OBANGA TEK

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD

2009-06-04T12:21:00.001-07:00

Greetings to all of you blog readers who have been left high and dry since Thanksgiving...SORRY! We are back in full force on the blog and wanted to bring everyone up to speed. Exciting times are happening in GRI's work in northern Uganda. GRI's goal since the beginning of the northern Uganda projects has been to raise up national leaders to manage the programs. We are thrilled that God has brought us some amazing leaders to run the daily programs and they are doing a great job. Each month we are able to give much needed medications, education, encouragement and support to over 1,200 people living with HIV/AIDS. Pictured above are the managers of our HIV/ministry programs.
We will try our best to keep you posted on the amazing things God is doing in Uganda. Thanks for hanging in there with us. Keep reading, writing, praying and giving! We are in this together!

Blessings,
GRI

Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T04:07:00.000-08:00

Jolene here.

It has been quite a few years since I last had a family Thanksgiving. Christmas is the big holiday for us. I've been living too far away from my family and/or been too busy with school and work to take time out in November, too, to have the family meal and fellowship that we used to do every year.

I expected Thanksgiving this year to be just like my past years of not really celebrating since the holiday isn't even on Uganda's calendar, but we actually had a pretty special day. Our neighbors Bob and Carol invited 8 of us over for a Thanksgiving meal. The 8 of us are of similar age which is similar to the ages of Bob and Carol's kids. We all agreed that the time was very much like having a family gathering, which was just really really really nice being so far from "home".

The meal was incredible!!! There was turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, carrots, waldorf salad (which is pretty incredible since you can't actually get any of the typical ingredients for it here and it was made entirely of things that aren't typically in it), fruit salad, stuffing, olives, homemade biscuits, cornbread ... I'm forgetting something, but EVERYTHING that is RIGHT about Thanksgiving meals was there. We didn't have yams, but we didn't even miss them. Maybe you don't understand that we don't get to eat these foods. It was amazing.

And I have to brag that Wes and I tag-teamed the pumpkin pie (started them less just over an hour before we were SUPPOSED to arrive ... thank goodness for "African time"!) and really pulled it off. Shau, you'll be jealous to know that Carol even asked me to teach her how I made the crust (did I mention this was my first time ever making pie?)!!!!!!!!!!! It went great with both Carol's homemade ice cream and my made-from-scratch vanilla pudding.

As if the food itself wasn't blissful enough, we just had a great time of fellowship sharing some of the things that we're thankful for, sharing some of our frustrations together, taking turns on the piano (I didn't touch it cuz my talent does NOT compare to the others who sat down after so long without playing and pulled out entire songs from memory!!!), and singing Christmas carols (dry season has hit with a vengence, so we needed a little something extra to take our minds off the sweat pouring from us to really believe it was Thanksgiving time). It was everything that I look forward to when I'm anticipating a family holiday, minus my actual family.

It makes me look forward with even more anticipation to the Christmas season and getting to do the real thing. It also makes me sad knowing that the same group will not all be together for a holiday again.

It's Official!!!

2008-10-20T06:23:00.001-07:00

Praise the living God!!! After over two years of paperwork and red tape, three different lawyers, sweat, effort, and much intense prayer, we have finally been approved as an official Ugandan NGO by the government of Uganda!!! I don't even know how to contain myself! God is faithful, that's all I can say, and He deserves all the fame! The implications of this status are vast and far-reaching. Basically, it means that our work here in northern Uganda can continue to expand and grow MUCH more freely as the Lord guides us to serve more and more people who need to know the love and hope of Christ in a tangible way. Pictured here is the official Certificate of Registration, which is a key that will unlock many doors as our activities and plans are carried out in partnership with the Ugandan government. I almost couldn't believe it until I saw the certificate with my own eyes. I feel like a burden of a thousand tons has been lifted off of my back. Again, praise God! His faithfulness endures forever! (Ps 117:1-2)

-Wes

Pay It Forward

2008-10-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Baby Tracey was admitted to the hospital in Lira not long after I first saw her at the Otwal Health Centre. You may recall my desperate prayer request posted on this blog previously. Tracey was severely malnourished and vomiting regularly. She spent the first two weeks in the hospital being treated with various antibiotics and not improving at all. She weighed only 1.9 kgs (4 lbs 3 oz) and despite the treatment was not gaining any weight at all. Jackson, our operations manager, was at the hospital every day, asking the nurses about her condition and encouraging the mother to not lose hope. It was a constant battle. We were concerned that the staff at the hospital was giving up on her. Two weeks into her stay the lead physician finally came to assess Tracey’s situation and determined that she needed intestinal surgery. We prayed fervently for this tiny child of God-that He would hold her and sustain her through this surgery. We were truly rejoicing when we heard that she not only survived the surgery, but finally began to improve.

Throughout this journey we were constantly encouraging the mother to love this baby and not give up hope. It was a hard road to walk because it seemed that she had distanced herself from Tracey as though she was afraid to love any more deeply, knowing that she may lose this precious child.

On my last day in Lira, I wanted to visit Tracey one more time. Amazingly, not only did I get to see her, but I got to be there as she was discharged from the hospital! I was able to hold this little one, who had made definite improvement. I was so aware of God’s grace to allow me to see the impact that we had been able to make in this baby’s life. As we drove the family to the nearby bus station to get transportation back to their village, Jackson talked with Tracey’s parents. They kept asking him what they could do to repay us. Jackson told them “when you go home tell the people in your village 'this baby is alive because of the power of Jesus Christ’”. When they asked again what they could do, Jackson told them, “The next time you see someone in need, hurting or dying, don’t forget what was done for you. Love them and support them as you have been supported.”

Something changed in Eunice, Tracey’s mom, that day. She held her baby closer, looked at her with different eyes. I think she finally allowed herself to love again.

Please continue to pray for Tracey and her parents. Her life is still so fragile as she still weighs only 2.2 kgs (4 lbs 13 oz). Pray that the love of Jesus Christ that they’ve experienced will continue to grow in them and through them.

Baby Tracey with chubby cheeks now. Looking so much healthier!

Jolene on Pastor Walter's Traditional Marriage Ceremony

2008-09-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

(photos to come)

Working with a program where we're telling students not to have sex until they are "married" and having to think a lot about what being "married" actually means, it was quite interesting to attend a traditional Ugandan marriage. Churches here teach that the traditional marriage is not enough and that a church wedding must also take place. The reason for this is a man can take more than 1 wife the traditional way, but can only wed 1 woman in the church. People here will get married in the traditional way, which includes the start of the man paying the agreed upon bride-gift and moving in together, but the church wedding itself normally happens much, much later after the bride-gift has been paid in full and the couple has had enough time to save and collect money for an expensive ceremony in the church.

Walter as a pastor has been trying to do his marriage to Juliet in the most church-accepted way. We had the privilege of attending his traditional marriage ceremony last Saturday and are looking forward to the church wedding that will take place on 20 September. He refuses to take his maybe-almost-wife to stay with him until after the wedding even though her family seemed to expect him to.

At the traditional marriage ceremony, Walter's family and friends (including us) arrived at Juliet's family's home dressed in our best. They made us wait outside the "gate" of the homestead while they discussed something with Walter through delegates. It sounded like they were negotiating the bride-gift, but since that was also done later, I'm no longer sure what had to be agreed before we could pass.

Once that agreement was made, we were ushered in to seats under a tent for the ceremony. The first significant item on the agenda was for Walter to send delegates with the bride-gifts he'd brought in to Juliet's family. It took a significant amount of time for her family to receive the gifts and there were continually messages coming back to Walter as if in further negotiations about what additional gifts he would be bringing compared to what he'd already brought. Finally everything was in order and Juliet's family accepted the gifts and promises of future gifts.

Shortly thereafter, Juliet's family started to bring out girls dressed in their finest for Walter to "choose" from. They made up this cute story about how they were flying the girls in from an island and they could only bring a certain number at a time. The first batch consisted of 3 young girls and somehow a young boy. Walter and his men got up from their chairs and studied them all looking very very serious. After some time of studying, he informed the family that none were acceptable. In line with the story, he had to agree to pay enough money to cover transport costs to fly these girls back and collect more from the island. The next batch consisted of women of the right age, but none of them were Juliet. The process was repeated. The 3rd batch included Juliet with all the other girls from before. She's beautiful and couldn't stop smiling even though she was trying really hard to be serious.

After inspecting the 3rd batch for some time, Walter finally chose Juliet out of all of the women and announced that she was the one that he would marry. There was some talking but none was really translated to us, so the best I could get out of it was that she was asked if she was willing to marry him and she agreed. They exchanged rings, there was some more talking, and all the girls were guided back out.

Not long after this, Juliet came back out (in a different dress) for the cake cutting. She and her mother stood up together to cut the cake and serve it, first to Juliet's side and then to Walter's. It was supposed to symbolize the last time Juliet would serve a meal to her family and the first time she would to Walter's. By this time, Walter and his best man had been seated in seats of honor with 2 chairs remaining for Juliet and her maid of honor.

They sat with the best man between them as representatives from both families got up to introduce their family and guests and say some words to the couple. There was much preaching and praying done, but again, not much was translated for us, so we only picked up on a few things like homosexual, alcohol, and divorce (I have no idea!!!!). A pastor also spoke and there were a couple of prayers for the couple.

Juliet and Walter were both asked some questions during all of this speaking. Juliet said that she would go, so I take that to mean that she agreed to go as Walter's wife. Walter agreed to wed her and take care of her.

After all of the speeches were complete, Walter and Juliet lead the guests up to the food table for everyone to get a plate of food. Music was playing as if people might dance as we ate our food, but it was already after dark and we had a 2 hour drive through villages to get back home so we didn't stay to find out.

We were informed that Walter's ceremony was atypical because it was much more religious than is normally the case. Also, traditionally, there is alcohol and more dancing afterwards. Either way, I don't understand how that isn't sufficient as a wedding. Vows are made. There are consequences if either side doesn't live up to those vows. If the worry is due to the freedom to take multiple wives, it seems like that could be added as a stipulation in the agreements. If the worry is due to the fact that the wedding cannot be official until the bride-gift is fully paid, isn't that a bit like long-term prostitution? All that to say, we try to adhere to church norms in PRICELESS which say that being married takes more than the traditional marriage ceremony, but after all this time, I'm still not sure I agree with that.

Cruising On

2008-09-09T04:26:00.000-07:00

Praise God!!! He has recently provided for the work of GRI-Uganda in an exciting way! Thanks to the great generosity of a large donor, we have been able to purchase a new Land Cruiser for use in our future operations throughout northern Uganda and beyond. This vehicle will meet so many needs, enabling us to continue to bring God's love to the poor and disadvantaged as we provide medical, educational, and spiritual help and healing. We have already used the vehicle several times in the field, much to the surprise and excitement of our staff. We understand that this vehicle is both a blessing and a responsibility. Therefore, we are careful to manage and maintain it well so as to ensure its functioning for years to come. God is always faithful to provide as we seek to glorify Him with our lives. This is just one tangible way in which He has shown His faithfulness in the work of GRI in Uganda. I pray we are able to reach more and more people with the good news of the Gospel as a result of this gift. Pictured above are our Priceless teachers on their way to a weekly Bible study led by Jolene, our Priceless program director. As you can see, the new vehicle has room for the whole family!

-Wes

Privileged to be Here

2008-09-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

Wes and Jolene have been harassing me to introduce myself formally on this blog so here goes :)

My name is Nicole Geerlinks. I am a midwife who has spent the past 3 years in the Philippines, working at a couple of free maternity centers for the local poor. Throughout my life, I have had a constant draw to be involved in missions in Africa. I am so excited to be here now, doing the work that I have longed for since I was young.

I will be spending time at the Otwal Health Center, working with the local midwives and loving on the people of Oyam District. The Maternity Ward at the health center was built by an NGO, completed in September 2007. Since that time, the midwives at this health center have attended approximately 300 births. My hope is that by working with the local midwives we can together improve the conditions and services offered so that we can encourage more and more women to deliver at the health center. Currently in northern Uganda, only 20% of the births are attended by a “skilled birth attendant”, which is defined as a midwife, nurse or doctor. The remaining 80% give birth at home typically with a traditional birth attendant. In most cases these are untrained women who have chosen to sacrificially help women in their community that are in labour, oftentimes without pay or reward.

Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to attend a birth at the health center with Judith, the local midwife. The mother was 18 years old, giving birth to her first baby. The baby’s heart beat was irregular for the last part of her labor but at 2:55 pm she gave birth to a little boy. It took a bit of support and persuasion to encourage him to breath but eventually he did. The people were not sure what to name him since he was a boy and couldn’t be given my name. J They decided they would give him my husband’s name, but since I don’t have one they settled with my brothers’. Baby Bradley is healthy and doing well. Opak Obanga! (Thank you God!)

I truly consider it a privilege to be here. My heart is broken daily by the injustices here, yet I know that God has called me to love these women and babies and be the hands and feet of Jesus at the Otwal Health Center.

-Nicole

This picture is baby Tracey. She was born over a month ago and weighed only 2.1 kgs (4 lbs 9 oz) when we took this picture. We transported her to the hospital in Lira where she is now admitted. Please pray for her as condition seems to be deteriorating. As of today her weight has decreased to 1.9 kgs (4 lbs 3 oz). Pray for wisdom for the doctors and for us as we advocate on her behalf.

My Sweet Pumpkin

2008-08-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

In order to welcome the autumn leaves (even though they don't fall here), we decided to go on a pumpkin baking spree. It was triggered by gifts of several pumpkins from our

friends in the villages. I took the challenge head on and attempted to bake some goodies. Surprisingly, the pumpkin bread I produced well exceeded my culinary expectations. However, getting the pumpkin into a form where it could be consumed was an all-afternoon affair involving cutting, preparing, baking, more cutting, boiling, then mashing like a mad man! It's a lot of work, and we still have two more pumpkins left to go. Thankfully, the ladies are my inspiration in the kitchen. They later whipped up pumpkin pie and pumpkin cookies to add to the mix. Then, the next morning, I threw together an experiment of pumpkin pancakes. The treats were well enjoyed by all. Any other uses for pumpkin you can think of? I just need to be careful that I don't get "gourdo" if you know what I mean...

-Wes

Friends Forever

2008-08-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know these words come from a song with a significant amount of cheese dripping off of it, but with regard to this last team we hosted, it's a true statement! Over the first two weeks of August, God blessed us and many throughout Uganda with a fun and energetic team of 8 people from McLean Bible Church, Virginia. They each took time away from their jobs, raised significant support, and came to a foreign place just for love's sake! They lived out Christ's love in so many ways, giving of themselves, their energy and emotions, to minister to those living with HIV/AIDS in the villages where GRI works. They shared testimonies, conducted dramas, taught from scripture, and just spent time loving these people who are battling so much in their lives. Speaking for myself and many others, it was such an encouragement to have them here!

So, thank you McLean Team, from the bottom of my heart. The joy and laughs we shared were ever so rich, as was the cake. May the Almighty Father bless you and keep you wherever he may lead in the months and years that lie ahead. Thank you for your obedience and maturity in the Lord. Thank you for giving to these people as you did. They love you. We love you. Christ has shone brilliantly through you!

-Wes

Restless Nights

2008-07-15T02:13:00.000-07:00

These two men are our fearless night guards, Bonny and Francis. They protect our compound in Lira from potential intruders, as well as the occasional bush rat, snake, bee's nest, lizard, and/or monkey. They tirelessly and faithfully work hard every night, most of the time completely unnoticed in the dark as they stealthily make their rounds, patrolling the walls of the compound. Much of the time, they are hiding out in the trees, unseen to the naked eye. In fact, most of the time I only hear them. They are warriors, courageous, undaunted. And just in case they need it, they carry with them every warrior's choice of weapon...a bow and arrow!

Apoyo tech (thank you for your work) Bonny and Francis! We can all rest easy knowing you are there.

Wes

A New Beginning for 'Be Faithful'!

2008-07-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

This past week marked the culmination of the men’s Be Faithful program that I have been running with Jolene’s assistance for the past two months. Be Faithful is aimed at those who are married to encourage them to practice biblical guidelines regarding sex and marriage. It picks up on the second thrust of the Ugandan government’s ABC strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention. The other purposes of Be Faithful, besides encouraging marital faithfulness, were to simply get people talking about HIV/AIDS so that the stigma that exists may be reduced, and also to educate men about the medical side of the disease. The program got off to a difficult start, with some miscommunication with field staff and low turnout for the first couple of sessions, but, praise God, it picked up from there! With the help of the Field Medical Representatives, we met once in each village with married men to discuss the issues surro

unding HIV, marriage, and sex. It was conducted as a discussion group with a Bible study element. One of the core Bible passages that we incorporated was Deuteronomy 30:11-20, which is an exhortation to choose that which leads to life and blessing, instead of the path to death and destruction.

