After 16 years in Kenya, we finally travel to Uganda, which has been a hot spot for American church of Christ missionaries in recent years, with teams in Mbarara, Kampala, Jinja and Mbale and a family in Fort Portal. We spent a week in Mbale, where the local mission team and church have a training school for church leaders, a congregation and dreams for a University. I taught a course called the Ephesian Connection -- all the Scripture and events in the New Testament surrounding the city of Ephesus. 20 students from their advanced program attended, and we had a good week.
And once again in our short lives God has given us richly of his wonder. After flying to Kampala, we took a public bus (large van) to Mbale, 6 hours on the road. Then we had good fellowship and good treatment by the Mbale church. It turned out that one of the cars belonging to a Kampala missionary was in Mbale, and we had the privilege of driving it back to Kampala. That meant we could stop off in Jinja. There the church has developed The Source Cafe, so we had lunch and bought some of the coffee they produce. We were planning to spend the night at a hotel. But while we were drinking coffee, Kim Langford showed up at the Cafe and invited us to her house. It was great being with Kim and her two boys, one of whom is just the age of one of our granddaughters.
Our sense of wonder was filled to the brim by the natural setting in Jinja. This is where the explorer Speke in 1860 found the source of the Nile River. All my life I have read and fantasized about the Nile -- mostly about Egypt of course. But here we could take a boat ride up the river a little ways to where it begins in Lake Victoria -- we could stand at the Zero Mile marker (it's 4000 miles to the Mediterranean). A great experience.
After spending the night, we drove up a dirt road to Bugajali Falls, which is one of the #5 level rapids in the area (this will soon be destroyed by the new hydroelectric dam they will build). We climbed down the rocks and sat a few feet from the river just below the rapids -- incredible! I can't describe the joy of that moment. So we sat and talked about all the places in the Bible where water is mentioned, and we especially thought about the voice that John heard in his Revelation vision that was "the sound of many waters."
We are grateful for all our experiences, in family, in the church, in nature. They are all filled to the brim with joy. And we will not soon forget the sound of many waters.
"let the living water flow over us"
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
It's the Economy!
Amazing how much a missionary's life can be determined by the economy. The usual missionary doesn't choose this life in order to make extra money, or even to live at the level most Americans live at. But we are deeply affected by it.
One reason is that we live on exchange rates. Back in 1993 many missionaries left Kenya because the rate of the dollar against the Kenyan shilling changed so much so rapidly. We are facing a similar time now. The US $ has dropped 8.5 shillings to the dollar in the past year. That is 11.64%. Our personal buying power has lost that much in a year, and the Made in the Streets has lost the same buying power.
In addition to that, the Kenyan economy has seen a surge in growth, which leads to a rise in the inflation level. Couple that with the rise in the price of oil worldwide, and prices go up rapidly. It isn't only the price of gasoline and diesel, which have increased a little more than $1 per gallon in the past year. It's that flour has gone from $1 for 4.4 pounds (2 kilogram) to $1.70. And milk has increased twice in the past two weeks, once 5 cents a quart and the next 7 cents a quart. And bread -- our kids eat a lot of bread -- went up 5 cents a loaf last week. In the news today was a note that sugar will increase in price soon.
Besides all that, Kenya has joined the world conservation movement and has begun a campaign against plastic bags - this is one of the worst parts of the litter problem in our cities - and the government has slapped a 120% import duty on plastic goods. That also will make prices go up.
In today's paper are articles about salaries in Kenya. Now we are also faced with the fact that our Kenyan Team members are in the lowest level of salaries in the country, since economic growth has led to a rise in salaries generally.
So...we have to pay attention to the economy. And we need people to pray for us that we will be wise in using the Lord's money, the funds that Christians have so generously given us. Please ask God to give us wisdom. Even the economy points to our need for God's care. It's good to have many things in our lives that point us to the need to trust God with our lives and futures.
May the Lord guide your daily life... charles
One reason is that we live on exchange rates. Back in 1993 many missionaries left Kenya because the rate of the dollar against the Kenyan shilling changed so much so rapidly. We are facing a similar time now. The US $ has dropped 8.5 shillings to the dollar in the past year. That is 11.64%. Our personal buying power has lost that much in a year, and the Made in the Streets has lost the same buying power.
