FFH Uganda Trip 2006

2009-02-21T16:22:00.003-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~"SECURE IN JESUS"~~~~~~~~~~~~
--written by Corrie Ten Boom with Jamie Buckingham--

It is Satan who tries, in every way, to spoil the peace and joy that God's servants have in their work.

Ellen, my new traveling companion, had gone with me to a lonely mission field in Mexico. Our hostess was a lady missionary, unmarried, in her forties. One evening while we were alone in her little adobe, she confessed her bitterness and resentment over being unmarried.

"Why have I been denied the love of a husband, children, and a home? Why is it that the only men who ever paid any attention to me were married to someone else?" Long into the night she poured out the poison of her frustration. At last she asked me, "Why did you never marry?"

"Because," I said, "the Lord had other plans for me than married life."

"Did you ever fall in love and lose someone, as I have?" she asked bitterly.

"Yes," I said sadly. "I know the pain of a broken heart."

"But you were strong, weren't you," she said in biting tones. "You were willing to let God have His way in your life?"

"Oh, no, not at first," I said. "I had to fight a battle over it. I was twenty-three. I loved a boy and believed he loved me. But I had no money and he married a rich girl. After they were married he brought her to me and putting her hand in mine said, 'I hope you two will be friends.' I wanted to scream. She looked so sweet, so secure and content in his love.

"But I did have Jesus, and eventually I went to Him and prayed, 'Lord Jesus, You know that I belong to You 100 percent. My sex life is your also. I don't know what plans You have for my life, but Lord, whatever it may be, use me to realize Your victory in every detail. I believe You can take away all my frustrations and feelings of unhappiness. I surrender anew my whole life to You.'"

I looked across the little table at the bitter woman in front of me. Her face was furrowed, her eyes hard with resentment. I sensed she had been trying to run away from her frustrations. Perhaps that was even the reason she was on the mission field. Sadly, there are some of God's children who go to the mission field to escape the pain of not having a husband. I know others, back home, who spend every evening away from their families, attending Christian meetings, because they are unhappy and frustrated in their marriages. Work-even mission work- can become a wrong hiding place.

"Those called by God to live single lives are always happy in that state," I said. "This happiness, this contentment, is the evidence of God's plan."

"But you loved and lost," she exclaimed. "Do you believe that God took away your lover to make you follow Him?"

"Oh, no, I smiled. "God does not take away from us. He might ask us to turn our backs on something, or someone, we should not have. God never takes away; however, God gives. If I reach out and take someone for myself and the Lord steps in between, that does not mean God takes. Rather it means He is protecting us from someone we should not have because He has a far greater purpose for our lives."

We sat for long minutes in the semidark room. Only a small kerosene lamp gave its flickering light, casting faint shadows on the walls and across our faces. I thought back-remembering. I had always been content in the Lord. Back when I was in my thirties God gave me children-the children of missionaries-whom I raised. Betsie, my sister, fed and clothed them while I was responsible for their sports and music. We kept them in our home in Holland, and I found deep satisfaction in seeing them grow to maturity. I also spent a great deal of time speaking and sharing in various clubs for girls. But it was not the work that brought balance to my life, for work cannot balance our feelings. It was because my life was centered in the Lord Jesus that I had balance. Many people try to lose their feelings in work, or sports, or music, or the arts. But the feelings are always there and will eventually, as they had done tonight in this missionary, come boiling to the surface and express their resentment and discontent.

I turned to Ellen, my companion. Ellen is a tall, blond, beautiful Dutch girl then in her early thirties. She is single, yet she has learned the secret of living a balanced life. While I believe God set me apart before I was born, to live a single life, Ellen was different. She did not feel that God had called her to a single life; rather she felt that one day, in God's time, she would marry. However, until that time arrived-one year or thirty years from then-I knew she was secure in Jesus and was not looking to a husband or children for her security.

I spoke to the missionary. "There are some, like me, who are called to live a single life," I said softly. "For them it is always easy for they are, by their nature, content. Others, like Ellen, are called to prepare for marriage which may come later in life. They, too, are blessed, for God is using the in-between years to teach them that marriage is not the answer to unhappiness. Happiness is found only in a balanced relationship with the Lord Jesus."

"But it is so hard," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"That is so," I said. "The cross is always difficult. 'But you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God' (Colossians 3:3). Dear girl, it cannot be safer. That part of you which would cling to a husband is dead. Now you can move into a life where you can be happy with or without a husband-secure in Jesus alone."

I do not know if she really understood me, for often we set our minds on some one thing we think will make us happy-a husband, children, a particular job, or even a "ministry"-and refuse to open our eyes to God's better way. In fact, some believe so strongly that only this thing can bring happiness, that they reject the Lord Jesus Himself. Happiness is not found in marriage; or work; or ministry; or children. Happiness is found by being secure in Jesus.

PHILLIPPIANS 4:11-13:

"NOT THAT I SPEAK IN REGARD TO NEED, FOR I HAVE LEARNED IN WHATEVER STATE I AM, TO BE CONTENT: I KNOW HOW TO BE ABASED, AND I KNOW HOW TO ABOUND. EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL THINGS I HAVE LEARNED BOTH TO BE FULL AND TO BE HUNGRY, BOTH TO ABOUND AND TO SUFFER NEED. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME."

Babies Raising Babies

2007-08-09T19:31:00.000-05:00

In Uganda, eighty percent of the population is under the age of 18. Uganda has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world ... all who contact it here will eventually die from AIDS or an AIDS related disease. Many more have butchered and maimed due to the instablity created by a rebel group called The Lords Resistance Army. Children are abducted as young as three by the Lord’s Resistance Army (a rebel group) and forced to become either sex slaves or soldiers.There are other groups that raid villages for the cattle. ("Cattle Raiders," tribes that will kill the people and steal the cattle.) Dispite this, the culture is very family oriented, meaning the children left are raised by family members and not orphanages ... the result is children raising their younger sibblings. It is not unusual for a child as young as seven to go to school with an infant in tow. Below are just a few of the babies rasing babies ...

