The Four Candles

The candles were burning at the Advent-Wreath. It was very quiet, so quiet that you could hear how the candles began to talk.

The first candle sighed: “I am called Peace. My light is shining, but people don`t keep peace, they don`t want me. “The light became smaller and finally extinguished completely.

The second candle flickered and said; “I am Faith. But I am not needed. People don`t want to hear about God. There is no meaning in my burning” A breeze passed through the room, and the second candle stopped burning.

Very quietly and sad now the third candle began to speak: I am called LOVE. I have got no strength any more to burn. People push me aside. They see only themselves and not the other ones whom they should Love.”

And with a last flicker also this light was extinguished.

And there came a child into the room. It looked at the candles and said:”

But, you should be burning and not dead. And almost started weeping. At this moment the fourth candle began to speak and it said:” Be not afraid!

As long as I am burning, also the other candles can be lit again. My name is HOPE” And with a match the child took the light from this candle and put on the other lights again.

Prayer Letter Summer

December 2012

Merry Christmas!

I hope this is a season filled with great joy and peace.

Seven women gathered under the big tree near the KACHEP office. They were called from several different villages around Nabilatuk, specially chosen by the community leaders. These are women whose lives have been marked with difficulty; women whose hearts have experienced sadness, women who have toiled to provide for their families. These women have been deemed ‘vulnerable’, most of them are widowed, all of them are in poverty. In a culture that revolves around animals, these women have none. And so they have been chosen to participate in a goats project. The goats project is sponsored through donors in the States and facilitated by KACHEP. We hope that through participation in this program these women will have a tangible reminder that God loves them, that God is providing for them, that God is with them.

The program is set up as a ‘revolving loan’. The women receive a baby she-goat along with training, vaccinations and on-going care/support. The women are expected to take responsibility of the goat and care for it appropriately. When the goat begins to produce, the first female kid is to be given back to the program. The program then gives the baby goat to another woman in need, thus the program continues to bless the community. After the first female kid is returned to the program, the woman can use all ensuing offspring as she deems best. Many of the women use the goat milk to help feed their children, or they sell the male offspring to pay for school fees. In this way there are many long-term benefits for the recipients of the goat project. This is currently our third round of goat distributions.

As with all of our animal health projects, we incorporate Bible teaching into the program. As I prayed about what story to teach, I thought about the Christmas story. I reread the passage in Luke 2 with renewed interest. This story is one of shepherds. Simple people, whose lives revolved around their livestock, people who lived off the land and who would probably have a lot in common with the Karamojong.

The shepherds were watching their fields at night. I can imagine the Karamojong shepherds in the
kraals at night. Their make-shift grass huts open to the night sounds. Bows and arrows readily at hand
in case any raiders or wild animals came crouching in the dark. Mosquitoes buzzing in ears and flies
tickling the nose. Smelly. They would be smelly, the sweat of the day mixed with dust and piles of sheep, goat and cow manure- but the smells would be familiar to them, comforting even. Smoke would curl through the air; flames bright against the penetrating darkness surrounding them… for the first time I can truly picture it, these shepherds watching their flocks by night. Away from the modern conveniences of the American life, I can see what it means to be a shepherd. I can appreciate the difficulties of it. I can understand it in new ways.

Shepherds are the caretakers of God’s creation. Shepherds are near to Gods heart. Smelly and dirty though they are, God looks at them and calls them his own. And so it was that God first revealed Himself to the lowly shepherds of Bethlehem. With the brilliance of the heavenly hosts, God exalted His name among the shepherds. They go running to see the Christ-child, the long-awaited Messiah. I love that God met the shepherds where they were at, in their fields, then He took them to the familiar surroundings of a manger and then He transformed their lives. When they saw Jesus, they could not remain the same. They could not return unchanged to their fields. They were now worshippers of Jesus, they were now witnesses of Jesus, they were now filled with the joy and the peace of the message of the Messiah. They returned to their fields, but they would never be able to return to life without Jesus. Their lives were now conduits for the glory and praise of the Lord.

I look at the seven women sitting before me and think that for the first time these women will become shepherds. They will receive a goat and take on the responsibility of caring for God’s creation. But I pray that as they hear this story they will be more than just shepherds of goats. I pray that they will meet Jesus and be transformed by His presence in their lives. I share this story with the women and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What greater gift could I give them? I pray that as they go about their lives- as they fetch water, look after their households, care for their goats, that God will meet them at each of those places. I pray that God will reveal to them the glory of the heavenly hosts and that they will choose to seek Jesus, just as those shepherds of old did. I pray that their hearts will be full with the joy and peace that comes through meeting Jesus.

