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