For the past few years, I have been trying to find a recorded version of a song that the youth worship bands in middle school and high school used to play. It always touched my heart and reminded me of who I am in Christ. This song has and continues to be an encouragement to me especially in my current situation.
For those that have dedicated their lives to being a disciple of Christ, I want to encourage you to stand with your face to the wind, and your back to the world...don't turn around to follow the things of the world. For those struggling with the back and forth tug-o-war between surrendering your life to Christ and living for the pleasures of this world, I challenge you to turn you back to the things of the world and follow Christ at all cost....HIS WAY!
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24--27
Stand
Here I am still waiting
For how long I don't know
It's a long way back from where I've been
And there's no where else to go
So I'll stand with my face to the wind
And my back to the world
I'll follow you
I'll go where to tell me to go
No I don't be afraid
No I won't be afraid
I feel your wind is moving
I'm not sure where it's going
But I'll let it carry me away
Cause I'm not staying in this place
So I'll stand with my face to the wind
And my back to the world
I'll follow you
I'll go where to tell me to go
No I don't be afraid
No I won't be afraid
And I won't turn around
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
You're a missionary TOO!
I often get the comments from people about how awesome it is that I have moved overseas to an unknown country to serve as a missionary. I never really thought of it as much of a sacrifice. I was only trying to listen and obey the calling of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you've seen where I live then you know why I think I'm not sacrificing much. I have most of the comforts of home here in my little house/apartment. But I can't deny that my life has changed drastically in the eyes of most people. In my eyes, my life is pretty much the same apart from the fact that I am far away from most of my family and friends.
While in Uganda, I enjoy listening to podcasts at home from speakers that I am familiar with. My favorite is not that of my own home church, but a church that is not far away from where I had lived in the US. That church has committed millions of dollars to support different ministries around the world. But it wasn't the fact that they were donating millions of dollars worldwide that recently caught my attention. Instead it's the words of their pastor who challenged the people of his church to be a light in the community in which they live.
You might be thinking that this is nothing new. You've heard pastors speak about the importance of being in a small group or a smaller community within the framework of the church. You've probably heard over and over how you should "love your neighbor". You've probably heard that you should preach the gospel to those who live around you. I too had heard all those things, and to be honest, most of the time I ignored those pleas. It's only as I've moved to another country that these things really hit home in a recent message. The pastor said something to the effect that if you can't be a missionary in your own community, how can you be a missionary to the rest of the world. You can see how that hit home for me. I had never cared to share with those in my community while I was in the US. However, it's easy to go door to door in Uganda to share the gospel with anyone on the street. I mean who cares what those people think about me. It's much more difficult to share with people in the US who will judge me: the guy next door to me that hates my dog, the people on the other side of my house who are constantly partying, the couple across the street that is co-habitating. I distinctly remember my grandma to hide when she saw some Christians approaching her door.
You might think that it's awesome that I'm overseas trying to disciple young people to be the next generation of leaders in Uganda. For me, I think what I am doing to serve the Lord is easy. Instead, I look up to that remnant of people in the US who believe so strongly in our Lord Jesus Christ that they will preach the gospel to their neighbors in the US no matter what those people might think of them or how they might judge them. If you are one of those people, I pray that you will continue the good work the Lord has put before you. If you're a believer and like me didn't do this very well, I pray that the Holy Spirit will give you "power" (Acts 1:8) to witness for Christ. After all, if you call Jesus your Lord and Savior, you're a missionary too.
While in Uganda, I enjoy listening to podcasts at home from speakers that I am familiar with. My favorite is not that of my own home church, but a church that is not far away from where I had lived in the US. That church has committed millions of dollars to support different ministries around the world. But it wasn't the fact that they were donating millions of dollars worldwide that recently caught my attention. Instead it's the words of their pastor who challenged the people of his church to be a light in the community in which they live.
You might be thinking that this is nothing new. You've heard pastors speak about the importance of being in a small group or a smaller community within the framework of the church. You've probably heard over and over how you should "love your neighbor". You've probably heard that you should preach the gospel to those who live around you. I too had heard all those things, and to be honest, most of the time I ignored those pleas. It's only as I've moved to another country that these things really hit home in a recent message. The pastor said something to the effect that if you can't be a missionary in your own community, how can you be a missionary to the rest of the world. You can see how that hit home for me. I had never cared to share with those in my community while I was in the US. However, it's easy to go door to door in Uganda to share the gospel with anyone on the street. I mean who cares what those people think about me. It's much more difficult to share with people in the US who will judge me: the guy next door to me that hates my dog, the people on the other side of my house who are constantly partying, the couple across the street that is co-habitating. I distinctly remember my grandma to hide when she saw some Christians approaching her door.
