It is Saturday, April 23 and we will be leaving for Uganda in 4 days, on Wednesday April 27. We will be participating in a Pastors and Wives Retreat, for East African pastors, in Jinja, Uganda. We have participated in 2016, 2017, and 2019. Debbie and I look forward to being with so many wonderful couples again. I will be blogging and, hopefully, posting some photos as well.
Thanks for your prayers!
David
We have been in pandemic mode for about a year and a half now. Many thought we would have seen the worst of it by now, but who knows? So, what are we to do? Since the idea of MTI is to train and teach pastors and leaders in other countries, that has been nearly impossible since I returned from India in March of 2020. In the meantime, we have been able to financially assist churches and individuals and communities in foreign nations and will continue to do so until I am able to travel again. Recently we saw that the earthquake in Haiti was devastating, with thousands now injured and homeless. I have a friend who runs a charitable organization and, trough her organization, we were able to donate for supplies and relief in Haiti.
I also am also nearly daily in communication with leaders in other nations and we are still talking about plans for when travel is safer again.
Almost as devastating as the pandemic and earthquake is the ugly division I see among Christians here in the US. We are called to LOVE one another. We will not see eye to eye with each other on all the issues. But I see Christians demonizing each other and being cruel and dismissive of those who think differently. Church, we are called to rise above all of that nonsense. The GOSPEL has remained unchanged for 2,000 years. Nations change, ideas change, the world is always in a state of change. But the Gospel remains the hope for all mankind. Do you hate those Christians who think differently than you regarding the pandemic? Regarding politics? Have you written them off and do you refuse to worship with them? Think about it: what has Jesus called us do? LOVE ONE ANOTHER. That is the single and sole evidence of our faith in Christ. Jesus said that “Men will know that you are my disciples by the love you have toward one another”. We cannot escape that. Are we his disciples? Is he your Lord? If ever the church needs to display the love of Christ, it is now. Let’s repent of hatred and division and finger-pointing. May we love others as He has loved each of us.
Well, it has actually been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic has begun. I have been unable to travel to conduct ministry abroad since that time. What have I been doing in the meantime? I have been in pretty much constant communication with leaders in Africa, Asia, India, and Nepal for the past year. I receive prayer requests, I make tentative plans to go and help train their leaders, and, in some cases, have been able to provide desperately needed financial support. The financial needs abroad among those I know are well beyond my ability to help. But, we prayerfully consider what to do. I look forward to being able once again to travel and resume the work of MTI.
Here back home, I continue to meet with my church community group via Zoom each Tuesday evening. Because it is Zoom, others who do not live in this area have been able to join us each week. I also am involved at our church as Missions Pastor. I will be preaching on Sunday, April 25. Ministry hasn’t stopped because of COVID, but it has taken a different form. We continue to ask God to have mercy on this planet and lift this hideous pandemic.
Personally, we also welcomed a new grandson in June of 2020. What a great joy he is!
May the Lord bless and keep you all in His loving care. Thank you for your prayers and support. It means a great deal to us.
David
