Psalm 89:1, again... HESED

A large portion of the 100 pounds of checked baggage I brought to Uganda was 50 pairs of donated plastic leg braces (orthoses) and 10 pairs of shoes to accommodate them. In addition to providing good ankle/foot alignment, these orthoses are lightweight, durable, and easy to fit/apply. In the US, most children who have disabilities like those we encountered at KSPH receive their first pair of orthoses by 18 months of age.


Shadrach, a 10 year old boy with cerebral palsy, received his first pair of orthoses during our visit. He listened patiently but with curiosity while Amon and I explained to him the process of measuring and fitting the orthoses, and how they could help him. He smiled at my request that he join us in prayer to ask God for guidance in our selection, and reverently bowed his head. When the process was finished, Shadrach wore orthoses that had a “spiderman” design. I will never forget the joy on his face to also receive shoes! Shadrach will now be able to progress in standing activities in school.


As Shadrach, Amon, and I joined together in a prayer of thanksgiving, I was overwhelmed by the steadfast lovingkindness of Christ. The orchestration of events that led from the donation of these orthoses to Shadrach’s great joy in receiving them testified to the faithfulness of the Lord. This last photo was taken on our final day at KSPH during a time of singing praises to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.


Thoughts of Shadrach and some of his schoolmates come to mind often while I work. Tonight, I was reminded of an earlier post on this blog; it's title bears the words from Psalm 89:1. As they were prior to our departure, the days since our return from Uganda have not been without difficulties and discouragements. Yet above all, dear senders, the banner we raised then remains over us: “HESED”, the steadfast lovingkindness of the Lord. We departed Wheaton singing, armor on, to tell out the Lord’s faithfulness to the children of Uganda...we departed Kampala singing, armor still on, and we will continue to tell out the Lord's faithfulness forever.

"I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD forever; with my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations."

Never lack the Zeal....with joy, happiness, and determination, press on and do the Lord's work.

I was given the privilege of sitting in on the Sports Outreach Ministries monthly staff meeting where I was introduced to the former Head Coach of the Ugandan National Team, Barnabas Mwesiga. Barnabas is a 60 year old coach who serves as the mentor for 14 younger coaches in the organization, many whom I was able to meet and work with during my time in Uganda. Barnabas was looked up to by these coaches for many reasons, the least being his distinction of taking a Ugandan team to the African finals in 1978, something no other Ugandan coach has ever done. Barnabas conducted the staff meeting and I was blessed immensely as Moses Mawa gave a devotional and shared how our zeal in the Lord's work is threatened by the challenge of a loss of energy, focus, and endurance. So much of what Moses shared I could identify with in my work here in the states in sports ministry. But what stood out to me, was the fellowship that this band of brothers had with one another. I have worked in Christian ministry for many years here in the states, and I can truthfully say, I felt a spiritual comfort with these "strangers" that I have never experienced in quite the same way in all my years in Christian ministry. The determination to serve the slums of Uganda was a shared burden fueled by the power of prayer, resulting in such joy and happiness to serve Jesus. My life has been changed because of the love that these men had for one another and their common desire to reach the unsaved youth through sports ministry. I thank Barnabas, Frank, Patrick, Moses, Samson, Thomas, Ronald, Mitchell, and others that I was able to meet, for teaching me about "vulnerable communion" in the Body of Christ. The fellowship I observed is something I won't soon forget. THEY TRULY WERE AN EXAMPLE OF SPURRING ONE ANOTHER ON TO FAITH AND GOOD DEEDS.

Beth

You have led in your steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them by Your strength to Your holy abode.

Exodus 15:13, from the song of Moses










Our last Saturday in Africa was spent at the source of the River Nile. A 3 hour drive from Kampala to Jinja brought us to the point where Lake Victoria flows into this magnificent river. The words of Exodus rang in our ears as we remembered the deeds of the Lord, the wonders He performed through Moses at this same river so long ago. We envisioned Moses as a baby hidden in the riverbank reeds, and, years later, this river as the site of the first of ten plagues that would eventually lead to Israel’s deliverance.

We enjoyed fresh tilapia for lunch!








A short distance upstream, we took a boat ride at the Bujagali Falls. The cataracts were a picture of God’s grace that seemed to flow all around us and the current of His love that carried us to this place.


O the deep, deep love of Jesus,vast, unmeasured, boundless, free;
rolling as a mighty ocean in its fulness over me.
Underneath me, all around me is the current of Thy love,
leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above.

