Per SMS on 28th October
Just hit the mud road of Karamoja. Ah...oh no,, 4wheeldrive's not working. Stuck again, along with 5 trucks infront of us. Got out now and turning around to go 40km back to Mbale.
4 wheel ok. Dash light out. So why got stuck in mud? Bald tires. Now have new. Drive north in am. Thanks for prayers
JT Grade DVM, PhD
Uganda: +256-758 899777
USA: +1-415 858 4262
Belgium: +32-488 94449
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
bank acount cleared out part 2
Investigators nabbed 2 hackers in Kampala who they believe were involved in duplicating atm card and zero-ing our account. The bank seems serious to follow up and have said they will get our money back. Praying from here
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Fundraiser for Jean Grade and Tom Reed
| Location | Facebook |
|---|---|
| Moderated | |
| Info | My missionary friends Tom and Jean had their Ugandan bank account completely drained by a thief. The total amount lost was $5000 US. It was all the money they have to live on until January. These are the missionaries I served with back in the beginning of the year. This is a great couple, serving the Lord in Karamoja to plant a church among a primitive people group. They need our prayers for this thief to be caught quickly and for the bank to restore their money. In the mean time, would you please consider making a small donation to provide some immediate relief to their situation? I have close to 500 contacts here on Facebook. Together, we could raise this amount in no time at all! Please visit their blog at http://karamojakaabongandb To make a tax deductible contribution, visit this https://www.cvmusa.org/SSL Thanks for your time, consideration, and prayers! |
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
bank acount cleared out
Tom picked me up from the airstrip last week and mentioned something was wrong with the bank card....so when we brought Summer down to the international airport in Entebbe we stopped at Stanbic Bank to follow up. Over the course of 3 days, someone, somehow pulled out money from our account using a Kampala ATM machine....while I was stateside and Tom was with our only card hours away in Karamoja. Our entire account has been cleared, 12.87 million Ugandan shillings - that's over $5000 and was to last us til January of next year. Mukisa said that this is not uncommon and also happened to the KACHEP account. pray that the investigation goes well and that our funds are recovered. In the meantime -we'll stay down in Jinja til we can figure it out - and to pay for the one million truck bill we just got. ouch
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Packing and Resettllement of Ryan McCabe
From Ryan's Blog
So this week is crunch time. The beginning of my move to Kitgum is beginning. After several months of checking things out and helping out around Calvary specifically with the worship team, the time is now. It is funny that but a year and few months ago I was doing this same thing, moving. However when I moved up to Karamoja there were still things that remained here and i expected over time that the room would be gone. However each time I came for a visit I found the house the same, except for some stored items. So overtime I made things a little better, a lil more comfortable. Now on the horizon is a move that is not based on in an out time but on full time. So this last week I have been organizing and tearing apart my house, sorting clothing, and dealing with hoarded stuff that should have gone long ago. and even Picture albums(yes they still make those). So as my house becomes more barren I prepare for what will be and no longer for what was. It is an exciting time and one that can be scary. So keep me in prayer.
Will be praying for your new start....
So this week is crunch time. The beginning of my move to Kitgum is beginning. After several months of checking things out and helping out around Calvary specifically with the worship team, the time is now. It is funny that but a year and few months ago I was doing this same thing, moving. However when I moved up to Karamoja there were still things that remained here and i expected over time that the room would be gone. However each time I came for a visit I found the house the same, except for some stored items. So overtime I made things a little better, a lil more comfortable. Now on the horizon is a move that is not based on in an out time but on full time. So this last week I have been organizing and tearing apart my house, sorting clothing, and dealing with hoarded stuff that should have gone long ago. and even Picture albums(yes they still make those). So as my house becomes more barren I prepare for what will be and no longer for what was. It is an exciting time and one that can be scary. So keep me in prayer.
Will be praying for your new start....
