tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83145968875630855262024-03-13T12:36:18.169-07:00Tributes, Travels and Testimonies"Place these words on your hearts . . . Talk about them wherever you are, sitting
at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night." Deuteronomy 11 : 18 - 19
Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-72035527840787094372018-04-11T08:33:00.000-07:002018-04-11T08:33:28.741-07:00A Stirred Heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This has been an unusual season in our lives. It probably began back in July of 2017 when we got the news that Daryl's mom wasn't doing very well and was going to need to stay in a rehabilitation facility. <br />
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Even though we knew in our heads that something like this would probably happen while we were in Uganda since all our parents were in their mid-<br />
eighties, it still caused our hearts to be stirred.<br />
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In March of that same year, Laurie's father had also been admitted to a rehabilitation facility. This triggered a season of reflection and prayer on whether we should reconsider our initial commitment of eight years in<br />
Uganda. It was not going to be an easy decision to make.<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Passages</span></u></i> </b>- We were leaning towards returning sooner rather than later when<br />
in October, Mrs Bates again took a turn. At that point we felt resolved to return<br />
to the US at the end of LivingStone International University's spring semester<br />
in June 2018. <br />
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We began telling our supporters of this decision and then told our teammates and others here in Uganda we work with. As many of you are aware, Daryl's mother passed<br />
away in early January at the age of 88. <br />
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We traveled to Virginia to be with family. While on this<br />
trip, we felt a peace that the decision to return to the US<br />
was the proper one and the one God was leading us to.<br />
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Ten days after returning to Uganda from Daryl's mother's funeral, we got the message that Mr. Wall, Laurie's father was also passing at the age of 90. <br />
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So in February we again returned to US to say goodbye to a beloved parent. Though we will deeply miss both of them, it is an unspeakable blessing to know that they are at rest with the Lord.<br />
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<b><u><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Other Big News</span></i></u></b> - In March, not long after returning<br />
to Mbale, our youngest son, Lee, let us know that he had popped the question and was making plans to get married<br />
in June.<br />
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The ceremony will take place about a week after we return<br />
to the US. So this has been an unusual and eventful season in our lives and will continue to be so as we close out our time here in Uganda.<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">And the Changes Keep Coming</span></u></i></b> - We<br />
are currently in the process of packing up our household goods for shipment back to the US. <br />
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In between packing and sorting we are shifting our responsibilities to Ugandans and American missionaries as we are able to. It is all keeping us very busy!<br />
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Our plan is to arrive in the US in early June. After our son's marriage ceremony we want to visit family, friends and support-<br />
ers before we find new jobs and a place to live.<br />
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For the first few months we plan on living with family in Virginia until we are<br />
able to get our feet under us and see where the Lord is leading us.<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Baptisms at Mbale Church of Christ</span></u></i></b><br />
On April 5th there were three people who committed their lives to the Lord. Joyce<br />
and Elizabeth are LivingStone Inter-<br />
national University students. <br />
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Ismail is a former Muslim from the community who was drawn to Christ through the love that he experienced through Christian relatives. <br />
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We rejoice for their decisions to follow Jesus!<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-46012070750239968792017-09-30T06:56:00.000-07:002017-09-30T06:56:03.257-07:00School Daze<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>JUNE</b> - Shortly after graduation in June we traveled to western Uganda in order for Daryl to supervise a LivingStone International University student's intern-<br />
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.<br />
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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. <br />
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As a plus, the road to Arua skirted around Murchision National Game Park, so we got to see elephant grazing beside the road!<br />
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<b>VISIT FROM QACC </b>- We were very blessed in July to have visitors </div>
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from the Quaker Avenue Church of Christ from Lubbock, Texas. </div>
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They were able to be in East Africa for a couple of weeks and to participate in several different activities like conducting a VBS<br />
(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. <br />
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We are so grateful for them and for all that they were able to do while here!<br />
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<b>FAMILY VISIT </b>- Another highlight of our summer was a visit from our daughter, Lydia, son-in-law, Tony and grandkids, Gabriel and Alexs in July.<br />
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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!<br />
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<b>CHANGE OF JOBS </b>- 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.<br />
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<b>Prayer Requests:</b><br />
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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-22769965064383374172017-06-26T09:05:00.000-07:002017-06-26T09:05:33.703-07:0041 Students Receive Degrees at Third LIU Graduation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On June 10th, LivingStone International University celebrated its latest class of graduates. Every time we watch these<br />
young men and women complete this<br />
journey, it feels as if we are watching<br />
destiny unfold & history in the making.<br />
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We know for the ladies this is especially true.<br />
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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,<br />
"I am the first one, ever!"<br />
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Since our graduating classes are still relatively small (41 students this year<br />
and an estimated 100 students to grad-<br />
uate next year), we can still allow the ceremony to be "interactive".<br />
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Family members and loved one erupted<br />
in uninhibited joy as they rushed up to<br />
their students to hug them and escort<br />
them back to their seats after receiving their degrees (along with much clapping, cheering, dancing and excited ululating).<br />
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(The leis and huge hearts the students are wearing are favors given by parents.)<br />
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No doubt we'll miss this in the future as (Lord willing) our numbers grow and time won't allow for this.<br />
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A humbling aspect of this milestone is the potential for Kingdom impact in East Africa.<br />
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The vision of LIU is to transform Africa through Christ centered training that will produce ethical,employable Christian<br />
leaders from every part of society.<br />
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Together with this class, there have been over ninety students sent out for this purpose.<br />
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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.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">School of Christian Ministry Network</span></i></b></div>
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As followers of Jesus, we are all<br />
called to participate in a life that<br />
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is much bigger than ourselves and beyond our personal abilities.<br />
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But the good news is that the Lord promises to supply and enable us with his own strength.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Prayer Requests:</span></b><br />
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1) LIU's graduating class as they now begin to look for employment.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-65444413236389001882017-05-19T11:53:00.000-07:002017-05-19T11:53:22.634-07:00Contrasts in Worship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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. <div>
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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.<div>
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<b><u>Languages </u></b>- 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.</div>
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We sing in English, Lugisu (Uganda's national language) </div>
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and Swahili (East Africa's trade language-spoken as a 1st lang-</div>
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uage by 11 million people and as a 2nd language by 120 million).</div>
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Because LivingStone is an international university both in its student body </div>
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and its staff, we have at times also used French, Hindi and the languages of other countries around us.</div>
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<b><u>Comfort</u></b> - 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.</div>
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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.</div>
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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.</div>
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<b><u>Communion</u></b> - 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.</div>
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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.</div>
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<b><u>Childcare</u></b> - 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.</div>
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-56605649473009138062017-03-25T05:05:00.000-07:002017-03-25T05:05:10.292-07:00Two Places at the Same Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Let me be honest, it has been difficult this time around, for me (Laurie) at<br />
least, to disengage from the US and to re-engage with our life her in Uganda.<br />
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Apparently this affects enough people that the BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation, published an article about this called, 'The Problem with<br />
Being a Long Term Expat.' <br />
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You can read the article here: www.bbc.com/capital/story/20161024-the-problem-with-being-a-long-term-expat<br />
