Hello again, everyone.

So here goes my attempt at reviving this much neglected missions blog of mine.  Strangely, this is the first time that I’ve found myself the sole individual in charge of my PR over here.  So I’ll give you all fair warning right now that the updates and news may be slightly sporadic until I get used to this whole blogging thing.  We appreciate your understanding.  😉

What has happened here in Uganda since we last put words on this page?  Well Andrew and I wrapped up the Ambassador Institute class in Jinja town.  Some of those students are already beginning their own classes as teachers and bringing the word of God to others in this area.

Right now I’m helping teach in a few of those classes and meeting with others to help prepare them for their classes each week.

Since our class finished Andrew has returned home and the Jores are about to return here.

Also in the works are some translation projects for the Ambassador Institute curriculum.  I’ve heard that Uganda has about 50 different languages, although many of them share similarities to others.  Right now we’re in various stages of work with the languages of Luganda, Lusoga, Luo, and Karamojong.  This is a big area of need for your prayers as we desire to see these translations completed in a timely yet accurate way.  Some of them are going faster than others but ideally we would like to see some finished work before the Ambassador Institute graduation ceremony at the end of January.

Another prayer request/praise is that in recent days we’ve had a surge of interest in our training as multiple churches from various places have requested us to begin new classes with them.  It’s wonderful to see such eagerness for God’s word here although we’re not yet sure how to supply teachers to all of them.  Please pray for wisdom for us in that.  The fields are indeed white and so we find that we need to request more workers from the Lord of the harvest.  That means workers from our own churches in the states of course, but perhaps even more so from right here in Uganda.

Also, please remember the Jores in prayer as they return to Uganda.  We’re all hoping to see them arrive safe and sound at the end of this month. 

I’m extremely grateful to all of you who have been keeping us and this ministry in your thoughts and prayers.

That’s all for now, I guess.  Lord willing I’ll have some pictures to post next time.

God bless

Katonda akuwa mukisa

Micah Berger

These days Micah and I have been enjoying trips out to the village for 3 days at-a-go, as well as African Cuisine in many ways. A common dish to have over here is Posho, which I’m trying my hand at making in this photo.

 

Ugandan Mission

1 Corinthians 6:17
“But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in Spirit”

When a Christian decides to become intimate with God, they embark in a soul-melding experience. For union with God is fellowship with His Spirit, attentiveness to His cries, anger with what rages Him, and accepting His soul redeeming will as a part of our personal mission.

When we are one with God in Spirit, we have become one with Him in our deepest place. Spiritual Maturity is then a greater unity with the Spirit of God, and conformity of our will to His.

When a man decides to make a candle, He takes all pieces of wax and fixes them into one shape. That one shape was designed to have one purpose (unless its an ornamental candle). Likewise, as we experience union with God, we join with His Spirit in our function—to bring…

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1 Corinthians 6:17
“But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in Spirit”

When a Christian decides to become intimate with God, they embark in a soul-melding experience. For union with God is fellowship with His Spirit, attentiveness to His cries, anger with what rages Him, and accepting His soul redeeming will as a part of our personal mission.

When we are one with God in Spirit, we have become one with Him in our deepest place. Spiritual Maturity is then a greater unity with the Spirit of God, and conformity of our will to His.

When a man decides to make a candle, He takes all pieces of wax and fixes them into one shape. That one shape was designed to have one purpose (unless its an ornamental candle). Likewise, as we experience union with God, we join with His Spirit in our function—to bring all people to Jesus Christ.

Micah and I (Andrew) are on the way to Chicago via Greyhound Bus!!
Since the last post,
Hans got married,
The Jores came back
and 200 lbs of gear has been assembled for yet another adventure in Uganda. We will be staying with Heidi and Josh Tryon in Chicago, and flying out Sunday night. (Making one connection in London, then straight to Entebbe)

Somebody once told me how Martin Luther answered the question, “What would you do if you knew you only had one more day to live?”  They said his answer was, “I would plant a tree.”  Whether or not Martin was ever actually asked that question or answered in such a way, the thought struck me. The thought of spending one’s last day to plant a tree which he would never see flourish and produce fruit could easily seem foolish.  However, I have become increasingly aware that God calls me to plant trees and sow seeds…that I often don’t get the privilege to watch produce fruit.

I have less than ten weeks left in Uganda.  Micah will be returning at the same time as me, but he’ll be coming back within a month after that, so we’re not quite in the same boat.  During our last stint out in the village, we planted almost 100 trees on Nate Jore’s land.  The thought of the quantity and quality of oranges, mangos, tangerines, and avacados that could be produced in a couple years is exciting…but not mine to see.  I labored to plant those trees, but I’ve got move on to the new place God is calling me.  Thoughts of my physical labor and the hope for physical and very edible fruits have turned to thoughts of spiritual labor in the kingdom of God and the fruits which bring Him glory.

