A New Year…
I don’t know about you but I love new beginnings – and for me it doesn’t get any bigger or better than a new year! The calendar starts over with day 1, a fresh new set of 365 is rolled out, you get a brand new number for the year (one that has never been used before), and… you are off to see what God has in store for you on this fresh new leg of the journey!
…and a return trip!
Thursday, January 14th, at 11:30 in the morning, Lord willing (with all the world uncertainty and the security issues in air travel these days, that’s a very real statement), I will be on my way back to Uganda to begin discovering what this new year will bring for OBM and the children with whom we are blessed to work.
Brief Summary of this trip …
As most of you know, by the grace, goodness and provision of God, we were given 30 acres to develop in the rural village of Zziba, Uganda. On that property we plan to expand our ability to care for an increased number of orphans. We plan also to build a medical clinic that would have a full time nurse and a visiting doctor and also dispense medication to AIDS victims. In the future the property will include a primary school and a very extensive agricultural program for greater self-sustainability.
EMI Visits:
My visit this time will be very crucial to all of that development. We are planning to have an EMI team (Engineering Ministries International, EMIworld.org) on site later this year to begin the master planning process. On this trip I must see that all the preparations, legal, logistical, and otherwise, are complete so that we are ready to host the team.
Our Kids:
We care for approximately 50 orphans currently. Each trip I meet with each one individually to see how he/she is doing physically, spiritually and educationally. This is a fun time but also a critical time of evaluation, encouragement and adjustment. These are very precious children full of potential and possibilities, and God has lovingly placed them in our care.
My Friend Patrick:
My friendship with my Ugandan friend, Patrick (who currently lives in the US), going all the way back to the early 90’s when he was my student at the University where I was teaching, was the seed bed for all that is happening through OBM in Zziba today. He will be in the country while I am there and it is always a very important time of ministry connecting with folks from the village with whom Patrick grew up. That will surely be a highlight of this trip.
Monique:
My friend and co-worker, Monique, who successfully came through hip replacement surgery last fall, is now back in Africa. We will be able to reconnect after a fairly long time and re-evaluate and retool our ministry strategies for Widow’s Might in Uganda and Rwanda.
My New Friends:
During my last visit I met some amazing folks who are working tirelessly in Uganda. What they are doing among the children and young people there is amazing and terribly inspirational. I will be able to connect with them to encourage them and advise them in any way I can be of help.
So… the countdown is getting serious.
By the time you get this it will only be a few days. Pray for every aspect of the trip. Safety, (I fly back on the same Delta flight from Amsterdam that was targeted Christmas day) productivity, good health, great connections, and for the unexpected!
Thanks for partnering with us on this journey… it has been quite the ride, and the best is yet to come! I’ll send my famous “front line” reports while I am there.
I trust you and your families are well.
- Pastor Gary