You might think that it's awesome that I'm overseas trying to disciple young people to be the next generation of leaders in Uganda. For me, I think what I am doing to serve the Lord is easy. Instead, I look up to that remnant of people in the US who believe so strongly in our Lord Jesus Christ that they will preach the gospel to their neighbors in the US no matter what those people might think of them or how they might judge them. If you are one of those people, I pray that you will continue the good work the Lord has put before you. If you're a believer and like me didn't do this very well, I pray that the Holy Spirit will give you "power" (Acts 1:8) to witness for Christ. After all, if you call Jesus your Lord and Savior, you're a missionary too.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Summerteams...not really summertime
We're halfway through what is called summer in the US. (In Uganda, we don't have four seasons, only 2: rainy season and dry season.) Summer for us means teams. We have had a barrage of teams visiting us since the middle of May. Let me give you a short description of where each team was from and what they did while they were here.
Westmont College sent 5 students our way. I was very close to this team as they shacked up in my small two bedroom guesthouse for 6 weeks. During their stay, they blessed me most with their company. It was a blessing to have Americans to joke around with and talk on the same level. While they were here, they busted their butts painting, digging, carrying bricks, preaching the gospel in the community, teaching chapels and Sunday school, and much more. Most of all, they got to see all the challenges that can occur in a 3rd world country...no water or fetching water from down at the well and carrying it up 5 flights of stairs...no electricity...eating posho and beans...and having their freedom to go anywhere at anytime taken away. Hopefully they learned valuable lessons from their time here and come back to visit soon.
Liberty Christian School from the Dallas area was the next team. They have been the team that over the past two summers I have never met, yet I always see tangible things left behind by them that impact the school. This year, their focus was on our new land for the high school. Although things didn't go quite as they planned, they were still able to make a huge impact there clearing much of the land and helping to grade the plot that will be used for the high school. At the primary school, they played with kids, taught chapels, put up our much needed basketball hoop and built a new swing set for the children. I can't wait to see what they'll accomplish next year.
Oaks Christian School from Westlake Village, CA was next to visit. They spent their first week in Uganda with us and the second at another ministry. While here, the teachers continued to work with the teachers at the high school. From what I hear, our teachers at God Cares High School were blessed by the resources they brought and the discussions that took place. The students and other leaders were at the primary school completing between 30-50 single student desks for the high school. 
I was especially blessed by this team as my "adopted brother", Connor, was here with that team. He received rave reviews as a hard worker while here. We were able to have one night together at my house, but I wish it could have been more like a week together!
Hillcrest Christian School from Thousand Oaks, CA came next along with some board members from Buyamba, Inc. Their focus was also making desks, but while Oaks focused on varnishing and assembling the desks, Hillcrest started from scratch. It was a lot of work, but they were blessed with some skilled men to help organize everything that needed to be done. They also were able to bless both schools with books and supplies as well as a special meal of meat for the students at both schools.
While Hillcrest was still here, we received 24 people from the high school group at Calvary Community Church (my home church). Because of their visit, I am now stocked with hopefully enough chocolate chips, peanut butter, jam, and pancake mix to last me through much of 2010. I was blessed to have many students visit whom I have known since they were in middle school. It was amazing to see the Lord working in many of them while 
they were here as they focused on preaching the gospel in a poor area called Bukasa (We have many students at our school from that area) They also taught Sunday school and chapel at our schools.
After a week off with no visitors, a team of 8 arrived from Houston. The team consisted of half teachers who worked with teachers from both schools. The pastor led a 3-day conference in the village on the "kingdom of God" while his wife and two other ladies taught a women's seminar at our church and another church in Kawempe. There was also a carpenter on this team and he decided that while he was here he would make some things for us. The final output was more than we could have imagined: 2 bookshelves and a storage closet. These would be used at our high school.
This last team just left tonight. We receive a family of three tomorrow, but then we're done until the end of August when we host a team from Dallas that will be integral for the children's camp we will be having.
As you can see teams blessed us in many ways. I'm sure I forgot to list many of the things that these teams did while they were here, but you get an idea of how much has been done so far this summer through the blessing of visiting teams. The best part of it all is that in May before all the teams came to visit, we needed approximately 250 sponsors for children at God Cares Schools, but the latest numbers reflect that we need only 61 sponsors as a result of teams and Pastor Dongo's visit to the US. Would you also consider sponsoring a child's education? It's only a dollar a day. Contact me if you are interested.
