"Set My People Free"

Scrolling through my pictures of the last two and a half years, I saved some of my best shots in a special file and brought the whole lot to my Team Leader - Dave Commire.  (Thanks Dave - so very much!!)  I also sent a touching song, sung by Dara Maclean (I listen to her awesome music almost every day)... and a day later... here is my life, summed up in photos.  I am so excited to share this video with YOU!
 

"Set My People Free"

By Dara Maclean

I once was a captive heart
Crying out like a fire alarm
Then grace rescued me
You never stopped ‘til I was found
You never tire of calling out
This love is everything

After all You’ve done in me
I will be Your hands and feet
Follow where You will lead
As You say

[CHORUS:]
Set My people free
Go into the world, every boy and girl
Deserves to know a life far beyond the fight
And reach where there's no light or hope
So the captives know
And My enemies can see that I will
Set My people free
Set My people free

Who will listen if I can't speak
I'll never move a mountain with arms so weak
With one word You can make them fall
You go before me now
Your faithfulness destroys the doubt
Your strength is fire to my soul

After all You’ve done in me
I will be Your hands and feet
Follow where You will lead
As You say

[CHORUS]

There's no weapon that will stand against the power I have given You
No army that can stand between the prisoner and the truth when You say
Set My people free, set My people free

[CHORUS]

Set My people free
Set My people free
Set My people free
Set My people free

 

Still Running

Good morning friends!  The weeks continue to sail by and now I'm only 3 weeks away from leaving Soroti... I'm heading home to Ontario for 4 months.  But I know these next three weeks will still be busy.  It's very exciting to adventure every day with God.

 A gift from a dear friend - totally made my day!

 Earlier this month I was invited by Bishop to share at a school in Pingere...

 Bishop and I had fun speaking with the kids... I shared Bible stories for an hour with this school.

 Oil of Gladness entered into God's presence - leading all three services at PAG in Soroti town.

 The whole band was together to lead worship.

 The church was packed at 7am, 9am, and 11am.

 Grace and I couldn't stop dancing.  :)

 The whole crew of Oil of Gladness

 Me and the Boyz

 Still working on our piggery... hopefully piglets will be in soon, so we can start raising them, and selling them, to make some money for musical instruments and equipment.

Training Teachers in the Church of Uganda

In January, after the youth retreat for the Church of Uganda, I was asked by the Reverends to be the main facilitator for their 5 day training for children's church leaders.  I was excited about this big project and I talked my fun friend - Tereza (Teddy) - to help teach with me.  Hopefully the pictures will tell it all!

 Games!

 Memorizing the Bible stories with hand actions.

 Keeping the balloon off the ground... concentration and teamwork.

 Elijah is praying for fire to come from heaven

 There were 60 church leaders attending from all over the Soroti Diocese!!

 Action songs "12 Men Went to Spy on Canaan!"

 Story time... a ram comes to take place of Isaac

 I love it that Pinky, my bear that I received for my first Christmas ever, could play baby Jesus. :)

 The Israelites in the desert.

 Casting out evil spirits.

 Sit down, stand up... another stressful game.

 I also tied some Evangelism Explosion into the course.  Jesus alone is my Saviour!

 I'm grateful that the crowd was very participatory.

 Singing and music = huge smiles!

 There was even a lesson on protecting those who have special needs in the classroom.

 Judas Iscariot appears again.

 "Simon Says"... teaching the basic games.

And a lesson on seeing, hearing, and doing.

It was an exhausting week, but I loved every moment of it.  Meeting new people, sharing God's Story, being dramatic, being led by the Spirit.

Now I'm praying that these leaders will take this curriculum, knowledge, and excitement back to their churches.  Please pray with me, since these teacher took home curriculum for over 4000 children!!

Bibles and Boys

A phone call came in from a friend, late on Friday night.  The Bible Society of Uganda was just coming back from Kaberimaido, after launching the first complete Bible in the Kumam language.  How amazing it is to have God's Word completely translated into one of the local languages.  My friend was wondering if I would be willing to store the left over Bibles from the launch for a day or two, before another place was found safe to keep them.