On Thursday, we were surprised by God.

Beth and I awoke on Thursday morning in Kampala with great joy and excited anticipation, though we were not sure why. We unintentionally dressed in the same JAF T-shirts and black pants, and endured team teasing at breakfast for it. Beth gave the team’s morning devotional on 2 Corinthians 3:4, encouraging us to “leave our mark”. We sang as we walked in the sun from the Namirembe Guest House to the school, arriving at the dorms in time to help a room of young girls brush their teeth and get dressed. The morning flew by, busy with physical therapy and wheelchair modifications for me while Beth met with the staff of Sports Outreach International (SOI).



After lunch, Beth and I found ourselves to be the only JAF team members feeling well. Spirits still high, we drove to one of two basketball courts in Kampala with Patrick and Paul, two SOI coaches, for an afternoon of basketball clinics. The first clinic was for some of the disabled students of KSPH. What fun we had practicing skills with the students side by side as our worlds of basketball and disability merged on that court! In wheelchairs, on knees, with shoes too small for their feet, the students dribbled, passed, and shot basketballs at the hoops. The laughter was great and contagious.


The second clinic was for a team of 19-24 year old men. While Beth moved fully into “coach” mode, I was left literally holding the bag of basketballs and equipment on the sidelines. Soon, a group of neighborhood children gathered like mice towards cheese, curious at these Mzungu (white people) and their basketballs. Though my first instinct was to protect what had been entrusted to me, I heard the whispered words “they just want to play”. Gathering them around, I began to copy Beth and run the children through the same drills on the sideline that she had the men doing on the court. Taking our cues from “Coach”, this “team” practiced karaoke, high knee skips, fire feet, and follow-through...SWISH!

When the men began to play a game on the court, Paul spoke in Luganda to the “team” of children and shared the good news of the Gospel. What a privilege it was to meet these young coaches whose life work is to spread the love of Jesus Christ through sports among the slum children of Uganda. And what joy was mine to witness the prayers of these children - their response to what they had heard.

And if all this was not enough, the evening held one last surprise. As our team studied the Sovereignty of God, I received an SMS from John: Yahoo! You passed the exam! You are a Pediatric Clinical Specialist! The rest of the night was filled with prayer and praise as we danced and sang of the steadfast lovingkindness and faithfulness of the Lord!

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 89:1

Vocational Training at KSPH

On our first Monday morning at KSPH, we were given a tour of the school, dorms, and vocational training areas by the Deputy Headmaster, Sam. Since agriculture is an important part of the Ugandan culture, the children and teachers all work in the garden. They grow bananas, popo fruit (papaya), jackfruit, avocados, maize (corn), cabbage, and other crops. Even students in wheelchairs who are able to work with their arms are helped onto the ground and into the garden to do their part.









Another vocational activity taught at the school is cloth dyeing. The students are instructed by Winnie, a delightful woman who was a student at KSPH many years ago. Her perseverance inspired us!

Each Tuesday morning, plastic tarps are spread in the field. Bolts of cloth are laid on top of the tarps; porridge is ladled on the cloth to dry in the sun, or the fabric is gathered for a marbling effect. Dye is then poured on the cloth from a watering can to form the various designs.

Once dried, the bolts of cloth are washed and rinsed in a bucket brigade of tubs and then hung to dry. Each student in the vocational training class is responsible for part of the process.

After being pressed with a flat iron, the fabric is ready to be cut and sewn by the tailoring students. Beautiful quilts, garments, and aprons are sold to provide the school with additional income.

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable...1 Corinthians 12:22

As we toured the campus on our first Monday morning at KSPH, I noticed a pile of discarded, rusty wheelchairs near the oven in an out-building. One chair, in particular, caught my eye because it had some special components to the seat: a solid seat and back, and side supports. My experience with Wheels for the World has taught me that God can provide what is needed in surprising ways, and I sensed this chair might still be of use to someone.

That afternoon, Amon and I began to see some of the students he works with. One of the students was a young man named Isak. He sat in an adult-sized wheelchair with a sling seat/back, hips bent and swept to one side, and trunk leaned over the armrest. Isak is not able to stand. Amon asked if I had any suggestions for positioning so Isak could sit upright in school. I considered how difficult it must be to learn and to write while leaning over that far. We placed some foam padding on either side of Isak’s hips to fill the gap and took some measurements.


