This month has gone by way too fast! It was filled with so many wonderful and hard things.
So first of all the month began with one of our sons, Subunye Dan, running away after a Monday night devotion. He has been here at New Hope for the past five years, he is 12. I would have to say that he imobies the 'orphan heart'. When we first became a part of the family he would just stare at me with an expressionless face, was very cold to touch or even to the exchange of a simple greeting. Then he ran away just a few days later but was found in the streets of a nearby town. After a few weeks of working with the children in the garden, playing game with them, just showing love to them, and sharing God's Word with them Subunye began to warm up to me. In fact, he shared a piece of his jackfruit with me and would often come to greet me with a hug and a smile. Then there would be times where he would be very cold and nothing I did could get him to warm up to me. On one occasion I came to work with the children in the garden after school and they were eating jackfruit. Subunye had about half a jackfruit to himself, another boy had the other half. Three little girls, his sisters, asked him for a piece of his fruit but he snarled at them and hit them away. The other boy immediately took his jackfruit and cut it into equal parts for each to have. At that moment I could tell Subunye has some deep wounds from living life on the streets of Kampala for so long beginning as a 4 year old. I'm sure there is more to his story but here is what Subunye told me himself. Subunye hit the streets at the ripe young age of 4, sometime after his mother died. Perhaps he got lost one day and never found his home. He doesn't quite remember. All he knows is that he took to living on the streets which untold injustices happened to him. Until one day God brought him to New Hope Uganda when he was becoming too much a problem to police. It is extremely difficult for a street kid to come back to living in a family after being so used to a survival 'me' centered life. Much counseling, time, and love has been poured into Subunye by many people. However, Subunye kept hitting the streets when he would get in trouble for stealing or not doing his work, etc. This month alone he ran away twice which basically became the last straw. New Hope does not keep kids here against their will so they became destined to discover his relatives. This week they took Subunye to Kampala to drive him around where some of his relatives could possibly live. On the last leg of the trip Subunye saw a Petroil station he recognized and a street. They pulled up to the gas station and three men sitting on a bench outside the station recognized Subunye but by another name and he remembered them. Then they called another man over and this man was none other than the best friend of Subunye's dad! Yeah, that's right, Subunye's dad is still alive and is a believer! The man took them to Subunye's Auntie and the next day he was reunited with his dad, who is remarried. WOW! I am blown away by this story every time I think about it. It reminds me of one of those old Disney movies like Fivel or something. I love and miss Subunye and I will never forget the bond we had and how he showed me around the forest here at New Hope, showed me all about the oxen, and many other things. But overall I am greatly pleased that he is back with his dad and in a family. It won't be easy for him at all to readjust to living in his family. So please pray for him, pray that God would redeem this boy for His Glory.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Partnering in Prayer
Tomorrow, Sunday March 28, will mark 3 months since we set off on our big adventure! It is very hard to believe that we will be home in just 8 short weeks! We realize that many of you may not have contact with us on a regular basis and may not be quite sure what to pray for so I would like to take a few minutes to give you a short list of things you can partner with us in praying for!
*Mike will be preaching on Sunday (tomorrow) at the same village church where he preached last month. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will flow through him and use his words and the WORD to change the lives of the people in the church. Also you can pray that we will be a real blessing to the pastor and his wife. They are very loving people and we long to bless them while we are there.
*We will be beginning the topic of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood this week. The first 2 days of the week we will be in class from 8:30-4:00 instead of 8:30-1:00 which is what we are used to. Pray that God will really impact us with our roles as He intended them.
*Our "Family Visions" are going to be due in April. Pray that God will unify our vision for our family as we begin to compose our personal "Family Vision"
*As we look to the future there are many uncertainties. The only real thing we know is that we will be arriving home on May 24! Pray for God's leading as we look for housing and readjust to life in the States.
*Also, keep Keith and LauraBeth McFarland (and their 4 children) in your prayers as they are preparing to come back to the States at the same time we are. Pray for God's strength for them as they prepare to be away from home for 6 months and as they pack up things for their family of 6! It is going to be a very busy time for all of us, so pray for rest and peace in Jesus!
