Thanksgiving

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His;  we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100

What an incredible exhortation from the Lord via David!
Shout for joy
Worship with gladness
Know the Lord is Almighty God and we are His!
Enter with thanksgiving and praise
Give Him thanks
The Lord is good

As we look back at this year, we see God’s fingerprints all over our lives.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to spend some time learning language, for the opportunity to research and gain knowledge on many unreached and unengaged people groups, and for the partnerships made with individuals and churches to help engage and reach some of our unreached groups.  Probably our biggest thanksgiving comes with the knowledge of God’s protection and leadership in our lives; as we travel to various meetings and in our search for obscure people groups, we continually evidence God’s provision, leadership and protection.

We are also thankful for you – your faithful partnership with us through prayer; as you visit our blog, reading our adventures, you travel alongside us and partner with us. 

This Thanksgiving holiday is a good time to look back and remember all the things God has done this past year.  When we consider all He has done for us, we shout for joy and worship with gladness; we know God’s power, see His faithfulness and the love He displays in our lives; then, thanksgiving and praise will flow from our grateful hearts because indeed, the LORD is good!

What a great way to begin the holiday season – with thanksgiving!    

This is also the time of year to emphasize the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for world missions.  Did you know that every single penny given to the International Mission Board’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goes directly to the field to support world-wide mission work? 

We use this money in all kinds of ways, from purchasing Bibles in local languages to providing sturdy vehicles able to withstand the rugged terrain we find ourselves moving down in search of the unreached.  Without your support, we, and all Southern Baptist missionaries, would not be able to serve, and the people groups among whom we serve might not otherwise currently have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. There are many more missionaries waiting to be sent out. Please pray about giving even more this year to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions through your church or directly to the IMB by clicking this link, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, so that the many people groups among whom we serve, as well as those who are still waiting, will hear the Good News.

...a 'good' work or a 'greater' work

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.       James 1:27

There are many “good” works we can do,  but God designs “greater” works for us; works where He is glorified.

Walking down the dirt path, we hear the neighbors and children whisper, “CuCu, (show-show) they are coming to visit, CuCu.”

Meet Hanah Njeri – you can call her CuCu (show-show) or grandmother, in the Kikuyu language.  CuCu Njeri is one of the widows we are visiting today.  

As we enter the one room wooden structure, which is her home; she quickly shoves a plastic dishpan of soapy water out of the way; she has been washing her clothes, she explains.

Looking around the room, I realize how poor this woman is – the room is clean and tidy to be sure, but there is nothing beyond the very basic essentials needed for life – no extras.  She lives without electricity, water, or plumbing of any kind, which means she still carries the water she needs.  Notice on the floor the charcoal burner with the pot on it where she cooks her meals and the oil lamp hanging on the wall above it, her only light at night.  The tin cup on the table is the only cup she owns and we all sit on stools, she has no chairs.  Do you see the light coming in through the gaps in the wall?  

In her younger years, Hanah had only one child which survived, a girl.  After her husband died, Hanah was tasked with raising her daughter alone.  This daughter eventually married and had three children, but the daughter, too, died.  Now Hanah lives alone.  The grandchildren, now 15 – 19 years of age, come and visit on Saturdays every once in a while, not often.  

She has seen much disappointment and grief in her 74 years. 

We have a small gift for CuCu, some corn meal, sugar, rice, a loaf of bread, some soap and Keki (pronounced cake-ee, which is any baked goods with sugar in it) -- homemade banana bread.

While she is grateful for the gift, I believe what is most enjoyable is the visit -- the short time spent together talking about the Lord. 

Margret Atieno is the other widow we visit. She has seven children, the youngest of which still lives at home and is in high school. Her eldest son is currently without a job, it appears he is living with her now as well.

When the suggestion was raised to visit some of the widows of the church and time constraints became an issue,  it was suggested that money be put in an envelope and sent to the chosen widows – now before you gasp in horror you must realize the people in our small service are in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. They have full days of school or work and were looking only at the financial help they could provide – surely everyone could use a bit more money – a “good” work.

“Now I see”, said John, a member of the group who participated on the visitation, “I didn't realize how important the 'visit' would be to these ladies. I can go and just spend some time talking with them about Christ, I don't have to take anything to give them, the gift is my time."

 Many times in the busyness of life, we forget there are CuCu's (grandmothers) or grandfathers or other home-bound people who need a visit from us.  God can use us to demonstrate His care and concern. It could be the difference between a "good" work and a "greater" work.

on being a learner

Continuing to be a learner is important. Some people think that since we live in Africa – well -- that there is a distinct African culture, and we know it.  This is not true.

The image at the right illustrates the enormity of the African continent.


Our Sub-Saharan Africa affinity alone encompasses a land mass the size of the U.S., India, Western Europe, Mexico, Japan and part of China combined.


With so much land and so many people groups and languages, differences are inevitable.


But it is okay -- the love of Christ transcends nations, languages, and cultures.

Men pushing bicycles loaded down with matoke is a common sight
in parts of Uganda

Before this trip we had not had much experience with cooked matoke (mah-toe-kay) -- (cooking bananas or plantains).

We tried some in Tanzania, but it is not a prevalent dish in Southern Africa or in Kenya.

In parts of Uganda, however, matoke is a dietary staple.

Here is a truckload of matoke headed toward town.  I guess they don't smash!












We thought you might enjoy this short video clip of the local fuel station in Northeast Uganda.  Notice the mud building in the back housing the station office.

Pumping gas by hand is something we commonly experienced in Malawi, before the town received electricity.

Remember the fuel station in Leer, South Sudan?

It is a step up from the fuel station in Leer, South Sudan, if you remember the 50 gallon drums and tube-type hose we experienced there.







God wants us to continually learn more -- about Himself and about the people of the world enabling us to share His love in an understandable way which will touch the hearts of those who hear.

Ask God to help you be a learner allowing you to be effective as you tell others about Him.

Pray for those whom God is calling to share and minister among the Mening people.  Pray for open minds, quick to understand the Mening culture and beliefs, enabling them to be effective in their ability to share the Good News of God's gift of salvation.

Willingness

Reaching the Mening – what’s it gonna take?



"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."   2 Corinthians 4: 5-6

It will not be easy, this task of taking the Light of God to the Mening people. The area is remote – you turn off the beaten path, then keep going!  But God has commissioned His people to “go into all the world.”

Number 7 --  Our home for the next three days

We are staying three nights in Karenga, Northeast Uganda at Number 7 -- the name of the establishment – not sure if there is a Number 1 – 6 anywhere.

Jerry and I have this room for the three nights -- yes, that is indeed a twin-sized bed, but it's okay -- being married only 31 years we are still young and in love!

Here is the ablution area for our group. There is no piped or running water, but two teenage boys fill this container with water every evening for all of us to use.

Behold -- a potty chair for those of us
with troublesome knees!

Laundry -- life in the African
bush can be a dirty dilemma!

Uncomplaining about the inconvenient living conditions – even laughing about some of the situations in which we find ourselves, the volunteers are great.

Reviewing the day each evening promotes cohesiveness.

Evening debrief gives each one an opportunity to share feelings about the experiences of the day, voice arising concerns, and ask questions to learn more about opening doors into better understanding of the Mening culture and belief system.

But this here --- this is what it is all about --- the opportunity to minister in the name of Christ!









Pray for U.S. churches and local African believers to catch a vision to reach the Mening people.

Pray for believers willing to live out of their comfort area and in rough conditions to bring light and life to Mening villages.

Seed sowers are needed to live among the Mening.