Wednesday, January 23, 2008

ON THE VERGE - Departure in Three Weeks!


DATE/TIME OF DEPARTURE: Tuesday, February 12, 3 PM
Gerald R. Ford International Airport - Northwest #648


SEND-OFF GATHERING for prayer, in waiting area, at NOON. Bring a bag lunch. We will be most grateful for all who are able to join us!

As always, but even more so, time is flying and experience is getting condensed in ways that are at once rich, sweet, scary, exciting, sobering and hopeful. We are nowhere near ready, but we can clearly see God's hand putting together things we haven't time or knowledge to accomplish anyway. We are often reminded to revisit a little proverb Brenda posted on our refrigerator some years ago that reads something like: "Give your troubles to God - He's gonna be up all night anyway."

Or, as Peter's wrote: "Cast your cares upon the Lord, for He careth for you."

Family & Friendship Tour
We have recently re
turned from a wonderful trip to Pittsburgh, Washington DC and Florida where we were able to visit with family and very precious old and new friends, who have always encouraged and loved us. A special highlight of that visit was meeting John Booth, a quiet and gentle man who has, with his wife Johanna, provided major ongoing financial support for Kibbuse Vocational for many years. He made his first trip to Uganda in 1997, met Rev. James Adyeri, saw the school and felt God's call to become a partner. He was able to tell us a lot about the history of Kibbuse that we had not previously heard. But the best part of our visit was hearing his passion for the people of Uganda and sharing in some sweet times of prayer.

Madison Square Commissioning Service
When we got back we were
warmed and encouraged by a wonderful "send-off" by our Madison Family. And not only us. Our friends Troy and Faith Bierma (below), who have been called to Bangladesh, were commissioned with us. This meant we were not only blessed by our Madison, Olivet and Metro Choir friends, but also by Troy and Faith's family and friends. We were especially blessed to have there the Hogans (Faith's parents), Joel and Pat, who have been partners in evangelism and mission at Madison for many years.

Adding to our joy was the presence of our son Jim and his girlfriend Rachel Meyer (see below right), nearly a dozen people from Olivet Methodist Church - where I have served with the Grand Rapids Area Service Project for the past two years - and about a third of the Metropolitan Choir of Praise, brothers and sisters from all around Grand Rapids with whom I have praised the Lord with whenever and wherever we've been invited (about twelve concerts a year). Also there were our very good friends Heather and Bethany DeRuiter (below left) who, with their Mom Karen, have encouraged Brenda and me in our work with foster children. We were so thankful for them and all the friends who gathered to honor and encourage us. You can see in the photo (above), that we and the Biermas were truly surrounded with prayer at the close of the service. We are very grateful to Pastor Dave Beelen and Dawn Niewenhuis (worship leader), who designed and led this beautiful and encouraging service.

Medical Equipment and Tools Search
We made a tr
ip to International Aid on Monday this week and got a good look at an "Operating Theater" and "Birthing Room", all set up in a kind of showroom. Basically new or fully reconditioned and quite up-to-date technology, but tailored for third-world use, these medical equipment packages, though expensive, are available at a fraction of what new equipment would cost. ENCOUNTER UGANDA Director Eileen Hodgetts is hopeful to supply the Azure Clinic with the OR and the Nyamarwa Clinic with the Birthing Room if funds permit. This is a very exciting prospect and will significantly advance the services the Clinics can offer, should it work out. Please pray God's favor and provision.

Modern Hardware of Grand Rapids, a locally owned
company that has always shown a great deal of generosity to those who are in missions, has committed to a gift of tools for Kibbuse, including a heavy-duty contractors' table saw. This will be a great addition to the carpentry program.

"Something is Growing in Uganda" BECA Grant Application
Now I am working very hard to complete an application to the US Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs for a monetary grant
that would enable us to create and sustain a series of student/faculty/staff exchanges between Uganda and the US. It would enable us to advance the work and growth of Kibbuse while at the same broadening the awareness in both countries of the importance of Vocational Education to the health of any modern economy. I'll write more about this once I am in Uganda.

I am excited about the way this application process is taking shape. Educators, politicians and ministry leaders are all responding favorably to the prospect of participation. Rep. Vern Ehlers, Senator Bill Hardiman and Representative Robert Dean have all expressed interest in seeing the plan, which I hope to send out to them at the end of this week (probably late Saturday night!)

Family News

We were surprised and delighted just last night when our son, Jim, called to say that he and Rachel Meyers have become engaged. In fact, they want to get married before we leave for Uganda! It will be a small family service here at the Home Street Home with family and just a few close friends. Brenda and I are very grateful to God we have the opportunity to encourage and support them in their happy decision to mutually commit their lives to one another before we leave. We have had some wonderful moments with Rachel and Jim during recent months and are delighted to welcome her as our daughter.

Finally, we just had an email from Anna, one our very good friends Bishop Wilson and Sayuni Turumanya's eight children. She is the "family secretary" and has already arranged a room for Brenda and me at the Makerere Guest House in Kampala and has promised to bring the family together for a mini-reunion when we arrive. We are especially excited to see them again, especially since Anna has just had her first child, a daughter named "Zion", and has been on maternity leave with Grandma and Grandpa T. The Turumanyas are, truly, God's family for us in Uganda and we are so glad to know them and trust them as such, as we contemplate this new chapter in our lives, far from our home and natural family.

God is so good!