 I quickly opened my home to host God's Word!!  And I was delighted to hear that over 2000 Kumam came to the Bible launch.  People are thirsty!

 I pray that the Holy Bible will be read and lived out here in Teso Land!

 Then this morning I again woke up to the sounds of the neighbour kids yelling "Auntie Karen, we want you to bring us to school!"  Who would not want to bring a bunch of three year olds to their nursery class just up the street?  I jumped out of bed to escort my little ones.

 Precious is waiting with me, as the boys finish bathing for school.  Their shoes are polished and ready to go!

 Ocen, Precious, (Copper the Dog), and Opio are prepared.  Hankies in the pockets and coins in their hand for snack time.

 Off we go!

 Opio and Ocen have eaten my heart completely.

Ocen didn't like being left at school, but the others were glad to be in class again.

 And really, I must share my Valentines photos with you all!  I went all out making a heart shaped meal...  The biscuits, meatballs, and chunks of pineapple were all cut into heart shapes.  The rice was dyed a lovely shade of pink. 

 The boys feasted on this fun day of love!!

I'm so glad I could host awesome friends in my home once again.  I love Soroti!

Life's Little Blessings

Days continue to pass by quickly here, as each one is filled to the brim with diverse activities.  I just want to share a few praises with you.
1. There is a new Anglican priest in town.  He wants me to do a week long training at the end of February for at least 2 teachers from every parish that he oversees.  That means over 100 teachers, to be mentored on how to lead children.  I'm excited about this huge project and delighted to be working with yet another passionate man of God.
2. Last week I spent 4 days in Kampala, waiting for new, but delayed team-mates to arrive.  Being in Kampala is not my favourite thing, but it did give me a chance to catch up with a few good friends, to eat out in some more western style restaurants, and to watch "The Hobbit (2)" and "Epic".  Both of the movies were fun because I watched them with friends who had never been to a theatre before.  What a treat!!
3. Yesterday I overheard the neighbour kids playing in my living room.  I was doing dishes, when I heard the 8 year old boy say to the 3 year old girl: "Hey, no bad manners in here.  We don't even think of abusing... this is a house of God!"  I couldn't stop smiling.  Yes, a house of God.
4. TWAM (Tools with a Mission) have finally arrived.  It's been over a year since I've been assisting the Catholic youth director in getting these items to Soroti.  Now we dream of having a youth centre where youth can learn tailoring, crafts, mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, and more.  It's a big dream, but at least we now have tools to start with.

5. This month I have been blessed with tons of Christmas cards in the mail.  I can't even begin to describe how real snail mail totally makes my day! 

6. 74 youth just went through a 12 lesson course on "True Love".  On Sunday we had a closing program and already there are testimonies of how girls have been able to keep themselves from harm.  God is good.  I pray these young teens will remain patient and wait for God's perfect spouse.

7. Lastly, I just want to say that it's been exciting to be walking in power.  When I asked one 12 year old girl what it means to be walking in power, she said, "Oh, Auntie, that's easy... it means to be walking with Christ.  If you walk with Him, everything will be okay."  And somehow I think that's true.  If I stay connected to the Vine, everything turns out better.  Big problems seem small, joy abounds, and love grows.  I can't wait to see how much more I will learn about "Walking in Power" for 2014.



 

Walking with Onac (Oh-nach)...

