We Choose Joy

Transition is a real phenomenon. What happens between already and not yet is not easy to articulate or to navigate. But here we are, full on in transition. We know we are not alone, but it can feel like it. That’s how it is.

An author whose writing helps us as we transition reminds us that it is very important to acknowledge our endings well, so we leave no unfinished business of heart, mind or hands when heading into new beginnings. She also makes a metaphor for Easter from the phases of transition. She notes that the disciples of Jesus suddenly faced an unexpected ending when He died. Friday night and all day Saturday we can imagine the “disengagement, dismantling, dis-identifying, disenchantment and disorientation they experienced.” (https://www.wattsyourpathway.co.uk/2019/04/12/endings/)

We are moving back and forth within these components of transition as we prepare to leave Uganda and begin life anew in Indiana. But unlike the disciples of Jesus, we know ahead of time about Easter morning. We know the resurrection joy even as we contemplate the suffering of the cross. We know that even during our disengagement, dismantling, and so on, that Christ is present. He is with us. He is the One whom we follow. He is our anchor.

Still, even though our Anchor is sure, we get a little storm-tossed in transition. But this is not something new to us and we have learned a few coping skills through the years. Self-care is important and acts of worship help to keep us grounded in Christ, focused on His goodness even when we feel like an island all alone in a deep sea.

So, this Easter weekend, while contemplating the Love of our Lord that compelled Him to suffer and be crucified for us, we chose to celebrate Love Himself. For us, celebrating the marriage of friends was the perfect scenario for us to celebrate God’s faithfulness to us all. And our acts of worship included dancing with joy, serving food to friends, praying blessings over others and reveling in God’s Presence with us. Listening to praise and worship music kept our hearts rejoicing and our minds focused on Christ.

This may be an ending for us of African celebrations like this, but we believe that the celebrations to come at the Feast of the Lamb will be even better. So, for now, between the already and the not yet, we choose joy, resurrection joy.

Credits: Photos at celebration of Colby and Natalie Gillespie, in Namuwongo, Kampala, Uganda

              Photos by Jeff Stanfield and by Lena M.

Self-care: Sometimes we need it just like this

When nothing in a week goes as planned. When projects get started but meet delays and disruptions. When you plan to move linearly from point A to point B and you get derailed almost before starting. When your eyes and brain are “screened out” and you can’t stay inside another minute. When your spirit and heart cry out for relief, what do you do?

Sometimes self-care looks like this. Start a project that can be completed, in a straight line, without needing to reference any screened device. Drive in a couple of stakes. String the plumb line.

Dig in the dirt. Stop and smell the roses. Lay out the concrete bricks. Measure and level. Dig some more. Check the level. Lay the next brick. Have great conversation. Move on down the line, the very straight line.

And add friends. Really good friends. Friends with whom you share history. Friends with whom you have:

ü  wept

ü  laughed

ü  served God

ü  celebrated

ü  mourned

ü  shared meals

ü  problem-solved

ü  met challenges

ü  shared chai

ü  searched God’s Word

ü  prayed

ü  worked hard

ü  listened to football (soccer) matches

ü  learned

ü  built something together

ü  revealed our hearts

ü  served each other

This is today. This is self-care. This is sharing stewardship of 

creation with friends who also worship our Creator. Friends with 

whom we share life here in Uganda. Friends whom we love dearly.

This is making the space we are given care over to grow in reflecting the beauty of God. This is worship. This is hard physical labor and this is relief.

What do worship and self-care look like for you today?

Leaving Behind . . . Looking Forward

Our time in Oregon is complete and we are now in Indiana.  Last week we attended meetings at World Gospel Mission (WGM) International Headquarters. This next week we will be with family here in Indiana.  On  July 11 we will arrive in Uganda, assuming all flights will be as scheduled.

We are looking forward to returning home. It will be good to reunite with those whom we love on that side of the world. We are eager to see how God has been moving during our absence. The notes we are receiving from our African colleagues warm our hearts.

It will be wonderful to hear first-hand from colleagues how they have seen God at work in their various avenues of ministry and in their own lives. We look forward to rich times of sharing together.

Christine is eager to hear from those she volunteers with how their training in Biblical orality helped them share God’s Word with women and children. It will also be good to hear how Women’s Cycle of Life trainings are progressing. We want to hear stories of God’s work in the hearts and lives of women.

