Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Explaining the Inexplicable
So, yesterday morning, after 33 hours of traveling and about 5 hours of sleep, I went to church very excited to share everything that I had seen and experienced over the last two weeks. I teach an adult class at church and I knew that they would have questions about the trip. All of them had been faithfully praying for our trip and many had supported financially so I felt ready to report back.
So as class started something interesting happened, I was lost trying to explain the inexplicable. I couldn't find the words that most accurately reflected anything more that a series of things that happened there while we were awed by God's work. I was frustrated that I couldn't convey in words what I had seen with my eyes, what I had felt in my heart, what moved me to tears and strengthened my faith in a very powerful and active God. I felt like everything I was saying was so pitifully inadequate to really get the meaning across.
I left church feeling very frustrated that I was not going to be able get the point across or to at least adequately explain what we witnessed in that small village. I prayed last night for the strength and the words to say to convey everything. I woke up this morning praying the same thing.
God revealed something to me in my time of reflection and prayer this morning. He eased my mind and let me know that reporting back to you isn't meant to do what I desperately wanted it to do. That's not the way it's meant to work at all. My job is to do God's will when He asks me to and then praise His name when I witness first hand His power and mercy. But, to explain to you in words the movement of God on souls is the attempt to do the impossible. If it were that easy then everyone would have "experienced" God. The Bible is the only thing that we have that God has used to give us an accurate explanation of him and His power.
Instead I will praise His name for the blessing I saw Him deliver to people halfway across the world and I will always remember what I saw and experienced there. I will also long for seeing it and feeling it every day of my life. Your job is to seek and desire the same thing for your life. Not that you live it through me or anyone else but that you desire to see it with your eyes, to feel it in your heart, to be moved to tears by an inexplicable feeling of awe while you see His face in the face of the people He has chosen to bless and you take in the overflowing of His blessing while you say "yes, I will go!"
Thank you Lord for the blessing of letting us witness your incredible power and mercy!!!
So as class started something interesting happened, I was lost trying to explain the inexplicable. I couldn't find the words that most accurately reflected anything more that a series of things that happened there while we were awed by God's work. I was frustrated that I couldn't convey in words what I had seen with my eyes, what I had felt in my heart, what moved me to tears and strengthened my faith in a very powerful and active God. I felt like everything I was saying was so pitifully inadequate to really get the meaning across.
I left church feeling very frustrated that I was not going to be able get the point across or to at least adequately explain what we witnessed in that small village. I prayed last night for the strength and the words to say to convey everything. I woke up this morning praying the same thing.
God revealed something to me in my time of reflection and prayer this morning. He eased my mind and let me know that reporting back to you isn't meant to do what I desperately wanted it to do. That's not the way it's meant to work at all. My job is to do God's will when He asks me to and then praise His name when I witness first hand His power and mercy. But, to explain to you in words the movement of God on souls is the attempt to do the impossible. If it were that easy then everyone would have "experienced" God. The Bible is the only thing that we have that God has used to give us an accurate explanation of him and His power.
Thank you Lord for the blessing of letting us witness your incredible power and mercy!!!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
I'm filled with wonder!
So we are pretty much done it feels like. Both Patrick and I are coming to a place of being spent both physically and mentally. My spirit is good but it is calling for rest and reflection. The great thing is that I don't feel guilty about slowing down at this point. It really is like God is saying that He gave us a task and it is complete now rest a little. I don't feel like I'm letting God down by not pushing through the physical and spiritual fatigue. Although I would not at all be surprised if we both awoke tomorrow with renewed spirit and vitality for a new something that He needed done. And you know what, I would be here again saying "yes, God I will go!".
I don't know if it's really time for reflection yet but it sure is nice to sit back and bask in the glory of everything that He has accomplished here! When I left Asheville and arrived here I had no idea what was in store for us here. It had been my sincere prayer, and I believe, Patrick's as well, that we would not get out ahead of God and that we would patiently wait for Him to reveal exactly what He wanted done and to do it exactly when He wanted it done. Both Patrick and I had prayed for this special ability since it is not in either of our personalities to work without a real plan. Both of us like to have a plan and "accomplish" things. We are used to checking off our to-do lists and holding them like our little trophies. But God was really telling us that we would have to be patient and obedient. So I believe that through a great deal of sincere prayer God may be pleased with our intention to wait on Him.
God had laid it on both of our hearts two things (1) that He had a plan and he would reveal it at His pace and that the plan would be perfect and (2) that everything done would be done for His glory and have nothing to do with us. That in the end no one would remember anything except the incredible way in which God worked and continues to work here!
My prayer is that both of these things were accomplished and that God is pleases with His children. I know that He has shown Himself to be the King that He is and that He is still in control.