Westmont College sent 5 students our way. I was very close to this team as they shacked up in my small two bedroom guesthouse for 6 weeks. During their stay, they blessed me most with their company. It was a blessing to have Americans to joke around with and talk on the same level. While they were here, they busted their butts painting, digging, carrying bricks, preaching the gospel in the community, teaching chapels and Sunday school, and much more. Most of all, they got to see all the challenges that can occur in a 3rd world country...no water or fetching water from down at the well and carrying it up 5 flights of stairs...no electricity...eating posho and beans...and having their freedom to go anywhere at anytime taken away. Hopefully they learned valuable lessons from their time here and come back to visit soon.Liberty Christian School from the Dallas area was the next team. They have been the team that over the past two summers I have never met, yet I always see tangible things left behind by them that impact the school. This year, their focus was on our new land for the high school. Although things didn't go quite as they planned, they were still able to make a huge impact there clearing much of the land and helping to grade the plot that will be used for the high school. At the primary school, they played with kids, taught chapels, put up our much needed basketball hoop and built a new swing set for the children. I can't wait to see what they'll accomplish next year.
Oaks Christian School from Westlake Village, CA was next to visit. They spent their first week in Uganda with us and the second at another ministry. While here, the teachers continued to work with the teachers at the high school. From what I hear, our teachers at God Cares High School were blessed by the resources they brought and the discussions that took place. The students and other leaders were at the primary school completing between 30-50 single student desks for the high school. 
I was especially blessed by this team as my "adopted brother", Connor, was here with that team. He received rave reviews as a hard worker while here. We were able to have one night together at my house, but I wish it could have been more like a week together!Hillcrest Christian School from Thousand Oaks, CA came next along with some board members from Buyamba, Inc. Their focus was also making desks, but while Oaks focused on varnishing and assembling the desks, Hillcrest started from scratch. It was a lot of work, but they were blessed with some skilled men to help organize everything that needed to be done. They also were able to bless both schools with books and supplies as well as a special meal of meat for the students at both schools.
While Hillcrest was still here, we received 24 people from the high school group at Calvary Community Church (my home church). Because of their visit, I am now stocked with hopefully enough chocolate chips, peanut butter, jam, and pancake mix to last me through much of 2010. I was blessed to have many students visit whom I have known since they were in middle school. It was amazing to see the Lord working in many of them while 
they were here as they focused on preaching the gospel in a poor area called Bukasa (We have many students at our school from that area) They also taught Sunday school and chapel at our schools.After a week off with no visitors, a team of 8 arrived from Houston. The team consisted of half teachers who worked with teachers from both schools. The pastor led a 3-day conference in the village on the "kingdom of God" while his wife and two other ladies taught a women's seminar at our church and another church in Kawempe. There was also a carpenter on this team and he decided that while he was here he would make some things for us. The final output was more than we could have imagined: 2 bookshelves and a storage closet. These would be used at our high school.
This last team just left tonight. We receive a family of three tomorrow, but then we're done until the end of August when we host a team from Dallas that will be integral for the children's camp we will be having.
As you can see teams blessed us in many ways. I'm sure I forgot to list many of the things that these teams did while they were here, but you get an idea of how much has been done so far this summer through the blessing of visiting teams. The best part of it all is that in May before all the teams came to visit, we needed approximately 250 sponsors for children at God Cares Schools, but the latest numbers reflect that we need only 61 sponsors as a result of teams and Pastor Dongo's visit to the US. Would you also consider sponsoring a child's education? It's only a dollar a day. Contact me if you are interested.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
New Blog
If you're reading this that means that you've figured out that I changed to blogger from livejournal. The livejournal site was just too slow for me to log in and post things. I hope that I will find myself blogging more now that I'm on this site. Enjoy reading up on the coming adventures.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Back Again
Sorry that it's been a month since my last post. Been very busy with teams, but Saturday, the Calvary team leaves and I'm not sure when the next team arrives after that. Don't have time to give a good update here, but just letting you know I went to a safari with some friends on the Hillcrest team and we had some cool adventures. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Graduations
I just had a very blessed trip to the US. It was super short: only 12 days. Some people asked why so short. Well, the purpose of my trip was to attend some graduations. The Class of 2009 includes students from my second year of teaching 6th grade. It was by far and away my favorite class. I'm not sure if I can remember all of their names from that year, but I will always remember that class: Madi, Favy, Brina, Kelsey, Eric/Harry, Britt, Hillbilly, Lizzy, Thomas, and many more (sorry if I forgot people here) I can't believe that they are graduating and going off to college. That's just crazy to me. But as sad as it is to say, I didn't keep in close contact with most of them or maybe vice versa. I've seen them in passing at church, football and basketball games, and around town. I was blessed to attend Hillcrest graduation and pray for Brittany. She has been a close friend for a long time and I hope that will continue. To be asked to pray for her at graduation was a blessing and an encouragement to me that an impact was made on her. Thanks for that Brittany!
