First Time for Everything!

We thought this might be a good title for this post, because we have had a lost of "firsts" in the past week and a half, which is why we have not posted until now.
For the first time Erica and I are in Arua alone. Billy & Joanna, as many of you have heard, had to leave very unexpectedly. Billy’s dad had a heart attack and the prognosis was not looking good, so they did what any child would do and began the journey home. We prayed with Billy and Jo for traveling mercies and off they went. Jesus has really helped Erica and I handle being in Arua alone as the only World Gospel Mission missionaries. He continues to send us more and more grace and also so much encouragement through you prayers and e-mails. Please pray for the Coppedge family during this difficult time, as Billy’s dad begins this slow recovery process and also pray for wisdom for when they should return to Uganda. (The picture above was taken in August when Billy's parents were here visiting them here in Uganda.)

Erica also had her first battle with malaria. She also experienced her first time being healed from malaria, praise God!!! We are so thankful this was not a more serious case of malaria and so thankful for your prayers for Erica’s healing. And now that she's feeling better, she has time to feed the puppies! We've been feeding them with bottles! They are so cute! And I think this is yet another first for both of us!

I had my first opportunity to speak to the teachers of Alliance Secondary School, the high school behind our house, where I play volleyball with the students. The headmaster, James (pictured right), and I have become good friends, and he invited me to give a Biblical, inspirational lesson to the teachers there. It was an awesome privilege. One of the teachers even said that he hardly ever reads his Bible, because he never sees how it applies to his life. But he said after the talk I gave, he was much more interested in God's Word and what it has to say about his life and that he was going to start studying his Bible more! God is so good!

We have also just experienced our first Ugandan Independence Day, October 9th. We were told there would be a gigantic parade and the whole town of Arua would be there. So we decided to check out this Ugandan holiday that rivals Christmas. There were a ton of people at the parade, but there was not so much music really. In good Ugandan fashion there were a ton of speeches being made from the least to the greatest political office. It was very cool to see all the military, police and school children stand in battalion formation at the Arua Hill campgrounds as all these people gave speeches. There was some music and cultural dances presented by various groups in the town, but there was more talking than filibuster. Overall it was a good time and very educational.

We also had our first visit from the Burkhalters. Rick & Janie are based in Kansas City and are pastors to missionaries. Rick had been a pastor for nearly 20 years and Janie a teacher, when they felt God’s calling to become pastors to missionaries. Often times missionaries never are able to discuss difficulties they are having, culturally, with home sickness, marriage issues, conflict with others or spiritual struggles they might be having. Missionaries often can feel like they should never let anyone know they are struggling or having a bad day because then people might think they aren’t spiritual enough. I know you may find this hard to believe, but missionaries need someone to pastor them too!

Rick, Janie & Courtney (their daughter, 19), were also able to help us teach at this past Saturdays training in Nebbi, another first. It was a real blessing to have Rick and Janie teach and share about having a solid devotional life, family, & ministry based on such a wealth of experience. Our 5 Africa Gospel Church (AGC) pastors in training really appreciated all the Burkhalters had to share and the Lord really blessed this time of training together.

It was a blessing to get to know the Burkhalters, and we are looking forward to their return to Uganda in the spring. Their visit was a breath of fresh air and it was nice to have these caring, wonderful people invest so much time in us. We had a ton of fun together, and they prayed for us in such a powerful way, where we experienced God’s grace, refreshing us for ministry.

Our last first is we are heading to our first World Gospel Mission Uganda Field Retreat (Oct. 19-22) where Rick and Janie will be our speakers. We are looking forward to this time of seeing our fellow missionaries and good friends. We also are praying this might be a powerful time of prayer, worship, growth in the Lord and strengthening the Uganda field of missionaries. Please continue to pray for this time of spiritual renewal.