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This article quote sums it up, "<i>Such long absences can play havoc with a person's sense of identity, a feeling that is inten-</i><br />
<i>sified by the length of time away and </i><br />
<i>how often they visit home</i>."<br />
<br />
While you are in one country, time moves on in the other. Each time you<br />
return it is not the same country you left behind and if you really think<br />
about it, neither are you. Life happens and changes you both.<br />
<br />
Yet, your memories and expectancies of how things will be upon your<br />
return are based on the last time you were there. Even though this is<br />
the way it should be, it still makes it difficult at times to keep up with<br />
changes and where you now fit into them.<br />
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<b><i>Speaking of Change</i></b> - 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.<br />
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These are the buildings now. What a difference a few months can make!</div>
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<b><i>Culture and Exhibitions</i></b> - Since our return we have attended a Cultural Gala<br />
that allowed the students from different countries and tribes to showcase<br />
some of their home areas through traditional dress, dramas and food.<br />
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It was fun to see the more quiet students portraying things from their heritage.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-73975907523433741762016-11-11T11:44:00.000-08:002016-11-11T11:44:24.748-08:00Boat Trips, Baptisms and Breaking Ground<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u>Boat Trips </u></b>- Daryl recently traveled with teammates on a three day trip </div>
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to visit four churches that meet on Bugaya Island in Lake Victoria. After </div>
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driving for three hours, it was then a two hour (open) boat ride each way. </div>
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The island was not the lush, tropical one like you might imagine, but very<br />
rocky making the existence difficult both spiritually and physically. So just<br />
in case food would be hard to come by the team brought their own with<br />
them. (Sorry, chicken.)<br />
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Because these churches are so remote, it had been years since they had been visited by missionaries. Each one had about 20 to 30 members and met in simple buildings. It was encouraging to see them carrying on in their faith.<br />
The mission team committed to helping them with training leaders and with more frequent visits in the future.<br />
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<b><u>Baptisms </u></b>- Following Spiritual Emphasis Week at LivingStone International University there were eight students who were baptized into Christ on November 2nd. It was a privilege to watch as these young men and women dedicated their lives to the Lord.<br />
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The phrase, "I<i>t takes a village</i>", kept running through my head as a crowd gathered around the baptistery to take pictures, to pray with them and to welcome them into the church. It was also especially poignant that as the baptisms were occurring, we were being led in song by LIU students to the chorus of, "My soul, say yes - say yes - say yes!"<br />
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<b><u>Breaking Ground</u></b> - On November 7, LivingStone International University officially broke ground on their permanent campus! The new location is<br />
about five kilometers east of Mbale town. Many government and community leaders attended the ceremony.<br />
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These are just a few of the things said during this long awaited event:</div>
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"<i>This is the FIRST university to come to Budaka District. </i></div>
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<i>We need to own it and protect it.</i>"</div>
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"<i>Five people applied for an entry-level job in Kampala. Each was given a tablet during the interview process. One of the applicants was a graduate from Living-</i></div>
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<i>Stone International University. Because <u>all </u>students at LIU are trained to use Kindles, she was the ONLY one who knew how to use it. Not only was she offered the job, but she has since been offered a managerial position</i>."</div>
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"<i>Let's re-dedicate this land where we are standing back to the </i></div>
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<i>Creator. Past generations may have used it for evil purposes, </i></div>
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<i>but now we commit it back to God</i>." </div>
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Then he quoted this scripture:</div>
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"<i>If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves; pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven </i><br />
<i>and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land</i>." 2 Chronicles 7:14<br />
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<b><u>Back to the USA </u></b>- We plan to be back in time for Christmas and to stay until the end of January. It is to be a time to hug a loved one again, to feel cold air, to eat a good hamburger and share stories of how God has been working in your lives and ours. We're deeply grateful for all of you and look forward to the opportunity to visit in person!<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-41217298716832942432016-09-28T07:38:00.000-07:002016-09-28T07:38:36.814-07:00Visitors and Other Blessings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One thing we enjoy about living in Africa<br />
is that there is rarely a dull moment. Each season brings new events and new faces. <br />
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<b>Team</b> - This summer most of our team- mates were on furlough except for our newest family, Leland, Gina and Adalyn Sawyer and us.<br />
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But it was still as active as ever.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFM3Ly1dtHg/V-vQ3PQLcJI/AAAAAAAABe4/wfETgDNTHIQnHq-UVbaugefv8CJzaZd0ACLcB/s1600/IMG_3765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFM3Ly1dtHg/V-vQ3PQLcJI/AAAAAAAABe4/wfETgDNTHIQnHq-UVbaugefv8CJzaZd0ACLcB/s320/IMG_3765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of our guests, Buzzy and Sue Green</td></tr>
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<b>Guests</b> - Word of an Mbale guest house with real mattresses (instead of foam), American menu with sweet iced tea and Wi-Fi has gotten around and we were busy hosting visitors working with humanitarian efforts in the Mbale area.<br />
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If we count each person staying one night as one guest then we have had over 550 guests since we began hosting people in July 2015.<br />
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<b>Ceremony</b> - On July 30th, we attended our first Introduction, which tradi-<br />
tionally is a formal declaration of betrothal similar to what Joseph and Mary had in the Bible. Some couples will hold a separate 'church' wedding after this.<br />
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Laurie was asked to attend in the traditional attire called a Gomesi and Daryl was asked to wear a Kansu (both pictured to the right of our picture).<br />
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<b>LIU</b> - Since Uganda straddles the Equator seasons are similar year round; so terms like winter, spring, summer and fall are not used. So school terms are known as the August and January Semesters and the Term Break is during<br />
what we would call Summer.<br />
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I realize I've fallen back into old habits when I ask a student how their<br />
'Summer Break' was and receive a look of confusion.<br />
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The August Semester has brought students from nine different countries to LivingStone International University. It has been our largest intake to date,<br />
with 106 students, bringing the enrollment to 236. We both mentor students<br />
on a regular basis.<br />
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<b>Partners</b> - We were blessed by a recent visit from one of our supporting churches, The Hills Church of Christ. The visit was short but sweet, filled<br />
with meetings of our different ministries. Even so, it allowed us a moment<br />
to drive up to the top of Mt Wanale to get a bird's eye view of Mbale.<br />
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<b><u>Prayer Requests:</u></b><br />
<i>1) Health for our teammate JP Robinson who has been in the hospital in Kampala because of abdominal pain which resulted in a surgery.</i><br />
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<i>2) Our plans for furlough as we try to find the right balance between travel, reporting and getting time to reconnect with family and friends.</i><br />
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<i>3) Weekly Discovery Bible Study groups. Some of the students are beginning </i><br />
<i>to get involved. Please pray that the groups will grow in number and in commitment to genuine discipleship.</i><br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-62340191734361147592016-07-29T04:49:00.000-07:002016-07-29T04:49:01.381-07:00A Day in the Life - Cultural Insights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After living in Africa for over 14 years we tend to not notice things that take visitors by surprise. So this post will be dedicated to a few of those things.<br />
In it we will cover <i>motorcycle taxis, electricity </i> and <i>produce.</i><br />
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<b><u><i>Motorcycle Taxis or Boda Bodas</i></u></b> first started being used to carry passengers across the Kenyan/Ugandan Border. The motorcycle drivers would yell out<br />
they would carry you 'border to border' and the slang became boda boda.<br />
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Bodas are both a blessing and a curse. A one way trip in the town of Mbale<br />
is 1000 shillings or about 30 cents. A round trip is 2000 shillings or 60 cents.<br />
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Forgot your phone at home? Send it with someone on a boda. Need building supplies like a bag of cement or a 5 gallon bucket of paint but don't have the time to run it home? Send it on a boda.<br />
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That's the 'blessing' part of bodas, the convenience. But because the price<br />
IS so low people use them everywhere and haul all kinds of objects.<br />
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The 'curse part of bodas is that because they are small, cheap and maneuverable they will drive ANYWHERE - the wrong way up the roads, weaving in-between cars and traffic lanes, so overloaded with items and people that they can easily overturn. There are hundreds of bodas in our dwontown areas and roundabouts that they clog traffic and cause many accidents. So riders must beware!<br />
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<b>Electricity </b>- It's strange to think that we live so close to THE Nile River.<br />
That river that we heard so much about in Sunday School lessons as a kid.<br />
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The electricity we use is provided by that same river via a hydroelectric dam that spans The Nile at it's source in Jinja about 2 hours west of us in Mbale.<br />
It's been said that the electricity gets sold to Kenya and Tanzania because<br />
