Multiplied Mercies

One week ago I returned home from my second trip to Uganda. I have spent the week unpacking, tending my flower and vegetable gardens, and trying to get back on a decent sleep schedule. I don’t know why sleeping through the night is so difficult after that trip, but it seems my fellow travelers were all affected similarly.

Gardening time is also my thinking and praying time, so amidst bean picking and weed pulling I have contemplated blogging. Last year I blogged a day by day journal, which took a long time and, I’m afraid, tried the patience of both myself and my readers. So I have decided to approach it a little differently this time, and perhaps give you a better insight into the Ugandan culture, including what I learned from it, and how our ministry worked within it. So far I am planning six posts, but stay tuned...it could be more or less, depending on how the Spirit leads!

In order to have a reference point for future posts, I will introduce you to our team and outline our itinerary in this first post. God multiplied the number of team members from four last year to 18 this year,


















eleven of us from my home town!
















While each of us participated in every activity to some degree, I will state the main focus of responsibilities for each team member. We couldn’t have had a better or more diverse team! The entire group worked well together and complemented each other in so many ways. We all remained basically healthy throughout the trip, thanks to many prayers and also the care of our medical team members. God was indeed merciful in keeping us all safe and healthy.

Jan Ross (Ohio)-founder of Heart of God International Ministries

Jeanice Coffell (Illinois)–co-founder of Heart of God International Ministries

Denise Matthews (California)–HGIM Director of East Africa Ministry –put the entire trip together!

Mark Matthews (California) –HGIM East Africa Men’s Ministry Director –planned Pastors conference

Me, Sharlyn Guthrie (Iowa) –HGIM East Africa Education Director –planned teacher conference and educational activities, worked with children at Smile Africa

Ben (California) –spoke at pastors conference and teen rally

Sylvia (California)–worked with children at Smile Africa

Scott (Texas)–spoke at pastors conference and remained in Uganda when the rest of us returned home

Aaron (Iowa)–spoke at pastors conference and teacher conference

Andrea (Iowa)–participated in teacher conference, planned educational activities, worked with children at Smile Africa

Wendy (Iowa)–participated in teacher conference, planned educational activities, worked with children at Smile Africa

Norma (Iowa)–participated in teacher conference, planned educational activities, worked with children at Smile Africa

Jane (Iowa)–treated and immunized children at Smile Africa and other schools

Cheryl (Iowa)–treated and immunized children at Smile Africa and other schools

Paul (Iowa)–spoke at pastors conference

Michelle (Iowa)–assisted with teacher conference, worked with children at Smile Africa

Emily (Iowa)–worked with children at Smile Africa, participated in teen conference
Courtney (Iowa)–worked with children at Smile Africa, participated in teen conference

God also multiplied our ministries through the special Ugandans we met last year, who brought us into contact with even more fellow believers and their ministries this year. Instead of three schools, we were involved with five. Instead of one church, we were involved with four. In addition to the seven teachers of Smile Africa, God allowed us to minister to 100+ teachers from both private and government schools. Besides the three pastors we met last year, God gave us over one hundred in attendance at the Pastor’s conference. We even had four more days added to our itinerary this year.

Itinerary:

June 19-20 –Travelled from Chicago to Entebbe, via Amsterdam. Stayed in Lubowa Cottages and Gardens













June 21 –Travelled from Lubowa to Tororo
June 22 –Women worked at Smile Africa, men began the Pastors Conference















June 23 –Nurses, Sylvia, and Teens returned to Smile Africa, Men continued on with their conference, Wendy, Norma, Andrea, Michelle, and I prepared for and began teacher conference.



























Joy measured all of us for dresses and shirts.
June 24 –same jobs as previous day
June 25 –Women worked at Smile Africa, men went to final day of Pastors conference. Women joined them at the end, sharing in the Lord’s table.


















Denise and I were interviewed by the local radio station, concerning both conferences.
June 26 –Teen Rally
















June 27 –Village Churches (we split into three groups, with each group attending a different church (Pastor Stephen’s, Pastor Amos’s, and Pastor Phillip’s)















In the afternoon we visited the Smile Africa Widows’ Shop
June 28 –Travelled to King’s Primary School in Bunambutye to watch their program, do classroom activities and hand out mosquito nets and bananas.














Visited Royal Palace Primary and Nursery School on the way home. Had dinner at Pastor Ruth and Basil’s house. Joy delivered tailor made clothing when we returned to the hotel.
June 29 –Said our goodbyes and travelled back to Lubowa Cottages. Stopped at the Source of the Nile for sightseeing and shopping.















Attended Saphan’s church service in the evening
June 30 –visited the women’s prison, dividing into four groups














July 1 –Spent the day at Early Learning Center. Children put on a program for us,














then we split up into five groups and spent time in each family group, eating lunch with the first group, then doing activities with each of the others.
July 2 –Spent the morning packing, had a visit from Sarah (a girl from home who lives in Kampala), went to Agnes’ home for a large, delightful lunch.













From there we visited Saphan and Alex's home, then went to the airport and waited for our 10 p.m. flight to Amsterdam.
July 3 –We had a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam before our flight to Chicago. We said our goodbyes, then loaded up in our two vehicles to drive five hours back home to Iowa.