In addition to that, the Kenyan economy has seen a surge in growth, which leads to a rise in the inflation level. Couple that with the rise in the price of oil worldwide, and prices go up rapidly. It isn't only the price of gasoline and diesel, which have increased a little more than $1 per gallon in the past year. It's that flour has gone from $1 for 4.4 pounds (2 kilogram) to $1.70. And milk has increased twice in the past two weeks, once 5 cents a quart and the next 7 cents a quart. And bread -- our kids eat a lot of bread -- went up 5 cents a loaf last week. In the news today was a note that sugar will increase in price soon.
Besides all that, Kenya has joined the world conservation movement and has begun a campaign against plastic bags - this is one of the worst parts of the litter problem in our cities - and the government has slapped a 120% import duty on plastic goods. That also will make prices go up.
In today's paper are articles about salaries in Kenya. Now we are also faced with the fact that our Kenyan Team members are in the lowest level of salaries in the country, since economic growth has led to a rise in salaries generally.
So...we have to pay attention to the economy. And we need people to pray for us that we will be wise in using the Lord's money, the funds that Christians have so generously given us. Please ask God to give us wisdom. Even the economy points to our need for God's care. It's good to have many things in our lives that point us to the need to trust God with our lives and futures.
May the Lord guide your daily life... charles
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A Matter of Timing
It is great that Darlene and I got back to Made in the Streets now. There were some problems that we need to help the team with, such as attitude problems among some of our older kids who are studying for the end of primary school exam, and on the part of some kids who have gotten more gifts from USA friends of Made in the Streets than other kids have, and setting up a new schedule for the kids. Darlene and I are still some use here, even though we don't do administrative work anymore. The team is very capable in most areas, but in planning the future of the ministry, and in dealing with personal attitude issues -- we are useful.
Today was also a matter of timing. We are making plans to spend a few days in Uganda with the churches in the Mbale area teaching a Biblical course at their training center to the advanced students. There are so many issues involved -- border crossings on both sides, car insurance and permission to take the car, visas, etc -- as well as info on how they handle their courses. We drove into town and stopped at the Java House to do our email and internet work, and there was Shaun Tyler and Ian Shelburne, the brothers who invited us to Uganda! So I got all my information.
How are we to think about such events? I needed the information and was feeling a little insecure about the trip. It was great to hear it all face-to-face and be able to think of all the questions I needed answered. God is "providence" -- and more -- God is "a very present help in time of need." Christ is "master" -- in command over our hearts and spirits and minds and bodies right now. God is truly the God of history -- and history is being written in each of our lives now.
It's a matter of timing, and timing is a matter of God!
In His time,
charles
Today was also a matter of timing. We are making plans to spend a few days in Uganda with the churches in the Mbale area teaching a Biblical course at their training center to the advanced students. There are so many issues involved -- border crossings on both sides, car insurance and permission to take the car, visas, etc -- as well as info on how they handle their courses. We drove into town and stopped at the Java House to do our email and internet work, and there was Shaun Tyler and Ian Shelburne, the brothers who invited us to Uganda! So I got all my information.
How are we to think about such events? I needed the information and was feeling a little insecure about the trip. It was great to hear it all face-to-face and be able to think of all the questions I needed answered. God is "providence" -- and more -- God is "a very present help in time of need." Christ is "master" -- in command over our hearts and spirits and minds and bodies right now. God is truly the God of history -- and history is being written in each of our lives now.
It's a matter of timing, and timing is a matter of God!
In His time,
charles
Friday, October 5, 2007
Coulstons Back in Nairobi
We met Francis and Maureen (with baby Jonathan) in the London airport and traveled on to Nairobi with them. They had been in Midland, Texas, working on World Bible School project. It was good to catch up on some news and to see them. We didn't talk much on the airplane because I slept almost all the way. And after getting here I slept for about 18 hours!!
Yesterday Darlene and I walked to the boys' property and looked at the orchard -- 546 trees plus about 100 passion fruit vines are planted and growing. The water system is working. The baby calf looks good, and there are several baby goats.
It was especially good to see all the students and staff. Everyone seems happy. The bad news is that one boy ran away a week before we came. He was a troubled youth who had a hard time learning -- more about him later. I feel sad at his loss; the team hasn't been able to find him yet.
Molly and Zach, our two interns, have done good work while we were away. They have given oral reports on the work and overall Made in the Streets seems very healthy. Since we are a Team of 21 (plus interns) and have 46 teenagers and hundreds we work with on the streets, there are always minor problems that arise -- such as a student stealing keys and debris getting in one of the water tanks and a student being sick and at the hospital -- but the ministry is healthy and the kids seem alive with enthusiasm.
