This past Wednesday, all of the eMi offices worldwide stopped what they were doing and spent the day in prayer. Each of the six offices (Colorado Springs, Canada, UK, Costa Rica, India, and Uganda) used the day to pray for a number of different things currently on eMi’s radar. I thought I would share some of the prayer requests from the day so that you may join us in prayer. Among other things, we prayed for the East Africa office, the projects we are working on, the ministries we are serving, and the countries in which we are working. In addition, we prayed for each of the other eMi offices and some of the issues and projects they are dealing with. Here are some more specifics. Please pray for:
Safe Harbor International. This is the ministry we are serving this semester. They have a church, hospital, primary school and we are designing an agricultural center for them. They are doing ministry in a primary Muslim area of Uganda and some church members have recently been experiencing persecution for their faith.
Jim Hall, the CEO of eMi. Jim has just been diagnosed with cancer and is beginning his treatment. He has had surgery to remove several lymph nodes. The doctors are still uncertain how far it has spread.
Ryan Hoffman, the two-year-old son of a staff member in Colorado Springs. While on vacation in Florida, he fell into a pool and was unconscious for several minutes. He survived but the recovery is going slow and the doctors are uncertain the extent of brain damage suffered. Please pray for his recovery and for comfort for his family.
Uganda. The presidential election is coming up in January and campaigning has started in earnest over the past week or so. I’ve been told that there sometimes can be more violence and riots can start in the city. Please pray for peace among the people and for effective leaders for the country.
Sudan. There is an upcoming referendum in January that will determine if the southern half Sudan will split from the north and form a new country. Everyone seems to think that a civil war is inevitable. Additionally, the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) which was formerly in Uganda is currently in northern Sudan and causing troubles for the people there.
finishing the semester well. There only a few weeks left in the fall term and it can be easy to get complacent and not invest in the people here. Pray for motivation to get work done, volunteering more in local ministry, and continuing to build relationships with Ugandans.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Knowing God
Each semester the EMI interns are part of a bible study led by staff. The intern coordinators are Phil and Emily and so every Thursday night they have over for dinner and we have a nice evening of fellowship, worship, prayer, and study. Together we are studying the book of 1 John. So far I have really enjoyed our conversations. One thing that has really stuck out to me so far is the idea of what it means to know God. John puts it this way:
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected By this we know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. -1 John 2:3-6
Sounds simple right? John says that if we have to do is keep his commandments and then we will know him. It seems like it should be much more complicated. It seems like it should be more involved than just following a few commandments. And just what are the commandments he is talking about? I am reminded of Jesus’ response to the Pharisees questions about the greatest commandment.
And he said to them, “You shall love the Lord you God with all your hear and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. -Matthew 22:37-39
So to know God is to keep his commandments and to keep his commandments is to love God and his people. But what does it mean to love God? And will loving him more really help me know him more? Don’t I have to know him first before I can love him? It all seems circular.
All of these questions circling in my mind lead me to pick up a book that I started reading a while ago but never finished. The book is Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I am not very far, but in it he outlines what knowing God actually involves. First of all, knowing God is more than knowing about him. One can know all the bible stories and learn difficult theological concepts, but God is much more complex than a few stories or ideas. God is a real and active God with personality traits and moral character. We can learn more by spending quality time with him. Like every relationship, we need communication. He has given us such wonderful tools to do this. We have open communication with the creator of the universe all the time. He speaks to us through his word and we can respond in prayer. All we have to do is be willing. God is already willing and waiting for that relationship with you.
On starting a relationship with God, Packer uses this illustration:
Imagine, now, that we are going to be introduced to someone whom we feel to be “above” us – whether in rank, or intellectual distinction, or personal sanctity, or in some other respect. The more conscious we are of our own inferiority, the more we shall feel that our part is simply to attend to this person respectfully and let him take the initiative in the conversation. (Think about meeting the queen of England or the president of the United States.) We would like to get to know this exalted person, but we fully realize that this is a matter for him to decide, not us. If he confines himself to courteous formalities with us, we may be disappointed, but we do not feel able to complain; after all, we had no claim on his friendship.
