A Christmas Story in Six Parts!

Part I: Kitgum (Friday 28^th - Sunday 30^th November)

I’ve been putting off writing this report, because I kept thinking, ‘I’ll wait until I’ve done the next thing, before writing’, only for there to be another thing, and another, and so on…until now, when I’ve come to the point of no return, and feel I can’t put it off anymore!  So, here goes…

I’ll start back at the end of November, when I was invited to Kitgum, northern Uganda, to speak at a primary school graduation ceremony.  Yes, some of you might be thinking, “Primary school graduation?  Are they for real?”  Well, yes, they are.  Education is not taken for granted in Uganda, so graduation ceremonies can encourage both parents and students to keep going, and not stop learning for the sake of the farm, or some unskilled job.  Anyway, I happily accepted the offer from Okello James Murphy, one of our First Year Students, who is also the director of Ebenezer Nursery & Day Care School.  From the map, you can see that Kitgum is just a stone’s throw from the South Sudanese border (15 minutes, I was told!), and was a regular haunt for Joseph Kony (who James was unfortunate enough to once meet!).  It is also a ten hour, exceedingly bumpy bus drive from Kampala!

The graduation ceremony, like all ‘ceremonies’ and ‘events’ in Uganda, was not limited by time.  The original schedule was for a 7.00am start, and 4.00pm finish (yes, that is correct!), but in the end, things kicked off around, 10.00am (3 hours is the recommended, and usual delay)!  Then, there was singing, speeches, introductions, sermons (mine), traditional dances, children singing, dancing, singing, etc, and then finally food (which came around 5.00pm!).  From the pictures below, you can see, it was a grand affair, enjoyed by most of Kitgum, it seemed!

Then on the Sunday, I was invited to preach at James’ church…the first of three consecutive Sunday morning preaching engagements.

Part II: The Christmas Banquet (Saturday 5^th December)

I’ll let the pictures tell the story!  Please note, though, the beard was shaved off for this event!

Part III: Masaja (Sunday 6^th December)

The next week, Natasha accompanied me to the loudest church in Africa, and to the Top Care Primary School’s first ever graduation. 

This time, the day started with extremely loud music (just why, when at the start there was only Natasha, myself, the singer and the keyboard player in the church, is beyond me – but no-one seems to mind…except us!), and a morning service (that was supposed to start at 9am, though no-one really arrived until 10am…except us!), which I was asked to preach at.  [Incidentally, this was the second Sunday I was told that someone would pick me up at 8.30am.  In Kitgum, that meant 10.30, and in Kampala, 8.00!]

After the service, traditional Ugandan food was served, and then, off to the graduation.  This time the ceremony (for one class) wasn’t so long…about three hours!  Again, we were entertained by the children, with dance, modern and traditional (some you can check out on Facebook), and some singing. Then, after the message to parents and children, from me, Natasha was invited up to give out the certificates.  Again, a good local turnout was present.

  

Part IV: Kampala Reformed Presbyterian Church  (Sunday 13^th December)

This was a rather more sedate affair, but a chance for you to see some photos of the Robertson boys, on their best behaviour, and Grace, who graces us with her presence and inimitable wisdom!

Part V: Sanyu Babies Home (Thursday 18^th December, 2-4pm)

Sanyu Babies home was opened in 1929 by Milnes Winfred Walker, a midwife at the nearby Mengo Hospital, who answered the call for the care of the hospital’s increasing amount of orphans.  When we visited, there were 48 babies being cared for.  Maureen who showed us around, told us that many of the children were abandoned in places like roadside ditches, public toilets, hospitals, shop doorways and water trenches.  Some were the result of botched abortions!  So you can see, many have not had the best start to life, but that was now no longer evident in their faces.  They were certainly overjoyed to have a group of students just desperate to pick them up and cuddle them!  They were absolutely adorable, and I confess, I wanted one!  

Pray with us, that they will all find homes, where they can experience the love every child should.

Part  VI: Kajjansi (Thursday 18^th December, 5-6.30pm)

So, as it was the last Market Day before Christmas, at Kajjansi - and I had a new Christmas talk – Frank Ssendikaddiwa, Hope and I, rushed back to preach the gospel one last time, this year, where we’ve become the regular service for many market traders.

The new talk, is titled, Christmas: Are You Ready?  It’s all about the things we feel we must do (such as clean the house, buy a new outfit, wrap the presents, send out invitations, prepare the guest room, and sort out travel arrangements), and all the things that are actually necessary (a clean heart, garments of salvation, God’s gift of eternal life, our invitation to the wedding supper of the lamb, the coming Saviour, and where our journey will end!). 

