Furlough

It turns out I have tonsillitis. That is what the doctor said. Then he talked to us about the ministry in Uganda. It was more of a mission interview than a doctors appointment. He prayed for us. Who knew that the Lord would send encouragement through a visit to the doctor.
I have been completely wiped out and I can hardly swallow. We are at a hotel in Abilene on our way to Tyler.
Two days ago Kinley was crying because she misses home. Today she cried because she misses her Nana and Papa.
It seems like we are always saying "good bye"

One day their will be no more sore throats, tears or sad good byes.

a simple prayer request

We drove with the family from Odessa to Amarillo. We spent the evening with Lyle and Shelli Jarvis. It was fun talking with them as they had spent a few years in Hungary as missionaries. Our kids had a great time with their kids. Lyle was in college at Columbia Christian while I was at the high school. We had a lot in common.
We stayed in a hotel and got up Sunday morning for church. The church we visited is a nondenominational church called Amarillo South. They were started ten years ago by members from a church of Christ there in Amarillo. They have grown to over 3,000!
I can see why families are drawn to this church. They have a wonderful set of programs for the kids. Cheryl and I were able to to worship together. That is something that we have not been able to do as one of us has to usually take care of silas.
Cheryl is the one who takes him out so he won't disrupt everyone else.

At the end of the service there were quite a number of people who came for prayer. That was impressive.
We met on Monday morning with some of the staff and a couple of elders. It was fun to share with them about what the Lord is doing in Uganda. We prayed together. As soon as the meeting ended I started to feel sick.
We were headed out of town but I was feeling really bad so we went to a hotel for another night. I have a fever and am feeling terrible. We are trying to get ready to go to Tyler.
Thanks for your prayers.

Human chain

Besisa Babiha Corinne is in Bunia Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a dear friend, a brother in Christ and a man of faith.
Where Besisa and his family lives is at the center of the conflict.


Between 1998 and 2002 3.3million people died in the Congo as a result of the war. Now the number of deaths has climbed to over 4,000,000.
The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed more lives than any other war since world war II

Did you hear that number?
4,000,000!
Let me put that into perspective. If they stood beside each other with their arms stretched out they could make a human chain from Portland Oregon to Los Angeles California. (If each of them averaged five feet finger tip to finger tip)
Did you think the human chain would go that far?
Well it would keep going. How far would it continue? If they started in Portland and stretched to Los Angeles how much further would they go? If they turned at Los Angeles and went East the human chain would go past Texas and stretch all the way across the US to Miami florida!
That is long human chain Portland Oregon to La and onto Miami Florida.
Did I mention that there would be enough people left over when you got to Miami to continue the human chain for another 600 miles!
That is the number of people who have died as a result of the fighting in the Congo!

Pray for the Chownings

We have just received some sad news..
Cindy Chowning was in an accident in Benin West Africa.
Apparently she was at a village meeting and returned to her car where she was hit by a moped/motorcycle and thrown into her car. She was taken for treatment but her injuries were too severe and she passed away.

Cindy and her husband Richard used to be missionaries in Kenya. They worked in Abilene before moving to Benin West Africa as missionaries. Please pray for Richard.

I have sat here for thirty minutes not knowing what to write. Would you pray with me?

Dear Father,
My heart is full of sadness as I think of Richard Chowning,Heather and all of Cindy's family who are hurting today. Lord, wrap your arms around them and comfort them...like only you know how. Lord, it's so sad.
Lord give Murphy Crowson and his father safety as they travel to help Richard.Please be with them. May your spirit comfort them all and bring peace.
I thank you for Cindy and the life she lived. She was so hospitible and kind.
Lord I lift up to your Richard, Heather, and the rest of their family. Father I pray for their teamates and fellow workers in the Lord. Please comfort the Christians in Benin who are hurting. May your kingdom grow like never beofore in Benin.
Father, I pray that you be glorified through the life and death of this sister in Christ.
Lord, also please be with the one who was riding the motorcycle.
Thank you Lord for you love.
I pray all of this through your wonderful son Jesus ...Amen

Animal Rights?

Kinley is watching Animal Cops on TV.
Every second counts as the animal protection units races the puppies to the hospital. The animals are given blood transfusions and placed in intensive care. Apparently these puppies have flees that could put their lives in danger. If the dogs survive they will be places in Foster Care. Teams of people have given their lives to fight for the rights and protection of animals.
Don't get me wrong I like animals It just seems strange.
I know children who sleep with bed bugs and flees everynight. We have friends from the Congo who struggle to get something to eat. There are many who drink from mud puddles and disease infected lakes.
Rights? What rights?
There have been over 4,000,000 people killed in the congo in the last few years! It makes me mad.


As I watched animal cops I noticed the wonderful medical attention these flee bitten puppies were getting.

Medical care?
One of my friends is struggle to travel from Congo to Uganda just so his wife can get a surgery. She will have to ride one day in the back of a pickup. One day in a boat to cross Lake Albert and another day in a fish truck on a horrible horrible road. Then she will arrive in Fort Portal where there is no medicine at the local hospital, the windows are broken and the doctors make rounds every couple of days. She has a bleeding ulcer. Here husband is educated and has a masters degree.

Over 200 members of the Rwebesengo church of christ had to move to a resettlement camp for refugees because they could not get food!
Derrick wrote me that he has been trying to encourage a group of orphans...who all have Hiv/aids.
Where is the justice?
Where is the help?
Life on the street as an abandoned dog in Houston might be easier than what some of my friends have been facing.

Pray for Ronald

While riding his motorcycle Ronald got stung by a bee! and then...another and another. He threw down his motorcyle and ran as a swarm of bees attacked him! He ran down to a nearby hut and the old woman there told him to take off his clothes because of the bees. He was being stung all over. He tore off his clothes and the old woman smeared him with kerosene. There were several cars that got attacked and couldn't get their windows up in time. The people left their vehicles and ran. Many people were stung terribly
The swarming African bees attacked everyone. Two goats that were tied nearby were killed by the bees.
Ronald said, "I probably have two hundred stings on my back!"
He really didn't know how many stings he had because his back and neck were all swollen.

Please pray for Ronald. If you would like to send him a word of encourgement you could post a comment and/or send it to me by email and I'll make sure he gets it.
Jeff

Cease Fire!

A few years ago during the rebel crisis in our part of Uganda, a group of soldiers were fired upon. They scrambled into the bushes and fought back. It was reported that a bloody fight insued and there were casualties from both sides of the ravine. To their horror they discovered that they were all on the same side!

As Christian soldiers let's remember who the enemy is!
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against...