I’ve met a lot of people, seen a lot of sights, and done a lot of things in Uganda.  I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I’ve been a failure at times.  But through it all, I cling to the promise that God called me here, and that He has been using me.  Looking forward at these last two months, I want to be planting as many trees and sowing as much of the Word of God seed as God allows and enables.  There is a great spiritual need for Christ in Uganda – in our apartment, on the streets of Jinja, in the villages, and on the islands.  I know that I likely won’t get to see any of the longterm affects of my investing in the lives of people here in the next couple months…but it’s not about my getting to see the fruit.  It’s about God’s glory.  He calls me to plant and sow His Word, so planting and sowing is what I am going to do.

The Bible has a lot to say about sowing seed, trees, producing fruit, reaping harvests, and the growth that God alone can give.  If it interests you to look at just a few, check out: I Corinthians 3:6-7, Mark 4:26-29, John 15:8, 1 Peter 1:22-25, and Psalm 126:5-6.  There are many others, but those are some that have interested me today.

Don’t try and produce fruit in the lives of others, my friends.  It doesn’t work.  Listen to the voice of God and obey in doing what He calls you to.  He provides abundant grace, and His Word is full of promises to which you can cling.  God is surely good.

I look forward to my last 10 weeks in Uganda.  I don’t know everything that is going to happen nor whether I am going to get to see any immediate fruit from my ministry…but I know God is going before and with me.  And that’s enough.

May the grace of God and the riches of Jesus Christ be with you.

Planting and sowing,

Hans

Here are some pictures from our last couple weeks in Uganda:

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Micah and I made the transition to our new home yesterday.  The place is…interesting.  I couldn’t begin to describe to you what the place looked like…50 years ago.  What was likely once a beautiful mansion in the last days of colonial Uganda is now a building that shows the effects of years of neglect and wear and tear.  Micah and I aren’t moving into this new living arrangement for the purpose of investing in a building though.  We’re here to invest in the lives of the people who are in spiritual darkness.  We’re here to communicate love to the Ugandan people.  This is going to be a new adventure for us.  As of right now, we have no electricity or water (hoping that both return to the building sometime in the next week).  Today, I was working with Tracy, the landlady who is a member of our Jinja town class (Ambassador Institute), to help her get one of her tenants evicted.  The man is a pastor whose witness is damaging and whose behavior is terrible.  The man hasn’t paid rent in five months (and it is not because he can’t), he is causing confusion among the other tenants, and he was abusing his control of the only water source in the building.  Pray that God would uphold our cause and be the perfect Judge of this wolf in sheep’s clothing.  There is a chance that Tracy and I will be meeting with this man yet this evening.  Our hope is that he would leave peaceably.

In the coming weeks, I am hoping that Micah and I have meaningful opportunities to get to know the other tenants of the building.  There are always many children running around (they made for a great moving-in crew!), and I hope for many opportunities to play with them in the next three months.

I’ve included a slideshow of pictures that show our room in several stages.  It’s looking a lot better than it did when we first saw it!  I imagine that it will be rather homey within a short amount of time.  Micah and I have committed our room to God – to be a place where He is glorified and dwells.  We are praying that the souls of the people in the building with us would be ushered into God’s kingdom – that they would live with the hope of someday living in an eternal mansion that Christ himself has prepared (John 14:1-3).

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All of these things that I’ve mentioned are things that we’re inviting you to pray for.  We covet your prayers because we know God works through them.

Thank you for being such a faithful friend, follower, and encourager.  We know that we’re not alone in this mission to which God has called us.

To God be the glory!

Hans

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a while since you have heard from Micah and I.  We were enjoying a break from the busy schedule of town & village Ambassador Institute classes, working at the land, and other responsibilities.  The highlight of my break came when my family and Janna arrived on December 26th.  The following 12 days until their departure were my “12 days of Christmas.”  They were some of the most blessed days I have ever experienced.

Here are just some photos from their time here:

Micah and I are getting ready for a transition during our time here in Uganda.  Coming this February, we will be moving into an apartment in an old, run down mansion.  The place is looking pretty shabby right now..but we’re in the process of fixing it up (will post pictures of the place soon).  More than just moving for the purpose of our own growth during our time here in Uganda, Micah and I are moving to this building because the spiritual condition of most of the tenants is similar to the current condition of the building – broken, in disrepair, and dark.  Micah and I are praying that God would use us there to bring His light and to be His fragrance.  We are praying for meaningful opportunities to interact with these other tenants as we live in the same building as them.  Pray for us.

An update email is going to be sent out soon that will have more information about what is going on in our lives and how you can be praying for us.  Micah and I say “thank you” to you for the ways you support us.

To God be the glory!

Hans

Ogamboki? (The Ugandan equivalent of “what’s the good word?”)

