A Dangerous Anointing

Moses went to meet this wonderful family of strangers and pick up the donated motorcycle. When he arrived, he found that the transfer of ownership had already happened.  This couple felt God was telling them to give it ALL.  Not only did Moses receive a motorcycle, and have the ownership papers, but they also blessed him with a gorgeous Australian leather jacket and a heavy-duty helmet.

Moses asked if he could pray over the family, and it ended up being a very emotional time of prophecy and chain breaking.  The Lord has been moving in a powerful way through this bike already!

We have a friend in Gulu who said to Moses: "You have a dangerous anointing on your life!"

A Moment of Madness

 Moses has recently been asking the Lord to reveal himself more.  Covid19 has left us drier than usual and ministry is especially quiet.  Moses misses being a part of church services - preaching, teaching, leading worship.  When the district borders were closed he couldn't travel to Kitgum to preach on the air (radio) any more either.  He started wondering if he even did the right thing in moving his family to Gulu.  

Since churches and schools are not open (and haven't been for most of this pandemic), we have had to be creative in outreach and Moses has been praying about a motorcycle to get him to more remote places.  Our Subaru Forester just doesn't do as well on these rough Acholi roads.

Last week Moses saw a motorcycle posted for sale on a Kampala FB page, and tried reaching out to the owners but it was out of our price range really. So, he let it rest.

Yesterday afternoon, I called Moses to see when he was coming home for lunch.  When he told me he was on his way, I could hear tears in his voice.  "Honey, are you ok?"

"Ye-ess, I'm ha-aa-pppy!" He quietly said, while crying.

I hung up and pondered what was going on, while stirring the lunch pot.

A few minutes later, I hear him pull up in the car.  As the front door opened, I thought he would make it into the kitchen, but seconds later the girls came into the kitchen to tell me that Daddy was lying prostrate on the sitting room floor, weeping and praying.  I could hear the prayers from the kitchen and so we waited. 

After a short while he came into the kitchen to tell us his story.  

He had been standing on the Main street of Gulu when he received a phone call from perfect strangers. The call had him rejoicing and screaming in the streets.  His knees buckled.  Local shop keepers pulled him into a store to have him sit on a stool and sip water.  They had no idea that the Lord has spoken to Moses.

"Hello Moses! The Lord has been impressing it upon me to give you the motorcycle to use for ministry purposes.  When I talked to my husband this morning, he said that the Lord was also telling him to give it to Moses to do ministry in Gulu and Kitgum. So we want to offer this gift to you.  All you have to do is come and pick it up and bring enough money for the transfer of ownership ($30)."

Wow! He's a miracle working God!

Back in Time

 

Missionary life is always full of changes.  Some of it is seeing youth being discipled enough to start discipleship groups of their own.  Or it is shifting houses. Seeing some ministry doors open and others close - especially during Covid season.  But sometimes the hardest change is seeing other harvesters leave the field.

Recently, in Soroti, a group of us gathered together to say goodbye to Rachel and Daniel Graham.

They finished well.

Together we prayed that God would use them in mighty ways as they resettle back in the US.

Now, I don't know how I uploaded these, but they are from the most recent to further back in time.

These mushrooms are growing outside our front door.

Over the past year, I have been attending women's Bible Study at World Embrace - a project started by Reynold and Kathy Mainse.  They are now busy building up Gulu City Park. We are praying about how to partnership together - especially in regards to sports discipleship and leadership building. We look forward to seeing how God is going to develop this encouraging relationship.

Once a month, my neighbour Therese leads a Bible study in our compound. We are grateful for a large outdoor space to spread out and share God's Word together. 

Last month we travelled to Soroti for a burial. I'm always amazed at my giving husband.  Tears were in my eyes as he literally gave the shirt off his back to this old mzee who was wearing tattered clothes. 

Moses lost his Auntie Lucy, his Dad's only sister. I was amazed at how big the funeral crowd was, even though there were Covid restrictions.  People turned up in large numbers to show respect. 

I am continuing to work my way through editing P1 (Grade One) curriculum, working with the Roots to Fruits materials.  Roots to Fruits is a newly developed material, combining the American Bob Jones curriculum and the Ugandan school board requirements.  P4, Fourth grade, is currently being written, and as each level increases a year, we hope to have another year printed.  We are truly praying for transformation within the Ugandan school system.  And please pray for the children of Uganda.  Most of them have not been in school at all since March of 2020.  The Covid-19 pandemic has set back our kids by two years.  And sadly, HIV and teenage pregnancy are on the rise.  And we don't see any signs of schools reopening soon.  

This was the former Kragt house... And we shifted here around a month ago.  It now has a new coat of paint and a newly built kitchen, which I hope to show you soon in another post.