Be Faithful has, to this point, been run by ‘munos.’ However, because I will soon be leaving Uganda, and in an effort to create a self-sustaining program, last week I organized and conducted a training workshop for village leaders to equip them to carry on the program themselves. Bonny, who is the staff member who manages all of the FMRs, did an incredible job of co-leading with me. He is a godly man and a very engaging and dynamic speaker, and the leaders had a lot of fun laughing at his crazy antics! Three leaders (one pastor, one youth representative, and one opinion leader) attended from each of the nine villages where GRI works. They were specifically invited because they had been identified by the FMRs as people of influence and integrity. The leaders learned about the disease, how it is spread and what it does inside a body, and also teaching techniques to use in their communities. Not only is this method more sustainable, but it is also more appropriate because these village leaders understand their culture and know their people better than I (or any muno) could. The FMRs did an amazing job of mobilizing and all who were invited were present, despite many of them having to travel long distances by bicycle to reach the training venue! These leaders were so enthusiastic about learning and spreading the news of HIV and its prevention, and had some amazing and creative ideas for sharing with their people. Yeah!! Please pray for the continuation of their enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference in their communities.

A Quiet Passion

2008-07-03T05:06:00.000-07:00

Meet Pastor Walter (far right above). He has been GRI's Spiritual Health Ministry Director in northern Uganda for the last year and a half. Most of his days are spent preparing for evangelistic events, Jesus film presentations, conferences, and Bible studies that take place in the 9 villages where GRI is operating. He must coordinate with over 40 pastors from many denominations to conduct these ministry events. It is a challenging role and one that requires he spend much time with God in prayer and meditation. Despite his young age, Pastor Walter is very mature, grounded in God's Word, and has a genuine heart for serving his people and proclaiming the gospel. Although quiet and reserved one-on-one, his passionate fire for the Lord is apparent when he begins to preach. He loves Jesus, is a great speaker, and isn't afraid to proclaim the truth in love. It is great to see how God uses this man's gentle spirit to bring people to Him. We are so blessed to have Pastor Walter on our team and look forward to many more great days serving together as the Lord provides.

Wes

Spiritual Health Ministry Update

2008-06-04T03:12:00.000-07:00

Praise be to the Lord for the things he is doing in Oyam. Of recent we had an evangelism mission in three nearby centers that is Barrio, Achokara and Abok. GRI was working in coalition with a team from a non-denominational Christian organization called Children of the Nation which is based in Lira, Uganda. The strategy used in the mission was to start by open air campaign followed by the Jesus Film. We had a team of nine matured people from COTN joining us for the mission.

On the 20th we arrived in Barrio which had stayed for some time without rain to water their land and the people started by asking us to pray for rain. Miraculously before we even started the campaign, there was a sign of a heavy rainfall which then started falling immediately we started the campaign. Speaking to over a thousand people, 18 adults and 64 children confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior.

The 21st was a clear day and the move was scheduled for Achokara. Some new believers who had followed us at our camping site for follow-up were given Bibles when they requested for. We had pastors from other centers coming to witness what the Lord was doing. There was a session of speaking to the Pastors in the morning, then evangelism in the evening. It was such a blessing to have over two thousand people hearing the gospel and watching the Jesus film which ended at around 10:00pm in the night. At the end 29 adults and 92 Children confessed Christ as their Lord and Savior. So many people were prayed for, for healings and deliverance.

The 22nd was the last day for the mission and the team was to first go to Achokara for follow-up of the new believers then in the evening go to Abok for the last campaign. Just before the team left for Achokara, there came a woman carrying a baby plus a kid of a bout three years and she asked us for a lift. This is her story:

Stella Apio had taken her child to the hospital in Lalogi which is in Gulu district and she was discharged on the 22nd of May but she had no transport means to go back home (their home is in a village in Otwal, Oyam districk). Her husband had left the hospital a day before. We gave her a lift up to Achokara which was still some distance away from their home. She was counseled by one of the team members (Rose). Stella said she had been praying all the way for the Lord to send somebody to help her and indeed the Lord was faithful to her. Stella renewed her faith in the Lord and the team paid for her transport back home.

“The Lord has not forgotten or left His people, no matter whatever situation or circumstance we are engulfed in”

After the follow-up, we headed to Abok for the last crusade which was attended by around 2200 people. At the end of the crusade, 43 adults and 76 children gave their lives to Christ.
I give praise and glory to The Lord for what he did during the mission. Thanks go to GRI prayer team and everybody praying for us every time, may the Lord bless you abundantly. We are still praying for the Lord’s direction for where to have the next mission and we request you to continue praying for us.

May the Lord God Almighty bless everyone reading this testimony,
Walter Oyo, GRI Spiritual Health Ministry Director.

The Cows Come Home

2008-06-02T04:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the generosity of Rock Creek Church in Colorado, we were able to donate oxen and bicycles to pastors in need from the villages where we work. At GRI, we partner with pastors from various denominations and villages to assist us in evangelistic and outreach events, including open air teachings, Bible studies, and Jesus Film presentations. A total of 40 pastors benefited from the distribution, which included 10 pair of oxen and 30 bicycles. The gifts were given as a ministry so that those who received would also be able to help their church members when certain situations arise. Oxen are used to plow the fields and are a significant asset in this agricultural society.

The day was one of rejoicing and thanking God for his many blessings. Pastor Walter, the head of our GRI ministry department in Uganda, led the meeting and many church leaders had the opportunity to speak, sharing encouraging words from Scripture. Members of local government were also there to show their support of the work

GRI is doing throughout the district. I was honored to be able to address the group. I shared from Genesis 12:1-3 where Abram (later changed to Abraham) was called by God and given a promise: "I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." God was referring to Israel, and ultimately to Christ. Through Abraham, God blessed the entire world through Christ's death and resurrection so that in Christ we could inherit eternal life. When God blesses his children, he does it so that we may then be a blessing to others. The blessing should never stop with us. It is a "pay it forward" system of kindness, love and grace, and it is all possible because God first loved us. "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." "We love because he first loved us." (I John 4:10,19)

We praise God for his goodness, faithfulness, and unfailing love! These pastors were overwhelmed with gratitude and greatly encouraged to continue laboring in the Lord as they serve the flocks God has entrusted to them. Apoyo ma tek (thank you so much) Rock Creek! God has blessed us through you. And thank you to all of you who support and pray for the work here in northern Uganda. It does not go unnoticed in the Kingdom!

-Wes

Continuing the Be Faithful Program

2008-05-28T02:59:00.000-07:00

From Jolene (sorry, no pictures):
Our first 2 planned meetings with men flopped. We had our first gathering last Friday in Barrio. There were between 40 and 50 men with something like 20 children sitting in on the side.

I have no idea what to think of how the meeting went, so I’m just going to describe it for you. We started out asking the men what they already know about HIV so we wouldn’t insult them by telling them things they already know. It turns out that they know just as much information as I do about HIV - so how there are still 20+ new people registering with the HIV group every month really is beyond me. If you know how the disease is passed and have seen what it does to people, how are you allowing yourself to be exposed?!?!

One man said that it is a curse from God intended to punish prostitutes and adulterers (oh, and the ones that don’t get it are the ones God is protecting because He wants them to know Him). He even had scripture to back it up. They call HIV “the wasting disease” or “the thin disease.” Read Isaiah 10:16 and tell me what you think. Jen was mortified by the idea, but I personally was ok enough with it not to feel the need to argue it. We addressed it only briefly by saying that, if it is punishment for some people for adultery, but not others, the only sure way to keep from being punished in that way is to avoid the behavior that might get you punished. If you’re not committing adultery, is God going to punish you (and possibly the children you have after contracting it) with HIV? There are some issues with that argument since sex isn’t the ONLY way you can get it, but no one brought that up, so we left it there :-/

After learning that they already have all the info about HIV that we’d prepared, Jen had the wisdom to direct the conversation to fidelity. As we were discussing whether or not it is difficult to not sleep around, the men kept shifting the blame to the women for sleeping around. At first it was annoying, but a few of the men said things like “they are just so beautiful we can’t help but want to sleep with them” and “they do such a good job of making themselves desireable” which I found to be rather sweet somehow.

We wanted the men to take more responsibility than that, so we turned to Scripture. “What if the women ARE that enticing?!?! Is it more difficult to resist them or is it more difficult to deal with having HIV?” We read Proverbs 7 to illustrate that the temptation of an enticing woman is NOT anything new. For fear that the Ugandan way of “interpretting” scripture would get in the way of what the verses actually say, we had them act it out which was hilarious and disturbing at the same time. I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or blush. Anyway, it seemed to get the point across.

What was very strange to me, though, was that when we tried to make the point about it being possible and necessary to resist temptation according to these verses, the men all changed their story and said that it was easy to do. After some amount of incredulousness and questioning, we got out of it that previously, it was difficult, but now, because of what we had taught them, it would be easy. I … I don’t know how we taught them anything. I’m so confused.

Some of the men (ok, maybe just 1) still tried to say that they would just use condoms or have the women they want to sleep with get blood tests before they have sex. We didn’t address the 2nd one, but if that comes up again, we’ll have to remind them that you don’t get a positive blood test for at least 2 weeks after contracting HIV. Are you SURE she hasn’t been exposed in that time??

To address the first, we illustrated the risks of an 85% effectivity of condoms. I made the man who was insisting that condoms were the only way come up to be part of the illustration. I’m pretty sure that he’d already been drinking and he was contrary enough to even be proclaiming that he doesn’t bother to use condoms all the time anyway. Makes me doubt a bit his abilities to use condoms appropriately enough to have even an 85% chance of having sex without getting HIV.

I’ll be honest. I’m skeptical about the men's responses to the meeting. They thought it was so great and helpful and wanted us to come back. The change in response was just too easy, so I don’t trust it. Also, if they already knew all of the information and that wasn’t making a difference before, why would it suddenly matter now? So, I don’t know what to do with that. I enjoyed the meeting. We’ll continue them in the hopes that somehow, some people who need the education might truly be learning something new.

Training and Equipping

2008-05-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent, as of last week, photo of GRI's Field Medical Representatives. These representatives serve in 9 villages as facilitators and experts in our HIV Vulnerable Groups. Last week we conducted another HIV training session in Otwal. 15 FMRs were trained to a higher level in HIV/AIDS education. Everyone was excited to once again acquire the most up to date HIV facts and Uganda protocols. Our heart at GRI is to continuously train and equip Ugandans to better aide their families and neighbors. Education is empowerment!

Thanks for all your continued support to make all of this possible!
Shaunessy

We are now Ugandans..

2008-05-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

Jolene and I realized that we were truly Ugandan the other day when riding the public bus aka "piece of cardboard" to Kampala. Please observe the attached photo for proper instructions on how to eat cassava:

Buy cassava (potato like food) from yelling men through window of bus. Then ask him to give you the small bag of salt and dump some on right leg. Return bag to him before bus speeds off. (You will have approx. 30 seconds for that entire interaction.) Then hold steaming roasted cassava in left hand and dip into salt with right hand. ENJOY!

It is a lovely treat and we actually look forward to the bus rides just for the cassava. I hope you all took good notes for when you come to visit!

Shaunessy

PRAYERS ANSWERED!

2008-05-15T04:02:00.000-07:00

Whoa, our God is a God of huge miracles!! Earlier this week I had the great privilege of being a witness to God answering prayer. There is a wonderful ministry starting up here in Lira called Saving Grace Uganda. It was created by an American couple from Florida. I first met Alon and Valerie over a year ago and they have been such a blessing to our lives. They felt God's leading to sell all they had and come to northern Uganda and help children. After months of assessment, they saw that they could help with the many street children, mostly young boys, here in Lira. No other organization was helping these children, many of whom were previously abducted child soldiers. So now, many months later they house, feed, school and love 25 boys who previously lived on the streets. It is just amazing! Valerie had asked me a few months ago if I would educate these boys about HIV/AIDS and offer them testing if they desired. So a few days ago I took them to a wonderful place here in town to give them some education and to get them tested. One teenage boy had been tested positive previously. So before joining them at this testing center; Jennifer, Wes, Jolene and I prayed for them that God would have them all be found negative. After hours of education and answering questions the boys were called in individually to a room. I witnessed as each one entered, one by one, and heard the results; results that could change their lives forever. We all laughed and cried and praised God as He answered our prayers...ALL 25 BOYS were negative for HIV!!! This testing center has the most accurate testing kits so we can trust the results. That afternoon all 25 boys began the remainder of their lives with a clean slate and much education about how to make wise choices in the future. It was so exciting!! Praise God for protecting these young boys through all of their difficulties!

Amazed,

Shaunessy

Brothers and Sisters..

2008-05-08T02:10:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all of you from Uganda. As I am sure many of you have heard, there was a very large cyclone that hit Burma a few days ago. Eventhough we are on a completely different continent and immersed in a completely different culture, those people suffering in Burma are our brothers and sisters. Many of us serving here in Uganda have also served in Thailand and Burma and feel a deep connection with those people there. Please join with us in praying that hope and healing will come to the multitudes who are suffering in that country and that many will come to know the love of Christ through this difficulty. I am so encouraged today that Christ's love is for all people, no matter the color of our skin or the language we speak!

Love,

Shaunessy

On a sweeter note...

2008-04-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

Jolene and I love to bake together. We experiment and improvise and have a blast doing it. Well now Wes has joined in. His mother will be proud! I just wanted to give you all a little peek into how we spent our Sunday (yesterday) afternoon. I wish you all could enjoy the cinnamon rolls with us. All of us, American and Ugandan alike, are enjoying them today. Come visit soon!!!

Shaunessy

"Long Live GRI!"

2008-04-21T02:59:00.000-07:00

Barrio in this local language means 'Land of Giraffes.' Oh how I wish that every time we drove into this beautiful village we would experience giraffes crossing the dirt road, but not anymore. The elderly people in the village say they can remember when giraffes and many wild animals lived in that area, but now do to farming they are no longer in that area. Okay so that was a side note.

Barrio camp/village is an amazing place. This was my first time to visit an HIV Vulnerable Group there since returning from America. I was brought to tears as we approached the church where we meet and our vehicle was swarmed with people singing. It was one of the warmest welcomes I have ever received in my life! First of all, my heart leaps every single day when I hear Ugandans praising the Lord in thier local language and dancing like there is no tomorrow! But in this instance these people seemingly have no reason to dance and sing. They are HIV positive and have been given a death sentence. Yet, they love to praise Jesus. Their hope is truly in heaven! We have 260 men, women and children registered with our HIV program in Barrio. WHOA! And each month more people are getting tested and joining.

The chairman, pictured above, of this group in Barrio got up to do his incredibly formal welcoming speech and started it by saying "long live GRI." The people all hollared and cheered. Thank you for supporting our work here! It is reaching those people who are hurting and desperately needing the hope of Jesus Christ!

After many formal introductions it was my turn to speak, as the guest of honor. Once again my eyes filled with tears as we talked about having courage to press on. We discussed Joshua 1:9. God commands us to be strong and of good courage because he will never leave us. As the group contemplated this verse many said they could press on courageously, knowing their promises for heaven. We laughed and praised God as we talked about having new bodies, free from disease in heaven. What amazing promises God has given us!!

I then was able to give out 4 blankets to babies born in the past few months. We prayed for the babies.

I love these groups and believe so strongly in what God is doing through GRI here in Uganda! Please keep praying and giving!

Much love,

Shaunessy

A Drama Unfolds

2008-04-17T05:03:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of girls who have graduated the Priceless program in Onoro Primary School. They are in the middle of a drama competition, which is part of the follow-up program being managed by our Priceless Director, Jolene. We want to reinforce what they have learned in the Priceless program as well as evaluate their level of knowledge. Events like this draw a large
crowd, so it also becomes a great learning experience for other students as well as the many parents, teachers, and community members present. This particular event had nearly 300 people in attendance at one point.

In this particular act, the girls are portraying a scene at a bar where a boy is pushing a girl to come home with him. Later on in the play, she agreed, but then found her life became much more complicated as a result. She contracted HIV from her encounter and was dealt with harshly by her parents. She eventually died in the play. Even though it is portrayed in the form of an entertaining drama, it is a grave matter and one that is important enough to hammer on again and again. In this setting, it allows the girls to get creative. They are judged by Priceless teachers on their content and how much of the Priceless curriculum they incorporate into each drama. At the end, each participant receives a small gift of pencils and notebooks for school, and the school received Bibles and a small netball in the name of the winning team.

We also share scriptures with the crowd and teach them the underlying reason for this program...that God values us enough to send His Son to die so that we could have new life in Him! Because of the priceless value we have in Christ, our right response is to love and respect our bodies.

The events are a fun, rich time for all. I pray the truths portrayed in the dramas stick with people in a way that words alone cannot.

-Wes

She Chose Life

2008-03-29T03:34:00.000-07:00

WHOA, it is good to be back in Uganda! I have had a blessed and busy past few weeks! I have to share this with you all, it has really rocked my world!