Thursday, October 20, 2011
So - storying Part 2
I've been experimenting recently with the story of Job. You remember him: famous for suffering. Except that's really the least of his worries and of the story. The real issue with Job is, he was a "Righteous" sufferer, i.e., he had every right to expect that good behavior would result in an unbroken sequence of divine protection and blessing. Both he and everyone he knew thought the reverse was also true. Anyone who suffers is simply suffering the natural, expected and correct consequences of their bad behavior, even if secretly bad. But Job's righteousness brings suffering, instead. Don't you just hate it when a great theory runs smack into reality? Ouch!
Now, all the action happens early. God sets up Job for satans pot shots, which he experiences on two occasions. As a result, Job loses everything, except his wife and friends, whose advice makes you wonder if he might rather have lost them (har har - just kidding!). God's dialogue with satan reveals the real issue: satan accuses God of buying off Job's affections, that God isn't really worthy of love and obedience. Job's refusal to curse God vindicates Him and presumably shames satan.
Most of the book (Job 3-37) is Job's discussion of his experience vs. their legalistic doctrine. The driving refrain there is, "how I wish I could talk to God directly!", because, of course, Job knows nothing of the events in chapters 1-2. He's just like us: we suffer and demand to know "why?". But would that really have helped? In the end, God appears but doesn't answer any questions. God only reveals his power and knowledge. He is worthy of Job's (and our) faith, whether we know all that He knows or not.
Except for the appearance of God and His restoration of all Job's blessings, this is pretty true to life. Readers have the benefit of knowing what Job didn't, the events in heaven. Christians have the benefit of knowing much more and of having what Job desired, an Advocate.
But what's the benefit to the Karamojong? It's a riddle. Not just suffering, which heightens the senses and sharpens the focus, but all of life. Especially if you have a legalistic worldview (as Job did and the Karamojong do). Nothing highlights the basically lawless nature of life than strict adherence to "the rules" (laws of physics and patterns of life, notwithstanding). And Christ is the answer, both now, when things are at their most "lawless" and in the future, when His law will be universal. Job raises the question that we all try to avoid with our particular brands of 'law' and the only answer is Jesus. Cool, eh?
Now, all the action happens early. God sets up Job for satans pot shots, which he experiences on two occasions. As a result, Job loses everything, except his wife and friends, whose advice makes you wonder if he might rather have lost them (har har - just kidding!). God's dialogue with satan reveals the real issue: satan accuses God of buying off Job's affections, that God isn't really worthy of love and obedience. Job's refusal to curse God vindicates Him and presumably shames satan.
Most of the book (Job 3-37) is Job's discussion of his experience vs. their legalistic doctrine. The driving refrain there is, "how I wish I could talk to God directly!", because, of course, Job knows nothing of the events in chapters 1-2. He's just like us: we suffer and demand to know "why?". But would that really have helped? In the end, God appears but doesn't answer any questions. God only reveals his power and knowledge. He is worthy of Job's (and our) faith, whether we know all that He knows or not.
Except for the appearance of God and His restoration of all Job's blessings, this is pretty true to life. Readers have the benefit of knowing what Job didn't, the events in heaven. Christians have the benefit of knowing much more and of having what Job desired, an Advocate.
But what's the benefit to the Karamojong? It's a riddle. Not just suffering, which heightens the senses and sharpens the focus, but all of life. Especially if you have a legalistic worldview (as Job did and the Karamojong do). Nothing highlights the basically lawless nature of life than strict adherence to "the rules" (laws of physics and patterns of life, notwithstanding). And Christ is the answer, both now, when things are at their most "lawless" and in the future, when His law will be universal. Job raises the question that we all try to avoid with our particular brands of 'law' and the only answer is Jesus. Cool, eh?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Pedro
So, I must introduce Pedro, a new "member" of our team. We purchased him
from some friends-of-friends living in Mbale who are packing up for
retirement to return to the UK. We don't often purchase team members and
this is NOT a foray into indentured servitude. And, though Pedro's
"services" will be offered to the local community for a price, we're also
NOT starting micro-finance programs in prostitution. Pedro is a goat - a
male goat - a male goat almost as large as a Shetland pony - and he's the
only goat around here that, when the Karamojong men see him, their eyes
don't light up with hunger for a roast but with an entirely different sort
of "desire". The Karamojong typically care less for the quality of their
animals than for their number (thus, their penchant for raiding and not for
breeding). But Pedro REALLY brings out the "hope" and "plan for progress"
genes mostly laying dormant in them. Though we'll charge for his services to
the general community, he is intended to ... aaaaaahhhh ... (how do you say
it ...) "assist" the female goats that KACHEP distributed to vulnerable
women in the community.
