God will make a way!

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9

A recent research trip took us to the north eastern part of Uganda in search of the Mening people.  As we leave Nairobi, our only sure plan is to meet up with a group from the U.S. who want to find the Mening people, beyond that – well, God will make a way.

Meeting this wonderful group of eleven coming from Missouri and Illinois to minister in Africa was a joy.  Arriving late in the night after a long drive from Kampala, everyone is ready to find their beds; the adventure will begin on the morrow.

Space will be tight. After sorting and culling clothing and other items to the bare essentials, we load up the vehicles and are ready to take off.  Reliable information put the Mening people in northeast Uganda, so we head in that direction – God will make a way.

Our research group is comprised of four nationals, eleven volunteers and the two of us. This night will be spent in Soroti, Uganda where we will meet Ambrose, the Director of Internal Security, an acquaintance of Pastor Ignatius, a local pastor from Pallisa, Uganda, who is part of our group.  We will hear his information and make a plan from there – God will make a way.

After pouring over the map and many phone conversations, it seems as though God is continuing to lead us north and east.  Information is sketchy, with some saying the group is now living in South Sudan – discouraging news logistically for us, as money for visas and importation of vehicles will be needed, but – God will make a way.

Knowing a family in the vicinity of Kaabong, Uganda, Jerry decides to contact them and ask if they have any information on this group.  Success comes late in the afternoon; after continuous attempts to obtain their cell number, we finally contact the family.  It just so happens, they are on their way home and will meet us at the cross roads – they will put us all up for the night and provide supper!  God continues to make a way. 

From new information provided we are still unsure if we will enter South Sudan, but everything appears to be pointing to the small town of Karenga, Uganda, so we load up and move out.

Upon our arrival in Karenga we actually come across a few people from the Mening group who tell us their village is called Opotipoti and it is near.  Relieved that we will not enter South Sudan to find the group, we decide to make our base of operations for the next three days in Karenga.
 We are amazed at God’s hand, visible in His leading us, much in the same way as the pillar of cloud and fire for the children of Israel, we are grateful.
God indeed has made a way!

Praise God for His leadership.  Having confirmed the existence of the Mening people; we estimate the population maybe higher than first reported.

Pray for the Mening of Uganda and South Sudan (yes, there are Mening villages just across the border) that God would be preparing their hearts to receive the seeds of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

(More to come on the Mening people!)

You're the God of the Cities

A City is unique in that it is not solely composed of one people group.  When you travel to a rural village within a people group area you are likely to find that most people speak a particular language, dress a certain way and are from the predominate tribe of the area – not so in a city.

Cities contain a plethora of people groups speaking their own language or dialect with unique customs and style of dress all within walking distance of one another – sometimes in the same apartment complex.

Cities make the issue of unique people groups very blurry because people tend to meld into and add to their own customs something of their surroundings.  For example, how many of your parents (those of us 40 years of age and older) ate tacos or enchiladas on a regular basis – we know our parents didn't –  but we eat Tex-Mexican food all the time now – we added it to our cultural food base. This same adaptation happens in large cities across the globe.

Recently we attended a workshop on reaching cities.

This picture was taken during a
prayer focus on Nairobi.

Dialogues  about reaching communities in constant motion, whether physically relocating or culturally and linguistically adapting were conducted between missionaries and nationals from all over Sub-Saharan Africa.

It was a good time of hearing from other parts of the continent and brainstorming ideas on reaching the cities of East Africa.

The meeting was held at the Baptist camp.
The words "Jesus Saves" in the Africaans language
is written in white stone on the hillside as a witness.

Ultimately we know that God is the God of the cities -- He is the King of these people – the Lord of the nations – the Light in the darkness – the Hope to the hopeless – the Peace to the restless.  There is no one like our God.




Pray for God to call out people willing to go to the cities -- they have their own unique challenges -- it will take God called, unique individuals, to reach the people who live in them.

Nairobi Aftermath - Wow what a week

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.  Trust the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:3-4

Perhaps we all need to hear this word today.

The Westgate terror saga has turned from crisis to criticism -- isn't that always the case -- why didn't they do this -- why didn't they do that?  There's also a push for tighter security -- as if man can control the inclinations of evil.

While the world of men try to figure out how to squelch evil, the people of God know what to do -- PRAY!

The picture at the left was witnessed during a "meet me at the pole" gathering at a local christian school in the midst of Kenya's mourning days. (note the flags at half-mast) This is where power against evil is found -- through prayer.

The IMB family held hostage at the mall talked about the calm they felt during the siege -- the opportunities they had to be that calming influence to help those around them.  They didn't have great insight as to what to do while they were held hostage, but they knew the One who had them in the palm of His hand.

Even this week as the U.S. government shuts down Psalm 34 comes to mind.
"I sought the LORD, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears...
He saved him out of all his troubles...
He delivers them...
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

Continue to pray for those who lost family and friends and those who were injured during the attack.

Pray that God would continue to confront people with their need for a Savior.

Pray that He would then provide a good and faithful witness to help them find the true peace-giver.