Pictured here is Sidonia Atei. She is a mother living with HIV enrolled in our HIV Vulnerable Groups. I remember her from one of my first days treating patients in Uganda back in 2006. We treated her for many months with no improvement. We then encouraged her to go get tested and found that she was positive. In addtion, a few of her children also tested positive. Last fall she came to me crying and told me that she was pregnant and asked me to perform an abortion for her. She said this baby had to be a curse because first of all she already has a hard time providing for her many other children and secondly she thought the baby would have HIV and die at a young age. She cried and cried as I told her of God's love for both her and this unborn child knit together in her womb. (Let me note that it takes alot for a woman to cry here in Uganda.) So that day she agreed to keep the baby and to trust God. We prayed and she dried her tears and began smiling again. That day my heart was so broken and the entire drive home from the camp I was thinking of ways we could practically show these women that their babies are not a curse but a blessing from the Lord and that He has a plan for each one of them, even if they test HIV positive in the future.
So upon my return, her shining smile was the first thing I saw. She ran to the vehicle and hugged me back and forth many times while doing the wonderful high pitched hollar that all the women do here. She even started praising the Lord and dancing. All the other women joined in. She then handed me her healthy fat baby that had been born early December. I held the baby and we all cried (and the baby blessed me by urinating on me as usual) and praised God. She then told the entire Vulnerable group the story about how I told her to keep the baby etc. What a blessing it was for me that day to be able to give her the first blanket made by the women in America and tell her that women so far away were praying for her and the baby. WHOA!!!! I cry just thinking of it now. God knew how special that day would be! The baby had been wrapped in a dirty towel full of holes. The mother was so proud of her new blanket and her new baby! I was proud too that my God was so big; big enough to plan all of this and big enough to dry the mother's tears and give her a healthy, fat baby. We then all prayed for the baby and asked God to protect it from HIV. Keep praying and keep making blankets for these little ones!!

MUCH LOVE,

Shau

YOUR PRAYERS WILL HELP

2008-02-29T03:44:00.000-08:00

(By Jack):

It's a day of happiness again. This was the day we picked Sharon and Morris from their village call Anyomolec in Otwal, Oyam district, Northern Uganda. Both are orphans living with no hope for the future. Their parents pass away since four years ago. Morris was One year old by then. No education for them, Sharon tried schooling for one year but she couldn't continue due to sickness and domestic problem. She takes care of her younger brohter Morris. Cooks for their own, walk Morris about 6km to Otwal health centre where we have our doctor whenever he is sick. They are so lovely kids that one can't stay without the other. They don't have parental love, Can you and I love them and bring back hopes in to their livies?
They need our prayers, Sharon has cronic cough which has not responded to drugs for long.
Thanks to all the GRI staffs for the help they are giving to these kids.

PRICELESS update

2008-02-29T00:51:00.000-08:00

(by Jolene):

The follow up for the PRICELESS program is in full swing. It has been extremely challenging figuring out how to incorporate a follow up program that will work for such large numbers of students at a time. The goal has been something sustainable and continuous that the graduates can use as a source of encouragement and reminding.

For the first couple/few months, the students are working in smaller groups on dramas for a competition that we will host at each school as the students are ready. The students were challenged to remember as much of the curriculum as possible and create a relatively short drama to represent everything they learned. The competition will be judged based on how much content they were able to capture, how many in the group participate, and how good the drama is overall.

The hope is that, through the weekly meetings, the kids will build stronger relationships with each other to form accountability relationships and since the topic of abstinence will continually be brought up, it will cement their commitment. The teachers go from group to group to help them as they are working on their dramas as well as to share some encouragement from the Bible and pray with each group. Hopefully the continuing contact with the teachers will help the students feel safe and comfortable enough with the teachers to go to them if they are ever in a tough situation. Also, the more exposure to The Word the better.

Since the weekly meetings are essentially chaotic by design, it has been difficult to gauge how successful the meetings really are. I have been around to observe the follow up at 4 of the 6 schools. One of the teachers is really struggling and I am having a hard time figuring out what to do about that. The rest of the teachers are having a great time with it and say the kids love it. After doing the observing, I believe it. The dramas are coming along quite well. The kids are remembering even some of the obscure facts that they learned and are finding really fun ways to incorporate them. I am SOO impressed!!

Another unintentional outcome is that a lot more students are hearing the PRICELESS message than the ones who have completed the program. As the students are practicing their dramas, groups of other kids from the school are forming around them completely absorbed in the dramas ... and we haven't even started the competitions which the community will be invited to watch.

I am excited about how things are going. Thanks so much to Marianne and Bethany for working so hard on a solid curriculum that the kids found interesting enough to remember!!! Many prayers of thanks for the wonderful teachers that I have to work with. And many prayers still to be offered for continuing to find programs that keep the students active without causing too much activity on the part of teachers/muni.

A New Day: update on Sharon & Morris

2008-02-29T00:08:00.001-08:00

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 Praise God that the hearts of Sharon and Morris are now filled with hope! The children are staying with the mother of one of our field staff, Bonny, and are quite joyful! After hearing of their situation, Bonny's mother offered to keep the children with her, even for an entire year, to prevent the children from returning to their grandmother. Praise the Lord for He hears our cries...never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5b Wes and Jackson continue to work on gathering the necessary paperwork for the children's application to Otino-Waa orphanage. It appears that the next section of housing at the orphanage will be completed in a couple of months allowing space for more children. Sharon is currently on new medication for the tuberculosis and cannot be accepted into Otino-Waa until she is "in the clear" regarding the TB...we assume that would be in a couple of months. So, it looks like the timing is perfect, however there are many children being assessed for acceptance into the orphanage. We need to continue to pray for God's hand in the situation.
Again, thank you for your prayers! Sharon and Morris are like two new children now...smiles never-ending. (The pictures were taken at their new home).
Love to you all, Keira

MacGyver

2008-02-27T02:20:00.000-08:00

Okelli is our mechanic/driver, and a good one at that. In order to keep our operations going smoothly, he is out working on the vehicles nearly every day to ensure we won’t break down out in the bush. And he always does it with a great attitude, despite potentially frustrating situations. As many of you already know, we must travel about an hour and a half each way to get to the villages where we work. As a result our GRI vehicles take a beating on these roads, which are more like battle zones. He works tirelessly into the evenings maintaining and repairing everything from tires to engines, often with minimal tools. I liken him to MacGyver who can fix almost anything with chewing gum and duct tape. The other day, Okelli was able to repair a leaking radiator with chunks of soap and water, which enabled us to get home from the field. Thanks to Okelli, our ministry to the people of Apac and Oyam districts can continue each day. Hats off to you, Okelli!

Wes

2008-02-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to bring a “lighter note” to the table in hopes of making people smile a little. On Sunday Jolene, Wes and I headed over to one of the schools here in town to play some basketball. We waited until 6:00pm in attempts to avoid the heat…yeah right…can you see our red, sweaty faces?! We ended up in a game of 4 on 4 with some Ugandan guys (one of them we adopted onto our team). Initially, these guys laughed when we challenged them to a game and no one wanted to be on our team: 3 munos (2 of them girls). But, about ¾ of the way through, the other team substituted out 3 of their guys due to fatigue! We three had our “A” game on for sure…passing, defending, making shots from outside and inside with guys up in our face! It was awesome. They gave me the nickname "killer." They underestimated our mad skills! At the end, we beat them 15 to 5. It felt SO incredibly good to be physically active again…and then we went and pigged out at Lillian’s :) The picture was taken after our game - you're scared, aren't you?
Just to give you a heads up – I tend to create random ways to self-entertain…therefore I have scheduled a “cow-riding” at Bonny’s tomorrow afternoon. Bonny keeps laughing at the idea telling me that his cow will take off into the bush with me. My defense – I don’t think I’ll die, ha! So, tomorrow it is! We’ll see how it goes (his cow is named “notorious B1G”…you read it right…that’s a one not an ‘I’). Ha Ha!
Greetings to you all! ~Keira :O)

Jesus Loves the Little Children

2008-02-20T05:29:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but sing this song as we were driving back to Lira from Anyomolyec with Sharon and Moses (sharon's little brother). Sharon wasn't feeling very well and was riding with her head in my lap. When we picked them up on Monday they were both very quiet and subdued. Not the case anymore! Sharon's little body is still sick and weak, but the two of them have completely lit up! It is so great to see her smile and to hear Moses laugh...it is so contagious :) However, we must continue to pray. Sharon's grandmother had continued to make Sharon do the cooking, fetching water, caring for Moses, etc despite her illness and failing body. We have plans to talk with some friends here in Lira who have an orphanage, but we do not know if there are openings or if the children meet the criteria. Even if they are accepted, they will have to return home with their grandmother for a period of time. We need the process of finding a new home to be speedy so that Sharon and Moses have a future filled with hope, not suffering and heartache.
~Keira

In need of miracles..

2008-02-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

Would you all please join with us in prayer?
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b

I know we have shared many times with you all about some of our favorite children in northern Uganda, Morris and Sharon. The ARV's that Morris lives on and so desperately needs are out of stock at the hospital in Lira. He has already been 2 weeks without them. Please pray again with us that the stock will come in very soon! Hundreds of people desperately count on these meds everday to survive.

Also Sharon is now in the hospital in Lira. Her little 9-yr old body is very weak due to Tuberculosis. Also her grandmother, who is her care-taker, is neglecting her and we are seeking a new home for Sharon and her little brother.
Obanga TEK! Our God is great and He answers prayer! Thanks for praying. We will keep you posted!

Shaunessy

Is the Doctor In?

2008-02-17T03:07:00.000-08:00

Through an agreement with the Ministry of Health in Oyam District, our staff doctor, Dr. Tom, is now working in the Otwal Health Center. This is a government run facility that is centrally located to the villages where we work. Since it has re-opened in November, people have been walking or biking up to 10-15 km to receive the free doctor consultation and medicines offered. The center has been averaging 30-40 patients per day, and we expect that many more people will make the journey as word gets around. We praise God for the opportunity to serve so many sick and hurting people in the community, and to provide them the quality health care they need and deserve. Please pray that this partnership with the District of Oyam continues to grow and be a positive relationship for everyone involved.

Jolene here

2008-02-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

Greetings :-) I've been here for almost 4 weeks now and haven't posted yet. Well actually, I have a confession. I've been posting to my personal blog rather regularly ... just not here.

It's taken me a while to post here because I don't feel like I have much to say. On my personal blog, I write about the day as it happened and either I'm saying something TOO opinionated, or else I'm not saying more than the events of the day as I try to describe for people who have never been what my life here is now like.

I'm not posting because I've thought of anything more appropriate to write, either, so we'll see where this blog takes us.

We took a team trip to Gulu yesterday. Let me start by saying that I've spent most of my time here wrestling with what missions SHOULD look like in a place like this. I worry about how we can be culturally sensitive enough. I worry about not giving the impression that munos are better than black people in ANY way, which is actually difficult when we have so much more money than the people who live here. That's definitely a barrier and not something that can be hidden ... especially since all munos are associated with money already.

This is related, I promise. While we were in Gulu, we went to a popular muno hang out (where we got to have smoothies!!! that was so exciting and wonderful!!!). These 2 muno girls came in wearing rather skimpy tops and shorts and capris that did NOT cover their knees. Between the way they dressed and this "American attitude" air about them (their accents were not American, by the way), I instantly judged them.

One of the girls proceeded to go outside for a smoke and then came back in with a Ugandan man. Soon, they were cuddling on the couch at their table. You just don't do that here!! Married couples wouldn't dare act like that. Did I mention that this was even in broad daylight?

It was very frustrating to me because I love the culture here and I do NOT want it Americanized or Westernized or changed in any way that isn't necessarily an improvement. Considering the AIDS epidemic here, normalizing behavior that would be seen as promiscuious as this would be is the opposite of what we would want to do around here.

There is a lightening storm starting, so I actually have to go now so we don't get a surge that wipes out our internet permanently. Sorry that I might not have finished the thoughts.

The first "Be Faithful" Meeting

2008-01-24T22:41:00.000-08:00

Today was my first day of meeting in the Opeta village with the women of married age. We talked about HIV/AIDS and being faithful in their marriages. It went really well...52 women came despite several large town meetings going on at the same time. The women asked some very good questions and expressed great appreciation for my coming to inform them. However, I cried on the way home. There is so much infidelity here, on both sides, which is why HIV is spreading like wild fire. I read scriptures to them and felt like I got my point across but there is so much corruption it feels a bit overwhelming. I know they heard what I said, but it is hard to know if things will change. There is obviously great depth to the problem. But, on the way home God led me to read Galations 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." What an amazing verse! I need to learn to trust in that. My mind knows that God is in control of all of this, but my heart is sometimes struggles to find understanding. I also need to remember that this is only the beginning :) There will be joy and there will be sorrow, but we will press on!!

Distributions Continue to Grow

2008-01-20T06:26:00.000-08:00

Barrio camp is home to one of the largest groups of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) of all the villages we serve. Over 180 people are now registered with us in this village alone. Praise the Lord we are seeing more and more people come forward to receive the medicines God has enabled us to provide, including the men in the villages who are often more reluctant to come forward because of social stigma. Upon speaking to this group of people, I was reminded that although these people are facing a painful, horrible disease that will eventually lead to death, every one of us are certain to face death eventually...each in our own time. How precious life is, each and every day that God gives us breath. It challenges me to live each day as if it were my last, whether I'm here in Uganda, the U.S., or anywhere else in this world. The only day I have is today, and in that I can fully rejoice in Christ my savior. I have everything I need in Him! Those of us who are in Christ, whether sick or healthy, do not need to fear death. As we did together that day in Barrio, we can praise God with joy and peace in our hearts because we know that death is not the end. It is just the beginning! -Wes

"'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory?' 'O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Cor 15:54-57

We Made It

2008-01-16T11:40:00.000-08:00

So, Jolene and I made it to Lira tonight and were extremely excited to see Wes with the GRI truck. What a nice change from the bus. Normally, the ride isn't as bad as our 8 hour experience, or so Wes tells us :) Our bus was burning oil the entire time - thus the resultant picture! Joshua told us we would turn black before we went back to the States. I guess he was right!!!
Keira

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008-01-15T11:19:00.000-08:00

Many greetings and blessings to you all this new year! We are so thankful to all our WONDERFUL Ugandan brothers and sisters who serve with us at GRI. They ran all of the programs over the holidays, enabling us Americans to spend some time with our families back home. We are thrilled to see what God has in store in 2008! Our New Year's resolution is to write more on the blog. Keep checking back!

Great Things are Happening!

2007-11-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

These are pictures of the first graduating class of PRICELESS boys. It finally happened at the beginning of last month (I know I'm a bit behind)! They look proud don't they? A few faces that might look familiar in this crowd of students to some of you are Jeffrey, Bosco (our helpful junior GRI volunteers), and Morrison whom many of you have heard stories about. Bonnie and Walter were the teachers and currently have other men training under them to become teachers. Wes and Seth have been working with the teachers and have even gotten the opportunity to disciple them so they are better equipped to lead a group of trailblazers.

Bethany

He Answers Our Prayers

2007-11-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

This picture is of some of our proud graduates with their new certificates and bracelets.

Hello to my GRI family. MariAnne and I made it back home safely and I have been spending the past week catching up with my family. As I miss Uganda daily I have been reflecting on how powerfully God moved this year in so many areas. I am definitely a changed woman for what I was blessed take a part in this past year. What an honor it was to walk through this past year and witness God’s glory as we prayed for him to move through each day.

We left the program with our wonderful Jackson overseeing it. I have no doubt that he will take this task very seriously and go above and beyond to make sure PRICELESS continues while the rest of us are back in the States for the holidays. Classes will begin through November and then start again in January. The transition and good-byes were made a little easier with the teacher’s feeling confident that the program will be continuing with GRI. They are all very enthusiastic about the program and excited that over 12,000 students have graduated since February because of their dedication to serving God by loving the students. Currently there are 10 teachers and at the beginning of next year the hope is to expand into 4 more camps. Even the boys program is expanding and coming along wonderfully. I am just so amazed by all that has happened and how things have come full circle over this past year for all the programs.

The past October I came out of obedience to serve God and now I have fallen in love with the people and believe in the vision God has placed on the heart of GRI. The way I was blessed by their friendships and smiles has left such a mark on my heart. So many amazing things that are so much bigger than what we could have done in our own strength happened time and time again. Please continue to lift up the this nation, and the work in prayer. I know that he is honoring each and every one of your requests before him!

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Bethany

A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING

2007-10-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

Elephants, giraffes, antelope, gazelles, hippos, monkeys, water buffaloes and many other exciting animals joined us for our very important GRI meeting two weeks ago. Our Ugandan staff members who have worked with us for a year now showed up to the office on a Sunday morning at 7 am only knowing we were having an important meeting. No one complained or questioned why we were having a meeting on a Sunday. We all loaded into the vehicle as they laughed and tried to guess where we were going. Murchison Falls wildlife park is only about a 2.5 hour drive from Lira where we live. Only two of the staff members had ever seen animals like this. It was such an exciting surprise and a wonderful opportunity to see God's amazing creation. None of us will soon forget that day!

