“See, I am sending an angel before you
to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared
for you. Exodus 23:20 (NLT)
May has been a month of rains, blessings, learning and teaching,
and keeping our eyes on the road laid out for us. The school is on a term break for the month
and resumes in June. So, it has been a
little quieter than usual while in the village, but we can’t say it hasn’t been
uneventful!
It has been a Busy, Crazy, Rainy, Dangerous driving month!
One Monday we didn't think we were going to make it home from the
village. A sugar cane truck had gotten stuck on a hill we need to climb.
It is the last hill of our journey home. If we can clear this one,
we always know we will make it home. The rains had stopped by the time we
came to this point, but it was a slick, clay, muddy, mess (worse than driving
on ice)! The sugar cane truck couldn't
make the climb and slid sideways enough that only bodas (motorcycles) could
pass. If we could back down the hill and go an alternate route, it would
take over an hour out of our way. And who’s to know if the other way was not
having troubles as well…...so we waited. Finally the truck moved a
little. We were able to get up and around it without sideswiping.
Only God knows how we made it! It was like a band of angels were
keeping us clear of the truck on the left (I don't think a hair could have fit
between us and the truck) and another band of angels were keeping us from
slipping into a huge ditch on the right! ‘Angels to the left of me, angels to the right, Here I am, stuck in the
middle with you.’ (Sounds like a song J) We made it to the top!
On another day, as we approached this same hill taxies were stuck,
bodas were slipping off the road, and we were stuck in the middle of a mess of
people, bodas and stuck taxies. We had
no choice but to try to climb the hill and get around other stuck vehicles. After many attempts, and Kate and myself in
the back seat praying hard, we heard Bruce say, “Is Someone Pushing Us?!” We
replied, “No, but we are praying!” He couldn’t understand how we could be
moving. It was surely God pushing us! When we got to the top, all you could hear
was the hooting and hollering from the crowd of Amazed Ugandans, and Us Cheering
and Praising God!! Thank you for all your prayers on our behalf for
travel! We are positive God is hearing
each one!!
We wish we could say that was the last of the difficult driving, but
each day this month was challenging and very similar. But No need to Worry, God
had our backs through it all!
We also have areas where
the roads are washed away. We now carry
our own boards for a bridge. Always and
ADVENTURE!
Thursdays are Bible studies in the village. After so many days of bad travel, we
considered staying home and canceling Bible studies. But, the day started
out sunny and beautiful so we went. But just as Bible studies were to
begin, the winds and rains came. And came Fierce! We had to yell to be heard. The ladies
and I could not do our Bible study because the rain was so loud on the tin roof
of our classroom. So we sat and waited out the storm. After a long
time of listening to the storm and me thinking only about what the ride home
might be like, I yelled, “ Since we can't talk, we can try and sing."
After a couple minutes, one lady began to sing as loud as she could to be
heard. Then another voice was heard, and then another. Finally, all the rest
chimed in. It was like the heavens opened up and angels were singing!
Brought tears to my eyes! Women with eyes closed, attentions all
given to God. To hear them worshipping and praising our God was worth all
the slipping and sliding on those bad roads! It is through some of our most
difficult journeys we can see God the clearest!
Pastoral Training classes resumed with another two weeks of intense
learning from God’s Word; New Testament Survey and Theology. We
feel so blessed to be a part of their spiritual growth in this community. What joy it is watching their faces as the
lights are starting to turn on and they begin to really understand the Gospel
and how much God loves them! They were
truly amazed at the word Trinity. The
word is not in the Bible, yet it is truly evident. 
Last month we mentioned some
exciting news was coming. Well, we are
so happy to announce that the last Two Classrooms are GOING UP! Classrooms for Africa, an organization out of
Canada, is funding the finishing of these last two rooms! We are so grateful and in Awe of God’s Great Provisions for this community! Thank
you Classrooms for Africa!
The community also
received a Solar Powered Media Player System that Bruce and Simon put up near
the borehole on the church and school’s land.
Thank you HCJB Global Technology for this gift for Naigobya!
We took a drive to Mbale
for a two day rest to enjoy God’s beautiful creation and spend some time
enjoying just us. Even though it was
rainy most of the time, we refueled and came back ready for God’s next tasks
for us.
Prayer Needs & Praises
·
We still need our Work permits/Visas –they have expired and we were given a temporary special pass,
which will expire soon also. We need it
soon to stay in the country.
· Praise
God for all those who accepted Him this month – pray they learn and grow in their new found faith
· Protection
– while traveling on Ugandan
roads
· Stay
healthy
Because He Lives!
Bruce
& Janine
