Hi all,
If any of you are interested in some photos of my time in Africa ---on the right are two slideshows of photos from my time in Uganda and Ethiopia ---mostly photos of sponsorship kids.
---The upper one is from my time in Uganda.
---The lower is from my time in Ethiopia.
If you sponsor a child, you will probably find him or her in either the Uganda or the Ethiopia slides.
To view the slideshows with captions, just click on one of them and when it opens in a larger window, click on the slideshow tab(upper left). From there, you can speed it up or slow it down.
I hope you enjoy them.
By His Grace,
Jay
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Images from my trip
Friday, January 23, 2009
Songs of praise
Kampala is a city bustling with activity and with life. The people here are quite industrious. Many stores and restaurants and even most pharmacies stay open until 10pm or later.
In addition to the taxi minivans, the thousands of boda-bodas, (small motorcycles that carry people throughout the city) dart through the often heavy traffic, and can get you through the worst traffic jams. If you're willing to take the risk, they are a very efficient means of getting around.
Yesterday, we took the sponsorship kids for a day outting of swimming and fun at a beach alongside Lake Victoria. Thankfully, they also had two large pools, and much of my day was spent giving swimming lessons to most of those kids.
For such a day, we bought a lot of food, rice, meat, potatoes, and cabbage, that was prepared by the kids themselves, either over a charcoal or wood fire early in the morning.
I had brought a few extra swimming suits from back home, but still several kids didn't have them so, together with two of the older boys, I went to the huge open market in the heart of Kampala to buy a dozen more. I love that market, even though it is so expansive, one can easily get lost. It is said to be the largest open market in East Africa.
As we wound our way, navigating past the narrow paths of huge bags of beans, rice, various flours, vegetables and spices, we eventually came to the clothing area, where hundreds of sellers hawk their particular clothing types, calling out their prices.(most of which I now understand). Some sell men's trousers, some specialize in girls dresses, and yes, some even carry swim suits, all of them used, purchased in huge bales, usually from the U.S. Finding what we came for, the only thing left was to haggle over the price, which I also find enjoyable.
We reached the resort early in the afternoon and after a large lunch from the huge tubs of prepared food we had carried with us, the kids were off to change and from there, to the pools.
Trying to teach the basic facefloat, learning to kick at the edge of the pool, to hold your breath and open your eyes under water, for the twenty-eight swimming, only went so far, but most of them were determined to learn to swim.
We stayed until after nightfall, and after the minivan taxis that had been called, failed to materialize, we all started hiking, under an absolutely beautiful, starry, Ugandan night, toward the main road. Some were sent ahead on boda-bodas to try and compel other of these minivan taxis, that route along the raod between Entebbe and Kampala, to take us back to Kampala.
After negotiating a good price, we were on our way back to the church. One of the kids was asked to pray for our trip, which was very appropriate for a Ugandan highway littered with speeding taxi-vans, slow moving trucks, motorcycles darting every way, and scores of people on foot after dark, on the forty minute drive back to town.
As we went along all of the fifteen kids in our van began a time of praise and worship, which I love so much. Ugandans love to sing and most are gifted at it. Some of the songs were in English, but many were in Lugandan. Those I didn't know the meaning to, I asked. So many, especially the Lugandan songs, were beautiful melodies with beautiful words of praise and worship.
If you've never been to the Third World, the believers here have a hunger for God, borne out of dependence. In years past, I've described the amazingly beautiful, passionate worship times in some of the churches here. This year has been no exception ---something I will also really miss. With our affluence in the West, we see ourselves as self-dependent and often don't look to God for our needs. Most of the world does not have that "problem".
As we reached the slum in which the church is located, the van-taxi was directed through dirt roads, actually no more than very rough footpaths, turning in places I thought a vehicle could not possibly go. Why we didn't high center several times, I still could not say.
My time here in Uganda is sadly drawing to a close. It has been so good spending time with the sponsorship kids, seeing those the ex-African Children's Choir kids I've toured with over the years, sharing the Gospel with my Muslim taxi driver friend I've known for so many years now, receiving so many beautiful greetings and smiles from the scores of kids in the slums I frequent here.
One of the sponsorship girls, while composing her letter to her sponsor, told me that she had been to the doctor last year and had been diagnosed with some health issues, but her mother had been unable to afford the prescribed medicine. We went together to a clinic near the church and got her those medications. Another girl wrote her sponsor to say she had done OK in school, but would have done better except that she can't see or hear very well! We are looking into what we can do for her as well.