The market was the busiest Frank and I had ever seen it, and we really felt helped and up for the task of being heard over the sounds of the crowds and Christmas.  The usual traders were there, listening intently. Geoffrey and Bonny helped set up and pack away the board, Perouth introduced us to her son, Julius, who appreciated the message; Eric, a Roman Catholic suit seller, listened to the whole presentation, and asked for details of a Bible teaching church near to where he lived.  The Muslim husband of Sharida (the Muslim lady who shared with Maggie, back in February), who never speaks to me, even sold me some Christmas decorations (obviously, being a Muslim, in Uganda, doesn’t forbid you selling Christmas goodies!)!

So, all in all, Thursday was a great day.  I also got to share the new talk in our Carol Service, in the chapel on Sunday night, but sorry, no pics from that.  There might be some pictures to come from our carol singing over at Quality Supermarket on Christmas Eve, but you’ll have to wait and see!

And now, if we don’t get another chance, we’d like to wish you the best of Christmases, and the happiest of New Years.  We pray the Lord will draw nearer to you in the coming days, weeks, months and year.  We pray you will know Him in a new and right way, as David prayed!  We hope to see some of you here one day, visiting us, and sharing in the work of African Bible University.  Please continue to hold us up in prayer, and if you find yourself stuck for something to do, or too heavy to get up from the sofa, post-Christmas lunch, why don’t you drop us a line and tell us how your year has been?  We’d love to hear from you all.

Many blessings and much love,

Sean and Natasha

Natasha's News

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (Psalm 31:24)

Dear All,

Last June we said farewell to Uganda, having completed our first year of serving at African Bible University (ABU), and travelled home to the UK for the summer. In some ways it was an effort to leave, we had just begun to settle into our home and adjust in a small way to the culture around us. In other ways we were greatly looking forward to seeing family, friends and CPC. So with some mixed feelings we boarded the plane for the eight and half hour flight back to London.

Our summer was such a blessing to us. God used the time to encourage us, mainly through his many saints, whom we met whilst deputising, but also through our families who took good care of us. God truly used His Church to confirm His calling on our lives, and gave us strength to return and continue in His service. We visited many churches, who showed such love and interest in ABU, that our hearts were renewed. Praise God for the encouragement of His people. Special thanks go to Hilary and the Hayletts, whose hospitality was a rich blessing, especially when Sean suffered his heart attack (which he has now fully recovered from).

After spending ten weeks in the UK, we had easily re-acclimatised to western life, and so when it came to leaving, all the mixed feelings flooded back. Please pray for us as we adjust to having two totally different homes for the foreseeable future.

It's now been two months since we arrived back in Kampala and began our second academic year at ABU. Sean is teaching English, World History, Sports, Foundations of Curriculum Development, and Open Air Evangelism this semester. I am teaching Library Orientation and Home Economics, supporting three faculty children with science and maths, as well as taking on the role of Quality Assurance Manager. Please pray for us, as we seek to fulfil these roles to the best of our ability whilst showing grace. Only that which is done for the LORD will stand.

Last weekend we had the privilege of returning to Masaba Grace Missions Church. It is a village church in Eastern Uganda, close to the Kenyan border. Sean had been invited to preach around five months ago, and whilst there, the church had shared some of their needs, one of which was the repair of the community water pump. God heard the prayers of His people in Masaba, and saw fit to use friends back home to meet the needs of the church, and display His love.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will  reward them for what they have done. (Proverbs 19:17)

So, Sean and I, along with Fred (an ABU student), travelled back to Masaba to oversee the repair work and serve the Church on the Sunday. I wish you all could have been there to see the tears in a grown man's eyes, and the joy of God's people as they saw their heavenly Father providing for their basic needs. They sang and danced with hearts bursting, their God had not forgotten them. Sean preached on the living water that only Jesus gives, reminding the people that only those who drink of that water will never thirst. Please keep this church in your prayers, especially that the Gospel would be faithfully preached, Sunday by Sunday, and that God's people would live holy lives.

Recently I have been working hard to fulfil my new role as Quality Assurance Manager. We have been told that the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) will be visiting our campus on Friday 14th November. They will assess ABU with a view to granting our Charter. Please pray for us all as we seek to get everything ready for their visit. Please pray that the Lord would be our helper, that His name would be glorified, and we would be granted the charter so that His gospel may be preached to all nations.

Please pray that God would give us grace to live for Him and to teach for Him. There can be lots of little discouragements that come at once and make you doubt yourself, please pray that we would fix our eyes on Christ and trust Him for everything.

We have such fond memories of you all, thank you for standing with us.

God Bless,

Natasha

Sean preaching, as the workmen are fixing!

The well is 27 metres deep, so nine lengths of durable pipe were installed.

                           Everyone was happy, praising God for what He had done!

