September 21, 2012

Hello everybody,

It is amazing how quickly time goes by. The last post was on the 7th,  two weeks ago. It just does not seem like that much time has gone by. It has been a very full two weeks, which also included a rest we had anticipated, but did not know how much we needed until we had it. More about that later. Life here is full, both from the standpoint of managing Matoke Inn, which is a privilege and a blessing, but also in ministry to those God brings into our lives.

Life at the Inn is never dull and is always full of new faces and stories of how God is working in the lives of others. The other night we heard the story of from a young Ugandan man who told how he was headed down the wrong path. He was no longer in school as he had not paid his school fees. He was making poor choices and his life was headed nowhere. He implied it was headed to disaster. He told us of how he was introduced to one of our guests who is an eye surgeon and has spent most of his life living in Uganda. He told how this doctor, took him in, cared for him, paying his school fees, and giving him opportunity to succeed. He told of how God used this man to change his life. He is now the head surgical nurse for this doctor, who is now in his 70's, and still spends most of his time traveling the country doing eye surgeries! The incredible thing is, this young man's story is but one of many. There was another Ugandan man who came to visit who is now nurse in Kampala. His surgical team is made up of young men he has taken in and trained or sponsered through school. One of his team members is the son of a man he helped many years ago! What was a real blessing, was that no credit was given to anybody, other then their willingness to be obedient. All glory went to God for the work He is doing and has done!

God is at work in Africa and we have the privilege of hearing first hand from some of His servants what He is doing. With that in mind, we would ask that you keep the new country of South Sudan in your prayers. We have had several missionaries through Matoke from South Sudan. Without exception each of them has suffered many setbacks and challenges we have not seen shared by missionaries from other regions. These are missionaries from various mission organizations, so it seems across the board. We don't know if this is true of all missionaries in South Sudan, but it certainly is of those we have met here at Matoke. The enemy is trying to snuff out God's light, yet those we see here are choosing obedience rather then comfort or ease. They are coming for supplies, medical attention, or for a needed rest coupled with their primary reason for being at Matoke. But without exception they are returning to South Sudan, regardless of the difficulties they have experienced. Please keep them in you prayers how ever the Spirit leads you.

It really strikes me, as I wrote about dying to self on the last post, walking through the doors here at Matoke is person after person who have died to comfort, died to knowing the future, died to security. Their desire is to live for Christ. They have the same same struggles you and I would in the same circumstances, yet they choose obedience.

For Ingrid and I, it is a blessing to have a small part in their ministry by listening and praying and making their stay at Matoke a time of refreshing. We also continue to have bible studies with the staff here at Matoke and share life with them.

As I said in the beginning we had a break we knew was coming, but did not realize how much we needed it. The AIM central region leaders, offered to stay in Matoke and look after it for the weekend while we got away. They recommended a "resort" in Entebbe on the shore of Lake Victoria. It was a wonderful time! To begin with, we kept thinking of the Inn and what needed to be done. It was difficult to separate ourselves from Matoke. That was Friday afternoon - evening, day one. By the time day two rolled around, Saturday, we realized how much Matoke Inn was consuming us and we were able to relax and let it go. When day three, Sunday, came we really just wanted to stay! Such a change from day one. We even went to the zoo before we returned. Here are some pictures of the wildlife at the resort as well as a local fishing boat.

A flock of guinea fowl










Local Fisherman

A Hornbill (of some kind)

We have no idea what kind of
bird this is but it reminded us of a pterodactyl with it's head.

Fun Loving Ingrid (not native to Uganda, but very much at home here :-)

We very much appreciate the contacts we get from various ones of you. We even received a treasure, a book and our weekly handout from church at FCC, via the kindness of Elwin Alexander.  We received notice of this and had a new adventure going to the Kampala Central Post Office, to collect it. They do not deliver mail:) 

Our prayer request would be that we keep our eyes focused on Jesus the One Who called us here; that we would have hearts tender to yield and surrender to His will moment by moment each day as we live for HIM who made us and each day.

That's all for now...

Love,

Lyle and Ingrid

September 8, 2012

There Is No Other Way

His thoughts said, "Is there no other way of learning how to help another but by the way of suffering?"

His Father said, "Had there been another way, would I not have found it for the Son of My love, whom no thorn of pain had ever pierced, who was tender as a child to the touch? If it became Me in bringing many sons to glory to lead the Captain of their salvation by that way, would you win souls without a pang? Settle it once for all; there is no other way."