The next morning, Gabbi and I headed to the pile of discarded wheelchairs. We worked for several hours, enlisting Nathaniel’s strong arms, to remove the seat from the base of the wheelchair.

I had the privilege of visiting Isak at his home on Wednesday with Amon, Sam, Kelly, and Rachael. Isak’s family is descended from the local tribal king, his home and the surrounding land had been passed down from generation to generation. The grounds were without paved walkways and not level. There were 12 steps to enter the house from the front, 6 steps on the side, and 3 steps in the back- all without a ramp. The house was spacious with beautiful furnishings that appeared to also have been inherited from family ancestors. When we arrived, Isak was seated outside near the side of the house. We were greeted by his father and his 20 year-old brother who provided Isak’s primary care. We were also introduced to Isak’s grandmother, who was seated near the side steps. As we spoke with Isak and his family, their love for him was evident. Yet, they had difficulty articulating their hopes for him. Amon did a wonderful job of explaining the benefits of proper seat positioning. We demonstrated this for them, and encouraged them to incorporate better positioning into his everyday activities.


With Isak back in school on Thursday, Amon, Gabbi, and I adjusted and bolted the discarded seat into his wheelchair as an insert. With additional modifications and seat straps, Isak was able to sit with his head and trunk in a more upright position.


As I have thought about Isak, I have considered how people with disabilities are often thought of like that discarded wheelchair. In cultures where physical and/or intellectual ability defines value, the disabled are often considered worthless and dispensable. But God does not look at the outward appearance of man, nor does God define a person’s value by their abilities. God looks upon the heart (2 Samuel 16:7). The Church is called to be the body of Christ, with the parts that seem to be weaker as indispensable (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The provision of this seat insert was a tangible reminder of God’s love for Isak, and that people with disabilities are of great worth, indeed an indispensable part of the body of Christ.

Splint Fabrication, Ugandan-style

There are currently 130 students at KSPH, one of two schools in Uganda for children with disabilities. The classes range from P1A to P7. Students are grouped according to ability, not age. The P1A class is comprised of first time students. Prior to attending this class, most of them have never been in a social setting other than with their family. The teachers are patient and creative, using song to draw the students out and instruct them in English. Activities are modified in each classroom so all students can participate. The children work diligently within their abilities, and success is celebrated with encouragement from teachers and classmates alike. Kelly and Rachael spent their time working with the teachers and exchanging ideas. They shared lots of hands-on strategies to implement all the senses into each child's educational plan, and brought enough supplies to start a resource center.



The children's rehabilitation needs are met primarily by Amon, a young Occupational Therapist with a broad smile and gentle spirit. It was my privilege to partner with him throughout our two week stay. One of the highlights of my experience was our prayer time together each morning, especially the morning Amon took the lead and prayed! He was overwhelmed with the generous donations we brought, and eagerly implemented any suggestions offered.

One afternoon, we practiced splint fabrication. In the US, Therapists often use a material called orthoplast that can be softened in hot water, easily molded, and then cooled to form a rigid splint. The splints can assist in holding the hand in a functional position for writing, eating, and other daily skills. Amon was eager to use the donated splint patterns and orthoplast, as he had heard of such material in school but had never seen it. He prepared a fire in a charcoal grill to heat the water, and we had fun practicing hand splint fabrication, Ugandan-style!

Rehearsing with eager joy, "all that God had done with them." Acts 14: 26, 27

From "Kampala" they took a "plane" and headed home to the city of "Amsterdam" and then on to "Chicago." (In Kampala they had been entrusted to God's care for the work they had now finished.) Upon their return they called the "family" together and proceeded to report in detail all that God, working with them, had done, and how He had opened for the "Joni & Friends" team, the door of faith. (Acts 14: 26, 27)

Last night, Nancy & I had the privilege of "rehearsing with eager joy" to our family & friends, some of the stories that had touched our hearts while in Uganda. One story that was especially meaningful to me was the testimony of Frank "PELE" Ssenyonjo (pictured on far left), one of the coaches at Sports Outreach Ministry. Frank was nicknamed "Pele" because of his superior soccer accomplishments on the Ugandan National Team. His athletic prowess gained him notoriety and financial rewards, but it also left him vulnerable to the dark world of the occult that is prevalent in sports in Africa. Frank shared with me that following a game in which he had scored the winning goal, a spell had been cast upon him which resulted in blood pouring out of his "uncut" toes. Frank felt an urgency from the Lord to fast and pray for two weeks in the mountains, on whether to continue playing for the National Team. To make a long story short, the Lord revealed His desire for "Pele" to leave a successful soccer career and begin work as a volunteer coach with Sports Outreach Ministry. That was eight years ago, and Frank has never regretted his decision. The Lord is using Frank in mighty ways through sports ministry to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the slum children in Kampala. What an encouragement it was to me to see his faith and passion for the unsaved. It was a privilege to travel with him to two of the slums and conduct basketball clinics for the young men who lived there. His willingness to "leave it all behind" to serve Christ was a compelling testimony to me that has left me "inarticulately changed."
Beth

