This month I met a beautiful, joyful, timid, unashamed,
free, lovely, enchanting little girl named Olga Kidenia. She's the type of
little girl that laughs, smiles, and sings with very few people. She's reserved
and unsure of new people. Infact when asked if she wanted to be friends with a
girl on our team she replied no. She changed her mind later of course.
She had a kind countenance. She took a lot of responsibility
for her younger sister who was four. Kidenia herself was six. As the weeks
progressed she moved from waving from afar to sitting in my lap in church.
One evening near the end of the month she's sitting in my
lap and falls asleep. Her beautiful little face resting on my chest, eyes
closed, and dreaming. I had fallen in love with this little girl and I started
to tear up. Oh, no. It's going to be hard to leave her. I remembered when
earlier in the month I had said to her "oh I could just take you home with me."
Jokingly (kidenia doesn't speak English) and then one of the women replied,
"You could, her mother wouldn't care." I remember staying up most of that night
and in my lack of sleep thinking about that comment with indignant frustration.
How? How could a mother not care? No. She must care. Of course, I have no
control over whether the mother cares of not. I have a horrible tendency to
care too much. Snapping back to the present with her cradled in my arms I just
embrace her little body.
She wakes up when music starts playing and she instantly
starts bobbing her head, doing a little wiggle, and clapping her hands. I laugh
and think " a girl after my own heart". Even though it frustrated me and still
frustrates me that she doesn't receive the love she deserves, doesn't have the
nutrition she needs, and her education is last priority in her family, on a
really true level I knew it was best for her to stay with her family. She was
the one that took her sister to church even though her mother never went. If
she's taken my heart, how many more can she soften for His kingdom?
In the end, the church is going to provide for her to begin
school at once along with her sister Beatrice. I think she'll always have a
little piece of my heart. Something about her loving grin just captured it. It
hurt to give her that last hug, but I expect her future to be bright and I'll
continue to pray for her as if she were flesh of my flesh.
In Uganda and most African countries, people have a
difficult time trying to say my name. So, I shortened it to Les which is really
my preference anyway (it makes me feel endeared ha-ha). People still had
difficulties, calling me things that ranged from Celeste to Jelly. I finally
explained it as "Not More?" and then the pastor began to introduce me as "Less"
in Acholi (the mother tongue of Northern Uganda). That word is "Wanok".
The complicated pronunciation of my name made me think. Can
I even really introduce myself as "Wanok" as less? How often do I live my life
as Less of Les? We sing often in songs things like "less of me God, more of
You," but how often do we LIVE it. How often do I put others before myself on a
sacrificial level? It's like the woman with the two coins. People made fun of
her because they thought they gave more but they gave our of their
abundance-often Christians do "less" of themselves for self glory and
gratification being blinded by their own self pursuits. How often do we live
with more of those around us, and more of God? More of those people who really
agitate us and make us frustrated. How often do we actually live out less of us
and more of those people?
And most importantly how often do I truly put God
first----not second place, not third and a half place, not last place, but
first. How often do we live with more of God...? MOST of God. I know I'm not
doing a great job but I hope to grow in it. I think just because we aren't
doing well in something doesn't mean we should accept defeat. What's impossible
with man is possible with God right? He can guide us to a more healthy level of
us, others, and God.
So my goal is to live this new approach to my name "Less".
I thought it would good to let everyone know where my story begins and why I would have decided to take this crazy race in life. I also want to mention that my daddy now is wonderful and this story speaks nothing ill of him. He has been there for me and has guided me the way a father should. I love you, dad.
MY STORY
Although my journey as a believer starts off the same as
many others you've heard-it's just as miraculous and powerful. I grew up in
church and colored pictures of a "Caucasian" Jesus, but I didn't have a
relationship with Him.
At the age of eight I felt a strong and compelling love. I
knew about Jesus and I had heard many stories and I wanted to be a part of Him
and what He stood for. So I prayed for Him to encompass my life.
Years later, I began struggling. I was resentful;
frustrated, hopeless, and all together felt no love---partially because I chose
not to. My birth father had left when I was two and at this point in my life, I
longed for his approval. Now in high school I yearned for a pursuit from a
fatherly figure. Don't get me wrong, my mother had remarried and my now daddy was
and is exceptional, but there was still a part of me that needed that original
father's love. From the one who helped make me and like whom I look. Never did
I receive a call, or letter, or birthday greeting.
I called out over and over, "God, where is my father?" and
then one day I heard His reply. "Here I am, my child. You need not seek another
aside from me." He was the love I needed. He was the father in pursuit of me.
He was the one and only that could love me unconditionally. He was my Abba. He
is my Abba-Daddy. If it hadn't been for that all clear moment in my life as a
senior in high school-I'm not sure where I would be or what I would have
become.
