Call to Action -- Yes, You!

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies." 

If anyone knows me at all, you surely know that I've always hated change. Any change. I liked to know my schedule for the week by Sunday night and if anything went askew a headache would soon accompany my annoyance.  However, life here is never the same. It's never predictable. In fact, this is a season of change in general. I am in the process of moving and setting up home for the first time here in my own place. Who knew I could find pleasure in hanging up decorations and buying pots and pans! As much as I have loved the last three places where I have been blessed to live here, I am thrilled to have a roommate my age and paint the walls and set up home. 

We have had quite the eventful last few weeks in Masese as well. Life is full of the unexpected but we're excited to see how God is working here daily. Moments of doubt and discouragement are often, but oh the joy of knowing Jesus. 

Sipi Falls

The Ambassador Institute class has faced some challenged already, but we're excited to begin this Monday! In attempts to bring the Word of God to Masese, we are going about this class in a different light. I will be teaching the class to three women on Mondays and they will then study and prepare to teach it to the community on Saturday. I'm so excited to take myself out of the equation and allow these women to be the ones to bring the Gospel to their tribe!

Turaco -- insanely friendly parrots! 

I have had hard conversations with even harder hearts lately. Two women whom I love dearly are in difficult places in life and have chosen to isolate themselves from other men and women who would point out their sin and build them up in God's grace. How do I love these women well?

As of late the phrase, "Show them Jesus" has been on my heart. I'm not Jesus. I can't. I fail time and time again. Much more than this, I've been striving to show my friends that I need Jesus. I need Him every hour. Oh what truth there is that song!

I'm done trying to be Jesus to the world. I want to be real; not to display my sin for the world, but to acknowledge my sin to display His grace and forgiveness daily. To proclaim that reality to myself as well as the world. I want my life to focus on the glory of the cross and the steadfast love of the Lord displayed on Calvary.

I would like to invite you in to a very intimate, exciting 40 days. The women whom I work with in Masese are from the Karamojong tribe, who are located in northwestern Uganda. There are pockets of displaced Karamojong here in Jinja (Masese) as well as in Kampala, our capitol city. There are missionaries who work with them in those slums as well as many who are living in Karamoja. Recently, one of the missionaries up north felt called to pray for this people group in a very intentional way.

For the next 40 days we will be praying for the Karamojong people!

If you would like to be a part of this, there is a Facebook page found here where we will be updating prayer and praise requests for each team working alongside of the Karamojong people. We will be spending the next 40 days covering this tribe in prayer for each minute of the day. If you would like to sign up, you can do so here. I know there aren't many slots open still, but I would ask that you would still join us in praying.

Alongside of this request, I will go further. I cross this railroad track every time I enter Masese. Every time I cross this track, I know that the battle is already there. Satan is fighting for this community with alcoholism, rape, prostitution, greed, envy, murder, gossip, and every other form of evil you can imagine. But I'm reminded each time I enter that the battle has been won on the cross. Would you join me in praying for the souls of the men and women specifically in Masese, that they would stand in the victory of Jesus in the peace that He brings with the Father? My request is that any time you cross railroad tracks, see or hear a train, or go under a railroad trestle, you would stop and pray for these men and women walking in darkness.

Our prayer requests -- which will be prayed for in a few weeks in the 40 days of prayer -- are as followed

• Pray for the current sickness in Masese.  Upper respiratory illness is rampant during the dry season and sanitation conditions have seemingly digressed.
• Pray for the current land issues in the slum.  The government is implementing the first phase of developing the slum by creating roads which will knock down homes effecting hundreds of people.  The landowners in Masese fear that politicians will fail to compensate them for their lost property.  Renters fear that homes to rent will be scarce and increase in cost.  They are all asking that the government officials conduct this process openly and honestly.
• Pray for the NGO's in Masese.  Their is a competitive spirit among us which fails to evidence God's love and hinders the work of His Kingdom. Pray God brings one spirit, heart, mind and purpose to His people as we serve Masese.
• Pray for discipling efforts in Masese, especially among the Karimojong. Pray they would count the cost of following Jesus and consider it joy to lose their life for His sake.
• Pray for a Harvest in Masese.  Pray for disciples of Christ to proclaim the Gospel without shame and with perseverance.  Any Masese community member who is faithful to share the Gospel message in their churches or in public will almost certainly face persecution.
• Pray God builds His Church in Masese.  For God to assemble a community of faith that reveals His glory through authentic and practical love for Him and neighbor.

Thank you so much for standing with me in prayer!

It is such a joy to know that people are praying for His Church, His people, all over the world. It is such a joy to pray for my brothers and sisters who I will rejoice with in glory one day.