Something I have been looking at this past couple of weeks has been what it means to die to oneself. I really appreciated what was written by Amy Carmichael, "There Is No Other Way", from one of her books, "His Thoughts Said; His Father Said".  Our salvation was secured when Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, laid down His life, willingly, to purchase us by His blood. As we desire to be used by Him, why would we think it would be any easier? 

Philippians 2:3 & 4 says, "Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and what they are doing" (NLT). The NIV puts verse 2 a little differently, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." These verses really drive home for me the relational ministry of Jesus. There was NO pride, arrogance, or self-centeredness. He is the second part of the Godhead and equal to God in all respects. He was God in flesh, who came and laid down all His rights because He loved His Father and mankind more than Himself.

The last verse that the Lord has laid on my heart has been Romans 1:1, "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God" (NIV). Frankly I have not made it past, "Paul, a servant". I really began looking at the word servant in this passage. Many versions of the Bible will translate the word servant as bondservant or slave. I have heard the explanation many times in the past of a bondservant. One who willingly chooses to be a slave once his mandatory time of servitude is over, because of his love for his master; and how a dowel is driven through his ear to signify that he is no longer his own. While this is very true of a bondservant, it is not true of a slave. A slave is one who is bought at market for a price. As I was researching this verse I found that in this passage, Paul is not referring to himself as a bondservant, but rather as a slave. Meaning he was bought with a price. Paul is saying he is no longer free. He can no longer do what he pleases. He is to do the will of the One who bought him. This concept is illustrated in several other passages. The same Greek word for bought, agorazō, is used in the following verses, although various translations may use a different English word.

Revelation 5:9 - "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book and to open its seals; because You were slain, and with Your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'"

1Corinthians 6:20 - "For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

1Corinthians 7:23 - "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men."

So, going back to my original question, "What does it mean or look like to die to myself?" There is much in these verses to comment about, but what has stuck to me the most was the attitude of Paul. He has put his life into the proper perspective. He saw who he was; a slave. Not a slave to his own desires, but rather someone whose very life and existence was bought by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. His will was no longer his own. This is the same mindset Jesus modeled while on earth. He did the will of His Father, not his own. It is in dying to myself, and only living to do the will of my Father, that I will truly be able to love others more then myself. I know this concept intellectually, but my desire is to truly live it; not just as something I do, but rather a representation of who I am – not my own.

It sure seems as I have pondering these thoughts and praying about them, I fail to live them, and the giving in to selfishness occurs way to easily. Please pray that I “live it.” After all, "there is no other way of learning how to help another, but by the way of suffering."

This is a precious little boy, his name is Tom and 9 months ago he not only wouldn't have cuddled with me, but would have tried to beat me up.  Through many prayers and one faithful woman's surrender to God's love for Tom--her name is Auntie Rose--he now is in his right mind, and acts like a little boy and loves to be held and loved.  His only word is mama, which he says frequently when looking up from your arms.  Please pray for him to continue transforming and for a bright future through our Lord Jesus' power.

 While in Jinja, I had the privilege of meeting Paster Peter and his wife Presxasis.

This is Auntie Elizabeth at Good Shepherd Fold, she taught me how to cut and peel matoke and cook it.  Here I am eating it with a wonderful chili sauce.  A bowl of delicious greens are on my knees.  She also taught me how to weave mats, like to red and white one behind her.  Please pray for her and all the Aunties at GSF, they have been given great responsibility with God's treasures, orphaned children.

Lyle's birthday, he shared it with the young lady Ruby on the left.  He let her blow out her 7 candles instead of his "many" candles.  Baifa, the cake maker and Ruby's mum and sisters are in the picture as well as a man from Canada who works with us at AIM central.

  

Lyle and I were able to meet up with a young woman we had become acquainted with while here last year.  She had a baby girl May 10th and named her Zoe Ingrid.  I got to have some baby time while we chatted which I loved.

Love,

Lyle and Ingrid

August 25, 2012

Hello Everybody,

Well I don't know how it happened, but we somehow lost a blog entry. Ingrid had made a post on the 14th of August and there had been a post on the 12th. In that post she had asked for prayer. If any of you missed the post on the 12th you probably wondered what she was referring to when she made her 14th post. Wow, that sounds confusing, but at least, if anyone was wondering, you now know. 