As goats go, and they almost always go WAAAAAY EVIL, Pedro is a prince
among them, and not solely for his stature. He's pretty placid and even
tempered, almost like a pet (he really likes to be scratched on the sides of
his neck and just between his very large horns, though the rat fink did try
to butt me). If left alone, he'll just stand, or sit, quietly where tied and
chew (and drop amazingly stinky ... aaaahh ... droppings - we moved out of
there Just In Time!). This is contrary to most goats (of standard size and
evil nature) who constantly seek ways to annoy and make a LOT of noise. As
I've been heard to say many times, goats are ... what? EVIL (and that's why
God made them tasty! so, eat all you can, He'll just make more!)!
Apparently, Pedro's natural evilness has been curtailed or diverted somehow
(did I mention that the rascal tried to butt me while I was scratching
behind his ears?! *#$@% goat); so, I suspect he won't be as tasty when his
life of "service" comes to its natural end. Updates will be posted when
appropriate.
So, there you have it. A project to improve (drastically!) the goat
breeding stock in southern Karamoja. And I don't want to hear any snide
comments about "goat prostitution" or "goat pimp" or "goats of the evening"
(apparently, he's available both morning and evening), or "corrupting the
character of a goat" (remember, 1: goats are evil; 2: Pedro is a goat; 3:
therefore, he ain't no victim); and all movie references should be kept to a
minimum ("Pretty Goat" and "The Story of gOat" stretch the bounds of both
propriety, even for goats, and credulity).
from some friends-of-friends living in Mbale who are packing up for
retirement to return to the UK. We don't often purchase team members and
this is NOT a foray into indentured servitude. And, though Pedro's
"services" will be offered to the local community for a price, we're also
NOT starting micro-finance programs in prostitution. Pedro is a goat - a
male goat - a male goat almost as large as a Shetland pony - and he's the
only goat around here that, when the Karamojong men see him, their eyes
don't light up with hunger for a roast but with an entirely different sort
of "desire". The Karamojong typically care less for the quality of their
animals than for their number (thus, their penchant for raiding and not for
breeding). But Pedro REALLY brings out the "hope" and "plan for progress"
genes mostly laying dormant in them. Though we'll charge for his services to
the general community, he is intended to ... aaaaaahhhh ... (how do you say
it ...) "assist" the female goats that KACHEP distributed to vulnerable
women in the community.
As goats go, and they almost always go WAAAAAY EVIL, Pedro is a prince
among them, and not solely for his stature. He's pretty placid and even
tempered, almost like a pet (he really likes to be scratched on the sides of
his neck and just between his very large horns, though the rat fink did try
to butt me). If left alone, he'll just stand, or sit, quietly where tied and
chew (and drop amazingly stinky ... aaaahh ... droppings - we moved out of
there Just In Time!). This is contrary to most goats (of standard size and
evil nature) who constantly seek ways to annoy and make a LOT of noise. As
I've been heard to say many times, goats are ... what? EVIL (and that's why
God made them tasty! so, eat all you can, He'll just make more!)!
Apparently, Pedro's natural evilness has been curtailed or diverted somehow
(did I mention that the rascal tried to butt me while I was scratching
behind his ears?! *#$@% goat); so, I suspect he won't be as tasty when his
life of "service" comes to its natural end. Updates will be posted when
appropriate.
