I found this brief Youtube video that decribes one boy's story with the LRA. It reminds me of when Francis spoke with our group. This boy was "fortunate" in that he only spent 4 mos with the LRA and he had a family to which he could return.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ip08pjKngI
Monday, May 31, 2010
A long awaited update
I received and email from Lisa! It was so good to hear from her!
This was her request: "Please edit this email and make it into a nice story and put it up on the blog".
I hope this blog makes some sense. Basically I took her email and my comments are in the blue font and links for more information are in the green.
OK mom, here is my email (yes, I will add here that I have been threatening her to send me some piece of information that lets me know she is alive). We have been incredibly busy. The ICC (International Criminal Court- this is like the heads of state and many other very important people) is in Uganda trying to decide how to bring justice to the whole LRA (Lords Resistance Army)/Kony situation (Joesph Kony is the leader of the LRA - still at large and responsible for horrible atrosities against the Ugandan people). We have been busy preparing for them to come to Obalanga for the past two days (when we were in Uganda last year with the group from Plymouth Heights CRC, we spent some time at the site of the mass graves. Tim and Angies newsletter did a beautiful job explaining why this was such important work. A link for this newsletter is listed below). That means we had to clean the mass graves (friday all day lots of work) and then go out on Saturday to spend time with the CAAF children (Children Affected by Armed Forces) and help Fida (a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that provides assistance in Uganda) and IT (International Teams is the organization that Lisa and Steph went through to go to Uganda) put on a presentation for the 12 delegates that came to the village. We were out from 7AM until 10PM both days. About 3 hours ago, Lawrence (a local Fida worker) and Beckie (another long term missionary) left for Kampala to work at a display for the whole ICC group (we got to spend a lot of time putting the display together). Just a couple of minutes ago, Tim got a call out of the blue that he got a spot to speak in front of the whole ICC group. He and Francis (Francis is a child soldier who we met while in Soroti. He spent a couple of hours one morning in a very hushed voice telling us his story and showing us the scars of his capture, service, and eventual escape from the LRA. His story was hard to listen to because our daughter Kari and Francis were the same age, yet their lives were so different) will be leaving for Kampala at 4AM -granted we can find Francis. It has basically been crazy.
Overall we just needed a day to relax - which is today. I am using someone elses internet because Tim and Angie's has been down since we got here. I had a nice blog all prepared, but it is on my computer and I cannot get internet on my computer. The blog will not open with the limited speed I am able to get from this Ugandan Satalite Internet.
She then went on and gave me some information about how we might be able to talk on the phone.
I hope this makes some sense - we ache for you to understand the struggles of the people in Uganda and our passion for their well-being.
For those of you who wondered what Lisa and Steph would be doing this summer in Uganda, this gives you a brief idea of how things can change. They went there with the attitude that they were going to serve God and the people of Uganda in whatever way God would lead. This week it was by assisting with the ICC visit.
Thanks for your continued prayers and support. Hopefully the internet will be up and running and you can hear it from Lisa and Steph themselves.
Jane Brouwer
This was her request: "Please edit this email and make it into a nice story and put it up on the blog".
I hope this blog makes some sense. Basically I took her email and my comments are in the blue font and links for more information are in the green.
OK mom, here is my email (yes, I will add here that I have been threatening her to send me some piece of information that lets me know she is alive). We have been incredibly busy. The ICC (International Criminal Court- this is like the heads of state and many other very important people) is in Uganda trying to decide how to bring justice to the whole LRA (Lords Resistance Army)/Kony situation (Joesph Kony is the leader of the LRA - still at large and responsible for horrible atrosities against the Ugandan people). We have been busy preparing for them to come to Obalanga for the past two days (when we were in Uganda last year with the group from Plymouth Heights CRC, we spent some time at the site of the mass graves. Tim and Angies newsletter did a beautiful job explaining why this was such important work. A link for this newsletter is listed below). That means we had to clean the mass graves (friday all day lots of work) and then go out on Saturday to spend time with the CAAF children (Children Affected by Armed Forces) and help Fida (a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that provides assistance in Uganda) and IT (International Teams is the organization that Lisa and Steph went through to go to Uganda) put on a presentation for the 12 delegates that came to the village. We were out from 7AM until 10PM both days. About 3 hours ago, Lawrence (a local Fida worker) and Beckie (another long term missionary) left for Kampala to work at a display for the whole ICC group (we got to spend a lot of time putting the display together). Just a couple of minutes ago, Tim got a call out of the blue that he got a spot to speak in front of the whole ICC group. He and Francis (Francis is a child soldier who we met while in Soroti. He spent a couple of hours one morning in a very hushed voice telling us his story and showing us the scars of his capture, service, and eventual escape from the LRA. His story was hard to listen to because our daughter Kari and Francis were the same age, yet their lives were so different) will be leaving for Kampala at 4AM -granted we can find Francis. It has basically been crazy.
