A Great Graduation Celebration

Last Sunday night we had a wonderful dinner celebration. Christine, Emma, Sam and Junior are the graduates and blazing the trail for the rest of the scholars. The discussions throughout dinner ranged from who believed in paying "bride prices" when they got married to how many cows they needed to being amazed at how much things have changed in their lives over just a couple of years.

I was really moved as I looked around the table and enjoyed the camaraderie among the group. They have become such great friends. Christine told me at the cottage after the dinner, "these guys are different than any around. They are serious and so focused and treat us like their sisters...so caring and protective." This was such great encouragement given some of the challenges ladies face in Ugandan culture. The teaching we are doing is taking root and exciting.

Thanks a million to all of you who are helping the scholars. I wish you could have been a fly on the wall at the dinner because you would be smiling from ear to ear!

Zucchini In Bread…Really!

As we mixed the ingredients to make zucchini bread,in the cottage in Uganda, Joanitah, Christine and Esther shook their heads. I could tell by their expressions this recipe was too weird for them but they were great sports. They are not used to the unusual, American cooking combinations but they quickly “picked up” as they say.

With the addition of the cinnamon and other ingredients and the fact that I told them they could lick the bowl they liked the new flavor. The evening was an evening of firsts for them…baking with a cooker, making bread out of vegetables, making new friends and staying with me in the cottage. They are a wonderful group of gals and there was a special bond spending time in the kitchen together. When girls get together they are the same no matter where they are from anywhere in the world.

Also I forgot to mention we did pedicures and manicures. Was this a typical gals night or not!

The next morning we went to church together then on to the Rock fellowship at Ben’s. It’s a great blessing to be able to encourage these wonderful young people.

The Heart of the Matter

Home is where the heart is and Uganda is my home away from home. Lutaaya, Kenny and Mugowa picked me up at the airport and I was so excited to see their smiling faces.

There is just no substitute for spending time hanging out with The Rock scholars. Ken and Esther spent Thursday with me. They arrived at 11:30 and we talked about many things, went shopping and had a “pitch in dinner party” in the kitchen cooking chicken with rice. Both of them are in law school and from Kenya. The students always want to talk about relationships, Biblical principles and how to stand firm as the world pulls you in so many directions. It was great to hear all about what is going on in their lives and on campus. Esther is a good friend of Joanitah, (another Rock scholar) and lives in the same hostel.

Today (Friday) was so productive. Lutaaya (our partner ministry leader of African Hearts) and I met for several hours discussing the agriculture plan, band marketing, academic performance of the children in the homes and the policies Junior and he have come up with as standards for the students. Both of them understand the vision of the Rock and the importance of preparing the kids for the future so they are giving their best. I look forward to seeing the standards and also the student agreements they are developing. I was so excited that they are being proactive leaders in expecting more from those they are leading. Junior is developing a document for the secondary students to sign like a performance contract. They are serious about results and I respect them so much.

Regarding the agriculture, Lutaaya brought the survey and deed to the land and we discussed several options for the 30 ft. x 60 ft. poultry building. We will visit the land on Monday and get pictures and water source information.

Ben finished class and came to the cottage to confirm the rest of the schedule, and join Joseph who arrived from Kabale Friday afternoon. What a blast at dinner catching up and sharing stories. It was the first time for Joseph to see a toaster and cook on a cooker. I love the memories we are making as they experience new things and gain confidence. Joseph is 15th out of 80 students in his graduating class and looks forward to joining the Rock for university in IT. He will get the scoop on everything on campus tomorrow as Mugowa (who is also studying IT) will give him a tour. Even though the cottage is a bit rustic it is great to be able to cook with the kids. It is more like being at home and people are free to come and go and visit as they can.

Saturday I planned a sleepover with Christine, Joanitah and asked Esther to join us. We are planning a “gals night.” I can’t decide whether to bread with them or muffins. Ben has suggested that they need to learn how to use the cooker. Most Uganda women cook on charcoal so this is a new experience. I guess they can decide.

I hope you liked the monkeys. Life is busy but so great! One thing that keeps coming up in the student discussions is the value of understanding the “condition of the heart.” These students really are using this as a Biblical compass we stress at the Rock as a benchmark to how they evaluate many things in life. Even Joseph shared he talked about it when asked to preach to his secondary school class devotional. Thanks for your prayers.

Freedom and Faith

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will set your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Life is really amazing sometimes and there is such freedom in having faith that the Lord is in control. Thanks for the prayers. They mean so much to me as I prepare to leave for Uganda on Monday. Please continue because I always experience spiritual attack before I leave. Specifically pray for my health, sleep, wisdom and discernment, extended time and God's perspective in everything. Also please pray that He will protect me as I travel. The enemy is a master of distraction, deception and discouragement so please pray for everyone in the ministry that we will be alert, prayed up and ready for battle.

I'll keep you posted on the latest news when I get to Uganda.