they will pay more, therefore shorting the people of Uganda.<br />
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We don't know if that's why, but electricity certainly is an issue here. Some days the electricity flickers as if someone is standing by the light switches<br />
and is turning them off and on. Other days it is off all day and you can hear<br />
the sounds of generators running. Then there are the days the electricity<br />
runs as it should and we are truly thankful.<br />
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<b>Produce</b> - Unlike many African countries, Uganda is blessed with an abundance of water that allows for all manner of fruits and vegetables to grow year round. Just walk into the Mbale Central Marked and you will see the equivalent of a huge farmer's market that is open every day of the week!<br />
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The woman pictured below is selling eggplant, tomatoes, carrots, onions, mangoes, oranges, watermelon, pineapple, pumpkins, avocados, cabbage<br />
and bell peppers. There are also imported and packaged goods, meats and<br />
dairy products in town.<br />
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We hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into our life and that it helps you<br />
to realize we are in good hands so that we are able to do the ministries we<br />
have been allowed to come here to do.</div>
Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-6421587877357882932016-06-26T09:59:00.000-07:002016-06-26T09:59:08.534-07:00A Second Graduation for LivingStone International University<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the ministries we are involved with in Mbale is LivingStone International University. We both serve as mentors to fourteen of the students. Daryl has been teaching part-time at LIU for the past two years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">LivingStone International University celebrated its second graduation on June 11th. This month we would like to share a bit about this historical event for the university, the Mbale Team and for you, the supporters that have made this possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pride shone from the faces of the twenty-one graduates as they were led through town by a motorcycle escort and a marching band (as is the custom in Mbale for graduations, weddings and other memorable events.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sacrifices were made so that these students could attend LIU. For many, they are the first from their families to graduate from university. (For a great video on this click the link below or go to: </span><a href="http://www.livingstoneuniversity.org/juliet-jospeh" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">www.livingstoneuniversity.org/juliet-jospeh</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hundreds of guests attended including the director of the National Council on Higher Education, local Members of Parliament, families and well-wishers of the graduates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Often, before we are led in a prayer here the statement is made, "Let us believe and pray." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This gives us pause from the instinctual bowing of our heads, to first setting our hearts on the belief of God fulfilling what we are about to ask for in the name of Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We would like to "believe and pray" that LIU's motto will come to pass for these graduates. LIU aims to produce students who are 'Ehtical, Employable and Empowered' who will engage in 'Building the Nations of Africa'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few of this year's graduates have already secured jobs which is a wonderful accomplishment anywhere, but especially here in Uganda where unemployment is so high. May they and all of the future graduates be used mightily to build the Lord's kingdom and to be a blessing to others, wherever he leads them.</span><br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-64771800416557749342016-04-30T11:46:00.000-07:002016-04-30T11:46:20.300-07:00April Showers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
April has indeed brought on the rains and we are so thankful! Our homes do not have air conditioning. We rely on fans and open windows which give us some respite from the heat, but also lets in the dust.<br />
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Our home is just off of a busy road. Some parts of it are paved, some are a mixture of dirt and corroded pavement (or tarmac as it is called here) and some is just pure dirt, which is what runs in front of our house.<br />
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Before eating each meal of the day we have to wipe down the table and sometimes the plates since they are stored on an open shelf in the dining room.<br />
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The rain brings a much awaited coolness, but can also make traveling a bit more difficult; as we saw on our recent journey to a Women's Retreat in Kenya. We have found many times in Africa that the more difficult the journey, the more sweet the fellowship when we finally get there.<br />
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We hoped that by getting out of the van (in the rain) that it would lighten it enough to get through this patch. but thankfully some men came to our aid, pushed the van out of the rut it was in and then told the driver a different path to take to go around it.<br />
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We made our way, slipping and sliding through the mud (I took off my sandals and just walked barefoot with the mud squishing through my toes) and then thankfully piled in and continued on the way to the retreat.<br />
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Uganda like many nations in the continent of Africa has such contrasts that it keeps you on your toes. We can go to the supermarket and see dried minnows for sale to eat (a delicacy here) and in the next aisle, Oreos!<br />
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We can see a young man tending cows as he walks beside them talking on his cell phone. Poverty, yet uninhibited giving when there is a need or a time to bless someone who has had their first child.<br />
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Here in Mbale, Muslims work side by side with Christians. Some of the most powerful testimonies are of Muslims who have become Christians, even though it meant estrangement from their families.<br />
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Prayer Requests:<br />
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1) We are thankful for the open hearts of so many here in Uganda and for the baptisms we've had this month.<br />
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2) Thanksgiving for the generous donation that we received that allowed us to finish an addition to a church member's home. They now have a working toilet and a separate room for the boys, a room for<br />
the girls and a separate room for the grandparents.<br />
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3) Prayer for our continued health.<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-51374585176232197012016-03-06T08:08:00.000-08:002016-03-06T08:08:10.595-08:00A Father to the Fatherless<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>"A father to the fatherless,</i><br />
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<i>a defender of widows,</i><br />
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<i>is God in his holy dwelling.</i><br />
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<i>God sets the lonely in families,</i><br />
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<i>he leads out the prisoners with singing;</i><br />
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<i>but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."</i><br />
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Psalm 68:5-6<br />
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This is a beautiful picture of the God of all who is also Father of all. Even </div>
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those who have lost the dearest ones in the world to them are not alone. </div>
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In Christ they are given a new family. I think about this description </div>
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of our Lord all the time we work among the people of Uganda.</div>
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Tuesdays are a scheduled office day when many people come by, some-<br />
times just to greet us, often for prayer and assistance for spiritual and physical needs.<br />
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Last Tuesday, three people that I met with stood out to me. One had never known his parents.<br />
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Another had lost both parents by the age of 6 and had to grow up in a house of her grandfather who had six wives with children in one house.<br />
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The third had lost both parents to AIDS and was forced to drop out of school by the time he was 15.<br />
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Similar stories could be multiplied<br />
by the dozens among our church members and university students. So many have endured more than their fair share of hardships early in life.<br />
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As a couple in our mid-50's, Laurie and I find ourselves </div>
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being looked upon here in Uganda as old (!) and wise (!!) </div>
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We have the privilege of building relationships and speaking hope into </div>
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the lives of people who have had very few healthy adult role models.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TiuPq9Ku6rQ/VtxK6kar2lI/AAAAAAAABaA/tCKQd63zqxI/s1600/In%2Bcar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TiuPq9Ku6rQ/VtxK6kar2lI/AAAAAAAABaA/tCKQd63zqxI/s640/In%2Bcar.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The good news is that people are finding family connections through </div>
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God's people. Two of those young mentioned above are pursuing BA </div>
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studies at LivingStone International University (LIU).</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnR5ZfyfYU8/VtxNhkoMIUI/AAAAAAAABaM/I-7WjBRrQzw/s1600/Iyakias.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnR5ZfyfYU8/VtxNhkoMIUI/AAAAAAAABaM/I-7WjBRrQzw/s400/Iyakias.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The third is now ministering at<br />
a church and has a wife and new baby of his own.<br />
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It is our prayer that they will all continue to experience "new life" that will be very different than what they have known in the past.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Prayers of Thanksgiving for:</span></u></b><br />
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1) <i>Safe arrival of two new team families!</i><br />
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~Rick and Marinda Trull have arrived in Mbale and Rick is the new President or Vice Chancellor (as they are called here in Uganda) of LivingStone International University (LIU)<br />
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~Leland and Gina Sawyer and their daughter Adalyn arrived shortly afther the Trulls and have recently moved into their house after making some renovations.<br />
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<i>2) Generous gifts</i><br />
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~300 Bibles for Mbale Church of Christ that came on the Sawyers container<br />
