(Written 7/10/09) I now greet you from the last of the East African countries we are visiting! We made it safely to Kitale last Friday via the night bus. It wasn't an awful ride, but I am sure happy we are done with all night travels. We spent the Fourth of July with some old friends of Danny who are becoming good friends of mine, Tom and Agnes, and boy was it memorable. We had some great reminders of your typical Independence Day, but with a good African twist. I had soda (Black Currant Fanta), corn (charcoal roasted), roasted meat (goat), and even fireworks (a lantern because the power went out). Surely a memorable experience.
On Tuesday, after a few days of church work and children's home visiting, we made our way to Mbale, Uganda with Shawn Tyler. I wrote earlier about Shawn and some of his work. He is quite a remarkable missionary and quite a remarkable man. We have stayed the last few days with him and his wife, Linda, at their home. They have been incredibly gracious hosts and have taught us so much from their lives and service.
Jacob, Justin, and I spent most of the morning and early afternoon on yesterday with Shawn going over some cultural training that was incredibly valuable. We talked first on an anthropological level about some of the basic truths and assumptions in an East African mindset as compared with the American mindset. It was cool to hear Shawn's cultural insights throughout his 28 years of missionary experience. He gave us some great general missionary priciples including some good team building advice. At a discipleship meeting we went to in a village on Wednesday, Shawn also gave us a document he has spent some time putting together comparing African and Western perspectives on money. Way cool. Way valuable.
As mentioned, we spent Wednesday out in a village not too far from Mbale. It was good to meet some of the local church leaders. There were about 40 leaders there from about 12 different churches. It was a blessing to bring some encouragement to them as they continue in their work. We spent yesterday afternoon visiting some of the other works here: Messiah Theological Institute, Good News Productions International (Mbale Branch), and the church here. Shawn had Jacob, Justin, and I teach at the youth meeting that night. We taught on temptations that American youth face. They were both surprized and encouraged to find out that we all struggle with some of the same things. This morning we visited one more work here (an AIDS orphans program) and interviewed and prayed for the leaders of that ministry. Such a great chance to interface with so many different ministries.
I want to share something that has been encouraging to me lately, but first I must give a little background. I have mentioned in an earlier posting that there have been a number of things that have been pretty difficult for me over the course of the last 6 weeks. The realities of the deception and lies that plague certain parts of this cultuer, the drunkenness that is so rampant, and the physical and emotional abuse by the powerdul in a hierarchical society that does not allow protection for the weak start to wear on the soul. Seeing the evils of human trafficking and the corruption of the UN and local governments that allow for it, hearing the voices of racism and the stories of lies, theft, and murder that caused that racism, and smelling the raw sewage that floods the walkways of the slums are sensory experiences that never leave. Poverty. Glue. AIDS. And sooo much more. I have shed many tears over the past few weeks as I try to embrace the pain of this suffering rather than running away from it. The other day as I was praying and journaling, I was reminded of an image presented in the book The Shack (I know... heresy...). The main character of the book walks into a room and is overwhelmed by memories of some deep pain in his life. As he starts to shed some tears, the character representing the Holy Spirit comes up to him and sweeps his tears into a tiny glass bottle. This character then explains to the man that she likes to collect tears. They are very valuable to her and are never forgotten or dismissed. The pain we go through is of incredible value to our loving God. He sees every pain and hurt and knows. The tears of our pain are never wasted. I am encouraged to think that God loves me way too much to let me go through some of this if it wasn't of some great purpose and value. My tears will be used by Him.
I wanted to share a bit of what I am learning with you, and I pray you may be encouraged by it. I ask for your continued prayers as the team and I finish our last two weeks strong. We have 7-8 ministries to interface with in the next days. We have a few more teaching sessions and a dozen or so more home visits that are very important. Pray that we will continue to look to Christ for strength as we are getting weary. Pray for our families as we are starting to really miss them. Pray for our saftey in travel and avoidance of police (they are more trouble than good here). Pray that I and the others may not stop learning or listening to what God has to teach us in these next days. Thank you so much for the encouragement many of you have given me over the past days. It has had an impact on me that you will never know, and that in turn has impacted so many on this side of the globe. Blessings.