Obedience and Joy

Two weeks ago, Beth and I awoke at dawn to the crowing of a rooster. We pulled the mosquito nets off and joined in the praise, singing and praying to begin our first Lord's Day in Africa. Following breakfast of eggs, toast, and bananas, we headed to Gaba Community Church for worship "African-style". The church is situated on Lake Victoria and is also the home of Africa Renewal Ministries, a partnering ministry with Joni and Friends.


For me, this morning held additional excited anticipation. My dear friends, Sylvia, Nicholas, and Nancy Joy were meeting us. I had not seen Sylvia and Nicholas since their departure from Wheaton in January 2009, and had not yet greeted their 7 month old daughter. If one picture is worth a thousand words, this photo Beth took should speak volumes of the joy at our reunion.


Lively rhythms and praise in both English and Luganda filled the sanctuary. We sang one song that proclaimed, "Jesus is better than all the things you cry about". An elderly woman whose hands had been burned told of the goodness of the Lord. The passionate preaching reminded us to follow Christ's model of submission to the Father's will in full obedience, even in the midst of suffering. Little did we know how God would weave this theme throughout our time in Kampala.


As I stood worshipping with Sylvia to my left and Beth to my right, I thought "Am I really in Africa?" The sights and sounds told me that God had indeed brought us there. But the joy was so great, I thought perhaps it was heaven.

There is a sweetness in the atmosphere

As our team sat in on devotions with our African brothers from Sports Ministry Outreach last Monday morning, we sang together a song with the following lyrics:

"There is a sweet anointing in your sanctuary, There is a sweetness in the atmosphere, Come lay down the burdens you are carrying, In the atmosphere, God is here. He is here, He is here, To break the yoke, and heal the broken hearted, He is here, He is here."

We have only been home 2 days, and already Nancy and I miss the sweet atmosphere we basked in for our two weeks in Africa. It was a life changing experience for our entire team. It is hard to put into words what we gained, but we will make an attempt to convey a few of the stories that impacted us and left us inarticulately changed. We return with full hearts and a desire to continue a relationship with our dear friends in Kampala, Uganda. We are so grateful to our senders; without your prayers and support, the trip would not have been the same. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your "felt" petitions on our behalf.

The blogs to follow, will be our feeble attempt to share some of the stories and pictures that reflected the sweetness of Jesus Christ that we were privileged enough to be a part of as Joni & Friends team members in Cause 4 Life Uganda.
Beth

Becoming all things to all men

"When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings."

Our hearts are full and overflowing as we serve the King of Glory here in Uganda. We have been singing with our African brothers and sisters of the mercies of the Lord. We have experienced in so many ways the steadfast love of the Lord, His Hesed, as we minister to the special needs of the children at Kampala School for the Handicapped. There are hardly words to express all that the Lord has done during our first week here. Nancy has used her giftedness as a physical therapist to equip a 16 year old named Isaac with a modified wheelchair that enables him to sit upright! As hoped for our team has enjoyed the opportunity to use sport as the vehicle to share the love of Christ with the youth. The joy on the faces of these children as they receive attention and love is overwhelming. We have "joy like a river in our souls." Our zeal has been threatened by various challenges as our team has adapted to a different culture, cuisine, and time changes, but God has been faithful and we have adjusted quite well.

Lack of internet access and a very busy schedule have prevented us from updating the blog as we had hoped. If we don't get to post more before we return, we will do so upon our return. We also do not have the ability to upload photos, but we will share them as soon as we can.

So many things stand out about our Ugandan brothers and sisters. They are a gracious people and their gentleness, respect for others, patience, and winsome smiles have won our hearts. It's been so encouraging to see how they have embraced each team member and have been so responsive to our partnership.