So, there you have it. A project to improve (drastically!) the goat
breeding stock in southern Karamoja. And I don't want to hear any snide
comments about "goat prostitution" or "goat pimp" or "goats of the evening"
(apparently, he's available both morning and evening), or "corrupting the
character of a goat" (remember, 1: goats are evil; 2: Pedro is a goat; 3:
therefore, he ain't no victim); and all movie references should be kept to a
minimum ("Pretty Goat" and "The Story of gOat" stretch the bounds of both
propriety, even for goats, and credulity).
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Visitors
Yes, we're a little pumped up after the pastoralist meeting in Ethiopia.
And the unbelievably (often, impassibly) bad roads this rainy season can't dampen our enthusiasm. Ahead lies more language study, another trip north to Kaabong to push forward plans for the next phase of the work, more team-recruiting, and then Christmas. As for recruiting, please pray for
Summer Root. She's a Californio who's been with Pioneers in Ethiopia for three years and is visiting us for several months to see if God will lead her to join our team. We sure hope so. We also hosted Marissa Silva, another Californio who came for a month to help Jean with the chick project. She's
looking forward to veterinary school, and we hope also, eventually, to mission work in . oooh . what say . Uganda! Why not. Ok, so that's a little downstream time-wise but we really enjoyed her and she claims also to have enjoyed her stay with us. Please continue to pray for God to add to our number.
And the unbelievably (often, impassibly) bad roads this rainy season can't dampen our enthusiasm. Ahead lies more language study, another trip north to Kaabong to push forward plans for the next phase of the work, more team-recruiting, and then Christmas. As for recruiting, please pray for
Summer Root. She's a Californio who's been with Pioneers in Ethiopia for three years and is visiting us for several months to see if God will lead her to join our team. We sure hope so. We also hosted Marissa Silva, another Californio who came for a month to help Jean with the chick project. She's
looking forward to veterinary school, and we hope also, eventually, to mission work in . oooh . what say . Uganda! Why not. Ok, so that's a little downstream time-wise but we really enjoyed her and she claims also to have enjoyed her stay with us. Please continue to pray for God to add to our number.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Pig roast
So, now we're back. Much against Jean's wishes, we put the pig-roast off until after Ramadan (no kidding), although her arguments were compelling. That is, if they're going to install a power-source and loud-speaker and use them almost continuously for a month, surely they won't mind a little roast next door. . . Hey! It's not like we were going to invite them, or anything! Joking! Even if they have lost their sense of humor, we still have ours, right? The celebration marking the completion of our stone house is slated for 17 Sept - of course, it isn't actually 100%. But it should be by the
following week and then we'll move in. We've lived in tents for 13 months, which, considering the patriarchs of Israel, isn't all that much. But we'd planned for only 2 or 3. The date was set so Miriam could attend before jetting off to Germany for fund-raising. Sadly, we couldn't time it for Ryan, who's left us for greener pastures, but what to do . CHOW! That's what! I've always thought that one of the greatest guilty pleasures in being a Christian was bacon, and roast pork is the next best thing. Yee-haaa!
following week and then we'll move in. We've lived in tents for 13 months, which, considering the patriarchs of Israel, isn't all that much. But we'd planned for only 2 or 3. The date was set so Miriam could attend before jetting off to Germany for fund-raising. Sadly, we couldn't time it for Ryan, who's left us for greener pastures, but what to do . CHOW! That's what! I've always thought that one of the greatest guilty pleasures in being a Christian was bacon, and roast pork is the next best thing. Yee-haaa!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Addis Ababa
Even Addis Ababa was memorable. It's a beautiful city but I didn't see much of it this time. The bit that we spent there was mostly in taxi's. These are Ladas. Think of a Soviet-era-Fiat knock-off and you'll picture them nicely. Think of wrapping yourself in aluminum foil and motoring through a major
urban center with no seat-belt and you'll picture me nicely. I think I'm prayed up into the late-2020s. In fact, I may be storing up prayer-points for the populations of medium-sized countries. Nothing like transportation in Africa to prove the existence of God and the need for faith. So, I wasn't sight-seeing. I was staring obsessively at traffic and twitching uncontrollably. Anyway, lovely country. Hope to go there again next year and earn some more gray hair. In fact, we hope to bring a number of Karamojong church leaders with us so they can benefit as we have. We tried to bring Joshua of KACHEP this time but he was turned back at customs - sheesh. At $500 per ticket, that's a major prayer request for October 2012.