But if instead he starts at one to take us into his confidence, and tells us frankly what is in his mind on matters of common concern, and if he goes on to invite him in particular undertakings he has planned, and asks us to make ourselves permanently available for this kind of collaboration whenever he needs us, then we shall feel enormously privileged, and it will make a world of difference to our general outlook. If life seemed unimportant and dreary hitherto, it will not seem so anymore, now that the great man has enrolled us among his personal assistants.
Isn’t this exactly what God has done for us? And he is even greater that the queen or the president. Even though we don’t deserve his love because our sin had separated us from himself, he made a way that we might come back to him and enter into this special relationship. What's even better than the above illustration is that the God of the universe already knows you. He wants you to know him. That is truly an amazing thought.
All of my questions about what it means to know God may not have been answered, but I rest comfortably in the fact that he knows me and paid the greatest sacrifice so that I can know him. My only response can be to continue to search the scriptures to learn his character and follow in his ways. I know this was a long post, but for those of you still reading I hope this has been a blessing.
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected By this we know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. -1 John 2:3-6
Sounds simple right? John says that if we have to do is keep his commandments and then we will know him. It seems like it should be much more complicated. It seems like it should be more involved than just following a few commandments. And just what are the commandments he is talking about? I am reminded of Jesus’ response to the Pharisees questions about the greatest commandment.
And he said to them, “You shall love the Lord you God with all your hear and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. -Matthew 22:37-39
So to know God is to keep his commandments and to keep his commandments is to love God and his people. But what does it mean to love God? And will loving him more really help me know him more? Don’t I have to know him first before I can love him? It all seems circular.
All of these questions circling in my mind lead me to pick up a book that I started reading a while ago but never finished. The book is Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I am not very far, but in it he outlines what knowing God actually involves. First of all, knowing God is more than knowing about him. One can know all the bible stories and learn difficult theological concepts, but God is much more complex than a few stories or ideas. God is a real and active God with personality traits and moral character. We can learn more by spending quality time with him. Like every relationship, we need communication. He has given us such wonderful tools to do this. We have open communication with the creator of the universe all the time. He speaks to us through his word and we can respond in prayer. All we have to do is be willing. God is already willing and waiting for that relationship with you.
On starting a relationship with God, Packer uses this illustration:
Imagine, now, that we are going to be introduced to someone whom we feel to be “above” us – whether in rank, or intellectual distinction, or personal sanctity, or in some other respect. The more conscious we are of our own inferiority, the more we shall feel that our part is simply to attend to this person respectfully and let him take the initiative in the conversation. (Think about meeting the queen of England or the president of the United States.) We would like to get to know this exalted person, but we fully realize that this is a matter for him to decide, not us. If he confines himself to courteous formalities with us, we may be disappointed, but we do not feel able to complain; after all, we had no claim on his friendship.
But if instead he starts at one to take us into his confidence, and tells us frankly what is in his mind on matters of common concern, and if he goes on to invite him in particular undertakings he has planned, and asks us to make ourselves permanently available for this kind of collaboration whenever he needs us, then we shall feel enormously privileged, and it will make a world of difference to our general outlook. If life seemed unimportant and dreary hitherto, it will not seem so anymore, now that the great man has enrolled us among his personal assistants.
Isn’t this exactly what God has done for us? And he is even greater that the queen or the president. Even though we don’t deserve his love because our sin had separated us from himself, he made a way that we might come back to him and enter into this special relationship. What's even better than the above illustration is that the God of the universe already knows you. He wants you to know him. That is truly an amazing thought.
All of my questions about what it means to know God may not have been answered, but I rest comfortably in the fact that he knows me and paid the greatest sacrifice so that I can know him. My only response can be to continue to search the scriptures to learn his character and follow in his ways. I know this was a long post, but for those of you still reading I hope this has been a blessing.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Halfway Point
I have just reached the half way point for the semester so I figured I should give you an update about all that has been happening here in the office. After all, the engineering work is the main reason why I am over here.