John Wambu and I went to the 20 acres and planned a fence around the school compound (this is the skills training area where we have built one building and drilled the water well); we also delivered woodworking supplies that Bob Workley donated for that project -- Robin and Nzioka were very happy. John and I also drew up plans for renovation of the Eastleigh property for the coming street mothers' program. We also planned some improvement in the girls' kitchen.
It's great being alive, working in ministry, serving the poorest of the poor, doing what we know Jesus wants done. We are grateful to those who give money to make our work possible.
have a grateful day,
charles
Yesterday Darlene and I walked to the boys' property and looked at the orchard -- 546 trees plus about 100 passion fruit vines are planted and growing. The water system is working. The baby calf looks good, and there are several baby goats.
It was especially good to see all the students and staff. Everyone seems happy. The bad news is that one boy ran away a week before we came. He was a troubled youth who had a hard time learning -- more about him later. I feel sad at his loss; the team hasn't been able to find him yet.
Molly and Zach, our two interns, have done good work while we were away. They have given oral reports on the work and overall Made in the Streets seems very healthy. Since we are a Team of 21 (plus interns) and have 46 teenagers and hundreds we work with on the streets, there are always minor problems that arise -- such as a student stealing keys and debris getting in one of the water tanks and a student being sick and at the hospital -- but the ministry is healthy and the kids seem alive with enthusiasm.
John Wambu and I went to the 20 acres and planned a fence around the school compound (this is the skills training area where we have built one building and drilled the water well); we also delivered woodworking supplies that Bob Workley donated for that project -- Robin and Nzioka were very happy. John and I also drew up plans for renovation of the Eastleigh property for the coming street mothers' program. We also planned some improvement in the girls' kitchen.
It's great being alive, working in ministry, serving the poorest of the poor, doing what we know Jesus wants done. We are grateful to those who give money to make our work possible.
have a grateful day,
charles
Monday, October 1, 2007
The Old and the Young
It's Monday, and that means we fly to Nairobi today. We are trying to take care of ourselves, so we woke up early and walked the two miles to the coffee shop. The son-by-marriage got the granddaughters ready and brought them by the coffee shop before taking them to pre-school. And the daughter stopped by briefly to say hello on the way to work.
It seems the old and the young grow alike. The twins are five now, and they are feeling more the fact of our departures. They came in and sat down close to me, and neither really wanted to eat (even though it was a cinnamon crunch bagle!). They just wanted to get close and tell me how they would miss me and even cry a little.
And me...? I started feeling like crying a week ago. One day I felt strange, and I later realized that I was depressed. Since I never feel depression, I didn't know what it is. It makes me empathize with people who suffer from depression, whether clinical or occasional. It's like you are falling in a hole, and you feel disconnected from the world around you. And everything seems worse than it could possibly be. And you feel lonely even though you don't need to. It takes conscious effort to get free from depression, making a decision to be close to others and to do something useful. Otherwise you get stuck in it.
Today I feel okay. I could talk to the girls about how feeling sad is great, because it means we really do love one another. And about how if we don't go away, then we can't come back (that worked for our daughter when her granpa used it, but somehow I don't think the twins buy it.)
There is an excitement building in us about being back in Nairobi. There is plenty of work, and we get to see the street kids again, and those who have come off the streets and are at the Farm, and the Team, and the Conways and others. Our list of loved ones is almost unending.
Have an un-depressed day!
charles
It seems the old and the young grow alike. The twins are five now, and they are feeling more the fact of our departures. They came in and sat down close to me, and neither really wanted to eat (even though it was a cinnamon crunch bagle!). They just wanted to get close and tell me how they would miss me and even cry a little.
And me...? I started feeling like crying a week ago. One day I felt strange, and I later realized that I was depressed. Since I never feel depression, I didn't know what it is. It makes me empathize with people who suffer from depression, whether clinical or occasional. It's like you are falling in a hole, and you feel disconnected from the world around you. And everything seems worse than it could possibly be. And you feel lonely even though you don't need to. It takes conscious effort to get free from depression, making a decision to be close to others and to do something useful. Otherwise you get stuck in it.
Today I feel okay. I could talk to the girls about how feeling sad is great, because it means we really do love one another. And about how if we don't go away, then we can't come back (that worked for our daughter when her granpa used it, but somehow I don't think the twins buy it.)
There is an excitement building in us about being back in Nairobi. There is plenty of work, and we get to see the street kids again, and those who have come off the streets and are at the Farm, and the Team, and the Conways and others. Our list of loved ones is almost unending.
Have an un-depressed day!
charles
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