Vision

So, I'm sure if you're wondering if we're just hanging out here on vacation with all of the fun pictures. Haha. We live a pretty "normal" day-to-day life here... as normal as homeschooling, feeding, loving 13 kids in Northern Uganda with an outdoor kitchen, an outhouse, huts, and intense heat can be. (All that said in an I REALLY DO LOVE IT tone of voice.) The Lord has given us some clear vision of what we should be doing here.

Basically, we are trying to further encourage the Ugandan believers so they can continue spreading the Gospel to their own people. As much as we don't want there to be an ethnic divide, there is one. We are viewed as the rich white people that will give gold to the best beggar. Because of that, we really want to begin teaching those who are strong believers how to teach the Bible. Then, they can reach their own people without a strange division. We'd love it if the Lord would raise up a Ugandan man to pastor the church we're attending. Right now, Tyler and Ryan (a guy from USA) share the teaching, switching every 2 months.

The property we own here - Lord willing - will eventually become a Bible college/discipleship training place. We're not sure what that will look like at this point. Full days, half days, self-sustaining with work in the afternoons, housing, cost... lots of questionable aspects to beginning a Bible school!

Right now, we are specifically praying about building huts on our property for the people who work here. They would benefit greatly by living right here with us. In all honesty, WE might be the ones who are most greatly benefitted by having them here.

As far as the Nodding Disease ministry...
A team (3 Ugandans & 2 or 3 Americans) has been going out every Monday and Friday to two different areas of a town being wrecked by Nodding Disease. The government official overseeing this town - an unbeliever - has gone door to door to invite people to the Bible studies and prayer. It's sad that God would be the last resort, but they have no where else to turn. About 100 kids suffering with the disease and a bunch of parents have been coming the past 2 weeks for a VBS-style Bible study explaining the gospel of Christ, worship the Lord with songs, they do a craft, and every child is prayed over before the team leaves. I haven't personally gone, but Tyler said it doesn't seem like evil-spirit kind of stuff. Nobody knows what is causing this disease. Maybe it's spiritual, maybe it's from the mandatory vaccines and lack of refrigeration, maybe it's a parasite in the water, maybe it's from contaminated food in the refugee camps they were all just living in... there are no answers as to WHY these thousands of children all of a sudden start nodding out and go into convulsions. There are no answers to HOW to prevent it or WHAT to do to treat it. Thankfully we know WHO has every answer. We look to Him. Parents and children are encouraged just by a handful of people showing they care... because the Father in heaven cares. And if not one child is ever healed, they will know of a Savior and the only way to eternal life through Jesus Christ. They will know of forgiveness and love through His death on the cross. Please keep praying.