In the several weeks since getting back from the project trip in Midigo, we have been working at creating a set of drawings to use in our report that we will give to Safe Harbor at the end of the term. Since I was in charge of the survey on the trip, I have been creating drawings of the existing topography of the site so that the architects can plan where exactly the buildings will be placed. This was finished up last week. Now, the architects are finalizing all of the floor plans so that Phil (the structural engineer on staff) and I can begin designing the beams and columns for the new buildings.
In addition to the Safe Harbor project, I will also be working with Phil to do the structural design of a hospital in Gabon. He recently went with a team from eMi to visit the site and so I will help him with the design wherever I can. I will post more information on the ministry that eMi is serving in Gabon when I get more details.
Ok… enough of the boring engineering details. (It’s not boring to me, but it may be to you.) I mentioned at the start of the post that I just reached the halfway point of my time in Uganda. I lied. Its actually the quarter way point. I recently decided to re-intern here in Uganda so I will be staying in Kampala a little longer than originally planned. I will still come home in December and spend the holidays with my family, but then I will come back in January and stay until June. I still don’t know too many details, but I will post them as I figure them out.
In the several weeks since getting back from the project trip in Midigo, we have been working at creating a set of drawings to use in our report that we will give to Safe Harbor at the end of the term. Since I was in charge of the survey on the trip, I have been creating drawings of the existing topography of the site so that the architects can plan where exactly the buildings will be placed. This was finished up last week. Now, the architects are finalizing all of the floor plans so that Phil (the structural engineer on staff) and I can begin designing the beams and columns for the new buildings.
In addition to the Safe Harbor project, I will also be working with Phil to do the structural design of a hospital in Gabon. He recently went with a team from eMi to visit the site and so I will help him with the design wherever I can. I will post more information on the ministry that eMi is serving in Gabon when I get more details.
Ok… enough of the boring engineering details. (It’s not boring to me, but it may be to you.) I mentioned at the start of the post that I just reached the halfway point of my time in Uganda. I lied. Its actually the quarter way point. I recently decided to re-intern here in Uganda so I will be staying in Kampala a little longer than originally planned. I will still come home in December and spend the holidays with my family, but then I will come back in January and stay until June. I still don’t know too many details, but I will post them as I figure them out.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
An Adventurous Weekend
So I’ve really wanted to get a haircut for a while now but I haven’t because I didn’t know where to get one. It’s hot here so I just planned on buzzing my head if I got the chance. Jonathan brought clippers with him but I haven’t used them because the voltage is different. Jonathan used them once already with a voltage converter and they worked just fine, so on Saturday, I finally decided to give it a whirl. Unfortunately, I forgot to use the voltage converter. As a result, midway through the haircut, the clippers started smoking (I owe Jonathan a new set of clippers…)
This is where the adventure begins… I needed to find a place to get my hair cut because I couldn’t walk around with just half of my head buzzed. I looked ridiculous and I had no idea where to go. So I threw on a hat and just started walking. I remember someone mentioning the location of a hair salon nearby, so I went in that direction but I didn’t see it when I got to the area so I just kept walking. I had to ask several people on the street and not many people understood what I was asking. A few did, but the common way to give directions here is to say “it is just there” and then wave your hand in the general direction of the place… not very helpful.
Eventually, I found a place, but I don’t think the man had ever given a muzungu (white person) a haircut before so I had to help him along. He even let me cut in line because I was a muzungu. He shooed away two teenagers waiting so that I could go next. I know that the people there were talking about me because every thirty seconds or so I heard muzungu this or muzungu that, but they were speaking in Luganda so I didn’t know what they were saying. My favorite part of the whole experience was the sign on the door, which read “The Unisex Jesus is My Refuge Hair Salon”. I only wish I had a picture. Maybe I will go back for a quick shot another day.