I hope these few things help you to know how best to pray for us! Thank you for your support of us over these 3 months! We look forward to seeing you all when we return and to sharing our transformed hearts with you!
We love you all!
Psalm 63
*Mike will be preaching on Sunday (tomorrow) at the same village church where he preached last month. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will flow through him and use his words and the WORD to change the lives of the people in the church. Also you can pray that we will be a real blessing to the pastor and his wife. They are very loving people and we long to bless them while we are there.
*We will be beginning the topic of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood this week. The first 2 days of the week we will be in class from 8:30-4:00 instead of 8:30-1:00 which is what we are used to. Pray that God will really impact us with our roles as He intended them.
*Our "Family Visions" are going to be due in April. Pray that God will unify our vision for our family as we begin to compose our personal "Family Vision"
*As we look to the future there are many uncertainties. The only real thing we know is that we will be arriving home on May 24! Pray for God's leading as we look for housing and readjust to life in the States.
*Also, keep Keith and LauraBeth McFarland (and their 4 children) in your prayers as they are preparing to come back to the States at the same time we are. Pray for God's strength for them as they prepare to be away from home for 6 months and as they pack up things for their family of 6! It is going to be a very busy time for all of us, so pray for rest and peace in Jesus!
I hope these few things help you to know how best to pray for us! Thank you for your support of us over these 3 months! We look forward to seeing you all when we return and to sharing our transformed hearts with you!
We love you all!
Psalm 63
Enjoying Jesus
I love Saturday mornings here in Uganda! Waking up to sunshine, cool morning breeze, omlets with guacamole, and Starbucks coffee. This Saturday morning I was determined to do something I have been wanting to do the whole time we have been here! You see, there is this little clearing behind our hut with some trees, grass, and a tree that once stood tall but has now fallen. I've been wanting to take a little morning visit to that old fallen tree with my coffee, journal, and Bible. This morning that is preicsely what I did.
After a simply delicious breakfast I gathered up my things (which consisted of my coffee cup, a towel to sit on, journal, pen, Bible, and Crazy Love) and took the short trek to the tree. I spread out my towel and sat down to just enjoy Jesus in His beautiful creation.
As I read, wrote, and prayed God spoke so plainly to my heart of the freedom he is bringing to me. I have lived in bondage to controlling my life (in ALL areas) for so long that I have not been able to even enjoy life! Surrendering my control came in one very specific area but has in turn affected many areas of my life! For the first time in a long time this morning I thoroughly ENJOYED myself and Jesus... with no worry about a to-do list, time, or any other distractions. I am recognizing how much bondage I have really been enslaved to and I want nothing to do with it anymore! I want to be FREE TO ENJOY! Enjoy Jesus, enjoy life, enjoy simplicity, enjoy quiet, enjoy just being still, enjoy meals, enjoy people, enjoy coffee...just simply enjoy.
Sure...its easy to live like this here where time is rarely an issue and where we don't have all the responsibilities that we have at home, but through Holy Spirit's power I am going to live this way at home too. It will take much more deliberate-ness, but it needs to be done!
So I challenge you today-stop being so busy...your life is a vapor...are you going to live it striving to control or are you going to live it the way God intended...simply enjoying Him and letting Him unfold everything else!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
This weekend was our Institute break, and we went to Jinja to a resort called King Fisher's Safari Resort. It was so nice to get away for a few days and relax! The resort was so nice and we were even able to take HOT showers! :o)
It was right on Lake Victoria and had some beautiful scenery!
Some of the scenery with Lake Victoria in the background
Lake Vic
In Jinja town we found a coffee shop (Flavours) and were able to get our first lattes in 3 months! Definitely much needed and it made us feel right at home! Mike is drinking an iced caramel mocha, and I am enjoying an iced cafe mocha! Probably one of the highlights of our weekend! We miss Starbucks! :o) Sitting in the coffee shop made us feel very much at home, and it was our first real "date" in a long time! Overall, we had an amazing weekend! God definitely refreshed us and we are now ready to finish up the last 8 weeks of the course!