If It Is God's Will It Happens

Praise God He is at it again with His promises. If you ask in His name and say you are fine with the outcome and sincerely let go, amazing things happen, like my trip is fully funded now! Over and over again since I became a believer He has been faithful. I struggle like everyone else. I get angry, I shed tears, I want to control things but bottom line if I trust Him there is the ultimate freedom. Tonight I feel like dancing because I'm imagining cooking dinner in a modest little cottage ( I've been trying to cut costs by cooking) for the students, teaching them how to bake bread if they are interested, talking to them about relationships and encouraging them to stay strong and not take any shortcuts. God really has a plan and a future for them and I feel it with everything I believe if they will just be faithful.

Thank you for supporting the vision of spiritual freedom and freedom from Western dependency for the Africans. It really leads to all kinds of other freedom if we just believe it. I'll keep you up to date on all the activity!

Riding the Wave

Life these days is a bit surreal so I had to bring you up to date...from new homes for kids, to the grandkids and a big event in the wings. I can't say I understand why but I have to say the time is calmly passing by. It is like being at the heart of something swirling around you but just moving with it and letting it take you where it wants to go. Riding the wave. Like when you go rafting it is freeing but at the same time scary. But the Lord is good and I'm thankful He is in control.

What's swirling around? Let me share with you a little more...

Lots of great family things happening with our new granddaughter Sarah Grace, and Mark's family. Please keep them in your prayers.

My planned trip to Uganda is not fully funded although I have a ticket for September 21st. Lord willing I will be able to go.

The university scholars are trusting the Lord to provide for them and are always a bright light to me. I can't wait to see them and develop their "career launch plans."

The new Ssenge home with these precious little boys who were once on the street are so cute and lovable. Anyone want to get involved?

The usual distractions that any organization working with Africa continue but I'm claiming Exodus 14:14.

Praising the Lord that Steve Green the 7 Dove AWARD winner is available for a testimonial event in November 21st. We are praying the Lord provides underwriters.

Daniel Mwangi one of the Kenyan Rock businessman, has a restored business and now has his family back together. (He saw his neighbor killed with an arrow through the chest during the violence. Watch for the complete story coming soon.)

So even though things are swirling all around and out of control as they usually are at our house we are thankful for you, the many blessings and have great hope for the future. I'm a realist and know I'm in way over my head, but it's actually kinda exciting!

Each day I have to trust Him to provide everything. I learn many things from the faith of the kids we love so much in Africa. This summer's Bible study was a great encouragement and continues to impact me as we studied people with amazing faith who were just regular people. I wonder how they did it at times but the Lord was with them. D.L. Moody was so open and teachable. I think of the Rock scholars and how they love new things. The kids from the street are true over-comers like William Carey who never gave up hope. Working with orphans I can't forget George Muller as a great believer in prayer and God providing every need. Even Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle one of my favorite places to visit in NY has an amazing story that continues. I'm thankful for those that have gone before me because they inspire me to persevere. God is exciting and trustworthy.

"Expect Great Things From God And Attempt Great Things For God" William Carey

As I studied D.L. Moody, William Carey, George Muller, and Jim Cymbala this summer they were a great encouragement to me as a missionary. All of them were ordinary people that God allowed to join in His work. What an amazing blessing to read their stories and learn how they faced the mountains and valleys. Their faith and courage is a good reminder that things don't always go as we want but they always turn out with God in control.

Because of my previous work experience I have a tendency to want to get things done when things are not happening. Mark tells me I'm prone to be a workaholic if he doesn't distract me with fun activities. Like many people I like the security of my checklist and the feeling of accomplishment, but God is working on me in this area. Will I be a living sacrifice and totally trust Him for provision for the scholarship students, my trip to Africa, paying the bills etc. etc.? Do I need to jump in have a garage sale, try to sell some family antiques, get a part time job as one friend told me to do or believe God? Am I presuming on God and not doing my part? Is this a lie to get me to question God's faithfulness?

I tell myself "I want to do my part in being obedient if God wants me to do something" but if I put myself on the altar and believe God am I a sacrifice crawling off the altar when I don't wait on the Lord? The urge is strong to take control of the situation and make it happen and in ministry our own timing isn't always God's timing. I think the Lord is trying to teach me to totally trust Him to direct me and rest in Him. It goes against my flesh to rest when I see the faces of the students, know they need encouragement, see how all the ministry plans God has laid out for us need further research. He has given me a passion for Africa and I yearn to return and let God use me however He plans.

So I am praying and asking and trying to discern what I should do? I have to trust him for our provision, and trust Him to provide for the kids we love so much in Africa. He knows their needs even better than I do. I want to be forever teachable like D.L. Moody, an over-comer like William Carey who said "Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God," a great believer in prayer like George Muller, and remember what Jim Cymbala said in his book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire "God is attracted to weakness...Our weakness in fact, makes room for his power." Bottom line I'm believing God.