Shaunessy

So much to say...

2007-10-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

I am back from Uganda! What a trip! In the 24+ hr journey home I tried to package everything that I've experienced and learned into a neat format that I can share with all of you but even now I am not sure that I fully have wrapped my mind around these last two weeks. So many lessons. So many blessings. More than the setting, more than the activities, the people of Uganda made the trip wonderful. They are such a friendly, loving, content people who live with attitudes totally contraindicated by their circumstances. I will try to pass on what they taught me.
(1) They do not hold others at arms length but completely open up their hearts and invest in your life. Everywhere that we went we were greeted with smiles and waves. Here in the states, both outside and inside the church, we shun vulnerability and let only a select few into the deep recesses of who we are. Most relationships do not pass beyond acquaintances. We do the least amount for one another. Our smiles are hollow because while we are glad to fill seats in our church we don't really want to sacrifice and lay down our lives for each other. Jesus said, "They will know you are my disciples by your love." Ugandans have grasped this. We still have far to go. I pray for God's grace to embrace others, to go the extra mile. (2) They are extremely giving. Americans give out of their abundance but Ugandans give out of their poverty. It was so eye opening to realize that people do still live in dirt huts dressed in rags. My definition of poverty was completely inaccurate; for the poor that we live with are rich compared with the average northern Ugandan. My eyes were open to my selfishness. I usually only give when it is convenient, when I can spare it. Westerners are selfish with their money, their time, the gospel. We lose the attitude of gratefulness to God and claim ownership of the resources which we have been given. This is why church budgets are behind, church staffs are burnt out, and the message of hope is not being spread. We are too busy buying into the world's ambitions and pursuing what we think is the definition of success. (3)They are content. They have little. They work hard, they suffer, they are persecuted, disease is rampant, but yet they face everything with a peaceful smile and rarely is a complaint vocalized. How different from our culture where we demand our way and the slightest inconvenience throws our day off track! Perhaps if everything that we place such importance in were stripped away and all that was left was our relationship with Jesus; perhaps then we would remember that true contentment comes only when we are not self-sufficient, when our lives are hidden in Christ. I think that we have a skewed view of what being a disciple means. Many times we view ourselves as reservists who sign up for weekend duty. We can claim partnership with Christ and receive all of His benefits but if the call to go to war is given we are caught off guard and surprised. We never intended to actually have to fight. We are called to suffer! Jesus said that if the world hated Him they will surely hate His disciples. How we shy away from active duty. We are on this planet to bring glory to God. A natural response of this is to share the Gospel. I am learning that the reason there are so many discontented, unhappy believers is that we are neglecting our purpose in life and forfeiting all of the joy and peace and spiritual blessings that can only be experienced when we are in the center of God's will. (4) I have learned to cherish my spiritual equipping. The lack of Bibles and Christian literature, the inaccessibility of seminary and cultural misconceptions combine to create a very weak understanding of God's Word. In many churches only the pastor owns a Bible which means he has no accountability and many fallacies are taught. In one camp this man sitting next to me (he could speak English) was so enamored with the sermon notes I had stuck in my Bible. He wanted to read every one that I had. How I take for granted the preaching and teaching that I have received since I was a small child! I was struck by how adequately the Ugandan church practices prayer. It's an amazing experience to have a whole congregation praying LOUDLY all at once. Jim Cymbala wrote that "the prayer meeting is the thermometer of the spiritual life of the church." (that wasn't word for word but close) We put so much emphasis on salvation that we forget the other amazing gift purchased on the cross-free access into the holy presence of our God. How often do we pass up this priceless commodity! Prayer is powerful. It binds believers together. Our eyes are blind in this area. Wow! This is getting really long and I have only skimmed the surface! I haven't even told you of the 9 hour journey from Kampala to Lira, being bug splattered and knee deep in mud, the ice cold showers, not having toilets, hanging on for dear life in the back of a truck while bouncing over crazy dirt roads and getting stuck in the mud, interacting with those suffering from AIDS and the challenge of sharing hope from God's Word and the message of salvation. There is so much to tell! Thank you once again for all of your prayers and support and encouragement! I could not have made the trip without God working through each of you. I am challenged to continue walking in the lessons that I have learned. It's easy to depend upon events and organizations to foster environments in which we can proclaim Jesus as Lord and neglect the dying around us. Oh that His name may be exalted in our land! Your servant, Sara

What a Difference a Year Makes!

2007-10-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

I just returned from my second trip to Uganda. My first trip was just last summer when we made our initial visit to four camps. The progress that has been made in these past fifteen months has been amazing! During the first trip it seemed like all of the kids there had large stomachs due to the worms in their systems which was causing malnutrition. Now a little more than a year later, there was a significant decrease in the number of children with this condition. They seemed healthy and happy. The albendazole tablets work! Obanga Tek! (God is Good!)

In going from camp to camp I was amazed at how the Global Refuge Team had become incorporated into the communities. Our team from the U.S. is known on a first-name basis and warmly welcomed. We have Ugandans who are working with us and can be spotted by their GRI shirts and big smiles. They are becoming the leaders for their people.

Several programs have been developed and are running successfully in the camps. I was able to watch a girls graduating class of Priceless, our abstinence program that has graduated several hundred girls so far and is now in place for boys. Bethany and Marianne have done an amazing job of building that program and training the Ugandans to be the teachers. Seth is now working with the Priceless boys and that program is also growing. Shaunessy and Becky developed the HIV/Aids clinics and have had over 500 people in attendance. At first it was mainly women who attended, but now the men are coming around also. And Wes is doing an outstanding job as the country coordinator in making these programs come together.

Our team of six was an amazing group of people and it was a real pleasure working with them. Jolene, Jason, Sara, Jacque, Maria and I were all able to jump in and become a part of the ministry, working hand-in-hand with the permanent staff. Jolene has committed to work with GRI long-term and will begin in January.

One of the pleasures I had was to work with the albendazole/worm tablet distribution. The Vacation Bible School at my church, Arvada Covenant Church, adopted GRI as their summer project and raised over $5,700 for medicine for the Ugandan children. They also wrote letters to the Ugandan kids. The Ugandan kids were very happy to know that the children in America cared for them, loved looking at pictures of the ACC kids and several have even written letters back to the Arvada kids.

While most of the trip was positive and up-beat, we also visited young men and women who had been captured by the LRA rebels and were forced to serve as their soldiers. Sitting face-to-face with those people and reading the pain in their eyes as they told their stories was very difficult. What they had to endure was very hard to comprehend.

On a final note, it looks like we are going to be able to establish a medical clinic which will provide western-style medical care. We met with the District Chairman/Governor, Colonel Macodwego. The meeting went very well and the clinic will be a partnership between GRI and the district, and will be run by Dr. Tom, our own Ugandan doctor.

God is doing great and marvelous things in Uganda! Obanga Tek!

Tom

Blessed

2007-10-16T03:58:00.000-07:00

It’s slowly sinking in… my home is almost no longer my home. It hurts to think about leaving and sometimes it’s easier to bury myself in the busyness of preparing to leave the program rather than preparing myself mentally and emotionally to leave Uganda and return the United States.
When I do think about it, the resounding theme is Blessed. The simplicity, the smiles, the laughter, the sunrises, the heat, the suffering, the strength, the relationships, the struggles, the spiritual warfare, the fertile soil, the joy, the heartbreak, the successes, the failures, the abundant life. I realize this land is not a cursed land as these people tend to believe. How joyful it is to live in such close communion with the earth, God’s beautiful creation, as these people do… to live in straw huts built from the dirt with their own hands; to work and sweat each day in their fields for their food, as our bodies were created to do; to walk miles from place to place as our feet were created to do; to live in community and cook for each other and care for each other’s kids-to love one another as we are commanded to do; to revere the elderly and respect the parents and take responsibility of younger siblings; to have nothing, fully reliant on God, and therefore have everything. In the midst of suffering and disease and war, God is still lavishing his blessings on these people. It’s amazing to speak to those few who recognize the blessings and who give God thanks.
As I reflect on this past year, I also think of how God has blessed me beyond measure. Our Ugandan Pastor recently came and ate dinner with us and before he left he prayed for us. As his wife was so sick that she was hooked up to an IV, as he was leaving early the next morning for a mission trip, as two new missionaries had come that he still needed to meet with that night, and as he was visibly exhausted, he praised God with passion saying “My God, we are happy to be serving you!”
That prayer spoke volumes to me. As I return to the United States tired, probably confused, and with no clear direction for what’s next, I pray that my words and conversation with family and friends reflect that He has made me glad and that it’s not a sacrifice, but a joy to serve Him.

MariAnne

Testing my faith

2007-10-06T00:40:00.000-07:00

This is Sharon. She is 8 years old and lives in a very remote area that used to be a camp. I was having an HIV vulnerable group meeting in her camp a few weeks ago when I met Sharon. It was towards the end of the meeting when I was praying with our clients and I opened my eyes saw Sharon sitting on the dirt in front of me. Her little body was so frail and emaciated and her eyes were sunken in and hopeless. My heart instantly broke for this girl. She waited patiently until we had distributed meds and then Bonnie, Tony and I took her to the corner of the church and began to find out her story. Her parents had both died a few years ago from HIV supposedly and left her and a younger brother living with her grandma. Her grandma is an alcoholic, as many people living in these camps, and forced Sharon to dig in her fields and prepare all of the food or she would beat her. I would think that day after day of hearing sad stories would harden my heart but once again I fought back tears. Her voice was so weak and hoarse it was obvious she had tuberculosis. The three of us drew close to her just to hear her as she whispered. Since she was born, everyone had told her she was HIV positive so when she heard we were in the camp and came wanting some medicine for HIV. Two women from the meeting then approached us to validate the girl's story and mention that they had tried to help in the past but the grandmother had refused to allow anyone to help Sharon. We then bought some food in the trading center area and asked one of the women to bicycle Sharon to another trading center the next day for HIV testing. We had to be sure she was positive to know the best way to move forward. As we left her camp on the motorcycle I couldn't hold back tears.

Surprisingly the next day we found her along the way with her grandmother. She said the person who does the testing was gone for 3 weeks. So we asked the grandmother if we could take her back with us to the town where we stay and get her properly tested. She agreed and this scared, frail little girl hopped in the truck with 3 white strangers and headed to town, where she had never been before. To make a very long story short, we spoiled this sweet girl rotten for 2 days and got her tested and SHE IS NEGATIVE!!!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!! It is only a bad case of TB that she is suffering from. So we registered her at a government health center and placed her on the 6 month schedule of TB meds. She was so thrilled to hear she was negative! There is HOPE! Please pray for Sharon as she is back staying with her grandma. I am seeking God's wisdom as I visit them this week and speak with the grandma and determine if we need to find Sharon another place to live. We cannot leave her in an abusive situation. Also many of you will remember Morris, another orphan who has AIDS that we are providing for. He is doing well and studying well in school.

Our Ugandan staff and I have talked much lately about what true Christianity is. James 1:27 says that, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

As God opens our eyes to the suffering of many orphans in this area, I am honored and humbled to be able to serve them practically and show them that they have an ALL LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN who hasn't forgotten about them.

This is where the rubber meets the road. It is a constant test for me if I am actually living out what I say I believe. Whoa!

Please keep praying!

Shaunessy

APOYO TEACH!

2007-10-06T00:14:00.000-07:00

(THANKS FOR YOUR WORK!)

We just said goodbye to our 4th and final team from America this year. Thanks to all of the teams for all your hard work, patience and willingness to serve here in Uganda! All of you were willing to get up close and personal and share your life with everyone here and because of that we know God will increase and grow the seeds you have sewn. The Ugandans will never forget you!

Here is a picture of the September team and then Walter and Sarah sharing at an HIV clinic.

Boys are PRICELESS

2007-10-05T23:39:00.000-07:00

We were thrilled to graduate 50 boys between the ages of 9-19 a few weeks ago in the first boys PRICELESS class. The first classes were held in Opeta trading center. The boys were so proud and excited! Please pray that these young men will make wise, God-honoring decisions in the future.

Thanks!

Help and Hope

2007-10-05T00:26:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord that the HIV Vulnerable Groups are now running well in 9 camp areas. This last month we were excited to have over 500 people living with HIV/AIDS registered with us. Each month we conduct a meeting with HIV education, a word of encouragement from God's Word and medicine distribution. We are currently distributing Cotrimoxazole (an antibiotic helpful in fighting off secondary infections), Albendazole (a de-worming medication), Multivitamins and Folic Acid for women. I have loved getting to know many of these people suffering with this deadly disease and each month they bring hope and encourage to my heart even in the midst of their pain. It is amazing how that works! Many more who are questioning if they are positive are now encouraged to get tested as they see some help and hope being given. In the area we are working, there are no other groups serving those people living with HIV/AIDS so the people really are desperate for help. They have so many needs but are so grateful for each little thing we can assist them with. Through the education I see them becoming more empowered and knowledgable about thier illness, which is so hopeful. We want to aide them physically, mentally and spiritually. Please keep praying that God will bind these people together so they can truly be the body of Christ even in the midst of intense suffering. Please also pray that God will continue to open up more avenues for awareness, testing and crucial medicine. I continue to rest in El-Shaddai- Our God who is sufficient to meet all His peoples' needs. Thanks for your prayers and support. God is moving!!!

Blessings,

Shaunessy

(Bonnie and I loaded down with meds on our way to a clinic---mobile medicine at its best!!)

Let the rain come

2007-09-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

We all know that there are storms in life. One of our favorite things in the Lira house is to gather at the front porch if there is a rain storm. We love it when the power goes out and we can stop everything and go to be with the Lord. We watch as the lighting flashes showing the beautiful trees with their distinct leaves and rain before us. The light is so bright and so many details are displayed. The thunder makes us jump at times as we feel the power of the storm. The rain washes the day away, provides for the harvest, and delights our soul. The thunder and lightning display His power, and strength. We stand in awe of His majesty and are humbled before Him. We sing praises to God as the storm wages. We sing to the Lord and tears and joy come to us. We are so small and unworthy before the Lord yet He loves us,and fights for us. The rain storms help remind us who our God is. Sometimes in the storms of life God is glorified. There are so many more things that make us stand in awe, wonder, and delight before the Lord. This is just one of them. Sometimes we just need to open our eyes to see Him.
Becky

Hope in God

2007-09-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

This past month has been spent focusing on HIV groups,
teaching HIV education in schools, and working on the
HIV program it self. The ministry with Pastor Walter
continues as well as the Priceless program both for
boys and girls! We have another team coming to help
us this week!

In one of the camps I last went to, there is woman who
we have been helping well before we started our HIV
program. She has been with us from the beginning and
during this time has been tested for HIV, explaining
her poor state of health. The last time I saw her,
her health had continued to decline and she continues
to waste. I do not know how much longer she will be
with us. I know we may not be able to restore her
health but God can if it be His will. I know she has
received help this year that she would not have
received other wise because of what God has allowed us
to do. I know she has heard the Gospel, received
health education and medicine giving her hope, learned
more about God’s Word and was encouraged by it. I
know she is a believer and her suffering will not be
for ever. We have lost some of those we have been
helping but I take comfort that they heard the Gospel
of peace. I take comfort that they felt someone was
there to help them.

I also know her example shows so many needs still to
be met. What do you do? Pray to the Lord Jesus
Christ, do what you can, pray again, and help as you
can. I have seen the health of many improve in
Northern Uganda this past year, to God be the Glory.
We can help only as the Lord wills and we have hope
that the situation will continue to improve through
His provision and grace.

I am amazed at how big God really is. His sovereignty

is incomprehensible at times. His power is nothing

in comparison to the biggest brightest loudest thunderstorm or earth quake. His creation in nature and every different detailed animal shouts Glory to God. His people across the world thirst for Him. I am amazed at the resiliency of the people of Uganda, how they can find joy in the midst of suffering, what they edure and still keep going. I am amazed to know that the Lord always sees the bigger picture beyond my limited vision. I am amazed that He is present even in the darkness, despite what we feel and see. We put our hope and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are so blessed during our time in Uganda. Thank you for continuing to be a prayer warrior

and a support.

Becky

The Race Continues....

2007-08-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

Whoa, whoa, whoa! It is hard to believe what all has been taking place here. The medical team last month was a great help and encouragement. Some of the visiting team also helped with the Priceless Program, and some joined Pastor Walter in ministry. Included with the last team was a pastor’s conference for many of the national pastors within camps and villages.

