Busy

Hi people. Things here are really busy. Friday was the last day of school. The kids are all 100% finished. So now all I have to do is get all the books in order that need to be returned to Canada. Today was really busy. I woke up at 9. Ok, so up to that it wasn't so busy. But then there was a MAF social at 10. I got to eat fruit and all kinds of baked goods. Then at noon there was a BBQ for the men's fellowship from the church. That lasted until about 4 pm. This evening it has been nice and relaxing. Eric is back from Kenya for a few months and he BBQ'd some meat. That was good eating. Now I'm updating my blog in the dark. It's supposed to be a power on night but UMEME (the power company) decided that Makindye doesn't need power. And really we don't. I just have all my clothes in the wash machine and need to get them in the dryer before tomorrow. Otherwise I'll have to go to church in shorts and a t-shirt tomorrow. So who needs power?

Excitement?

Hi everbody. As many of you know, I'm planning on coming back to Uganda in September and working at the bible college here at the church. The money issue was pressing heavy on me. Raising $10,000 for every year that I'll be here is a huge mountain, from man's side. Well, yesterday it was like God removed that burden from me. It's a weird feeling. I mean, the money hasn't been provided yet, but I feel this excitement welling up inside me. Excitement that God's going to do great things. I've never had this feeling before, and it's hard to explain. But like Jesus said in Matthew 6, Therefore do not worry, saying "what shall we eat?" or "what shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

First I would like to apologize for not updating this thing in...over a week. Well, to my defense, I was sick until Saturday. Actually, Friday night I was feeling better. Oh yeah, and then there's the power issue. Which, by some miracle, is doing better. We have power today and we aren't supposed to. That and I'm in the middle of one last push to the finish line of the school year. Sarah Anne has 2 lessons in English and 2 lessons in Personal Planning left. So this week will wrap up my teaching for the year. Ok, I get back in two weeks. It's a bitter-sweet feeling. I'm going to miss it here so much. But then, if God wills, I'll be back in late August/early September. I'm really looking forward to seeing all you people again. And eating a blueberry fritter. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....Timmies. And eating good wholesome snacks, like heavenly bars and chocolate chip cookies and ketchup chips (crisps for those of us under British influence). And fast food. There's nothing like being able to stop for an immitation, photocopy burger at 2 AM. So I'm looking against it and looking forward to it at the same time. Does that sound confusing? Maybe I need to get some help.

Greetings.
Today I've been suffering from a doozy of a cold. I don't think I've ever had one this bad, with all my nasal passages so congested it makes Vancouver rush hour traffic look relaxing. To make matters worse, there was no power today. It's good in a way I guess. It makes me read more. And with a pastor living upstairs and a bible college instructor living downstairs, there is no shortage of good books to read. I slept until 10 today and then again from 1:30 to 3:30. Those of you who know me, know that sitting still in one place is right nigh impossible for me. I have to be moving around. Even when I'm sick I have to move, except for today. I didn't feel like doing anything today except just lay. Anyways, I'm taking cold medication from the local pharmacy. Medication is cheap here. I got 10 capsules for 1,000 Ugandan Shillings, which is roughly 60 cents. Have yourselves a wonderful day. I'm going to bed.
God bless.

Tea, Candles, and a Very Wet Bed

Power off nights. What to do? Well, thankfully, most nights the generator is running so I actually have power. This gets quite costly, however, so last night the generator wasn't running. So after stumbling through the various rooms and hallways, I finally got a candle lit. After making tea for the night guard (my evening ritual as those of you on msn know) I decided to read a book. What else is there to do? Sleep at 8:30 PM? I don't think so. Since I made too much tea for the night guard, I decided to drink the left-overs. So there I sat in my bed, book in one hand, tea in the other, and a candle perched precariously on my mattress. Well, the book was quite interesting about the way the Spirit leads in our lives. Then all of a sudden, the candle decides it's time to tip over. Now in the ensuing lunge for the candle (who wants a candle falling on their bed? that's just bad news all around) the tea mug went flying. So now there was a huge tea wet spot on my bed and the candle's light went out. At least the book wasn't ruined. And I'm not just telling this story to explain the wet spot on my bed. It's the honest truth (as opposed to the dishonest truth). It's cleaned up now. I promise.

Patience is a virtue

Ok, I've noticed that my last posts have been coming out double, or triple, or even quadruple. I'm to blame. It's not technological difficulties or anything. It's plain old Mike being not so patient...again. The internet here is so slow that I keep pressing the refresh button. So the computer does exactly what I tell it to. It sends out the information again, and again, and again. So sorry for the double and triple posts. I sincerely hope you don't read them. And if you do, well, I have no words for you.

