MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 03-09-2005

Greetings, faithful reader! We're home this week. Somehow, we got some wires crossed with our church in Ava, MO. Apparently, the meeting was for the first Sunday in March, 2006, not 2005. Glad I called first. This coming Sunday, we'll be in our church for our Annual Church Planting Conference. Bro. Jim Waymire, and Bro. Jim Beller will be the keynote speakers, along with several guest speakers from the St. Louis area. I'm really looking forward to it. Since church planting will be one of our primary missions in Uganda, it will be good to hear from guys who've actually done it to learn the practicalities of how it should be done.

We heard from Bible Baptist Church (pastor Mike Clement) in Scottsbluff, NE. They're taking us on for support! Our undying gratitude to all our supporting churches, and individuals. We wouldn't have made it this far without you. It's encouraging to know that folks are praying for us all over the place. Again, we wouldn't have made it this far without you all. God will raise our support. Pure and simple. I got to worrying about it, when it wasn't my responsibility in the first place, and I think that's what got me down. When you worry about things, or try to take responsibility for things that are God's, you wear yourself down. I got to thinking about it, and we really have loads to be grateful for. God's in control. He wants us on the field, so it's up to Him, not me, to get us there. So, I figured I'd better just quit feeling sorry for myself and start enjoying deputation (If it was a movie, it would be called Dr. Strangegood, or, How I Learned How to Stop Worrying and Love Deputation). Thanks for praying for us, tho'. I'm feeling a lot better about things, and my attitude has certainly improved.

Be praying. I spotted a potential replacement van on the way to church on Sunday. It's a maroon colored, 1996 Ford E150 conversion van, with 129,000 miles. I checked it out up close, and the paint is in great shape, the interior looks clean and well cared for, the tires appear to be new or fairly new, and I didn't spot any rust above or below. They're asking $7000. If this is the one, then God will have to come up with the 7 grand we need to buy it (probably more like 7500, in order to cover sales tax). Pray for His provision. What with Huckabee number five on the way, we need a bigger vehicle more than ever. Pray also that I'll be able to fill up June, July, and August. The summer months are light on meetings, probably due to the drop in attendance that virtually all churches experience during the summer months. If you know anybody that would like to have a missionary to Uganda in during those times, by all means give a holler.

Anyway, that's all I can think of to write for now. Thanks for all your kind care of us, prayer, and support. We really appreciate it.