Europe 2013

Europe 2013
Vienna, Austria

Friday, July 23, 2010

Here we are Lord send us...



No we have not made a decision about going to Uganda yet. We are still digesting and processing all that we saw, heard and felt as we visited beautiful Uganda. Let me tell you there was a lot! The hospital, prisons, Dinida, Loco, all the surrounding area's, the people, the beautiful people who love on you from the very first meeting and who are so very lovable, the many errands, the culture, the other missionaries so many pieces to sort and sift through. Let us not forget the many questions that come not from those around us but from within. I.E. "Is this what and where you would have us go Lord? While it is easy for us to lean in favor of going, the number one and main reason we go must be because the Lord is calling us there. It is sometimes easy to become distracted with all those who offer, "financial support when you go", those who offer encouraging words like, "you would be perfect for this work!" Please do not miss understand me it is very nice to know that the example we are living and the walk we are walking inspires folks to get behind us in what God would be doing. My point is these things alone can not be the deciding factors, our standard, our measuring rod which we use to make a decision like this must be, "Is God calling us there?" A very wise man shared with me once, there is a difference between filling the gap (doing or joining a work because it is open and there is a need) and being called to a work. The former after the novelty wears off and the flesh gets tired will become a burden that becomes a work of frustration and eventual will spring up into a root of bitterness which ultimately will cause meltdown or a rift in the existing work and the ripples from that can be more harmful than not having enough laborers to begin with. The latter will give those laboring the strength to endure all that comes their way, when hard times arise they can and will run to God because they know that it is He that has brought them there. They will be able to lean on Him when everything and everyone seems to be against them. They will be able to find peace and solace in His embrace, trusting that "He who began the work will bring it to completion." They will praise His name giving Him the glory for the victories because they will know and understand it was the Lord who did it. I love Isaiah's response (6.8) after being spiritually cleansed with the hot coal from the alter prepared for his commission if you will, "Here am I! Send me." Oh that we all would make this the cry of our hearts knowing that we have been saved, cleansed and raised up in the ways of the Lord fully prepared to be His messengers first in Jerusalem; our homes and community, Judea; surrounding areas and our state, Samaria; other states and our nation, the end of the earth; just that the rest of the world, the nations. Let us all cry today, Here am I! Send me!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Settling Back In...

Well it has been a long two days since we landed back home. I feel like we are finally getting back to normal if there is such a thing. Made it though my first day of work and am getting ready for (I hope) a good nights sleep. Of the many questions I was asked today I guess the one that really makes me think is, "What impacted you the most?" I was asked this question in Uganda and have now been asked the same question here at home. I am still not totally sure what out of all the things we saw and did impacted me the most. I tend to lean toward the hospital and the conditions I witnessed there, but the prisons were equally moving for me especially after spending 7 years in the Holiday Inns we call prisons here in New Mexico. In Uganda there are no cots nor are prisoners given clothing, they eat the same thing everyday, corn type bread, beans and rice. Another thing that impacted me was the amount of work done by the missionaries that are already living there in Uganda. Their impact is huge!!! It is like non stop go, go, go. There were a couple of statements made that will stick with me one I may have shared already but it bares repeating; "we can not make these people our project but must bring them Christ." I believe that while we do that the other things will follow. The other statement was one that rings true to what I also believe; "There is a difference between filling the gap because there is a need and being called." We could surely move to Uganda because of all that we saw and come along side the work being done there and I bet it would be appreciated too, but are we called there? Are we called to pick up, sale/keep, give away life here and exchange it for life there? For a season, two seasons, twelve or fifteen seasons? "I don't know yet" is my only response. Could it be? If the Lord wills it anything could be. I am confident that as we settle back in the Lord will make it clear. How will He do this? Will He fan the spark of love developed in only three weeks for the beautiful Ugandan people into a consuming fire that engulfs our thoughts and desires? Maybe. Will He speak to Jesse and Beverly Rich? Maybe. Will He lay a burden for Uganda on us that is so heavy we have no choice but to go back? God knows. I guess for now we will keep on doing what we were doing and wait for the Lord to reveal His pan to us. The one thing that I tend to forget is that my time table rarely aligns with His. Thankfully His time is always perfect and He is always on time!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Here We Come...



Half way home that is what we are. We touched down in London about 4 pm (London time) it was a nice flight and we made it to the Hotel okay for our layover. I do not think that my mind and my heart have had time to process it all yet. The Lord showed us many things some of which I may not fully grasp for some time. While I am not totally sure what one thing stood out to me the most; since the prison ministry was like nothing I have ever seen and the hospital prayer ministry blew my mind I think I will have to wait and see how those things effect "this life now." I think it is easy to forget what one has seen and walk away unchanged or to forget after only a short period of time and never step in to help. Yes we should always be ready to take action but one thing that was said during our stay has really hit me/stuck with me, "you cannot make these people your "project" when one views the extreme poverty or the harsh conditions it is easy to want to pick up the cause, but we must not forget that they need Christ!" And as my friend Jesse would say, "you have to keep the main thing the main thing." I am sure it will take some time for us to reflect on our trip and understand fully what we saw and how it should effect us, in the mean time we will continue the journey home and seek the Lord for His wonderful guidance. One thing is sure as we come home, we will never be the same. We were even blessed with one last sunrise as we got to the Entebbe airport, one more reminder of how great our God is!!!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Not Goodbye...