Before I left Asheville I let my mind wander into that place of wondering why God wanted us to do this. Why Africa, why us, why now? I wondered what His plan of revelation was for me here. What was the big lesson, the big takeaway? After having been here and experiencing His greatness and power I have come to think, for the time being at least, that He simply desired that someone would go and do His work. He said, "will you go?". Nothing really special about us, no bigger purpose for us especially. He simply asked and we said "yes.". That doesn't mean that there isn't blessing in there somewhere because there is no way that I can say that we haven't been blessed. But this is the greatness of our God. His plan is so good and His power so great that when He decides to bless someone and He asks you to help Him do that, the blessing is so big that it washes over everything and everyone around. You receive blessing just for having been there!
I am so humbled and the great thing is that I know I will get to reflect more on this and I will get to see God doing more great things. I trust Him more for having been this close to His handiwork. There are glorious days ahead!
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing, praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything, and I will adore you!
I don't know if it's really time for reflection yet but it sure is nice to sit back and bask in the glory of everything that He has accomplished here! When I left Asheville and arrived here I had no idea what was in store for us here. It had been my sincere prayer, and I believe, Patrick's as well, that we would not get out ahead of God and that we would patiently wait for Him to reveal exactly what He wanted done and to do it exactly when He wanted it done. Both Patrick and I had prayed for this special ability since it is not in either of our personalities to work without a real plan. Both of us like to have a plan and "accomplish" things. We are used to checking off our to-do lists and holding them like our little trophies. But God was really telling us that we would have to be patient and obedient. So I believe that through a great deal of sincere prayer God may be pleased with our intention to wait on Him.
God had laid it on both of our hearts two things (1) that He had a plan and he would reveal it at His pace and that the plan would be perfect and (2) that everything done would be done for His glory and have nothing to do with us. That in the end no one would remember anything except the incredible way in which God worked and continues to work here!
My prayer is that both of these things were accomplished and that God is pleases with His children. I know that He has shown Himself to be the King that He is and that He is still in control.
Before I left Asheville I let my mind wander into that place of wondering why God wanted us to do this. Why Africa, why us, why now? I wondered what His plan of revelation was for me here. What was the big lesson, the big takeaway? After having been here and experiencing His greatness and power I have come to think, for the time being at least, that He simply desired that someone would go and do His work. He said, "will you go?". Nothing really special about us, no bigger purpose for us especially. He simply asked and we said "yes.". That doesn't mean that there isn't blessing in there somewhere because there is no way that I can say that we haven't been blessed. But this is the greatness of our God. His plan is so good and His power so great that when He decides to bless someone and He asks you to help Him do that, the blessing is so big that it washes over everything and everyone around. You receive blessing just for having been there!
I am so humbled and the great thing is that I know I will get to reflect more on this and I will get to see God doing more great things. I trust Him more for having been this close to His handiwork. There are glorious days ahead!
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing, praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything, and I will adore you!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Baptism Yesterday
So my wife reminded me that I never posted anything about the baptism on my blog and that many people who read this can't follow on facebook. I'm sorry, but I was in the process of working on it when we lost power here and we just got it back. So, the official count stands at 64. Patrick and I were blessed to baptize 60 brothers and sisters in Christ.
As we were baptizing we didn't really know the back stories of most of these people. Many were saved before we got there and had just never had an opportunity to be baptized. Getting baptized in a body of water of any significant size isn't an easy thing here!
As an update Patrick and I meet with pastors today representing 14 local churches and they are anxious to come here to baptize as well!! Lastly, they are desperatly desiring to have training materials here. Nice thing is I have an office full of it at church
Starting about 4am I heard men praying and walking around the village. I couldn't see them but I could hear them. We found out later that many had slept in the church and prayed in shifts all night. When the sun came up this is what God blessed us with.
First up was George our gracious host. He had been baptized before but wanted to share in a time of refreshing and to share in this special time with his wife!
Next up was Christie. She has never been baptized and it was a special thing to be baptized by her husband!
As we were baptizing we didn't really know the back stories of most of these people. Many were saved before we got there and had just never had an opportunity to be baptized. Getting baptized in a body of water of any significant size isn't an easy thing here!
As an update Patrick and I meet with pastors today representing 14 local churches and they are anxious to come here to baptize as well!! Lastly, they are desperatly desiring to have training materials here. Nice thing is I have an office full of it at church
Starting about 4am I heard men praying and walking around the village. I couldn't see them but I could hear them. We found out later that many had slept in the church and prayed in shifts all night. When the sun came up this is what God blessed us with.
First up was George our gracious host. He had been baptized before but wanted to share in a time of refreshing and to share in this special time with his wife!