Jeff is interested to hear how God has been speaking to the men with whom he met weekly for the past few years. We expect to hear of victories, challenges, trials, dreams and disappointments. God’s Spirit has been with these men, we know, and hearing their stories will be a great encouragement.

We look forward to how God has been moving in readiness for expansion in the WGM and Africa Gospel Church ministries to refugees. We are also listening to God for plans to increase ministries to children and youth. There are exciting possibilities and we expect God to direct us as we move forward.

As we lean into this next two-year term of service in Uganda we eagerly look forward. We know God is working His plan and we count it a privilege to be in His service. He has given us the work of making disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that He commands us and we are eager to resume the work in Uganda.

Please pray with us to stay devoted to Christ Jesus Himself and not to programs or causes. Oswald Chambers wrote, "There is a difference between devotion to a Person and devotion to principles or to a cause." (My Utmost for His Highest, July 2nd) We know there is a risk that the focus of our devotion could become the tasks, people or desired outcomes rather than remaining devoted to our Lord."To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus." (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, July 2nd) Thank you for praying for us to be faithful, devoted disciples of Jesus.

Jeff and Christine

We are a Bridge

This is a season of travel for us because it is a season of connecting with people we rarely get to visit. We love people most of all and we are grateful for time to connect. In this season we have newly realized something about ourselves. We are a bridge.

We are a bridge between cultures. Now we are physically present in the United States of America but a very big part of our hearts and brains are in Uganda. We span these two cultures like a bridge spans a canyon We have deep pillars in each of the two cultures, supporting us as we bridge the differences. Life is very different on either end of our bridge and yet, for us, through us, the two are connected.

We are a bridge between resources and service. As we connect with people we share what we get to be a part of in Uganda, how we see God at work and how he invites people into his work. We are asked questions about the ministries and people in Uganda. Often they also want to know how they can participate in serving in Uganda. Many people are sacrificially donating money every month to enable us to connect people to Jesus in Uganda. Resources and service are the framework for all of us collectively serving in Uganda. Together we are a bridge in the Kingdom of God.

We are a bridge between the past and the future. This is obvious in so many facets of who we are and what we do, but perhaps no more so than in grand-parenting. We connect our grandchildren to the past and they connect us to the future. In the same way, we help to bridge the gap in knowledge of what has been in the past with what is now, as we look with our colleagues into future ministry opportunities in Uganda.

We are a bridge, and sometimes we need to lighten the traffic load on us for maintenance to take place. This is part of why homeland ministry assignment (HMA) is necessary. Stepping away from the responsibilities we carry in Uganda and connecting with loved ones in the U.S. brings us renewal and refreshment. This is also why we take Sabbath time every week. God knows just how to repair and restore us for continued service. He often uses His own people to touch us in restorative ways, and for these we are forever grateful.

We are a bridge designed by God. We are a bridge held up by strong supports, ones that have names and faces and we know parts of their life stories. We are a bridge, common in sort, bridging uncommonly good people and places and times. We are a bridge designed by God.

Jeff and Christine

A Life with Impact - See as Jesus saw

For each of us there have been individuals in our past and in the present who have had an impact on our lives. Some have impacted our lives in ways we had never imagined, and some in ways we will never ever forget. The impact may have been or currently is in small ways, some in large ways. Some of the impact has been negative, some positive.   

The impact on our lives by others has helped shape us into who we are and who we will become. We too have the opportunity to impact the lives of others. We have to choose what kind of impact we will have; will it be negative or will it be positive? Will the impact be centered on pointing others to the world or to Christ?   

Each of us who loves Jesus, should have a passion to make a positive difference, to have an impact for Christ. But sometimes we are so focused on doing we forget about being Christ to others. Often we see so many needs and opportunities to demonstrate Christ that we don’t know where to begin!   

In Matthew 9:35-38 we read

 "Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.

In this passage we find four things we need to do to live like Jesus.

1. See as Jesus Saw (vs. 35-37)

Each and every moment our eyes are open, they take in the sights around us. Around us are so many things to see. Things that are big, things that are small. Things that are pleasant to see, but also things which are difficult to see. We see flowers and blue sky. We see people. People with smiling faces tell a story of joy and happiness. We see sad faces. Sad faces tell a story of difficult circumstances and of pain, whether emotional or physical. We see people who, due to some circumstance or physical condition, have been forced to live “on the street.” How do we see the world around us? How do we see the people around us? Jesus is our example in how we should “see”. 

