Northern Uganda Women and Children Support Initiative, Inc. (NUWOCSI)

It was so good worshipping with my church family Sunday morning after being away for the last 2 or 3 weeks.  What more can you ask for than to have a loving and supportive church where God’s biblical truths are preached every week!  Each member was a blessing to me this morning from 4-year-old Ray to Ruth, who turns 100 years old in June.  Happy birthday Ruth, you’re an amazing lady!

Pastor Jim’s message this morning was labeled “Finding Contentment” and was from the book of Ecclesiastes.  What I took away from the message is that there are times when we should be content but we’re not because we are looking for more or better; a better job, a bigger house, more money, more clothes, the list goes on. Then there are times when we should not be content, such as when we know that there is injustice happening around this world and the poor is being abused and oppressed.  In Psalm 82, verse 3 and 4 tells us to “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked” (KJV). How is it that we can spend so much time, effort and money trying to find contentment by striving for more or better worldly goods but won’t acknowledge the pain and suffering that occurs all around us?   How long will He allow us to be content in our ignorance to the injustice and poverty happening throughout this earth?

My road to Uganda took me to Arkansas this month.  My cousin, Kay, has graciously offered to store some of my furniture while I’m in Uganda.  So I packed up my car and a large UHaul trailer and headed to Arkansas.  Because of the trailer or rather, because of the driver (me) who never towed before, the drive was long and slow.  UHaul recommended a speed limit of 55 and I pretty much stuck with that speed especially going over the mountains of Virginia and Tennessee.  This was the first time my 8-year-old car has towed so I wasn’t sure how the engine or transmission was going to react so I played it safe.  It was a beautiful drive, except that it rain the whole drive through Virginia.  When I headed back home the drive was much smoother but not necessarily quicker.  I stopped a few times to enjoy the sites and of course when I passed through Memphis, I had to slow down for a possible Elvis sighting.

Blue Ridge Mountains

The sun was also back out in Virginia so I stopped along the Blue Ridge mountains and did a couple of short hikes.  The views were breathtaking.

Clinton Library

I really enjoyed myself in Arkansas and got some much needed R & R.  Kay and her family absolutely spoiled me while I was visiting. The weather was beautiful, not to hot but warm enough to sit out in the evenings. I visited the Clinton Library (but please don’t let my Aunt Thelma know this). It was interesting and well designed on the inside but the outside architecture is, well, unique to say the least.  I’ve visited Little Rock’s old state house and the current state house, which is almost a replica of the Capitol in DC.  I visited the National Historic Park for Little Rock Nine and had a tour of the Little Rock Central High School.  In September 1957, this was the scene where Brown vs. Board of Education was challenged when nine black students tried to enter the segregated Little Rock Central High school.  It took several days and the U.S. Army but these brave students stood firm against segregation and the rest is history.  I also toured Heifer International.  They have a Heifer project only a few miles from me which I have never visited but I travel over 1500 miles and do so!

Little Rock really has a lot to offer for sightseeing and the best part is that they are free!

Well, my house is back on the market!  The buyers I had been waiting on couldn’t secure financing.  When I was told the closing would occur on April 20 I moved, sold or gave away the contents of the house and now it’s completely empty. So now I’m “camping” in my house.  It’s not that bad though!  I discovered that the air mattress I’m sleeping on is much more comfortable than my old bed mattress and there’s a lot less cleaning to do around the house!  As Paul wrote in Philippians 4: 11-13, I think God is wanting me to be content in whatever the circumstances.  I can also find contentment in knowing that what I do, I do for the Lord.

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On April 6 I signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement and the buyer was pressing for a closing date of April 16. This was only giving me 10 days to pack up and empty the house and I was really nervous that this would not be enough time. My last day at work was set for April 15 but in order to be ready for a April 16 closing I drastically cut back on my hours and days in the office. I had asked my attorney if he could talk to the buyers about extending the closing to at least April 20 but on April 9 the buyers were asking for an extension to the 20th. Not a problem! I really needed those extra 3 days.

I held an indoor “moving sale” on April 9 and 10 and was able to sell quite a bit of collectibles and household items.  I would have thought I’d be more emotional about seeing all my possessions go but with each sale I only thought of how much more money there would be for Uganda.  These two days were actually enjoyable as I met neighbors I hadn’t met before and met other nice people with whom I hope I can stay in contact. I also had opportunities to talk about Uganda.