Shadow is showing you how far we moved... from the sandcastle to the container house.  You can't tell that the Kragt house is made of 2 shipping containers, with a brick kitchen addition. 

In the middle of July, Moses was busy in the house, mopping floors.  In the bedroom, a lamp began to fall when he bumped the table with the mop.  He was standing in a puddle of water, when he grabbed the lamp.  Not knowing that the lampshade had snapped the bulb holder, he gripped bare wires and went into electric shock.  After a number of seconds, Moses blacked out.  When he woke up, he didn't know that he had ripped the whole lamp from the cord, and now the exposed wires of the cord through him again.

I thank the Lord that I still have a husband. He went for x-rays the next day because his shoulder was hurting so much.  We are not sure if that is from falling, or the electrical exit point, but it has taken about 5 weeks for the pain to go away. God has kept him for more work here on earth!

Here is one level of the Gulu city main market... lots of fresh fish, produce and dried goods like flours, gnuts, lentils, etc.

I've been enjoying a study on the book of Matthew by Jen Wilkins. 

A strange plant for me, apparently from South Africa, but transplanted in Moses' village in Abaango. It's not edible, but so cool!

July 19th, we had a teary goodbye with our good friends and neighbours, Benj and Christina Kragt. We still sense them in our home, since Benj's hands built so much of our home. And Christina's snacks and meals flowed from the kitchen.

Moses is leading team prayers at Our Call Mission

I've always loved this tree in Abaango

Moses is helping the guys put up the trusses on the compound workshop.

Shadow - my little dude!

Moses - my handsome Dude!!

In June, we went back into strict lockdown.

My 45th birthday

Sharing the celebration with Benj, who turned 35!

Moses always knows how to make the house a festive place.

In the office building, on the Our Call Mission compound, a prayer "War Room" has been set up. On Monday's we have a team meeting, Wednesday's is a prayer meeting, and Friday's is a team Bible study.

Little Luna

A sweet friend surprised me every morning during my birthday week!! I felt loved.

Moses was invited to share God's Word at University Community Church just before lockdown began.  We enjoy fellowshipping with this little congregation.

Well, that's a tiny, pictorial glimpse of our lives the past few months. Thanks for checking this out.

God Gives and Takes

 This week Moses was near his family in Kampala as a miracle baby was born.  This wee one was born 2 months premature, but is a healthy 2.7 kg/5.95lbs and she is breathing on her own and drinking well.  We are all so grateful because medical staff had informed the family before delivery that the baby might have to be in the incubator for at least 20 days.  But we serve an awesome God and our niece is strong and healthy!!

Then, a few weeks I received word that Totot, the man on the left, passed away in the Philippines.  Totot and his twin brother, Wawan, were some of my closest buds when I lived in Cagayan de Oro City.  His death shook me because he is my age.  An amazingly energetic believer in Christ.

But 2 days ago, Wawan passed away too.  The Lord has taken home both of these guys and I have shed a few tears.  I know it has been 20 years since I lived in Cagayan, and 17 years since these below pictures were taken, but these were my brothers.  They loved the Lord, led worship with passion, and were very involved in youth discipleship.

Today, Wawan and Totot are dancing with Jesus!

Totot, me, Boknoi, and Wawan

Modernizing Ken and Barbie

In our spare room, I have a shelf with my treasured childhood toys or traveling memories. A Cabbage Patch doll named Grabrielle Dominique (Gabby), a wrinkles dog (Sam), my first knitted bear, a twin to Bones, Pinky - the bear I received for Christmas when I was one, along with a paper doll from Japan and a Rwandese doll.  I keep them high, so that kids don't play with them, as there is a toy box full of dolls and toys under the shelf.

Recently though, we have been having the girls stay with us more, and neighbour kids over for slumber parties, and a slew of other guests.  I haven't always had time to mention to every new group, that the treasured shelf is not to really be played with.  And so, one day, a preteen came out of the spare room with a huge smile on her face.  She had modernized Ken and Barbie.  Barbie's ballgown dress was cut off and she was given leggings made from the bottom of Ken's workout trouser.  Shock and tears immediately came out of my eyes, but I soon calmed down and I tried to let the child know that all would be well.  

My mind did process a lot though - that rules are important, that children here have not really learned to be good stewards of things, even when it doesn't belong to them, and that those silly dolls meant more to me than I thought.

But I have also learned - that things are just things.  Life changes all the time and doesn't stay the same. I need to store up treasures in heaven and let go of the things of this world. 

And that doesn't just mean earthly treasures or tangible items, it also mean time and talents. These empty swings remind me of how life just became quiet yet again.  We have just finished week one of a six week lock down here in Uganda again, and it's hard. Ontario just reopened, so I know we are not alone in this, but things get cut off so quickly.  Radio programs are now on hold.  Birthday travels are postponed. I still can't sing because of vocal problems. No more church gatherings or trainings for a while... and Moses had just got back on the pulpit.

