My new friend

The woman who sleeps beside the stump doesn't stare at me or give me dirty looks anymore. As I drove up the hill she sat up wrapped up in her blankets and black plastic, smiled and waved.
I waved back to her and returned the smile.
The strange looks didn't come from her but from everyone else!
If you look for bad in someone you can always find it!
How did Jesus see people?
He ate with Tax collectors, prostitutes and "sinners".
He amazing!

The email:giving a blanket to a witch.

I sent the entry out as an e-mail and I have received quite a bit of feed back. So here it is...
There is woman that I have noticed sleeping on the streets. She stays next to the road and is camped out near a stump. I have had strange feelings about her. No one will approach her. They are afraid of her. She stares hard at me whenever I pass by.
Because of these strange feelings I asked around about her... I was told that
she is a witch and she was sent away/banished from her village because she ate her children. Wow she really needs prayer.
I wrote this message a few days ago. While I was writing this I felt strongly that I should go and help the woman who ate her children.
The verse "think of others as better than yourself" kept coming to mind.
Think of a witch who ate her children as better than myself?
Ok Lord.

Several years ago I saw a homeles man in Portland who was curled up on a park bench in the cold. I debated with myself as to whether I should help or not. I didn't help him. I did like everybody else and I ignored him. When I got home to my parents house I felt terrible. I decided to sleep outside on the deck. It was cold! I stayed up all night praying for Portland. I deeply regreted not helping that guy. I didn't want that to happen again.
so the other evening when I felt moved to help the woman in the cold I didn't hesitate.
It was about 10:30 at night and I got in the truck and drove to the stump that she sleeps next too. The city council wanted her to leave that place so they cut down the tree that she was sleeping under. She didn't leave. There are actually two women who live there. (Both are said to be witches)
As I drove down the quiet dark streets I thought...the Lord loves this woman. She may be a witch, a murderer and a cannibal, and Lord may hate what she has done but he loves her.
I got out of the truck and saw the old woman sit up. I greeted her in Rutoro and told her that I am a Christian. I commented on how cold it is. She told me that she loves Jesus and that she prays to Mary. She showed me her rosaries.
I handed her the two thick blankets and she was very thankful.
She told me in Rutoro that she paid 1000 shillings for a thin bed sheet and another 1000 for a piece of plastic to wrap up in. That was all she had to keep her warm, a thin bed sheet and a piece of black plastic. She has no more money. She told me how cold she is. She thanked me over and over for the blankets and for caring. She sat there smiling.

Just thank the Lord.

I knelt down and we talked some more in broken Rutoro and Swahili.
She told me that her two children had died and now she lives there.
I shook my head that I knew. Everyone knows. These two women are the outcasts of Fort Portal.

I told her to sleep well.
She wrapped up in the blankets and thanked me again as I got in the truck and turned on the heater.

Thank you Lord for encouraging me to do this.
While she was a sinner...while I was a sinner...Christ died for us.
The love that God has for us is so amazing.
She is made in the image of God.

The Lord has been working on my heart and it has come from this...
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Phillipian 2:3-5 NIV

I have debated about sharing this story and this struggle with you. For the last four months the Lord has been reminding me "to consider others better than myself".
This has been a tough challenge for me. I don't have a problem getting out there and helping people. Or spending time with the poor or sharing Jesus with my Muslim friends. But humbly thinking of others as better than myself ...that's tough.
It all comes down to my attitude, my heart and my pride.
We can do the things that Jesus did but not do them like Jesus did.
I want so much to have the same attitudes that Jesus had (and has.)
That is where this struggle lies for me.

I've learned that struggle and pain don't always need to be avoided or medicated. Challenges can make us stronger and better people.
If we are willing to learn the Lord is willing to teach.
Isn't it amazing how the Lord can use those in society that people see as worthless to teach us valuable lessons. What is the Lord teaching you?

wrapped in Him

Jeff Cash

Recognition Sunday

We had a very special service to recognize what the Lord is doing through Ronald, David and Dick. They have been serving the church for nine years each. They were the core of my original discipleship group called servants in training. Recently we had a private ceremony at a retreat in the Forest. I laid my hands on them and prayed for each.
Now we wanted to recognize them with the church.