However, I have to be honest and say that I didn't really come back for that graduation ceremony. Instead, I made a promise to a trio of students that attend Oaks that I would return for their graduation: Lindsay Cooper, Dani Germann, and Thomas Johnson. For me to leave at this time of year when we have visitors coming to Uganda from the US...actually, there are 5 students from Westmont College staying at my "house" the whole time I was gone...was a concern of mine. But I had to go to their graduation. I've known Dani and Thomas for years from youth group and had the privilege to coach both Dani and Coop in basketball for two years. I think as a teacher, youth leader, mentor, etc. you always look for some fruit from your work. As I began to read through the program during the Oaks graduation, someone pointed out my name in the program in Dani's section; then I turned to Coopster's section then Thomas'. I couldn't believe that they had all recognized me as someone who made an impact on their lives. Not that it wouldn't have been worth the trip anyway, but what a blessing. I love you three so much and am so proud of you. I hope we have many more great times together laughing!!
However, I have to be honest and say that I didn't really come back for that graduation ceremony. Instead, I made a promise to a trio of students that attend Oaks that I would return for their graduation: Lindsay Cooper, Dani Germann, and Thomas Johnson. For me to leave at this time of year when we have visitors coming to Uganda from the US...actually, there are 5 students from Westmont College staying at my "house" the whole time I was gone...was a concern of mine. But I had to go to their graduation. I've known Dani and Thomas for years from youth group and had the privilege to coach both Dani and Coop in basketball for two years. I think as a teacher, youth leader, mentor, etc. you always look for some fruit from your work. As I began to read through the program during the Oaks graduation, someone pointed out my name in the program in Dani's section; then I turned to Coopster's section then Thomas'. I couldn't believe that they had all recognized me as someone who made an impact on their lives. Not that it wouldn't have been worth the trip anyway, but what a blessing. I love you three so much and am so proud of you. I hope we have many more great times together laughing!!
Alien
This was a note that I wrote on Facebook a few months ago when I was facing a difficult time of being away. One thing I can add to this note is that I am in route back to Uganda from the US and I definitely didn't feel at "home" while I was there. Hope you enjoy it.
No I'm not talking about aliens coming to visit us from another planet, but instead a more traditional use of the word: a resident born in or belonging to another country who has not acquired citizenship by naturalization. As you know I am an alien in Uganda. There are things that I am slowly becoming acquainted with: language, customs, traditions, lifestyle, etc. However, no matter how much I try to fit it, I will always be looked at as an outsider.
In the last month, this has hit me much harder than expected. I had gotten to the point where I felt so much on the outside of society, that I began to question why I was here in Uganda. I began to think if I was truly being used here to impact lives. I know that me being here financially helps a lot of people here in Uganda, but am I truly making an impact more than helping to pay for things here and there around the ministry. I doubted I was.
There were hurdles and obstacles with communication back to people in the US. (How can you have almost 600 friends on facebook and only hear from 2 or 3 in a week?) The economic situation began to affect my support. There were also hurdles and obstacles with communication with people here in Uganda though much different. You see many people in general here are not trustworthy. A lie here doesn't seem to mean much to most people, even Christians (or at least people who call themselves Christian). People tend to put on a show for mzungu (whites) when they are here because they think they might be able to get something from them. I was one of those who were fooled by them, but after being here for a longer period of time, I have seen the true colors of many people.
True friendship is something that has been hard to come by here. Ugandans, and Africans in general from what I hear, tend to have an unrealistic view of Americans. They believe we are all rich and that we will come and save the day by giving them handouts. Although we know that this idea is not true and especially not true for most people coming here on missions trips, it is reinforced by the fact that Americans go to foreign countries and flash their money around. (If you've seen Slumdog Millionaire, there's a part where the taxi driver begins beating a boy and the foreigners began giving the boy money.) If it's not money they want from you, it might be status. Just hanging out or being seen with you makes others view them differently. Then there are the people who know that I have gadgets and want to borrow them. The question is can I trust them?