As for my health, my bad hip remains borderline each day as to whether I can walk without a limp. Usually I can, though sometimes not. Our problems are relative.
Thanks to each of you that has been praying for me. please continue to lift me up for health, for safety in travels, for wisdom, and for Divine appointments.
Because of Him, Jay
In addition to the taxi minivans, the thousands of boda-bodas, (small motorcycles that carry people throughout the city) dart through the often heavy traffic, and can get you through the worst traffic jams. If you're willing to take the risk, they are a very efficient means of getting around.
Yesterday, we took the sponsorship kids for a day outting of swimming and fun at a beach alongside Lake Victoria. Thankfully, they also had two large pools, and much of my day was spent giving swimming lessons to most of those kids.
For such a day, we bought a lot of food, rice, meat, potatoes, and cabbage, that was prepared by the kids themselves, either over a charcoal or wood fire early in the morning.
I had brought a few extra swimming suits from back home, but still several kids didn't have them so, together with two of the older boys, I went to the huge open market in the heart of Kampala to buy a dozen more. I love that market, even though it is so expansive, one can easily get lost. It is said to be the largest open market in East Africa.
As we wound our way, navigating past the narrow paths of huge bags of beans, rice, various flours, vegetables and spices, we eventually came to the clothing area, where hundreds of sellers hawk their particular clothing types, calling out their prices.(most of which I now understand). Some sell men's trousers, some specialize in girls dresses, and yes, some even carry swim suits, all of them used, purchased in huge bales, usually from the U.S. Finding what we came for, the only thing left was to haggle over the price, which I also find enjoyable.
We reached the resort early in the afternoon and after a large lunch from the huge tubs of prepared food we had carried with us, the kids were off to change and from there, to the pools.
Trying to teach the basic facefloat, learning to kick at the edge of the pool, to hold your breath and open your eyes under water, for the twenty-eight swimming, only went so far, but most of them were determined to learn to swim.
We stayed until after nightfall, and after the minivan taxis that had been called, failed to materialize, we all started hiking, under an absolutely beautiful, starry, Ugandan night, toward the main road. Some were sent ahead on boda-bodas to try and compel other of these minivan taxis, that route along the raod between Entebbe and Kampala, to take us back to Kampala.
After negotiating a good price, we were on our way back to the church. One of the kids was asked to pray for our trip, which was very appropriate for a Ugandan highway littered with speeding taxi-vans, slow moving trucks, motorcycles darting every way, and scores of people on foot after dark, on the forty minute drive back to town.
As we went along all of the fifteen kids in our van began a time of praise and worship, which I love so much. Ugandans love to sing and most are gifted at it. Some of the songs were in English, but many were in Lugandan. Those I didn't know the meaning to, I asked. So many, especially the Lugandan songs, were beautiful melodies with beautiful words of praise and worship.
If you've never been to the Third World, the believers here have a hunger for God, borne out of dependence. In years past, I've described the amazingly beautiful, passionate worship times in some of the churches here. This year has been no exception ---something I will also really miss. With our affluence in the West, we see ourselves as self-dependent and often don't look to God for our needs. Most of the world does not have that "problem".
As we reached the slum in which the church is located, the van-taxi was directed through dirt roads, actually no more than very rough footpaths, turning in places I thought a vehicle could not possibly go. Why we didn't high center several times, I still could not say.
My time here in Uganda is sadly drawing to a close. It has been so good spending time with the sponsorship kids, seeing those the ex-African Children's Choir kids I've toured with over the years, sharing the Gospel with my Muslim taxi driver friend I've known for so many years now, receiving so many beautiful greetings and smiles from the scores of kids in the slums I frequent here.
One of the sponsorship girls, while composing her letter to her sponsor, told me that she had been to the doctor last year and had been diagnosed with some health issues, but her mother had been unable to afford the prescribed medicine. We went together to a clinic near the church and got her those medications. Another girl wrote her sponsor to say she had done OK in school, but would have done better except that she can't see or hear very well! We are looking into what we can do for her as well.
As for my health, my bad hip remains borderline each day as to whether I can walk without a limp. Usually I can, though sometimes not. Our problems are relative.
Thanks to each of you that has been praying for me. please continue to lift me up for health, for safety in travels, for wisdom, and for Divine appointments.
Because of Him, Jay
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A Warm Humid Night in Kampala
----I am writing you on a warm, humid, night in a cybercafe in Kampala.