One of the things that disappeared was the photos of our first venture driving on the left side of the road. It was great fun and we got to share the road with a herd of cattle. What these pictures do not show is the sign saying, "No Cattle on Road, 50,000 Shilling fine".

I am figuring out how to do pictures so we thought we would include some this time!

Here is a visitor we had the other day.....

Evidently this guy (or is it a girl?), or at least other ones like it, are semi-regular visitors. This is the second time we have seen a monkey, but evidently they are responsible for commando raids on the fruit trees and vegetable gardens! The staff do not view them as welcome guests, even though we really like seeing them!

We had the day off, so we went for a walk to the grocery store. Our path took us across the field that has many cows grazing in it, or at least when they are not in the road. Today there were some, but none in these pictures. The shot of Ingrid is towards the store and the shot of me is going back towards the place we live.

This last picture is of a plant that has some very tiny, yet beautiful flowers. However, like so many things here, you don't touch. They are to be enjoyed with the eyes only!! Take a look at those thorns. You can't tell, but I think they were about 3/4 of an inch long.

Enough of the sight-seeing. Here is a word from Ingrid...

Adjust

I looked up synonyms for this word “adjust,” and found two that seem very fitting for where I am right now here in Uganda, The words were BEND and CHANGE.  I want to share a few of the ways God is bending me and answering my prayers that I continue to grow and change.

·      I have had my first opportunity to drive, shifting gears with my left hand, driving on the left side of the road and remembering when turning to keep to the left, my hardest challengeJ. 

·      I have gone through six days of language learning by listening and speaking without seeing or writing the words I am to speak.  We have been sent into villages to dialogue with people with the few words we have learned.  It was very intimidating the first day as all I knew how to repeat was Good Morning.  As I got out and greeted my first Ugandan, I looked at her and the sounds and everything connected to it went right out of my brain.  I stood there holding her hand, with a big blank look on my face and her wondering what had happened to the muzungu??  I explained that I was trying to learn Luganda and forgot how to say Good Morning.  She kindly said it for me and helped me to respond appropriately.  By my third day with several more words learned, the villagers not only were happy to greet me, but were very happy that I was continuing to learn words and practice what little I knew.  Lyle and I were invited back into one woman’s home behind her vegetable kiosk.  Her name is Anna and her 12 year old daughter Immaculate had asked me to promise to come back.  When we sat down, Anna asked us to take Immaculate, which Immaculate responded to with a look of sadness crossing over her face.  Anna explained that Immaculate’s father had left them when Anna was pregnant and went back to Kenya and never returned.  The Holy Spirit prompted me to direct my comments to Immaculate and share with her that she has a heavenly Father who loves her and will never leave her.  She understood what I was saying and her expression lost it’s sad look.

One of the quirky things with Luganda, as with other languages I here, is that the same word said with the wrong emphasis means something totally different.  Two examples are the word for boy and prostitute has the same letters but one is said with the accent on the first part of the word and the second on the last part of the word.  The other one is the word for water and the word for feces are the same letters, but different accents.   Kind of tricky as I would use both boy and water frequently!!

·      God has been “bending” me to change how I communicate with nationals as well.  In Uganda, I have been cautioned by other foreigners, when I see something that perhaps needs addressing with the staff, I either need to use an intermediary to address this so as not to shame the person being addressed or I phrase my concern as a question for them to chose how to respond to.  This is challenging and I am seeking our Lord as to how much of this is what He wants for honoring this precious people group and how much is just human nature having found a way to wiggle out of responsibility.  Please pray for me for wisdom here.

·      As I become less someone feeling like they are on the outside looking in to a living environment, and more a part of this environment, I am being made more and more aware of the Holy Spirit communicating to me, that all the good taking place is His to be given the praise.  My memory verse for this two week period is Ephesians 2:6—He raised me and I am united with Him, because this was God’s idea and He wanted this for my life.  As I was studying Romans 8:20-30 and Eph. 1:5,11 today, this was really made clear to me, He gets all the glory because Jesus was willing to do what it took for me to be united with Him, (past tense) what a “mind bending” concept.  God’s plan for my salvation was not about me looking attractive on Sundays or being a diligent pew warmer.  He saved me and has left me here on earth to do His kingdom good in a carnal world. He has a mission for every generation to accomplish—all of which has been planned before He created the world—and in His sovereignty, God has chosen to do His work through His people.  If we miss our ministry, we will miss our entire purpose for remaining here on this planet. 

