Song of Deliverance

I came to realize in my 5 days in Gulu that there are no birds left or at least they aren't singing the sweet song of deliverance! I say deliverance, because in April of this year the IDP (internally displaced peoples) camps were closed and people were allowed to return back to their villages. This was a huge step because in the Spring of 2007 the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) that was waging the war there for the last 20 years had moved its conflict to the Congo. Just as the Israelites moved back to their land from Egypt the Acholi peoples are now able to be delivered to their lands again.

I hope that the sweet sound of the birds finally come back. It was such a strange realization for me to not hear the birds. After living in Masaka for the last 7 months and hearing the tweet and chirping of birds outside the windows all the time I found it disturbing. Had all the joy left Gulu with the birds? I pray that the joyful sounds of song return very soon! Just as Prophet Miriam sang a song of deliverance in Exodus 15: 20-21, I pray the song comes back to Gulu very soon!

The Gulu

Francis Sterling Palmer, Adam & Michelle's soon to be adopted 3 year old, calls it The Gulu! :) Well he is correct it is The Gulu....a place that has seen the ravage of a 20 year war on its land and its people.

The trip I took to Gulu is a 4 year prayer request that finally came to be Aug 01- 05. For a missionary that has lived in Uganda for the last 7 months it's hard to imagine that I'd still be processing the spiritual effects it has had on me...but I am!

I noticed the scar that the was has left on the children on Sunday, our 1st day of outreach. After Sunday service the team went back that afternoon to Calvary Chapel Gulu. Our team of 17 missionaries did VBS and played football with over 500 children from the area. Nice ratios huh? :) Well the Calvary Chapel Gulu Sunday School teachers were an absolute God send with helping us with translation, song, and just handling the children! :)

Teacher Mary, Amy, Brian and I had the 5 and younger group. They are SOOO cute! Anyway, we sang songs and told the story of Daniel and The Lions Den to them. Actually, Brian became Daniel and the children the lions, as we acted out the story...to fun! It was a great time with the kids but when it came time to interact these kids were unusually "skittish". Most Ugandan children have to learn to hug and show affection of any kind but these kids were like "little statues". :( When anyone would try and put their arm around them they would almost jump (flinch) as to be scared. It was so sad to me how war around them and not having love has changed them. I obviously don't know if any of these children had been in the IDP (internally displaced persons) camps or seen the horrible things that the war had brought to here area but it sure seemed like it. I hope and pray God's love came through in the little time we spent with them that afternoon! I pray it showed them that there is love and it is from GOD!! John 13: 34-35

Gifts from Gulu

Last Friday, Aug 7th, I felt like I had the flu so I took the nessacary meds for it. But of course I have to remember that I'm in Africa and flu symptoms don't always mean flu! :) Of course I got worse so by Wed this week I was in clinic. They tested me for malaria, typhoid, and gardias. Sure enough I had 2 of the 3, tyhoid and gardias (paracites)...yuck! Two gifts from Gulu!

I'm on three meds now and improving daily. I'll have to say that the health care here is very cheap in comparission to the U.S.. My doctors visit, 3 lab test, and all my meds were only 38,500 shillings ($16.50 in U.S. dollars). So what's wrong with the U.S. health care system?? huh? Anyway, that's another blog but think about it. :)

So I have to remember I'm still a Muzungo and I can't trust the water....even if it is in yummy passion fruit juice! :)

Prayer Request: I wasn't the only on to receive these "gifts from Gulu". Nine other team members got what I have too so please pray for them!! Thanks and God Bless!

Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do

June 27, 2009

Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do

Saturday was an amazing day of beautiful music, and dance. Jim, Robyn, Stacy (our short term volunteer) and I went to see our Primary children perform in the second round of Masaka District choir competition. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but when we arrived at Bishop’s Secondary school it was like a carnival atmosphere. There were students everywhere and there was an amazing sea of color from all of the different school uniforms the children were wearing. By the time we got there some of the primary schools were already performing. Jim, Robyn and Stacy found seats up front but I opted to stand in the back and be loose to take pictures. After I watched the first school perform I took off to find our children.

Down the hill from the competition I found all of the yellow clad Blessed Sacrament students under a large banyan tree. Most of the students were all sat patiently waiting to be called to perform, but of course I found our boys were running around and playing their drums. I was able to meet some of the boy’s friends and take pictures of them. Unfortunately that caused quite a stir amongst the students. I had to stop the pictures for a while and just visit with our children, Winnie, Imelda, Rock, Rob and Matty. We all had a great time talking, laughing and joking around before they went on.