God wants us to see as Christ saw. 

³⁵  Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching 

           the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the 

           people.

³⁶  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they

            were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

³⁷  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few."

Jesus saw the multitudes, but what did He really see?

-        In vs. 35, He saw hurting people, people who needed help, people who needed Him.

-        Then in vs. 36, Jesus saw people who were "weary" or "fainted" in the KJV. They were weary,             exhausted, worn out and despondent. The root word picture is something melting or    dissolving.

-        In vs. 36, Jesus also saw people scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. The word picture for "scattered" is sudden motion. It's talking about people suddenly tossed around or thrown         to the ground by a heartless and powerful enemy.

-        Rick Crandall, a pastor, put this way when talking about this: "Jesus saw people led in all the wrong directions by blind guides . . . Jesus saw people without Him, sheep without a shepherd, people with no protection from the powers of hell, people with no protection, and no real direction in life."   

-        

     What did Jesus see? -- In vs. 37, Jesus saw people as a great harvest. A great harvest made up of        men, women and children of every age and nation. People are the most important fruit of the earth, and someone is eventually going to reap this harvest.  A harvest, as Rick Crandall has said, in whilch:

o   People are going to be won either for good or for evil. They are going to live in darkness, or they are going to be brought to the light. They will come to see the greatness of living with God, or they will live under the reign of the devil.

o   People will live out their days in the heights of joy of hope and faith found in Christ, or they will feel discouraged in the depths of despair and frustration. To put it in the barest o   terms, the harvest of mankind is a matter of heaven or hell.  

Mark 8:18, Jesus said: “Do you have eyes but fail to see, . . . “

When Jesus looked at the crowds, He didn’t just see a clamoring group of people who were about to demand even more of His time and energy. He looked beyond the surface and realized they were spiritually depressed and downcast. They had a spiritual hunger, and He offered to satisfy it. When you look out at the world, Uganda, you community, your family — what do you see? Is it people who are you don’t get along with, people who have let you down, people who have not demonstrated love to you,  or is it individuals who have been created in the image of Christ, one who deserved to be loved by you?  Ask the Lord to help you see the world as He sees it.

Prepare For Impact!

In day-to-day life there is a lot of talk about impact. The impact of climate change, the impact of a changing world economy. There is great impact on people and relationships due to violence, drugs, broken families and other poor choices made by both those we do and do not know. It seems every area of life is impacted one way or another by something or someone. What we do and don’t do, what we say and don’t say also impacts the world and those around us.  We need to prepare for impact! 

For the most part we can control the impact we have on others. But there are some things we have no control over. DNA is one of those things we have no control over. Often, people have told Christine and I that our son and daughter, resemble me. It is interesting that within a family, members can look somewhat alike (similar, nose shape, smile, etc.), but yet we each are unique. 

God has given us the opportunity to be a part of his family, as His child. As His child he wants us to look like, to be like him, like his Son.    Scripture says:

Gen 1:27 – “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he 
                       created them; male and female he created them.”

Romans 8:29 – “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to 
                       become like his Son” 

We were created in the image of God, even as Christ was in God’s image. Yes, we are created in His image, but there is more to it.  Author John Piper said: “As we are conformed to the image of Christ, he is made more and more the center of all things.”

Jesus himself is the image of God" (Colossians 1:15–16). Therefore, we are being made into images of the image of the Father.

We are each created by God as a one-of-a-kind in His image and God wants us to live in His image, to live in the image of Christ. Living in His image is reflected in the work of our hands, in our hearts, in our attitudes and our actions. Everything we do is out of being in His image and is to be done with His love.  This only happens after a heart transformation. 

Jesus is our example. On the night before He went to the cross, Jesus washed His disciples' feet.

In John 13 we read Jesus sat down and said:

^{12  “}Do you know what I have done to you?

¹³  You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

¹⁴  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to 
          wash one another's feet.

¹⁵  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."

 Further down we read:

³⁴. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have 
           loved you, that you also love one another.

³⁵. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.''

In verse 15 Jesus said “I have given you an example,” Living in the image of Christ who is living in the image of God:

• God wants us to do what Jesus did.
• God wants us to love like Jesus loved.
• God wants us to live like Jesus lived.
• God wants us to impact others by doing, loving and living as Jesus did.

