GOD IS OUR CAPTAIN

Another month begins and what a busy month it is going to be.  This week, as last week, William and I have committments every night.  We look to God for His help as we prepare for meetings and share in them; for William as he completes his final assignment of this year's study and for other personal commitments which we have over the coming days and weeks.  We thank God for the privilege of serving Him.

This morning already we have been communicating much with those in Kenya and Uganda.  Pastor Aringo has been updating me on the past week's work in the Nairobi office and on an appointment which he had concerning the work on Saturday.  Eunice has been marking lessons and also completing our Child Protection Course.  Pray for them both.

Latest update from Joyce this morning is that we currently have 1554 children enrolled in Uganda alone.  The work is growing in this country and we ask that you continue to pray for the children as they study.  Today we will send some funds out to Joyce and she will be travelling to some of our centres over the coming days.

This morning I have also been communicating with one of our volunteers in Uganda.  He is a Pastor of a Church and helps us by marking the lessons for the children in the School which is connected to the Church.  We were privileged to visit this particular place in July 2103 and indeed this was the first centre to receive our Bible Lessons when the work moved into Uganda.  This Pastor will also shortly begin our Child Protection Course as we are requiring all our markers to take this training.  Pray on for us as we finalise our updated Child Protection Policy.

In the Nakuru area, we thank God for those who are continuing to minister in the Schools and are keeping the work going in the midst of challenges in the area.

This morning I have also been communicating with our printer and confirmed an order for more prayer cards.  Hopefully William and I will be completing some new literature this week and having it printed as well.  William will also complete his final assignment for Bible College this week and will hand it in on Thursday.  It is hard to believe his second year is almost at an end.  Just one more year to go.

We have made a little progress concerning Bibles with one supplier coming through this morning with stock at a reasonable price.  We are just waiting on confirmation regarding the exact availability and whether we can have an even better price and then we will discuss the way ahead. 

We were so encouraged yesterday to hear updated news from a Sunday School here in Northern Ireland who are learning about the children of Kenya and praying for a specific School out there.  They are also collecting funds for Bibles and we are just amazed at how well they are doing.

We are busy but we love sharing about God's work.  We continue to be available for meetings.  May I remind you though that we need to be contacted directly to confirm availability.  Over the past few months there have been a few occasions when it has been assumed by different people in different Churches that we are free or not free according to our calendar or blog.  Can I just emphasise that not all FML meetings are included on our website calendar and other meetings and personal commitments are not included.  I also, deliberately, do not share about every meeting on this blog.  Others I mention after the event.  We also deliberately do not always mention specific mission trip dates on our blog, calendar or facebook.  We have our reasons for doing so in the same way as we do not post the specific names of Churches we will be speaking in, but usually just mention the type of meeting it is or the general area where the Church is.  This is something which we have pointed out in the past but have had to again remind people in the past number of months so we thought it was time to just remind you all again on here.  Please do contact us regarding our availability for specific dates and we'll be delighted to share with you if we are at all able.

Of course sharing at meetings also mean there is a lot of preparation.  We don't just go in and say the first thing which comes into our heads.  Neither do we just say the same things at each meeting.  Meetings vary for numerous reasons.  Pray for us as we prepare much over the coming weeks.  Pray especially for William as he has to fit in preparation in addition to normal work and FML work.  For me it is a little easier as I am in the FML office each day and can give time to preparation.

Each of our team in Kenya and Uganda continue to value your prayers for them as do William and I.  We are all conscious of the devil's attacks and efforts to distract from the Lord's work at different times.  We thank God that we can keep our eyes upon Him and He gives the needed grace. 

As William and I read together last night we were encouraged by numerous verses.  One in particular said "Behold, God himself is with us for our captain."  What a lovely verse.  To know that we have God as our Captain in the work of Feed my Lambs, in our personal lives and even in our marriage.  God is good and we continue to Praise Him and move on in His Work.