Entrusted

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. -2 Timothy 2:2

I am constantly humbled and honored to work alongside men and women who have a passion for the world.  This year of Homeland Ministry has been a blessing.  It has been hard, but it has been fruitful. We get to do ministry alongside the people who carry us while we're in Uganda!  

As we prepare to return to Uganda, we are confident in the team that God is raising up!  We can only imagine the amazing things God will do with the prayers and support of this team.  If our first term was good, this one is going to be amazing!  But that also means the enemy won't be happy.  I get the sense that this term is going to be harder in a lot of ways, which is why I am so grateful for the growth I've seen in our champions {not just growth in numbers, but growth in depth and commitment}!

We are seeing God take some of our engaged champions to the next level- they get it, the ministry is theirs, they are owning it!  It is so cool to see and be a part of.  As some have hosted dinners to spread the word, and others have fought for us in their churches- we are watching God do something big.  And we get to be here for it!  We don't have to watch from a computer screen.  

So thank you, to all of our champions who have invested in this ministry- it's ours- together, for the kingdom of God!  And in the words of one our champions, "Thank you, God, for raising up more members for our team!"

We have no doubt that God is going to do big things through our ministry, and in our lives as we participate with Him!  

Wednesday With Molly

We love summer camp! What a joy it was to partner with Cherry Run Camp out in Western PA for their annual camp this year. Cherry Run is a very traditional camp meeting in the sense that there is a lot going on for all ages throughout the week. We were given the opportunity to speak to the youth each morning in their missions class. We loved hanging out with the youth and enjoyed our times together (two classes each day: one for middle school and one for high school). Our discussion focused on Kyle Idlemans book “Not a Fan” and we discussed what being a true follower of Jesus is like. I want to introduce you to someone who is acting out her call to follow Jesus.

Molly was one of the high school girls we got to know and spend time with. She was always involved in the discussion and we could tell she was taking it seriously. On our last full day of camp Molly came up to Kelly and handed her a wad of cash. Molly explained to Kelly that just before coming to camp she cashed her most recent paycheck and felt Jesus telling her to give it to us because her plans for spending it focused mostly on ice cream. Jesus told her that what is happening in Uganda is where the money should go and so Molly obeyed. How awesome is that!? We love seeing students obey the voice of Jesus and know that God will bless Molly for her obedience. -Josh

Tuesdays with... WGM

We were at World Gospel Mission (WGM) Headquarters for a week and a half, enjoying the time to meet fellow-workers and receive encouragement and training. 

The boys loved being with their cousins... Seth even said, "I wish we could live at WGM forever!" 

And we also got to meet other WGM Uganda families who have been newly appointed!  The great thing this time was a feeling of relief at not being the newbie, of having seen these forms before, of knowing the staff at least a little bit. And it was also really fun to be able to speak into the lives of the new missionaries who haven't hit the field yet.  We got to hang out with Scott and Meg, Lisa Fish, Nicole and Ray Leisure, Justin and Debby Williams, and we met Nathan and Jade Metz!

As a field we've made a declaration.  42 missionaries in the next 10 years.  And He is doing it!  God is raising up an amazing team and we are so blessed to be a part of it!  Missionaries have been praying for workers among prostitutes, for a field treasurer, for a movement of the Holy Spirit at Heritage International School... for so many years... and He is answering!

Would you join us in making that declaration over Uganda?  Would you pray that He would raise up 42 missionaries for Uganda and beyond? Would you be bold enough to ask if you are one of those 42??  

Youth Group Mission Trips!

Youth Mission Team from one of our supporting churches!

It's that time of year when youth groups across the country prepare for their summer missions trip!  Is your church sending a team this summer?  Clarksboro Evangelical United Methodist Church youth group is heading out next week and we had the privilege of preaching at their Commissioning Service on Sunday!  I love God's timing!  And Sicklerville United Methodist Church youth group is in Nashville this week!  Let's pause and pray for youth group mission trips right now!

I remember my first foreign mission trip in high school... I went to Jamaica.  Yeah, our Youth Pastor really knew how to sell missions!  I vividly remember coming home from that trip thinking, "I could do this for the rest of my life!"  And I'm pretty sure that was also when I began dreaming of adopting a brown baby someday.  There are all kinds of debates about the value of short-term missions (check out these three links), but I am living proof that there is one more full-time missionary on the field because I went on a trip in high school. We can debate all day long.

But if you or someone you love is going on a short-term mission trip this summer- please read this post: 6 Ways to Make your Summer Mission Trip Incredibly Amazing.  And then do those things!