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~ Building materials to add a needed room onto the house of a church member<br />
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<i>3) Peaceful election process in Uganda</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Thank you for praying for us and sending us to be a part of this mission. </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Daryl and Laurie</b></i></span><br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-16585294630005552812015-12-26T10:47:00.000-08:002015-12-26T10:47:06.632-08:00Winding Down 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">The end of the year is upon us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a definite rhythm to things in Uganda. One of the important ways </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">we have to adapt our own pace of life somewhat so that we can walk alongside </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">others in relationships. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We enjoy the fact that in the month of December activities tend to slow down. Schools close early in the month, and students are typically on holiday for five to six weeks. Many people have extended vacation time from work and so they travel back to their home areas.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E9NN9Ft2QYY/Vn7Bk4EoNFI/AAAAAAAABWk/0QFhEstqMB4/s1600/boda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E9NN9Ft2QYY/Vn7Bk4EoNFI/AAAAAAAABWk/0QFhEstqMB4/s640/boda.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Motorcycles or Boda bodas are the 'taxis' of East Africa and entire families ride on them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is no cold (not even cool) weather, which we actually miss sometimes; but there are no traffic jams from Christmas shopping either, which is fine with us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That being said, there have been some exciting things happening here at the end of the year. On December 10 to 12 we hosted the annual Youth Conference for Churches of Christ. There were about 300 in attendance and 7 baptisms!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xz7-5OXx8I/Vn7ADWujo8I/AAAAAAAABWY/bWOss7ndoaQ/s1600/youth%2Bgroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xz7-5OXx8I/Vn7ADWujo8I/AAAAAAAABWY/bWOss7ndoaQ/s640/youth%2Bgroup.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Youth Conference in Mbale</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mbale Church of Christ will also host the yearly Women's Conference in early January and we anticipate 250 to 300 ladies coming for it also.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Opportunities for End of Year Giving</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We know that there are many opportunities to donate to various charities at this time of year and we wanted to make you aware of two projects that we are directly involved with here that we believe are very worthwhile if you feel so inclined to give to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The first opportunity for giving is to help add on to an elderly church member's home. </i></span><span style="font-size: large;">Francis Kato has been a part of Mbale Church of Christ for over 10 years. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Two of his adult children have died, leaving him and his wife to raise the grandchildren. </span><span style="font-size: large;">There are 11 people currently sharing their one-bedroom house. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKo2cwpoBLo/Vn7DGF6kCoI/AAAAAAAABWw/TqN10PmhDlA/s1600/Front%2Bof%2Bhouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKo2cwpoBLo/Vn7DGF6kCoI/AAAAAAAABWw/TqN10PmhDlA/s640/Front%2Bof%2Bhouse.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We hope to assist them in adding a bedroom for the boys and one for the girls onto the back of his home. We would also like to get his one toilet functioning again and to add another full bath with a shower so they can all have a private place to bathe.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZzXT6uuayg/Vn7Ehoj2EAI/AAAAAAAABW8/7EVKFA6ej5M/s1600/Cato%2Bas%2Bis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZzXT6uuayg/Vn7Ehoj2EAI/AAAAAAAABW8/7EVKFA6ej5M/s200/Cato%2Bas%2Bis.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House plans as it is<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5myS3dMr6-4/Vn7FGpd9WdI/AAAAAAAABXE/0VuNBPVJ1vg/s1600/cato%2Badded.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5myS3dMr6-4/Vn7FGpd9WdI/AAAAAAAABXE/0VuNBPVJ1vg/s320/cato%2Badded.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House with the bedrooms and bath added</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">MCC took up a special collection earlier this year to purchase materials to begin the work. to cpmplete the job we have an estimate of $1500 for adding one bedroom and bathroom. an additional $1000 would be needed for the second room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The second opportunity for giving is for the improvement of our Sunday school facility.</i> For many years the children's bible classes have met in a multipurpose covered verandah/storage area that is open to the weather.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8tKFXTpSrw/Vn7bsNmpDHI/AAAAAAAABXo/wr5A764V4Ys/s1600/sitting%2Bon%2Bwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8tKFXTpSrw/Vn7bsNmpDHI/AAAAAAAABXo/wr5A764V4Ys/s640/sitting%2Bon%2Bwall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verandah where bible classes are held</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The way it is now, the older kids just sit on the walls and benches are set up for the smaller kids. The open floor plan works well for the older ones, but toddlers tend to wander out with no walls or doors to keep them in. We have been able to make this work in the past, but we now have about 60 children attending and are limited by our current setup.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qu9ulR5QjIQ/Vn7crTUSRkI/AAAAAAAABXw/pI_7Km8D3K8/s1600/bible%2Bclassrooms.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qu9ulR5QjIQ/Vn7crTUSRkI/AAAAAAAABXw/pI_7Km8D3K8/s640/bible%2Bclassrooms.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verandah /storage area as it is</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The SEW ministry is self-funded and thankfully they are in the process of constructing a separate building. This will free up the majority of this space to be just for the children. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our goal is to enclose this area so that it can be functional, clean and secure. Then we will set it up as proper classroom space for the children of MCC. We estimate the cost to be $5000 to enclose this.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVOD5WgpqCk/Vn7ePpNb7bI/AAAAAAAABX8/EYLOP9d9vqo/s1600/bible%2Bclassrooms%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVOD5WgpqCk/Vn7ePpNb7bI/AAAAAAAABX8/EYLOP9d9vqo/s640/bible%2Bclassrooms%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classroom / storage area now enclosed and lockable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you feel led to give a tax deductible donation, please send your check to : Fredericksburg Church of Christ, PO Box 657, Fredericksburg, VA 22404. On memo line please write: Uganda-Sunday School or Uganda-Kato. Please feel free to send us a private message via our FaceBook pages or email if you have any questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">May God bless you in 2016!!</span></i></b></span></div>
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-9093452270976266012015-10-08T07:17:00.000-07:002015-10-08T07:18:21.282-07:00Women's Ministries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i>During our recent visit to the States in July and August, there seemed to </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="text-align: left;">b</span><span style="text-align: left;">e </span><span style="text-align: left;">a lot of interest in the things Laurie is doing here in Uganda. So, we </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="text-align: left;">thought </span><span style="text-align: left;">this might be a good time to share some of those things with you.</span></i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jf87_S5QFhI/VhZPT8fRp-I/AAAAAAAABTk/plYVLPaRmn8/s1600/2015-04-19%2B13.25.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jf87_S5QFhI/VhZPT8fRp-I/AAAAAAAABTk/plYVLPaRmn8/s400/2015-04-19%2B13.25.10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worshiping and praying together</td></tr>
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Laurie has joined a group of ladies from the Mbale church who visit members in their homes who have been sick or are in need of assist-ance. They go out together on the second Sunday of the month.<br />
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Before Laurie started joining them, the ladies would walk to their des- tination. It'd normally take about an hour each way to get there.<br />
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The first time she drove them, there were 18 women and children squeezed into an 8-person van. They have stated how much they appreciate her willingness to drive them there and for the teaching she does while they are together.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8ANBcrKZjA/VhZbW7XrsKI/AAAAAAAABT0/JS47_oyQIeU/s1600/2015-05-17%2B15.28.20%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8ANBcrKZjA/VhZbW7XrsKI/AAAAAAAABT0/JS47_oyQIeU/s640/2015-05-17%2B15.28.20%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Laurie works with a rotation of Sunday school teachers at Mbale Church of Christ. She has also developed a curriculum that requires only photocopying and basic supplies found in Uganda. The four years of lesson plans were originally created by the Nairobi Mission Team ladies in the 1990's. Laurie is updating it into a digital format so that it is easier to store and share. A bound, hard copy of the first year of this material has been presented to the Mbale church and the Bungoma church in Kenya. Year two has just been finished and is being bound before being presented to the churches.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MtTSRtIr3fA/VhZlNIHEPHI/AAAAAAAABUE/K1BO4js0hGo/s1600/sunday%2Bschool2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MtTSRtIr3fA/VhZlNIHEPHI/AAAAAAAABUE/K1BO4js0hGo/s640/sunday%2Bschool2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">40 to 65 kids aged 2 to 13 being taught under the verandah of a multipurpose structure</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nP3vKyu-CF8/VhZnBD4ZiDI/AAAAAAAABUY/fYH48NnMMdE/s1600/2014-05-07%2B16.06.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nP3vKyu-CF8/VhZnBD4ZiDI/AAAAAAAABUY/fYH48NnMMdE/s200/2014-05-07%2B16.06.03.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQ9R4xkBNiA/VhZnAMWS9eI/AAAAAAAABUQ/L1uOgjVTr90/s1600/IMG_2288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQ9R4xkBNiA/VhZnAMWS9eI/AAAAAAAABUQ/L1uOgjVTr90/s200/IMG_2288.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3TE_HY6n_E/VhZnHpQ95YI/AAAAAAAABUg/da_DZl_rrbw/s1600/2014-05-07%2B16.08.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3TE_HY6n_E/VhZnHpQ95YI/AAAAAAAABUg/da_DZl_rrbw/s200/2014-05-07%2B16.08.11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old schoolhouse - BEFORE</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KoK-iV24ToE/VhZuxG8wDYI/AAAAAAAABU8/PmDyaTUVtcg/s1600/IMG_2394%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KoK-iV24ToE/VhZuxG8wDYI/AAAAAAAABU8/PmDyaTUVtcg/s200/IMG_2394%255B1%255D.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avY0GK64uNo/VhZuivctAwI/AAAAAAAABUw/lRY13LhA35U/s1600/IMG_2288%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avY0GK64uNo/VhZuivctAwI/AAAAAAAABUw/lRY13LhA35U/s200/IMG_2288%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kd0fJRgOKQQ/VhZur1WM6JI/AAAAAAAABU4/coClfl0Dfmc/s1600/IMG_2371%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kd0fJRgOKQQ/VhZur1WM6JI/AAAAAAAABU4/coClfl0Dfmc/s200/IMG_2371%255B1%255D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest House - AFTER</td></tr>