urban center with no seat-belt and you'll picture me nicely. I think I'm prayed up into the late-2020s. In fact, I may be storing up prayer-points for the populations of medium-sized countries. Nothing like transportation in Africa to prove the existence of God and the need for faith. So, I wasn't sight-seeing. I was staring obsessively at traffic and twitching uncontrollably. Anyway, lovely country. Hope to go there again next year and earn some more gray hair. In fact, we hope to bring a number of Karamojong church leaders with us so they can benefit as we have. We tried to bring Joshua of KACHEP this time but he was turned back at customs - sheesh. At $500 per ticket, that's a major prayer request for October 2012.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Suri
Non-cluster pastoralists in attendance were the Suri, famous for the women who put saucers in their lips, the Murci, whose men, like the Suri, fight with long poles, the Bunna and some special guests from the Maasai. It was an unexpected pleasure to see several troops of tourists (not unlike a troop
of baboons) drive through while we were there to see this "human zoo" in all its wilderness nativity. Not really. I gotta say, though, the plates in the lips were a little off-putting, perhaps as much as the eating with open mouths and generous (!) bodily scarification. Still, we learned a good bit about pastoralists by seeing them all together and listening to everyone's stories. We met at Tulgit, found only on certain National Geographic maps of south-east Ethiopia, near the Sudan border, and accessible by weeks of walking, or two-plus days of four-wheeling or several hours by helicopter.
We chose "Door #3"!! Whooo-Hooo - never been in a helicopter before (though I have a brother who's been in a helicopter crash; does that count?) so it was going to be memorable no matter what. Thankfully, it wasn't as memorable as my brother's experience.
of baboons) drive through while we were there to see this "human zoo" in all its wilderness nativity. Not really. I gotta say, though, the plates in the lips were a little off-putting, perhaps as much as the eating with open mouths and generous (!) bodily scarification. Still, we learned a good bit about pastoralists by seeing them all together and listening to everyone's stories. We met at Tulgit, found only on certain National Geographic maps of south-east Ethiopia, near the Sudan border, and accessible by weeks of walking, or two-plus days of four-wheeling or several hours by helicopter.
We chose "Door #3"!! Whooo-Hooo - never been in a helicopter before (though I have a brother who's been in a helicopter crash; does that count?) so it was going to be memorable no matter what. Thankfully, it wasn't as memorable as my brother's experience.
Miriam at Karamoja stand
After having 6 sessions she has no voice anymore, the next session is to be tomorrow evening. We pray she gets her voice back.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
"So, what do you want from us?"
This question came from a Ng'atom church leader after a couple of days of . well, not grilling exactly, but some intensive questioning on their strategy of evangelistic outreach. The Ng'atom are on both sides of the Sudan-Ethiopian border and are, together with the Toposa of southern Sudan and the Turkana of northern Kenya, part of the Karamojong cluster.