Thanks for your patience as you've waited to hear of our adventure. We hope all is well with each one of you.
Beth

God in the Midst of Brokenness

We awoke this morning to the sounds of Africa...a Muslim call to prayer, birds singing, and morning rain. 

God has put together a team that is uniting in the purpose of loving those we are called to serve. During our training session on the Theology of Suffering, we were reminded of the pattern of Jesus in the feeding of the 5,000, the words of communion, and the road to Emmaus: He takes, He blesses, He breaks, He gives...He is made known in the breaking of the bread. 


Ugandans are a kind, gentle, welcoming people. The staff of Sports Outreach Mnistry (SOM) took us to vist the Makere slum church project, where we were greeted by shy children with winsome smiles. As we walked among them, we had the opportunity to speak with them. We met a boy named Samson who studies chemistry and hopes to be a surgeon.  He learns the Bible and returns home each day to teach his younger siblings what he has learned. His favorite verse is John 3:16. A young girl of about 10 years of age, whose parents were both killed, sang for us about the greatness of the Lord.
We were welcomed by Joy, Director of KSPH, and some of the staff, and were oriented to the school of 130 students. 
We are so excited to partner with them!

The food is quite delicious. We are enjoying the local bananas, sweet potatoes, and African tea. 

Thank you for your sending prayers and encouraging comments. 

The Lord will continually lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. 
You will be like a well-watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry. 
Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the foundations laid long ago;
You will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live.    
 Isaiah 58:11-12

Nancy and Beth arrived safely in Uganda at 11:47 am Chicago time (7:47pm Uganda time).
They have been traveling over 20 hrs and are excited to start their adventure.

Stay tune for more news...


John Biedry

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed upon Thee, because he trusts in Thee. Isaiah 26:3

Uganda, here we come!

with great joy,
Beth and Nancy

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1

“Hesed” is a Hebrew word that signifies the steadfast lovingkindness of the Lord. For Beth and for me, this opportunity in Uganda is all about Hesed.

In my life, Hesed is shown in the Lord’s fulfillment of my 35+ years desire to serve in Africa, to tell out the story of Jesus and His love. It is the “yes” answer to the prayers of my Ugandan friend, Sylvia, and I, that God would open the door for me to travel to her country and, perhaps, to again serve together people affected by disability. It is revealed in the example of God bringing His people together as “family” in that Beth’s son and my daughter will be married next year. How amazing is that? It is demonstrated in God’s perfect timing, as the invitation to join the Cause 4Life Uganda Team came from Joni and Friends in the midst of my intense study of pediatric physical therapy materials- exactly the preparation needed for my work with the children of KSPH. And it has all been confirmed by John’s words of blessing.

From our postings on the armor of God, you must know that the days leading to our departure have not been without difficulties and discouragements. Yet above all, dear senders, the banner we raise is “Hesed”, the steadfast lovingkindness of the Lord. We depart singing, armor on, to tell out the Lord’s faithfulness to the children of Uganda. You will be in our prayers, and we thank you for yours.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

In order for us to be "good soldiers for Jesus Christ" and to fight the good fight of faith, we must "put on" faith, righteousness, and salvation. We must use the gospel which is the Word of God and last, but not least, we must pray. Prayer keeps us "watchful" and Jesus is our example. In the Garden of Gethsemane He taught that we must "watch and pray" lest we enter into temptation." (Mt. 26:41) The sort of "watchful prayer" that is effective is to be done at ALL times in the Spirit, which does not mean every second, but it does mean in all things. It's to be done with ALL perseverance, which means you are to continue in prayer even though you do not seem to get an answer or the answer you get does not seem to be what you had hoped for. And, you are to pray for ALL the saints. We already are praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ there in Uganda, and especially those with special needs at the Kampala School for the Handicapped. And Paul even asks that Christ's soldiers would pray for him, that "utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel!"

And so Nancy & I would ask that you would remember to pray for us that we may lift our voices like a trumpet, that we may preach the gospel of Christ boldly, that we may fulfill the purposes God has for us on this trip, that we may serve as a watchman for God's people.
Beth

Know that you are Safe

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."



Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.



If you make the Most High your dwelling--

even the LORD, who is my refuge--

then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.



"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation."



Put on the full armor of God and KNOW THAT YOU ARE SAFE.

...and take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God

Beth and I have spent the past several days packing and repacking our checked baggage. Dear senders: because of your generosity, we have 4 bags each weighing between 40-50 pounds of donated supplies! I can only imagine how lives will be changed by these gifts, tangible representations of God’s love and care for the children of Uganda.

