Smooth Sailing?
This is probably not the title for this post. I'm sure there will be many waves he will have to endure by the grace of God in the month or so he has over there. From my very personal viewpoint it feels like smooth sailing because I should be able to talk to him regularly. He left on Monday, August 15 and the first time I could talk to him was Friday, August 19. That was the longest 4 days of my life. He did not have his own phone then. He was using the phone belonging to Al Tricarico, one of our missionaries.
On Saturday he tried skyping me. ( Is that the right terminology?) He could see and hear me but I could only see him. I gave him a few goofy video kisses, and then was rewarded with the sight not sound of his laughter. I have wondered over the years if the reason he has had so few colds has anything to do with how much he laughs. I'm glad the absence of the audio and my goofy kisses could produce such a wonderful sight. Later when he was visiting a South African couple we had our one fairly successful skyping experience. Sunday we tried again to communicate through video and audio, and again it did not work. Yesterday he was able to call me on his own phone. There were at the house a large amount of cell phones. It took him a long time to find a phone that would work. How wonderful to have a conversation with him that was not chopped up by technological glitches.
He is staying with a couple from Australia. I believe Barry and Ann James will be there for six months. It's a relief to know that Ann will be providing the meals for all three of them. Barry and Ann have come many times to Uganda. It's wonderful to know they will be able to think with him and pray for him about any problem.
As soon as he got to Mbale he presented a seminar that lasted the good part of three days on marriage. They wanted a fourth day but he needed to prepare for his class on the life of Christ. There were about 20 men there primarily pastors and elders from the six churches. Each day they had a Q&A session that lasted more than an hour, with many questions reflecting the very difficult problems the men are trying to handle in their churches.
Steve came bearing gifts that were well received. The children from our VBS had made bracelets with different color beads that represented the gospel. The bracelets were divided among the representatives of the six churches and they were given the gospel presentation that went along with those colors. We have a lady in our churches who has a business doing embroidery with a machine. She made baseball caps with OPCU on each of them. The men were thrilled to get them. Steve took a picture of them with the hats.
On Sunday he went with the Ugandans who preach over the radio as well as Barry from Austrailia. The man who preached was Stephen Hamya. Stephen was in the middle of his sermon when the power went out. They just sat there until the power came back on and Stephen continued preaching from the point where he had to stop. Stephen must be used to it since the electricity goes off and on during some part of many days. My Steve was struck by the fact that here were three men from three continents all sold out for the truth of God's word.
I will try to keep you updated with what's happening with Steve. Our attempt at skyping was better today. We are still in the process of developing the pattern and type of communication that works best for us. Please pray for his teaching and his relationships with the Ugandans. He hopes to get to Naakale at some point. Pray that he stays well. Smooth sailing? I doubt it but isn't it wonderful to know that we serve the one who created and controls the waves?
On Saturday he tried skyping me. ( Is that the right terminology?) He could see and hear me but I could only see him. I gave him a few goofy video kisses, and then was rewarded with the sight not sound of his laughter. I have wondered over the years if the reason he has had so few colds has anything to do with how much he laughs. I'm glad the absence of the audio and my goofy kisses could produce such a wonderful sight. Later when he was visiting a South African couple we had our one fairly successful skyping experience. Sunday we tried again to communicate through video and audio, and again it did not work. Yesterday he was able to call me on his own phone. There were at the house a large amount of cell phones. It took him a long time to find a phone that would work. How wonderful to have a conversation with him that was not chopped up by technological glitches.
He is staying with a couple from Australia. I believe Barry and Ann James will be there for six months. It's a relief to know that Ann will be providing the meals for all three of them. Barry and Ann have come many times to Uganda. It's wonderful to know they will be able to think with him and pray for him about any problem.
As soon as he got to Mbale he presented a seminar that lasted the good part of three days on marriage. They wanted a fourth day but he needed to prepare for his class on the life of Christ. There were about 20 men there primarily pastors and elders from the six churches. Each day they had a Q&A session that lasted more than an hour, with many questions reflecting the very difficult problems the men are trying to handle in their churches.
Steve came bearing gifts that were well received. The children from our VBS had made bracelets with different color beads that represented the gospel. The bracelets were divided among the representatives of the six churches and they were given the gospel presentation that went along with those colors. We have a lady in our churches who has a business doing embroidery with a machine. She made baseball caps with OPCU on each of them. The men were thrilled to get them. Steve took a picture of them with the hats.
On Sunday he went with the Ugandans who preach over the radio as well as Barry from Austrailia. The man who preached was Stephen Hamya. Stephen was in the middle of his sermon when the power went out. They just sat there until the power came back on and Stephen continued preaching from the point where he had to stop. Stephen must be used to it since the electricity goes off and on during some part of many days. My Steve was struck by the fact that here were three men from three continents all sold out for the truth of God's word.
I will try to keep you updated with what's happening with Steve. Our attempt at skyping was better today. We are still in the process of developing the pattern and type of communication that works best for us. Please pray for his teaching and his relationships with the Ugandans. He hopes to get to Naakale at some point. Pray that he stays well. Smooth sailing? I doubt it but isn't it wonderful to know that we serve the one who created and controls the waves?
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