Micah and I are doing really well.  We’re sitting at a cafe in Jinja, working on different things that we can’t do as easily in the village (such as contact family, update the blog, work on college application essays, or organize Lusoga information).  I’ve been in town for a little over a week now (the longest I’ve gone without being in the village since coming to Uganda).  My primary mission during this town time was to finish my application for Moody Bible Institute (this is where Janna and I are feeling led to for Fall 2012).  I am hoping to study applied linguistics, and Janna is wanting to study TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages).  We’ll hear back in the middle of January if we are accepted – any prayers for us as we wait will be greatly appreciated!  Anyhow, amidst the town time I’ve had, I knew that it was time to give you guys another glimpse into what our lives have been like.  Almost all of these pictures have longer stories behind them that could be told – I hope that I get a chance to share some of them with you when I return next year.

If you didn’t already know, the word is out – a new pair of little feet will be joining the Jore family! We’re so happy to see this family grow!

Such an amazing family! We’re privileged to be with them.

This little girl is such a ballerina princess – she’ll even tell you such herself! This picture was taken at Hannah’s ballet recital.

There is little better than watching a boy and his father enjoy each other.

God continues to paint beautiful sunsets on our side of the world. How about yours?

Friends, welcome to one of the first steps of the process which gives you what you use so often and love – sugar. The sugar cane sticks are being squeezed by the teeth that are being turned by the cow.

This place is becoming my favorite spot to be in the evenings!

We invested in some Thanksgiving meal! Mr. Gobbles is fattening up on Nate’s land, to be enjoyed later this month.

The Creator captivates this Christian continually!

How about those colors!

Micah and I are with our friends Henry and Godfrey in this picture. We’ve been seeing a lot of Henry out in the village recently

All this water is completing covering Nate’s bridge – the very bridge we had been hoping to work on this day!

Somebody enjoyed the water!

We added a culvert to the two that Nate’s bridge already had. Recently, any big rain has flooded the bridge, so we are hoping that this will help to handle the extra water.

We’ve lengthened and built up the walls on Nate’s bridge as well

You can see here some of the work we accomplished one day.

I couldn’t pass up an opportunity with wet cement!

As you can see, village work isn’t the easiest on our clothes. This pair of pants has had two different large rips now mended – I’m giving the Jinja tailors too much business!

So one day after lunch, Godfrey and Micah chased down and killed Mr. Monitor, who was in Nate’s garden.

Micah thought they shouldn’t pass up an opportunity to share him with someone else – so I had the pleasant surprise of finding him on my desk chair when I entered my room!

Well, I decided that the sharing shouldn’t stop with me. So we decided that Mr. Monitor had at least one more visit to make…

So Nate became the target of the next practical joke!

After calling Nate to come visit us down at the boys’ quarters, we lay in wait to watch Nate’s reaction to finding his sandals’ companion. I missed capturing the perfect moment, but I can assure you – it was a success.

Judah was being a wonderful little brother by trying to convince Hannah that the monitor was really only asleep, and that it was liable to wake up at any moment to chase her and bit off her toes 😉

I’ve been continuing to enjoy my camera and the new things I am learning about it. I’m so thankful that my dad decided to upgrade to a new before I left, and that he gifted me with the old one. It might be old, but it still works great!

For a while, I’ve had the urge to make a slingshot to have here in Uganda. With Bosco this past week, I’ve done just that. We’re now waiting to acquire the rubber to finish it off. Soon the creatures of Uganda will have something to fear!

I was greatly gifted by being able to watch the baptism of Eden Anderson (who will be my niece come May 2012) via skype.

This is Janna’s sister and brother-in-law, who are Eden’s baptismal sponsors.

Meet Anika, the lively daughter of renowned photographer Abby Anderson. Before leaving for Uganda, Anika’s parents asked me to join Janna in being her baptismal sponsor. It’s been a privilege to pray for her.

She’s a fun and fiesty little girl!

 

There’s many things that Uganda has been teaching me.  Several things have reminded of different themes that can be found in Scripture.  A couple months ago, a friend’s trial reminded me of God’s just judgment, what eternal sentence all sinners deserve, and Christ’s redemption.  You see, Nate ended up paying the bail for our friend after he unjustly was found guilty (the corruption in Uganda is widespread and deep).  Our friend’s life was ransomed from 9 months in an earthly prison.  Though you have been justly found guilty of transgressing the one, true, holy God, Jesus Christ paid His life as a ransom so you wouldn’t have to spend forever in an eternal prison.  The reality of Christ’s redemption came to life in beautiful new ways for our friend.  As thankful as he was to Nate, Micah, and me for what we had done for his immediate problem, he was incredibly more thankful for what Christ has done for his sin problem.