Over the next several posts I would like to explore how we can live our lives with greater impact for Christ by following His example.

Jeff 

First Fruit

We moved to Uganda late in 2012. In February of 2013 we planted two starts of lemon trees. We asked, “How long does it take for lemon trees to bear fruit?” The answer we received was, “Usually 4-5 years here.”

That sounded about like forever then. However, we were delighted to discover in the spring months of 2017 that our lemon trees were blooming. “Don’t get too excited,” we told ourselves. “The trees may just bloom this first year and not yield any real fruit. But just imagine NEXT year!”  Yumm, we could almost taste the lemon!

We know that often the first fruits are not the best. It can be a scraggly beginning for some fruit bearing branches. Fruit-bearing can start off looking quite impressive only to yield little-to-none. We have just enough gardening experience to breed caution in us when it comes to the beginning.

BUT! We are experiencing an AMAZING crop of lemons this year. One tree had over 30 lemons and we are enjoying using them. We have made lemon tea, had fresh lemon slices in cool water, baked lemon cakes and muffins and bread. We have shared lemons with others. What a wonderful first year of bearing fruit for that tree! The other tree does not get as much sun and has put forth fewer lemons, but that tree is blooming again now, so who knows how many more it might produce?

We enjoyed harvesting the first lemons. The two gentlemen who have carefully raised the trees with us celebrated the harvest of our first fruits. 

I soon realized that to make the fruit useful, it has to be changed. To use a lemon, we wash it clean and then we either abrasively grate it or we cut it. After cutting it we may continue cutting it into pieces or we may aggressively squeeze it until all the juice is out. To use a lemon, we never leave it the way it came to us off the tree. But oh, we have been delighted in using our first fruits.

We have been thinking a lot about first fruit. We are about to complete our first term (two years) in the position of Country Director of WGM in Uganda. We feel like first fruit times. We had our scraggly spots through the term. We were cautious about the beginning.

Now we feel like lemons off the tree. God cleansed us. We have been abrasively grated. God has done refining work in us, peeling off some layers that we might be a more pleasing aroma to those around us.

God has done some cutting, too. And have been squeezed! We confess not everything that came out was sweet; some was undoubtedly sour. God did not leave us the way we came into this term. He has not left us unchanged. Even so, we have felt His delight in using us. We believe God is using the ingredients in us to make something good, and the seeds harvested from us to bear more fruit for His Kingdom. We offer it all up to Him in worship. (In some ways, it is kind of special to be first fruits J)

With a grateful heart,

Christine

Happy Mother's Day!

It was beautiful, it was hard work and I was a hot mess at times. Tuesday afternoon was the Mothers’ Day celebration at Jangu Omulise, a ministry of Uniquely Woven with Doors Ministry. Women began arriving as soon as the door to the open air community meeting room was unlocked. By the time the gate was closed there were somewhere between 150-200 mamas crowded in, sitting closely together on benches, chair and mats on the floor. It was beautiful!

But serving that many women is hard work. Many volunteers showed up, including myself, willing to help however needed. We counted the gift bags to be sure we had enough. Re-useable sanitary pads were packed into the gift bags. A kilogram of rice was then added to each bag. Benches were unstacked and set up in the meeting room. Chairs were placed and mats unfolded. Tables were arranged and speaker plugged in. Excitement mounted. “Happy Mothers’ Day” was spoken often.

Women were individually greeted and welcomed. Blood pressures were checked. Food was prepared and carried in. Smiles and handshakes were shared. Laughter flowed and grace abounded. Praises rang out and worship carried our hearts far above that community meeting room. God’s Word was opened to us all and the Holy Spirit moved. Hands were raised and prayers were offered. Salvation was received and burdens were lifted. It was beautiful and I was a hot mess. The Spirit of God was upon us. 

 We demonstrated the use and care of the reusable sanitary pads. They smiled and cheered when they heard of their personal gifts. They raised their voices and said, “Thank you!” to the women in America who honored mothers in their lives by giving so these mamas could have this help. It was beautiful (and a little funny as we demonstrated use of the pads---they kept glancing over to the male volunteers).