He saved me. He not only saved me eternally (which is the
hugest blessing) but he saved me fro myself. He saved me from destroying His
spirit that He had placed within me at the age of eight. I never struggled with
drugs, alcohol, or sex. No, my addiction was to relentless hopelessness. I can
now say that although I still have no contact with my father, that I no longer
need it. God filled my void. My only regret is not listening to his loving
whispers sooner. My wish now is to share that overflowing love with others. So
they can experience his powerful grace, mercy, love and understanding through
intimacy with a lover.
Rarely has anyone seen such pride for a plot of land as was seen on the face of Pastor JJ's as he took Team Symphony (that is our new team name by the way... we changed from Team Unwritten in Uganda) to the sight of his new church. He pointed this way and that detailing where the church would start, where the pulpit would be. He showed them where he hoped to build his house on the church land, how close it was to his son Samuel's school. He told them how in a few years, with the way the town was expanding, it would be the very center of town with main roads on all sides. He bragged on this piece of property the way proud mothers and fathers do on their children.
Really though it was just a regular plot of land. Like almost any other in Africa. But what you must realize is that Pastor JJ is a man of vision. He sees what can be, and better yet what will be. He has only been in Pader, Uganda for 3 years but has already built up a church that is almost the largest in the town. And we do not mean a church building. We are talking about a church. A group of people who come together to worship the Lord. A group of people who are a light to the community, who are joyful because they have a reason to be joyful. However as most can attest churches need a place to operate.
We come to you on behalf of Pastor JJ and his church. They are in need of about $10,000 to build their new church. They have been meeting in a borrowed building which in the next month will be taken away from them. If there is one thing we have learned for certain these past 7 months it is that there is so much need in this world. It is everywhere, it does not matter what corner of the world we go to.
But to be able identify a need for a group of people and even begin to have the means to meet that - this is a blessing in itself.
Northern Uganda is an area that has experienced much darkness in the past 20 years. It is an area that has been plagued by wars and senseless death. Men our own age are haunted by the times that they were forced to serve in armies, that their fathers, mothers and sisters were killed, it is an area in recovery, and in need. What better to invest in than the church? We as Christians claim to know something that others do not. We claim to hold to a truth that is beyond us, and beyond this world. If ever darkness was in need of light it is surely here. If we are in Christ than it is our brothers and sisters in Uganda whom we are asking you to help.
We, the J Squad, have been given the opportunity to raise money for Victory Outreach Ministries in Pader, Uganda. They are in need of a church building. This is not a church building complete with bells and whistles and Sunday school rooms and gyms. This is a building, a one room building for God's people to meet. A building for God's people to come together and worship the lord. A group of people standing as a light to a community amongst much darkness.
Team Symphony had the opportunity to spend a month with Pastor JJ and according to the team they have rarely come across a man with such faith, with such blind obedience to the Lord. Pastor JJ moved his wife away from his and her family 3 years ago to start this church. His wife is the only one working to bring money for the family, she works at a NGO as a maid. The church can not afford to give Pastor JJ a salary. Any tithe or donation that the church is able to give goes to both paying for the church building/property and helping those who are in great need, and believe me there are plenty of these people.
Please help us help this man, this family, this church, and this community. There is a need to be met, please help us to meet it. We know many of you have already supported someone on this trip, but we have no one else to ask. We as a squad are coming together to raise money for this church. You who are reading this are our church, you are the people we stand with and so we ask you to help us. Please help us meet this need, this need which we are capable to meet. Even if we do not raise the complete $10,000, we can guarantee any amount will be a blessing to this church. Please seriously and prayerfully considering donating to a worthy cause, we only have until April, 24th 2010 to raise the money. PLEASE JOIN US!
(We're trying to publish a video of Victory Outreach Ministries but are having a difficult time publishing it with the slow internet, we will post it as soon as possible)
Please select "Support a World Race Project" under Choose Program.
Please enter "2010 Feb J Squad" in the Project Field.
If you wish to send a donation by mail, please make your check payable to Adventures In Missions and mail it to:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 303
Please indicate "World Race Project Fund – 2010 Feb J Squad" in the memo section of the check.
Your gift is tax-deductible.
Just a quick update. We are currently in Iringa, Tanzania working with a pastor and his family of Evangelical Assemblies of God Church of Tanzania. We are loving it here. The weather is great. The people are great. We are doing the norms: door-to-door evangelism, preaching/teaching, worship leading, teaching youth (college kids), teaching kids, etc...
We JUST found out where our next destination will be! We were scheduled to go to Vietnam BUT God always shows us somethign better. SOOOOO... we are now heading to .....
THE PHILIPPINES!!!! We are extremely excited about this move from God and AIM. We were excited about Vietnam but we are pleasantly surprised about the Philippines and what we'll be doing there. When we find out more of the specifics we will shoot out another blog.
Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers! We love you all! Continue to pray and support us. We could NOT do this without you and God's call on your hearts. We praise Him for all of you. Thank you so much!
Love,
chad & les
[P.S. - Les is really excited because she thinks she is going to her motherland... hehehehehe. Just kidding.]