I have two opportunities this week, to BEND and CHANGE.  Monday, Lyle and I get to try to find an electronic store in central Kampala with no street signs or specific directions being able to be given to us.  Taking bodas and taxi’s without being able to specify where to go, ahhhhhh!!! I am glad we go together. 

Second, I have been invited by an AIM missionary, a special ed. Teacher I worked with when we were here in November, to go to Jinja for 4 days to a special needs orphanage to work with children there. As I am starting to feel a little familiar at Matoke, the thought of venturing out into new territory with many opportunity to be stretched further, is challenging for me.  I really prayed when she asked me if I would be willing to go, and I know my Lord said I should go, but I am going with quaking knees.  You might wonder why, there are several reasons; bed bug potentials, high malaria area, and feeling totally inadequate with children with severe disabilities to even make a dent in their needs.  It seems easier not to know first hand, than to know and not be able to supply.  I hope that makes sense.  Oh I do hope you pray for me.

·      I am so grateful to our Lord Jesus for all the people He is allowing in my life.  I sat in central Kampala with a woman my age, who I am growing very fond of, who sat and matter-of-fact, explained when I asked about her mission experience, related one area her husband, and daughter and her served in here in Africa, was bombed while her daughter was taking her exams.  She calmly related how her daughter kept writing answers with the bombs dropping around them.  They did evacuate to a city for a few months, but wanted to go back because of their work with the local church.  The missionary organization said the two could go back but the 13-year-old daughter wouldn’t be allowed back.  They really felt God wanted them back and their daughter was agreeable to go to boarding school in Kenya.  They went back and worked with this people group for 7 more years.  With no electricity, at night they had only one candle they had lit but covered so the rebels wouldn’t see their light and target them again for bombs.  Water they got from a river, etc.  I wish you hear her tell, there is no focus on self, I don’t think she even sees sacrifice in this.  It is just amazing to me, and encouraging to me to continue to let God change what I think is living.  We sit at dinner so far with people from Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Scotland, South Africa, Australia, Kenya, Canada, and the USA.  One woman who has been here for quite a few years uses music with the rescued children from the LRA, Lord’s resistance army, and Lamentations and the Psalms.  She introduced them to Lamentations and with music allows them to verbalize or write their own laments over what they have been forced to do to others, or what has been done to them.  She then helps them to understand David’s Psalms and his cries to the Lord God for mercy and healing and praise in God’s loving responses.  She is able to help them to understand and receive the promises in Isaiah 61, which came to pass in our Lord Jesus, that He comforts the brokenhearted, proclaims release to the captive and freedom for prisoners of spiritual bondage.  Beauty for ashes, a blessing instead of mourning. Oh please pray for these precious ones whose childhoods and young adulthood has been destroyed by darkness, with even families not wanting these children back because of their damaged states.  Pray for this woman, Wendy is her first name, as she introduces the Great Physician to them, for nothing is too great for Him.

I really appreciate the comments we have received.  Thanks a lot, you are in our prayers as well.  Love Ingrid

August 14, 2012

Hello, I wanted to update my state of being as I had asked for prayer regarding my venture into Kampala solo to the Owino Market. I was really scared of going, but I had  asked the Lord if I should go and I felt Him say "yes, I know you are scared but do My will anyway." I was even more so this morning when I told Flavia what I was doing and she was shocked. She didn't think Baifa would find me in the Owino market, so she suggested I get off sooner and ask someone on the bus to help me find where to get off, then call Baifa and have her meet me. Keep in mind we are advised not to use our phone because of the potential of people stealing them out of your hand!

I got the boda fine but getting the taxi apparently is difficult on Mondays. I was waiting for the taxi with a young Ugandan man who said hello. He was at "the spot" as there are no designated transit stations here. He shared with me this news that it would be difficult because it was a Monday. 

One finally pulled up after many totally full drove by, this one only had one spot on the taxi and there were now 4 of us. I told the man to get on since he had been there first, he said no please you go. I sat by a young Ugandan lady that would' t talk to me. She was either too shy or maybe she didn't speak English. Then the taxi stopped and I had to get out to let someone off and ended in the back of the van by an older woman who smiled and talked to me. She heard what I needed and said she would help me, when she told me to tell the conductor to stop, and I did, the van went right by my destination. I said to the lady "oh he's not stopping." She said "here you must be patient, he will stop" and he did:))) 
I called Baifa and she saw me, the lone muzungu in the crowd! 