Overall we just needed a day to relax - which is today. I am using someone elses internet because Tim and Angie's has been down since we got here. I had a nice blog all prepared, but it is on my computer and I cannot get internet on my computer. The blog will not open with the limited speed I am able to get from this Ugandan Satalite Internet.
She then went on and gave me some information about how we might be able to talk on the phone.
I hope this makes some sense - we ache for you to understand the struggles of the people in Uganda and our passion for their well-being.
For those of you who wondered what Lisa and Steph would be doing this summer in Uganda, this gives you a brief idea of how things can change. They went there with the attitude that they were going to serve God and the people of Uganda in whatever way God would lead. This week it was by assisting with the ICC visit.
Thanks for your continued prayers and support. Hopefully the internet will be up and running and you can hear it from Lisa and Steph themselves.
Jane Brouwer
For a link to the Sliedrechts newsletter click on the link provided below. Once you get to that site, click on the August 2009 newsletter listed on the left hand column, you will then need to double click on the icon for the newsletter. Tim and Angies newsletter.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Mzungu... Bye-eee!
Dear friends,
Thank you SO much for your prayers, encouragement, and support. Lisa and I have been overwhelmed by the love!
As we head out this weekend for the little East African town that stole our hearts, we ask for prayers that our hearts and minds be opened to God's wisdom, our health remain, and our smiles be encouragement to everyone we meet.
Sometimes it's easy to be overwhelmed by the sadness, but the smiles found in the people of Soroti makes it just as easy to forget. Pray that Lisa and I can experience both ranges of emotions, experiencing the pain and joy of the beautiful Ugandan people we call our friends.
Much love,
Steph
Thank you SO much for your prayers, encouragement, and support. Lisa and I have been overwhelmed by the love!
As we head out this weekend for the little East African town that stole our hearts, we ask for prayers that our hearts and minds be opened to God's wisdom, our health remain, and our smiles be encouragement to everyone we meet.
Sometimes it's easy to be overwhelmed by the sadness, but the smiles found in the people of Soroti makes it just as easy to forget. Pray that Lisa and I can experience both ranges of emotions, experiencing the pain and joy of the beautiful Ugandan people we call our friends.
Much love,
Steph
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Commissioning Service
On Sunday morning there was a small commissioning prayer at church before Steph and I left.
Here is the prayer courtesy of Pastor Steve
Father in heaven,
This is a really happy moment for all of us, but it’s a really hard moment too. And it’s happy and hard for exactly the same reasons. Father we have here before us some of the best gifts you’ve given us – a couple of our kids. They’re kids who belong not just to these parents, but to this whole church. And we’re really happy today because they know Jesus, and because they want to follow him, all the way to Uganda if that’s where he’s leading. And so we’re sending some of the best that you’ve given us to a place that’s experienced some of the worst that this broken world has to offer. And that’s where the happy and the hard parts get mixed up. We couldn’t be happier that they’re going, but it’s really hard to see them go. With their parents we pray for your constant care over them. Use them to do your will, and care for and protect them in all that they do. May their travels be safe, may their health remain good, may their work be productive. Father, we send them off with the words and promises of the Psalmist…
I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.