Things here are going quite well. It's usually hot during the days but rain in either early morning or late afternoon. I love the rain. It cools everything down like 10 degrees. And for you people in the United States, please take the above number, multiply it by 9/5 to get the F equivilent. Anyways, I'm keeping myself busy with teaching (almost finished that), helping out at the bible college from church, and leading a bible study on Fridays. That is, when my contact person shows up to bring me to the place.
God bless

Wow...it's Sunday again already
Greetings. I can't believe it's Sunday again. This week has flown by. Sorry for about not updating more often. This week the power has been aweful. This situation (the lack of power, that is) is getting a little annoying. We had no power on Tuesday (regular power-off day) but then Wednesday we also didn't have power because there was a problem with the lines. Then on Thursday we didn't have power because it was power-off day again. One of the missionary ladies from the church got married yesterday so her friends and family were staying at this house. Laundry was pretty much piled to the roof. I finally got my clothes back today.

These last few days have been a blur. Friday afternoon was choir practice for church this morning. Then Friday night there was a pre-wedding party with the groom's family (he's Ugandan). That went until about 9:30 or so. The wedding took place at 10 AM Saturday morning with the reception starting at 2. The reception lasted until 4:30. Then we had choir practice again until 5:30. Then I had to print off the song sheets for the choir. This morning I woke up at 5:30 so I could get to church on time for the services this morning. At 3 PM there was a meeting at church explaining the various opportunities people have to get involved at the church. That lasted untill 6:30 so I didn't get home until 7.

Today's sermon was about 2 Timothy 4:6-the end. Pastor Brian spoke about Paul's farewell. Paul's life was coming to an end and Paul said that he had fought the good fight, he had run the race. His life had been poured out like a drink offering before God. A drink offering was an OT offering where a cup of wine would be poured out before God. The cup would be turned upsidedown in order that all of the wine would be offered to God. That is how our lives should be. Totally commited to God's cause and totally surrendering our lives to God. Paul's friends forsook him because of this. But God didn't abandon him. God gave Him strength and upheld him. Without God upholding us, we would perish. But with God's strength we can do all things. Praise GOd for His grace that He gives freely to us.

Wow...it's Sunday again already
Greetings. I can't believe it's Sunday again. This week has flown by. Sorry for about not updating more often. This week the power has been aweful. This situation (the lack of power, that is) is getting a little annoying. We had no power on Tuesday (regular power-off day) but then Wednesday we also didn't have power because there was a problem with the lines. Then on Thursday we didn't have power because it was power-off day again. One of the missionary ladies from the church got married yesterday so her friends and family were staying at this house. Laundry was pretty much piled to the roof. I finally got my clothes back today.

These last few days have been a blur. Friday afternoon was choir practice for church this morning. Then Friday night there was a pre-wedding party with the groom's family (he's Ugandan). That went until about 9:30 or so. The wedding took place at 10 AM Saturday morning with the reception starting at 2. The reception lasted until 4:30. Then we had choir practice again until 5:30. Then I had to print off the song sheets for the choir. This morning I woke up at 5:30 so I could get to church on time for the services this morning. At 3 PM there was a meeting at church explaining the various opportunities people have to get involved at the church. That lasted untill 6:30 so I didn't get home until 7.

Today's sermon was about 2 Timothy 4:6-the end. Pastor Brian spoke about Paul's farewell. Paul's life was coming to an end and Paul said that he had fought the good fight, he had run the race. His life had been poured out like a drink offering before God. A drink offering was an OT offering where a cup of wine would be poured out before God. The cup would be turned upsidedown in order that all of the wine would be offered to God. That is how our lives should be. Totally commited to God's cause and totally surrendering our lives to God. Paul's friends forsook him because of this. But God didn't abandon him. God gave Him strength and upheld him. Without God upholding us, we would perish. But with God's strength we can do all things. Praise GOd for His grace that He gives freely to us.

Ugandan Weddings
Ok, I survived my first Ugandan wedding. The full wedding that is. I'd already been to a few services which are basically the same as good old Dutch Canadian wedding services except with some added clapping and cheering (Ugandan style which sounds like a shrill whistle). The reception was something else. All I can say is that Ugandans have BORING wedding receptions. Speech after speech after speech after...well there were a lot of speeches. And they were all the same, long and boring. There was a nice video presentation about the bride and groom. Anyways, the food was pretty good...until Sunday rolled around. Then my stomach told me, "Mike, I got some stuff coming down the Express Way." Not too pleasent trying to sit through church with a stomach that has the "bubblies." The taxi ride back was sat through with some discomfort. It's amazing how much you notice the lack of suspension in a vehicle when your stomach is in the process of backflips, spirals, and the like. Anyways, I'm not back at my home with the Kelly's. It's amazing how much this feels like home right now. I got back to my bed and took a nice nap. You know what it's like not sleeping in your own bed for 3 weeks. By the time you get to lay down on it, absolute bliss occurs. Or at least it feels kinda good. Anyways, I gotta go because my battery is running low and I don't have power.
God bless