Friday, March 21, 2008

I called them up and took a job in Uganda


Hello everyone, to start off I have to say that God has been faithful and good to me and so life has been great for me, As you know I have been living at my sister’s place in Ohio and since I moved here I have been praying a lot and seeking God direction for me at this time. After sending out bunches of resume’s and talking to lots of people, churches and organizations I finally have a job. So, here are the quick highlights.

Over the past several years, my heart has been increasingly burden with meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. As I sought out where God would have me to go, I was drawn to seeking a placement within a Christian Relief and Development organization. After a lengthy process of phone calls, applications, and interviews, in my heart I have settled on the Samaritan’s Purse organization headed by Franklin Graham. If you have not heard of them maybe you know them because of the Operation Christmas Child (Shoeboxes) program, they are the same organization. As I sought an employment opportunity the best option and fit for me at this time is to serve as an intern with Samaritan’s Purse as an International field worker. The hope on their part and on mine is that if I do a good job and if there is an open position at the end of the internship, I hopefully and likely will be offered a permanent full time position. There is no guarantee of a full time job after the internship, but I feel as though this is where God is leading me to go and I know that he will open the doors that need to be opened in the right place at the right time.

So the deal is that I will be heading off to Uganda to serve with S.P. for 5 months starting April 14th. Mostly I will be learning from and helping the various Program Directors with the programs running in Uganda. Some of my official job description is yet be seen and from what I understand it is extremely flexible based on what needs are most pressing on that day. That is why I am being so vague about what I will be doing, truth is I have very little idea. At the bottom of the page is a list of what Samaritan’s Purse is currently doing in Uganda so assume that I will be helping with those things. I know this is going to be a big adjustment for me to a completely new culture, country and climate. I am looking forward to learning firsthand about Relief & Development work and seeing where God takes me from here.

I truly believe that Christians and the Christian church have a massive responsibility before God to do good to those in need, both physically and spiritually. I understand the Bible to instruct us to do good to all people and as we do good, peoples hearts are opened to the voice of the Holy Spirit calling them to salvation. One of the verse that has stood out to me in my devotions over the past few years is Proverbs 3:27 which says “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. 28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.” There are so many people in the world in great need, who better or more called to meet these needs than those who have experienced the life changing power of salvation. We are ambassadors of God calling the world to “be reconciled back God.” Reconciliation with God is the answer to the great problems facing our world today. If we are not reconciled to God through the salvation offered to us through Jesus Christ, there is no real hope of solving the issues that are tearing our world apart. There, now you have a little theology behind why I feel God calling me to this area of ministry and why I am so excited about the opportunity to get my feet wet in the International Relief and Development sector of Christian ministry. I feel like I have a lot to offer and a lot to learn, I am looking forward to the challenge.

That is the scoop on my life. I would appreciate your continued prayers for myself and for the people of Uganda as well. Please pray that all of those working to share the Gospel in this nation would have favor, success and safety. Also, please do stay in touch with me. I know I will be able to get email in Uganda, the only trick to this is that the power needs to be on to run the phone lines. This is going to be an adventure. Woo hoo. You may have more questions for me too, so feel free to respond and ask them and I will do my best to answer them.

I pray for God to bless you and all that he has given you to do for his kingdom.

Stay in touch,

Mark

Samaritan’s Purse – International Relief http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

Uganda

The source of the great Nile River, Uganda is also a source of hope for Africa for its unprecedented success against HIV/AIDS, accomplished through Christian principles and compassion. Samaritan’s Purse became involved in HIV/AIDS ministry in Uganda in 1994 and has launched a comprehensive program to strengthen the Christian response to the pandemic. Samaritan’s Purse also is involved in community development, livestock and children’s programs, and has provided food and other services for hundreds of thousands displaced by terrorism in the northern part of the country.

Ugandan Projects

Empower Trauma Rehabilitation

The horrific brutality of the prolonged guerrilla war waged by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Northern Uganda not only destroyed homes, churches, schools and livelihoods, it also left deep psychological and emotional scars. The Empower Trauma Rehabilitation Program, designed by psychologist Dr Robi Sonderegger, provides simple tools based on Biblical principals to help people find emotional strength and forgiveness and the lasting peace that is found only in Christ. The program is helping 1,300 people in the Lira area.

Chronological Bible Story Telling

Trained pastors and preachers travel to public places each week to tell the same stories Jesus told in order to give people an understanding of marriage and family relationships from a Biblical perspective. In 2008, the program is expanding beyond the limits of marriage and family, using story telling to depict God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. The program encompasses 3,400 adults, youth, children, and church leaders in the Lira and Kamwenge areas.

Women’s Vocational Ministry

This program provides six months of skills training in tailoring, enough materials and equipment to launch a small tailoring business, and a wealth of spiritual training and mentoring to 80 vulnerable women.

Bible Distribution

Bibles in the local language (Lango) are expensive and scarce in the Lira District. We distributed 1,500 Lango Bibles in 2007, and plan to expand the program this year so that more people have access to the Word of God.

Total Number of Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts delivered to Uganda: 383,146

Uganda

Area: 236,040 sq km; slightly smaller than Oregon

Population: 27,269,482 (July 2005 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 18%

Language: English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications and may be t

Capital: Kampala

This info can also be found by clicking on the line below

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/Country_Index.asp?CountryID=211