Our team has been working on revamping our discipleship book that we use with the pastors/leaders as we work in small groups (cohorts). JP Robinson adapted the current book from some work that his pastor had done. JP coordinated with Dennis Okoth to fit the context here in Uganda. It has been a good book that has guided many of conversations with the pastors, but, as with anything, changes, tweaks and improvements are needed. So, in December JP set out to revamp the book as we prepare to start new discipleship cohorts in 2017. He recently asked me to write the chapter on servant leadership. And it got me thinking… Continue reading
Reflecting on My Purpose
Wow, it’s crazy to think it’s been 1 YEAR since we packed up everything we own and moved across the ocean to Uganda. God has continued to be faithful through everything, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy. What a journey it’s been! Continue reading
Year in Review – 2016
What a fantastic year of learning our new culture, building relationships and joining in the ministry God has been doing here in Uganda.
Here are a few highlights and photos:
* The mission team here has been discipling a total of 15 pastors from around the Mbale area to help them grow spiritually. One of these groups will be concluding in March 2017 and we will begin 2 more groups. We are praying that God leads us to 8-9 guys for each group.
* We have significantly partnered with 10 churches in their work of development and visited over 50 churches all over the country to encourage them and equip them with Bible study tools. Continue reading
Discipleship and Bwikhonge
We want you to know what it is that we do here in Uganda. My #1 priority is the discipleship of Ugandan pastors and leaders. This means small group meetings, life-on-life discipleship, and a lot of prayer. This video introduces you to one of the pastors from Discipleship Cohort 1, which has been meeting for about 2 years. Hear from John Kahuka what discipleship means for him, his church (Bwikhonge Church of Christ), and his community…(click image) Continue reading
And Somehow the Same…
While there are several differences between our old lifestyle in the U.S. and our new home in Uganda, there are also so many things that are similar and we are very blessed to be able to embrace both the differences and similarities. Continue reading
Different isn’t wrong…
There are so many things that are different here. Some things are more difficult, take more time or are frustrating because they are different from what we’re use to, but there are also so many things that are beautiful, sweet, interesting and amusing, which makes for a wonderful dynamic. I feel blessed to be able to live amongst this dynamic… Continue reading
Happy Birthday Adalyn
Adalyn is 4 years old today and we are celebrating her first birthday in Uganda. We celebrated by going to the Entebbe Zoo, being part of a Halloween party for the expat community, and of course, having cake. We thought it would be fun to ask her some questions, so you could see where she’s at in this point of her life… Continue reading
Crossing Borders
Last week I, along with 4 other members of our Church Planting & Discipleship team, traveled to Nimule, South Sudan to encourage and teach the leaders from the churches of Christ. There were 22 leaders and pastors from South Sudan and northern Uganda that traveled to the border town for basic theological training and discipleship. To reach Nimule, these pastors traveled from safety into a war zone, from refugee camps to where they had fled, or across rebel controlled areas. Continue reading
Nkya iga Oluganda
Nkya iga Oluganda (sounds like Encha yeega Oluganda) means “I am still learning Luganda.” Luckily, we are not learning how to read or write Luganda at this point, so we only write how it sounds to us, which is different for Leland and me.
Immaculate, our language helper, is a primary school teacher who is not currently working, so she is able to help teach us every Wednesday and Friday afternoon for 1 hour. An hour doesn’t seem like much time but by the end of each lesson, our brain is fried and we are drained from trying to process and learn. She is patient with us, she challenges us, she speaks slowly and repeats herself so we can understand. Continue reading
Cultural or Christian?
I recently came out of a meeting and saw a large group of men parading down the street. They had completely taken over the road and were blowing whistles, horns and singing all kinds of songs. It was a traditional Bagisu circumcision parade. For the past two months it has been the season of these celebrations, and they mark when a young boy becomes a man in the cultural society. Continue reading
Sawyers In Uganda 