Yes, God’s mercies were new every morning and throughout each day of this trip. He provided in ways that amazed and encouraged not only our team, but all of those to whom we ministered. He proved His character over and over again.

I was reminded today in the message I heard at the Austin Stone (we are in Austin, TX visiting our son, Travis, and his family) that acting on ones faith often results in great blessings such as we experienced on this trip, but according to Hebrews 11 it can also result in great trials and what many of us would term, "misfortunes." (Hebrews 11:35-37)

God is good, and my faith in Him is worthwhile, not because my trip to Uganda can be termed successful -that is simply grace. He would still be good, and my service to Him worthwhile, if I had suffered injury, imprisonment, loss of health or even loss of life during my travels, because neither Iowa or Uganda are my home. I am "...longing for a better country, a heavenly one." (Hebrews 11:16)

It was affirming to hear this message today, because I know that some have regarded going to Uganda on a missions trip as dangerous and even reckless. I prefer to think of it as being bold in faith (although I have never thought of myself as particularly courageous!).

On two occasions when I told two separate Christian leaders that I was planning to go to Uganda their response was, "why in the world would you want to do that?"

It is a good question, and one that I have pondered much. My answer is simply this, "because God gave me the opportunity and put it on my heart to go. His love compels me." I have never regretted my decision, nor will I ever regret it, whatever the outcome in this life. God's mercies here and in Uganda are only a taste of what awaits me in that heavenly country I already call "Home."

I hope that over the next few weeks you will enjoy reading my musings on how God’s bountiful mercies have been displayed and how they continue to multiply. My next post will be about homes and families in Uganda, and will be titled, "Home is Where You Tie Your Goat."

Day 8: Women's Conference, Uganda Style

Day 8: Women's Conference, Uganda Style

27 June, 2009

Today was our Women’s Conference. Although it began at 10:30, Pastor Ruth said that the women began arriving at 7:30. The hall was completely full, and more chairs were added throughout the day. Around 220 attended in all, and all of these were by Pastor Ruth’s invitation, who pointed out that we could not have accommodated the number that would have come, had the invitation been open.

Jan is still not feeling well. She sweats profusely and also chills, which is making us wonder if she has malaria. We have all offered medications to her, and keep praying with her and for her of course. She was determined to attend the conference, regardless, and made it through the first half of the day before returning to the hotel to rest.

We were greeted warmly, with loud singing, clapping, and the unique trilling sound that we have found to be the classic African expression of joy. We were able to join the women in singing, “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” and “This is the Day.” One song that was sung in Swahili was about never going back to Egypt, but continuing on to the Promised Land. For the chorus of this song, the women put their Bibles and purses on their heads and walked around, symbolizing the traveling Israelites.



Robinah and the wife of the President of Tororo District each spoke. Then Denise, Jeanice, Jan, and I took our turns speaking, with a translator interpreting. Denise shared a little about the planning of our trip and offered many words of encouragement from the book of John. I sang “Knees to the Earth” and shared my testimony of dealing with fear and how it drew me into relationship and dependence on God. Jeanice spoke about the widow’s mite, and Jan spoke about God’s word as a seed that is planted in our hearts, and the need to nurture it so it will grow. She ended with an invitation to accept Christ. Four women responded by coming forward to pray with us, however several more responded by raised hands. How thrilling to see these women begin their new journey with Jesus Christ today, and even more thrilling to be a part of it –to pray with them and see the radiance on their faces!
























We made a trip back to the hotel at lunch time, where Jan remained. When we returned for the afternoon session, the ladies were eating their meal of rice, beans, cabbage, and beef when with their hands, which is customary in Uganda.


Three women shared their testimonies during the afternoon session. They were touching stories of God’s deliverance and provision. They also had high praise for Pastor Ruth’s ministry to them. Pastor Ruth became quite emotional as they shared their stories. She is personally involved in the lives of many of these women, and has done much to empower them through assistance, skills training, and bringing them to faith in Jesus Christ.

We ended the day with our gifts to the women. Each had already received the Book of John. We also gave each of them a heavy-duty garden hoe, some bean and corn seeds, a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and some candy. They came through in a line to accept their gifts, and were so excited and thankful!





All of the women were dressed beautifully, many in colorful traditional African garments. One woman, however, stood out as being quite ragged and dirty in her appearance. When she approached me, accepting the gifts I handed her, she began to sing –her gesture of gratitude. It brought tears to my eyes, for I felt that I had just been a recipient, on our Lord’s behalf, of the widow’s mite.













Jan was beginning to feel better after having rested this afternoon. We marveled over the day’s blessings during dinner, and were engrossed in conversation, when Allison, with the other organization, approached us and asked if we would like to “go shopping” at their table. I went with her, and was surprised to find a woman selling necklaces like the ones we had purchased at the Smile Africa store. I was even more surprised and delighted when she said, “You came to Smile Africa! You were at the conference today! I am Jacinda!” Then she whispered to me that she would give us a special price on any necklaces we bought because of our ministry to Smile Africa; so, of course, we bought some more!

This evening we decided to bless one of the families we met in the slums yesterday –the man in the overcoat, who didn’t have pants. We packed a suitcase for his family with some food, clothing, a flashlight, a soccer ball, and a little extra money. Tomorrow we will arrange for its delivery through Pastor Ruth.