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.