With the help of the medical part of this team we started in our three new camps as planned and continue to establish ourselves in the new camp we added just weeks before. What a blessing to treat so many people, while providing them health education and the gospel. During the general medical clinic we also had a special program for those living with HIV/AIDS. We were able to take them aside and give them more specific HIV education, pray with them, and encourage them in the Word of God. What a blessing this group is! They are so humble and grateful.

As the team has left we continue the HIV program serving the forgotten. Access to ARVs for those living in the camps is limited if at all. We are able to at least distribute some medicines to improve the quality of their life, provide health education, and share the Word of God. We encourage them to continue to meet together and we hope each camp will form a “vulnerable group” or “support group” where they can continue to meet together. Helping them establish community will reduce their isolation with this disease and help others who hide their positive status, to take courage and seek help. Due to the blessing of many of our donors, we are providing each group a Bible to use during their meetings. This is such an encouragement for them in their life as well as a reason to meet together. It is such a pleasure to provide them this treasure to share.

We have also recently taught our HIV curriculum to a school in one of our new camps. It was at this new camp “Aleka” where I was given a song, drama, and dance presentation from the children. They had been preparing for a competition for Oyam district and had plenty to show me. What a pleasure to simply sit and watch the young bright kids show off. It was so impressive to see their creativity with traditional and interpretive dance, dramas, and hear the African instruments and their beautiful voices. I have moments of remembering where I really am and what a rich culture I am able to see. This is one of many moments.

Marianne and Bethany continue to work with the Priceless Program which teaches abstinence and self worth in God. This is going strong and is expanding. Their hard work has really paid off and so many young girls have learned they are worth more than riches. Marianne and Bethany have been pouring their heart and souls into their third edition of the curriculum. They continue to learn more every day concerning the culture and how to best help these girls.
Soon to be started is the boys’ priceless class which Seth and Wes have been working on. The camps have been so excited for this program to start for their boys. They have been working alongside the girls to create a separate curriculum for the boys.

What a blessing to see how the camps have changed from a year ago when I came on GRI’s first medical team. All though there are still many needs there have been improvements and we are so very grateful to God for his grace and mercy and for the current peace. We, too, change as they change. It has been wonderful to focus more on development. We pray this can continue. Wow! So many programs, all helping to share Truth, show love, train/educate, and empower the people!

Thank you for those supporting this work through praying, giving, going, and sending. May God save you, bless you, and use you for His honor and glory.
Becky

2007-07-08T05:58:00.000-07:00

His name is Vincent Oti. That name may mean nothing to you, but to those living in northern Uganda, it may arouse a feeling of fear. Vincent Oti is the military mind and second in charge of the Lord’s Resistance Army that has devastated northern Uganda the past decade. I couldn’t get past that name and I asked many people if that really was this tiny little boy’s name. They laughed as they agreed it was his name. I just kept asking myself who would ever name their son Vincent Oti…and then it hit me…he mother was probably an abducted girl, forced to marry Oti and he was his child. WHOA!
We were holding our medical clinic under the big tree in the center of the camp when it started to downpour. Everyone ran for covering into the thatch church. As I grabbed the medicine and began to run myself, I noticed a small, naked boy sitting under the tree all alone and crying. I ran over to grab him and take him inside the church. I held him for a few minutes, looking for his mother or caretaker but no one claimed him. His frail, feverish little body clung to me tightly as he whimpered. My heart broke. He was so sick and obviously malnourished. I felt an instant connection to him as he reminded me of a similar malnourished little boy we previously struggled with for months in Sudan. Also most kids here fear the white people, but he didn’t seem to fear me at all. He just wanted someone to care. After an hour of discussion, I found out his mother had died and no one could take care of him. We needed to transport him to a feeding center a few hours away but we had to find a caretaker to accompany him. Another hour passed as we tried to find anyone to go with this little sickly boy. Finally a young woman agreed to go. She was suffering from tuberculosis and obviously was sick herself, but we were desperate. We transported them to the feeding center and have checked on them many times since. Little Vincent is still quite sick and small, but is making some improvement. He is also positive for TB and has a rough road ahead. Here is a picture of him a few days ago. He is supposedly 3 years old. Please pray for little Vincent. May God give him a bright future.
Thanks,
Shaunessy

A Marathon

2007-07-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

So what have we been so busy with? God has opened many opportunities for us and here are just a few. Developing HIV teaching materials and teaching over 800 hundred attentive students this health education against the HIV/AIDS that threatens their lives while encouraging them in God’s Truth. We have been able to start a new HIV program to the “forgotten” in the five camps we have been working in. We have also been blessed to add one camp, Aleka. The health of the camps has improved and many people have moved to the villages, but the needs of the HIV population are overwhelming. We have been spending time interviewing those living with HIV and registering them. This past couple of weeks we have been able to distribute some basic needed medicine not available in the health center, provide a medical clinic, provide HIV education, share God's love, and pray with each person as we started our HIV program. We are preparing for the next team to come in a week. They will be mostly medical and will be providing a general medical clinic and begin work in three new camps! Wow, what a marathon and what a blessing! As we continue to know these people what aching comes to our hearts. There are so many needs, so many worries, so much hurt, so many thirsty hearts.
In the midst of all these interviews, teachings in the schools, and the HIV program people have asked to surrender their lives and accept Jesus as their Lord. This is not out of persuasion, they simply were ready. Praise the Lord they can put their trust and hope in the Lord. All praise and Glory to HIM.
becky

Thirst

2007-07-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

If it is pouring rain outside could you be overwhelmed with thirst? If the water is available, is your thirst still not quenched? Have you ever been desperate for the word of God? I have met many people so very desperate for the word of God. They are so very thirsty and open to the Word of God. One camp asked me to come back and read to them from His Word even if I could not bring medicine. Another visiting nurse and I spent some time with a small group in Ojwi IDP camp after interviewing those living with HIV and registering them for our new program. We huddled inside someone's home with HIV as they feared meeting in public and could only meet in the home of someone with HIV. As we had finished and were spending time reading the Bible outside it started to pour rain and thunder. It was so loud and came in waves that at times we had to stop reading because we could not hear each other. No one was in a rush. Everyone was quiet and attentive straining to hear. They were so thirsty. When we asked if they wanted us to stop they pleaded us to go on. What a blessing! Even with the new bibles we have been able to give out, after waiting for over a year for more to be printed, the demand for more is so very evident and there does not seem to be enough to go around. In America we are so privileged to have the Bible at our finger tips. It is so humbling and puts into perspective how blessed I am. We have access to food even if we cannot work in our fields due to sickness. We have the availability of transportation other than a bike or footing even if we only have a little bit of money. We have access to health care and medicine does not run out. We do not live in a country that has been struck with 20 years of war. We have access to the Bible and it’s Truth.
becky

Yes, we all are still alive and doing great!

2007-06-29T01:25:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
Please forgive us for being out of touch. This past month we have hosted 2 teams from the US and on top of that the internet has been "not there" as they would say in Uganda. WHOA! It has been so busy for us full-time staff from America and also for our Ugandan staff, but also it has been such a blessing working with these 2 past teams. The second team will head back to America tomorrow and then next weekend we will receive our final summer team. What a whirlwind of fun it has been. Both teams have been very flexible and willing to serve in whatever ways possible. That is so important here in Africa as all of our plans are usually thwarted daily. All team members plugged into either abstinence, ministry, or HIV/AIDS and community health. Speaking for the HIV medical branch, they have given us a huge jump-start to our new HIV program. Thanks to all of you for your continued prayers. God is moving in HUGE ways here in northern Uganda. Please keep praying! I have been pressuring this last team to share some touching moments and stories with me so I can share them with you on the blog. I hope to post some of those stories in the next few days. Stay tuned... Thanks and PRAISE THE LORD!
Shaunessy

The Team Has Arrived!!!

2007-05-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

The team arrived from their long journey yesterday evening. I know that God brought each one of them here to do a special work and be glorified in it! It is going to be an exciting next couple of weeks. This morning the team is walking the dirt road between Opeta and Otwal. It really influences the Ugandans when we get on their level and just work or walk alongside them. Many of them actually think that the munos aren’t capable of walking more than half a mile or riding a bike. J I’m sure they will be seeing many beautiful smiles as the people laugh out loud at the peculiar sight of the girls walking.

Today MariAnne, Becky, and I are going out to recognize Alibi which is the first of three PRICELESS classes graduating this week. Alibi has always been so difficult to work with and I am proud of our teachers, Anna Betty and Hilda Mercy, for stepping up and sticking to this class and making it a success. Today, Becky is getting to witness her first graduation and is the guest speaker in the ceremony which is serious business here.

Tomorrow we will partner with the teams and have a rally in Opeta to follow up with PRICELESS girls who have gone through the program, disciple mothers, and raise excitement and awareness for the Biblical concepts we are teaching. The teams are preparing to go talk to them about truth, honesty, their tremendous value and identity in Christ, forgiveness, and honoring their temple. Also this week, our nurses will be going to schools and teaching on HIV/AIDS education. Pastor Walter has planned a program for Matt, Kevin, and himself to be carrying out this week. Please pray this week for hearts to be softened and open to the life changing message they will receive.

-Bethany

Can you imagine?

2007-05-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Do people still get stoned? Yes. Do mobs with sticks, guns, rocks, and spears still exist? Yes. Are there places where such punishment is accepted and considered normal? Yes. Are there places where desperate parents think more medicine is better and go from one place to another seeking help and ignorantly give a deathly amount of medicine? Yes. Do children still die of simple, preventable diarrhea? Yes. Are there people who happily and joyful dance to the Lord then take their loved ones to the witch doctor for poison and believe in superstitions? Yes. Are there places where sex between family members is considered normal? Yes. Are there places where a child is raised thinking that lying is an acceptable normal part of life and it becomes so second nature they never think of consequences? Yes. Can someone truly believe HIV can be caused by shaking someone's hands, sharing sleeping quarters, or is a curse from an evil spirit or witch doctor? Yes. Are people truly still shunned because they have a sickness that happens to be called HIV? Yes. Are there young children who call sex, innocent "playsex" and suffer the consequences from this accepted past time the rest of their lives? Yes. Do girls drop out of school at age 12 because they don't know what to do about puberty changes? Yes.
20 years of war can result in a lot of unimaginable norms. These are just a few we see here. Many people are moving back to their villages since there has not been an attack from the LRA recently. They have moved back before. We pray this will be the last time and that they are not forced to flee back. There still is no peace treaty signed and talks continue. When Pastor Walter shows a Jesus film they all come back ready. I believe up to 700 came just to Opeta and many came to know the LORD! The constantly changing dynamics and the extreme rawness, (like the sound of a gun shot followed by vision of a mob, or watching a baby take its last breath), can make it difficult to work. We are rewarded, however, by so much thankfulness and love. The people are grateful and the harvest is ripe.
Is there anything that is impossible? No, the word of God says "What is impossible with man is possible with God" Luke 18:27
Let me tell you a story. The story begins with a 5-year old girl named Winnie. Winnie's mother went to our medical clinic for help last Thursday. Dr. Tom knew she needed immediate help and asked that she be transferred into town. Winnie looked so tired, so sick, so miserable and was so easy to love. Your heart goes out to her instantly. She, her baby brother, little sister, and Mom went to the best hospital in Lira. We arrived on a cool, rainy dark late night. I sang praises as we waited in the dark until someone came to help us. We were able to continue to visit with her and her family through this past week, provide for their needs while she received care, and love on them. Our wonderful Jackson always takes such good care, checking on anyone that is brought to the hospital and helps provide for their needs. Wednesday, when I went to check on little Winnie, she continued with no improvement and struggled even with the effort of breathing. There was not much else we could do but pray for her. I talked with her mother, Ester, through a staff member at the hospital who translated. I was able to share the gospel to them. Ester with her beautiful grace-filled eyes, told me she decided last night she wanted to be saved. She told me how some people came and prayed with her the night before. During that morning visit she prayed a prayer to repent, accept Christ and give her life to Christ. We also prayed healing for Winnie. We got word the next morning that little Winnie had passed away. Her suffering had ended. Sometimes God does not bring healing, but He is still sovereign. Sometimes understanding for the reasoning of a child dying is not there. Sometimes what we ask for does not happen. We still praise God, we still give Him glory and honor. He gives and takes away but blessed is the Name of the Lord. Jackson helped arrange the details of obtaining a casket, food, and other basic necessities for the family during this hard time. When we arrived the next morning Ester started crying. I tried to sing a song of comfort to the mother and stayed by her side. Our tender-hearted driver and mechanic, Okelli, helped place little Winnie into a casket and take the family on the long ride back home. On the drive the mother verbalized how love was made evident. Pastor Walter, with his quiet, strong, compassionate, caring heart, escorted the family home and prayed for them. On the drive home that day, it was obvious we were rocked; life is so fragile here. We were not able to save Winnie, but we were able to love on her family at least a little. We were able to share the gospel and through God's ordination, Winnie's mother came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her savoir. becky

Growing

2007-05-18T03:24:00.000-07:00

We have internet-yay!
We also have 6 classes currently in session, with the teachers that trained under us now having their own classes. I love going to the camps to observe the teacher's interactions with the students and their enthusiasm at what they're teaching, and being showered with mangos every day because "the students love you". Because we have invested so much into these women, they have the ability to make us really happy and pleased with what they're doing, or make us so disappointed and sick to our stomachs- and they do both... We have 9 totally different teachers with different pasts and backgrounds and teaching styles, all coming together for the main purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus, and when they finally catch on to that goal that goes beyond just teaching abstinence, there's an obvious change in them, and in the way they care for their students.

One of our best teachers, Semmy, had only 5 students show up to the first day of class because it was on a Friday. Fridays are market days here, so most parents make their children help with the selling of goods. When only 5 students came to Semmy's class, she was so upset that she nearly cried, and had knots in her stomach that made her nauseous. So that evening, she rode her bike around to all her student's huts and spoke with their parents, and the next day, she had almost 30 students come and was so excited and proud that they were all there. Another of our teachers had to be suspended from teaching because of a lie she had told during the initial interview, and when we told her of her suspension, she actually cried because she didn't want to disappoint her students.
It's so encouraging to see when our teachers invest in their students like we invest in them. Managing 6 classes, 9 teachers, 120 students, and 16 student teachers who are also training to work with us in the future, are keeping Bethany and I busy and challenged and pulling on God for discernment every day, and we appreciate your prayers and ask that you especially keep our teachers in your prayers. Some realize this and some don't, but they are now in positions where they are changing people's lives, and with that comes attacks and struggles that we have been sorting through together, but they need a lot of prayer to make right decisions in their own lives.

We thank you and we are always praying for you, our support, as well.

-MariAnne

Uganda Bound

2007-05-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I am currently in London waiting for my flight to Uganda. I have served previously with GRI twice in Thailand and now twice in Uganda. Anyway, I am excited to get on the ground and get to work, there is so much to do. As many of you know we have 3 teams coming this summer back to back in May, June and July. I will be coordinating all of the projects and logistics for all three teams. I would appreciate your prayers for myself and the teams as we seek to show the love of Christ to those living in the camps. I will be in touch...

Thanks,

Seth

--This is me last summer in Uganda.

A word picture

2007-04-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

By God's grace the work here continues. Praise the Lord! It’s so hard to put into words what you experience here in Uganda. I thought I would just share what comes to mind to give you some word pictures……

Power outs, rain storms, dust or mud on all your clothes, feet that are always dirty, baths that show just how much you really needed it.

Corruption every where, scheming and deceitful plans brewing, needs everywhere, wolves in sheep’sclothing, hidden witch craft, people asking of you everywhere and most of the time.

Extreme, chaos, raw life, thinking you don’t know anything, overwhelming feelings and thoughts, your mind constantly going and running through the day and days ahead, simple errands taking you all day, constantly trying to find the balance of “letting go”while trying to manage and plan, struggling in the culture to gain respect as just a “Girl” (singlewoman).

Simplicity in life, an acceptance of sickness and death as a part of life, dirt being worked and plowed,the old being burned away for new seed and fertile soil, fields being planted for survival and fruit,hoping the harvest will be plentiful.

Lizards and spiders on the walls as a norm, mosquito nets, huge flying bats in the trees and even in the ceilings squeaking away at night, frogs appearing in the toilets, mice and huge bush rats the size of a large possum, cattle with two-three foot long horns being led through the streets on a daily basis, goats/pigs/chickens dodging the cars while for some reason trying to cross the roads, birds singing and calling during the night and morning, dogs howling, roosters crowing, sleeping in just a thought.

Daily repairs to the vehicles with the occasional expected delays on the side of the road, surprising the people when we choose to “foot” in town, riding the bike into town to pick up meds, taking the long driveout to the camps appreciating the time to gather one’s thoughts and pray, looking out at His creation and Glory, the open skies showing his majesty.

Starch, starch, and more starch, more fried food than you have ever eaten, beans and rice turning into one of your favorite meals, avocado, lemon/limes,tangerines, passion fruit, and mangoes in our yard.