Songs were sung and dancing broke out. Food was served and fellowship shared. Sodas were taken and gratitude flowed. Gift bags were handed out and farewells spoken. It was hard work. It was beautiful. And I was a hot mess at times. Happy Mothers’ Day!

Christine

Broken and Thrilled

My heart is broken. My soul is thrilled. My heart rejoices. My soul feels crushed. All of this happens every Tuesday afternoon as I gather with other volunteers and women in this community. While women come I assess blood pressures, answer questions mamas ask about their pregnancy or other health concerns, hand out Mama Kits, greet their young children and I pray. During the meeting we offer praise and worship, we share God’s Word together and we pray.

 Looking at their surroundings it could be assumed the women gathering here have nothing. But when I am with these dear ones, my heart is broken and my soul is thrilled. My heart rejoices even as my soul feels crushed. And just when I think I have seen it all, THIS HAPPENED on Tuesday…

As the opening announcements were being given  and ladies straggled into the gathering, one very pregnant mama stopped to talk to the leader. In turn, the leader shared with me that one of the mamas who comes regularly gave birth within the last 48 hours. All was well with the mom and babe until about 24 hours later when the mom wasn’t doing so well. She was transferred to a hospital.

The leader reported she had just been told that mom has nothing with her in the hospital. Her husband is in prison. She has no baby clothes. She has no food for herself and no money to use to meet any of their needs. This is not an uncommon scenario for these women. The leader said the mama who told her of this dire situation wanted to know if they could ask the women gathered to contribute to help the mama in the hospital. I agreed with the leader, “Yes! Let’s give these mamas a chance to be blessed through giving.”

The announcement was made. The ladies stood and prayed together for the mama in the hospital and for her tiny newborn. They prayed earnestly, with sincerity, asking God to intervene and meet that mama, one of their own. My heart was broken but my soul was thrilled! I could almost feel the breath of the Holy Spirit.

And then, they put what they had into the offering cup. 

They gave, and not just a little. These precious women collected nearly 40,000 Ugandan shillings (just over the equivalent of U.S. $10)! Amazing! My heart rejoiced in their generosity even as my soul felt crushed with the weight of what they would be going without in their own homes in order to help give life to the mama and newborn in the hospital. I could almost hear the angels rejoicing.

On Tuesday afternoons my heart is broken. My soul is thrilled. My heart rejoices. My soul feels crushed. And I can hardly wait until Tuesday comes again.

Christine

A dream come true

Last week I renewed my nursing license. We drove across the city to the office of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council. On the way I reminisced through my childhood dream, my dream of being a nurse one day. I wanted to help people.

Oregon License

June of 1981 my dream became a reality. I graduated from nursing school. November of the same year I received my official registration (RN) from the Oregon State Board of Nursing. Hooray! I worked as a hospital nurse for nine years in Oregon, learning much and helping many people. Through nursing I connected people to Jesus. I loved my work.

Kenyan License

 Little did I know that ten years later I would become a KRN; a registered nurse in Kenya. My dream multiplied. I was Christine Stanfield, RN, KRN. My avenue for helping people multiplied as well. Oh, how I loved teaching nursing students, in Tenwek School of Nursing, how to help people. My students helped more people than I ever could as just one nurse. They connected many people to Jesus. I loved my work.

Ugandan License

Imagine my surprise when 21 years later God invited Jeff and me to join Him in what He is doing in Uganda. We moved to Kampala, the capital city, in 2012. For the first year I observed and I listened. I learned much. Then my dream multiplied again. I went through the process to be registered as a nurse in Uganda. Now I am Christine Stanfield, RN, KRN, URN (Uganda Registered Nurse). I don’t work in a hospital and I don’t teach in a nursing school. I still help the people God brings my way.

At a Sports Tournament

Sometimes they come to my door. Sometimes I go to where they are playing sports. Once in a while I give advice on medication dosages or clarify medical reports for people unpracticed in reading the medical language. I teach community health lessons, helping people know how to help themselves and others. I take blood pressures and pray with pregnant women as I hand out a maternity delivery kit, called a Mama Kit. I have many opportunities to give spiritual care, connecting people to Jesus. I help people. I love my work.

I had a dream and God multiplied it. I am a nurse. I help people, connecting them to Jesus. I love my work.

What is your dream? Are you willing to let God multiply it?
                     
                                             Christine

Too Much!

