Catch Up/Sketch-Up

Generally, I like to make my posts follow some underlying theme, but lately I feel like I have a lot of random things to catch you up on. So in an attempt to salvage a theme for the following hodge podge update, I am dubbing this post Catch Up/Sketch Up in honor of a most unpleasant condiment here in Uganda. "Top Up" is the actual name of this ketchup impostor. We have oodles of this stuff at our house for some reason, which is unfortunate because it deceives you into thinking it will be tomatoey goodness, when it's really just a pinkish, sugary gel of sorts. Thus, I have decided to dub this sketchy sauce "Sketch Up."

Moving on, I wanted to update you on Harriet. She's doing wonderful - totally healthy - and I was reminded this week just how thankful I am for her and how great it has been to become her friend and be encouraged by her. I'm looking forward to going to Kaberamaido for our church leaders' conference with her.

Next, I wanted to share some photos from a recent trip to Arua, a village in northwest Uganda near the Congo and Sudan borders. I went with three friends to visit a new friend, Nick, who is doing sports ministry and coaching the Arua soccer team. We got to help with a soccer tournament among local schools, got stuck in a ditch (with friends, this can actually be rather fun), hiked a "mountain," and got ambushed by lots of excited kids.
It was a really nice trip, and we got to meet lots of great missionaries in those parts. It was especially neat for me to learn about Biblical storying, as Nick found opportunities to share at least three stories during our few days there.

I'm so grateful that my roommates and other people working on my compound have become fast friends. These fellow Christians are such an encouragemet to come home to every day. Yesterday we got up early and walked about half an hour to a nearby rock quarry to watch the sunrise. Homemade cinnamon rolls were involved. It was awesome. Keep a look out for those photos sometime soon. We wanted to do it before one of our roommates, Anna, left today to return to the States. I am sad to see her go. It reminded me of how transient this place can be. Among the mzungus, at least. Even though I myself am not here very long, all but one of my roommates and new friends at the compound where I live will leave before me. Ahh! Hope I can handle it!

Moving on yet again, I mentioned a while ago that I was praying about learning more about a ministry that has a Bible study program for high schoolers. That week I asked to to go one of their high school groups. In the course of making arrangements to go with a Ugandan named Douglas, I asked what I would be doing - if I'd just be observing to see how things go. "Oh no," Douglas said. "You will be ministering to them." This is something I've come to expect; whenever you go to a Ugandan church gathering, you will inevitably be asked to speak and encourage the group. "Remember," said Douglas, "Scripture says we must always be ready to give the reason for the hope we have." So I showed up that evening expecting an intimate group of maybe 10 or 12, and instead found myself the guest of honor in front of over 100 high school faces. I was asked to give a testimony, so I shared my personal testimony of faith with them and tried to encourage them to not just know about Jesus, but to know Him personally. I'm still thinking through ministry options and I'm not sure if I'll be involved regularly with the ministry, but I feel like God is teaching me about obedience through good experiences like that.

Well, I think that's enough catch up for now. I'm headed out to Kaberamaido in the morning for our week-long conference for church leaders. Prayers are appreciated. Have a wonderful Easter, and remember to steer clear of the Sketch-Up.

He is risen, indeed!