Then, on Sunday, I was going to church in the city so I got on a mutatu (translated as taxi but it’s more like a city bus). I was by myself and we had barely moved when we ran into a barricade that three or four other mutatus had created. Several Ugandan men were there waiting and started yelling at the driver of my mutatu in Luganda. I had no idea what was going on. Then they started yelling at us to get off and get into the other mutatu (I only knew because of gestures they were making and what the others were doing). I was freaked out at this point, but I just did as they said.
Once in the other mutatu, I asked another Ugandan passenger what had happened. Apparently, the mutatu I was on had cut their route short and came in another route, cutting off several other mutatus. The other drivers were angry because they had stolen their customers. Once I got on, my heartbeat returned to normal and it was smooth sailing into the city.
What a weekend!
This is where the adventure begins… I needed to find a place to get my hair cut because I couldn’t walk around with just half of my head buzzed. I looked ridiculous and I had no idea where to go. So I threw on a hat and just started walking. I remember someone mentioning the location of a hair salon nearby, so I went in that direction but I didn’t see it when I got to the area so I just kept walking. I had to ask several people on the street and not many people understood what I was asking. A few did, but the common way to give directions here is to say “it is just there” and then wave your hand in the general direction of the place… not very helpful.
Eventually, I found a place, but I don’t think the man had ever given a muzungu (white person) a haircut before so I had to help him along. He even let me cut in line because I was a muzungu. He shooed away two teenagers waiting so that I could go next. I know that the people there were talking about me because every thirty seconds or so I heard muzungu this or muzungu that, but they were speaking in Luganda so I didn’t know what they were saying. My favorite part of the whole experience was the sign on the door, which read “The Unisex Jesus is My Refuge Hair Salon”. I only wish I had a picture. Maybe I will go back for a quick shot another day.
Then, on Sunday, I was going to church in the city so I got on a mutatu (translated as taxi but it’s more like a city bus). I was by myself and we had barely moved when we ran into a barricade that three or four other mutatus had created. Several Ugandan men were there waiting and started yelling at the driver of my mutatu in Luganda. I had no idea what was going on. Then they started yelling at us to get off and get into the other mutatu (I only knew because of gestures they were making and what the others were doing). I was freaked out at this point, but I just did as they said.
Once in the other mutatu, I asked another Ugandan passenger what had happened. Apparently, the mutatu I was on had cut their route short and came in another route, cutting off several other mutatus. The other drivers were angry because they had stolen their customers. Once I got on, my heartbeat returned to normal and it was smooth sailing into the city.
What a weekend!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Project Trip: Murchison Falls
Ok, so this is my last post about the project trip. I promise. It’s just that nothing very interesting has happened back in Kampala so but there is so much to share about the trip.
On our way back to Kampala, the eMi team stopped off at Murchison Falls, a game preserve in central Uganda. We just stayed one night instead of the typical three day safari. While we were there, we got to go on an evening game drive, a morning boat ride up the Nile, and then we climbed a gorgeous waterfall. That’s all I have to say about it because words will not give justice to its beauty. Here are some photos…
A view of the African plain.
From inside our safari van.
It was really cool to sit outside on top of the van. The views of the animals were so amazing from up there.
Looking down on the rest of the team inside the van.
I forget the name of this thing. They weren’t called antelope. We just called them African deer.
Apart from the "African deer", giraffes were probably the most common animal we saw.
There were so many hippos along the Nile during our boat ride.
“BEWARE OF THE CROCODILES!” This was an encouraging sign that met as we started our hike up the waterfall.
Me on the trail leading up to the falls.
A close up of the falls.
Looking at the Nile going the other direction.
The river actually split into two falls before joining back together. The views were amazing from the top!
Look at those three studly men climbing waterfalls in Africa.