Evenings with no T.V., some nights with just candles and the blanket of wondrous stars, thursdaynight bible study with other NGO’s at our house, Sunday volleyball, card games, reading, talking, singing, dancing in our house, night walks, frisbeeand football in the front yard, taking a “break” from the front yard games after two broken bones, starting a vitamin and calcium dietary requirement in the house.

People laughing at you when you have no idea what they are saying or laughing about, remembering how joyful laughter is cross culturally and what good medicine it is, riding in the back of the truck and enjoying the sun and open air while everybody yells “Muno, Muno, Muno” (white person), a comfort in the simplicity, not minding the unfamiliar, the new “norm”somehow being normal, enjoying the life of Africa.

Dependence, seeking, desperation, calling, and praying increasing through every part of me in Jesus, a desire to see His name glorified, a desire to see His people helped, a desire for Truth to His people, a desire for His people to come to Him.

Seeing the hurt, seeing the desperation, seeing the people, seeing the needs, seeing gratefulness, seeing people being empowered, seeing and meeting those willing to give all they have to help others, seeing the hearts, seeing what God has done and is doing, seeing fruit, seeing dancing/jumping/ and praise to the Lord, seeing a little boy who did not feel loved taken to the hospital and provided care, giving him the opportunity of basic health care, loving on him and cherishing his smiles and tenderheart.

Learning to love far deeper, being humbled in so many different ways, making friends and enjoying the people, laughing, crying, struggling, finding those that have given themselves to Jesus and are serving Him with their heart.

God’s creation bringing Him glory and shouting His Name, hearing the orchestra of His creation from the rain and thunder storms to the crickets and bullfrogs, hearing His praises from beautiful faces.

New believers turning their hearts to Jesus Chirst.
becky

The Vehicle Stops, but God Doesn’t!

2007-04-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

This is a perfect example of how God uses every opportunity when we make ourselves available to Him. Last week, we were racing along the road to a medical training event to be held in one of the IDP camps. Suddenly, we noticed smoke pouring out of the vehicle’s tape player, and eventually the entire engine. Slowly, our truck rolled to a stop on the side of the road. Our radiator was broken and spewing coolant all over the engine. Thankfully, our resourceful driver Okelli knew what to do. We pushed the truck about ½-mile to a nearby stream where we used water to cool down the engine. He then had to take the radiator out of the engine and back into town to get it fixed. By the time we were on our way again, we had waited on the side of the road for over two hours. Wasted time? Not at all!

The place where we stopped was a local watering hole used by many local women to wash their clothes and gather water for cooking. Our nurse, Becky, seized this opportunity to serve. Greeting them with an “apoyo,” she asked if she could help wash their clothes for them. Although hesitant at first, one of the old women eventually agreed. Within minutes, Becky was kneeling on the ground, hand-washing an old woman’s clothes for her. It wasn’t long before this relatively strange activity drew a crowd of interested youngsters, eager to see what this white person was doing.

But that’s not the end of the story. God opened up the door for Becky to talk to these women about the person of Jesus Christ. Our pastor Walter soon joined in the conversation, laying out the gospel and dialoguing with them. Before I was really aware of it, an evangelistic meeting had begun. By the time it was over, a young child had accepted Christ as Lord! Praise God! He is never wasteful. I shouldn’t be surprised, though, because that’s just how creative God is when we give ourselves fully to Him!

Hilda Mercy=Laughter!

2007-04-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

Many days, God chooses to give us glimpses of His glory, and other days the work here just feels like work. But even in the midst of the occasional mundane, God is still moving in people’s lives even if we can’t see it. I've realized it's times like that when we really have to hold onto the vision- the big picture, and not just get through the day, but choose to thrive in each moment of that day, aware that God is still working, and being ready to show His love at any opportunity.
Yesterday in the field was one of those days. We had our last marathon-Saturday of teaching for this group of girls and the awards ceremony will be on Tuesday. To be real, it was a long day, with most of our time spent listening to teachings in Luo and wishing so badly that we could speak the language, but also observing our teachers develop a heart and a passion to see their girls live a healthy and holy life. At the end of the day, 47 girls committed to abstain-praise God!
The absolute highlight of my day was a 4-foot-nothing teacher that we have who looks younger than some of the students in our younger-age class. Her name is Hilda Mercy and she is a little ball of fire and you can’t help but be so attracted to that fire in her. Her laughter is so robust and contagious and comes from deep within her and bubbles out of her about 50 times a minute. As soon as class ended yesterday, the heavy rain clouds opened up and all the teachers tried to pile into the cab of our truck so they wouldn’t get wet. Hilda Mercy crammed in with Bethany and another teacher into the front seat. She tried to close the door and realized, a little too late, that her head was still halfway outside. She shut her head in the door and didn’t waste a second before she was absolutely cracking up at herself, which, in turn, filled the cab of the truck with laughter from everyone- and we couldn’t stop. Watching her face and seeing that she couldn’t even catch her breath from laughing so hard made me laugh until I was crying.

Laughter always seems to bring our two very different cultures to a common ground, whether we understand why we’re laughing or not (and usually we don’t)…
-MariAnne

Power!

2007-04-15T23:35:00.000-07:00

The electrical power has been out all weekend here in Lira, and we have been eating, reading, singing and living by candlelight. The power of God, however, has been so evident in this place.
Saturday was indescribable. I just can't even begin to express the love I have for these people and the joy that serving here brings.
So our day in the field started out an hour late because Lira had run out of diesel gasoline, so then we had to wait to rent a truck that takes regular fuel. It was raining and the roads were muddy on the way to the camps, but we had learned at the end of the last rainy season to not be discouraged by the rain. Often, Ugandans will be very late because they don't like to get out in the rain and walk, or they simply just won't show up. But the rainy season is also so exciting because we never know what's going to happen on the days that we are out in the field. But one fact remains true: that these days always hold something unique and extraordinary.
All of our teachers were ready and waiting for us and about half of our students were there. So we got started while the rest of the students continued to drift in. My class is a little behind Bethany's class, so we started the day by reading "The Father's Love Letter" to the girls. Walter from Opeta had practiced and prepared and did such a great job reading it in Luo, while Wes softly played the guitar in the background. The girls had their heads down and eyes closed and were listening intently and soaking up God's promises. His presence filled the room as we offered an alter call for all of those who believed in God's promises and wanted a personal relationship with Jesus. Seven girls raised their hands that day and now have the Holy Spirit living in them and will spend eternity with Jesus... girls that more than likely have already been sexually active, may have an STD, and don't have any assurance that tomorrow will come for them. But they now have a hope and an assurance in Jesus. Please pray for the purity and spiritual growth of these girls, and for Bibles for each of them. Their names are:
Nighty, Ketty, Sarah, Dorkas, Scovia, Winny, and Vicky.
Thank ya'll, also, for the prayers for our teachers. They were on fire on Saturday - so creative and energetic. They will make better teachers for their people than we ever would. As Bethany described, a storm came with a vengeance halfway through the day. When the teachers couldn't be heard, my girls also began dancing and praising God, singing so loud as to outsing the rain, and I could imagine God basking in the praises of His people as He was flooding us with His presence. I think it was something similar to what heaven will be like. In the midst of all the varying souls God created, with some people bowing down in reverence while others raising their hands in worship, we will see the Africans jumping and smiling and dancing before the Lord with all their hearts.
Mari Anne

Praise to You Jesus!

2007-04-15T05:03:00.000-07:00

It was a great day in the field yesterday. The PRICELESS teachers and students are getting better all the time. Every day we meet the teachers are improving and getting more and more empowered and are enthusiastic about helping the situation in their community. It is very apparent that all of you are showering us with prayers.

It is now about to be rainy season and as we were in Otwal IDP camp under a tin roof God blessed us with the most beautiful, torrential downpour. It became so loud that the students couldn't hear the lesson so we had to stop. While we waited for it to quiet down my girls sang at the top of their lungs the most amazing African hymns and danced and jumped in a completely undignified, beautiful fashion. Whoa....can I just say that I love this place. That image will be planted in my head for a long time. He was glorified with praise as he flooded our place with his presence. Good things are happening and though there is a lot of darkness, our Father's light is magnificent in Northern Uganda!

-Bethany

Another great Walter...

2007-04-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

This is Walter and one of the cutest little kids in northern Uganda. Walter has such a heart to serve the Lord and his people. He has volunteered for us day after day for long hours for many months and Praise the Lord, just recently we were able to put him on full time staff! YEAH!

Shaunessy

Beyond What We Imagined!!!

2007-04-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Things are going full swing and God is blessing PRICELESS more than we ever could have imagined! We thank you for the diligent prayers to pull us through these past few months of implementing the program. What is happening is exceeding what we knew was possible in such a short time. We came with a God sized vision and are now getting to witness His power everyday. Every day is different then the next and the longer I stay here, the more I love it. It is an exciting time right now!

It has been so encouraging every Tuesday and Thursday morning riding out to the camps to see teachers waiting on the side of the road eager to get to class and teach, and smiling students running down the dirt path to make it to class on time. Things have been much smoother with the students this time around and we have been working on ironing out all the kinks with the 10 teachers that are in the process of student teaching. The students have been so attentive and giddy at the opportunity to learn. The teachers, headmaster (principal), and superintendent of the district are all helping us in any way possible and requesting for us to continue the program. All these things working together are truly a miracle because implementing a program usually tends to be much more difficult.

Though the teachers are outstanding women in the camps, they have not been previously taught about their tremendous value in God’s eyes and how much they are loved by Him. They haven’t been encouraged to believe that their body is a temple to be honored, but instead have had been violated and defiled throughout their lives like the girls they are teaching. MariAnne and I are investing into them continuously and hoping for them to continue to become more effective than we could be as teachers. It has been a challenge but they are excited to learn and working hard to prove to us that they are able to have their own classroom. By next month 5 classrooms of 30 girls are going to be started up on the PRICELESS program. If you could pray for the teachers to continue to grow, the students to have their worlds rocked and fall in love with Jesus, and for us to have knowledge and enthusiasm as God continues to use us as tools to reach his precious daughters.

We have big hopes for these ladies in the future of our program! If you could pray for them by name it would be awesome! Their names are: Amolo Betty, Aparo Hilda Mercy, Akello Simmy, Auna Topister, Akot Anna Betty, Akello Harriet, Ayuru Grace, Docust Lucy Otim, Awino Eunice, Aguti Sarah, and Dilish Brenda. Some of the things that need to be lifted up are: for them to continue to be excited about teaching, to believe and practice what they are teaching, to be a good example and develop relationships with the girls and community as our representatives, and for them to be blessed for their work and continue to be encouraged.

-Bethany

Empowering the people!

2007-04-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

Our long-term desire at GRI is to empower the people of Uganda to help themselves and make a difference in the lives of their own people. It is so exciting to me when we have the opportunity to train local people to help in their own camps. This past month we have had the privilege of training 25 women who serve as traditional birthing attendants in their 5 camps. Becky and Corrie worked long hours with a local nurse midwife and Dr. Tom to organize this training. These birthing attendants attend almost every delivery, night or day, rain or sun, without recognition and without any pay. Many of them have had no previous formal education or training. They just saw the need and have learned as they go. None of them even have gloves. So as they help deliver the babies, many of them told us they reuse plastic bags as gloves. It is so sad. We had a day training for them and gave them much-needed supplies to help. Here in Uganda, women on average have about 8 children, so you can imagine these TBAs are incredibly busy! Also we held our second training for our Field Medical Representatives which are now about 30 in number. Dr. Tom held this training and did a great job. With your continued support we can continue to hold many more trainings and continue to empower these wonderful people! This is a picture of the TBAs.

Thanks-

Shaunessy

Hanging off the Cliff!

2007-03-22T04:30:00.000-07:00

The work here continues in Uganda. The team just spent a few days of respite away. It has been a month now since I arrived. Wow! I am amazed and in Awe of how God's creation speaks of His Glory, Power, and Honor. I am blown away at times. We where in a place nestled in the mountains of Uganda close to the Kenya border where we could hear a rushing water fall as
we slept! There is no electricity and the path at night is lit by lanterns. The sky is brilliant
and full of stars, even shooting stars. It is another world away from our daily visions in
Uganda.
Many of us decided to de-stress a little while repelling off a 333 foot cliff next to the waterfall. Repelling down the mountain was exhilarating! As I repelled down the mountain I was doing great at first, giggling with nervous anticipation and excitement. As I continued to go down it became harder and harder. The longer I went the further the end seemed to be. My arms were tired and I had begun to get rope burn. I never feared for my life but was overwhelmed at the task at hand. At the end they yelled out, "just letgo!" What I feeling of freedom as I let go and was carried by the rope controlled by our teachers. I flew back and released all of my stress and felt such freedom. I flew with joy as I let go.
After this experience it seems the Lord taught us all different lessons. Later that day I realized what a picture in my own life this was. It is so easy here to become overwhelmed with the task at hand. It is easy to tire as you look at how much further there is to go and how much more to do. There is so much work to do, so many needs to meet, so many people to reach. The task is scary just as the cliff is. It is overwhelming at times, just as the task to make it to the bottom of the cliff was, so is the work in Uganda. It is at this point as well as all other points I am to abide in Him. I was reminded He is my life line. He is in control. He has me. Apart from Him I can bear no fruit. I have tried to abide in Him and asked for help in abiding in him. He gave me a vivid picture illustration. I must abide in Him and just let go. It has refreshed me and helped me to picture active abiding. I have already struggled and been able to visualize the red rope holding me. I can accomplish the task He has for me by Him. I can run the race because of Him. I
can do all things through His strength. I can let go! This is not easy but I know
He is in control.
After the treck down we were rewarded at the bottom by a swim in the pool of water. How mighty and powerful God is! The waterfall is overwhelming and invokes wonder and awe of God. As I came closer to the waterfall I felt I was facing a hurricane due to the strength of the water. Even from a distance you could feel how vast and overpowering the water was. There was constant rain and wind pushing you as it fell from the great heights. Our God is mighty. His creation is vast and great! He is all powerful, all knowing, and ever present.
Becky
John 15: 5 "I am the true vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me He can do nothing."
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble."
Hebrews 11: 3 "By faith we understood that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

2007-03-19T04:25:00.000-07:00

Hey! This is how we keep things together. We love our only only surf that has made us be what we are in the field now. It played abig roll from the beginnig of survew in areas of work. That is why I Jackson is trying to make the indicators fixed by using the medical tape.

Some day it will be a memory from where we started.

This also tells that, no matter what happen to disrups your work. Always stand and fight the devil from any.

For the sake of the people in pain both spiritualy and bodly in the camps, We will always be there throught Gods call. We love you all. Try to think how much you have done for the lord since you knew him.

God bless all.

2007-03-19T03:41:00.000-07:00

My name is Javan Larem. I missed my dad during day light. I don't regret becuase i know he is working hard for the lord and to bring back the peace of the hearts of my brothers and sisters in the camps. I love them so much that one day when i grow up, I will put a hand too. God bless GRI.

This is how i have fun when he is gone. Mum tells me to be careful with the fun. I love you dad.

Psalm 46:1

2007-03-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

Obanga en aye ka-ponowa, kede teko wa... Jabuli 46:1 (In Langi, the local language)
"God is our refuge and strength"

Walter demonstrated his amazing creativity by painting this on our office wall. It looks great and will be a reminder to us daily of our theme verse here at GRI.

Come visit soon!

Shaunessy

PARTY like it's 1999!

2007-03-07T00:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I am going crazy today with pictures, but I just found a way to load them and I actually have a good internet connection. YEAH! Monday was Jaden's birthday, the big 25, so we had a surprise party for him, and he was actually suprised. We had all of our staff here in Lira and even some traveled in from the camps. We had a blast! Shaunessy

WHOA!

2007-03-07T00:35:00.000-08:00

I just had to share with you all how completely honored I was a few weeks ago to know that one of my friends in a camp had a baby girl and named her Shaunessy. AAAAHHHH!! A few of us traveled to the camp for the naming ceremony. It was amazing; dancing and singing by a children's choir from another camp, praising God and eating alot of great food. I just hope that someday she will be able to actually spell and pronounce her name correctly! She is so beautiful!

Shaunessy

The truth shall set you free...

2007-03-07T00:08:00.000-08:00

There is no way to describe what a beautiful morning it is here in Uganda! It is burning up already but we are praising God for the cool breeze. The trees are starting to bloom, the grass is becoming green again and Becky, Corrie and I have been digging in our soon-to-be garden. Anyway I know that is hard for many of you freezing in a snow drift in Colorado to believe. Hope you all are doing well!

Just a quick request...I would greatly appreciate your prayers the next two weeks. After many months of research, meetings, more research and more meetings, we are beginning some HIV and syphillis testing in the camps these next 2 weeks. We are praying that many will come and agree to be tested, husbands will agree to come and get tested also, and that we will be able to get access to the drugs we need to help if they test positive. There hasn't been any testing thus far in the areas we are working, so everyone is just guessing as to what the rates are. I am so tired of guessing and assuming. I just want to know the truth. In some sense I believe the truth will set me free; free from guessing and free to help in the best way! Thanks for caring and praying!