In this church the type of leadership that we have is servant like team leadership.
This ceremony was what many would call an ordination. We are not trying to elevate the ministers into a Big Corner office situation but recognize what the Lord is doing through them.
I had trouble holding back the tears as I told stories of great faith about my friends. I have seen each of them physically risk their lives for the sake of the gospel. It was fun to share about what the Lord has done through each of them. David's wife said she cried through the entire service. His parents and some friends came to witness this occasion.
His father said, "I am leaving a different person than when I came. Thank you."


We shared a responsive reading. It was a covenant between the men, the church and the Lord.

Before the service I talked with the men about what we were planning to do and they asked if they could kneel as I lay my hands on them and pray. They wanted to kneel before the throne of God and before the congregation that they are serving.
These men have proven themselves.
Paul wrote to Timothy "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands."
These three men have shown themselves to be reliable men able to teach.
We began with Kizito Ronald.


Dick knelt on the ground as we prayed during the laying on of hands.


David Kabiito knelt as well.


After the prayer I wrapped a towel around my waist and washed their feet. We talked about the kind of leadership that Jesus wants in His kingdom.




Isaac said, "It's cool that Dad is washing their feet!"
I think he wanted to play in the water too.


They were given a ceritficate of license for Ministry.






To demonstrate the kind of leadship that we want to have.. I poured water for the three to wash their hands and they did it for me. Then they did what is counter cultural, they helped pour the water for each person in the church to wash. Usually that job is left to a young girl.
It was quite a statement!


This is a cultural role reversal as David washes his mother's hands. She told him that she had never seen a foot washing or anything like this in all of her years of going to church. She is so proud of her son!


We had a party and it was so great to watch the men who were being honored. Instead of sitting down and getting the first and biggest helpings of everything. They served everyone else first! I had cooked 13 lbs of beef. (Hickory smoke, Terriyaki, and fajita style meat strips) We had samosas, hot dogs and two cakes.
As Ronald David and Dick served the sodas... we ran out. They did not get any and they did not complain. Cheryl hurried to the store and bought another case. I was so impressed with how they served everyone first!

The three men introduced the ones that they are discipling and mentoring. It was a proud moment for me. They went on to acknowledge all of the ministries that the members are doing.
They prayed for all of the ministries. The Lord is doing great work in the lives of these families. May He be praised!



"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And these things that you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach other." II Timothy 2:1-2 NIV

Encouragement

I have been feeling frustrated about how long it has taken to get the airplane engine to the states for repair. We were dealing with third world corruption. The shipping company had received the money for shippment at the beginning of the year. I finally "encouraged" them to send it. This has been quite an ordeal dealing with these guys in Djibouti.