Squeezing into the corner of the sitting room, I sit on the couch with the mother of the house, while two little girls kneel down on the grass mat on the floor.  The father takes another chair, and picks up the guitar.  "Okay ladies, let's worship God as a family before I go away to school tonight."  The girls choose songs first - simple songs that mean so much.  Then the father continues to lead with a meek and contrite heart and a sweet voice.
I can only imagine how much this family will change in the next 8 months.  As Onac (Brother in Christ) leaves to study, the wife will be home - trying to be the breadwinner, mother, and decision maker.  Honestly, I know this is all a part of God's plan.  If there was any brother who should be in ministry - this is one!!  But it's hard... knowing that rent will be difficult to pay, no male role-model will be around... and the girls love their daddy so much. 
And then I remember that about 1.5 miles away there is a home that has started a construction phase.  A decent sized plot, with the walls laid out - but no cement, floors, roof, or windows.  Another home that began during strong financial times, but never finished.  So now, they are renting a home, and struggling to get by, month by month.  Less than four years rent would pay for the construction to finish.  $4000 approximately... and yet, everything is on pause.
After worshipping together, we circle together and talk to our precious Heavenly Father.  How awesome it is to bring our joys and concerns to God!  The Lord alone knows where food, clothes, and rent will come from.  He knows how hard Onac will study or how the mother will work to provide.  He will help the girls to be successful in school.  And He will help "Auntie Karen to learn to cook better meals."  (I had provided dinner that night - a rice and chicken dish, where the little one devoured the chicken.) 
I'm humbled as Onac commissions me to be a part of the family, especially while he is away.  But I know I can't walk alongside them alone.  Church of God, let's be together in prayer, as we trust God to be with this family throughout 2014.   

 

Youth Matters

Sitting at the registration desk, I listened and listed down names of 1005 Anglican youth and collected their fees for a 5 day youth conference.  It is a pleasure to work behind the scenes... just assisting the leaders of the church.  I slowly got to know more youth and loved being with the priests, bishops, reverends, and vicars once more.  Running a youth conference in Uganda is so different than back home.  Honestly, when money started to come in at the registration desk, leaders quickly went out to buy beans, cornmeal, and firewood to cook food for the first day.  If money is there, the conference continues... and it did!!  God provides in the coolest ways.
On the final day, I was asked to speak to the youth about purity.  A huge topic in a very sexually active era.  I spent much time in prayer and while standing on the platform, I felt God moving in me.  The huge crowd was very attentive as I shared many Scriptures, stories, and my personal testimony.  I don't think the youth have heard anyone ever say "I am 37 years old.  Very single.  Very Content.  And very virgin!"  Church leaders were grateful for speech I shared, and together we are praying for change. 
One more thing I'm excited about... one of the village reverends that I have worked with on a few occasions - a 17 Stories training, and another youth conference - is being relocated to Soroti town.  The diocese is requesting the transfer and he has been placed in a new ministry - To focus on children at the main cathedral.  This may not sound exciting, but for me it's awesome.  He is a wonderful man of God, and he has a passion for the children, and at the moment there is not much children's ministry happening with that church in town.  Already he has asked me what I'm doing in February, as he wants me to walk alongside of him and help set up a one year program for the children!!  Yeah Jesus!!
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In the middle of the conference, I hopped on my bicycle and rode over to the Baptist church where I help 5 or 6 other leaders in running a Bible Club for kids.  Well, on Tuesday afternoon I show up the church only to have the kids hand me all the keys to the church and offices.  No other leaders are around and the kids are desperate for an afternoon Bible Club.  I sit in the office for a few minutes and pray for inspiration.  "Really Lord, I have to run this program alone?"  Soon, ideas begin to flow in my brain and I take close to 30 children outside to the open grass to play games for a long while, then we went back inside the church for singing and prayer.  I taught the children (all 12 and under) a few fun action songs.  Then finally two other leaders walked in.  They helped me to summarize their books about Heaven and God's gift of grace and we spent time memorizing Scriptures together.  I was glad the whole program worked out, but I would rather serve with a team any day than try to run it alone.
But I'm grateful for the Bible Club program, and today a friend is coming over to help me organize the graduation store for the club.  For the past year, whenever there is a school break, the children get together for games, singing, and Bible study, and they get points for memorizing Scripture, bringing a Bible, participating, doing their homework, etc.  So on January 18th we are having a closing program for the past year and it's going to be a fun event.  The kids will be able to buy clothes, school books and pens, toys, toothpaste & brushes, etc with their points.