Back in Uganda

I left the USA a month ago and have been actively settling in, resuming my teaching schedule, visiting with friends and meeting new ones! It has been great to catch up with our African church and missionary family and with all the people God has brought into my life here in Uganda. I am pleased to say that Heritage International School is fully staffed for now, although we do need a number of positions filled by August for the new school year at that time.
I'm teaching Bible to grades 6 through 12, except 9 (since my schedule was overbooked), and I also teach Spanish 2 for 2 students. So far, so good. Please be praying for my students. Coming from Holland, USA, Canada, Uganda, Kenya, England, the Philippines, India, South Africa, Ethiopia, Italy, Korea and China, many of these students don't come from Christian homes. Do please pray for the ministries which the Bible classes offer to each searching soul. Thank you!
Thank you for your prayers and giving, that I might be able to return to Uganda. I'm still in some ways settling into life here, being reminded of how the culture thinks and what needs are in the church, school, and in individual lives. Your giving and praying really are wonderful, and each day I thank the Lord for your part in reaching Ugandans for Christ.

Heading back to Uganda!

Yay! The Lord has provided the necessary funds and WGM has agreed to let me return to Uganda! I will leave the USA January 5, arriving in Uganda the 7th. The very next day, I expect, I will resume teaching at Heritage International School.
Please pray for my safety in travels, and that all my luggage will make it (it contains some personal and many ministry items). We all have heard of airlines losing luggage, and there really are some useful tools I'd rather not lose.
Pray for my family; it has been a wonderful time home with all of them, and I've been so blessed to have a close-knit, Christian family. God has graciously helped them to be on board with me. I know some missionaries whose families don't agree with their choice to be overseas. My family gives in so many ways for me to be in ministry. Yes, it is difficult to not spend tons of time with them when I'm on the field, but we really are content to wait for our eternal time in Heaven. I'm so blessed.
Please do pray for the youth ministries at HIS and in the Africa Gospel Church. There is much to be done and, especially in HIS, there are very few other adults (I don't actually know of ANY others) who can help with the youth ministries program. Pray for my strength, love and wisdom; that Christ will shine through me to the youth and their families. Thanks!
Thank you, thank you so much! Your giving and prayers and encouragement are such an incredible help to me. Please let me know when and how I can pray for you, as well!

Keep on Praying!

Mugisha Emmy is the man now in charge of our Youth Pastor's trainings in Uganda. He and several youth from one of our Kampala city churches recently went to another town located on the edge of Lake Victoria to minister and fellowship. They hired a public taxi to take them, and made arrangements for the 2 drivers to pick them up in the afternoon. However, the men went and got drunk and returned an hour late. Because the church group was a little far away from a place to hire another taxi, they got in and asked the men to drop them off in the local town (Jinja), and they intended to hire someone else there to return with to Kampala (2 hours away). Mugisha soon discovered that these men, not Christians and very drunk, had it "in" for the Christian group and they refused to stop in Jinja to let them get out. Instead, they drove back to Kampala and had 3 head-on collision-misses and several other near-misses. People in the group were crying, some throwing up with the unsafe driving and high speeds, and of course all were praying for Jesus to keep them safe despite the evil of the taxi men. Upon arrival in the city, the taxi hit (fender bender) a vehicle but in stopping, Mugisha and the group got out quickly. In these situations, it is hard to press charges but I am encouraging Mugisha to do so. Meanwhile, this is one more example of how Satan is trying to thwart our ministries efforts in the world. Please keep praying for safety, health, unity and peace and that even if tragedies and persecutions do happen, that Christ will be glorified as He has already won the victory against evil. Praise the Lord for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Kampala! Pray for those 2 taxi men, that they will meet and surrender to Christ. Thank you!

Christmas Greetings

For Mom's 65th this year, co-workers gave her tickets to the Christmas symphony here in Indy. We decided to get fancy with our dress since it was a special celebration. Pictured above is (from left to right): Mom, my sister Abby, my brother Randy and me.

Cancer free!

Yay- Mom's surgery worked and she is cancer free! What a blessing! Praise the Lord and thank you all for praying for her. Wonderful!

Support Update; PRAYERS NEEDED

Hi and God bless you if you're reading this! I wish I had a counter for those who log on; is the blog reaching 3 or 30 or 300? No idea.
As of today, Nov. 16, I have all but $130 of my monthly support to return to Uganda, and I still need about $3,000 cash to pay for travels, non-monthly expenses like work permits, vehicle repairs (when necessary), etc.
Please pray that I'll be funded soon, as WGM is already talking about extending my time in the USA. That means that they'd not have me there to teach in Heritage right away, and my youth work both in Heritage and in the AGC would be delayed.
Thanks for praying! :)

Fall Colors

For my first Fall in 3 years, it has been an awesome one by colors on the trees. It is amazing; in mid-November we still have a lot of fall leaves on the trees, with most in vibrant reds, yellows and oranges. Wonderful- God is so awesome in the details of beauty He shows us daily!

