Quick pic: Mentee and Me

 

This was last term's mentee, Dana, who just went home--sniff!--to get her M.Arch at U of I (go, fighting Illini!). And who pretty much rocked. Do people still say that? Or is that what makes me the mentor--that I use archaic expressions?

I have been deeply blessed by the young women God's brought here through our mentor program. Dana dove into life here. It's so rich to build a relationship with someone who may be a future overseas missionary--and either way, has an intense zeal for our great God. Love this lady!

 

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Romans 12:11

A Lesson from Ahmad

Author's note: This post of mine originally appeared on www.everthinehome.com, and is gratefully used with permission.

This afternoon, the cottony gray clouds that had been collecting in billowy heaps finally poured streams of rain on Kampala. And because most of the students at our local refugee center slog through muddy streets and alleys to their English, career, and Bible classes, only five from my class showed up. Class cancelled on account of rain. One who did attend, Ahmad,[1] snagged me as I repacked my backpack. “I think perhaps,” he said gently in his halting English, “you have time to help me read?”

Sounded good to me. We settled at a table, and since I teach Bible, selected one of his favorite stories from the Easy-to-Read version—the Genesis account of Joseph. I was amused by his small comments of understanding, a soft “Oh!” or “Ah, yes!” Together, we slowly but successfully pushed through the story during the remaining class period and discussed a few of its comprehension-related, intriguing points like, “Who do you think the sun and the moon were in his dream?”

That’s when I tilted my head. “Ahmad, what was your job when you left your country?”

“I had my master’s degree,” he explained. “I was a secondary school teacher of history and geography. But that was in Arabic. I am not so good with English.”

Conversations like these have amazed me more than once. Similar to the occasional encounter I’ve had with the immigrated doctor-or-professor-turned-NYC taxi driver—I am fascinated and humbled by those with the courage to leave so much of their identity behind. Some sit alongside others of lower economic status to learn a language. Many say farewell to a job they have loved to take whatever job puts food on the table—or allows peaceful living in place of fear or deprivation.
Those of us who have endured a layoff or other unemployment may comprehend that “what we do” has become our identity. Even when we are unpaid, perhaps as a volunteer, parent, or homemaker, we might find ourselves wondering who exactly we are.

Recently I read the words of an author who likened Jesus’ first temptation—turning stones into bread—to a question that so many of us face in our humanity: “What have you achieved? How have you demonstrated your usefulness?”[2] The author points out that Jesus, in His preceding baptism, received the ultimate accolade from God: “This is my Son, whom I love.” Yet this was completely before any record of miracles or Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross; up to this point, He’s simply been a Nazareth carpenter. Satan, then, tempts Him not only to relieve His hunger, but to prove Himself. Who are you, really? Have you done anything that matters for the last 30 years?

Truthfully, I find myself facing that temptation daily. As the author puts it, I am tempted “to find [my] worth and value outside of God’s inexhaustible, free love for [me] in Christ.” [3] Now, I do believe that God nestled within us that longing for valuable work—for those “good works He prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). But when I am no longer “rooted and established in love” (Ephesians 3:17) but in my contributions, I’m experiencing a subtle, corrosive transfer of value from God’s love to what I am able to offer. Unlike Ahmad, my fingers clench around my accomplishments, my successes, my productivity.

And that’s what I learned on a rainy afternoon from my African friend: that there is freedom in the humility of holding our achievements loosely, and finding our identity elsewhere. Perhaps there is even new life.
 
[1] Name changed to protect his identity.
[2] Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life in Christ. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson (2006), p. 75.
[3] Ibid, p. 75.

Would you pray with us?

Can I ask you to pray for something? We've appealed to the Ugandan government to reverse our "last work permit" status that expires soon. If God wants it, we would love to stay here and keep working in this incredible place. We know Whose hands that permit is in. Would love your prayers as we expect to hear back from our lawyer any day. Thanks, friends.

More Bibles!

You know what's a great smile to see? The one that comes with someone wrapping their fingers around their very own Bible. Now that is cool to see.

You might remember a year and a half ago, when some generous families from FamilyLife in Little Rock donated an entire box of inexpensive Bibles! Another missionary family brought it in place of their own valuable baggage weight. We can get Bibles here in Kampala, but they're pretty price-prohibitive for the average Joe, or even the average Christian who would like to give out more than one or two at a time. We handed out the contents sparingly and with a whole lotta joy: Many of them went to connections that Oliver had--people who simply couldn't afford one, but would have regular, compassionate contact with someone who loves Jesus; another went to a Muslim friend of ours who wanted to read it while he guarded at night; another to a friend who frequently helps us with computer issues.

But it seems that God had, as He so often does, even bigger ideas. A college friend of ours read that blog post, and had a brainchild of her own. Eva's husband, Harry, is a worship leader at Bridges Community Church in Fremont, CA. The church was replacing all of its NIV pew Bibles with ESV--and, she wanted to know, would we like to have the NIVs?

(This is when you imagine a little eke of excitement popping up out of Kampala, Uganda.)

Eva worked for months to find an affordable shipper, and went so far as to find a donor to cover the costs of shipping, even the rather hefty customs costs on our side. At last, a month ago, we were more than delighted to welcome in a station wagon carrying seven boxes of beautiful, hardcover Bibles in wonderful condition. (It wasn't until after the shipment that I saw a photo of her on Facebook, very pregnant with her fourth child!)

And now, the fun part: hearing the stories and seeing the excitement of people who otherwise wouldn't have their own copy of the Word. A case went to one of eMi's local construction sites, where they are building a community center, health center, HIV/AIDS treatment facilities, and other buildings for Cherish Uganda. The construction foreman wrote,

Hi John.

i hope all is well.,this is the letter the people who received 20 bibles wrote to u.

this is a class of school girl drop outs who are empowered with skills like tailoring,wax candle making,bar and liquid soap manufacture etc.

Best regards.

Richard.

 

And here is the thank-you note they included:

It reads: We are so grateful for your support in giving us BIBLES to be used during our devotions. We used not to have BIBLES during our devotions, only teachers could read and the girls could just listen but now we shall be having very rich and meaningful devotions since each and every girl now owns a BIBLE. May GOD reward you abundantly as you spread HIS Word all over the world. Thank you so much, GOD blesses you...

Another box made its way down the street to the refugee center where I teach. The students are constantly asking for Bibles, but with 400 students, they have to be pretty persistent to be able to get one. The Easy-to-Read Version is the most usable for them, so this box replaced the teachers' Easy-to-Read copies, which can now go to more students! From what I've read in this excellent book, allowing Muslims to actually read the Word of God is one of the most effective methods of evangelism--so I'm excited that the teachers' copies will be moving into students' hands! Check out the grins on these wonderful people I work with.

 

 

I think what excites me are God's promises about the power of His Word--that "it shall succeed in the thing for which [He] sent it" (Isaiah 55:10-11).

 

Discipleship around the world has moments painful and slow--but it also has triumphs. And a real celebration here is that of the Body of Christ, working together in some personally sacrificial ways to love people in a big way. Those of you who help us to be here--this is part of your story, too. So please hear a huge THANK YOU! Pray with us that God will do big things through these lovely black books.