Not everything we need to catch up on is work related! Last month while we were in Kamapala we took Elias to the Entebbe Zoo (properly known as the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre). We had initially been unsure of what it would be like, but it was actually quite impressive – especially the way it was set in a semi-rainforest on Lake Victoria. It was really neat to see the animals in a setting much closer to their real homes. There were cages, of course, but it felt much more natural. We saw all the larger animals: lions, leopards, rhinos, crocodiles, and chimpanzees: We also saw a Shoebill Stork (which Mike has seen in the wild, but not Elias and Marianne). They truly do look prehistoric! And we even saw baby elephants up close, when they were walked past us by zoo staff! Last but certainly not least (for Elias!), they have an excellent playground too, so Elias was able to play and we were able to finish at the beach. Elias was a little less interested in the animals than we had hoped -- after he saw the play equipment that was his biggest interest! -- but it was a really fun family outing nonetheless (yes, Marianne was there in spite of the almost complete lack of photographic evidence!).
0 Comments
Our blog has been down for a long time, so there are many things to catch up on, and one of the things we need to catch up on is the graduation of our church’s discipleship class! After we attended the Ignite missions conference last year in May, we shared what we had learned about mobilizing the church in Africa for global missions with our local church. In response, our church asked us to help facilitate a six month discipleship class -- because if we want to mobilize the people of Pader for global missions, then the starting point is a solid church foundation built on discipled believers. Only disciples can make more disciples! So we started a six month class, which met every Monday and two Saturdays a month, and covered topics from the foundation of missions and discipleship, to prayer and spiritual gifts, to basic Bible interpretation, to how to write a personal testimony and share the gospel effectively, and a whole lot in between! We had a lot of fun getting to know the group, and we had some lively debates too, as we covered some hot topics. Some highlights included washing feet for a lesson on servant leadership, learning about forgiveness and reconciliation from the story of Joseph, and our Christmas party in December. There was so much to cover that our six month course became an eight month course. I think the most satisfying and fruitful part of the class, though, was the time spent with class prayer partners and in one-on-one mentorship between the facilitators and members. These meetings gave us an opportunity to build relationships and to speak into their individual lives. On the 23rd of February we had our last lesson, and on the 24th of March we had the commissioning service at our church. Commissioning, not graduation, because this class is only the beginning! We are not discipled to receive a certificate; we are discipled to go out into the world and make more disciples!
It was a real privilege for all of us (Mike, Marianne, Walter, Concy, and Ceasar) to help lead this group, and we feel that God really used this class in the lives of the members. Please pray for this group of 21 as they go out, that God will bless them as they put into practice what they have learned. It is not knowledge God is looking for - it is changed hearts that He will use to change others! |
PrayerIf you feel a burden to become a prayer partner, please email us and we can add you to our prayer circle. Archives
October 2021
|