Saturday, September 30, 2017

School Daze

JUNE - Shortly after graduation in June we traveled to western Uganda in order for Daryl to supervise a LivingStone International University student's intern-
ship, as part of his responsibilities as dean of the School of Christian Ministry.  All majors are required to do a two-month internship before graduating. It was in the city of Arua, which is a short distance from the border of Congo.

It was about a ten-hour trip, but we traveled with Henry Buregea and his wife, Yvette, so it gave us great opportunity to get to know them better. 

As a plus, the road to Arua skirted around Murchision National Game Park, so we got to see elephant grazing beside the road!



VISIT FROM QACC - We were very blessed in July to have visitors 
from the Quaker Avenue Church of Christ from Lubbock, Texas.  





They were able to be in East Africa for a couple of weeks and to participate in several different activities like conducting a VBS
(Vacation Bible School), painting the Sunday School area of Mbale Church of Christ, visiting people in prison, in village churches and an orphanage in Kenya. 


We are so grateful for them and for all that they were able to do while here!




FAMILY VISIT - Another highlight of our summer was a visit from our daughter, Lydia, son-in-law, Tony and grandkids, Gabriel and Alexs in July.


All three of our children were born and grew up in Kenya and Lydia wanted her husband and children to be able to see the land of her birth. We squeezed in a lot during their time here, took lots of pictures and made lots of memories we will always treasure!



CHANGE OF JOBS - In August we switched gears and got ready for the start of a new school year; Daryl for his classes at LIU and Laurie at Tyler International Homeschool Co-operative.   TIHC is the school for our team's children as well as other expatriate children in our community.



Prayer Requests:
1) Please pray for our parents, Bill & Evelyn Bates and Tommy & Carrie Wall. Evelyn Bates nd Tommy Wall are both now living in assisted care facilities due to recurring infections and illnesses. Both have been blessed to have their spouses by their sides, but we know this is not easy for them.

2) Please remember LivingStone International University as they continue to raise funds to complete the first phase of constructions on the permanent campus so that they can begin to operate there in January 2018.

3) Also, please remember David (and Robinah) Iyakia, who is taking on more responsibilities at Mbale Church of Christ as he continues to phase in as full time minister there.



Monday, June 26, 2017

41 Students Receive Degrees at Third LIU Graduation


On June 10th, LivingStone International University celebrated its latest class of graduates. Every time we watch these
young men and women complete this
journey, it feels as if we are watching
destiny unfold & history in the making.

We know for the ladies this is especially true.

One of the students Laurie mentored this year graduated with a diploma (Associate's Degree). When Laurie asked if she was the first in her family to go to university, she responded,
"I am the first one, ever!"



Since our graduating classes are still relatively small (41 students this year
and an estimated 100 students to grad-
uate next year), we can still allow the ceremony to be "interactive".

Family members and loved one erupted
in uninhibited joy as they rushed up to
their students to hug them and escort
them back to their seats after receiving their degrees (along with much clapping, cheering, dancing and excited ululating).

(The leis and huge hearts the students are wearing are favors given by parents.)

No doubt we'll miss this in the future as (Lord willing) our numbers grow and time won't allow for this.

A humbling aspect of this milestone is the potential for Kingdom impact in East Africa.

The vision of LIU is to transform Africa through Christ centered training that will produce ethical,employable Christian
leaders from every part of society.

Together with this class, there have been over ninety students sent out for this purpose.


Our prayer is not only that they and their families will be blessed, but that they will be the leavening influence in the places they now go which will cause the whole loaf to rise (Matthew 13:33) and thereby point the world to Jesus. This is the big picture, and we are so grateful to  get to  be a small part of it.

School of Christian Ministry Network

As followers of Jesus, we are all
called to participate in a life that
is much bigger than ourselves and beyond our personal abilities.

But the good news is that the Lord promises to supply and enable us with his own strength.

We have seen God at work doing that in the past months as three different ministry equipping schools (on their own initiative) have approached the School of Christian Ministry at LIU.

LIU was approached to enter into partnership with them to provide training beyond what they are able for their students; one is in Kenya, one is in South Sudan, and the other is here in Mbale.

This represents a wonderful opportunity for us. LivingStone International University is one of a small number of institutions in Uganda that offers BA level studies in Christian ministry.

This accreditation is important for ministers to establish credibility to governing authorities. We have now begun a process of dialogue with these schools about how to partner with them.

Prayer Requests:

1) LIU's graduating class as they now begin to look for employment.

