, again while he was out preaching his son died - this time it was 3 days to get him the news and then anthor 3 days for him to get back home to be with his grieving wife (6 days later). Because he was not around - his own wife with two others had to dig the grave for their son.

He spoke with a broken heart about these deaths - rightly so - but he said that the choice to either stay home or "GO" and preach the gospel was a decision he was compelled to make. Their are people today around the world that are living out their faith in ways that God may or may not require of us -but I encourage you to live fearlessly in the face of whatever your facing - knowing that what He has called you to He is faithful to get you through it.

A Trip to Remember - Ntungamo

Last week we travelled to a village called Ntungamo. It was about a

5 hour drive from Kampala. I had been asked my one of my “spiritual sons” if I would travel to the city where he recently had moved to plant a church. I accepted and told him that if he wanted me to I would go into the village and do some ministry there. For sometime now I have been feeling like I wanted to take our family into the village so they could experience some real village ministry. We have been to the village on several occasions for ministry, funerals and sometimes just to meet some friend’s relatives. But this would be the first time we would take the kids. We left it up to our host as to where we would stay (whether we would stay in the village or drive back to the nearest town). We arrived in the afternoon and by the time we got to the village church – our daughter Breanna was having a fever with Diarrhoea– she was sick before we left Kampala – but she did not have fever. We ministered in the church in the evening and ate some real village food. We then headed out into the night and deeper into the village to spend the night. Getting to the church was not too bad – but getting to the house where we would stay the night was another story. The road turned into what looked more like a walking path than a road – a few times we had to get out of the car to see where they road went - to see if we could make it. We travelled down an incline and arrived at a stream that looked a quite deep (especially at night). With Breanna still having a fever and us heading deeper into the village – it looked like we were in for a real adventure. We crossed the stream and finally ended up at the house we would stay the night at. By this time it seemed that most of the village children had followed us (not many cars would travel into the village this far – so they wanted to see what this was all about). We entered the house and met our hosts – a humble dwelling with only two beds – they gave us their two beds and they slept on the ground (no mattress). During the night Lorraine got bit by bed bugs – they got her real good - biting her over 100 times. Even today the bites are still all over her body (pray for her -as she has had trouble sleeping for two weeks now do to scratching in the night). We made it through the night but Breanna’s fever was still high. We kept giving her adult tablets of Ibprophen- because that’s all we had. After another day of ministry - in the afternoon we headed back to one of the major towns called Mbarara where we spent the night. The next day being Sunday we ministered in the town church– Breanna’s fever began to reduce and we saw her Diarrhoea dry up. Praise God! That is the short version of the story but we are glad we went and God is always faithful and we are better for having gone through the adventure.

Please check our the video clip in the blog prior to this one.

Dancin' - Village Style

Last week we were in the village doing some ministry. This clip is from a presentation some the believers did in the conference we were ministering in. I think you will find this clip quite interesting. Enjoy!

I will add another blog giving the details of our trip. It was quite a journey!!

Thinking from the Heart

Last week, I was out catching bugs with kids on my day off. A man selling “trinkets” (from china) came walking along. He was carrying his “portable store” on his back, he told me he had walked about 10 miles, which would quite a distance since his “store” weighed about 20-25 pounds. Anyway, the only thing I could find that interested me to buy was “clothes pins”, he was selling for about $1.25 – I bought two packs. He was also trying to get me to buy a small baby doll for Breanna – but she didn’t need another doll – even if it was quite cheap. After talking with him for a few minutes as we were going our separate ways – he gave the doll to Breanna. I wanted to give it back so he could sell it and get some money – after all even the clothes pins I was buying was to just help him out (didn’t really need them). But this is how the people are here – I can’t totally explain it – but one thing is that people think differently here. They think from their heart. Maybe , just maybe - this could explain why things are so often mismanaged here. And maybe that is why people in the first world miss out on some of the more quality things in life that we enjoy here – like relationships. Ever try to manage a friendship? Just the wording of that sounds awful – managing a friendship – managing a marriage? Yet that is what we often try to do with our life – we try manage it – control it. We want to control how things go by managing them. Well let me encourage us all to learn a lesson from the Ugandans – love with your heart not with your head – you my not get as much done – but you may slow down enough to not miss out on the more important things in life.

Doreen has a great story of courage and faith that I felt was worth sharing with you. Doreen joined our church about 2 years ago with her husband. At the time she began attending she was having a good paying job that was a blessing to her and her family. But there was a problem she had acquired it under false pretences. In the course of attending the church she heard a message about “burning her bridges” and pushing ahead into all that God had for her. She knew she could not burn her bridges because the job she had she obtained with a “fake” diploma. It was a good job, but it was not right for her to keep it under those circumstances and she knew it. She had never had a proper education and she was too old and settled to really go back school - but she knew she needed to do the right thing. She decided to quit her job without telling anyone why. She waited a long time before God finally opened the door for new job. But recently God did bless her with a miracle job that was defiantly the hand of God opening a door for her.