This also means that, with the exception of items forbidden in carry-on baggage, all of our personal items are in one overhead-sized bag and a small daypack...quite a feat for 2 weeks in Africa. I am glad God’s armor is not heavy, for it is part of our “carry-on” gear.

The sixth piece of armor is a sword. Though it aids in defense, the sword is primarily an offensive weapon. The Roman soldier’s sword was short and double-edged, forged for hand-to-hand battle. No doubt we have all seen swords that are beautiful and intimidating, but useless in battle were it in our own hand. Perhaps its weight would be too much, as Saul’s armor was for David when he prepared to meet Goliath. Or perhaps its edge is not sharp, dulled by use or design according to its decorative purpose.

According to Ephesians 6:17, the sword of the Christian is the word of God. All Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) and thus each verse of the Bible is the Sword of the Spirit of God. Hebrews 4:12 describes the word of God as “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” What a weapon!

The key to handling this precious blade is to open God’s word and read it, meditate on it, memorize it, and study it. Only after doing so have I found it to be sharp, sufficient, and immediately useful in the midst of attack. God has given us His very great and precious promises, and they are for our faithful application. May we all take this Sword of the Spirit and wield it well!

A key to Victory.....keep your head!

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."--- Ephesians 6:17

The helmet is another piece of weaponry that protects us in battle down here on earth. It obviously keeps safe an important part of the body....our head. I don't know about you, but for me, it's in "my head" that the real battles are fought. The helmet is part of the fortification that an indvidual gets from Christ and God by way of prayer in the Holy Spirit. The Roman soldier’s helmet was a fascinating and flamboyant piece of armor, very ornate and intricate. Highly decorated with all kinds of engravings and etchings, the helmet looked more like a beautiful piece of artwork than a simple piece of metal formed to fit the head of a soldier. Why would the Holy Spirit compare a piece of weaponry like this to salvation? Because your salvation is the most gorgeous, most intricate, most elaborate, most ornate gift God ever gave to you!” He likened salvation to these flamboyant helmets that were worn on the head where everyone would notice. By using this example, Paul is telling us something very important. When a person is confident of his salvation - and when he walks confi­dently in the powerful reality of all that salvation means for him - he is a noticeable individual !If the Roman soldier didn’t have a helmet on when he went out to fight, he could be absolutely sure that he would lose his head. Thus, the Roman helmet was not merely a beautiful piece of weaponry but a defensive weapon designed to save a man’s head. As our team travels to Uganda, pray that we will wear the helmet of salvation to ward off any attack to our minds that would inhibit our work there. In Jesus, we can find protection in every situation, physical, emotional, and spiritual. I'd ask you to pray for us, that in every and all situations, we will "keep our head" so that we can do the work that the Lord has called us to do.
Beth

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Have you ever been ambushed?
A surprise attack can wound so deeply because it catches us unaware. Whether the arrows launched are in the form of temptations, illness, rejection, or pride, the unexpected element of an ambush adds to the pain inflicted.

God calls His warriors to be prepared in all circumstances, even the ambush, with the fourth piece of armor: the shield of faith. The Roman shield was a great oblong one that provided the entire body with protection. It was covered in leather and bound in iron that was able to deflect and extinguish the blazing arrows shot during an attack.

Faith is the shield of the Christian. Faith is being fully persuaded of the truth of all God’s promises, which are “yes” in Christ (2 Corinthians1:20). Faith does not shield from grief or physical suffering, not does it guarantee an easy life. Faith shields so that, in the midst of trials, the bearer can be steadfast and strong in the power of God. When it is taken up, faith can shield from every side whatever flaming darts the evil one launches.

Please pray that our shield of faith will be ever before us, in all circumstances, so we can stand in the power of God.

"Now according to the strength or weakness of his faith in his Savior,
so is his joy and peace,
so is his love to holiness,
so are his desires to know Him more,
also to serve Him in this world."
The Pilgrim's Progress, J. Bunyan

Spiritual shoes.....the key to a good defense.

