"By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth."
I Jn 3:16-18
Today stretched a few of us but we would all agree that this stretch was good for us and so rewarding and may have been used of the Lord. Pastor Robert asked us to work within the Bweya Community today cleaning up trash and burning it as a sign of service to the community and, more importantly, visiting with the neighbors and getting to know them and looking for opportunities to share the Gospel. This news created a mix of emotions in me. I am generally leery of this activity just because it is often received unfavorably in our country. I think a few other team members had the same feeling. But at the same time, I had really wished I could get a closer look into Ugandan life as we whizzed by in our vans each day. So this was our chance.
Split up into teams of 4 or 5, and each equipped with a translator, we began approaching people on the street, at their businesses and sitting in the doorways of their homes. We were amazed at how willing they were to talk with us and share their lives. It became apparent that the issues of their lives, though the events occur a world away from us, were really no different from the issues of our lives. Most asked for prayer for their health, their families, desire for children, need for jobs and provision for homes. How different they look from us on the outside. How different their surroundings from ours, and yet, we all have the same heart-deep need for the love of our Saviour and the basics of our lives.
Some of us had the privilege of actually leading others to faith in Christ and we all were able to share the love of Christ and the news of a church in their community that loves and cares for them. It is exciting to see God at work in this village and to be a part of what He is doing here. Each of us will have to process what God is saying to us through the things we have seen and experienced here. There is always responsibility that comes with knowledge and now that we know about these neighbors of ours across the ocean, we must ask the Lord to show us what our responsibility is. Pray with us for our neighbors and for our response.
Thank you for praying for Marvin. He has recovered nicely these last few days as he spent them with us, under Beth's watchful eye. Tomorrow we will have to return him to Airfield School and Home so please pray that his transition will be smooth and that the Lord will be as faithful as He already has been in protecting and providing for him.
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