They were finally called to perform their 1st of 3 performances so they lined up! I could tell some were nervous so I encouraged them.

From Muslim to Christian

June 25, 2009

From Muslim to Christian

Per usual after dinner each night we have a Bible study with the children sometimes I lead, or Jim and on occasion one of the children lead. But last night was special to me because Matthew wanted to lead.

Let me give you a brief background on Matthew. (Please see the attached word doc for his testimony) Matty, as we call him, used to be Mohammad a.k.a Maddy. When he came to The Door of Hope Families back in March it was a very different experience for him, as he had lived on the street for the last 10 years. As a street boy he experienced no food, shelter, fighting, steeling, and drugs. But Matty is a natural leader and when Aunt Fatumah told him about Jesus and he became a moloaka (born again Christian) he naturally told all the street boys that would listen about Jesus. He became the head of the moloaka street boys! It was such a different life from what he had lead with his uncle as a Muslim. He knows he has a savior now! Living in a Christian environment at the Door of Hope Matty has “blossomed” into an amazing prayer leader. He has also committed himself fully to strengthen his walk as a born again and changed his name from Mohammad to Matthew. It is amazing to see the change in him and He loves the Lord so much now! I love how God works when we allow Him to work in our lives!

The Downside of Cultural Issues & Misunderstandings

June 11, 2009
The Downside of Cultural Issues & Misunderstandings

Ok if anyone asked me what are some of the interesting downsides of your long term missionary trip I’d have to say cultural issues and misunderstandings. Unfortunately cultural issues get in the way of ministry and lately for HWP they have got in the way a lot!

In the last three weeks all these things have happened; a nasty termination of our house Daddy/Social Worker, accosting of myself by an elected official, the robbery of the Door of Hope house and extraction from the house of a young man we were assisting temporarily. Does it sound like spiritual attacks? Is Satan alive and well in Masaka? Or is it cultural issues and misunderstandings. I think all 3!

The vast majority of the African population has grown up with the “hand held out” mentality. This mentality has been predicated by American, UK and other foreign NGO’s and Government organizations giving, giving, giving! From child sponsors for school fees to food handed out in lunch lines from the government. Many don’t have to “work” for any of their provisions, expect muzungos to be rich, give them money or things and/or then be all loving and non-confrontational. I’ve had Ugandan pastors say that the things we are experiencing are cultural misunderstandings. They say that Ugandans don’t have the same work ethic or understanding of business as Americans. They also say things like, we need to understand that Ugandans weren’t raised with an open communication to people like Americans are, that Americans are “too free” with their way of communicating and with their lives. Cultural differences, yes, but not able to work with the people? I don’t think so! How is it that Ugandans can be praising God, with hands held high, and be in reverent prayer and then an hour later be yelling at you and trying to extort money from you?

This may sound harsh coming from a missionary and someone that is supposed to love and care about the people of the nations. I guess living and seeing this mentality in most of the people in Uganda makes you re-think how you have to approach a 3rd world culture like Uganda. All of the cultural classes, the short term mission trips and mentoring from pastors doesn’t completely prepare you for “living it”. Don’t get me wrong, I love the people here!! Really not all the people are this way. You’ve all read my other Blogs. I’ve been so Blessed and I’m continually excited by all of the things God is doing here, with the children, the people and in me. It is just hard to go through the trials we have had in the last three weeks. Please keep us ALL in prayer; He Will Provide Ministries, Robyn, Jim, the 15 children and me. Thanks all and God’s Blessings!!

1 Peter 3:17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, then to suffer for doing wrong.

Touch of England in Uganda

June 09, 2009
Touch of England in Uganda

Today is National Heroes Day in Uganda so the children were out of school, so we planned a "field trip" for them. This morning we had the pleasure of going to see an English Garden in Uganda. Beryl and Allan Went are from Essex, England and are full time missionaries here in Masaka. They have a ministry called Love in Action; primary schools, training young men and women for life and running a internet cafe in Masaka...they aren't busy at all :)

Anyway, they have lived here for 6 years and in the last 4 years have bought a house, a plot of land and have developed it into a beautiful English garden. I say developed because when the plot was purchased it was nothing but weeds, rocks and rubbish when they purchased it.

At 10am all 18 of us walked over to their home and had a tour of the gardens. We saw every kind of vegetable, including strawberries which you don't have in Uganda. We saw beautiful flowers both exotic and English, sugar cane, bamboo, and fruit trees like mango, guava, pomegranate, and apple. It is amazing how God can develop something of rock and rubbish into a garden of beauty and peace.