I was treated very kindly in the market and learned from my first time to push through the narrow openings in the frantic activity. As I followed Baifa, I slipped on the gutter running down the aisle and grabbed whatever I could to stabilize myself, which happened to be a Ugandan man's butt. He grabbed my hand thinking I was picking his pocket; whipped around as I was apologizing and then grabbed me and pulled me into the market stall and saved me from being whacked in the head by a man with huge wooden boxes barreling through. We had a laugh and I trotted after Baifa. 

Please keep Flavia in your prayers, her brother has been missing for three days now.  He was going from their sister's home to their mother's on his university break. The first day he was missing his phone would ring with no answer and now it doesnt ring. She has gone to hospitals and police stations to look for him, without success.

The missionaries with AIM have been very kind to us. We have been to three homes for meals so far and we have only been here two weeks.  We are very much appreciating the kindnesses.  We may not be able to see you but you all are very much in our thoughts and hearts.  For those who did pray for me thanks!! Our God is very good, and I am so glad I obeyed Him and went to the market:)

August 4th, 2012

Hello everyone,

Well it has been a few days since I (Lyle) made any entries and we have been here a full week! We have been busy learning our duties. Ingrid and I have been learning two memory verses a month, one the first half of the month and the other the second half. For the 1st half of August the Lord led me to Acts 20:24: "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” As I look at this verse a couple of things come to my mind. The first is that Paul could not make this statement unless it represented who he was, not what he did. We can all try to “do”, but in the end who we are will come out. Think about it, a lazy person might work hard occasionally, but people will still look at this person and think “lazy”. Why, because lazy is who the person it, not something they do. The second thing that came to my mind was the question of whether Acts 20:24 is something I do or who I am. I really desire that this is who I am, but too often I think it is something I do, but it does not have to be. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells me, “that if I am in Christ I am a new creation; the old has gone the new has come” and Romans 12:2 tells me that I am transformed by the renewing of my mind. Please pray that I will let my Lord transform and renew my mind as I draw closer to Him and that Acts 20:24 will become who I am, not what I do.

More on the update side of things – the young lady who was having trouble booking a flight to Southern Sudan with Mission Aviation Fellowship is now in Southern Sudan. The following day she went to MAF with someone who had experience with them. She found out that a reservation had already been made and there had been a miscommunication that on their part that had caused her to believe she did not have a confirmed flight. This just really spoke to me how what might seem hopeless to me, or what might seem really messed is well under God’s control and authority. The key for me is being fixed squarely in the center of God’s will.

Changing topic completely, Ingrid had a close encounter of the reptilian kind and her knight in shinning armor was a dog named Rafiki. Ingrid was on her way from the manager’s house to the guesthouse when she noticed Rafiki was doing something. She was not quite sure what because it was dark, but when Rafiki saw her she spun around and barked at Ingrid. Ingrid told Rafiki to be quiet. Rafiki then turned away from Ingrid and started moving around but was definitely focusing on something. Ingrid then shined her flashlight in front of Rafiki and saw a snake that was moving and following Rafiki’s movement like you would see a cobra do. Well in fact this was a baby cobra. Ingrid kept trying to pull Rafiki away, but Rafiki was intent on keeping between the cobra and Ingrid. Fortunately one of the missionaries staying at the inn called her husband who was able the kill the baby cobra. We really do thank the Lord for His protection. Had Rafiki not been there Ingrid would have most likely stepped on the snake! God uses donkeys, dogs, and yes, He can even use us.

Hello, Ingrid here, my last communication pleaded for prayer as Lyle and I were expected to learn how to use the public transportation system here in Kampala including boda bodas.  The day we were assigned this daunting task was our anniversary, August 2^nd.  We left with the chief cook to experience the market place, and as she briskly walked us down the hill, she headed right toward the boda bodas:(  She hired two, one for her and one for the two of us, so the driver, and Lyle with me sandwiched in between them tore off down the hill to the main road.  As we are tearing along, I turned to Lyle and said “Happy Anniversary, honey.”  He smiled at me and I don’t think ended up with any bugs in his teeth.  That day we road a total of four boda bodas, and two “taxis” which is really public transit vans.  The thing that kept going through my head as we navigated by foot through 4 and 6 lanes of moving traffic as well as on the boda bodas was please don’t kill the muzungo ( white person).

