Brent likes the attention
Surprise, Guest blogger today. Marianne's blogs are always so well thought out, grammatically correct, and laced with timely pictures to help illustrate the theme she is sharing with you. I wish that my writing and creativity could somehow provide you with the same excitement and entertainment that she does. I do think she has a couple of blogs in the works, so stay patient for the talent to resume shortly.
The purpose of writing this is .....well I honestly have no idea. I have had so many things running through my head lately, and people don't generally like to read long facebook posts, but going into a blog, you kind of expect to spend a few minutes reading in order to gain information or understanding. It is hard to believe that we have already been in Uganda for three months. When I look back, I think "6 months is halfway over, what have we done?" That is an honest question, that comes with an honest answer SURVIVE. Some days that feels like all we have done is make it through the day. And as I battled malaria this week, I was grateful to just survive. As most of you know, I have had some weird health issues for many years, and I have a tendency to try to produce cases that baffle my doctors. It was a concern for myself, as well as my family, when we decided to move to Uganda, that something would happen to me in a third world country that they were not prepared for medically. As my condition worsened, I knew I needed help, and our doctor friend told me to get in the car because I needed to head to the hospital, the thoughts of "oh crap, here we go" flooded my mind. However, as quickly as they came they were washed away with thoughts of 'My grace is sufficient for you." I knew I was going to be fine. I realized as Marianne and my dad had put things on facebook asking for prayer, people continued to put comments that they were praying, I felt those prayers of God's people. I am so grateful for those who love us, and love the Father enough to intercede on our behalf.
As I recovered, read the comments, and continued to receive messages from those checking up on me; I was filled with joy by the amount of people that we are connected with that care about us. You people are our village. Some family, many friends, fellow church members from present and past, and probably a few people that don't like us much, but are nosey and just want to know what is going on so they can gossip and complain. If you are the latter, I hope you stick around and keep reading. Many times in our years of ministry, Marianne and I have referred to ourselves as an open book, meaning we probably share more than we should and often more than people want to hear. Our goal is to hopefully be authentic in our lives, so that people know we struggle in the very same ways that they do. We have sometimes been criticized for that, and thats ok. If you have nothing better to talk about around the coffee pot and choose to go that route, I hope it satisfies you for a moment. But this blog is meant your those of you that genuinely care for me and my family. I want you to know how much we value you and your relationships. I want you to know how you can pray and support and encourage us. I want you to know that God is growing us, and how He desires to grow you too.
The primary purpose for coming to Uganda began to change even before leaving the States. We are still trying to nail down what ministry looks like for us here in Uganda. Sometimes not having a "something to go do everyday" is difficult to explain to people who ask why are you here. That question has been raised by Ugandans, as well as Americans looking for a reason. I recall hearing some friends of ours share their story after returning from spending last summer serving in the Dominican Republic. they were asked, " What did y'all do?' to which they replied " LIVE". I have been on many mission trips inside the country and outside. There was always a plan of what we wanted to accomplish and how it was going to happen. Everyone of those trips were special, but staying in a place for a long period of time has opened my eyes to what living on mission looks like. It is going to the grocery store and building a relationship with a man named Robert. It is going to a restaurant and having your favorite waitress named Linda run down the stairs and greet your wife and daughters because she is so glad to see them. It is having a store clerk named Judith order you a silverback gorilla t-shirt cause she thinks I am part of their family , and she's got jokes. Working out with young men God has placed in our family. It's playing basketball with guys like Adam, Arafat, Vince and Bosa to name a few. Or coaching others like Albert, Mychal, Victor and Roland. It's sitting in a police station with a friend who has become like a brother, grateful for God's providence in keeping you out of Ugandan jail. That's a story for a whole blog on its own. The point I wanted to make is that ministry and missions doesn't look anything like I thought it would look. But everyone of those names are people, and those people are becoming friends, and those friends have or will soon hear the Gospel.Will you pray for them by name, and together we will see what the Lord does in each situation?
I will wrap up, because if I am tired of typing, you are probably tired of reading. Many have asked how you can help us. We need your prayers first and foremost. We are doing ministry with refugees, evangelism in schools, woodworking, basketball, neighbors, food delivery, etc. We have decided we will be available to serve where ever God opens the door. If that is one time only, or on a weekly basis. I have talked to several people who have contributed monetarily, and many feel they are getting to be directly connected to what God is doing here. If there are ministry projects you are interested in supporting, there are always needs that we are praying for God to show us how we can help. I want you to know how much I appreciate everyone of you. If you made it to the end of Brent's word vomit, congratulations. I covet your prayers, your encouragement, and your comments on our posts. We know we are not in this battle alone.