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As you may have noticed from previous newsletters, we have spent a lot of time changing a simple school house into a self-contained, three bedroom guest house.<br />
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Since Daryl has been involved with teaching courses at LivingStone International University and with ministry at Mbale Church of Christ, the bulk of the oversight of the renovation has fallen to Laurie.<br />
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Both of us mentor LivingStone International University students once a week. Some have Muslim parents or are Muslim themselves.<br />
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Hope you now have a better idea of some of the things we've been involved in.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer Requests:</span></u></b><br />
<i>1) For Mbale Church of Christ as we focus on genuine discipleship of all believers in 2015. We believe the Lord will produce the fruit He desires from us as we learn to walk with him.</i><br />
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<i>2) For our son, Lee, who is now attending LivingStone International University and adapting to life in Uganda.</i><br />
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<i>3) For continued good health and safety. We never want to take that for granted.</i><br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-49019857813736123402015-06-04T09:32:00.000-07:002015-06-04T09:32:14.146-07:00ONE YEAR/ thirteenth Year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On May 5th we marked one year since our arrival in Uganda and our thirteenth year in East Africa. Our deepest thanks to all of you who help us to be here. It is interesting to think about what we are feeling this time compared to how we felt in 1988 after our first year in Kenya. Back then we were treading hard to keep afloat with our language studies and trying not to become too overwhelmed by the cultural differences we were struggling to adapt to.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurie with ladies after church - 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurie with ladies after church - 1990<br />Lydia was 1 yr then, 26 today</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daryl speaking with Bible <br />Class using Face Time</td></tr>
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I remember there was a visitor from the States who brought a video of restaurants and well stocked grocery stores just to tease us about some of the things we had been missing so much. We had no electricity for the first seven months. There was no email or internet available to us, and we were thankful to have a phone with which we could call to the U.S. for a mere $4 a minute.<br />
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I mention this only to say how grateful we are that things have come a long way since then. Though we have done (and are still doing) considerable work on our house, we had electricity and reliable water from day one.<br />
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Our cell phones and internet work the great majority of the time, making it easier to do several tasks related to our work, and much easier to communicate with loved ones far away.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allen Family, Daryl and Laurie Bates,<br />Ty Hayes and Robinson Family</td></tr>
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We're also thankful that we have had a great first year with our team. We did not know our teammates nearly as well before coming to Uganda as we did when going to Kenya. But we feel blessed by the compatibility we have experienced with them.<br />
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We are different ages and backgrounds, and we function in different roles, but it is a real joy to be co-workers with them. And our team is set to grow!<br />
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The Allens are expecting their third child in June. By August we should have new teachers, Ericka Angel and Valerie Oliver, for the team's mission school.<br />
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After one year it feels like we are just getting started in ministry, but we are excited to be able to mark some progress toward some of the long term goals that we came here for - equipping<br />
Ugandan leaders and transitioning greater responsibility into their hands.<br />
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<b>1) Mbale Church of Christ</b><br />
<i>David Iyakia</i> - David is a volunteer minister at MCC. He has a great passion for the Lord and a proven commitment to MCC. David is employed full-time with a local NGO (Non Government Organization) that assists farmers, and he has a few years left on his contract. We envision David developing a full-time lead minister of MCC in coming years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David translating for Daryl</td></tr>
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The goal for 2015 is to assist David to be qualified for further studies at LivingStone International University. He will undergo testing similar to the GED in the US and should be ready to enter LIU by either the spring of fall of 2016. Our plan is to help David to gain ministry training at LIU over the next few years as he also phases out his work with the livestock project.<br />
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<b>2) NTCC - New Testament Church of Christ</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Representatives from NTCC from Mbale <br />(where we live), Mbarara, Jinja and Kampala</td></tr>
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Though it sounds strange for those who come from the USA, many nations (including Uganda) require churches to register just like NGOs or other entities in the country, and to submit an organizational 'constitution' to the authorities and hold annual meetings. There must be representatives who interact with the government on behalf of the church. We do all of these things in order to comply with local regulations, while at the same time seek to maintain a Biblical authority structure in local churches. Our churches are registered under the name "New Testament Churches of Christ."<br />
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Until recently there were only missionaries who served as 'officers' with NTCC. But in March of this year, two Ugandans, Richard Kweyamba from Mbarara and Isaac Sanyu from Kampala, were selected as representatives. This is an important step in the direction of greater autonomy of Churches of Christ in Uganda.<br />
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<b>PRAYER NEEDS:</b><br />
~ Completion of our guest house by mid July<br />
~ Valerie Oliver as she prepares to join the team in early August<br />
~ Our furlough in the US, July 22 to August 24<br />
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THANKS TO GOD FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP!!<br />
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We look forward to seeing you soon.<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-43426078646099261562015-02-03T10:33:00.001-08:002015-02-03T10:33:49.044-08:00"A Time to Tear Down and a Time to Build"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This has been our life over the past couple of months. As we've stated before, the property we are living on was formerly used as a school for mission kids and their teachers.<br />
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Most properties here in Mbale have the main house on the grounds and then a smaller house nearby for workers to live in. Many people convert these into space for visitors to stay in, which is what we are in the process of doing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This area is being turned into two en suite bathrooms</td></tr>
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I cannot tell you how blessed we were to have<br />
a place like that to stay in while we were having our home fumigated, painted and repaired.<br />
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Our goal is to have a com-fortable place for visitors, including local folks, as well as those who will be coming to visit from outside of Uganda.<br />
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We began the work to create more guest space <br />
at out place but then hit delays that wound up stretching into four months.<br />
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Construction has now resumed. It is slow going because almost all of the work is done by hand and interior walls are built of brick, not the typical 2 x 4s and sheet rock that is used in the US. So the 'tearing down' and 'building up' process is labor intensive.<br />
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Our church is also in the 'tearing down and building up' process in a way. They are looking at a better discipleship/mentoring process than what's in place at the moment. One of our teammates, JP Robinson, is rewriting a booklet his church is US uses to be more easily understood by Ugandans.<br />
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Some Ugandan churches, out of desperation for leaders and ministers, are using men that have no real training. The church leaders in Mbale along with trusted nearby preachers are forming a group through or 'tear down' the booklet so that American slang and phrases are removed to make it easier to use to 'build up' the leaders first and then once the book has been thoroughly gone through and taught, to empower ALL Christians to make disciples. The was the last command Jesus gave us before he ascended into heaven so we feel it's an important one we must teach also.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5bHSTrey8hU/VNEIzgrpzpI/AAAAAAAABLQ/eI764zFCMeA/s1600/Leaders%2BMeeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5bHSTrey8hU/VNEIzgrpzpI/AAAAAAAABLQ/eI764zFCMeA/s1600/Leaders%2BMeeting.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Henry Buregea (Congo), Dennis Okoth (Kenya), Zachariah and Christina <br />
Manyok (South Sudan). JP and Jill Robinson (US), Yvette Buregea (Congo)</td></tr>
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This may be a difficult road in some respects. Many African countries teach to just repeat back what they are being taught. This works well in a classroom where there are not enough books for students. There are even times at LivingStone International University where professors are met with looks of confusion when students are asked to give their opinion or to express a thought of their own because this is just not the way they have been taught to learn. Thinking 'outside the box' or in a different way to be intimidating that they will answer wrong.<br />
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It will be a long process, almost like a turning of a ship. But we have confidence in the blending of the African and American group working on the workbook that it will be a valuable tool that will give freedom of thought and unlimited potential to learn about and from each other and our desire to develop strong Christians on the continent of Africa.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaders standing before the church telling them about a decision that had been made </td></tr>
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Laurie recently spoke at the All Ugandan Ladies Day and had an exercise in this very thing. The topic was 'A Woman of Difference". She decided to speak on how we all have different personality types. She began her session by handing out a paper and saying that everyone was taking a personality test.<br />