"And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace..." Ephesians 6: 15

As a college basketball coach, I am always talking to my players about the importance of preparation before we face our opponent in a game. In the Christian's life, preparation is our spiritual readiness to face whatever challenges come our way. Not only does the saint need to be dressed with a belt made of truth and a breastplate made of righteousness, but shoes, made from the preparation of the gospel of peace, should be the third piece of vital armor that a protected saint should wear. Although physical shoes are an accessory that can add to one's appearance, their main purpose spiritually is to aid in our movement and defense. In my sport, I have never seen a stellar defender that did not have good foot movement. The gospel of peace is the good news that God, through Christ, forgives and then He gives. Is there anything greater than that? God can take whatever hopelessness we face in our lives and fill our emptiness with the glory of eternity. That is what He has done in my life, and no matter the affliction you or I face, they are too thin a veil to darken the joy of the good news of Jesus Christ. The spiritual shoes we put on as we travel to Uganda come equipped with soles that have something to offer the needy souls we will meet along the way. Will you pray for all of the team members, that we will take with us a spiritual readiness, feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace? Thank you, from the top of my head to the bottom of my soles.
Beth

...having put on the breastplate of righteousness

The second piece of equipment available to God’s warriors is the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness is a matter of relationship - it signifies being in a right relationship with God. Righteousness cannot be earned; rather, it is God’s gracious response to man’s faith in God’s promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-25) It signifies living a holy life, one regulated according to the testimonies of God. It is the life of God in the soul of man.

The breastplate is a defensive weapon. It secures that which is necessary for the continuance of life. It shelters the heart. It protects against the arrows of God’s wrath and against the attacks of Satan.

May the breastplate of righteousness remain securely fastened upon us to protect and defend; may we live and work as God’s instruments for righteousness in Uganda.

Nancy

The Truth will set you FREE!

"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...." Ephesians 6:10-18

As we leave for Africa, we realize that the Enemy would have us lose our effectiveness as we serve, and will use many different tactics to try and do this: thus, we "put on" the Christian's armor. The first piece of equipment listed is "the belt of truth." The belt secures all the other pieces of the armor. Truth should cleave to us as the belt cleaves to the body. His promises, His commands, His Word is the truth, and as we go, our team cleaves to His Word... If God says something, there is no force that can prevail against Him. We can have His peace of mind no matter what happens on this trip, because nothing can stop Him from doing what He promises in His Word. We are Free; free to serve knowing that our equipment is firmly fastened by the belt of Truth. The Cause 4 Life Uganda team is confident in His truth that sets us FREE. (John 8:32)
Beth

A day of Freedom, OH YEAH, OH YEAH!

Oh yeah, we are leaving for Africa in T minus 8 days! If we are this excited for our trip to Uganda, how much more exciting will it be when "we will be with Him forever, and in His glory we will live?" That Day is coming, and what a day that will be. If you have not done so already, receive the gift of Jesus Christ, the pardon for our sins, This Day. He has changed my life, oh yeah, and He can change yours' too....what an opportunity for the Joni & Friends TEAM to serve Jesus Christ in Kampala; we are beyond EXCITED as we prepare to leave in just over a week! Please pray that we will be fully equipped, our armor on, walking in step with HIS Spirit, doing HIS work, for HIS praise and honor.

If you'd like to hear this song, There is a Day, you can find the link at the bottom of this page.

There is a Day

There is a day
That all creation's waiting for,
A day of freedom and liberation for the earth.
And on that day
The Lord will come to meet His bride,
And when we see Him
In an instant we'll be changed

The trumpet sounds
And the dead will then be raised
By His power,
Never to perish again.
Once only flesh,
Now clothed with immortality,
Death has now been
Swallowed up in victory

We will meet Him in the air
And then we will be like Him
For we will see Him, as He is
Oh yeah!
Then all hurt and pain will cease
And we'll be with Him forever
And in His glory we will live
Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

So lift your eyes
To the things as yet unseen,
That will remain now
For all eternity.
Though trouble's hard,
It's only momentary
And it's achieving
Our future glory.


We will meet Him in the air, and then we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. His Life and what He achieved for us is our FREEDOM..oh yeah! Lift your eyes for the Savior is coming to meet His Bride. Get yourself dressed to meet the Bridegroom, for we will be with Him forever and in His glory we will live...oh yeah. Amen.
Beth

To All of Our Senders.....thank you.