2)The ongoing construction of the new campus and the transitioning from the five acres town location to the fifty acre country location at Komonkole eight miles out of Mbale. This development will last for years as we grow and new buildings are being built.



Funds are needed for the project to continue, as well as the blessing of safety and wisdom for all of those who are engaged in the construction work and planning.

3) Thanksgiving and prayers for our daughter, Lydia, son-in-law, Tony and our two grandchildren, Gabriel and Alexa, as they come in July to visit us in Mbale. This will be their first visit to Uganda. Lydia (and we) are excited to show them places in Kenya where she grew up and we ministered.


Friday, May 19, 2017

Contrasts in Worship

As I was sitting in church waiting for the interpreter to say his part of the service, I was struck by the differences in American and African services. 

The focus is still on Christ and the Gospel and fellowship, but all is not the same. I thought I'd take this newsletter to share a few of the contrasts.

Languages - Instead of a short service where an eye is kept on the time, our service is lengthened because of the multiple languages we use to worship (typically two hours). We also provide an inter-preter for preaching.

We sing in English, Lugisu (Uganda's national language) 
and Swahili (East Africa's trade language-spoken as a 1st lang-
uage by 11 million people and as a 2nd language by 120 million).

Because LivingStone is an international university both in its student body 
and its staff, we have at times also used French, Hindi and the languages of other countries around us.

Comfort - Because of varying degrees of weather in the US most churches are shut up tight to keep the controlled air inside the building. Then once inside, people sit on ergonomically designed pews, sometimes with padding, to make sure everyone is as comfortable as they can be.


Here in Mbale, doors and windows are flung open to create a cross-breeze and we run ceiling fans. This is especially welcome when the temperatures hit the high 80's and 90's on a regular basis, though unfortunately it also makes it easier to hear the noise of the traffic coming from the road.

Our seating is benches that have been locally made out of metal frames with planks of wood laid across the bottom for the seats and across the top for back support. Because of the metal, they are lightweight and can be easily moved which is good since it is used as a multipurpose building.


Communion - In the US we typically sit and wait while trays of crackers and juice are passed to us. In Mbale, we go to the table to partake of the fresh flatbread and the juice instead.


We have found that the physical act of getting up and walking to the table actually helps to focus our thoughts on what we are doing, which is remembering what Jesus has done for us. The table is the gathering point, just as it was when Jesus initiated the Lord's Supper.



Childcare - Churches go to great lengths in the US to ensure the safety of their children, as they should. Since Africa is more community oriented, tiny children wander inside and out with their mom or auntie or an older sibling keeping a watchful eye out for them. Or, some parents will sit on the steps of the porch that leads to a field where the children can safely walk around until they are old enough to join in Sunday School with the older kids.


Saturday, March 25, 2017

Two Places at the Same Time

Let me be honest, it has been difficult this time around, for me (Laurie) at
least, to disengage from the US and to re-engage with our life her in Uganda.

Apparently this affects enough people that the BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation, published an article about this called, 'The Problem with
Being a Long Term Expat.'

You can read the article here: www.bbc.com/capital/story/20161024-the-problem-with-being-a-long-term-expat

This article quote sums it up, "Such long absences can play havoc with a person's sense of identity, a feeling that is inten-
sified by the length of time away and 
how often they visit home."

While you are in one country, time moves on in the other. Each time you
return it is not the same country you left behind and if you really think
about it, neither are you. Life happens and changes you both.

Yet, your memories and expectancies of how things will be upon your
return are based on the last time you were there. Even though this is
the way it should be, it still makes it difficult at times to keep up with
changes and where you now fit into them.



Speaking of Change - When we left in December 2016 for our time in US, the foundations were poured and a few lines of brick were being laid on the first buildings for the new campus for LivingStone International University.




These are the buildings now. What a difference a few months can make!




Culture and Exhibitions - Since our return we have attended a Cultural Gala
that allowed the students from different countries and tribes to showcase
some of their home areas through traditional dress, dramas and food.


It was fun to see the more quiet students portraying things from their heritage.

Daryl's new role as Dean brings with it different duties. He recently went with a team of faculty, staff and students to represent LIU at the National Council of Higher Education Exhibition for Universities and Tertiary Institutions in Kampala. This event allow others to know about LivingStone International University and the diversity of its students and staff.



They received information requests from over 500 prospective students. Though LIU is in its infancy, it has set higher standards than many other universities by having students use Kindles and having a computer lab; which many of the universities in Uganda do not have.