What can we do?

This last week was rather difficult as we had a member of our congregation died – his name was John Sentonyga. I personally took this a bit hard as I was visiting him regularly in the hospital. His family for the most part abandoned him. So as a church we took on the responsibility. We paid for medical costs and formed a team of people to be at his bedside at all times. He was a young man in his thirties, he had worked for the church at one time as the janitor. He was one of the leaders of both our prayer and hospital ministry. Ironically he was the one who visited most regularly the hospitals in our area as an outreach ministry of our church. He died of either meningitis or a fungus on the brain, we were also told he was HIV positive.

Death in Uganda is common and in many cases it could have been avoided. From reckless driving to disease to war and famine many people lose their lives much too early. In the case of the John, at the time of his death the Dr’s were not even treating him. He was to go for a CT scan the following day of his death, but on the day of his death he was simply lying on his bed vomiting and losing his mind. Whatever the cause was, it seemed that the Dr’s had given up and were not communicating anything to us. It was a sad situation that grieved my heart wondering if there was something else we could be doing. But the Dr’s had been so causal and calm - they gave impression that the sickness was going to be a long term type of situation.

“Time waits for no one” and death knocks on everyone’s door. Of course John was at God’s mercy. But these days the question I am asking is “How do I fit into the plan of God in a person’s life?” What I am to do as person not a pastor. My answer lies in my conscious effort to get my eyes off myself and onto others. In the stress and business of life God gives us pleasures to enjoy – most of the time we look for them in the form of entertainment. Not many of us look at the Beattitudes for an answer as how to be happy or have pleasure - But Jesus said:

Matthew 5: 4 “Blessed are those who mourn - For they shall be comforted”.

Another way I might say this verse is. “Happy are those who mourn for others – for they get their eyes off themselves and enter a deep pleasure few ever find”. I have discovered that some of the comfort found in mourning for others is in pushing hard to simply “Suck it up” and get your attention off your own problems. When I do this – I feel as if I am actually getting a hold of life instead life getting a hold of me. It’s rather simple “God in you is bigger than all that life is throwing me” – I tend to believe this when I am actually lining up my life with the truth of the verse and I send a message back to myself “God’s word is true and it does work when I obey it and apply it”. I have been finding great strength in applying the Beatitudes in my life – though it is difficult – my baby steps are helping me to run the race with perseverance in a nation that many times is easy to despair in.

I hope I have made sense and I hope your passion in life is found in helping others and not helping yourself or might find yourself being swallowed by temporary issues that were meant to bless you instead destroy you.

Our Annual Christmas Carnival

Every year we have a huge Carnival at the church during Christmas time -where we collect clothes, food and other house hold items to give away to the community. The images your looking are some of the clothes we gave away and also the line for people to receive the free items. This year was bigger than ever and we gave away more than 5,000 items including beds, bicycles, furniture, rice, beans, shoes and so much more. We also offer free services like nail polish, shoe polish, hair cuts, car wash and even eye brow trimming. In addition we also have all sorts of games the people can play to win prizes. We run two Carnivals at the same time, an adult and a children's. All the items we collect are given by the community and the church members. It's a great time to see people giving back to the community in a culture that too often expects things the other way around.

The Price of Fuel

If you don't know it - our neighbor Kenya has been in political crisis. The President claimed victory and took over the office while it would seem he was not the winner or at least it was so close that they would have needed to do a recount. Anyway because most of the fuel trucks come through Kenya into Uganda the price of gasoline shot up to about $11.69 a gallon (that is what we paid) average price - but some paid up to almost $23.000 a gallon, regular price here is about $6.00 a gallon. So you see that your blessed to pay $3.00 or $4.00 a gallon. But the real problem was getting fuel or finding it. As fuel trucks enter the gas or petrol stations - police would be on stand by. The station could sell 2,500 gallons in 5 hrs and then when it was gone - the station did not receive fuel again for another 3 days. For us we had only one car that had fuel, so we limited our movements . It gave me a fresh perspective on what may happen in the future throughout the world and how it can affect us. Most of us don't think in this type of terms - "What would you do if you had no fuel to get to work?" "How much of your life is dependent on gasoline?" something to think about.....................and ponder. It has helped us to see that God is our source and He does take care of us, but no one is exempt from the situations that effect the world. Our faith is in Him and His provision and not a government or bank account. It's good a feeling to know that He is our source. Thankfully the situation is getting better and at the moment our tanks our full and so are our hearts. God bless you

Welcome to another day of life!!

Well here it is.... uhhhh.....can't say you have been waiting for this or have you have you. Anyway...hopefully this blog may help us keep in touch. The question is..... will I ever write anything.... or will this be just idea I had. Well Anyway, We are hoping we can begin to keep you a little more up to date on our lives and what's happening here in Uganda. Sooooooo. let me post a real blog.