For those of you who have supported us in prayer for this trip, we'd ask you to continue to do so, as our departure date is only 11 days from today! We will need your "hidden work" as we go, not entirely knowing what to expect. The team assembled has been put together by our King whom we serve. He already knows what service and ministry awaits us, and we look to Him for strength, energy, enthusiasm, and expertise. It is my hope and prayer that we will return "inarticulately changed" as a result of what we will see and experience. Having met two of the team members, Nancy & I are so excited to meet the others in Amsterdam, where together, we will finish our flight to Uganda. We hope that we will be able to post some pictures and updates while we are there so you can follow our travels and continue your labor of love as "our senders." This trip would not be possible without your love, support, and encouragement, so we want to thank you for your part in this endeavor. You are a Cause for our King's rejoicing as together we serve our brothers and sisters in Africa.
Beth

BE MY EVERYTHING

This song by Tim Hughes says what my heart desires as we leave for Uganda. We fix our eyes on Jesus, who gave His Everything, that we might have eternal life. What a joy and opportunity we have to sing and serve with our African brothers and sisters in Christ. I am getting very excited; can you tell?


EVERYTHING

GOD IN MY LIVING
THERE IN MY BREATHING
GOD IN MY WAKING
GOD IN MY SLEEPING
GOD IN MY RESTING
THERE IN MY WORKING
GOD IN MY THINKING
GOD IN MY SPEAKING

BE MY EVERYTHING
BE MY EVERYTHING
BE MY EVERYTHING
BE MY EVERYTHING

VERSE 2:
GOD IN MY HOPING
THERE IN MY DREAMING
GOD IN MY WATCHING
GOD IN MY WAITING
GOD IN MY LAUGHING
THERE IN MY WEEPING
GOD IN MY HURTING
GOD IN MY HEALING

CHRIST IN ME
CHRIST IN ME
CHRIST IN ME THE HOPE OF GLORY
YOU ARE EVERYTHING

CHRIST IN ME
CHRIST IN ME
CHRIST IN ME THE HOPE OF GLORY
BE MY EVERYTHING


Be our EVERYTHING, Lord Jesus.
Beth

Preparation

Such excitement fills my heart as I await our departure in just over two weeks. Nancy & I had an opportunity this past Saturday to meet our team leaders, Kelly & Rachel, two young women whom the Lord has gifted in ministry, and who we hope to join together with in ministry in Uganda. They have already been to Ethiopia and are returning to Africa to further serve the Lord at the School for the Handicapped in Kampala. Their enthusiasm and experience is such an encouragement to me, and calmed some of the fears I have about going. I hope that the Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified as He takes all the skills and gifts that we bring and puts them together to be a blessing to the people we are privileged to meet and serve. I know that the richness of this experience is something the Lord has ordained for me to be a part of, and the opportunity is both exciting and humbling as I prepare in these final days. It is my prayer that I will serve in the power of the Holy Spirit and be used by Him in whatever way He deems fit. "Not to us, not to us, but to Your Name be the Glory."
Beth

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

The Cause 4 Life Uganda Team had a conference call last night. After introductions and a devotional by James on Ephesians 2:8-10 and Philippians 2:1-4, we discussed details of the work God has prepared for us.

Our tentative itinerary is as follows:

June 17: departure in the late afternoon
June 18: arrival in Uganda in the evening
June 19: fellowship, training, and orientation
June 20: worship at local churches, planning, and fellowship
June 21-25: work at KSPH/sports outreaches
June 26: visit to Jinja and fellowship with another church team
June 27: worship in slum churches and possible home visits
June 28: praise and worship, feeding program, sports ministry, and evening "feast" with staff
June 29: praise and worship, historic tour in Kampala, afternoon outreach event
June 30: praise and worship, shopping, and departure to airport
July 1: arrival in US

Thank you for your faithful prayers as we prepare. 19 days to go!

PRAYER REQUESTS

AS THE CAUSE 4 LIFE/UGANDA TEAM PREPARES TO SERVE IN KAMPALA JUNE 17-JULY 1, 2010, WE WOULD ASK FOR YOUR FAITHFUL PRAYER SUPPORT FOR THE FOLLOWING:
- THAT GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED IN ALL WE DO
- THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE IN AND WITH US
- FOR WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, HUMILITY, AND COURAGE TO DO THE LORD'S WORK
- THAT WE WILL REFLECT THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST
- FOR THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF KSPH
- FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IN TRAVEL AND AS WE SERVE
- FOR THE PROVISION AND PROTECTION OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS REMAINING AT HOME
- THAT DISABILITY MINISTRY WOULD BE EXPANDED IN UGANDA AND IN OUR HOME CHURCHES