Next up was Christie. She has never been baptized and it was a special thing to be baptized by her husband!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Harvest Mission Choir practice
I couldn't upload the entire dance to Facebook so I thought I would post it here in case you wanted to look at the entire dance they were practicing.
Rest
So we decided yesterday that we were all in need of rest. Without realizing it we were working very hard physically and expending much of ourselves spiritually and emotionally. So, we took it easy this morning and spent time writing and reading. Then the skies opened and God blessed us with the most spectacular rainstorm.
George, our host, is constantly being asked to work here. Trying to get things done for the village organizing meetings and settling minor disputes. Patrick and I were confident that we would be able to rest but worried and prayed fro George as he needed it much more that we did. Well, God provided a way to lock ourselves in the house and watch Him do some work. The rain meant that no one would come to see George and God offered us all a relaxing time to reflect on Him.
Here is Mama Nabukalu taking a break from her work to read God's word in the Bibles that you provided. I cam imagine that everywhere in the village are others who are grateful for the opportunity to read God's word without feeling like they are neglecting their work that needs to be done. Be in prayer for our time of Baptism tomorrow!!
George, our host, is constantly being asked to work here. Trying to get things done for the village organizing meetings and settling minor disputes. Patrick and I were confident that we would be able to rest but worried and prayed fro George as he needed it much more that we did. Well, God provided a way to lock ourselves in the house and watch Him do some work. The rain meant that no one would come to see George and God offered us all a relaxing time to reflect on Him.
Here is Mama Nabukalu taking a break from her work to read God's word in the Bibles that you provided. I cam imagine that everywhere in the village are others who are grateful for the opportunity to read God's word without feeling like they are neglecting their work that needs to be done. Be in prayer for our time of Baptism tomorrow!!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
A Glorious Ending to a Wonderful Day!
My last entry was on the Joy Modern school and their incredibly dire circumstances. This is how we started the day today and it was tough. I can't remember feeling that kind of emotional distress. We left there and headed back to Kampala to pick up bibles because we had run out. This was a good thing and I think it served to re-focus our attention on the mission that God had sent us on. After picking up the bible we then picked up a small swimming pool to perform baptisms in on Saturday.
As a result of doing these errands we were late getting back to our own bible study! I was worried that those who had been coming would lose faith in us. I don't like making promises that aren't kept. I worried about it all the way back to the village. We finally arrived an hour late and I expected a small crowd. What I saw instead filled me with great joy! Instead of leaving or hanging out so that they could take the opportunity to give me a piece of their mind they were having a praise and worship meeting!!! They were just loving God with music,dancing, and prayer!!!
We (Patrick, George, and I) walked in and we began. We prayed and started the meeting and before I could even start teaching people started coming down to the front asking to be saved. Two, five, eight, ten, FOURTEEN! Whaaaat, are you kidding me God???? Ridiculous (thanks to Francis Chan for his description there).
So, here it is - Thursday afternoon in Uganda....Africa..... you know on the equator! Its the hottest part of the day and they have been praising and singing for something close to an hour! Now, before we start teaching they want to be saved....at a bible study!! Did I mention that there were 130 people there? Oh, I really love my God!!!!
So this was our Thursday. It was a roller coaster ride, both physically (thanks George) and spiritually (thanks God). In the end I come to the same conclusion. I have nothing to do with any of this!! God, is working right now, right here and I can physically see him!! I see him in smiles, in dancing, in singing, and today I saw him even in despair.
I am nothing without my God and I am right where I pray he keeps me!!!
As a result of doing these errands we were late getting back to our own bible study! I was worried that those who had been coming would lose faith in us. I don't like making promises that aren't kept. I worried about it all the way back to the village. We finally arrived an hour late and I expected a small crowd. What I saw instead filled me with great joy! Instead of leaving or hanging out so that they could take the opportunity to give me a piece of their mind they were having a praise and worship meeting!!! They were just loving God with music,dancing, and prayer!!!
We (Patrick, George, and I) walked in and we began. We prayed and started the meeting and before I could even start teaching people started coming down to the front asking to be saved. Two, five, eight, ten, FOURTEEN! Whaaaat, are you kidding me God???? Ridiculous (thanks to Francis Chan for his description there).
So, here it is - Thursday afternoon in Uganda....Africa..... you know on the equator! Its the hottest part of the day and they have been praising and singing for something close to an hour! Now, before we start teaching they want to be saved....at a bible study!! Did I mention that there were 130 people there? Oh, I really love my God!!!!
So this was our Thursday. It was a roller coaster ride, both physically (thanks George) and spiritually (thanks God). In the end I come to the same conclusion. I have nothing to do with any of this!! God, is working right now, right here and I can physically see him!! I see him in smiles, in dancing, in singing, and today I saw him even in despair.
I am nothing without my God and I am right where I pray he keeps me!!!
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