Recently, I was in a long line of people, all of us waiting our turn. I watched people, some seeming to carry heavy burdens by the way they moved and interacted with others. Snatches of conversations overheard were filled with unkind words. I thought of many things I had recently heard and seen. I felt the weight…

Then, completely unbidden, my eyes began to leak. My heart felt too heavy for breath to come and I thought my knees would buckle. I cried out in my spirit, “O God! The weight of sin is too much. The burden of sin is too much, too much to ask of us to see the sin of others and feel its weight. O

God, help me!”

And it was almost as if Jesus Himself spoke in an audible voice within me, “My daughter. I am come. I already bore the sin of all mankind that you might know freedom and never have to carry that weight. I am the Savior of the world and I am come. I am here.”

Immediately, my spirit cried out in deep gratitude, tears flowing as I soaked in the joy of knowing my Savior, of having Him here, of His being with me. My heart cried out with Mary, mother of Jesus, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…for The Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name!” (Luke 1:46, 47, 49-NASB)

I felt released from the weight as suddenly as I had felt it come. I remembered the words of Zacharias as he prophesied over his newborn son, “To grant to us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.” (Luke 1:74-75-NASB)

I reached my turn of being served, then turned to walk away. It was SUCH A RELIEF, realizing all over again that I need a savior, and He is come! He is present. With me. Always. I have not to carry the burden of sin. I have Him to offer instead.

I still am broken by Love Himself. I still feel the heaviness of sorrow over sin. I still cry with those who cry out for help in their brokenness and/or sin. But I don’t carry the weight. Instead, I offer Jesus. Not some platitude, not some shadow of someone yet to come, but the Real One. Jesus is here. Now. Actively present, He is.

It isn’t heavy. It is a privilege, “to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…” (Luke 1:77-78a-NASB)  I am not John the Baptist, but like him, I have the privilege of offering Jesus to others, serving Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all my days.

Christine

Remembering, with Gratitude in My Heart

 Today I cut up a mango. Three of them, actually. And as I did so, I remembered this conversation.

“You live in Africa. Please, tell me the perfect way to cut a mango.” (Said with a friendly smile.)

“Well, I don’t know if there is a perfect way. I just cut them like this because it works for me.” (Laughing.)

“Yes, well, I guess there really isn’t a perfect way for much of anything, is there? Not much perfection this side of heaven.” (Said with a slight sigh as she watched me cut the mango.)

“So true. But one day we will know perfection and it will likely astound us.”

Janette Stoltzfus and daughter Melissa

The friend with whom I shared this conversation, the one looking to find the perfect way to cut up a mango, left for heaven a year ago. She knows perfection. I have no doubt she was initially astounded.

But then again, I doubt she was all that astonished. At least not for long. I mean, I doubt she experienced culture shock in any great degree. She had been practicing the culture of heaven for as long as I have known her, which was not nearly long enough.

My friend, she gave. And gave. And gave some more. And actually she is still giving, for through her generosity others learned to give and as generosity became her culture so it continues in her family and friends and through her community-at-large. She is still somehow giving us all so much.

She loved. And loved. And loved some more. She is still loving, actually, through all she taught her family and her friends, loving in how she established the culture of her home and her life. Yes, she still loves. Love never stops. It just keeps on giving, keeps on living.

She worshiped God. A lot. She worshiped our God and Savior as naturally as she welcomed people into her home. She led us in worship. She showed us living is an act of worship to the God who made us, who died for us, the very one who created heaven for us. She trusted God and served Him with her whole being. I find great joy in knowing she is still worshiping God, wholly and truly and without any hindrance or distraction. I feel eager to do the same one day, where she is, with her, smiling together as we worship our God.

She prayed as she was taught, “Your kingdom come and Your will be done here as it is in heaven.” I heard her. We wept and prayed it together; around the table in her home in Oregon, around the table in our home in Kenya, at church….she prayed, praising God for His faithfulness. And God answered, by the way. His Kingdom is at hand. My friend lived there even as she is now living there.

And so, having lived in the Kingdom of God for most of her life, I know my friend may have been astounded at the first glance of perfection, but then I presume she recognized the Kingdom right away and felt quite at home. I have no doubt it was but a moment before she turned and smiled, ready to welcome the next one in.

I cut a mango today. Three of them, actually. And I dripped a tear or two as I remembered my friend, grateful for her in my life. I remain grateful Janette is still giving and loving and worshiping and praising.