(You’ll find in the following analogy several places where it breaks down.  Bear with me and just try to see what I’ve been learning.)  The thing in Uganda that has most recently made me think about a Biblical theme is…chickens.  I have such a mixture of emotions concerning chickens…but the primary emotion that I feel towards them is…wrath!  Chickens are constantly transgressing me (& Micah).  And what has become all too clear is that, although their lives are in our hands, chickens don’t have a lasting fear of us.  In the moment in which I pour out my wrath upon them, they are sure to fear me and flee.  But it seems that within minutes, they have forgotten their fear and are back at it, doing that which should not be done.  

 

You see, Micah and I have a holy of holies out in the village – it is our boys’ quarters.  Though we are at work in all of the compound (like God is at work in the world), the boys’ quarters is our special dwelling place.  Just as a regular, old Israelite was not supposed to waltz into the holy of holies because of his uncleanness, so the chickens are not to enter into our home.  It is off limits!  But…they trespass.  They don’t fear.  They spread their filth and eat our food.  Though I could utterly destroy the chickens for what they do, I choose to show them mercy.

No matter how many times I chase them away from their trespassing (I should mention that chickens have also been heavy trespassers of Nate’s home garden – this thing ought not to be done!), they are constantly are returning to it.  These chickens often seem hopeless to me.  But friends…I am the chicken!  Not just because Godfrey calls me his “stubborn chicken” – because I constantly seem to not be walking with a fear of God.  I dabble in sin time and time again, though God is constantly chasing me away from it.  Thankfully, I have an incredibly merciful master, One who actually loves me in ways that I never have and never will love chickens.  I deserve to face the righteous wrath of God, but I don’t have to!  Thanks be to Jesus Christ, I will not face the wrath of God when I am judged.  It is ridiculous to think of looking at a chicken and seeing it as innocent – ridiculous!  But how much more ridiculous is it that God looks at the believer who is in Christ, and He sees His Son’s righteousness?!  Ridiculous!  Wonderful!

When chickens bother me by getting into our dishes like this one, I feel like preaching a Law verse such as Ezekiel 7:4 - "And my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity, but I will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the Lord."

Friends, rejoice today in the truth of what Jesus Christ did for you, though you were completely undeserving.  Because of Jesus Christ, you don’t have to face the wrath of God.  John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

So glad I’m a “stubborn chicken” with a merciful Master!

Gospel truth - "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Thanks for following us, friends!  We’ll be sending out in the next week a more detailed email update on how our lives and ministry are going!

Hans

Tusangaile!  Muli mutiya? (How are you?)

Now that I finally have had a stint in town that has been long enough to sit down and do some computer work, I can share with you some glimpses into our lives through the pictures I’ve been taking.  There’s been no lack of great pictures to take!  Actually, I think that photography is becoming a new passion of mine.  The previously unknown joy of pouring creativity and effort into capturing the Creator’s completely creative creation in pictures has got me hooked.  Thankfully, I’ve got a connection to a superb photographer in the form of Janna’s sister, Abby – soon to be my sister-in-law.  I’m soon going to be asking her for loads of advice!  Hopefully, the pictures show the results of what I learn.

I just sent out an email with a detailed update on different aspects of the ministry that is occurring here in Uganda.  If you didn’t get it, and you want it, just let me know.  For now, the plan is to primarily use the blog for sharing pictures and videos.

Here are some of those promised pictures:

We love getting our hands dirty! And just about the rest of our body as well!

We were working in the swamp to plant rice. It is a meticulous process of planting one piece of rice grass at a time.

Believe me, hoe work makes for blister-filled hands. Thankfully, those blisters later become calluses.

Sitting in the mud is actually really calming after having spent hours digging in it. Going to try it some time?

A picture of Nate’s whole swamp on the Nile – now completely dug and planted with rice.

Nate’s cow just recently gave birth to a calf! Micah, Godfrey, and I had to physically help mama cow in her process of giving birth – quite the experience!

Fresh milk! Yum!

Mulch Rd – an essential part of having a good crop.

This was one of three pictures that I captured of lightning on a particular night. It wasn’t easy!

This was a strange looking fruit that I found on Nate’s compound

Ha! This was an idea of mine to combat one of our chief enemies in the village: smoke. It is incredibly painful when it gets in your eyes while cooking. Now if only I could figure out a way to deal with the breathing problem that smoke also creates.

The Creator’s creation is captivating

There’s always an odd one in the bunch

Feel small?

Flower for my Fugleberg

This is a picture of the landscape overlooking where we meet for class on Wednesdays.

Godfrey’s grandpa (the man behind him) caught this bird while we were in Kamuli visiting Godfrey’s family

This is what he used as bait to catch the bird. Look tasty? I hear they’re not bad fried.

A recent family picture that I had the privilege of taking for the Jores

Will everyone be like this when Christ returns?

A boy and his daddy