Yes, I have arrived safely in Uganda, after a quick day and a half in Ethiopia. I woke this morning, to the Muslim call to prayer sounding through our area of Addis Ababa , around 5:30 this morning. Catching a quick flight to Entebbe, I had the pleasure of spending the late afternoon and evening visiting with many of the sponsorship kids at the church grounds.
Yes, they have grown so much in two years! I had to laugh, as many of the kids wondered whether I might arrive with some grotesquely strong limp or something. After hearing from Pastor Paul here, about my affirmities, they have all been praying, but perhaps bracing for the worst.
Some of the kids received sponsorship letters, but many asked about their sponsors. One girl asked me when she might get a photo of her sponsor. It even surprises me at times how much they care.
Thanks for your prayers, Jay
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
It is now just past midnight on January 14th, ----the day I am to fly to Ethiopia!
Even after an exhausting few days and this long night of packing, I am excited to see this day come!
Earlier today, I was describing where I'll be going and what I'll be doing over the next four weeks to someone who lives in the building in which I work. He is an elderly man, and as I listed some of the things I hope to do, he kept repeating how envious he was and whether I might just "slip him into my luggage".
He asked how "I got to do all these things". I told him that on some of my trips, I have to pinch myself and wonder how I find myself ---visiting a leper's family, walking a blind woman through the city to the sponsorship office, seeing people make decisions for Christ, finding small boys sleeping alone on the streets, in a city of 5 1/2 million people ---and having the means to help them and potentially change the course of their lives!
The answer to even my own wonder ---is that we serve an amazing God, that sees and cares and knows, even before things come to be. That people pray. That God answers prayer.
And if you're moved to, please lift up my trip in your prayers...
Even after an exhausting few days and this long night of packing, I am excited to see this day come!
Earlier today, I was describing where I'll be going and what I'll be doing over the next four weeks to someone who lives in the building in which I work. He is an elderly man, and as I listed some of the things I hope to do, he kept repeating how envious he was and whether I might just "slip him into my luggage".
He asked how "I got to do all these things". I told him that on some of my trips, I have to pinch myself and wonder how I find myself ---visiting a leper's family, walking a blind woman through the city to the sponsorship office, seeing people make decisions for Christ, finding small boys sleeping alone on the streets, in a city of 5 1/2 million people ---and having the means to help them and potentially change the course of their lives!
The answer to even my own wonder ---is that we serve an amazing God, that sees and cares and knows, even before things come to be. That people pray. That God answers prayer.
And if you're moved to, please lift up my trip in your prayers...
- for safety in the many flights to come
- for health, that my bad leg will make it through, or better yet, be healed!
- for wisdom and discernment in the numerous encounters to come
- for Divine appointments and for hearts open to the Gospel
- for protection in the many places I will find myself
- that I might serve as an encouragement to the other missionaries and pastors that I will be working with
Thanks to the many of you that have supported me, as well as this ministry and the many children whose lives are being helped. .....now, 2 1/2 hours before the alarm clock is to ring.......I'd better get some sleep...
By His Grace, Jay
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Take heart!
...With 2008 in it's waning moments, many will be glad to bid it farewell. For many--- it's been a trying year.
Looking toward 2009, questions abound. Our ability to see what's coming or even understand how we got here, is limited at best. But I believe there are answers to be had...
Despite the tolls wrought through financial collapse, terror, or natural disasters, there are reasons for hope.
I have just added a link to some excellent radio feeds into my blog ------On Focus on the Family's -----the best, most requested programs of 2008. Several of these are from a speech and following interview with Ravi Zacharius, a brilliant and most compelling Indian-born Christian apologist, who for the past thirty-five years, has spoken all around the world, to various groups holding to every imaginable worldview.
He has addressed forums ranging from The Lenin Military Academy in Russia, to a University in Jakarta, to the United Nations annual prayer breakfast. He has the ear of Hindus, Muslims, atheists, and communists the world over.
I say all of this because I strongly recommend to you these links.
Yes, listening to such demands some of your precious time, but being able to tap a man of such experience can be of untold value.
If you are game, I highly recommend to you, "Why We Must Remember pt. 3". ---There, Dr. Dobson interviews Ravi Zacharius on their final and most requested program for 2008, one full of encouragement, insight, and reason for hope, from a woman in Bahrain, and a Pakistani taxi driver! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FocusOnTheFamilyDailyBroadcast/~3/499289954/ffd_20081231.mp3
**If your time is limited, you can simply slide the bar to about the seven minute mark and listen to the remaining ten minutes.
