Last year we were involved with a short term team in a village doing a medical clinic for a week. Out in an obscure village town we ran into a large group of missionaries from California. During the few days we were there I spoke with the leader of the mission group for about 15 minutes total. He and his wife were the brains behind Blue Letter Bible.com, a bible software program. We told them briefly about our life in Kampala and that was it. The day they were leaving, they offered us a stack of free Bible software cd’s to pass out to local pastors and pressed some money into our hands. They said that they just wanted to bless our ministry in Kampala. We didn’t want to be rude and look at how much money they had given so we thanked them and went on our way. I honestly wasn’t expecting more than $20 from perfect strangers (which would have been appreciated regardless) yet when we checked to see how much money they had given us we were surprised and humbled by a whopping $600 in our hands. God used these generous people who only talked to us for 15 minutes. The funds they gave helped us in paying off our immigration expenses, and it came at the perfect time. By the way, check out Blue Letter Bible.com for yourself. It is a great program and obviously the designers are great people!
A few months later, through a contact with Acts 29, we were asked to host a pastor and church member from Vintage 21 Church in North Carolina. We knew of this church and we were thrilled to get to play tour guide for three days. Dan and Pastor Nate hit it off and we enjoyed three days of fellowship with them. Pastor Nate was such a blessing to Dan, encouraging him to follow through with God’s call on his life to church plant in our neighborhood. The encouragement alone was such a blessing to us, especially Dan. As he dropped these guys off at the airport, Pastor Nate also pressed some money into Dan’s hands. Again, Dan didn’t check to see how much but said his good-bye’s and thank you’s. Pastor Nate offered a last encouragement to Dan and was gone. When Dan got home he sat at the dining room table with me and unfolded the bills Pastor Nate had given him. Again, we were floored when we realized that we were counting out $800! Yet again God provided through a stranger at the perfect time. Since then, Pastor Nate and Vintage 21 have continued to encourage us by sending us new friends and houseguests and offering to pair up with us in ministry. They asked us the question, “What does REDEMPTION look like in the slums of Wabigalo?” That is what we are planning to find out with their help. Thanks Vintage! (Especially Nate, John Heeley, Meredith and Sarah!)
Our home church, Easthaven Baptist Church, of Kalispell, Montana blessed us with a visit. Before they came they told the church of our needs and allowed them to fill five suitcases with things for us. I can’t even begin to describe the HEAPS of love they sent in those cases. Our dining room table vanished under the weight of such piles of food, books, school supplies and toys. On top of that they had raised funds to go toward whatever our needs were. (More immigration costs unfortunately) Aside from the financial gifts and food, the real blessing was having such dear friends share in our lives here. Seeing people who have known us for years was so amazing. The Easthaven team filled us to overflowing with love, fellowship and friendship. Our home church has continued to surprise us with their support and love as we learn how to live here.
Last night on Facebook, our friend Bryce asked me about our power supply problem. Most of my friends on Facebook have been hearing our tale of woe as we are going on three weeks with no power. Bryce said he wanted try some fundraising for us. I shrugged and though, “Sure, give it a try”. He posted a brief story about us on Facebook and asked everyone he knew to give $2.65 to buy us a generator or power inverter. Within an hour he told us that $250 had come in. After two hours the total was up to $500 and this morning when I checked it was at $600. These are people whom I have never met, who know very little about our ministry here and whom I will most likely never meet face to face. Yet they opened their wallets to give to us and many even re-posted our needs on their own Facebook pages. Can you imagine? We were more than shocked and grateful.
My father in law also attempted to raise funds for us on Facebook. He does not share the same religious beliefs we do and has given up getting to see his grandchildren grow up for us to be here. Yet after spending three weeks with us he wanted to help us increase our funding. His helping us showed us that even though he’d rather have us stateside because he misses us, he understands what we are doing here. His support has been incredibly humbling for us.
I could continue on and on about all the people who have sacrificed financially for us to be here. We have a great base of faithful supporters. Not one has dropped off in the past year and half. All of them continue to faithfully give each month so that we can be here doing what God has called us to do. Aside from the financial, we have so many faithfully praying for us. Money is great, don’t get me wrong…but the prayers are imperative for our lives here. Everyday I am more and more humbled by the people God brings into our lives. We are not alone on this journey in Uganda. We are blessed beyond measure as we learn to trust that God really does own the cattle on a thousand hills! Thank you to all of you who have blessed us (and even surprised us!) with friendship, fellowship, prayers and financial gifts. As always, you stand beside us on the red dirt of Uganda and minister alongside us.
(This blog isn’t intended to list everyone who has helped us, and quite often there have been anonymous gifts. Please know our appreciation is sincere to ALL of you! )
Read More
Add Comment (0)
