20200301 Newsletter-thankfulness and joy

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy leap year day! (?)

This month has been filled with sadness, joy, excitement and surprise. God is truly good and never ceases to amaze me.

Sadness: Jose’ (the friend with Parkinson’s disease) I’ve been reading with left us to be with Jesus. He was a seminary professor and friend who made an impact here in Uganda. About 300 people (mostly locals) attended his sending off. The service had an atmosphere of praise of joy for Jose’ although he will surely be missed.

Joy:

• ·      I had the privilege of leading another brother to Christ. His name is Fred and he is a boda-boda (He has a motorcycle taxi-my chief mode of transportation). I’m excited for him. His English is very limited, so I had an interpreter translate for me. Please pray that he gets settled and grows in his new faith.
• ·     Samuel is doing well. He bought himself a smartphone just so he could have the Bible on his phone. He is so happy with Jesus.
• ·     I went to the doctor, eye doctor, and dentist. They all said I’m doing well and my numbers are normal. YEAH!

Excitement: I’ve gotten reports from others of how they have seen real improvement in our English students. Victor is doing a great job teaching them. Our classes have enjoyed emotional discussions on problems and situations relating to the lives of our students such as children cutting school to work in the sugar cane fields.

Our Bible time with students is especially meaningful with questions and discussions that really make our students think about, not just read the Scriptures. Questions like (in the prodigal son story), “Did the father do the right thing in giving the inheritance to the son, knowing the son would waste it all?” Why does our Father God allow us to make poor decisions? Our students really like being challenged this way and Victor is learning to form his own similar questions.

Surprise: 

I was eating lunch when a hawk swooped down and stole it right out of my hand. It happened so fast that I only saw my sad, empty hand and the hawk fly away. I didn’t feel it, not was I hurt by its talons.

Praise God!

• ·         A new brother in Christ: Fred
• ·         My medical tests and numbers are in the normal range.
• ·         God’s continued protection as I ride boda-bodas and do other necessary things I would never do in the States.
• ·         Graduation of Victor and other students at Kingdom Life Training Center next month.
• ·         Bible distribution to Welcome Home staff, village pastors and others. Lots of good reports of how they love the easy to read version of Scripture.
• ·         Samuel’s continued growth in the Lord. I’m known in his work area as “Samuel’s Mom”.

Prayer

• ·         Fred’s growth in the Lord and that he would be established in a good church and develop Christian friendships to support him.
• ·         Pray for Sol in the loss of her husband.
• ·         My visiting friends from China (Petersons). Suzzie has been sick since they returned to China. They didn’t know if it was a China bug (Corona Virus) or an African bug (malaria). It is pneumonia. Every time she goes to the doctor she has to reset her quarantine for 14 more days. Please pray for them. They are faithful servants of the Lord.
• ·         I’m having trouble getting a work permit. Please pray that it would go through.

I am so thankful for you. You are essential in the ministry here in Uganda, more than you know.