Friday, March 12, 2010
3-12-2010
We would like to apologize for our lack of communication over the past month. We have been experiencing an extreme lack of electricity over the past month. It would be on for a day then off for a couple days. The power went out last Wednesday but was fully restored yesterday evening.
We are on our 11th week here in Uganda. The time seems to be slipping away on us here. Before we know it we will be back in West Virginia. Over the past few days Rachel and I have been contemplating how weird it will be when we are thrust directly back into American culture and luxury.
The past two weeks have been the hardest for me physically (Mike). I started having extreme stomach pains three times a day, especially after eating. I waited to see if it was just a virus but it continued to get worse. So I told my Keith McFarland about me stomach issues and how I can barely eat anything. So I was diagnosed as having a parasite in my stomach. The good thing is that I was able to provide for one of God’s creatures ;-). I began a treatment for the parasites last Saturday and I am now fine and able to eat without extreme pain.
The Lord has given me (Mike) an opportunity to assistant coach the Kasana boys basketball team. Many of the boys from our family group Ebenezer are on the team which has given me a great opportunity to build deeper relationships with them. When I first started playing basketball with them I could tell they needed some serious help in understanding the fundamentals of the game. To my surprise they have picked it up so quickly. There is at least one boy 14 years old and 6’4 who is by far the best player out of the group and who has the potential to develop into a college prospect. The main thing I have focused on with the boys has been defense and shooting. Tal, the head coach, has signed the team up for games and tournaments starting in two weeks. We are excited to know how they perform against other Ugandan teams.
Rachel started a new ministry last Saturday with the girls of Ebenezer. She borrowed a kitchen and had about 12 girls come over to teach them to bake. They did a tremendous job making Snicker Doodles and Banana bread, I (Mike) got to taste one of the cookies. It surprised me that none of the girls had ever baked before. Rachel is going to continue this ministry through the remainder of our time here. After baking they sat around talking and playing games. Perhaps one day some of these girls can use these baking skills to make an income. This opportunity has also given Rachel a much deeper relationship with some of the girls.
The past two weeks we went through Biblical Counseling training with Jonnes Bakimi. Here is a short summary of what we have learned and are practicing in our lives.
Counseling is basically dealing with issues of the heart. Usually we just view counseling as going to someone for advice or help but it is more than that. Counseling is something that we are doing all the time. It happens intentionally and unintentionally. Thus we are either giving good and true counsel or we are giving false counsel. Psalm 1 teaches that a person acts based on what they believe and they believe based on their influences. These influences in our lives are what creates belief and what you believe will ultimately determine how you behave or your actions.
The typical response in counseling is usually geared toward fixing behaviors. However, this does not get to the root of the problem. Instead of cutting the branches we need to kill the root of the problem. When need to keep in mind that when counseling we are always dealing with worldview which is either based on truth, half-truths and lies, or just lies. Most often we will deal with half-truth based worldviews. What we now must do is uncover the lie (problem) and kill it with truth. We need to be replacing the lies with truths. The funny thing is that the heart more easily swallows lies than it does truth. Thus we must give the truth in love.
It is of utmost importance to view people as God views them:
- Created Perfectly
- Created for His purposes
- Loved by Him
- In need of Jesus’ salvation and restoration
- Desperately wicked and sick
- Filled with lies; in need of truth
- Needs reconnected back to God
The Key to counseling is Jesus Christ bearing all of our griefs, sins, failures and hurts on the cross. We ourselves first of all need to recognize this and look upon Jesus on the cross and cast our cares, sorrows, sins, pains, and hurts on Him.
So how do we take our pain to Jesus?
1. By Confessing the offense or hurt.
2. Repent: turn from the ownership or slavery of the sin or pain
3. Free: we are now able to walk in freedom
4. We are now able to bring others to this freedom.
We may write more on this later. Currently we are studying through Old Testament Biblical Theology.