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She received blank stares. After repeating the instructions multiple times and using two translators, they were finally able to find out that many of the women had little schooling and were fearful of answering 'the test' incorrectly. After explaining the 'test' could not be answered 'wrong' and that it was just to get to know themselves better, everyone visibly relaxed and enjoyed themselves.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Uganda Ladies Day at Mbale Church of Christ</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you for your prayers!!</span></i></div>
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-86046392689524662642014-12-22T07:03:00.000-08:002014-12-22T07:03:05.453-08:00A Year of Transition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;">Laurie and I have been reflecting on the </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">amazing journey we've been on this year. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: x-large;">The first half of it was focused on finding spiritual and financial partners for our new direction in ministry, preparing our house for sale and finally making the move to Uganda.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daryl saying goodbye to our youngest</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 125%;">April was our last month in the U.S. It was of course the busiest of all; packing up our home to move it to Uganda via shipping container, buying additional furnishings for our home and the guest house in Mbale, relocating our sons from Fredericksburg, VA to Abilene, TX, attending Laurie's sister's funeral and finally saying goodbye </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 125%;">to family and friends before we boarded the plane for the flight from Washington, DC to Entebbe, Uganda. What a </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">roller-coaster</span><span style="line-height: 125%;"> of emotions!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tail of Uganda Airways plane blocking the word 'ENTEBBE' written in stone on hillside</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">Once we landed in Uganda, we began the work of transforming a place which was once used as a school house for missionary kids (with its vibrant primary colored rooms) into a restful home/guest house. After the container arrived in July we had our energy back-up system installed. It has been great to be able to work around the constant power interruptions and to feel energy friendly at the same time! We also moved out some borrowed furnishings to make room for our own. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">This really made us begin to feel more settled. Renovations are still ongoing for us to be able to host guests from out of town, but we hope to be ready to engage this part of our ministry by sometime in February.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">Daryl works alongside the leadership team of Mbale Church of Christ. He has completed his first semester of teaching Bible and Greek at LivingStone International University. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">Laurie is working with the children's Bible class at Mbale Church of Christ using material created sixteen years ago with the Nairobi Mission Team ladies when we lived there. She had to convert everything into a digital format from hard copies, but the material is now easy to use and will bless the Bible class for years. We are both serving as mentors to </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 40px;">LivingStone International University</span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;"> students.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9oY2jrq8pw/VJB8okEOD4I/AAAAAAAABHU/uJDV5wrpO1E/s1600/mentees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9oY2jrq8pw/VJB8okEOD4I/AAAAAAAABHU/uJDV5wrpO1E/s1600/mentees.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students L to R: Caroline, Rehema "Rhemy" and Sarah</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">Even though it has been an emotional year of letting go and starting over, God has been with us every step of the way, affirming that He has us exactly where He wants us. We appreciate all of our African and American teammates. We have a real sense of calling to the work we are doing.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bosco</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">It's also affirming when we see new people coming to the Lord. Recently there were three people who came for baptism while there was a water shortage. So they chose to be baptized in the nearby stream instead of waiting for the water to come back on.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uQkJ6eFntk4/VJgjKDKhFzI/AAAAAAAABH0/0uB6OyXi740/s1600/miriam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uQkJ6eFntk4/VJgjKDKhFzI/AAAAAAAABH0/0uB6OyXi740/s1600/miriam1.jpg" height="320" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miriam</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">What a joy it was to watch the changes and growth of the multicultural group of people that make up the Mbale Church of Christ this past year. The two ladies that were baptized were from the SEW ministry that teaches women sewing skills. It's the most effective outreach we have to Muslims in our area. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;"><i><b>May God bless you in the year 2015!!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">1) For Mbale Church of Christ as we focus on genuine discipleship of all believers in 2015. We believe the Lord will produce the fruit he desires from us as we learn to walk with him. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">2) For us during the holiday season as we spend it apart from loved ones.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">3) For continued good health and safety. We never want to take this for granted.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">4) For Florence, Miriam and Bosco--new members of God's family!</span></span><br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-12074716938375878622014-11-10T06:15:00.000-08:002014-11-12T01:04:11.594-08:00The Fellowship of the Believers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">We are having a time of renewal in the Mbale (Uganda) Church of Christ. There have been past difficulties that we are trying to work through together as a church, to heal and to move on to what the Lord has planned for us. The way that we are approaching this is by preaching through the book of Acts and intentionally engaging the practices of the early church.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GszofKIWon8/VGC18PGy3KI/AAAAAAAABEk/NTQoEM9iO0E/s1600/Mbale%2BMurial%2B(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GszofKIWon8/VGC18PGy3KI/AAAAAAAABEk/NTQoEM9iO0E/s1600/Mbale%2BMurial%2B(2).JPG" height="218" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to (1) fellowship, to the (2) breaking of bread and to (3) prayer...They sold property and possessions to (4) give to anyone who had need...praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsYdrrzBvKk/VGMaPf_kwtI/AAAAAAAABFw/6Dk03LskZNo/s1600/dinner%2Bon%2Blawn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsYdrrzBvKk/VGMaPf_kwtI/AAAAAAAABFw/6Dk03LskZNo/s400/dinner%2Bon%2Blawn.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood stacked by wall is what was used to cook the meal</td></tr>
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(1) FELLOWSHIP: Our first Sunday in the series, we held a fellowship meal or old-fashioned 'dinner on the grounds'. We had a great attendance that day, about 230, with several visitors. It had been<br />
a few years since MCC had eaten together as a church. The shared meal put everyone in good spirits, but it got even better. The high-<br />
light of the day came afterwards when a 57 year old man named Luke was baptized into Christ.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q805plt7E7o/VGDCLs7fiOI/AAAAAAAABFg/27kkUYrItxY/s1600/communion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q805plt7E7o/VGDCLs7fiOI/AAAAAAAABFg/27kkUYrItxY/s1600/communion.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Leaders from South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda & USA</td></tr>
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(2) COMMUNION/BREAKING OF BREAD: In the second Sunday in the series, the focus was put on<br />
the Lord's Supper in place of the usual sermon.</div>
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(3) PRAYER: The third Sunday in the series, the focus was on extended prayer for specific needs of the church. The service was concluded by praying for the new children born into the congregation.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4pp9DB3UVl4/VGC_-wdHDeI/AAAAAAAABFA/PoT0bDebZpA/s1600/Praying%2Bfor%2BBabies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4pp9DB3UVl4/VGC_-wdHDeI/AAAAAAAABFA/PoT0bDebZpA/s1600/Praying%2Bfor%2BBabies.JPG" height="468" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peace, the woman in pink, just had a set of twins!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWP_7GAr3sg/VGDAhsFm6JI/AAAAAAAABFM/dD9pSWjmeGw/s1600/GIVING1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWP_7GAr3sg/VGDAhsFm6JI/AAAAAAAABFM/dD9pSWjmeGw/s1600/GIVING1.jpg" height="640" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Israel and his wife, Sabina (woman in floral dress),<br />bent over from the weight of their gift of bananas.</td></tr>
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(4) GIVE TO ANYONE WHO HAS NEED: What a blessing it was to watch the fourth Sunday in the series unfold. We had announced our special offering for several Sundays. One elderly couple carried in a huge stalk of bananas from their farm as their gift.</div>
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We dedicated the entire offering from that Sunday's giving to an elderly man whose adult son and daughter-in-law had died of AIDS. The grandparents are now raising their two grandsons. The money will go towards an addition to their home so the kids can have their own separate sleeping area.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ05FFyLjfc/VGDAy27i5gI/AAAAAAAABFU/_s4uiaxhOhs/s1600/Old%2Bman%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ05FFyLjfc/VGDAy27i5gI/AAAAAAAABFU/_s4uiaxhOhs/s1600/Old%2Bman%2B2.JPG" height="200" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><u>Prayer Requests:</u></b></div>
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1) Continued growth for Mbale Church of Christ as we dig into Scripture together and continue to grow as a family of God in the Mbale community.</div>
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2) God's protection over our team. The rate of break-ins and thefts goes up during the months of November and December. Two of our families have already been affected.</div>
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3) For us during the upcoming holiday season as we spend them apart from our loved ones.</div>
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<b> PLEASE NOTE:</b> During this holiday season, if you would like to make a<br />
tax-deductible donation to our ministry, you may send your contribution<br />
care of: Fredericksburg Church of Christ // PO BOX 657 // Fredericksburg,<br />
VA 22404 // On memo line please write: Uganda Mission Fund. [<i>If you</i><br />
<i> would like to make an auto or bank deposit, please contact our church </i><br />
<i> and </i><i>they will forward the information to you.</i>] We are very thankful for<br />
and need your help!</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you again for praying for us </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">and for</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> sending us to be a part of this mission.</span></i></b></div>
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-38116537078616033662014-09-27T06:19:00.001-07:002014-09-27T06:19:56.228-07:00Let There Be Light!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">That old saying about not really missing something
till it’s gone is so true. We did not realize how we missed being able to turn
on a light switch whenever we wanted and to hear the sound of clothes tumbling