Mom's Cancer

On Tuesday Nov. 13, Mom had cancer removed from by her eye/temple/cheek area. We are praying right now for the lab work to come back saying they got it all. Yes, she is bruised and the stitches are inside and out. Pray for her face to heal, and pray that indeed they got the cancer. Thank you!

Mission Network News Interview

Go to the following link to read (or listen) to the interview MNN did for me about the youth ministries programs for the Africa Gospel Church in Uganda. It was on the radio last Thursday. Go to http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10451
They got much of the facts right, but I must say they really dwell on AIDS/HIV prevention and such more than we do. I tried to tell the man that our approach is to evangelize and disciple enough Ugandan youth towards scriptural holiness/godly living, that we don't really look at AIDS/HIV much. We believe if people are walking faithfully with Jesus Christ, contracting the disease is hardly going to happen. Yes, there are cases of rape or other ways for infection, but if godly people live godly lifestyles, it significantly reduces the spread of AIDS/HIV.
Anyway, I also must admit my mistake in the interview. I was a little flustered with the interviewer asking so much about HIV/AIDS and when he asked me how many had been saved in the youth ministries program so far, I MEANT to say maybe 20-30 (I don't really know!) since May a YEAR AGO. But in the article/radio publication, they have it that I said 20-30 since May of this year. I am at fault there for the error. We are so focused on discipleship, but we do have our youth pastors working in weekly evangelism. But since I'm in the USA for now, I've not had any clear totals given. I just know they are still working in this area and I'm proud of our youth pastors and church pastors and lay people for their outreach in Uganda!
The reason they did the interview was to report on youth ministries in Uganda. But they seemed to want to dwell a lot - a lot- on HIV/AIDS. But I do appreciate their interview and efforts. Thanks MNN!
Anyway, if you want to hear or read the info., you can see/hear that at the above web site. Enjoy!

October Travels

Please pray for my October schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 30, Windsor Church of God, Windsor, PA p.m. service
Wednesday, Oct. 3, p.m. Barnsboro Baptist Church, Barnsboro, NJ
Sunday, October 7, a.m.; Trinity UMC, Gloucester City, NJ
p.m. Evangelical UMC, Clarksboro, NJ
Friday- Sunday Oct. 12-14, missions conference, Christ Evangelical Church, Crestwood, NJ
Monday, Oct. 15 Men With Vision Meeting, Western PA (Knox, PA)
Oct. 17 p.m., Cranberry, Rockland & Van UMC’s, Cranberry, PA
Oct. 21 all day; Wrightsville Community Church, Wrightsville, PA
Oct. 24 p.m. Calvary Monument Bible Church, Paradise, PA
Oct. 28 a.m., Cassadaga First Baptist Church, Cassadaga, NY
p.m. Grace Evangelical Congregational Church, Knox, PA
Oct. 31 Apollo Faith Chapel, Apollo, PA

BBC flood photos

The following pictures are all taken from a BBC site, to show you some of the extent of the flooding in Uganda.

Ongoing Computer Problems

Nope, I don't yet have my computer but I hope to tomorrow. It is really limiting my work and ministry. Could you pray for it to be completely running in all the programs, etc., when I do get it? I'm WAY behind in emails, and especially in writing/sending out a new prayer letter. The prayer letter I wanted to send, including my new prayer cards, was "due" to be mailed in August but because of the glitches, I haven't been able to do anything. I know, I need to chill; pray I will rest in God's timing and His work in all of these delays. Thanks!

Links online about Flooding in Uganda...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/09/21/africa.flooding.ap/index.html

This above site includes a short article about the flooding. CNN only takes enough space to briefly brush over the situation, when in fact is it much more serious and devastating than they indicate. I know they have lots of other news to report, but I do wish they could cover the info. a bit more deeply.

An email I received indicates that disease is on the rise in these areas- malaria, cholera is feared, other illness due to contaminated waters... Please do keep praying!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/despatches/34111.stm

The above site is the BBC's take on the flooding. They seemed to have more articles and more info., plus some people have written into the web to remark on the flooding.

Thank you for your prayers for this situation!

Flooding in Uganda!!!!