Well, we are currently in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and we head to Iringa, Tanzania to do the usual things (evangelism, door-to-doors, and continuing to bring the Kingdom!)...
and we SOMEHOW got great internet and decided to look up someone's blog!
This someone isn't just any someone, however... he has been Chad's roommate, one of his best friends in life, and a great friend to Leslie as well. This guy is also a part of the Jowers family back home! He is Mark Schandel.
Look up his site at http://markschandel.theworldrace.org/
Right now, he is in need of $7,500.00 left to pay for his Squad leading position with AIM on the World Race. PLEASE support this awesome man of God who is doing so much for the Lord. He has not only been there for Chad and Les, but he has also been leading a Squad of 20-somethings who are desperate for the Lord's Kingdom to come. He is helping them usher that passion in.
So, please check out his site, pray for him, PAY for him, and please watch this video below of how things have been going for him and his squad in Australia!!!!
Ok, everyone... sooo... we are REposting this again. PLEASE send this to everyone you know!!! We are currently in the HOMESTRETCH for the Race and we only have 4 months left to go!!
We still are in need of $8,225.00 left and we pretty much need $2,000.00 each month to complete this. If you have been feeling lead to give or if you know someone who would love to give, please pass us along!! As you can see, our work is NOT over.
SOOOO.... THANK YOU! to all of our current supporters and all of those who have ever given to us financially and prayer!!! We couldn't be here without you!!
Our squadmates and teammates helped in creating this video with us to show our journey so far and to show what we mean to them and that God has us on this Race for a reason. We have been very touched by each of these people who gave testimony to our presence and friendship with them thus far on the Race.
Not only have they mentioned that they have been influenced by us but we have been greatly influenced and blessed by them. We were unable to fit all of the videos in, so we are sorry about that, but know that there were many who testified about us being on this trip.
We love you all and are praying blessings and God's will sovereignly over your lives!
Soli Deo Gloria!
chad and les
P.S. - PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!!!
The other morning we went to a school to encourage the
students and teach them about Christ and also the importance of education (of
course this is the plug that the teachers wanted us to make).
We walk on the grounds and hundreds of giggling elementary
school children race by to catch a glimpse of the mzungus (white people). After
the teachers gather them into an assembly outside then we traipse out in order
to talk about education and our hearts. We introduce ourselves and sing some
songs. Then, Chad teaches on wisdom and God while the children listen
attentively.
After the scheduled events we asked the students if they had
any questions. They asked about the burning bush and other bible knowledge.
Then, the teachers asked their questions. They weren't as easy and lighthearted
to answer as the ones that the children asked.
"What do you do with orphaned children in education?"
"How do you deal with the issue of AIDS in school?"
We answer the questions as best we can with the limited
knowledge we have on these issues. And I'm disconcerted and they prompt me to
ask questions. I ask one of the teachers in a whisper, "How many children are
there at the school". "350" is the response. "How many of them are orphans", I
ask. "Over 100", she replies. "And how many of them have AIDS?" "Many, many
have AIDS", she says matter-of-factly with a frown.
Many have aids. Many are orphans.
So many children in the US deal with loads of issues daily
as elementary school students, but how many deal with the reality of AIDS? How
often do we complain about how our parents react to situations when we should
be grateful that we have parents we can complain about?
I don't have a lot to vocalize on these issues. Just that I
am astounded at the truth of the statistics and knowing that there needs to be
a change. Am I willing to be the impetus that promotes the change if God calls
me to?
I
encourage churches around the world to stop competing with one another for
numbers and supposed holiness but work together hand in hand. Do we not have a
common goal? Is not the purpose to raise the church and add to its numbers
daily?
Why do
we live with such low expectations? Are we not equipped with the same spirit
who guided in healing, feeding the five thousand, casting out demons, and
raising the dead? The spirit isn't absent. No, we are just stagnant. We have to
release the spirit within. Are we trying to limit the spirit? Pressing it down
unto submission by our flesh? Awake oh sleeper and engage in Him! He's what we
need. He's all we need.
Do we
really think there are things outside of him that can quench our thirst and
satisfy our souls? That's like trying to feed a flame with water. It doesn't
bring life it douses it. Draw near to Him. It's not too late. He weeps for his
wayward brides. He wants true intimate relationships. And if you think for one
pure moment that's all you want too. What does he offer? The question is what
thing that is good does he NOT offer? He gives abundantly unwavering,
unconditional love. He is consistent. He is perfect. He gives blessings and
provision, peace and forgiveness.
Embrace
them. Just step in and breathe. If you are empty allow the spirit of God to
rush in and fill every space, every crevice, every molecule of you with Him. If
you think on it... Haven't you heard His knock? It's somehow familiar? It's
that whisper that comforts you when you're sad and presumably alone. He's the
power that supports you when you think you can't make it any longer. What are
you waiting for? Just jump into His arms and accept His embrace.