in the dryer until we heard it the other day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to
our One-Time giving so that we were able to ship over our <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">energy back-up system. What a blessing!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">These big, heavy batteries make the difference between
being able to keep our phones and laptops charged (which means staying in touch with families and friends in the US), having our food not spoil
and being able to run our fans when it’s hot! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the local electricity source is off we still can't turn on the hot water heaters (which you turn on 'on demand' like a light switch). Or use the washing machine or, of course, run the clothes dryer because they would all run through our battery power like a hot knife through butter. But we are NOT complaining! So let me say it again. We feel VERY blessed to have this power back-up system.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Overheard Blessings</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were also recently blessed in worship service and all
from overhearing the man directly behind us. While scriptures were being read
from Isaiah at the start of our services, he quietly said, ‘Beautiful!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">During a transitional time from one activity to
another, a quote is often said which is, “God is good, all the time.” To which
the congregation responds, “All the time, God is good.” This gentleman added, ‘For that is His
nature.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Daryl and the gentleman, Luke, after services. He came from a
very traditional village where he wore </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">animal </span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">hides as a child until forced to
change into western clothes at gunpoint by government authorities.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the eavesdropping we liked best happened just before the sermon. This is the time when they call the kids to the
front to sing a song and pray together before they depart for their bible class
which takes place during the sermon. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was trying to encourage the little girl
that he brought with him to go, but she was too shy. He said, “Why? You are
guiltless. You are pure. You are a child of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Glimpse Into Uganda</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have prayer breakfasts at a local coffee shop in town that belongs to a Ugandan Christian woman. One morning, this was the way one of us was served our coffee.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="line-height: 130%;">Prayers </span></b><b style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Sought </span></b><b style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">and </span></b><b style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="line-height: 130%;">Answered</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;">Our
team is in constant transition as some leave and others return. Please pray for
healthy team relationships as we each work in our different ministries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;">Our
visit with Daniel and Judith Sambenje in Kenya went well. Pray for the
preschools that are operating in Bungoma & Namushiya churches.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;">Please
pray for new people and churches to partner with us so that we can make our
budget which is behind where it needs to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;">Pray
for our Mbale church leaders who are being maligned by disgruntled former
members in an attempt to stir up trouble in the community.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;"> </span></div>
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-56559913342367954382014-07-28T11:11:00.000-07:002014-07-28T11:11:49.402-07:00Beginning to Look Like Home, Vol.3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 125%;">On July 10 as Daryl drove out of our
gate on his way to the office, he saw the container we had shipped in April
headed our way. We had been notified that it had made it to Mombasa, Kenya, but
didn’t know it was that close. </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 125%;">He immediately turned around and put
out a community text to ask for help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 125%;">Within minutes ten people showed up
to help which made the job so much easier. </span><span style="line-height: 125%;">It reminded us of the loading we did
in America and all the help you gave us there, too. What a blessing! Now on to
the business of setting up house here!</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Glimpse Into Uganda<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">LivingStone International University</span></i></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> hosted its first Open House this
month. LIU advertised the event on local radio and social network sites. Since
it was their first, they weren’t sure how well it would be received or how many
people to even plan for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It turned out to be a very successful day. There were
over 100 visitors/ potential students from as far away as Kampala. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">A poignant moment came when two Nigerian ladies who
are teaching at the local Islamic University thanked us for </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; line-height: 115%;">bringing Christ to this area of the country.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Prayers </span></b><b style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Sought </span></b><b style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">and </span></b><b style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Answered</span></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 120%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;">Container came without having to be
stored first and without heavy taxes. Thank you for praying!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 120%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;">There was reconciliation between some
of the leaders and a few of the congregation at MCC after months of tension.
God is good! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 120%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;">We’re asking for prayers for those
who are wiring up our electrical back-up system, so that it will function
properly and safely. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 120%;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--></span><v:shape alt="http://www.fionagoldrick.com/resources/africa-outline-hi.png" id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 137.55pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 33.75pt; margin-top: 11.9pt; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 123.15pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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</span></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We ask that you join
us in prayer for Mbale Church of Christ as we make special efforts to involve
LIU students in the church this school year, which begins in mid-August. Thank
you!</span></span> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-40249385251775542392014-07-04T12:38:00.000-07:002014-07-04T12:38:31.123-07:00Everything Old Is New Again, Vol. 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh7_OmnVg5E/U7b36eik3hI/AAAAAAAAA9g/h7SEoANXk5k/s1600/leaving+for+kenya.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bh7_OmnVg5E/U7b36eik3hI/AAAAAAAAA9g/h7SEoANXk5k/s1600/leaving+for+kenya.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">It’s exciting and disconcerting at
the same time to start over again in a new county. Since Uganda is adjacent to Kenya, a country
we lived in for almost 12 years, there are many similarities that make living
here not quite so ‘new’. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">But then again, East Africa is not the same place we left 15 years ago either, the same way that the US in 1999 was not the same as when we left in 1987.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xSZZSIhK_A/U7b4R51qTmI/AAAAAAAAA9s/vgxhSz0kjcE/s1600/vacay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1xSZZSIhK_A/U7b4R51qTmI/AAAAAAAAA9s/vgxhSz0kjcE/s1600/vacay.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">We left as a young couple and came back with three children. This time around we leave our children and grandchildren in the US and have rejoined our journey in Africa as a couple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="line-height: 125%;">Innovations like cell phones and the
internet are a part of the culture here now and have greatly changed how people
communicate, but power failures are pretty much a daily problem. There are more
hospitals and clinics available, yet children still die from malnutrition and
malaria. Again, different, yet some of the same old problems. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">We have become reacquainted
with the slower paced life and how long it can take to do simple tasks. We’ve
had to once again get used to being stared at often in public and hearing “<i>Mzungu!”</i> (white person) yelled out at us
by the kids as we pass by. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 125%;">We were
reminded again on a recent Sunday of how things are familiar in some ways, but
different in others—when a little girl dropped to her knees when we went to
shake her hand during the ‘greet-each-other’ time. She did this to show her respect,
but it is only girls who are taught to do this, not boys, so we have mixed
feelings about how to take this practice.</span><br />
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</w:wrap></span></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="line-height: 125%;">Wheels.</span></b><span style="line-height: 125%;"> Another old item that is new again is our vehicle! Yes, we
are now the proud owners of an older model Toyota Land Cruiser. It belonged to
a missionary team in another area of the country as a team ‘spare’ vehicle and
they decided they would rather sell it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 125%;">We had it thoroughly inspected in
Kampala by a mechanic who happens to come from a family of successful
motorcycle racers who now owns his </span><span style="line-height: 125%; text-indent: 0.5in;">own mechanic shop in Kampala.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 27px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">We are excited about what the Lord will bring out way here, whether it be new or old. </span></i></span><i style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We pray for God to give us new eyes and renewed faith to accomplish his will. </span></i><i style="line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you again for praying for us and sending us to be a part of this mission.</span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 27px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Daryl and Laurie</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 27px;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 27px;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 27px;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Glimpse Into Every Day Uganda Life</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 27px;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><u>Bates Prayer Corner:</u></i></b></div>
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1) <b>Container.</b> The household goods that we shipped have still not arrived, but we are told they are getting closer at least! The last report we heard is that it may arrive in Mbale by July 8<sup>th</sup> or there-abouts. Whenever it is, please pray that the customs and clearing agents will be reasonable and fair (which is not always the case).</div>