Is your church sending a team out this summer?  Where are they going?  What are your thoughts on short-term missions?  

Wednesdays with the Cousins

Tuesdays With the Ladies!

Last weekend, I had a lovely Oasis Gathering at my house.  It is such a privilege to host these women.  I started this gathering once a month, because I felt a need.  And the beautiful thing is, in the kingdom when you reach out to bless someone, Jesus meets your needs too.  I didn't realize how many missionary and international women just need a friend who understands them.  It has been sweet to open my home, drink coffee together, and pray over one another. 

If you find yourself feeling lonely this week- would you pray for missionary women around the world?  Chances are someone you're praying for is lonely too- be sure to say hi when you're on facebook, or drop them an e-mail and let them know they are not alone! 

Is there a need that you see that you can meet this week?  You'd be surprised how Jesus uses that to bless your own heart!

Tuesdays with Cousins!

there's "cousins". then there's cousins.  see, at WGM we call our teammates aunts and uncles, and their kids cousins.  your family away from family type thing.  but the glorious part of our calling, is we have honest-to-goodness, flesh-and-blood cousins in Uganda too!  Jesus gives sweet gifts!

On Saturday, we will celebrate what God has done this year in Uganda, at our WGM Annual General Meeting.  All the WGM Uganda missionaries who are on the field will be attending.  It's a great time of worship and rejoicing in our partnership with God here in Uganda. 

But we also get to hang out with some "cousins" this week as the Coppedge girls will be in K-town for a week!  And they will be staying in the cottage on our compound.  Yes, that means 9 kids will be living here for a week! 

We love hanging out with those girls. Not quite sure how much they will love hanging out with these crazy little men! 

Tuesdays With Karen

Meet Karen, she has been the Women's Ministry leader as long as we have been here.  But she is finishing up her studies and will be handing over the leadership of Women's Ministry tomorrow night!  We are so thankful for her time, her skills, and her passion for God.  She has helped and organized at Women's Ministry meetings on Monday nights, Ladies Fun Days, Ladies Sleepovers, and much more! 

It is such a blessing and a curse to work with university students- a blessing because they are awesome and a curse because we will always be saying goodbye to awesome people as they graduate and move on!  But for now, we thank God for the opportunity to minister alongside these faithful students, and for the brief time our paths have intersected.  Our lives are richer because of these relationships, and so is the kingdom of God!

Will you pray for the university ministry as the baton of leadership is passed from one generation to the next tomorrow night?  Some of the leaders will stay the same, but others will be brand new.  Pray that God would anoint each leader with His Holy Spirit, and that His Spirit would go with those who are moving on.  That the ripple effect would spread from United Faith Church, into all of Africa for the glory of God!

Tuesdays With Mr Randy

Randy Goodgame in concert at Heritage

Some days I'm not sure how all these people come to be at our home.  Last week Randall Goodgame stayed with us, while he was in Kampala.  He is friends with a parent at Heritage, and she asked if we had space for him.  Luckily, our guest room became empty the day he arrived!  He was coming to work with Tukutana, and to do a concert at Heritage International School. 

It is part of our mission to create an oasis for weary travelers and we were glad we could host Randy while he was in Kampala.  But the surprising thing about hospitality ministry, is God uses guests to be a blessing to us as well!  Our boys loved having Randy stay with us.  They have his first album, and he sang their favorite song for them right in our dining room!  They thought it was like having a rock star at our house!  The very first night he was here we got to sit in on a ukulele lesson.  Seeing Seth on his lap- you would think they were old friends.  And if you ask Caleb, they are: "We've been friends ever since I first heard 'Tractor Tractor'."  

 It was a blessing to watch our boys enjoy our guest as much as we did!  Jesus is so good to send good gifts as we serve Him here in Kampala!

Tuesdays with Cousins!

It is just such a blessing to have family in country!  We had a blast with Scott and Meg, their three boys and Anna this past weekend.  It was a brief visit- but good practice for when they are around most of November! 

The big boys all shared a room, and Tim and Ben LOVED the new bunk beds!  Sleeping safari style!  Happy times.  Keeping with our African theme, we were reading The Story of Dr. Dolittle (FREE for Kindle!) as our read-aloud, and it was a smashing success.  Caleb has already asked, if we can start over again, it was sooo good!  The next book in the series is The Voyages of Dr Dolittle (also FREE for Kindle).  We've also loved that one!

