The End of the Line
In acts Jesus said that his disciples would be witnesses in Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. I have often wondered where the ends of the earth are. I suppose it's where one could find the socks lost in the laundry or the toys that young children loose interest in. In some way that is Uganda. People here are, sort of, living on the hand-me-downs and left overs of larger nations. The gas stations don't have different grades of gas. In fact in Gulu sometimes the isn't gas for weeks on end. There are no car factories in Uganda new car dealers are only found in the capital. Most vehicles on the road are imported from used car lots in eastern Asia. As I walk the streets I see worn clothes that also were not fabricated here.
The vehicles and the clothes are still have years of good use. I'm not pushing for guilt (guilt doesn't help anything), and the owners of the Japanese automobiles are certainly not seeking pity, they love their vehicles. Rather I'm at the end of the line, this is the last stop and maybe in Jesus' words "the ends of the earth". I assure you that long before my arrival His witnesses where here.
I am continually blown away by the eagerness of people who have so little to share the best food they have, while I keep my granola bars hidden away. Even Pastor Inyanysio's willingness to wash visitors cars, while he never has owned a vehicle. I'm not sure I could serve like that. It is a real blessing to find God's people all over the world furthering his kingdom. I stand in awe of His greatness.
Update on Construction: A few government officials have done all they can to put a halt to the construction of the Health Center. Their motives are unclear but likely are rooted in greed (they want a pay-off) or jealousy (they want us in their village. Either way the Health Center is waiting as we continue building the second hut which will serve as staff housing.
What's up ahead: TTW is sending a family up to Adak to help resuscitate the local nursery built in 2007 and closed the same year.
We have a college Team coming to visit for about a month.
Prayer requests:
- God would make a way for the Health Center construction to continue.
- Drilling of well, still hitting rock.
- Health, for myself and TTW staff.
- Discernment in managing workers who are consistently late or absent.
May 17th, 2010 - 21:05
Hey, Looks good!
Keep up the good work over there Jordan!
May 17th, 2010 - 21:06
Praying for you.
May 18th, 2010 - 11:26
Thanks for the update, Jordan. It brings the reality of another part of the world…just as real as the part I live in…into a collision course with my own experience. I need to have these worlds collide. Otherwise, I begin to live and experience the Kingdom of God through my own little corner of the world. That’s a dangerous thing. Keep up the great work in managing the details and workers of this project! Know that your labor is never in vain…Christ is risen!…and New Creation is at work through your labor!!