Take heart!----and Happy New Year in 2009!
Jay
----finally, Ravi's website is rzim.org There, you can find much of his archived material available.
Looking toward 2009, questions abound. Our ability to see what's coming or even understand how we got here, is limited at best. But I believe there are answers to be had...
Despite the tolls wrought through financial collapse, terror, or natural disasters, there are reasons for hope.
I have just added a link to some excellent radio feeds into my blog ------On Focus on the Family's -----the best, most requested programs of 2008. Several of these are from a speech and following interview with Ravi Zacharius, a brilliant and most compelling Indian-born Christian apologist, who for the past thirty-five years, has spoken all around the world, to various groups holding to every imaginable worldview.
He has addressed forums ranging from The Lenin Military Academy in Russia, to a University in Jakarta, to the United Nations annual prayer breakfast. He has the ear of Hindus, Muslims, atheists, and communists the world over.
I say all of this because I strongly recommend to you these links.
Yes, listening to such demands some of your precious time, but being able to tap a man of such experience can be of untold value.
If you are game, I highly recommend to you, "Why We Must Remember pt. 3". ---There, Dr. Dobson interviews Ravi Zacharius on their final and most requested program for 2008, one full of encouragement, insight, and reason for hope, from a woman in Bahrain, and a Pakistani taxi driver! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/FocusOnTheFamilyDailyBroadcast/~3/499289954/ffd_20081231.mp3
**If your time is limited, you can simply slide the bar to about the seven minute mark and listen to the remaining ten minutes.
Take heart!----and Happy New Year in 2009!
Jay
----finally, Ravi's website is rzim.org There, you can find much of his archived material available.
Friday, December 19, 2008
This Christmas...
---Words fall short in trying to express the wonder of what Christmas is ---but these words to a song, below, may afford a glimpse---
"Son of God, purest light
Lord on high --is here tonight
Stepping through --this sacred sky
Suddenly, our eyes behold...
Son of God, Love Divine
Timeless One --steps into time
Who could dream of such a thing?
Men and angels bow and sing"
---Michael W Smith, from the song "Son of God"
---In a year when we have seen dramatic changes to our economy, where many have lost much of their retirement, where numbers of people find themselves without work, Christmas Day approaches ---just as it has for the past two thousand years.
In a time when terrorist' bombs destroy the lives of innocent victims in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in India, and when Christians around the world are beaten, jailed, and even killed in unprecedented numbers, we mark the day that the Prince of Peace stepped into our world. The true peace, that passes understanding --is found in Him.
In our world today, where there are now more people subjected to slavery than at any other time in human history, we celebrate the coming of the *Redeemer to the world. Against this backdrop of human depravity, the Light of the World was born. *** "A redeemer is one who purchases freedom for another" ---He came to purchase freedom and salvation for all who would believe.
The good news is that the circumstances of our day do not, nor can not, thwart or lessen the impact of His arrival that night 2008 years ago. Christ's entrance into our world transcends time, culture, and circumstances.
God's gift of His Son at Christmas is inextricably tied to revelation ---It was revealed to shepherds that night, as an angel appeared, initially a fearsome sight, but went on to announce the birth of the Savior of the World, the "Timeless One, stepping into time"---
---And as that announcement was made, an army of God's angels filled the night sky singing His praises.
I remember years ago, on a night the Northern Lights were out, staring into the sky, transfixed and almost giddy with joy, at that wondrous sight. ----Imagine how it might feel to see what those shepherds saw! You or I would never forget it!
This gift was revealed not only to the shepherds---
- Months before, an angel had revealed this to Mary
- In a dream, an angel revealed it to Joseph as well
- A great star over Bethlehem revealed news of "a King being born", to the wise and learned men of that day, believed to have travelled from present day Iraq
- A dream from God later warned them to return home another way
- An angel revealed to Joseph, again in a dream, to escape to Egypt, avoiding the slaughter of male babies, about to take place in Bethlehem, because... ---a King had been born
...A King was born ---and the day is coming when He will return as the King of kings.
In 2008 God continues to reveal His truths to people around the world. On any given day tens-of-thousands see that truth and experience His revelation. His promise to us is that He will be found by those who truly seek Him.May your hearts and your eyes be open to "see" His gift to you this Christmas.
WISE MEN do STILL SEEK HIM
Jay
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