Last weekend was nonstop with packing and moving furniture out of the house. Now it’s not like I have another house to move my things into so I have had to make some quick decisions on what to sell, what to give away and what to throw away. I didn’t mind selling my things or giving away items, especially when I knew the recipient needed them or could use them. It did hurt some though when come Monday, April 19 and I came down to my last few items that I didn’t think would sell in a yard sale nor could I find a home for them so I had no other choice but to throw them in the trash pile. These items were used but still useful and I hated throwing them out. This must be the Yankee in me as we’re known for being pack rats who are slow to throw anything out. After all, you never know when you might need it. However, a walk-though was taking place Tuesday morning at 9:00 and the house had to be completely empty. The closing would take place in the afternoon.

Well, it took until mid-night Monday but the house was pretty much empty. I would catch a few hours sleep and then get up at 6:00 to finish the job and be ready when the rubbish removal folks came to take away the pile in the drive way.

As the rubbish was being removed and I was doing a last sweeping and vacuuming I received a call from my real estate agent. The buyers were asking for an extension until the end of the month. WHAT! I was already both physically and emotionally exhausted and this bit of news almost got the best of me.

It had been a long 2 months with preparing and making repairs on the house for showings and then to deal with a basement that flooded 3 times in one month. I had to use the sump pump each time and I can’t even count the number of gallons of water I vacuumed up. In the 16 years I’ve owned the house I think I’ve only had to use the pump 3 other times. To have to use it 3 times in one month was unprecedented. Now, as I stand in an empty house with not even a chair to sit on I’m being asked for a two-week extension. I was advised that I could say no and the buyers could take their deposit and walk away but then where would that leave me. Well, in debt for one thing! I had cut back on my days at work; and paid to have an oil tank removed and had knob & tube wiring replaced as a condition of sale.  In addition, I can’t stay in my house because everything has either been placed in storage, sold, given away or thrown away. So, I’ll grant the extension and continue to pray that the house sells at the end of the month.

To say I wasn’t upset at the time would be an understatement but I will be patient and continue to wait on God’s timing in this matter as well as in all of my other preparations as I continue to prepare for my move to Uganda.

I am thankful for my son and his friends who came to help move my furniture and for all the friends that helped me that weekend.  I’m also very grateful to family members and friends who have offered to store my furniture while I’m in Uganda and who have helped in so many ways these past few weeks.

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In transition, that’s how I would describe my life right now.  I’m preparing to close one chapter and open another and this transition is not going as quick or as smooth as I would like.  I think my road to Uganda has a few bumps in it and it’s slowing me down! Or maybe I’m just impatient!

My house hasn’t sold yet nor has had any offers but it has only been a couple of months.  In today’s market that is not much time at all I’m told.  Selling a home is stressful though!  I have to be careful to keep the house clean and clutter free at all times because I never know when someone may want to look at it. (I don’t think it helped when one day I accidently left the trash and bag of cat litter sitting in the middle of the kitchen. The smell was probably the first thing they noticed when they entered the house.) A nice clean house with everything in its place is nice but I think I’m much more comfortable in a little clutter!

I’m still working but employment could be coming to an end soon!  I have mixed feelings about that. Financially, it would be beneficial to continue working until the house sells but if I’m not working my time would be freed up to concentrate on other things I need to accomplish before Uganda.

During my “transition” period I am trying to stay close to the Lord and in my Bible. In one recent study the word humble caught my attention.

Humble! Okay, what does it really mean?  The definition in Noah Webster’s dictionary (1828) gives the meaning, when used as an adjective, as lowly; modest; meek; submissive; opposed to proud; haughty; arrogant or assuming. Alright, I see where I could have some work here. When used as a verb the definition is: to abase; to crush; to break; to subdue; to mortify; to make humble or lowly in mind; to reduce arrogance and self-dependance.  “To reduce self-dependance”…umm..now I think I know why God is bringing this word to my attention?

In reading Deuteronomy, the word humble appears at least three times in Chapter 8.  Moses is reminding the people of Israel all that God did for them while they were in the wilderness for 40 years and why they went through the difficulties they did. God was teaching the people to be obedient and humble. Verse 2 says “thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart“.

God wanted the people of Israel fully relying on Him for all their needs.  He tested them throughout their 40 years in the wilderness for obedience and to teach them humbleness so to protect them from pride. He wanted them to know that through all their trails; droughts, hunger, poisonous animals, He was there to supply their needs. God wanted them to be completely reliant on Him.  When they came into the promised land and life started getting good it was important that they remember that the same God who provided for them in their time of need was also providing in their time of plenty.

Now, how does this apply to me?  This chapter is about being obedient by obeying God’s commands; humbling ourselves before Him by knowing that all we have and all we need will be provided by Him; by knowing our hearts and no, not God knowing our heart (as He already does), but we ourselves must know what’s in own heart; and about being prideful by assuming that all our power, accomplishments and wealth was obtained by our own doing.