The market was almost overwhelming for all the sensations it impacted: sight, smells, sounds and getting hit over and over by people passing each other on foot paths only wide enough for one person with their feet placed one in front of the other, but like the streets having 3 or more people barging through the same path.  There are no personal bubbles here, people knock you around and don’t seem to even know it. The market was around a couple of acres big with a sea of humanity filling it, vendors and buyers.  Our guide, Biafa, knew what she was doing. She only used certain vendors and they were in the middle of the market!! But she was amazing with skill and wisdom on buying vegetables and fruit, making them take out any that had any marks or bruising, even if they had put these under the good looking ones.  This woman is an amazing woman, and I am praying that God allows us to become close sisters.  She handed us off to a young Ugandan woman named Rhona who showed us central Kampala on foot most of the time.  We had such a good time with her, and the one time I tried to whine about the boda bodas, she shut me down with these words, “you will be fine, so get over it.”  And glory to God she was rightJ.  She went out of her way to help us find rice vinegar, and some shopping items to try to help us have a little familiarity here.

Please pray for us to find God’s wisdom and grace for the staff we are managing.  They are all Ugandan and we see some things that will need to be addressed but our desire is for this to touch them in their souls as a point of godly transformation through loving relationship not boss to employee, as we are all children of our heavenly Father and we really want them to know we are all on a level playing field.

July 31, 2012

Lyle speaking,

Well yesterday was a day of relaxation, in that no duties were scheduled. Today and tomorrow we have orientation. We went grocery shopping yesterday with one of the staff, Godfrey, who is the head grounds keeper. He along with other staff have also shared the duties of Inn Keeper until our arrival. We have much to learn! Godfrey is from Uganda and has a wide and bright smile and an engaging personality, as does his assistant John. I look forward to getting to know both of these men more and learning what God has done in each of their lives.

As I was reminded yesterday to trust the Lord and follow His direction in my life a real life example came to light. A young lady, who is heading to the Sudan, on an "exploratory" mission to seek God's will in her life, was having a very difficult time booking a flight to the Sudan with Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF). So much so she broke down crying and was fearful she would not even be able to make the journey. Ingrid was able to pray with her, encourage her, and direct this to another staff member who in turn directed to yet another staff member who had extensive working experience with MAF. Seeing this along with what the Lord was showing me yesterday really pressed the reminder that all of us, whether long in faith or new believers have times where we can struggle with what God has called us to. It may only be in the details or even on a broader spectrum, but struggles none the less. We all have need of support from other believers. We are part of the same body. It is so interesting how we (me in particular) can go along trusting the Lord and then have a crises of trust and have to be reminded of how faithful our Lord is; and yet He uses our circumstances to teach and mold us more and more into His Image, if we only let Him. Beth Moore said, "We all go through the fire. the question is, will we allow it to refine us?" Dr. Charles Ryrie adds to this thought when he said, "The wisdom of God tells us that God will bring about the best possible results, by the best possible means, for the most possible people , for the longest possible time." In other words, God will never allow or decree anything in my life, or anyone else's, if it is not for their ultimate good - that good being my holiness. Not only does He do it for my good, but He will use it in others lives as well. Pastor Scott Davis from Frenchtown Montana said, "God is more interested in the strength of our faith then the ease of our lives. We want easy, God desires holy".

Another thing we have seen is how many young missionaries there are. One couple, no older than mid-twenties served for two years in South Sudan and is now returning with their new baby. Another young couple with a 10 month old is feeling pressure from family, questioning how they took take their grandchild so far away.

For all of these young people seeking God's will in their lives and their willingness to be obedient to Him and make Him their greatest priority, please pray they choose to serve the Lord, that they hear our Lord's voice, and they choose to following no one else but Him, regardless of the cost. Also, that the Lord give them wisdom beyond their years! This is actually true of any one of us. It matters not where the Lord has called you, the questions are these, are you listening, are you obedient to what you hear, and are you willing to stay the course no matter how rough the sea because our Lord Jesus is worth all He asks of our lives? I am learning more and more to do this in my life.

I am not sure if we will continue making daily entries as the time is near we will no longer be training, but assuming our new position. Pray for us that this transition is smooth and that we beat with God's heart for all we get to serve (Ingrid's input).

