Month in Review...

Hey there everyone!!! You may be wondering why we haven't posted in a whole month ... well between being busy & our poor internet connection, it seems the odds have been stacked against us.

So... let me catch you up on what has been happening. First of all, so many of you have been praying for, giving towards and asking about our car situation. PRAISE THE LORD! Our car has been repaired & is almost paid for too!!!! Thank you so much to all of you who have prayed for this situation & given as well! While we were down in Kampala for a field meeting we were also able to test drive our car out to Mbale, Uganda (Eastern Uganda on the boarder of Kenya) for our annual field retreat (WGM Uganda team pictured left). This year we had Michael & Angela Kelley's parents come and be the retreat speakers & I (John) was also given the privilege of leading the music for the retreat.
While in Mbale, we were also able to visit our Compassion child (Emmanuel pictured left) who we have sponsored for more than 6 years now. It was an amazing trip and real blessing to meet him, his family and even his teacher. We praise God for his commitment to Christ & for the joyous time we had making this once in a life time dream come true!
We have also been having lots of visitors with more on the way, which we love!!! Our good friend Kristen Fogg (friend from NJ:), & Sarah Knowlton (college student from Richmond, VA) have been living in Arua this past month. They have been a blessing & have been able to assist with various children's ministries, Bible studies, pastor training & encouraging the Arua team too. Most recently I took Nick Strong (works with WGM in Kampala), Sarah & Kristen (all pictured left) to visit Gulu, Northern Uganda so that they could visit our friends at Invisible Children & see one of the schools that Sarah helped raise funds for. We were also able to look at Gulu and see the huge needs of this town and how someday WGM may possibly work there. From there we went on to Nebbi, where we met up with Billy & Joanna & her parents who came to visit. We were all able to participate in the training so that all of our visitors could see a pastor training in action. Nick & I then left the training because I had to take him to catch his plane back to Kampala.

Another part of our life here in Arua is making friends, not only with Africans, but also with others who are doing some type of aid or relief work. My friend Jonathan is a doctor from Australia, but born in Hong Kong and works with an agency who travels all over the Arua district teaching about AIDS prevention. He really became a good friend and frequently would come over our house for volleyball & soccer. Another part of our life in Arua is saying good bye to people, like Jonathan (pictured above)

Also this past week I had the privilege of preaching in the chapel service at Uganda Christian University. Like so many times when you prepare to teach others about something, Jesus seems to teach you more. And I learned a lot while I was preparing to preach this sermon ... my topic was praying in the Spirit on all occasions. It was a blessed time and the Lord really helped me as I did my best to faithfully preach His Word to my Ugandan brothers & sisters. (pictured left are our friends from UCU, Joanna's dad Blake Neff & Billy) Thank you all so much for your continued support and faithful prayers for the ministry here in Uganda.

Finally, some of you may know that Erica & I only have a few months left here in Arua! We will be arriving home this November! Please pray that we would finish strong and stay focused on what God has called us to do here, as we are also trying to network and seek God's direction for our future jobs. Please pray that God will reveal His will and His plan for us and for our transition to life back in the US. We appreciate your prayers!

Our Upcoming Schedule
August 1st-3rd ~ travel to Yei, Southern Sudan for Pastor Training
August 1st-8th ~ visit from John & Beth Muelhisein (acting field director)
August 11th ~ travel down to Kampala to pick up mission team
August 13th-27th ~ NJ missions team from Brick UMC with good friend JD
August 15th-17th ~ Pastor Training with the NJ team in Nebbi, UG
August 16th ~ Showing the Jesus film in Nebbi
August 27th ~ Travel back to Kampala to take NJ team to airport