On our way back to Kampala, the eMi team stopped off at Murchison Falls, a game preserve in central Uganda. We just stayed one night instead of the typical three day safari. While we were there, we got to go on an evening game drive, a morning boat ride up the Nile, and then we climbed a gorgeous waterfall. That’s all I have to say about it because words will not give justice to its beauty. Here are some photos…
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Project Trip: Extras
My favorite story of the trip was one afternoon when I was surveying. Since the brush was so thick in many parts of site, they provided a team of machete-wielding “slashers” to create trails for us to walk. That was awesome in and of itself, but the best part of the day came when we were taking a break and they wanted to have a smoke. This is what ensued… I will let the video tell the tale...
Less than 5 minutes later, they gathered the ashes and put them in some dry grass and...
Afterward, Shawn and I tried to make fire the same way. We failed miserably and they just laughed and laughed at us. None of them spoke English which made communication tough, but it made our interactions all the more hilarious.
I will just leave you with a few more photos of the trip.
The region of Uganda that we visited was called West Nile. Although, they said that the West Nile virus did not originate in West Nile. Go figure.
Meat on a stick anyone? This is a common site while travelling. If you want to buy something, just pull of to the side of the road and people with most definitely swarm you as they try to get you to buy something.
A picture of me with two of the “slashers”. They were both totally ripped. You wouldn’t want to get in a fight with one of these guys, especially if they are carrying around machetes.
Shawn is surveying a typical hut on one of the properties. Notice the clothes drying on the roof. There are no such things as washing machines or dryers here.
They did not have drinkable water where we stayed so we brought along our own water filter. It took about 5 minutes to fill water bottle.
A shot of the group on the way back to the vans after getting caught in a rain storm.
To make matters worse, the rain made all the roads so muddy that the vans kept on getting stuck. Several people had to jump out at least half a dozen times to push them out of the mud.
Ok, so I said that I wouldn’t share these photos, but these are just too epic to deny you all the opportunity to see them. This is Aaron, a Safe Harbor business analyst from Chicago, killing the turkey.
This is Tim, the architect turned chicken butcher. Jones, the chef, is standing next to him helping out. How awesome is it, by the way, that the chef’s name was Jones?
Anyone need their car washed? We saw this in one of the nearby streams on the way out of town.
Afterward, Shawn and I tried to make fire the same way. We failed miserably and they just laughed and laughed at us. None of them spoke English which made communication tough, but it made our interactions all the more hilarious.
I will just leave you with a few more photos of the trip.
The region of Uganda that we visited was called West Nile. Although, they said that the West Nile virus did not originate in West Nile. Go figure.
Meat on a stick anyone? This is a common site while travelling. If you want to buy something, just pull of to the side of the road and people with most definitely swarm you as they try to get you to buy something.
A picture of me with two of the “slashers”. They were both totally ripped. You wouldn’t want to get in a fight with one of these guys, especially if they are carrying around machetes.
Shawn is surveying a typical hut on one of the properties. Notice the clothes drying on the roof. There are no such things as washing machines or dryers here.
They did not have drinkable water where we stayed so we brought along our own water filter. It took about 5 minutes to fill water bottle.
A shot of the group on the way back to the vans after getting caught in a rain storm.
To make matters worse, the rain made all the roads so muddy that the vans kept on getting stuck. Several people had to jump out at least half a dozen times to push them out of the mud.
Ok, so I said that I wouldn’t share these photos, but these are just too epic to deny you all the opportunity to see them. This is Aaron, a Safe Harbor business analyst from Chicago, killing the turkey.
This is Tim, the architect turned chicken butcher. Jones, the chef, is standing next to him helping out. How awesome is it, by the way, that the chef’s name was Jones?
Anyone need their car washed? We saw this in one of the nearby streams on the way out of town.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Project Trip: The People and the Church
I wanted to share a little bit about the people we encountered while we were in Midigo. They were some of the most hospitable, friendly people I have ever met. The compound that we stayed in was the where Dr. Juventine and his wife live with their two children. There are several other staff members that live there as well. As a result, every meal had about 25 to 30 people… and each meal was a feast! Through the course of the week, we had fresh pork, chicken, turkey, and goat. And by fresh I mean that we had a live pig in the compound in the morning and had pork for dinner. The next day we had a live goat on the compound and had goat meat for dinner. Two of our team members even got to kill the turkey and chicken one day (I will spare you the gory photos). Needless to say, it was quite the experience.