But it's okay!! We are healthy, and we are home. The Lord continues to show us other things to do - like resting in Him, digging through the Book of Matthew, editing more Roots to Fruits curriculum.  I'm almost through all of the P1 (grade one) materials, and we are helping neighbours through times of transition.

We are living at Our Call Missions, and so yesterday we helped to clean out and organize the tool shed. Since we have time, we are going to be helping this NGO organize the training building, a garage, 2 storage crates, and help out next door as they pack suitcase to move back to North America.

I know that I often crave a spicy, flavorFULL life, but God knows what's in the mix, and I shall once again settle into the Palm of His Hands and enjoy this next season of Covid 19 lock down.

 

Jesus Knows...

Last weekend I gathered with 12 missionary women for a small Velvet Ashes retreat. We listened to downloaded speakers, had great times of personal introspection, and group discussion.  The theme this year was looking through the different seasons of life.  Often we are like shaken jars of river water full of dirty sediments, and the retreat was a time to allow the sediment time to rest at the bottom so that we could see, with clarity, where God is moving in our lives.

Winter is when things are dead or dormant. 

Spring brings about new life, resurrection, and growth. 

Summer is where we see the Lord truly at work in our lives.  Well, maybe feel His presence with more peace and joy.  We celebrate God and are able to work with clear purpose and delight.

Autumn - a time of lament.  Why you may ask? Well, as the retreat speaker pointed out: "We often think of Autumn as harvest time, a time of abundance, but we often forget that harvest time is not always plentiful, especially if the other seasons have been hard.  Maybe we failed to plant or steward well, or because of external circumstances beyond our control.  Then harvest time can be a time of mourning.  A time when our failures glare at us.  Or we sit in the shatters of broken expectations because of something that happened to us.  We think - my life is not what I thought or hoped it would be."

As I pondered and prayed and took time in solitude, I had a peaceful feeling that I flow through most seasons quite easily.  I praise God that He has always been near to me and that I have often been surrounded by great friends and colleagues who "Carry each others burdens" (Gal. 6:2)

But in the midst of this very rainy season here, I feel like I'm having a few low, dark days.  A heaviness in my spirit.  So many thoughts are flooding through my mind as tiny puddles gather on the floors of our house.  

Here is what is collecting:

• I'm saddened that I cannot worship through song anymore.  Since October I have not been able to sing for more than 2 to 15 seconds.  I've learned to worship in silence, or by listening, but it's extremely hard for me.  The vocal cords are connected to my lung and on-going coughing issues.  Mom thinks I have inherited sarcoidosis, but it can't be diagnosed here in Uganda.  I'm praying that some day I will be able to open my mouth and sing again.
• Both Moses and I are struggling with purpose and direction.  We are extremely grateful that we are able to work on the Roots to Fruits curriculum and be a support to the team here in Gulu. Moses is also preaching on the radio and I am getting involved in women's Bible study and monthly discipleship retreats, but we want to do more.  I know that we don't need to DO anything to prove ourselves to God, but we feel like we are sitting on our gifts and abilities.  We are desiring to get back into more teaching, preaching, and deeper discipling. As a result of a book I'm studying - Lead Like Jesus, Moses and I put together a vision board for our lives. 
  
  
  
• There is a lot of transition going on at the moment.  Former colleagues from Soroti have either just come back from the US or are packing to go there once again.  Our neighbours and team-mates here are also packing up their home and finishing their work on the field in the next two months.  It's not always easy to have people come and go, but I am happy that the Lord is speaking into their footsteps.  Although, it makes me long to get to Canada, so that Moses can finally meet family and friends there. Or at least get on a plane for a mini-vacation.  (I'm really hoping to have a nice 45th birthday next month!!) 
• I shouldn't even be thinking about all of these things right now as many people around the world are still enduring Covid 19 restrictions and my parents are experiencing, once again, complete lock down in their home. 
• And my heart is a little sad that we need to rehome Bolt.  I really love him and he is the first dog I've ever really had.  He is faithful to me and he loves sitting beside me, holding his paws.  But he is too faithful... over protective of me and food.  And he has nipped at least 3 children, so, he has to go.  I can't have an aggressive dog and I don't like chaining him all day or locking him in a kennel.  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  
• Mother's Day was tough for me... for the first time ever.  I could have been a natural mother. It's been a year since we lost baby Quintin.  But again, I'm grateful for the many children who are in my life and I was blessed with gifts for Mother's Day!! 

  

  A gift from Moses

  

  And gifts from my neighbours

  

  And now I shall sign off with Isaiah 35: 

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
    the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you.”

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
    and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

8 And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10     and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.