Reflections & Chickens & Joy

This week I have been teaching the Investment Year students, those who have finished S4 and are preparing to go to college or university or out into the job market. We talked about worldview Monday and I challenged them on what motivated them...what they were living for. We have been telling them that no matter what, we look at life from a certain worldview or perspective. Whether it was given by our parents, our culture, or we receive it from the Bible and God's people, it is still a worldview. Their definition was essentially: how we view the world around us, react to it and live in it.

They are putting a world map puzzle together and they were told by

Jennie Dangers to put the edges together first so it gives them a framework with which to work. I was encouraging them to try to understand their edges in their lives. What is providing a framework in which they are building the rest of their lives?

We looked at a few different topics like "singleness, life, truth, death, wisdom." I asked them how people generally define or understand these topics. In the midst of their many, very thought provoking questions, we began to look at the biblical view of these topics.

Singleness challenged them about the purpose for their life, now. Was this life going to be about "me" or was it going to be for the glory of God by loving others? If they start NOW focusing their lives on being for God's glory, then if and when they get married, they will be off to the best start. On the other hand, right now they have the opportunity the Apostle Paul talked about to have a focus on the Lord's work that, according to Paul, will be divided when they get married.

When we got to what is "life" and "truth" according to the Bible their answer was "Jesus." Right answer according to Jesus' own words...I AM...

I think the most challenging topic was when we got to convictions. Were they going to follow through on their convictions? Did they have convictions? What was the destination of those convictions. We looked at Hitler, who followed through with his convictions, to the destruction of masses. We also looked at Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who followed through with his convictions, to the spiritual growth of many and in a physical way seemingly to his own destruction at the command of Hitler. Bonhoeffer was peaceful at his death to the amazement of at least one officer overseeing his execution. Hitler was tormented to his death by his own hand. What were their convictions? Would they be resolute in them or would they waver when tough times or opposition came?

Lots questions and challenges for young people wondering where they are headed.

Where are WE headed? Into our second year here at New Hope Uganda. We are meeting with many different people and it is a joy being able to be a part of what God is doing. Getting more involved with some of the children's lives along with learning how to help the staff work with the children in their care. One of the reasons I am working with the Investment Year students is to see what the children are dealing with as they grow here and then begin to move out. When we learn what they are struggling with and challenged by, then we can more effectively help them.

Adding chickens and a new chicken house for our compound. The rooster crowing at 3am, 4am, 5am, 6am. At least he's consistent. Much rain in the rainy season creating a new lake in Uganda (only temporarily).

The first picture is of Nuulu of whom I quoted the other day on Facebook. I asked for a definition for joy and she responded, "living free." The second is our "lake" and new chicken house. The one wall opens up and the other comes off completely. No eggs, yet.

Eyo Camp!

Emmanuel Youth Outreach, EYO. In honor of Emmanuel, who died in '07.

They had camp last week, Wednesday through Saturday. The Eyo team put it on, and boy was it fun! (Would the more appropriate way to say that; and girl was it fun!; ?) The camp was for kids 14 and above (I was an exception because my birthday is next month and because I'm in S-1 (eighth grade). Wednesday was registration, we had our names written down and we got our name tag. The name tag was the passport for food. If we didn't have a name tag, we wouldn't get fed.

The theme this year was "Chosen Generation". We are sent to change the world. There was four teams like regular old camp. Yellow, red, blue and green. I was in yellow, along with two of my family members, Enid and John. I'll tell you now who won the camp competitions, YELLOW! ROCK ON!................... Sorry. Anyway, continuing Wednesday's schedule. After registrations we had a 'Rules and Regulations' meeting. Then dinner at home, after that we gathered back at the church for a movie, Martin Luther. Then bed at home.

The next day was better, we gathered at the church in the morning to hear two people speak, Uncle Erik and Uncle Dave. Uncle Erik spoke on purity and choosing the right friends. Uncle Dave spoke on servanthood. In between the speakers, we had break...- pojo porridge. After a few activities within our groups, we had lunch. Beans and pojo. Then were games, a variation of capture the flag and two different races (yellow won most, sorry for those who are reading this and were on different teams). After, volleyball (yellow, again) then dinner at home. One more movie, Amazing Grace (William Wilberforce), then bed at home.

The next day was not really the same. We had almost a comedy day. One speaker today, Uncle Geoff Britton who spoke on diligent work. Then we watched a bunch of Ugandan comedy movies after break, some of which were funny. We had a concert-type-thing after lunch, and then Uncle Roger spoke to us about different diseases, more like answered a whole lot of questions. Then dinner at home. It was now time for weird night! You're supposed to dress up weird. I put on my p.j. pants (trousers) and two shirts, then a bandana and an upside-down-hat! Not as weird as some people, some of the boys dressed up like girls (and some actually looked like girls! Definitely weird). Bedtime!

Last day, three speakers, Uncle Jonnes, Uncle Kato and Auntie Mary Britton. Uncle Jones spoke on changing the world through our lives. Auntie Mary spoke on nutrition, and Uncle Kato gave a testimony of his live being changed by Christians in the church. Break was somewhere in there... After lunch we had debate. The question: 'Is Christianity Boring?' There were a lot of interesting facts on both the proposing side and the opposing side. Me? I know that Christianity is definitely NOT boring, but it was interesting to hear both sides. Yellow won again, by 15 points. Then we had a basketball competition up on Secondary. Yellow lost, and we had the most minor injury in the camp. One of our leaders dislocated an elbow that had already been dislocated times before. He was taken to the hospital, but was only there for 20 minutes, thank God it wasn't a major thing!

We had dinner that night at the church, rice and meat (with the sauce), chapatis (YUM!), and sodas. After dinner, we had a campfire and actually roasted marshmellons (haha, marshmellows). People discussed what could of been done better and what couldn't of been done any better, and that was the end. It rained 4 hours straight that night after the campfire finished, it was SLIPPERY! There were some pretty funny pictures that had been taken, I'll see if I can get some.

Thanks everyone for all the prayers! We had boys from Kampala and people from outside New Hope's boarders come, pray that some of their lives will be changed because of the Eyo Camp. And please pray that there will be another next year if the Eyo members can raise enough money!

Kara