These little boys are growing fast!  And it is so fun to watch them connect with their family here in Uganda.  We wish we could be with all our family, especially on birthdays and celebrations, but some is definitely better than none!

And from the boys themselves:

Seth: "I like watching movies with them, like Kung Fu Panda, and eating Ciao Ciao's ice cream."

Caleb:  "I like sleeping in our bunk beds with them."

These Ladies!

Oh, how I've missed these ladies!  We had our first ladies meeting at the university.  I spoke about calling, purpose, and why in the world we are here.  It was so good!  It is a blessing and privilege to share the word with these women.  Such potential in these seats! 

Pray that they would sense God's calling on their lives.  Pray that they would have courage to do what He asks.  Pray that He would get great glory from each life! 

Tuesdays with KTeam

KTeam Prayer Meeting May 2011 and KTeam Prayer Meeting August 2012

When we arrived it was us, Muehleisens, Hopsons, Lisa, Christina, and Jessie.  That's it.  14 people in Kampala.  Sunday night at Prayer Meeting there were 24 of us!   We are so thankful for the men and women and families He has brought here.  Today we have our KTeam Meeting, and we're happy to welcome Ray and Nicole Leisure and Jeff and Christine Stanfield!

But there is still so much to do, so many cities to enter, so many needs to meet.  We are praying hard for 42 missionaries to Uganda in the next 5 years... we're halfway there! 

Will you join us in praying?  Pray for the ones who are here.  Pray that God would send more laborers into the harvest.  Pray against satan's schemes to keep people from obeying God's call. 

If you want to lift up each person by name, click over to 24/7 Prayer Uganda for a list.

If you feel the tug of God and want to explore joining Team Uganda, check out gowgm.org.

Tuesdays with...?

The birds sing from the trees.  A candle is lit.  The tea has been steeped.  I take a deep breath.  No one needs me.  Wait, was that just two consecutive thoughts I just had, without an interruption?   Sounds idyllic, doesn't it?

Back to reality.  It's Day #2 of the school year... and I think I'm already getting lonely.  I totally get what Emily was saying over at Simple Mom today....you think if you could just make your kids disappear for a few days or once they are finally all school-aged... things would actually get done, or stay clean, or you'd finally have some time for yourself... and then you realize that "perfect life" you've been dreaming of isn't all that perfect after all, in fact, it's kinda boring. 

But, God is here.  So, here is good.  He is here.  So, today I'm going to sit down with Him and find out just what His plans are for me this week... this season.  This will take some time getting used to, but I'm looking forward to this new season of ministry.  Give me a few days to enjoy the silence... to be sad that my little boys go to school every day... to drink a whole cup of coffee before it turns cold... to wonder just what I'll do without them.  I'll figure out a new daily rhythm soon.  Until then, maybe there will be more posts than usual... or maybe less... we'll see!

Tuesdays with the Stacks

The school year fast approaches and that means you pitch in.  wherever. you. are. needed. And this week that means the library!  Delight has had two short weeks to get an entire library ready for the school year!  We've been cataloging, labeling, sorting, dusting, painting, shelving... you get the picture.  But in case you need a visual:

Praying that we get it all done by Friday.  When you're a missionary some days you just ever know what you'll end up doing!  I think Caleb is right- He has said he wants to be a missionary when he grows up... but then the other day he drew this picture of what he wants to do when he grows up:

Missionaries do all the jobs!

Tuesdays With Pastor Jerusalem

The Team at the Equator (minus Billy, taking the photo)

This week we will be highlighting the trip I, Josh, took to Beni DRC and Mbarara Uganda. The purpose of the trip was to make connections with different ministries and see how WGM may be able to minister in both of these areas. The team consisted of myself, Billy Coppedge, Scott Rambo, Josh Friedeman, Matt Burke, Rev. James Ouma and Kennedy Kirui. 

Pastor James, Pastor Jerusalem and Matt Burke

So today’s “Tuesdays with” is with Pastor Jerusalem (yes, like the holy city was how he introduced himself). Jerusalem is bishop of NLPCI (New Life Pentecostal Church International) there in DRC. He oversees several churches in the town of Beni and so he was more or less our “tour guide” for the 3 days we spent there. Jerusalem is a wonderful man who loves the Lord and his home country and desires to see the word of God spread. Jerusalem did a wonderful job connecting us with around 2 dozen pastors (many from outside his own denomination) and 2 universities in Beni. Jerusalem helped translate all of our meetings, as the 2 languages there are Swahili and French. Jerusalem set up all of our accommodations and meal times as well. We are so grateful for this man of God, his servant’s heart and willingness to allow us to come and visit.