This was all very special too. We asked them how often they had meat, and they said rarely. So it was very generous of them to be feeding us the way that they did. In addition, they served us hot tea and coffee every afternoon and wonderful desserts.
[Side note: people here like to drink hot tea at all times of the day. They say that it cools them down. I don’t get it. I just sweat when I drink it, which I guess should cool you down. But I would prefer not to sweat even more than I do in the heat of the day.]
Anyway, I had such a wonderful time meeting the people there and learning more about the current ministry. It was very evident that they love Jesus and are dedicating their lives to his service. Many have made such great sacrifices to be there. Dr. Juventine and his wife (also a doctor) were very successful doctors in Kampala and had an offer for a prestigious fellowship in South Africa. They turned down the fellowship and left their big house in Kampala to be missionaries in Midigo where they live a much simpler life. What a testimony of people who have their hope in heaven and not on the things of this earth!
Dr. Juventine sitting by a tree on the compound.
Jemimah loved to come and sit on my lap while I was on my computer.
A shot with Jemimah and Jonathan, Juventine and Elizabeth’s children.
The two mozeis (literally translated as "old man") that showed us around the property. The man on the left in said to be 98 years old. He has lived in Midigo his entire life and knew where all of the property boundaries were. Sometimes they would seemingly turn randomly in the middle of a corn fields. They didn’t like their photos taken and they didn’t like to smiles. They said smiling is for fools.
The sanctuary of Calvary Chapel Midigo.
The childrens ward of the hospital.
Some of the local children after church one evening. They were supposed to be standing by me, but rushed toward the camera as soon as it was pulled out. My favorite is the one saluting in the back. Afterward, they all just had to see the photo on the camera display. There aren’t very many digital cameras in the area.
We blew up balloons and blew bubbles with the kids after church on Sunday.
This was all very special too. We asked them how often they had meat, and they said rarely. So it was very generous of them to be feeding us the way that they did. In addition, they served us hot tea and coffee every afternoon and wonderful desserts.
[Side note: people here like to drink hot tea at all times of the day. They say that it cools them down. I don’t get it. I just sweat when I drink it, which I guess should cool you down. But I would prefer not to sweat even more than I do in the heat of the day.]
Anyway, I had such a wonderful time meeting the people there and learning more about the current ministry. It was very evident that they love Jesus and are dedicating their lives to his service. Many have made such great sacrifices to be there. Dr. Juventine and his wife (also a doctor) were very successful doctors in Kampala and had an offer for a prestigious fellowship in South Africa. They turned down the fellowship and left their big house in Kampala to be missionaries in Midigo where they live a much simpler life. What a testimony of people who have their hope in heaven and not on the things of this earth!
Dr. Juventine sitting by a tree on the compound.
Jemimah loved to come and sit on my lap while I was on my computer.
A shot with Jemimah and Jonathan, Juventine and Elizabeth’s children.
The two mozeis (literally translated as "old man") that showed us around the property. The man on the left in said to be 98 years old. He has lived in Midigo his entire life and knew where all of the property boundaries were. Sometimes they would seemingly turn randomly in the middle of a corn fields. They didn’t like their photos taken and they didn’t like to smiles. They said smiling is for fools.
The sanctuary of Calvary Chapel Midigo.
The childrens ward of the hospital.
Some of the local children after church one evening. They were supposed to be standing by me, but rushed toward the camera as soon as it was pulled out. My favorite is the one saluting in the back. Afterward, they all just had to see the photo on the camera display. There aren’t very many digital cameras in the area.
We blew up balloons and blew bubbles with the kids after church on Sunday.
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