Be praying for us:
1. For us to continue opening our heart to God’s working
2. For us to glorify God when not healthy or when we have no electricity
3. For God to give us wisdom in our next ministry step
4. For our ministries to our family group
We love and miss you all,
Mike and Rachel
We are on our 11th week here in Uganda. The time seems to be slipping away on us here. Before we know it we will be back in West Virginia. Over the past few days Rachel and I have been contemplating how weird it will be when we are thrust directly back into American culture and luxury.
The past two weeks have been the hardest for me physically (Mike). I started having extreme stomach pains three times a day, especially after eating. I waited to see if it was just a virus but it continued to get worse. So I told my Keith McFarland about me stomach issues and how I can barely eat anything. So I was diagnosed as having a parasite in my stomach. The good thing is that I was able to provide for one of God’s creatures ;-). I began a treatment for the parasites last Saturday and I am now fine and able to eat without extreme pain.
The Lord has given me (Mike) an opportunity to assistant coach the Kasana boys basketball team. Many of the boys from our family group Ebenezer are on the team which has given me a great opportunity to build deeper relationships with them. When I first started playing basketball with them I could tell they needed some serious help in understanding the fundamentals of the game. To my surprise they have picked it up so quickly. There is at least one boy 14 years old and 6’4 who is by far the best player out of the group and who has the potential to develop into a college prospect. The main thing I have focused on with the boys has been defense and shooting. Tal, the head coach, has signed the team up for games and tournaments starting in two weeks. We are excited to know how they perform against other Ugandan teams.
Rachel started a new ministry last Saturday with the girls of Ebenezer. She borrowed a kitchen and had about 12 girls come over to teach them to bake. They did a tremendous job making Snicker Doodles and Banana bread, I (Mike) got to taste one of the cookies. It surprised me that none of the girls had ever baked before. Rachel is going to continue this ministry through the remainder of our time here. After baking they sat around talking and playing games. Perhaps one day some of these girls can use these baking skills to make an income. This opportunity has also given Rachel a much deeper relationship with some of the girls.
The past two weeks we went through Biblical Counseling training with Jonnes Bakimi. Here is a short summary of what we have learned and are practicing in our lives.
Counseling is basically dealing with issues of the heart. Usually we just view counseling as going to someone for advice or help but it is more than that. Counseling is something that we are doing all the time. It happens intentionally and unintentionally. Thus we are either giving good and true counsel or we are giving false counsel. Psalm 1 teaches that a person acts based on what they believe and they believe based on their influences. These influences in our lives are what creates belief and what you believe will ultimately determine how you behave or your actions.
The typical response in counseling is usually geared toward fixing behaviors. However, this does not get to the root of the problem. Instead of cutting the branches we need to kill the root of the problem. When need to keep in mind that when counseling we are always dealing with worldview which is either based on truth, half-truths and lies, or just lies. Most often we will deal with half-truth based worldviews. What we now must do is uncover the lie (problem) and kill it with truth. We need to be replacing the lies with truths. The funny thing is that the heart more easily swallows lies than it does truth. Thus we must give the truth in love.
It is of utmost importance to view people as God views them:
- Created Perfectly
- Created for His purposes
- Loved by Him
- In need of Jesus’ salvation and restoration
- Desperately wicked and sick
- Filled with lies; in need of truth
- Needs reconnected back to God
The Key to counseling is Jesus Christ bearing all of our griefs, sins, failures and hurts on the cross. We ourselves first of all need to recognize this and look upon Jesus on the cross and cast our cares, sorrows, sins, pains, and hurts on Him.
So how do we take our pain to Jesus?
1. By Confessing the offense or hurt.
2. Repent: turn from the ownership or slavery of the sin or pain
3. Free: we are now able to walk in freedom
4. We are now able to bring others to this freedom.
We may write more on this later. Currently we are studying through Old Testament Biblical Theology.
Be praying for us:
1. For us to continue opening our heart to God’s working
2. For us to glorify God when not healthy or when we have no electricity
3. For God to give us wisdom in our next ministry step
4. For our ministries to our family group
We love and miss you all,
Mike and Rachel
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