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2) <b>Taxes.</b> We have learned that there were recent changes in the tax laws that could possibly subject us to income tax here in Uganda (even though we don’t make or receive any income from here). We had not budgeted for this. The laws are somewhat subjective and ambiguous, and one of our church members who is a lawyer is following up on this matter for us. Please again pray for the authorities to be just & fair minded. Thank you to all who have already been interceding for us about this.</div>
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3) <b>Landlord.</b> Our landlord passed away about</div>
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five weeks after we arrived. Please pray for comfort for the Netuwa family, and that we will continue to have a good relationship with the rest of the family, as we had with Dr. Netuwa.</div>
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4) <b>Our children.</b> Please continue to pray for our sons Steven and Lee, as well as our daughter Lydia and her family as they go through job transitions and make decisions about the future.<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-44867919738138816112014-05-20T22:08:00.000-07:002014-05-20T22:08:23.139-07:00Greetings From Uganda, Vol. 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9T3iPI9kNqo/U3woYwhKELI/AAAAAAAAAt4/lUtpj2NsfxQ/s1600/Uganda+bound+bigger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9T3iPI9kNqo/U3woYwhKELI/AAAAAAAAAt4/lUtpj2NsfxQ/s1600/Uganda+bound+bigger.jpg" height="356" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Laurie and I have been in Uganda less than a month.</b> </div>
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Looking back, we realize that from the time that we first informed our elders in Fredericksburg of our desire to work in Mbale to the time of our arrival has been almost exactly two years. While it has been some time in coming, we are very grateful to the Lord for making it a reality at last and also thankful to all of you for partnering with us to make it possible.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif; font-size: x-large;">These are the first steps in the journey and we look forward to traveling with you God willing for years to come. The first few days have been about getting over jetlag, getting better acquainted with our team and our community and beginning to establish a rhythm for ministry. Here are some first impressions of our new home:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><b>Beauty </b>- After a delay in London, we finally arrived at Entebbe airport at about 1:30 in the morning. Thankfully, Vince Vigil and Othaina Eid were patiently waiting to pick us up. The next day, we woke early to partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 50's. Though we're told there is a dry season, Uganda for the moment is a wonderfully verdant country, with rich red soil and rain showers every morning and evening. We can collect mangoes and </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">avocados</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> from the trees in the yard.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Baskerville Old Face, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 150%;"><b>Hospitality</b> - Though we have a house, it needs some work before it will be move in ready. In the meantime, we are benefiting from the generosity of our teammates, the Robinsons, who are letting us stay in their guesthouse, as well as the Vigils and Allens, who made sure we had plenty of delicious food to eat.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZdP_Ubs3-g/U3uqYjcsIlI/AAAAAAAAAtg/gNPApuXB5Jo/s1600/Mbale+community.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZdP_Ubs3-g/U3uqYjcsIlI/AAAAAAAAAtg/gNPApuXB5Jo/s1600/Mbale+community.jpg" height="312" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">Community</b><span style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"> - The city of Mbale is blessed to have a wonderful community of expatriates, some who have been here for a few months and some who have been here for several years. There are families of missionaries, medical professionals, educators, project workers and others. Several of them have already had us over for meals and they provide a ready network for resources.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b>Electricity</b></span><span style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> - (not!) </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The power in the city continues to be off in the day about as much as it is on. Thankfully we were aware of this and you have helped us purchase an energy backup system for this (which was shipped in our container, yet to arrive). On the bright side (no pun intended), our water (which comes from the Nile!) so far has been reliable.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b>Ministry</b> - One of the things we are immediately struck with as we walk the streets of Mbale is the number of youth (median age in Uganda is 15 years old); people who need encouragement, purpose and hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is also one of the most compelling reasons we have come to Mbale, to help them to know and to grow in Christ, the only One who can save and give them fullness of life (John 10:10).</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you again for praying for us and sending us to be a part of this mission. </span></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Daryl & Laurie</span></b></i></div>
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-20272277945609246162014-03-21T05:34:00.000-07:002014-03-21T05:37:36.405-07:00Transitioning from US to Uganda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Goudy Stout', serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 135%;">Update on the bates </span><b style="font-size: 10pt;">March
2014</b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Greetings to all our loved ones and partners!</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By God’s grace, we are counting down the final few weeks until our departure to
Uganda. It has been some time in coming, but we do believe that God’s timing is
always the best. Sunday, March 16<sup>th</sup> marked our transition from Daryl being the
minister of the Fredericksburg Church of
Christ to our new status as missionaries being sent by them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is a quick look at the days ahead of us.</span></div>
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<b>PACKING / TRAVEL:</b> We are already in
the throes of preparing our goods to be shipped to Mbale. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Packing day
is March 28 at 9 a.m.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> For those in
the Fredericksburg area, please note:</span></div>
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<b><i>We
will be given two (2) free hours to pack the 40'</i></b><b><i> container.</i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></i><b><i>Every hour after
that will cost $90! </i></b><b><i> If you have can help us that day we would </i></b><b><i>greatly appreciate it! We also need to </i></b><b><i>borrow your furniture
dollies. </i></b><b><i>(Packing will take place at our home.)</i></b></div>
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Once the container is
done, we will clear out whatever remains and give the house a thorough cleaning
in readiness for its new owners.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We will travel for about three weeks in early
April in order to visit Laurie’s family and accompany Steven and Lee to
Abilene, Texas where they will be studying at ACU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>We plan to be back in Fredericksburg
for the last week of April, then depart on
<b>May 1</b> to Uganda! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>There’s so much to do in a short amount of time;
your prayers will be greatly
appreciated.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>SUPPORT:</b><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By the grace of God, we have raised almost all of the one-time/setup funds needed! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Our personal/work-fund monthly support is at about <b>84%</b> of our budget. If you or
someone you know would have an interest in partnering with us, we would love to
talk with you. Also, if you have pledged
support and need any assistance in arranging payment, we would be glad to help.
We look forward to sharing news with you from Uganda! </span><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God is good! Daryl and Laurie Bates</span></i></div>
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-21570930842986604622013-12-10T18:13:00.000-08:002013-12-10T18:13:09.411-08:00"In His name the nations will put their hope..." Matthew 12:21We wanted to pass this link on to you. This is the latest newsletter from LivingStone University Partners in Mbale. It contains a couple of very powerful stories. One is about a young lady named Barbra whose life is being transformed by her experience at LIU. The other is about Zechariah Manyok, a man who grew up in very turbulent times as a child soldier in Sudan. He has recently come to be an instructor at LIU. I had the privilege of meeting him in Mbale while there with John Bean and Roger Royston in January of this year.<br /><br />These are stories of how God changes lives that will impact generations; the kind of stories that make Laurie and me feel very humbled excited about serving with the mission team in Mbale.<br />
<a href="http://www.livingstoneuniversity.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/LivingStoneLoopNOVEMB2013.pdf">http://www.livingstoneuniversity.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/LivingStoneLoopNOVEMB2013.pdf</a>dbateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09693459768947778777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-71102784750291345382013-12-02T16:54:00.000-08:002013-12-02T16:59:06.537-08:00Sunday With the Denbigh Church of Christ<br />
Last Sunday (12/1/13) we had the privilege of worshiping with the <b><span style="color: #351c75;">Denbigh Church of Christ</span></b> in Newport News, Virginia. The welcome was warm and the worship was joyful. They had invited Laurie and me to share our plans to join the team in Mbale during the adult Bible class, then gave me the opportunity to preach. We had a delightful lunch with several members afterward. <br />
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We are grateful to God that the Denbigh church has decided to assist us with our one-time needs, and also loaded our car with material goods that we will need to house guests (rugs, sheets, fabric, and a sewing machine!). Individual members are also considering how they can help. Special thanks to Linda Shoun, Charles Tucker, and the Denbigh elders for arranging this visit.<br />
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We also look forward to a special <b><span style="color: #351c75;">gathering for prayer</span></b> on our behalf this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Church of Christ. Please join us there if you can; if not, prayers are appreciated from any location!dbateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09693459768947778777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314596887563085526.post-57767589276935331512013-10-09T19:48:00.001-07:002013-10-25T06:47:05.828-07:00New Partners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have had a good couple of weeks in our preparation to join the team in Mbale in January. We are deeply honored that seven more people have graciously joined our support team. Please join us in thanking the Lord for these new partners and asking that He continue to lead us to others!<br />
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Laurie Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07353624325072058646noreply@blogger.com0