I am interested in continuing my flight training to get an instrument and commercial license. To do the ground school for the instrument ticket I purchased a computer multimedia training system from Cessna. It has to be unlocked at a Cessna training Center. There are no Cessna centers anywhere near here! I have written the company who made the series several times with no possitive response... until now.
They are sending me the disks to unlock the course! This has taken two years.
I also found the same course on ebay for the commercial license. It was being sold by a man in Seattle. He offered to give me a good price on it and free shipping because I am a brother in Christ. It normally sells for $279.
My Mom was visiting my grandmother in Federal Way and it turns out that this is the home of Terry the man selling the course on Ebay.
He brought the course to my Mom and told her that he had read this blog and was impressed with what we are doing in Uganda. He felt that the Lord wanted him to give the entire Cessna multimedia training course to us for free! What an encouragement. Thank you Terry. May the Lord bless you for your kindness and generosity.
At the same time I received an email response from On His Wings flight training academy in Minnesota. They specialize in Instrument Flight training. The Christian flight instructor offered for me to come there for training.
He offered to do the training for free except for actual plane time and my living expenses. Wow! They have a $100,000 flight simulator plus the planes! Most of the pilots are able to finish up their flight training in 7-10 days.
As I talked with my parents on the phone they told me that the Federal Way church of Christ had their annual missions auction and they have sent $3,400 for the work here. Wow!
Thank you Federal Way!!!
Being the only c of c missionaries in this region has its unique challenges. One of the greatest burdens is seeing the financial needs of the the churches and the ministry. God has been so good to us over the years.
I thought I might share with you what some of the ministry areas that we would like to raise more funds for.
Our areas of financial need are:
1. Paying for the dump truck
2. Developing Camp Saaka (We are hosting Faith Quest Uganda next month at the Camp property. This facility will be our church camp/ training center.
3. We would like to buy a large tent for the town church to meet in at our new property.
(We will need to build a toilet, retaining wall and storage room. We will also want to buy plastic chairs for a little over $10 each)
In the near future we want to build a church building on the property.
4.Aircraft repair. Our flying ministry is called CROSSWIND wings of mercy. We will be bringing American mechanics to repair and assemble the plane. We hope to be able to reach out through the churches in Northern Uganda, DRC, Sudan and Rwanda.
5.Benevolence. There is no end to the physical needs that people have here. Poverty is the norm. Complacency is the standard for many.
Aids has produced many orphans. War has brought many refugees.
The Fort Portal church has formed a new benevolence committee. They are looking into the best ways to help with the physical problems that many face.
The offering from Federal Way will help us as we try to reach out with the love of Jesus. I have to say that I appreciate the Christian in America..you are the most generous people in the world. Thank you for sharing.
If you would like to join Federal Way in helping to meet some of these needs we would be happy to put your gifts to good use for the kingdom of God.
All gifts should be sent through the
Glenwood church of Christ
5210 Hollytree Dr.
Tyler, Texas
75703
Did I mention what a great church Glenwood is? They are wonderful!
If you are ever anywhere near Tyler, Texas go visit them. You won't be dissappointed! The Lord has used them to encourage us as well.
God bless!
We have so much to be Thankful for! God is so good!

Silas. What are you doing, Son?

Silas was at work. He had pushed a chair up to the table in the kitchen and gathered everything he needed to begin his project.
When I asked him what he was doing. He told me that this is a "Woad"
(road).


This is a bicycle like Ronald's. Silas calls Ronald's motorcycle a bicycle.
He was building a whole town. Wow that's great Silas.


One man's mess is another mans's work of art!


He even put the airplanes in his little town.
Maybe Silas will be a construction engineer and build things like his uncle Mike did. Or maybe he will be an artist like his uncle Alan. Or maybe he will be like his Dad and just enjoy making messes!
One of the blessings of this work, that we are privileged to be able to be a part of, is we get to spend time with our children. Cheryl and I get to have devotionals every evening. Each monday is family day. Cheryl home schools. The kids are so much fun. We know that the time that we will have them in our home is short. So we want to make the best of it.
They are an important part of this ministry.
Kinley said yesterday that she wants to be missionary doctor. Alex said that he wants to be a missionary soldier. A soldier in God's army.
Isaac join in and said, "I want to be a missionary Dog!"
A missionary Dog?
Ya! I want to be a missionary guard dog!

You can be anything you want to be. (well almost anything!)

Abegaba and Francis are baptized

One of the joys of ministry is seeing the fruit of those that you have invested your time and energy in. Guys that I have discipled and mentored are doing the same with others. I am so proud of Ronald, David and Dick. The Lord is working through them!
Recently while I was in Kampala for a quarterly missionary meeting, Dick baptized Abegaba and David Baptized Francis.


Dick is baptizing Abegaba.




Congratulations Abegaba!!!


David also baptized Francis while we were away.
The baptism photos of Abegaba and Francis were taken by Derrick. Thanks Derrick!
This is Francis preparing to give his life to the Lord.


Francis bumps his head on the back of the metal tank.

David has begun to disciple and mentor Francis who was baptized as well as Switzer who is also helping in the picture below. Congratulations Francis!!! We are all proud of you.