Wow, what a day! Your team met for breakfast at our hotel in Soroti, gathered for our morning devotional (today led by Karen and focused on the opportunity and importance of witnessing), and then departed for church services quite close to the hotel. And what a beautiful church! Spectacular landscaping, a finished cement floor, additional buildings and the sound of close to 200 voices singing. They greeted us warmly and we sat on the front row.
Soon we separated for our separate duties. The women met in the pastor’s home (on premises) and Mama Ida led the discussion. She spoke about the 4 types of testimony: What our neighbors say about us? What we say about our selves? What God says about us? What Satan says about us? Debbie, Ewena, Karen and Vickie are still raving about the lesson.
Becca and Michael took the children into the Parish Hall for what must have been a fun-filled hour. Becca estimated about 120 kids, infants through age 15. These kids, in the opinion of our team, are well-schooled and asked great questions. The Adam and Eve puppets, the globe, songs and hand actions and a parachute augmented the lessons. It was so fun to watch the children rush to hug Becca and Michael when we left the church; clearly, both our team and the children made an impression on each other.
The men remained in the church and Lee, Phil and Greg led a lesson focused on Proverbs and how we act. The men, both our team and the local men, agreed that regardless of nationality, race or age, ‘men are men’. Imagine the challenge of giving marital advise to Uganda men you’ve just met! A bond was struck and the sincerity of their thanks to us confirmed that God was in control and our words made an impact.
All returned to church and the service began with the choir singing and about 25 children dancing. For quite awhile. No, for a long time. Seriously, singing and dancing for about 40 minutes! The faces and the voices of these children will last forever in our minds.
Presentations and prayers led to the day’s sermon, delivered by ‘Father’ Doug. His discussions from Mathew 7, ending with the Golden Rule, were both well-delivered as well as well-received. We are excited to see Doug’s new career as a man of the cloth unfold.
We’ve returned to the hotel and are mindful that as we sit here, separating medicines, toothpaste and tooth brushes, you our church family have gathered for church services in Katy. (Becca sent a text message to Alex, just to see if he’d respond, and we’re so happy to note that he DOESN’T monitor his cell phone during the service!). We miss you but feel your prayers supporting us as we begin our week. Tomorrow begins our medical mission, 2 days at the church we attended today, and we’re ready for the long days ahead. It’s rainy season here, a storm approaching as I type.
Finally, a comment on the team. Three ‘newbies’ here now with another arriving tomorrow, 4 people over the age of 70, staff, vestry, congregation members, introverts and extroverts, but hand-picked by God and bound together in excitement and commitment. We’ve already had tears, matched by laughter, praise and concern, plenty of African tea, licorice and snack bars, swarms of mosquitoes and the biggest beetle you’ve ever seen! There’s fun and love here; we hope Uganda is ready for us.
Yeah God!!
Lee Stranathan
Soon we separated for our separate duties. The women met in the pastor’s home (on premises) and Mama Ida led the discussion. She spoke about the 4 types of testimony: What our neighbors say about us? What we say about our selves? What God says about us? What Satan says about us? Debbie, Ewena, Karen and Vickie are still raving about the lesson.
Becca and Michael took the children into the Parish Hall for what must have been a fun-filled hour. Becca estimated about 120 kids, infants through age 15. These kids, in the opinion of our team, are well-schooled and asked great questions. The Adam and Eve puppets, the globe, songs and hand actions and a parachute augmented the lessons. It was so fun to watch the children rush to hug Becca and Michael when we left the church; clearly, both our team and the children made an impression on each other.
The men remained in the church and Lee, Phil and Greg led a lesson focused on Proverbs and how we act. The men, both our team and the local men, agreed that regardless of nationality, race or age, ‘men are men’. Imagine the challenge of giving marital advise to Uganda men you’ve just met! A bond was struck and the sincerity of their thanks to us confirmed that God was in control and our words made an impact.
All returned to church and the service began with the choir singing and about 25 children dancing. For quite awhile. No, for a long time. Seriously, singing and dancing for about 40 minutes! The faces and the voices of these children will last forever in our minds.
Presentations and prayers led to the day’s sermon, delivered by ‘Father’ Doug. His discussions from Mathew 7, ending with the Golden Rule, were both well-delivered as well as well-received. We are excited to see Doug’s new career as a man of the cloth unfold.
We’ve returned to the hotel and are mindful that as we sit here, separating medicines, toothpaste and tooth brushes, you our church family have gathered for church services in Katy. (Becca sent a text message to Alex, just to see if he’d respond, and we’re so happy to note that he DOESN’T monitor his cell phone during the service!). We miss you but feel your prayers supporting us as we begin our week. Tomorrow begins our medical mission, 2 days at the church we attended today, and we’re ready for the long days ahead. It’s rainy season here, a storm approaching as I type.
Finally, a comment on the team. Three ‘newbies’ here now with another arriving tomorrow, 4 people over the age of 70, staff, vestry, congregation members, introverts and extroverts, but hand-picked by God and bound together in excitement and commitment. We’ve already had tears, matched by laughter, praise and concern, plenty of African tea, licorice and snack bars, swarms of mosquitoes and the biggest beetle you’ve ever seen! There’s fun and love here; we hope Uganda is ready for us.
Yeah God!!
Lee Stranathan
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