2006-09-16T15:26:00.000-05:00

The Story of Francis

Francis is a 42 year old man who lives in the village of Kumi. Ten years ago he was a soldier in the People's Army fighting againt the insurgency of the rebels lead by Joseph Kony, also known as the Lord's Revolution Army. (LRA) He had a wife, many children and was living well by Ugandan standards. Seven years ago his wife died while giving birth to their youngest son, Ole, due to complications. She has AIDS. Francis's health becan to deteriorate. His youngest had been tested HIV positive.

Joyce, she's the one in the top picture presenting gifts of food to Francis ... we only get to see the back of her head ... works with Food for the Hungry Uganda in the program "Bringing Hope" (an outreach to individuals and families affected by AIDS/HIV.) Joyce had been aware of Francis's situaton or a few years, and would visit him often. He was reluctant to be tested, primarily because those who test positive are shunned by the community.

Due to Joyce's persistance, and the prayers of the staff at FFH, Francis agreed to be tested and it showed that he was infected w/ AIDS. His neighbors and family shunned him, taking all the children except his youngest child, Ole. It was not unusual for both Francis and Ole to go w/out food for up to 5 days.

Fast forward to August 9, 2006. We accompanied Esseza Ugandan FFH worker on home visits to families with sponcered children. Esseza asked one of the locals if there was a short cut to our first child's home. The path took us directly to Francis's hut. So stopped in for a visit.

Francis was seated on a mat by his mud hut. Both of his kness were drawn up to his chin as he sat with his arms wrapped around his legs infront of him, all alone. We were under a tree about 20 feet away, the neighbors had placed chairs out for us, and we listened to Esseza as she explined to us his story. I asked her a queston we all were thinking, would it be ok if Francis joined us under the tree? (He looked so abandoned.)

Francis slowly took up his mat, his legs obviousy weak, and brought it over to sit with us. I was closest to him and knelt next to him as Esseza continued. One of the members of our group felt a strong sense from the Holy Spirit to ask him if he was a Christian. He said he was not, and we asked him if he would like to hear about it. He stated that he would ... so I began to tell him the story of the gospel, and our need for a Savior that started in the Garden of Eden. I made it clear that God always gives us a choice to receive His free gift ... and then asked him if He would like to receive it. He answered yes, and prayed for Jesus to come into his heart and life. His countinance changed immediately. He laughed with us and would not stop smiling ... he took my visor ... :) ok I gave it to him :) ... and then hugged my neck like it has never been hugged. (After about a minute, I tried to end it ... but no! we were not done hugging :) It was such a blessing.) You can see him hanging on the second picture.

Francis kept asking us if he could get a bible, so the next day we came back with one, along with food for the next several months (and we left fund for Joyce to buy more food when it was needed.) The pictue above this paragraph is Francis w/ his new bible.

Below is Bobby, the missionary in the are for FFH w/ Ole. What Bobby said to this young man needs to be heard by every son reguarding their father. Bobby had the insight to realize this little boy was probably going to watch his dad die ... and he had only seen others disrespect his father, and could have very well had a wrong view of his dad. Bobbie told Ole, 'this is your father, you are to love and respect him." He then picked ole off the ground and gave him an enormous bear hug, saying, 'this is a hug, and I want you to give your dad one of these every day. I will be back in a month to check on you and see if you have been hudding your dad, ok?'

It was so neat to see how God used so many parts of the body of Christ to bring this lamb into the fold. Each one of us is very special in the eyes of our Father ... He will bring many to save just one, and He will use His children in many aspects of His work, just so we can participate with Him, and see Him up close. (Below is Bobby w/ Ole.)

An update, on October 22, 2006 after a long battle with AIDS, Francis went home. His children are now orphans so please keep them in your prayers.

Pearl of Africa

2006-09-14T09:38:00.000-05:00

The Pearl of Africa

Embedded in the heart of Africa, just as the oyster hides it's jewel deep within, you will find an unlikely treasure. Uganda, named "The Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill, is a lush and fertile country on the equator in the heart of Africa, bordered by Kenya to the East, Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and Rwanda to the South. Despite its relatively small size, Uganda has a remarkably diverse landscape: the Kigezi highlands commonly referred to as the "Switzerland of Africa;" the legendary snow-capped (including glaciers) Rwenzori Mountains; an extinct volcano, Mt. Elgon and the still active Virunga volcanoes, home of the mountain gorillas. There are dense tropical forests, rolling savannas, fresh water lakes and breathtaking waterfalls. Uganda is home to the second largest fresh water lake in the world, Lake Victoria, the source of the river Nile. (This was where we started our 31 mile whitewater rafting the last day of our stay ... it was part of our debriefing!)

The top picture is in the village of Kumi. They have these enormous stones ... and look like small mountains. FFH has a program here that reaches out to those affected by AIDS/HIV. Below, you will see Piswa ... a mountainous region that is filled with hundreds of waterfalls ... is part of the Kapchurwa district.

Babies raising Babies

In Uganda, eighty percent of the population is under the age of 18. Uganda has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the world ... all who contact it here will eventually die from AIDS or an AIDS related disease. Many more have butchered and maimed due to the instablity created by a rebel group called The Lords Resistance Army. Children are abducted as young as three by the Lord’s Resistance Army (a rebel group) and forced to become either sex slaves or soldiers.There are other groups that raid villages for the cattle. ("Cattle Raiders," tribes that will kill the people and steal the cattle.) Dispite this, the culture is very family oriented .. resulting in children raising their younger sibblings.