Christine

A Season of Flurries

We are in a season of flurries. Flurries of activity are frequent, almost constant some days. This season is marked by lots of people coming and going; travel, trips to the airport, arrangements to be made, and lots of, “hurry-up—let’s-go!” We have the privilege of welcoming people into Uganda, showing people the ministries in which WGM Uganda missionaries serve, hearing testimonies of transformation in lives and communities and hearing how people are being served.

Some days this season is very tiring. Some days we hear heart-breaking stories. Some days the flurry requires traipsing through the mud. Some days, it doesn’t even matter and we don’t even notice the fatigue and our hearts rejoice and we don’t even see the mud.

Worship during Masese AGC service

After a traffic-hassled trip from Kampala to Jinja and a restless night in a noisy town, we experienced our Living God in the worship service at Masese AGC. The music was beautiful, the children adorable, God’s Word was inspiring and the Holy Spirit moved among us. People chose to go deep with Christ, leaving behind the comfort of shore and the safety of shallow commitment. What a joy to pray with them. And joy flowed again as three young people prayed in repentance of sin and acceptance of Christ’s free gift of salvation. We rejoiced with the angels in heaven!

    

Overlooking the Nile River

Before the next flurry we had a bit of Sabbath rest as we paused on the shore of the great River Nile. 

Streams in the path

Tuesday evening it rained, hard. Large drops pelted down, creating streams of flowing water where just a couple of weeks ago the dry and dusty path felt crunchy beneath our feet. Today, the rain eventually slowed and mamas carefully made their way through the mud and filth to hear God’s Word taught in truth and to pray. Missionary mamas joined in, interceding and asking for Truth to be revealed and for Living Water to flow and cleanse. Women found hope in Jesus and a new freedom in His cleansing.

This is a season of flurries, and all of heaven is rejoicing!

Reflecting in Gratitude

August 10, 2015, a date etched in my mind. The day of my open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement and repair/replacement of the ascending aortic aneurysm. The first day on my road to recovery from a failing valve and growing aneurysm. I can’t believe it is already August 10 again!

As I reflect on the past 13 months, memories of preparation for surgery, going through surgery, learning to live with limited movement for several weeks, regaining strength, healing from pericarditis and cardiac rehabilitation work all swirl through my mind. And overriding it is the

realization, “All is well.”

My brief time in the hospital for surgery and four nights after surgery was filled with learning…

day 2 post op

how to control nausea caused by the drugs, how to move correctly, how to manage pain, how to rest when I needed it and how to use my "best friend", a heart shaped pillow, which was a necessity for movement in the early days following surgery.

My early days at home were filled with wonder that I could be THAT tired so easily, that I needed to rest THAT much and that I was prayed for by THAT many people. The words of encouragement and assurance of prayer poured in from around the world. Our WGM family, African friends and many others assured us they were traveling the road of recovery with us. Christine and I were strengthened and encouraged.

The onset of fever was an enigma to many, but perseverance in pursuing the cause led to proper treatment for pericarditis, a common occurrence following heart surgery. The right drug brought rapid relief. I was able to work hard in my cardiac rehabilitation classes and my recovery continued on a steady course from there onward.

3 mos post op 

Four months after surgery Christine and I boarded the plane to carry us home to Uganda. We arrived in Kampala December 31, an hour or so before midnight. On our way home from the airport, just as we crested the hill into Kampala, the clock struck midnight and the fireworks went off all over the city. We could see them all around as. Our hearts exclaimed, “All of Kampala is celebrating God’s faithfulness with us, His goodness to see us home to Kampala!”

We continue to proclaim God’s faithfulness. Surely, the Living God is among us! We rejoice in His provision for our return. His healing touch restored me fully. All is well.

Today, August 10, 2016, Christine and I are taking the day as Sabbath rest. Time to reflect, time to praise our God, time to rejoice in God’s faithfulness. We are remembering His provision through His people. Prayer, meals, words of encouragement, cards, text messages, hugs (very gently at first), housing, help at every turn. The Body of Christ ministered to us. All is well.

I am fine. I have no restrictions. I feel good. I play basketball for a couple of hours once a week. I completed my first run/walk 5K. I have no problem walking the hills of Kampala, Uganda. I work hard and I play hard. I am fine. All is well. And I am forever grateful.

Jeff