I think I see what the Lord is trying to teach me.  I have had a pretty stable existence for a number of years with a steady income, a nice home, family and friends to always call upon when in need or just for fellowship, but this is going to change soon. Life may not be as stable and comfortable as it is currently and may soon become unstable and uncomfortable. Will I be ready for that?  Will I be ready to rely on God 100%?  It’s easy to say you trust the Lord to supply all your needs when you already have everything you need and the resources to get pretty much what you want.

As I wait for the house to sell, as I wait until I’m told I’ve collected my last pay check, as I continue to build my support team and as I wait until I can buy my plane ticket to Uganda I will work hard to learn these lessons of obedience and humility.  I will ask the Lord to “prove” me and I will search my heart so that I will be prepared and ready to fully depend on the Lord.

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The Lord Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, led by Joseph Kony, began fighting the government of Uganda in 1986 and for over 20 years thousands of civilians have been killed, maimed or have been victim of countless atrocities and have had over 60,000 children abducted. In addition, up to 2 million have had to leave their home and village for safety.  In 2006 after increased pressure from the Ugandan army,  the LRA relocated to Democratic republic of Congo (DRC) and southern Sudan. In the beginning of 2008 there was hope that peace would come to the region with the signing of a peace agreement between the Ugandan government and the LRA but in May 2008, Joseph Kony backed out of the agreement and refused to sign.  Since September 2008 until now the LRA is back to killing, maiming and abducting children in the DRC and southern Sudan.

In Christmas 2008 people were worshipping in church when the LRA came and refused to let them out as the building was set on fire.  Over 100 people were killed.

According to a report I read in afrik.com the United Nations is stating that between the period of September 2008 and June 2009, at least 1200 people have been killed in the eastern province of the Congo, 1400 kidnapped and over 230,000 were driven from their homes because of the violence attributed to the rebels. They also report that earlier this month a remote village in the DRC was attacked with several people killed and some, mostly woman, had ears and mouths cut off by the rebels.

When will it end?

U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Sam Brownback have introduced  Senate bill 1067,  the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.  The bill requires that the Obama administration develop a new multifaceted strategy to help bring an end to the LRA’s continued terror. It also authorizes funding to help secure lasting peace in northern Uganda and to those communities outside of Uganda that have been devastated by the LRA’s violence.  As of this date it has 51 cosponsors.  Senator Brownback said “there has not been this level of bipartisan sponsorship on Africa legislation for over three decades”.  You can get more information concerning this bill and how you can get involved by visiting www.resolveuganda.org or www.enoughproject.org.

ECM is having a special prayer request this month, Prayer for the Dark Places 2010.  There are four groups, which all effect the ministries of ECM, that they are asking for prayer.  One of those groups is for the LRA.  How quickly this war could end if Joseph Kony or his top commanders would open their hearts and receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Some of the things that are in the ECM prayer guide you could pray about are:

*  conversion of Joseph Kony, Deputy Commander Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwena, lead strategist for the LRA

*  pray that their strategies may be confounded so that innocent lives may be protected and so that they may understand they are dealing with a Higher Power than that of the spirits they serve.

*  pray for the healing of children and youth whose souls were damaged by the inhuman acts they were forced to perform or participate in.

I would like to encourage you to contact ECM for a complete copy of Prayer for the Dark Places by sending an email to lorella@ecmafrica.org.

It’s great to have the power of the U.S. government getting involved in stopping the LRA but we serve a powerful God and all the governments in the world can’t do what God alone can do.  So let’s get on our knees in prayer for the people of Uganda, DRC, and Sudan and yes, for the LRA.

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Who ever thought selling a house could be so exhausting!  I think I’ve done two weeks of work in one week but the house is looking good. Not perfect, but presentable!  I owe a big thank you to friends and family!

The house did have a showing this afternoon.  I’m not sure how that went but I worked like crazy yesterday preparing for it.  Before the Agent arrived today, I sat down and looked at my house.  How good it looked clean and clutter free.  I really like my house and over the years have put in a lot of “sweat equity”.  I thought I’d be more emotional than I am at the thought of giving it up but then again, what am I giving up.  I know that the property tax bills say I’m the owner, but as a Christian I know that it and all I have belongs to the Lord. If He says it’s time to give it up it’s because I know He has something better planned for me.