The purpose of writing this is .....well I honestly have no idea. I have had so many things running through my head lately, and people don't generally like to read long facebook posts, but going into a blog, you kind of expect to spend a few minutes reading in order to gain information or understanding. It is hard to believe that we have already been in Uganda for three months. When I look back, I think "6 months is halfway over, what have we done?" That is an honest question, that comes with an honest answer SURVIVE. Some days that feels like all we have done is make it through the day. And as I battled malaria this week, I was grateful to just survive. As most of you know, I have had some weird health issues for many years, and I have a tendency to try to produce cases that baffle my doctors. It was a concern for myself, as well as my family, when we decided to move to Uganda, that something would happen to me in a third world country that they were not prepared for medically. As my condition worsened, I knew I needed help, and our doctor friend told me to get in the car because I needed to head to the hospital, the thoughts of "oh crap, here we go" flooded my mind. However, as quickly as they came they were washed away with thoughts of 'My grace is sufficient for you." I knew I was going to be fine. I realized as Marianne and my dad had put things on facebook asking for prayer, people continued to put comments that they were praying, I felt those prayers of God's people. I am so grateful for those who love us, and love the Father enough to intercede on our behalf.
As I recovered, read the comments, and continued to receive messages from those checking up on me; I was filled with joy by the amount of people that we are connected with that care about us. You people are our village. Some family, many friends, fellow church members from present and past, and probably a few people that don't like us much, but are nosey and just want to know what is going on so they can gossip and complain. If you are the latter, I hope you stick around and keep reading. Many times in our years of ministry, Marianne and I have referred to ourselves as an open book, meaning we probably share more than we should and often more than people want to hear. Our goal is to hopefully be authentic in our lives, so that people know we struggle in the very same ways that they do. We have sometimes been criticized for that, and thats ok. If you have nothing better to talk about around the coffee pot and choose to go that route, I hope it satisfies you for a moment. But this blog is meant your those of you that genuinely care for me and my family. I want you to know how much we value you and your relationships. I want you to know how you can pray and support and encourage us. I want you to know that God is growing us, and how He desires to grow you too.
The primary purpose for coming to Uganda began to change even before leaving the States. We are still trying to nail down what ministry looks like for us here in Uganda. Sometimes not having a "something to go do everyday" is difficult to explain to people who ask why are you here. That question has been raised by Ugandans, as well as Americans looking for a reason. I recall hearing some friends of ours share their story after returning from spending last summer serving in the Dominican Republic. they were asked, " What did y'all do?' to which they replied " LIVE". I have been on many mission trips inside the country and outside. There was always a plan of what we wanted to accomplish and how it was going to happen. Everyone of those trips were special, but staying in a place for a long period of time has opened my eyes to what living on mission looks like. It is going to the grocery store and building a relationship with a man named Robert. It is going to a restaurant and having your favorite waitress named Linda run down the stairs and greet your wife and daughters because she is so glad to see them. It is having a store clerk named Judith order you a silverback gorilla t-shirt cause she thinks I am part of their family , and she's got jokes. Working out with young men God has placed in our family. It's playing basketball with guys like Adam, Arafat, Vince and Bosa to name a few. Or coaching others like Albert, Mychal, Victor and Roland. It's sitting in a police station with a friend who has become like a brother, grateful for God's providence in keeping you out of Ugandan jail. That's a story for a whole blog on its own. The point I wanted to make is that ministry and missions doesn't look anything like I thought it would look. But everyone of those names are people, and those people are becoming friends, and those friends have or will soon hear the Gospel.Will you pray for them by name, and together we will see what the Lord does in each situation?
I will wrap up, because if I am tired of typing, you are probably tired of reading. Many have asked how you can help us. We need your prayers first and foremost. We are doing ministry with refugees, evangelism in schools, woodworking, basketball, neighbors, food delivery, etc. We have decided we will be available to serve where ever God opens the door. If that is one time only, or on a weekly basis. I have talked to several people who have contributed monetarily, and many feel they are getting to be directly connected to what God is doing here. If there are ministry projects you are interested in supporting, there are always needs that we are praying for God to show us how we can help. I want you to know how much I appreciate everyone of you. If you made it to the end of Brent's word vomit, congratulations. I covet your prayers, your encouragement, and your comments on our posts. We know we are not in this battle alone.
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