Shifting to Gulu

Over the past few years there have been a number of times when I felt an internal prompting that maybe my time in Soroti was coming to a close.  I have delivered OneHope curriculum to many churches and schools in Soroti and surrounding villages and have spent time with many teachers - learning different teaching methods and discussing Educational Care.  It's often said that a missionary should have a goal of working oneself out of a job... and I think I have for now.  Discipleship, Bible studies, music ministry will always be there, but now it's time to move out of Soroti.

Shortly after Moses and I got engaged some acquaintances in Gulu said that we should come to Gulu and pray about God's leading us to that place.  The two of us had prayed about other Uganda locations and didn't have any peace about those towns or districtus.  We wanted to check out a ministry in Gulu that works with a new "Roots to Fruits" nursery and primary Christian school curriculum.  They were looking for someone who could help edit the new curriculum that is being developed, and maybe become a trainer of the curriculum.  Also, they wanted someone to help with creating an IT video, as a training supplement, so that schools across the country can have access to the use of the materials.  Moses is great in the IT world and we both got excited.

In February we took a short 3 day vision trip to Gulu, which is 270 km or 4 hours north west of Soroti.  Our hearts were excited.  We felt so much potential there - for discipleship, prison and hospital ministry, music, curriculum development, teaching and preaching, along with training more teachers in the OneHope Bible story curriculum. We may also be able to bring TLT (Timothy Leadership Training) and EC (Education Care) to that area. Another family has welcomed us to stay in the same compound as a small school and their beautiful family.  We loved the house.  The market.   We found a Bible believing/solid preaching church and just felt excited about going some place new.

We wanted to have some time as "newlyweds" in Soroti, and 7 months has already passed and we have settled well into married life.  Moses and I are able to share visions, passions, prayer requests, struggles, and callings.... and we both feel a clear leading to Gulu.  A week after our small vision trip to Gulu, a serious lock down began in Uganda.  Covid19 was beginning to affect our corner of the world, so we stayed home and continued to pray, seek God, talk to friends, and work from the house.

I might add that we have not always enjoyed the rental house that we moved into around the time of our wedding.  The compound/yard was awesome with 6 orange trees, guava, bananas, hibiscus and more, but the house was dark, damp, moldy, old, with electrical issues, backed up sewage and an uncaring landlord.  We were not feeling well in that house.  We started praying about moving out of that house.  Whenever we had a leading on a different house in Soroti, the Lord kept closing doors... and it was part of the confirmation that it was also time to go to Gulu.

It is so cool to hear Moses get pumped about all the fun ministry ideas in his head.  I just wish that we still weren't under lock down - because we can not meet with groups.  Still a curfew by 7pm.  Only 3 people in the car.  No churches, no trainings, no worship events... but we have hope that the Lord will open doors soon.

Almost a month ago we went back to Gulu to pray and seek once more and the trip felt like such a joyful confirmation.  And our new "team-mates" were delighted to have us come.  The house that we are moving into had some furnishings in it... so we rearranged and moved things out and also created a to-do fix-it list before we entered.  Our awesome friends in Gulu went straight to work and even built a staircase into an office loft for us!!

Upon returning back to Soroti, we felt the Lord saying... go now!  Uganda might be tightening their lock down restrictions once again.  For example, for two months we were not even allowed to drive our own car.  We could only walk or bike to town. We new that this was the time to transfer.  If we have to continue working from home, we wanted to work in our new home - which is bright and cheery and start developing relationships if possible.  We will continue doing some translating of materials and working on a craft book for teachers.

So... on Friday morning we loaded a lorry and headed to Gulu.  We are almost unpacked and thanking the Lord for leading us on this adventurous journey.