Good question, I thought. OOOPS! You mean no one told you? So I said (out loud): "over a year ago, Trent and I spoke at length about the vision God's been giving each of us." (Trent Cox is another CVM missionary, partnering with SIM in Ethiopia.) "He wants to send missionaries - not muzungu/ferengi
missionaries but Ng'atom - across to Uganda. I want to train Karamojong to be missionaries reaching all the way across to Ethiopia." What I didn't say out loud was, "I WANT RED-MEAT-EATING CHURCH PLANTERS WHO WILL GRAB THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS BY THE THROAT AND SHAKE IT UNTIL ITS DEAD TEETH RATTLE
LOOSE IN ITS BONY HEAD! AAAAAARRRR - ARE YE WITH ME, BOYS??!!" It might have
lost something in the translation. Our translator was James, a Toposa pastor from Kapoeta, south Sudan, speaking to Ng'atom of Sudan & Ethiopia, and conversing with Jean and Martha (a Presbyterian colleague who lives near us) who use Ng'Karimojong. Nice, eh?! One of the by-products of SIL's meeting of pastoralists from the cluster was this confirmation of the member's linguistic proximity to one another. This is also yet another reminder (as if we needed another reminder) that we must make progress in language study. Learning Ng'Karamojong will open up not only the whole of Karamoja but at least three other language groups across three other nations covering more than a million lost pastoralists ("lost"? But I knew where I was the whole time - you know what
I mean). Speaking of which, I've made some progress. I was able to hear some of the conversations around me and (drum roll), I can count all the way up to 10!! So, if "Sesame Street Karamoja" ever takes off, I CAN WATCH IT WITH THE OTHER 5 YEAR OLDS! Well, progress is still progress, so you guys keep praying.
Good question, I thought. OOOPS! You mean no one told you? So I said (out loud): "over a year ago, Trent and I spoke at length about the vision God's been giving each of us." (Trent Cox is another CVM missionary, partnering with SIM in Ethiopia.) "He wants to send missionaries - not muzungu/ferengi
missionaries but Ng'atom - across to Uganda. I want to train Karamojong to be missionaries reaching all the way across to Ethiopia." What I didn't say out loud was, "I WANT RED-MEAT-EATING CHURCH PLANTERS WHO WILL GRAB THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS BY THE THROAT AND SHAKE IT UNTIL ITS DEAD TEETH RATTLE
LOOSE IN ITS BONY HEAD! AAAAAARRRR - ARE YE WITH ME, BOYS??!!" It might have
lost something in the translation. Our translator was James, a Toposa pastor from Kapoeta, south Sudan, speaking to Ng'atom of Sudan & Ethiopia, and conversing with Jean and Martha (a Presbyterian colleague who lives near us) who use Ng'Karimojong. Nice, eh?! One of the by-products of SIL's meeting of pastoralists from the cluster was this confirmation of the member's linguistic proximity to one another. This is also yet another reminder (as if we needed another reminder) that we must make progress in language study. Learning Ng'Karamojong will open up not only the whole of Karamoja but at least three other language groups across three other nations covering more than a million lost pastoralists ("lost"? But I knew where I was the whole time - you know what
I mean). Speaking of which, I've made some progress. I was able to hear some of the conversations around me and (drum roll), I can count all the way up to 10!! So, if "Sesame Street Karamoja" ever takes off, I CAN WATCH IT WITH THE OTHER 5 YEAR OLDS! Well, progress is still progress, so you guys keep praying.
from Jean
hey - i need some prayers. i buzzed to the states for a 9days for my mom's 86yr b-day and to support my family of ten many of who are going thru some extreme difficulty. pray for unity within the siblings, pray for my mom as end of life issues are on the forefront - there's struggles and frustrations as she would like to continue living at home with her companion, Floyd. please just pray - this is a very hard time with court hearings and a lot of siblings personal desires and health issues in the mix. we all love mom - and i know one-another - but it's hard for some of us to feel it or understand it. meanwhile - i just took some meds for malaria. i haven't had it in over 5 years, must've picked it up in Ethiopia last month
Friday, October 7, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Goat project
KACHEP has a women’s goat project in which they give a local she- goat to a window or needy woman. After the goat delivers a female kid, it’s given back to KACHEP so another woman can benefit. This week we have a student from Wisconsin here helping us get ready for the arrival of Pablo- a 6yr old Boer buck, will is making a pen for Pablo so he can um…service the girls, He’s much taller than the local goats and we’d like to gauge the community response to and see how much more milk and meat his kids will bring. Goats are the most common meat that the Karamojong eat. Their milk is better for children and doesn’t upset lactose intolerant people or carry common cattle diseases. Pablo debuts this Saturday!
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