Shaunessy

Many opportunities

2007-03-03T10:04:00.000-08:00

I have been here over a week but how full it has been. We are working on several different projects. We have many opportunities to focus on educating and empowering those who want to help their families and people.
This past Wednesday we were able to go into the camps to provide a clinic for mother and babies under three to teach them how they can improve their health. For the first teaching it went well and the women really opened up to some of our questions. It was a very intimate meeting under a tree, next to hollering cows, and children sneaking listens as they walked by.
In the midst of this we continue to work on the HIV program. There are many things to continue to work on and research to figure things out. Hopefully we will be putting some things into action within the next week or so.
We are also focusing on helping equip those that are involved in the health of the camps. This past Friday there was a training session for our medical assistants. They were so very attentive during the day long training session. Wow, how proud they were and hopeful to use this teaching to help their people. We have also been working on meeting with the traditional birthing assistants (TBA's) in the camps. Today we met with many of them to continue to find out their learning needs as well as their supply needs. We will be having a training session next Saturday in which TBA’s from all five camps will be coming to. Those we talked to today are so excited to take part in this training. They are so eager to learn.
In addition to this the Priceless program continues to grow strong. Bethany and MariAnne have done so much work with these precious girls! Pastor Walter has been going door to door to visit with many of the people and this Friday had an "open air" where he provided a church service with a generator to the people in Alibi camp. We had some that came to receive Christ! Praise God and Glory to Him!
Some personal lessons and experiences....dirt, dirt, dirt, a blessing of cool days and rain in the middle of the dry hot rainy season, budding flowers, never ever take mefloquine, God is everywhere, even in the darkness, He is omnipresent.

Becky

He Paid the Price

2007-03-01T00:21:00.002-08:00

Our first group of Priceless Girls was recognized in an awards ceremony 2 weeks ago for completing the abstinence course and committing to abstain. We were all so blessed to witness the girl’s excitement at completing the course and being a part of something that could heal their country. – They were absolutely beaming!

The ceremony was carried out in the traditional, formal Ugandan style, so much so that I was actually nervous when it was my turn to speak! But Shaunessy was our honored guest speaker, and the girls felt special to receive such a high congratulations. The parents who attended were also thanked for their support of their daughters and challenged to support the girls in their decisions to abstain.

After stressing that the choice to abstain was a personal decision that only they themselves could make, each girl chose to sign a pledge card to remain pure from this day forward until marriage. Praise God! They now fully understand the importance of their actions and how it affects themselves, their community, and their relationships with God, and they all chose to take that important step of faith and believe God for their future.

We also had each write out a prayer request so that we and all our supporters back home could pray for them more specifically. Bonny, who has been my translator, told the girls that God was right there inside the prayer box, just waiting for their prayers so he could answer them. So each girl wrote a direct prayer to God and after having them translated, the prayers went straight to my heart. God hears their cries and all the other prayers on their behalf. The following are a few specific prayers from some of my girls. I thought this might help to personalize the girls that I know some of you are so diligently praying for.

"God I thank you for protecting me up to today and I ask you to continue protecting me at all times…God I thank you for making me an orphan. God I request you to just continue to keep me because it is you who took away my father because you saw that it was good to do like that. So God, it is you who will continue to protect me, to keep me…" - Jillian

"…God I thank you for giving me life. My God I beg you to do this for me. Help me not to have the desires for sex in my life until the right time that you have appointed for me…" - Sarah

"God forgive me. I want to be saved." – Babyra

"... I ask you to help those who are sick. Inject them with a syringe that comes from heaven. Stretch your hand that is so forgiving and allow them to get healed so that they may come back to the church and worship you. I ask you with faith and trust in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen." – Gloria

On Tuesday, Bethany and I were able to go to Opeta and deliver the white PRICELESS bracelets to all the girls who committed. We drove to the schools and walked through the bush to their homes and were blessed to witness the excitement and pride on their faces as we put the bracelets on their wrists. The bracelets are so bright and bold against their dark skin and surely will evoke many questions from the community on the meaning of the bracelet.
Please pray that they will teach and testify to their community, and also continue praying for the girls' safety and their convictions and courage to make the right choice. We will be seeing the girls frequently to encourage and mentor them.

We are having a teacher training next week in Otwal. Once the training is complete, the teachers will begin a session in Opeta while we begin teaching another group of students in Otwal with some of the future teachers observing. Three of the older girls in Bethany's class came forward and want to be trained as teachers. This is our hope - that the girls who are trained will want to spread the word and train others, and that the choice to follow Jesus will spread like wildfire.
Thanks to everyone for your tremendous support and for serving our Lord.

-MariAnne

2007-03-01T00:21:00.000-08:00

How many more??

2007-02-21T03:02:00.000-08:00

How many more? How many more have to suffer? How many more will die? How many more boney bodies with sunken eyes? How many more burial services with young wailing parentless kids will I have to attend? How many more bodies will I need to prepare and arrange transport for? How many more times will I have to walk back into the house and tell the other girls the news? Will it ever end? My heart is broken. Just when the tears dry, more begin to come. How many more?
This past month I feel like I have been on a wild goose chase. I have been meeting with everyone and their dog it seems trying to find out how many people are suffering with HIV here in northern Uganda and why it seems that so few people/organizations are doing anything about it. As we have been treating patients in the camps these past 7 months we have repeat patients that just aren’t healing. Powerful medicines that should be working aren’t working. It is obvious that we are treating secondary infections due to HIV/AIDS. The problem is here even if no one wants to talk about it.
For example, last Friday… another taste of reality for these people…
We traveled to one of the camps for a burial of a 50+ woman who had been sick for many years but was just recently diagnosed with AIDS last month. Her skeleton of a body was prepared by her younger sister who last week tested positive and a young orphan boy of 11 that they were taking care of. He is currently in the last stage of AIDS and without any family to care for him. I couldn’t fight back the tears as I saw the woman put her arm around the young boy, both of them crying as they lowered the body into the ground. Both of them not having the strength to keep going and fight this deadly disease.
We left the burial service early to attend the final session of this first abstinence class. It was a great time of celebration as many of the girls made commitments to abstain until marriage. A few of their moms even came, which we were thrilled about. As we began, the headmaster of the school stood up to give his formal welcome. He welcomed the girls, their mothers, the abstinence teachers, the translators and thanked personally the GRI medical staff for caring for his wife for many months. He then got very emotional as he was sorry to say she had passed away January 2 of this year. We had struggled for many months trying to get HIV meds for her. This was the most emotional response I have ever seen from a Ugandan man; he loved her so much. He now takes care of their 6 children, 5 of which are orphans. Bethany and MariAnne made my life when they asked me to be the guest speaker at the ceremony. I was thrilled! After a day like this, what was I supposed to say? The eyes of 40 young girls were pasted on the MUNO (white foreigner). My eyes started to water as I told them how special and beautiful they were. I begged little 9 and 11 year old girls to save their bodies and not give them away to any man. I told them all how much Jesus loves them and how if they wait for Him to provide, He’ll give them good husbands. Then I prayed for them that no man would violate them. “Oh please Lord, protect them!” This killer disease is running rampant in these camps and villages. He is stealing lives and breaking hearts and most don’t even know his name.
We have to help. GOD HAS TO HELP! This problem is God-sized!
I know it is hard to imagine all of this as you sit in the States, hearing very little about HIV. But, these are real people and they cry real tears. They have joint pains and fever and vomit just like we do when we get sick. And I know we have all told ourselves, “Well, they could have prevented this. They are just reaping what they sewn.”
But we have to be realistic. We all make mistakes, we all have sinned and we all are messed up. Most of us just don’t get AIDS.
They have to know. They have to be educated. And God has to show up here BIG TIME! All of us here are eagerly expecting a miracle! This problem is so huge, so detailed, so broad, yet so personal. We are surrounded by high mountains of problems and there is no place to look and no way out but UP. “I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
This land, Uganda, Africa needs healing. We are believing God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14---
“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” HE WILL HEAR AND FORGIVE AND HEAL!
Please join us in begging our Lord to hear our/their cries, forgive us/them and heal this land!!!
Thanks-
Shaunessy

Preparations are Fun

2007-02-08T05:04:00.000-08:00

Well, we are all back in Uganda again. Jaden arrived back in the country last week and a new addition, Corrie arrived just after him. We are totally excited as we are expecting two or three more new workers to join us in the next month or so. The work is needed so much! I wish it was just as easy as going to the camps everyday and feeling the amazing spirit that God places there through his people. However, just getting to the camps for one day seems to take about 10 days of preparation. Shaunessy and Corrie have been meeting with people constantly about constantly adapting our HIV work to the current situation. The problems we face with HIV are overwhelming. God has been blessing their meetings as they have pursued the best way to touch the millions in Uganda who are infected with HIV/AIDS.

Bethany and Marianne will graduate their first class of abstinence students this week! We are so excited as the progress made in the lives of these girls and their mothers has been so great! We are excited that another group will soon be going through the abstinence training.

One of our staff members, Denis, lost his aunt yesterday in such a tragic situation. There seem to be so many opportunistic infections that are attacking the HIV-positive population in the camps. It is so hard to stand back and see that the most serious cases are out of our control.

Please keep praying as God guides and directs our medical work, our abstinence teaching, our health education, ministry and HIV/AIDS work here in Uganda. God Bless you

-staff

PRICELESS

2007-01-19T01:24:00.002-08:00

The PRICELESS program has taken off! The more time I spend here, the more I see the need for this training to occur. Marianne and I each have about 17 girls that are going through the abstinence course. Marianne's girls are 11-14 years old and mine are are 15-18 years old. The girls are really excited and attentive students as they are so intrigued and ready to learn. There are many things that we will be continually ironing out, but I feel great about how it is coming together thus far. The problems of worthlessness, being hopeless, child abuse, payment for sex, rape, and multiple wives have caused pain that runs deep. I want nothing more than to see these girls break the chains of this cycle of fear and hopelessness. I want them to really believe in Jesus as their Father, Lover, Healer, Friend, Hope, and Savior. They need to know that they are valuable and loved by God...the rest will follow. Will you pray that these girls understand the material that is so new to them. Will you also pray that they are able to attend all the meetings. I believe God's hand is molding their hearts to recieve him and honor their bodies. Abstinence and faithfulness within marriage is a Goliath that hasn't been really phased yet. With God's power we can be like David and defeat this darkness with these girls. Satan has no power and God will be victorious. If you would join with us in prayer and petition over these girls we would appreciate it very much!
Love- Bethany

Their names are as follows-
Bethany's class:
Rachel, Scovia, Jenifer, Esther, Grace, Agness, Sarah, Jennifer, Judith, Eunice, Rukia, Betty, Scovia, Judith, Babra, Harriet, Judith

Marianne's class:
Collin, Scovia, Brenda, Gloria, Emma, Stella, Margaret, Brenda, Brenda, Sarah, Jilian, Polly, Jacqueline, Rebecca, Monica, Lilian, Dilish, Barbra

GOD is the winner!

2007-01-18T04:47:00.000-08:00

Greetings from very warm northern Uganda! God is definately blessing us with the sun these days. Here is a little story about how BIG our God is...
Thursday while having a clinic in one of the camps, a young woman with a baby approached me for help. Her 1 year old daughter, Sharon, had been sick for 2 weeks. The child appeared very fraile and had difficulty breathing. We decided to transport the mom and child to the closest health facility. The child's condition worsened drastically on the bumpy 2-hr ride to the hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital, the mother said she had been feeling sick and began having seizures. I hurried to grab the baby as the mom's arm went limp. She denied ever having had a seizure before. Then the little baby started convulsing too. The mother, Susan, started saying in her language, "Satan, leave me alone. You will not take my child from me." Over the past 2 days, the child's condition hasn't improved much and she is still very critical, but we have had a chance to get to know the mother better. She claims to be Catholic but has never accepted Jesus as her Savior. Susan is obviously overwhelmed with fear. In our conversation today we realized that when she was young, her aunt put a curse on her and said if she ever had a daughter, the daughter would die. Susan had believe this all these years. She was gripped by fear as Sharon is her only daughter. Today, Walter, our pastor visited her at the hospital and spent some time talking to her. He told her of God's power to wipe out curses and promised to never leave her or forsake her. Today, Susan expressed her concerns and fears and made the life-transforming decision to surrender to Christ. GLORY!!!!! I am going to the hospital now to visit her again. Please pray for little Sharon's health and that God would heal her little body. Also please lift up Susan that the peace of God will guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I can't help but think of one of the most popular worship songs here in Uganda. It says over and over "Satan you are a loser but our God is a winner!!" It's true! Thanks for your love, prayers and support!! I'll keep you posted. OUR GOD IS BIG!
Shaunessy

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2007-01-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Uganda and Happy New Year!
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. We're excited to get back to work and see all that God has in store for 2007! We are so thankful for each of you, your prayers and support. Please keep it all coming! There is so much to do!
Blessings!

--This is us in our front yard.

Back row L-R: Jackson, Bethany, Bonny, Rachele, Polly, Jaden, Denis

Front row L-R: Alex, Nicole, Shaunessy, Marianne

Merry Christmas

2006-12-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to let everone know that the reason we haven't been writing lately is that all of us have left the country for a few weeks. Some have gone home for Christmas and others have left for some recovery time in other places in Africa. We definitely want you to continue to check up on the blog as we update you on what's going on in Uganda. I also want to thank everyone for their prayers for all of the sick patients and new believers. Please continue praying. Also, thank you to all of you who have been praying for our sick little girl Dillis. She went to be with the Lord this last weekend after more than a year of suffering. Please pray for her family during this tough time. Her family is one of the most supportive and loving families we have come across. We'll be in touch. Merry Christmas to all of you. God bless!

GRI Staff

Let it Rain!

2006-11-27T12:07:00.000-08:00

It’s unbelievable how powerful our God is! He has absolutely been drawing me in with more adventure and life each day than I could have ever fathomed. It has been a hard last few weeks and I have been doing all I can to just hold on and abide in God… but he is working in this desperate land!
Though I’m just getting around to recording it…Thursday was such an amazing day. The same “mystery camp” that previously was closed off to us has started to reach out to us in the last couple of weeks. I know many of you have committed to pray for the new believers that Jaden wrote about, and God is honoring our prayers for these people. MariAnne and I met with the school’s headmaster and teachers and gave them a first aid kit and some materials to teach the kids on abstinence, having value and being made in God’s image, STI’s, and basic sex ed information (in case you didn’t know we are working on an abstinence curriculum). The teachers were so appreciative and eager to teach the lessen plan; even the scriptures. Afterwards our favorite orphanage leader and teacher, David, met us and asked if he could plan our program for the rest of the day. He took Marianne, Pastor Walter, and I to a meeting he had organized with the orphan’s caretakers and asked that we give words of encouragement and the word of God. We got to encourage the group, laugh together, and pray together. David had taken the initiative to bring them together for the purpose of eight receiving Jesus including himself. We were so excited because he is one of our favorite people in the camp who in the midst of all the corruption, genuinely cares for and loves the children in spite of having so little for himself. Next, a group of teenagers had prepared a skit on AIDS and abstinence that they wanted us to watch. They put chairs in the middle and put on a show for us and the entire community. It helped enhance our knowledge of the culture from the teenager’s perspective to write a more effective curriculum…and was hilarious.
The day ended with a huge downpour. We got in our car and started towards home and got stuck in the mud on the path that was “somehow a road, but more like a river” according to Dennis. After everyone pushed the car it flew into a ditch and to make a long story short…ended up in the bush with a broken wheel. We had the opportunity to walk several miles to the next camp barefoot, in the rain and mud alongside the Ugandans. It really seems like it brought us even more to their level as we got to slow down and just walk with them. They were so shocked to see this; and we were laughing the whole time as we were coated from head to toe. I wouldn’t have chosen to be anywhere else than on that rode in the middle of the rain surrounded by all that beauty. Obango Teck (Praise God)! It was an amazing day. He is sovereign and when we surrender each day to God we witness him moving in ways we wouldnt have imagined. Thank all of you who have been lifting up Uganda in prayer!

-Bethany

More than a statistic

2006-11-19T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hello all. I want to tell you about some people I've met, and my heart is that these people become more than just BBC news stories to you - that they will not just be statistics we pass around in the missions community. Because of the 20-year war with the rebel group, the LRA, hundreds of thousands of northern Ugandans live in IDP (Internally displaced person) camps. These camps are over-crowded, and disease-ridden.