As always, Father, we’re counting on your faithfulness. We pray these things in the name of your faithfulness personified, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Lisa
Here is the prayer courtesy of Pastor Steve
Father in heaven,
This is a really happy moment for all of us, but it’s a really hard moment too. And it’s happy and hard for exactly the same reasons. Father we have here before us some of the best gifts you’ve given us – a couple of our kids. They’re kids who belong not just to these parents, but to this whole church. And we’re really happy today because they know Jesus, and because they want to follow him, all the way to Uganda if that’s where he’s leading. And so we’re sending some of the best that you’ve given us to a place that’s experienced some of the worst that this broken world has to offer. And that’s where the happy and the hard parts get mixed up. We couldn’t be happier that they’re going, but it’s really hard to see them go. With their parents we pray for your constant care over them. Use them to do your will, and care for and protect them in all that they do. May their travels be safe, may their health remain good, may their work be productive. Father, we send them off with the words and promises of the Psalmist…
I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.
As always, Father, we’re counting on your faithfulness. We pray these things in the name of your faithfulness personified, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Lisa
Brief Introductions
On May 22, 2010 I will be leaving for Soroti, Uganda to spend a month serving along side Tim and Angie Sliedrect. Stephanie will be joining me on Monday May 24, 2010. First of all we would like to thank all of you for your prayer, emotional, and financial support. Without the support of our family, friends, and church community, this opportunity would not be possible.
Both Steph and I were in Soroti last year. We went with 7 others from Plymouth Heights CRC. I went home after two weeks with the rest of the group and Steph stayed on for another 6 weeks to work at Amecet (the baby shelter), assist with the mass grave project in Obalanga, teach preschool and anything else that came along. This year I plan to stay 5 weeks and Steph is planning to stay into August.
We both left a part of our hearts in Africa, and heading back is such a privilege and an honor. We are not sure what the Lord has in store for us, but are both willing to serve however He sees fit. At this time, my thoughts include working with a nurse who started her long term mission in March. my understanding is that we hope to travel to the villages to see what resources are available and what resources are needed. It will be good for the two of us to be traveling together, since traveling solo is a bit hazardous. Steph has plans to teach preschool and spend time with the girls in the boarding school nearby.
We plan to stay in the guest house in the same compund with Tim and Angie and their children Moses and Avalien. Our understanding is that there will be 2 other girls staying in the guesthouse with us. The guesthouse has a large living room, dining room and a kitchen. There are 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
We hope to keep you updated as much as possible. Unfortunately neither electricity nor internet are reliable items. If you have google reader and subscribe to our blog, you will be notified through the reader when we update. My mom has the list of email addressses from those who asked to be alerted. She will let you know after it has been updated. Feel free to pass along the blog address to anyone you think might be interested.
The title, "Mzungu...Mzungu" refers to the affectionate term that Ugandans use for a white person. It is not uncommon as we are out and around to hear kids call out "Mzungu... Mzungu".
Lisa
Both Steph and I were in Soroti last year. We went with 7 others from Plymouth Heights CRC. I went home after two weeks with the rest of the group and Steph stayed on for another 6 weeks to work at Amecet (the baby shelter), assist with the mass grave project in Obalanga, teach preschool and anything else that came along. This year I plan to stay 5 weeks and Steph is planning to stay into August.
We both left a part of our hearts in Africa, and heading back is such a privilege and an honor. We are not sure what the Lord has in store for us, but are both willing to serve however He sees fit. At this time, my thoughts include working with a nurse who started her long term mission in March. my understanding is that we hope to travel to the villages to see what resources are available and what resources are needed. It will be good for the two of us to be traveling together, since traveling solo is a bit hazardous. Steph has plans to teach preschool and spend time with the girls in the boarding school nearby.
We plan to stay in the guest house in the same compund with Tim and Angie and their children Moses and Avalien. Our understanding is that there will be 2 other girls staying in the guesthouse with us. The guesthouse has a large living room, dining room and a kitchen. There are 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
We hope to keep you updated as much as possible. Unfortunately neither electricity nor internet are reliable items. If you have google reader and subscribe to our blog, you will be notified through the reader when we update. My mom has the list of email addressses from those who asked to be alerted. She will let you know after it has been updated. Feel free to pass along the blog address to anyone you think might be interested.
The title, "Mzungu...Mzungu" refers to the affectionate term that Ugandans use for a white person. It is not uncommon as we are out and around to hear kids call out "Mzungu... Mzungu".
Lisa
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