The Small Things

This past Sunday we loaded up all the kids again and went to Watoto Church near the home. The pastor talked about the roles of the church and defined their church and their mission in Uganda and in all the nations. It was a really good service. This part of the sermon really intrigued me…

New Testament __ Church Today

Location: house to house - church building

Size: small and intimate - large, impersonal

Activities: daily - weekly service

Ministry: by all believers - fulltime pastors

Pastor’s Duty: equip - preach well

Key Words: Go! Make disciples. - Come, grow with us

Involvement: participate - watch, spectate

Focus: people - programs

May we constantly recognize our need for Christ, and be rooted and grounded in Him, that we may glorify Him by being a church willing to love and serve, thereby becoming His pure bride.

This week I have been more mentally drained then ever, yet at the same time I have never felt more spiritually renewed. If a day went by this week where I was not refocused through Scripture, it was not going to be a good day. I have never felt more reliance on the Word then now. I have also never felt this much intimacy with the Lord. The small things have once again captured my attention and drawn me deeper into His love. We may not have a big day, but when I sat by Lake Victoria and watched all the kids dance to music around the car, knowing where they were a month ago, my heart could do nothing but rejoice. I couldn’t help but see the love of Christ in a little mute and mostly deaf girl that followed us around the school all day with a constant smile, laughing and wanting to play with us. I could see the humbleness of Christ in the Ugandan family who invited us to dinner and served us a Ugandan feast that was probably very expensive for them. The hope of Christ when we do devotion with the kids at night and they each stand up and thank Christ for food, shelter, love, and each other. Just before testimony time they all pray out loud at the same time. We asked Aggie what were some of the things they prayed about and she said they asked for wisdom, prayed for the kids at Mercy Home that are not being taken care of, prayed for the kids on the streets, thanked the Lord for giving them food that day, and Dennis (usually the one getting in trouble) asked that the Lord would change his attitude so that he could be nice and not disobey. The love of Christ is in the conversations, in Victoria’s smile, Fatuma’s laugh, and Vivian’s gentleness. I thank Him for making me aware of the beauty around me and allowing me to take part in it.

Last week we got to spend some time at Rays of Hope with our friend Joel. When we arrived they had a devotion planned. Their choir sang and a few people welcomed us then Carrie, Tori, and Allen led worship for a little while, followed by Mason’s message. Afterwards Joel caught us up on what had happened since we left and it was so encouraging to see that what the Lord started last year was being brought to fruition. Joel said that one particular man we told about Christ last year really did turn his life around and was still seeking the Lord. I got to meet some of the orphans that were now in school because of the money raised, they were being served breakfast everyday now, and they had new desks. Joel’s ministry is still moving forward and the people of Kabalagala are hearing about Christ. I did not know this last year when the Lord placed this area on our hearts, but apparently it is one of the poorer areas, prostitution and drunkenness are prominent, and there are very few people serving there. Joel said that they have been doing devotions once a week for the past year and the children go home and tell their parents about what they have learned, a good bit of them being prostitutes. The Word of God is spreading, people are hearing and believing! I thought this was very encouraging to see the work of the Lord being continued no matter where we are. It is the Lord who gives the growth, not man.

This coming up week we will hopefully be helping Jay and Allen take all the kids to the doctor to get checked out. Please be praying for them. I am sure they will all be tested for HIV. We are going back to Joel’s to work on Wednesday and Friday. Please continue to pray that we would always have a servant’s heart and that we would have opportunities to share the Gospel with people.

Thank you for your prayers!