Instead of being emotional about selling the house I started to panic.  What happens if an Inspector comes in and finds something big and expensive that needs to be fixed.  I don’t anticipate anything like that but panic was settling in anyways.  Before the Agent arrived I took some time to pray and as I was praying the Apostle Peter walking on water came to mind.  In Matthew 14 it tells us that while a ship that Jesus’ disciples were in was being tossed by a storm with heavy winds Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  At first the disciples didn’t recognise Jesus until He spoke.  Peter then asked if he could walk out to Him on the water.  Jesus said, “come” and Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water.  But Peter must have allowed himself to become distracted by the winds and the waves and took his focus off of Jesus. When that happened he began to sink, yelling for Jesus to save him.  What was Jesus’ response as He reached out for Peter?  “O thou of little faith, why did you doubt?”

I know that as long as I stay focused on Jesus, he will make anything possible and I need to put aside my panic with selling my (God’s) house.  It’s time to get out of the boat!

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I am so excited to see how God is working towards my preparation for Uganda.  Last month, my employer hired my replacement and I was thrilled that he took my recommendation and hired a friend of mine.  This is a lady that I worked with for several years when we both working at The New England, in Boston.  I know that she will be more than a competent replacement and will be a good fit for the company.

Last week my house went up for sale and this weekend I think it will be shown. There has already been one inquiry! Since last Wednesday it’s been a whirlwind of getting the house ready for market with painting, repairs, packing boxes, removing boxes and furniture, and cleaning. It’s been back-breaking!

I also have visitors that desperately need to find a home or homes.  In November, a stray cat brought her two kittens to my back door.  I think she knew I couldn’t turn them away and I didn’t!  Well, it’s now time they found another home, so if anyone is interested is a cute little kitten, now is your chance!  One is gray with short hair and the other is a gray with some white long hair maine coon cat (it’s hard to believe they are from the same litter).  Mom needs a home too who’s also a gray short hair cat and very lovable.

The last couple of weeks has also brought more people pledging to support me. Praise the Lord! I am very grateful to these people and to my church, Burncoat Baptist for both the financial and prayer support they are providing.  I know as a team we can bring the hope and love of the Lord to the Ugandan people.

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Happy New Year!  It’s 2010, 10 years already into the new century. Wow, it seems like yesterday when we were worrying about Y2K!  I recently read a story who’s headline stated 2010 will be the year of changes. I know that will hold true in my life.  This new year begins with my house up for sale and in a couple of weeks I begin training my replacement at my work.  I hope that not too much time will pass before I’m boarding a plane for Uganda.

I don’t know how you celebrated New Year’s Eve but I was busy cleaning cobwebs out of the basement and trying to “stage” my kitchen so it looks good for all the people who are going to come view my house.

In my basement is an old shower stall.  I’ve never used it in the 15 years I’ve been living here, nor have I ever cleaned it either!  I decided that it might be a good idea to clean out the grub before a potential buyer looks at it so, as I started scrubbing down the walls I noticed paw prints going up and down the walls. These weren’t your average dog or cat prints!  These prints had long claws. Squirrel maybe?  Raccoon? Whatever it was I don’t understand how it ended up in the shower stall although it made it out of the shower, I don’t think it made it back outside to the wild.  A couple of months ago my house had a very strange odor, like someone had died and I knew it had to be something bigger than a mouse!  Now, I think I know what might have happened, especially after cleaning another section of the basement and seeing the remains of a dead (animal) body tucked behind a wall, which seemed to be too big for a mouse but I couldn’t bring myself to investigate any further. Next time my son comes over I’ll have to remember to ask him to dispose of it for me!  Oh, if you’re wondering how it got into the basement to begin with, it’s because I left my basement door open way to long!

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In 2008, I took a short mission trip to Uganda.  This trip, which was sponsored by Every Child Ministries (ECM), allowed me to be part of a team that ministered to children through Bible clubs and first aid programs.  We visited children in both the city of Kampala and in Gulu, in northern Uganda.

Northern Uganda was at war for over 20 years with a rebel group called the Lord’s Resistance Army or LRA which is led by a man named Joseph Kony.  The LRA has caused much destruction and atrocities to the Acholi people in Gulu.  Currently, there is peace and the people of Gulu are now struggling to regain their life and move out of the IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps that they have been forced to call home in order to keep themselves safe from the LRA. Though the conflict has finally gained more international awareness, the damage is great.

Camp conditions have led to acute malnutrition in children with many suffering from malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and preventable diseases.  Young people have not only been displaced physically but have also lost their role in society and social responsibilities.  Most can’t afford to pay school fees so there are many growing up without formal schooling, leaving little chance of any gainful employment.

I have decided to return to Uganda as a missionary with ECM working with children and young people in the Gulu area.  I have a special heart for the young mothers struggling to raise their children and as part of the ECM team we will work at developing occupational training, provide tutoring and nursing care to these young people and children, in addition to conducting bible studies and children bible clubs.

Gulu Bible Club

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