Before We Go...

Good Morning from Mbale!  Today is our last day of ministry with the people of Ebenezer and our last day to spend with the children.  I can’t wait to share with you about the special services we have planned for today—dedicating the beautiful new prayer shelter and distributing the goats that were purchased with funds raised by FBC Newnan’s children at VBS.  I hope that you will remember our team and pray that our last moments with the children will be tender and sweet.  Pray that God would give our people strength to reserve our emotions until we return to the hotel, as we don’t want to upset the children. 

It is hard to fully understand if you’ve never come to Uganda.  It’s hard to know the pain and struggle—and the incredible joy—unless you’ve experienced it with all your senses.  And there is no way to comprehend how, even in such a short time, we have come to love one another so dearly—only to say that it is by the Lord’s design.

But I also know that many of you have been following Mission Mbale and our ministry teams on this journey for some time.  You have heard our stories of destruction and despair, of hope and restoration.  Your hearts have been opened to love people you may never meet this side of heaven, and out of obedience to the Lord and because of the love of Christ, you have given your time, your resources, and your prayers.  To just say thank you feels hopelessly inadequate. 

Our prayer today for the people of this place is the same as our prayer for you.  We hope that you will lift this blessing up to the Lord as well.  For the beautiful people of Mbale, Uganda…

“May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord to make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26

Only Photos, Enjoy!

Just one

This morning our team hit the ground running—in 4 different directions!  The group from Southwest Baptist traveled to a different village where they had been on previous trips to minister and visit with the people there.  Some of those left behind in Mbale visited local schools.  Warren, Joy, John Hayden and Mary Joy also went out from the church to pay respects to their sponsor child on the death of her father.  Everyone experienced something unique.  For me today was about being in the moment.  I didn’t really stop to take many photos. 

As I sat down to begin working on tonight’s blog post, I felt a bit disappointed with my pictures from today.  While scrolling through the photos, I texted Warren to admit I was struggling.  Then my heart stopped at this one.  I don’t even want to describe or put words to it, just let you soak it in the way that I did. 

Praise God for this beautiful country and its beautiful people.  Praise God for the hands and feet bringing the Good News to this weary land.  Praise God for the love that He has for us and for the love that He has given us for one another.  Praise God that He would have a lowly sinner like me to come along side and serve with such incredible people of faith.  

P.S.  Tomorrow Mission Mbale will have an in-country board meeting with no time for late night blogging, so my post will be all pictures! 

Dance Lessons

 Sundays in Uganda are my favorite.  It is such a joy to spend time worshiping with the faithful people of Ebenezer.  In so many ways, Sunday services here have the familiarity of home—Sunday school, great music and preaching, prayer, baby dedications, offerings, baptisms and the like.  But oh, how different it is as well!  Late last night the Lord whispered to me, “Watch, learn, let them show you how to dance.”  Then throughout the day, He revealed to me exactly what He meant.

Dancing is an essential and integral part of worship here.  The older children giggle when we ‘mazungoos’ try to keep up, but they patiently show us the moves and interpret the song.  They are full of joy at the notion that we would join with them in their song and dance for the Lord.

In addition to today’s regular service, we worshiped together in a baptism service at FBC Mbale.  Over 40 men, women, and children were baptized by Mike Emeott, Mike Phillips, and Eric Marston.  And much like the morning, all these baptisms were met with loud cheering and singing, a celebration around the waters.  

God has revealed so much to me about authentic worship through my Ugandan church family.  Today Eric preached a powerful sermon on the importance of praying boldly, persistently, and shamelessly to the Lord.  I believe, as I have witnessed at Ebenezer, that our worship should be the same.  God is patient to receive our praise as we grow in understanding of His song and learn the steps to this beautiful dance.  And we are ever grateful for the lessons.

Cathy and Madison teaching Sunday School

Madison and Mercy with children's Sunday School class

Two very smart couples

John Hayden sharing his gifts

Baptism Service

Baptism Service

Baptism Service

Baptism Service

Baptism Service

Baptism Service

The Joy of Baptism

Baptism Service

Baptism Certificate

Fun at the Crusade

Nathan and Kelly with friends

Babra and Rose at the crusade

Ebenezer choir and worship leaders

Oh the dancing!

Eric found a partner!

Lovely faces!

Ebenezer youth

Walk This Way

Isaiah 30:21

It was a beautiful Saturday morning in the Doko cell of the Namatala slum.  Our team was given a tour of the village surrounding Ebenezer church, not a cloud in the sky and already hot enough to remind us of the weather back in Georgia.  With a seemingly endless mob of children to surround us, we traveled with the church leaders through the muddy streets.  We walked to the house where Ebenezer began as a church plant of FBC Mbale 11 years ago.  We watched our step as we passed by livestock—cows, goats, and chickens—all living right along side the homes of the people.  Some of the children screamed and ran when they came around a corner and startled a dog.  We walked down a road that had recently been cut by the government, demolishing huts and leaving many people homeless. 

There was no order or pattern to the streets, everything was red brick, scrap metal, covered in dust and trash.  It was difficult to stay together for the large crowd that had gathered to walk with us.  But as we traveled, we periodically caught a glimpse of the grey church walls, and we knew we were on the right path.  If we oriented ourselves by keeping eyes on the church, we wouldn’t get lost in the chaos.

God is teaching us this lesson with every aspect of ministry in Uganda.  If we focus on the hardships and needs of the people, if we dwell on the desperate circumstances or even on the solutions we think are best, we will get bogged down in the chaos and be lost.  We must orient ourselves with His direction, leaning hard into His loving arms, trusting in His timing and His provision for every single step.  After all, none of us set out on this journey all on our own.  We couldn’t have ever imagined the blessings that He would pour out through us and for us.  But He said to walk this way, and so here we are…

Our walking tour

Our friend Hope and her grandmother

Lynn and Ashley on the tour

Anthony and friends on the tour

Back at the church, Jordan and Noah with friends

Elise and friends discussing nails

Playing games with Joy

Afternoon Children's Program

John Hayden, Joy, Mary Joy, and Joseph leading children's program

Ebenezer choir at the crusade

Sarah Beth and Anthony in their element

Snuggles with Morgan

Kayla and friends at the crusade

Warren and Stanley praying for the night's message

Denise worshiping with Lorna and friends

Sleepy time with JoJo

Mama Mary and Elizabeth

Elise and her puppet friend Joe tell the creation story

Tiffany and Rachael