On the Sunday, everyone came out for the Grand  Opening Ceremony!

Sean got to cut the ‘ribbon’...Whilst Natasha acted out his sermon, 

‘A woman, a well, and living water!’

Lunch was served!

…and a packed lunch given for the journey home (one of which, we’ll be eating this weekend)!

Christmas in Kajjansi – 4th December 2014

Now if you were expecting snowy scenes or tinseled trees, I’m very sorry!  It’s too hot for snow, and tinsel won’t bring in the dough!  So, for many here in Uganda, it’s business as usual – though most are hoping sales will improve as the BIG DAY draws nearer!

For the students of African Bible University, it’s the last outreach Thursday of the year, so the turnout was good.  That might be because many of them have Christmas shopping to do, as well, but I wouldn't hold that against them!

A good sing-song! (Alimo Agnes is wearing the pink blouse)

You might have noticed that numbers seem lower this year, compared to last, and you’d be right.  There are quite a few different outreach programs for students to choose from, and although we had many Third Year students with us last year (who are now Seniors and exempt from outreach), the intake of First Years did not match them in number – so we are now a smaller, but tighter group.   Most of the First and Second Years are from the Lira and Kitgum areas of Northern Uganda, where the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) were prevalent for the last two decades.  Indeed, one of the ladies, Alimo Agnes, was twice shot by them (one bullet skimming her nose), and left for dead!  Praise God she is with us today, for she has such a godly testimony, and desire to serve the Lord.

As usual, we started with singing and praising.  We sang the African version of ‘Let it Be’, one of my favourites, and a few other tunes.  Then Frank got up to preach, by which time, we had moved down the hill, to our usual spot, to preach the Christmas message.

A  view of who we are, what we do and where we do it! 

The message this time was ‘What are You doing this Christmas?’, and it highlights the excuses many in the Christmas narrative had, for not worshipping Jesus - mirroring the same excuses today:  Too busy (inn-keeper); too familiar (people of Jerusalem); too hard (Priests and Scribes); too religious (Romans); too late (King Herod).  I then contrasted these people with the shepherds and Wise Men, who worshipped Jesus.

             

Same finger in the air, same big mouth, different translators:

Magala Paul and Nazziwa Rosemary.

The translating was covered by Magala Paul (Fourth Year), and then Nazziwa Rosemary (First Year).  One of the usual hearers was impressed with Rosemary’s efforts, and sought her out to talk to after – so that was a bonus.  And while Okello Charles Oyuku kept watch of the board, he also had the opportunity to share the gospel with some young lads.  Many more stopped for a while to hear the gospel message, and many were challenged over the excuses they have been using.  Please pray that souls will be saved, and not lost, for eternity!

                                      

        

Vespa owner Kevin trying to convince me to buy his Vespa (like pushing on an open door!), whilst I convince him of his need to be saved; the lady was not happy having her photograph taken, but was very happy to talk to Rosemary!;  and a young Muslim refusing to talk or take my hand of friendship!

We then spent some time talking and praying with the locals, and introducing ourselves to a few new faces.  Then, as we were packing up, a group of youngsters came up to the board and started looking at the pictures and reading the captions.  Among them were Emma, who said she went to church, but didn’t feel she knew God!  A good conversation followed, where Emma was reminded that God speaks to us through the Bible, and delights to hear us when we pray.  She (or he, as Emma is usually short for Emmanuel) seemed content to start regularly reading her Bible.  Then Ivan told us that he was a Christian, and that Jesus had come into the world to save people from their sins – and had saved him.  His testimony was clear, confident and very encouraging.  Charles and I were taken aback at his boldness, but praised God for His grace, mercy and kindness to Ivan.  Ivan told us that God had helped him in his school work, and that he had finished top of the class - something we were not surprised to hear!  He then asked us if we would pray for his sick mother at home (I think her name was Aunt Mary-Ann), of which we were most pleased to be able to do.  He was such an encouragement.

                

Sudanese Emma and her friends discuss the contents of the board; Okello Charles Oyuku shares the gospel with two young lads.

I linked up with Bonny (and met his wife, Mary!) and Geoffrey, Peruth and her sick (still!) friend, who really is a frail thing, Annette (who ignored me this time, as she was with someone who seemed reluctant to get into conversation), and Stephen, who said (like the inn-keeper) he was too busy!  Please pray for them all, as I do not doubt the gospel is having an effect upon them, but whether to life or death, is another, more urgent matter.

Many thanks, and blessings,

Sean

Young and precocious Ivan looks up at me, whilst I looked up to him – the highlight of our day!

Meeting Bonny’s wife, Mary, for the first time was another highlight.  He even said he would bring her to church!  Please pray he does!