The team here does medical clinics in these camps, and often they bring back criticaly ill patients to town for hospitalization. My first day in the camps, I sat by Susan, a seriously ill resident of Opeta IDP camp, on the way back into town. Susan died the next day. We went to a post-burial funeral at her family's village two days later, and there I began to see that Susan isn't just another death in the camps - she was a real person, with two very real and motherless children, and with a mother who loved her. Then yesterday I interviewed many people at Ojwii IDP camp. The first five people I interviewed told me about their sons, daughters, wives and grandchildren who had been abducted and brutally murdered by the LRA. As my eyes started to water and I felt the sobs coming, I somehow held them back. I am here to bring hope, and I wanted to much to show hope. And I guess I knew that if I started crying, I wouldn't be able to stop.

And then there is Morris - the darling of our GRI family here in Uganda. The GRI medical team diagnosed 12 year old Morris as having AIDS. We met him at Aloni camp, and brought him into town a few days ago. Today we had Morris tested for HIV/AIDS. After Morris had his blood drawn, he sat down with Walter (a Ugandan member of our team here) and me in the waiting area. He began to sob. Morris is a little boy with real feelings. So often we read about AIDS orphans and children with AIDS, but have we ever thought about their feelings, and whether or not they are scared to death of this awful disease? I know I haven't. Morris has lost both parents and all his siblings to AIDS already, so he is very much afraid of dying. He told Walter that the kids in school make fun of him because they assume he has AIDS. Again, the tears started coming, but I didn't want Morris to be afraid and to see how worried I was about him. After the nurse told Morris he did in fact have AIDS (later testing this afternoon showed that he is in a very advanced stage), we took him out to lunch. He saw a television for the first time in his life, and was enthralled. Then we bought him a new school uniform and fed him tons of American junk food. I played cards with him, and he laughed and smiled all afternoon. At the end of the day he told us he loved us. No, Morris is not a statistic...he is a special little boy who is scared for his life.

Before I came here I read about life in the camps, but as much as I felt pity, I didn't feel a sense of loss when I read about the death tolls. I feel it very acutely now. Will you join me in praying for the people of northern Uganda? And maybe even join me in crying for these people - they are real, scared, and desperately in need of hope. Please pray that we would share the hope of Jesus with everyone who crosses our path. Sorry to be so verbose, but my heart is so heavy that telling you about all this helps me tremendously. Thank you so much for your continued and faithful prayers

- Kerri (a visitor from the GRI Denver office who has been touched by my two weeks here...)

VICTORY!

2006-11-19T05:16:00.000-08:00

What a week!! God is so good!!
Christ gave us victory when He died on the cross and rose again! He gave us victory over anything/anyone we come in contact with on this earth, and victory over death itself! I am so humbled and unworthy to be His child and to have victory. Many days I feel defeated and weak; or maybe just too young to deal with such real life issues.
But...I am/we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us and gave Himself for us!
...HUGE RED FLASHING SIGNS...VICTORY!
As we were finishing a medical clinic in one of our favorite camps this week, Thursday to be exact, I had to go visit an elderly woman, Helen, in a hut with a probable dislocated shoulder. Jeffrey (the translator/medical asst) and I greeted the woman and began speaking with her while working on her shoulder. We then moved inside her small, dark, mud hut as there came a downpour. Helen quickly forgot about the horrible pain in her shoulder and asked me if I knew Jesus and if He had the power to stop evil spirits from visiting her. WHOA!
What do you say to that? As I was responding that I knew Jesus the second question hit me like a brick in the chest. Can Jesus stop the evil spirits? Does He have the power? Do I really believe He has the power? If I tell her yes, what if He doesn't do it? I hate doubt, and here I was sitting on the ground of this tiny mud hut in Africa, doubting the Lord. Had He ever let me down? No way. Never.
"YES!" I told the woman. "He has the power to stop the evil spirits!" Actually I had to scream "Yes" because she was hard of hearing, but that just reaffirmed it to me all the more. YES, Jesus is victorious! So we prayed and she asked Jesus to save her. GLORY! And immediately after finishing the prayer she said, "I believe He will stop the spirits. Please continue to pray for me."
Truly, there is no greater joy than leading someone to Jesus; just pointing the way to the Savior! I have heard somewhere before that leading someone to the Lord is like one beggar telling another beggar where the food is. It is true!
Praise Jesus for Helen! Praise Jesus for victory! And please lift up Helen as the battle will be strong. The enemy doesn't give up easy...BUT WE ARE VICTORIOUS!
Thanks for caring,
Shaunessy

The Heart of a Warrior...

2006-11-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

I think this is almost too much for my heart to take. Morris, our Ugandan Angel (excuse me, Warrior - I mean, he has 5 Muno moms now.... what do you expect for us to call him?) just now left our house to stay the night with Pastor Walter. We picked up this 12-year-old orphan boy on Tuesday from one of the camps we go to, to take him to a hospital in Lira. Shau and Rachel presumed he had AIDS and were confirmed today after receiving his test results.
But on the way home to Lira, Walter and Drew were in the back with him, loving on him, talking to him, playing with him, and telling him how much Jesus loves him. While Morris was struggling to understand all of this new stuff these strange people were telling him, the rest of us were praying together that he would understand and accept Jesus as his savior. In the midst of our prayers, we heard Walter praying in Luo, and the smallest, most angelic voice you've ever heard repeating what Walter prayed.
As soon as they finished praying, he opened his eyes to everyone clapping and so excited for him. Then, as requested, he began to sing and teach us a church song in Luo... and the tears started coming.... and they wouldn't stop. I felt an unspeakable joy mixed with an equal amount of sorrow for this beautiful little boy whose parents and brothers and sisters had all died, and whose grandmother didn't care enough about him to come to Lira as his caretaker, but in one minute and one whisper of a prayer, his eternity changed forever because of Jesus' unfailing pursuit of his little soul. In a country of thousands just like him, I felt God say "but this one's mine".
So for the past couple of days, we have had the privelege of spoiling him rotten, and just a few minutes ago, right before he left, he was repeating all of our names, and then said "Amaro Wu", which means "I love you all". I mean, talk about a heartache, seriously - am I still breathing?
So I'm sure that everyone has their own version to tell of this angel who swooped into our lives called Morris, but I just ask you all to join us in prayer for his healing, that his sick body would receive a supernatural touch just as he received a spiritual touch.
(Added by Rachele to let you know of the medical stats...) After we received his positive test results we took him to the clinic to determine what his CD 4 count was... Unfortunately his count is 18 which is incredibly low and representative of full blown active AIDS. 200 is the normal number classifying someone as having AIDS, anything above this figure is considered HIV infection. Please pray for our wisdom in knowing where to send him for treatment and that his body would ultimately handle the treatment and start to see a decrease in his viral load. He has Kaposi's Sarcoma and many other opportunistic infections...but "by HIS stripes we are healed!!" In the west we always speak of the AIDs epidemic, hearing of the millions of children that die, orphaned and sick. It's a whole new reality to the pandemic when you look into the eyes of a twelve year old boy and realize that he is HUMAN. He is a child who deserves none of this. A pandemic is made up of a million tiny individual souls. We must never forget that each one of these children is created in the utmost image of our God. How he must weep on behalf of his people. Especially a child like Morris. But let us fervently pray for miracles, never ceasing in our intercession.

Thank you for your prayers and your hearts poured into these people... your prayers are making a difference.

MariAnne

Thank you

2006-11-17T04:24:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to quickly say thank you to all of you that committed to pray for new believers. It is a difficult place to be a "real" born-again believer and your intercession will carry them along. God Bless all of you..

By the way, whenver the internet connection here becomes strong enough, we'll load up some pictures for you all.

Jaden

The rhythm of life...

2006-11-16T23:45:00.000-08:00

The halls of PAG, our main referral hospital, are now filled with patients whom we have transported from the camps. It seems that on a daily basis we bring another child or dying women to this place, in hopes that some form of treatment will bring healing and restoration to these broken bodies and souls. Many of you have heard of Sarah and Dillis…our two girls who are critically ill. Their conditions are both turbulent with good days and bad days. Sarah’s father, Peter, we believe is a saint. In the hospitals here it is the family’s responsibility to care for the patient and take care of their every need. Many of our patients have no relatives or caregivers as they have all deceased or cannot afford to leave their fields. Peter has taken it upon himself to care for every one of our patients, with no incentive but the goodness of his heart. From praying with the mother whose child died in the bed next to his daughter Sarah…to making food for Maurice our AIDS orphan who is but twelve…his daughter is in the most critical medical state, yet daily he gives of himself. He tells us everyday that Sarah will be healed; that he is convinced Christ will cure her…it is faith like this that moves mountains. Sometimes at night when we are leaving Peter comes over and prays over us. The phenomenal thing is that Sarah and Peter are from a camp we do not even work in…yet, God had them directly in our path. The other night, after a busy day in the field, we returned in the evening to visit patients at the hospital. Little did we know that it would become an all out dance party and worship fest in the women’s ward. It all began singing quietly around Sarah to entertain her…and before you knew it the whole ward was bouncing off the walls in tribal dancing and worship to Christ. It is only few times in life where you actually feel you are living in a National Geographic photograph, or rather that you are participating in something larger than life. These moments you wish could be framed and frozen for eternity, exemplifying the utter awareness of Christs actual presence in the midst of the down-trodden. The rhythm of the songs moves you, the rhythm of life carries on, the beats ever changing yet always divine and life giving. The fellowship of believers is outstanding in the halls of PAG. Many there have become saved, and their testimony is great. Please pray for Midu, a 30 year old woman who is in the end stages of AIDS, she will need a miracle to respond positively to ARVs and she is not saved. She has three young children staying in the camp alone now. Her past is tumultuous and painful and she is in dire need of a Savior. The stories of each individual here bring you to your knees, and here on your knees is the only place to comprehend that there is one who knows their individual stories and scars better then we could ever attempt to. Pray that the halls of PAG would be a place of revival, a sanctuary for those whom suffer. Thank you for remembering these people by name. It is a pleasure serving them.
rachele

God is Faithful!

2006-11-15T07:07:00.000-08:00

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that form now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.” 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

This is the verse that Denis, one of our Ugandan coordinators, read to the crowd of alcohol drinking family members at Susan’s funeral in her village yesterday. I was so proud of him as he accused his own people of putting the wrong priorities in place that would keep them from really focusing on what really matters in life. Walter also preached on the hope that only God can bring and one boy, Lawrence, prayed to accept Christ as his mother recommitted her life to Christ. Praise God!!

We then carried on to our most difficult camp of all to have a ministry/education day. We had left our medical personnel at home so that we could finish our work at the office. Somehow our communication was not good and our representatives believed we were coming for a medical clinic that day. When we arrived, more than a hundred people were already waiting to receive medical treatment. My heart was so saddened at that point, but God had other things in mind. Denis and I went to tell the people the situation, which is always difficult.

After they understood that we couldn’t have a clinic, one lady told us that if we couldn’t give medical treatment that day, maybe we could bring our pastor to at least pray for them! Praise Jesus for that opportunity!!! Walter began to lead worship under that mango tree in the darkest place we have ever seen and the results at the end of the 2 hour long service of testimonies, gospel preaching and beautiful singing was 22 people believing on Jesus! God showed up to prove Himself strong among the people that are known country-wide for their witchcraft and poisoning techniques.. He had done this work in a camp that was just throwing rocks at us in the vehicle 2 weeks ago! Apak Obanga (Praise God!)

I want to ask something specific of everyone. I now will list the first names of every person that received Christ yesterday and I want to ask all of you to consider adopting one of these people individually. I would ask you to commit to pray for them and intercede on their behalf so that they may be discipled not backslide in the midst of all of the temptations and problems in the camps. Even more than that, I want to ask that each of you that commit, if you could just drop a quick note on here with your name and commitment for this person, it would be such a great example of Christ’s ministry for all of us.

The names are as follows: Lawrence, Moses, Mazanen, Jennifer, Stella, Caromela, Janet, Grace, Palma, Washington, Calbaten, Johnson, Atim Evelyn, Dorcas, Celina, Akello Evelyn, Eunice, Scovia, Hannah, Sarah, Caesar, Betty and Antonio.

He is doing a wonderful work here, but Satan is also not going to give up easily. Please pray for us as we are humbled before the Father daily. We love you all.

Jaden

MUCH FRUIT

2006-11-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

I have something to tell ya'll this morning...IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TRUE VINE!! GLORY!
The harvest is ripe!
John 4:35 "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

A few weeks ago I became more sick than ever before in my life. I thought I needed a day or two away from the work so I rode with Jaden to the capital city for 2 days of "rest and relaxation". God had better plans in mind! Through the week of terrible sickness, God drew near to me and I had no choice but to BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD! There was nothing else I could physically do, I just had to be. Praise Him that He healed and refreshed my body and refreshed me spiritually too!
I feel since that time, He has been teaching me to abide in Him. The needs here are so overwhelming and eventhough I try not to do it in my own strength, the daily battle of just trying to give it over to God every minute wears me out in itself.
Jesus says in John 15...
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit in itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing....If you abide in Me,a nd My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
I so long to bear much fruit, and fruit that will last; eternal fruit. These precious people here need the TRUE VINE. They need something and someone that will last. They are desperate!
So we all have been asking God daily to show us how to abide in Him, in order that He would be glorified and famous in this place and that we will bear much fruit.
We are so unworthly, BUT HE IS SO FAITHFUL, and is amazingly showing us MUCH FRUIT!
The harvest is truly ripe... yesterday under a large shade tree in a very remote (and our most difficult refugee camp we work in) 80 people came mistakenly to receive medical treatment but 22 found THE GREAT PHYSICIAN!!
MUCH FRUIT...22 names are written in the Book of Life after yesterday! HALLELUJAH! Praise the True Vine!
Please keep praying. Please keep giving. Please keep going. The harvest is ripe and this fruit is eternal!

Humbly-
Shaunessy

A Typical Saturday?

2006-11-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

At breakfast this morning, the day started off with a bang. Pastor Drew, our most welcomed guest made us french toast and fried bananas (an amazing treat here). Saturdays hold the possibility of not working all day, but we were soon to find out that we would be having a very long day.

Jackson came to break the news that Susan, a 27 year old patient of ours here, had passed away in the night. We had just brought her to town from her refugee camp for help two days before but there was no way they could save her. Word was that the blood transfusion was not able to bring her out of the severe anemia that was killing her. This was the second time that I had to then process the burial arrangements and speeches that would have to be made again this week. The first was Grace, a 9 yr old girl from the same camp as Susan, who was not able to overcome the fact her parents had not taken her for treatment at any facility for 3 months. We had suspected either severe malaria or meningitis, but the severe dehydration and malnutrition she was now facing was too much.

We cannot help but fall in love with each patient that we come across, but we always build an even stronger bond with the ones we take to town. Jackson is able to share Christ with them every day when they are here in the health facilities and he also begins to love on them so much. The pain that comes from constant death is not even describable. If only we had the means to save them, i.e. our own health facility.

After making the arrangements for the coffin and burial cloth and for transportation to the village 2 hours away, Jackson and I loaded the body in the coffin and sent it off with Walter and the family to encourage the family in this terrible time. We, as a team, will go and speak our words in the formal ceremony on Monday morning in their home village. It is so hard to take the body of a loved one back to its family when they thought the person would be coming home themself to greet them.

Jackson and Kerri and I then proceeded to Gulu town to pay bills for one of our HIV patients and then to give encouragement and financial support to another of our patients at a hospital in Gulu. After a flat tire on the Gulu road and some help from some guys we flagged down on the road, we made it. Of course there were no tools in the back of the vehicle to get the spare tire off, so we were very MacGyver-ish.. Sharon, from the same camp as Grace and Susan, is also 9 yrs old and suffering from Lymphoma Stage D. It is lymphatic cancer attacking the spinal cord. We took her from the camp while she was having a massive tumor in the side of her face and paralyzed from the waist down. We were so happy to see that the tumor had been removed successfully and the father was there to greet us. He told us that while in our care back at home he had received Christ and he was confident that his daughter would be helped. I also found out that she had started her first three months of chemotherapy and that there is HOPE that she could make it out.

Please lift up Sarah and Dillis here in town. They are two of our young young girl patients who are both suffering from horrible renal and cardiac failure and happen to have the most amazing parents in the world. We are researching diligently the possible diseases that could be behind the infections that have killed their kidneys. We are considering even the idea of kidney transplants in South Africa because of the lack of possibility in Uganda for those transplants. However, the cost and logistics would have to be sent from God only as they would be so tough. Pray that God heals them please!

God is working here I know. Thank you for your prayers. God Bless..

Jaden

Now we are bloggers...

2006-11-11T07:11:00.000-08:00

Greetings Everyone... Just so you know, Obanga Tek is Luo (the local language) for God is Great! Thank you to all those who have faithfully prayed and supported our ministry here...we started this page hoping it would give you an easy access way to keep in touch with the work here and the daily happenings in the camps...Hopefully this will be another tool that will enable us to keep you more involved in our daily life and provide you with more specific prayer requests and information...Apoyo Matek (Thanks)