On Tuesday, after a few days of church work and children's home visiting, we made our way to Mbale, Uganda with Shawn Tyler. I wrote earlier about Shawn and some of his work. He is quite a remarkable missionary and quite a remarkable man. We have stayed the last few days with him and his wife, Linda, at their home. They have been incredibly gracious hosts and have taught us so much from their lives and service.
Jacob, Justin, and I spent most of the morning and early afternoon on yesterday with Shawn going over some cultural training that was incredibly valuable. We talked first on an anthropological level about some of the basic truths and assumptions in an East African mindset as compared with the American mindset. It was cool to hear Shawn's cultural insights throughout his 28 years of missionary experience. He gave us some great general missionary priciples including some good team building advice. At a discipleship meeting we went to in a village on Wednesday, Shawn also gave us a document he has spent some time putting together comparing African and Western perspectives on money. Way cool. Way valuable.
As mentioned, we spent Wednesday out in a village not too far from Mbale. It was good to meet some of the local church leaders. There were about 40 leaders there from about 12 different churches. It was a blessing to bring some encouragement to them as they continue in their work. We spent yesterday afternoon visiting some of the other works here: Messiah Theological Institute, Good News Productions International (Mbale Branch), and the church here. Shawn had Jacob, Justin, and I teach at the youth meeting that night. We taught on temptations that American youth face. They were both surprized and encouraged to find out that we all struggle with some of the same things. This morning we visited one more work here (an AIDS orphans program) and interviewed and prayed for the leaders of that ministry. Such a great chance to interface with so many different ministries.
I want to share something that has been encouraging to me lately, but first I must give a little background. I have mentioned in an earlier posting that there have been a number of things that have been pretty difficult for me over the course of the last 6 weeks. The realities of the deception and lies that plague certain parts of this cultuer, the drunkenness that is so rampant, and the physical and emotional abuse by the powerdul in a hierarchical society that does not allow protection for the weak start to wear on the soul. Seeing the evils of human trafficking and the corruption of the UN and local governments that allow for it, hearing the voices of racism and the stories of lies, theft, and murder that caused that racism, and smelling the raw sewage that floods the walkways of the slums are sensory experiences that never leave. Poverty. Glue. AIDS. And sooo much more. I have shed many tears over the past few weeks as I try to embrace the pain of this suffering rather than running away from it. The other day as I was praying and journaling, I was reminded of an image presented in the book The Shack (I know... heresy...). The main character of the book walks into a room and is overwhelmed by memories of some deep pain in his life. As he starts to shed some tears, the character representing the Holy Spirit comes up to him and sweeps his tears into a tiny glass bottle. This character then explains to the man that she likes to collect tears. They are very valuable to her and are never forgotten or dismissed. The pain we go through is of incredible value to our loving God. He sees every pain and hurt and knows. The tears of our pain are never wasted. I am encouraged to think that God loves me way too much to let me go through some of this if it wasn't of some great purpose and value. My tears will be used by Him.
I wanted to share a bit of what I am learning with you, and I pray you may be encouraged by it. I ask for your continued prayers as the team and I finish our last two weeks strong. We have 7-8 ministries to interface with in the next days. We have a few more teaching sessions and a dozen or so more home visits that are very important. Pray that we will continue to look to Christ for strength as we are getting weary. Pray for our families as we are starting to really miss them. Pray for our saftey in travel and avoidance of police (they are more trouble than good here). Pray that I and the others may not stop learning or listening to what God has to teach us in these next days. Thank you so much for the encouragement many of you have given me over the past days. It has had an impact on me that you will never know, and that in turn has impacted so many on this side of the globe. Blessings.
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