There is the language barrier. Though most people can speak some English, their preferred language is their native language. I feel for foreigners in the US because everyone expects them to speak English, and it's not such an easy language to learn. I now know how they feel. I sympathize with them when people make fun of my accent or misuse of words. But most of all, the thing that has bothered me is when people will deliberately speak in their native tongue to leave me or another American out of the conversation.
Through all of these struggles, I wondered if I just went home would everything be better. I missed my family (biological, adopted and Christian), and friends. I missed playing basketball. I missed the people at work. I missed real youth minstry. I missed American comforts. Then I recalled all my struggles in the US. Though many may not be aware of them, they were there.
I prayed and read the: Word. I listened to a sermon and realized that the reason I felt so out of place whether it was in Uganda or the US was that I don't belong in either place. My citizenship is not in Uganda or the US, but instead it is in heaven. I don't belong in any place but there. I won't ever truly have peace until I am there. I don't know how long God will ask me to serve in Uganda and I continue to seek His guidance, but instead of moving back to answer my so-called problems here, I instead decide to change my perspective knowing that I don't belong in either place.
So this Easter as we wait for the Lord to take us to be at home with Him, let us praise the Lord for our blessings and change our perspective on our situation.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. 3:20
No I'm not talking about aliens coming to visit us from another planet, but instead a more traditional use of the word: a resident born in or belonging to another country who has not acquired citizenship by naturalization. As you know I am an alien in Uganda. There are things that I am slowly becoming acquainted with: language, customs, traditions, lifestyle, etc. However, no matter how much I try to fit it, I will always be looked at as an outsider.
In the last month, this has hit me much harder than expected. I had gotten to the point where I felt so much on the outside of society, that I began to question why I was here in Uganda. I began to think if I was truly being used here to impact lives. I know that me being here financially helps a lot of people here in Uganda, but am I truly making an impact more than helping to pay for things here and there around the ministry. I doubted I was.
There were hurdles and obstacles with communication back to people in the US. (How can you have almost 600 friends on facebook and only hear from 2 or 3 in a week?) The economic situation began to affect my support. There were also hurdles and obstacles with communication with people here in Uganda though much different. You see many people in general here are not trustworthy. A lie here doesn't seem to mean much to most people, even Christians (or at least people who call themselves Christian). People tend to put on a show for mzungu (whites) when they are here because they think they might be able to get something from them. I was one of those who were fooled by them, but after being here for a longer period of time, I have seen the true colors of many people.
True friendship is something that has been hard to come by here. Ugandans, and Africans in general from what I hear, tend to have an unrealistic view of Americans. They believe we are all rich and that we will come and save the day by giving them handouts. Although we know that this idea is not true and especially not true for most people coming here on missions trips, it is reinforced by the fact that Americans go to foreign countries and flash their money around. (If you've seen Slumdog Millionaire, there's a part where the taxi driver begins beating a boy and the foreigners began giving the boy money.) If it's not money they want from you, it might be status. Just hanging out or being seen with you makes others view them differently. Then there are the people who know that I have gadgets and want to borrow them. The question is can I trust them?
There is the language barrier. Though most people can speak some English, their preferred language is their native language. I feel for foreigners in the US because everyone expects them to speak English, and it's not such an easy language to learn. I now know how they feel. I sympathize with them when people make fun of my accent or misuse of words. But most of all, the thing that has bothered me is when people will deliberately speak in their native tongue to leave me or another American out of the conversation.
Through all of these struggles, I wondered if I just went home would everything be better. I missed my family (biological, adopted and Christian), and friends. I missed playing basketball. I missed the people at work. I missed real youth minstry. I missed American comforts. Then I recalled all my struggles in the US. Though many may not be aware of them, they were there.
I prayed and read the: Word. I listened to a sermon and realized that the reason I felt so out of place whether it was in Uganda or the US was that I don't belong in either place. My citizenship is not in Uganda or the US, but instead it is in heaven. I don't belong in any place but there. I won't ever truly have peace until I am there. I don't know how long God will ask me to serve in Uganda and I continue to seek His guidance, but instead of moving back to answer my so-called problems here, I instead decide to change my perspective knowing that I don't belong in either place.
So this Easter as we wait for the Lord to take us to be at home with Him, let us praise the Lord for our blessings and change our perspective on our situation.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. 3:20
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