Leone is the one in the middle, wearing green

You can be praying for Pastor Jerusalem and his church there in Beni and other parts of DRC. We were able to visit 2 of their local churches and ask that you pray over the churches of Timothy and Leone (female) as they seek to make an impact in their communities. Timothy requests prayer for the resources to finish his education here in Kampala and Leone asks for prayer to simply begin an education. She is illiterate but, believe it or not, is able to read the Bible and share the good news of Jesus with her church. Yes, you read that right! We serve an AMAZING God! Thank you for lifting up Pastor Jerusalem and these churches.

Tuesdays with the Ladies!

Last Monday I got a text message asking if I was coming to Arua with all the cool kids.  I hadn't even thought about traveling eight hours away from my guys for four days.  But I mentioned it to Josh and he said it would be good for me to go!  So, Saturday we piled into Lisa Fish's car and drove to Arua to see Meg and Joanna!  Happy road trip!  It was so good to connect with these sweet ladies.  And we were able to bring fun things to Arua for Meg and Joanna to encourage their hearts and fill their fridges :) 

It was a spontaneous thing to do.  I don't usually do "spontaneous".  But it was just what I needed. 

Sometimes you just need a couple days to pop your earbuds in and not worry if someone will cry for you in the night... or hold a sweet squishy baby and then give him back to his mama when he cries... or buy a dolman tee shirt at the market just because it's less than $2 and trendy...  or sit and read a book or two uninterrupted... or laugh with friends without having to explain the conversation to a four year old. 

When we start blessing others, we find ourselves blessed as well.  I love God's economy! 

Who can you bless with your presence this week?  

Tuesdays With- "J"

There are those days when a conversation with someone makes all the work we are doing, the frustrations we go through, the sadness of being away from “home”, totally worth it! Last week I, Josh, had one of those days.

flowers by the bridge

As I was preparing for my final worship time with the elementary students at Heritage a teacher approached me and said that “J” wanted to talk with me. J is a 6^th grade student and had a lot of questions regarding salvation and what would happen to her at the “end”. I met briefly with J right before worship and answered her questions as best I could and explained what it really meant to believe in Jesus. Thankfully we were standing on a bridge crossing one of the many streams at Heritage and so the “bridge” illustration for salvation was a perfect one to use. I could see it was clicking. After worship time I grabbed Rachel Goss to come with me and finish my conversation with J. As I prayed I felt Jesus telling me to very bluntly ask J if she believed in what Jesus did for her on the cross some 2,000 years ago and if she ever told Him that she believed. J told me that she did indeed believe it but had never told Jesus that. J was a little nervous and embarrassed to pray out loud in front of us so after asking her 3 times if she wanted to do it she decided that she would do it at home that night but did not want to do it in front of us. I felt peace that her heart was in the right place and Jesus telling me it was ok to not pressure her.

It was a wonderful conversation and J, I believe, sincerely believes in Jesus as her Savior. I found out after that J’s mother is a Muslim and through our conversation I know that J does not really have anyone this summer to help her grow in her faith. Would you pray that Jesus would bring someone alongside J and that J can also return to Heritage next year? Thank you for partnering with us and having a part in J’s new relationship with Jesus Christ!

