Trip to Uganda Baptist Seminary

Tim Tidenberg, the Cluster Strategy Leader for all Equatorial Africa, asked me to represent him and accompany three men from the United States to Uganda. What a great joy to return to the beginning place of our missionary service and renew ties with my Ugandan friends. How blessed I am! These are great men and women who have a vision for planting churches as they share their personal testimony and lead people to Jesus. I am always challenged by their commitment and devotion to our Father and the work of His kingdom.

When I visited the Uganda Baptist Seminary back in March and now again in May, I saw young men sleeping on the floor in classrooms because the dormitory is full. That's how committed they are to getting a theological education. They need another dormitory! Pray with me that this will be approved and pray for our students at the seminary. Today, we have an open door for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ... tomorrow???? Now is the time to train these willing men and women.

Joys from Afar...

Grandchildren are a wonderful gift from the Father and bring such great joy. Isaac has learned how to undress himself and Lealla is trying her hardest to crawl, but she stopped long enough to smile at the camera.

Sadness in Africa

It was not the first time ... nor will it be the last...

Blood curdling screams were heard as I was putting on my makeup and I sent my friend, Ruth, running because I thought some child was hurt on our compound., and I could not quickly run because of just having had knee surgery. I followed her soon and she was standing on our veranda and said, "Oh, maama, it is an African man beating his wife," which sounded like in our very own yard but across our wall in some apartments. That haunting cry of pain has not left my ears.

I passed a lady with a load of sticks for building her fires piled so high and wide on her head that I just rode by in disbelief. All I could see was a thin body and legs much thinner than most of the sticks showing beneath her dress. I said, "Oh, God, how can I help her carry this burden?" I was in an area I was not sure about and didn't know where she lived; but what could I do? I pulled over and compared my trunk and the size of the load and there was NO WAY it could fit it. I am just recovering from knee surgery and it was late in day and there was a need to be home before dark due to other problems here and I drove away with such sadness in my heart with her burden; and at that time I felt very helpless. As I shared with Danny, he said, "Well, did you give her any shillings?" And to my heart came a terrible pain...."No, I was so caught up with her burden and that I didn't know how to help her with it nearing dark, and I forgot to give her what I had." And then the pain really came. Pray that Danny and I can be sensitive where we can make the burdens of others a bit easier.

There is sadness all over the world ... even where you live...

Returning Home

It has been a time of mixed emotions. Returning home to the states for the funeral of my brother, Charles, was filled with many joys and times of sadness. We rejoice that he no longer suffers the limitations of this physical body but rather he is enjoying his heavenly body. I been thinking a lot about heaven and what the Bible has to say about our final resting place.

Now, I'm returning to our home in Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa). Claudia has been in Johannesburg, South Africa, for medical during this time. I leave today and arrive tomorrow evening. Claudia leaves Friday (we hope) and arrives home Friday evening. It been two weeks away from each other and we are ready to be home and together.

I have enjoyed our grandchildren for a few days. I got to see my granddaughter for the first time. She is Beautiful!

Please continue to pray for my brother's family – Deanie, Tonya and Larry, and Michelle. Please continue to pray for Equatorial Africa. We have 7 countries with no missionary personnel. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will call out men and women to fields in Equatorial Africa.

And lastly, thank you for all your prayers and support.

Language at 64!!!

This is Claudia and Helen doing language. Helen is trying to teach Claudia Swahili. Now, everybody says it's the easy language in the world. That's everybody who has never learned Swahili.

As for me, I got to get a block of time to commit. I'm off to Dar es Salaam on the 6th of April to represent our Strategy Associate at a meeting there. Please pray that all will go well.

Taxes are Done!!!

While I was in Uganda having a great time with friends in Kampala and Jinja, Claudia was pulling together our 2008 tax information. She's just w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l !!!!

Sawyer's Back in Town

Sawyer brought his mom and dad back to Nairobi for a little visit. He and his parents (Michael and JoJo) are missionaries in Tanzania.

Sawyer is entertaining his aunt Claudia (MKs called us aunt and uncle) while mom get a much needed nap and dad goes to the store to get some food.