Could you please pray for the flooding and victims in Uganda? I know CNN and BBC are carrying articles and photos of the flooding.
Being in the USA for now, I am limited on how the flooding is personally affecting people. But according to emails and news site information, it is BAD. One site says more than 6 MILLION are affected by the flooding from heavy rains. The worst hit areas are also the areas where you hear of displaced people living in camps, due to war or instability in their own home areas. So those poor people have had to leave their homes out of fear, and now the places where they've fled to are flooded. Their home areas are flooded; how much more can they lose and suffer? So many needs... my heart breaks for them. All I know to do is pray for now, and ask you to pray as well.

Well, I do know WGM has relief-related accounts. If you do want to tangibly help, you could donate to WGM for the general field funds, or call WGM and ask if you can contribute toward mosquito nets or medicines which would help as our missionaries and Ugandan leadership work to reach out to help these flood victims and others to whom WGM ministers. The # for WGM is 765-664-7331 and the web address is www.wgm.org (where you will find a disaster relief/donate now link).

Thank you for your prayers.

Providence Church View

I was driving by this church and loved how the sun was hitting it. Just thought you'd like to see, too.
I'm in New England, speaking for Homeland Ministry Assignment, from now till Sunday afternoon. I spoke in Providence, RI, on this past Sunday. This coming Sunday I'll be in St. Alban's, VT. On the weekdays, I'm seeing supporters and some former VIA (Volunteers In Action) and enjoying our visits. :)

Does this SUIT you?

Yay! I met him! My Knight in Shining Armor! Ha. Okay, so really- during rennovations at WGM HQ in Marion, IN, the roofing union guys brought what apparently is their mascot. Not sure why the suit of armor was posed outside the back door, but amused by it all the same, I decided to share the shot with you. I was at the mission for 8 days (and knights) of meetings and, although I knew the armor-all guy was there, he still surprised me each day when I'd open the door and find a huge figure standing outside. Good Knight.

Hard Drive Crash

Yep; all the computer issues I've had for months SEEM to be signs of "illness" and that my hard drive was getting ready to crash. Praise the Lord (!!!!) that we caught it in time, losing ZERO data, images, addresses, programs, etc. It happened while I was at WGM and our IT department was able to begin work on it right away. I won't get the computer back till next week, but meanwhile I'm praying that all those issues I've had will be cleared up with this one BIG change/improvement. Oh, and I'm thankful to say that the computer was under warranty, too, so this was a very good outcome to a potentialy very bad situation.

Who Stole the Summer?!

Yikes, it is September already! I've been on the road speaking in churches, seeing individual supporters, and even at a camp (read on below) as the missionary speaker. It has been a good time to catch up with folks. More travels to come- I head to New England this weekend for about 12 days, then will be in NJ and PA for more meetings all of October.
The projected date to leave is still January 5, and I need about $200/month in pledged support as well as about $6,000 cash for flights, one-time expenses, visa and work permit, etc. once I get back in Uganda. Keep on praying, friends! I need to know if you ARE praying, as I may not have you listed on my prayer team. That is the VITAL ministry anyone can do. Thanks for your gifts, prayers and encouragement!
Currently I'm working on a new prayer letter which everyone will, Lord willing, get within the next 3 weeks or so. I have been waiting to get my new prayer cards (coming this week, if the company is on task), so I could mail them out along with a prayer letter update. Could you pray these 2 items- the card and the letter- arrive to folks and are a blessing and maybe even a challenge to those recipients? Perhaps more people will join my ministry team through prayer or finances once they read/see these. Or maybe someone will be challenged to come to Uganda or do other ministry? Let's pray Jesus will work on ALL our hearts to seek further opportunities for ministry and share His Good News wherever He has us!
I'm also at WGM in Marion, IN this week, in further training with the mission leadership and other furloughing missionaries from all over the world. It is always a delight to see these fellow-servants and the times together are encouraging.

Delanco Camp, NJ

I grew up within about 1 hour of Delanco Camp in NJ, but never went there till this past August. I was the missionary speaker for a week with about 50 kids grades 5-7, plus lots of adults. It was AWESOME! I really enjoyed getting to know the people and am so thankful I was invited to be there. I shared with all the kids 4 mornings, and was the evening service speaker one night as well. There was a special speaker (hey Colleen!) for the other services, and through most of the nights, when the altar was opened, many came to talk with Jesus and allow Him to talk with them. It was a blessing! Could you pray for the ongoing ministries which Christ is doing in each heart of those who were there? Thanks!

Other Summer Happenings

Really, I do work for a living. But I did take a family vacation in early July with Mom, Randy and Abby. My other sibling, Karen and her husband Dave (and boys AJ and Zac) are in Cameroon as missionaries so they couldn't make it. One morning we 4 took rides on bikes/a surrey, along the Ocean City boardwalk. The times with my family are precious and I'm thankful for them!