Ingrid here:  Thursday is a day I would appreciate your prayers, I am excited and anxious all at the same time.  First thing in the morning I get to accompany Baifa, the chief cook, to the market where she will teach me how to pick out fresh produce and deal with the venders.   I am so grateful for this opportunity as I feel like I am on a different planet when it comes to understanding the ways here.  Then Lyle and I accompany a young Ugandan woman named Rhona, who will introduce us to riding on Boda Boda's the crazy motorcycle taxi that makes up a majority of transportation here. I have not desired to ride on one of these ever, but realize that I need to take this step.  Also we will learn more about how to get around on the public transportation, so this will be very stretching for me.  I am grateful for this venture as well as I lack the courage to learn this on my own. I have such a love already for the staff here and Lyle and I look forward to growing in relationship with them as we get more adept in our positions.

Here is our new address:

African Inland Mission
P.O. Box 4008
Kampala, Uganda

Blessings,

Lyle and Ingrid

July 30, 2012

Hello all, Lyle speaking, 

Well we have finally made it! It is our 1^st morning in Uganda. After 14 hours in the air traveling from Seattle to Dubai, a 13.5 hour layover in Dubai and then 5.5 hours from Dubai to Entebbe we have arrived. This is our first official blog post this trip. It has been quite the journey, not just the travel to this country, but the spiritual journey behind it. There was a time when I did not think I would ever be visiting Uganda, let alone moving there, but God really got a hold of my heart. Before we left someone said to me, “What a sacrifice.”  I replied, “I can’t see myself doing anything else.” My response almost surprised me. It was not thought out, just visceral. Yet, I was grateful the Lord had changed my heart where doing what He has directed me and going where He has sent me, is not a sacrifice, but rather what should be. Even with that my flesh is weak. I woke up this morning and said to myself, “What have I done!” The battle with my flesh will continue, yet by the power of the Holy Spirit, it and the enemy are defeated. As I reflect on this I am reminded that our Lord did not promise an easy life as we obey Him, but He did promise an abundant life. He did not promise that I would be happy all the time, as the world defines happiness, but He did promise a peace that passes understanding. My part is obedience, surrender, and trust. Will I ever do this 100% of the time? No. Yet it is my goal. Not from a place of works, but because of relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ. My heart’s desire is to please Him. A righteous man may stumble and fall, but he will get up again. Ps 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” I can’t delight in the Lord and have desires that are contrary to His will. If my desires are contrary to His will then I am delighting in myself, not Him. I must guard my heart and always move closer to Him. Ps 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk up rightly.” Again, my part is obedience, to “walk uprightly,” He does the rest. A.W. Tozer said, “The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open frank and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes Holy pleasure in the happiness of His people.”

The prior posts you will see in this blog were from our 1st trip to Uganda last year. We had been sending emails on a regular basis, so I took them and posted them into the blog. It was that trip where God really solidified His calling for me to Uganda. That was in November of 2011and here we are a little over 8 months later. The Lord has filled our time over the course of the next 10 months. We will managers of the Matoke Inn, the guest house for African Inland Missions (AIM) for the next 4 months. After that we will be Nairobi, Kenya for month working with Imam in the Eastleigh refugee camp, then returning to Uganda to spend 5 months with New Hope Uganda at their Institute for Childcare and Family. There we will be learning about the African world view and the heart of an orphan and a Biblical view of the orphan. We are looking forward to what the Lord will be teaching us throughout this time.  

Please pray for us that we never lose sight of what the Lord has called us to, that we continue to seek and trust Him above all else, and that our joy is found only in doing His will. This is not something that our flesh will do on its own, but by the power of our risen Lord and the Holy Spirit who lives within us, it is something that is not only doable, but something that God has called everyone of us to live out. Also, please pray that we are sensitive to the Lord's leading of where we are to serve longterm in Uganda. Pray that the right doors will open and that we have the wisdom to discern which ones those are.

Ingrid: The compound has two dogs that apparently sleep every night on our veranda, about 3 this morning, they started barking and didn't stop til dawn.  As I laid there hearing the sounds they were responding to but being unable to identify whether they were human or animal, I really had to pray to not just curl up in fear.  Our place has metal bars over every opening with padlocks on the inside, so we are about as safe as safe could be, and yet I struggled with a fear that was new to me.  I realized the courage God gives people who go to a people group all alone without any support of others, Wow, glad that we are breaking into this slowly.

I realized how much I need to learn, where do I put banana peels, etc so the bugs do not make their home with us. So many things to learn, and very kind people to help us.  We are grateful for the gentle training God is allowing us.  Please keep praying for us.

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Blessings,

Lyle and Ingrid