Monday with God

Monday, 21 May 2012

5:30am- i wake coughing.  but it's the Lord's gentle nudging.  come.  be alone with Me.
6:30am- the boys sneak downstairs for some morning snuggles.  i welcome them.  we snuggle.  then i go get Josh- it's his turn for morning duty.
7:00am- i take my african chai to the balcony.  and keep company with Jesus.  He speaks.  i listen.
8:00am- praise music flows from the ipod.  i spread my calendar and agenda before Him.  we figure out the to do list, He and i.
8:15am- Josh comes up and joins me.  we discuss the slow week before us.
9:00am- i get to the computer and blog and email and feel productive.  He is helping me!
11:30am- Josh leaves to get the boys.  i finish up my posts for the week.
12:15pm- Josh gets a call.  there is an emergency at the palace (where we do university ministry).  he makes a few more phone calls.  two of our student leaders have been taken downtown to court.  this is spiritual attack.  Seth cries out- he banged his finger.  Josh heads down to the palace.  he decides to walk- i wonder if he needs those moments to pray up before he arrives.
12:30pm- seth bangs his poor finger again.  i snuggle him and i pray for Josh and the palace and victory over darkness.
1:00pm- i make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  and we hear the call to prayer- Caleb calls from the dining room- "mommy, let's pray for the men who pray at night (aka muslims)." So we pray for the muslims to come to know the True God.  And we pray for Daddy and all the university students. 
1:20pm- Josh calls.  apparently a neighbor doesn't like the ministry taking place at the palace and has been complaining about the noise level of their prayer nights and other weekly activities.  she's gotten the City Council involved.  but Josh said that our lawyer sent someone down to help the guys in court.  we wait.  we pray.
1:50pm- we print some coloring pages for rest time and i send the boys to their room.  i need some lunch with Jesus. 
2:15pm- Josh comes home with a package and a Family Fun magazine.  i enjoy some downtime while the boys rest. 
3:00pm- Josh gets Rachel from school.  i figure out what i'm going to do about dinner since i haven't gotten to the grocery store yet!  might be rice and beans.  thankful i have beans in the freezer and rice in the pantry.  write my grocery list.
3:15pm- didn't get that list written. went to play outside with the dog.
3:45pm- Josh and Rachel got home.  boys asked Rachel to watch Veggie Tales with them.  i thanked Jesus for Rachel.  then made an afternoon snack for my guys.  these. i always have the ingredients on hand.
4:30pm- they need 300,000 UGX per person bail bond.  Emmy Mugisha is with them.  he says they are in good spirits. I'm glad the guys have each other.
5:00pm- start dinner. Josh gets a call.  they don't have time to get to the bank to pay the charges there.  When they returned from the bank, the man to receive the payment receipt had already left.  Seems it was intentional. the guys will have to spend the night in jail.  ugh.  keep praying.  get the boys praying.  get facebook friends praying.
6:00pm-say grace. pray for the guys. eat dinner.
6:30pm- Seth is tired.  Bathe the boys.  Seth poops in the potty- praise the Lord for a small answer to prayer! Josh rallies prayer warriors to meet at the palace at 8pm.
7:00pm- Read the boys a story.  Pray for a good night (for everyone).  Think about joining Josh for the prayer vigil.  But then wonder, "if we both go, will Satan shift his attacks toward our boys??"
7:30pm- Head downstairs and tell Josh I don't think I should go.  He had already been wondering, "if we both go, will Satan increase his attacks and we could all go to prison??"

So here I sit.  At the end of my day with God.  Alone with Him.  Fighting the hardest battle we've had lately.  Who would have thought this is where I'd be today??

Tuesdays with Lilias Trotter

You know when you've been in the presence of someone great.  Your soul feels larger just for having been with them.  You think more grand thoughts.  You stand a little taller.  Your eyes are brighter.

Lilias Trotter is one such soul.  Though dead since 1928, her life still speaks.  The book is:  A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter by Miriam Huffman Rockness.  Lilias was an artist, and a pioneer missionary to Algeria.  Her artistic insight, attention to detail, and spiritual application from the natural world are an inspiration to me.  I've met a kindred spirit.  I'll let her own words speak for themselves:

A bee comforted me very much this morning concerning the desultoriness that troubles me in our work.  There seems so infinitely much to be done that nothing gets done thoroughly.  If work were more concentrated as it must be in educational or medical missions there would be less of this- but we seem only to touch souls and leave them.  And that was what the bee was doing, figuratively speaking.  He was hovering among some blackberry sprays, just touching the flowers here and there in a very tentative way, yet all unconsciously, life-life-life was left behind at every touch, as the miracle-working pollen grains were transferred to the place where they could set the unseen spring working.  We have only to see to it that we are surcharged, like the bees, with potential life.  It is God and His eternity that will do the work- Yet He needs His wandering, desultory bees! (diary, 9 July 1907)

Tuesdays with Rachel

Family Movie Night with Rachel

Our very first VIA (Volunteer in Action) arrived yesterday!  Rachel Goss is a friend of ours from Delanco Camp.  We have a friend from home staying here with us!  What a happy day!  She will be here until we fly out to Florida in June.  What a gift! 

Rachel will be working at Heritage International School as a Teacher's Aid in fifth grade in the mornings, and helping with first grade in the afternoons.  She will also be helping with Sunday School at United Faith Church.  We're praying that God would use her, transform her, and clarify His calling on her life in these days. 

Rachel has just started a blog- so would you stop over and check it out?  It is interesting to see this place through the fresh eyes of a visitor. I'm sure you'll enjoy her stories of life in Uganda. 

If you are interested in coming to visit, or live here, check out www.gowgm.org!