What a trip!!! It is hard to believe we are leaving on Friday. First it was hard to believe we were here, then it was hard to believe we were actually being used by God, now I can hardly believe that it is time to start putting everything back in the suitcases so we can leave. Looking back over our three week stay I can honestly say it was truly a blessing to be able to come out here and be used by God in so many ways. The bonds that have already been developed with these beautiful people who are so very loving are very strong and already tearing at our hearts. As we mingled after church tonight the tears were already flowing. It is surely going to be an emotional departure. As some of us said our goodbyes I was reminded that it is not goodbye but rather, "until we meet again" because the truth is if we do not see one another on Ugandan or American soil we will one day see each other with our blessed Savior. Thank you Jesus for the truth of your word!! God is so good! When it is all said and done I can tell you we shall surely miss Uganda and the beautiful people who dwell here. On a lighter note as you can see by the photo on Monday we got to go for a "fun" day rafting on the Nile!! While we had a great time it was not all fun and games the course we took is a class 5 just so you understand the magnitude of a 5, class 6 is only rafted by professionals or complete idiots. Kelli our dear sister in the Lord broke or fractured a bone in her foot on the third set of rapids. It was a very wild and crazy ride and I personally loved every minute of it!!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Sunrises and sunsets...


Maybe it is the fact that we are thousands of miles away from home, maybe it is because we actually have made time to stop and look, or maybe it is simply we have forgotten to stop and rejoice in what are Lord has blessed us with; what ever the reason this morning (July 3rd) we got up early and took time to view what the Lord had so wonderfully laid out for us. A beautiful sunrise trees, birds flying in formation, clouds, fresh air, the works!! A reminder that our God is great! A reminder that if I do not stop to look I will not see; a reminder that I must like Daniel, purpose in my heart to do the things that are important to me and the things that please our God, like taking time to enjoy God's creation; like setting aside a portion of my day for time with only Him. Deadlines will come and go, as soon as one task is finished another comes up to take its place. According to Solomon man will always have plenty of labor on this planet. While I have not been here to work personally with Ryan McCabe I definitely felt the love of Christ from all the lives that he touched during his service here at Calvary Chapel Jinja. As his friends and family here in Uganda wished him well on his next leg of an incredibly journey with God it was easily deduced that Ryan will be missed greatly by many here in Jinja, what a wonderful view God gave me of what it looks like when a life is poured out in love. While the sun may be setting for Ryan's work here in Jinja I know that the sun is rising on a new work with a new people who equally need to see how Christ loves them, I can think of no one better equipped than Ryan for the task.

Friday, July 2, 2010

So Many Sites To See...


Yesterday as we watched Jesse and Deanna take great leaps of faith, bungee jumping I was taken back by the wonderful beauty of the Nile. It is simply put a force to be reckoned with. I have never seen such splendor! It reminded me once again of the vast greatness of our God, and just how small I am in comparison. And as small as I am God loves me and cares for me and looks out for me. How awesome is our God!!! We have seen so many things here it is hard to describe them all. Again I see great extremes here in Uganda on one road you may see beautiful homes and the very next turn can bring you into a slum. Great beauty accompanied by great levels of harshness. You can not take in one without the other, they exist side by side. The part that gets me is that while I am sure these beautiful people somewhere know that they are not rich with worldly goods, they are rich in a different way; simplicity of life. While some of the struggles here are common to all there are some that I am not used to; malaria for one, it comes so quickly and so often that it is just part of life here. Life here is not caught up with the gaining of things (some still do) but in survival. To see how others live in the world has been one of the greatest blessings for me on this trip. It has helped me to see with my heart the sights that my God sees. Mankind on whole in need of a Savior! "There are none righteous no not one." We all need Christ, no tongue, no soul, no nation escapes this great need. Please pray for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers!!!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Hardcore mommy...


Today our dear sister in the Lord got to mark off one of her items from her bucket list!! As you can see she took a great leap of faith jumping off a 170' bungee tower!! She was not alone our wonderful host and brother Jesse also took the same leap of faith. If you are waiting for pictures of me or my wife you will not see them they are not on my list!! Although, I was inspired by their leap so maybe someday in the future I might give it a try!!! Praise the Lord! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

So much so fast...


Wow there is do much to see, taste, and experience here in Uganda! Every time you turn around there is another smell. With the sewage treatment plant, the fish cannery and the tannery so close that is not always a good thing! Extremes seem to be the norm here in Uganda. One minute you may be walking along smelling the fragrance of beautiful flowers then the wind hits and whew!! Its kinda like sweet and salty granola bars. This is one very beautiful place!