The following day, the KACHEP team, Melissa and I went to the village of Ngakobokobe. There we met with twenty four elders of three villages. We conducted a training on keeping healthy animals. I once again shared the story of the shepherds meeting Jesus. Once again I could envision the shepherds of old, the ones first entrusted with the message of Jesus. They were shepherds, but they were also people of influence. When they shared about Jesus, people listened to them, they were amazed by the message that they shared. These Karamojong elders were also shepherds. In fact one cannot be an elder without having been a shepherd, without having animals to shepherd. The community would only listen to the shepherds, the warriors who fought to protect and care for their animals. It is not a light responsibility to be a shepherd. Once again I think about the role of spreading the message of Jesus to others. God knew that the shepherds were the perfect ones to be entrusted with this message. So my heart prays that these elders will become bearers of God’s message. I pray that as they build their capacity for caring for their animals, they will also build their understanding of who Jesus is. I pray that as they hear the message of Jesus they will begin to share it with others. I pray that they will use the influence that God has given them for the glory and praise of God’s name.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the vast needs around me. Needs that reflect both physical and spiritual elements of the Karamojong. But I am reminded today that the most pivotal event in all history- the coming of the Messiah was shared with simplicity and spread through shepherds. I am in a land of shepherds. I am sharing the Good News of Jesus. I am praying that those who hear it will be quick to respond and joyful to share.

I also pray for you, that as you are reminded of the Good News of Jesus Christ this season, you will be filled with the peace and joy of that message. I pray that you would be empowered to share this message with others and that through you many more people will hear about Jesus. I pray that we would all be shepherds of God’s flocks.

Thinking of you this Christmas, with much joy and gratitude
Summer


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Posted by Summer Root at 8:31 AM

Update Kachep

Per mail from Jean:

Just got this from Mukisa a few minutes ago in Karamoja

Just keep praying for us,the warriors have just come at office they
shoot at the watchman and the bullet went off truck.He ran away and
his let is now hut.

Guessing last line is 'his leg is hurt'

Per Facebook from Miriam:
For my english speaking friends: the KaCheP office got raided yesterday night. Shootings. Watchman survived luckily. One woman killed (not from our staff as far as I know)

My Last Week in Nabilatuk, Karamoja!

26th November - 2nd December

At the beginning of our week, Summer prayed that God would bless this week for me and make it a week to remember; that all of our programs for the busy week ahead would go smoothly and be beneficial to the community and that by God's grace He would sort out all the loose ends and that we would have fun.

Man, did God answer her prayer! What a week :) Tuesday and Wednesday were big training days. Thursday was my goodbye party with KACHEP members and some people from our community and Saturday we were doing the last of the vaccinations for our chickens and debeaking them as well.

On Tuesday we had another goat distribution (when I first arrived in Nabilatuk in March this was the first thing we did, and now it is one of the last things I'll do as well!), Seven goats to seven women in the community. A goat can give hope to a woman who is struggling with no income and no family. The women are selected from within the Nabilatuk community by a criteria of 'vulnerability' (it sounded weird to me when I first heard it too but it makes sense now), women who are widows, orphans, impoverished, etc. The goats were ear-tagged, given an antibiotic and dewormer to see them off, vaccinated for Clostridium/Tetanus and then tick sprayed.

For impartiality, the women picked a number out of a hat and were given a goat accordingly, which was a strange concept for them to understand initially haha, there was a lot of talk over this! It was a really wonderful day. Summer told the story of Jesus' birth, linking it back to Genesis and our need for a saviour because of our sins and then fast-forwarding to Jesus' final work on the cross which accomplished that need. One of my favourite parts was seeing each woman walk to their homes from the office with a goat and a smile planted on their faces.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unpolluted by the world." James 1:27

Wednesday - It is so hard for me to explain how cool it is to see Karamajong warriors putting up their hands like they are in school to answer questions on animal health and about their cows. They get sooooo excited about learning new information that will help them keep their cattle healthier. On Wednesday we had what we called a 'Keeping Healthy Animals Awareness Day' and we went to a village that is too far for the people to come and receive health care for their animals in town regularly. Our aim was to empower them with knowledge of how to diagnose common diseases (what specific symptoms to look out for in particular) and what medicines they can buy to treat them with. Also, importantly, how to dose correctly so that their animals do improve from their illnesses and don't just get better for the short term but suffer in the long run because of bacterial resistances caused by underdosing.


'Keeping Healthy Animals Awareness Day'

Something that I've learnt this year that I'll really take away with me is how to couple my faith with deeds that are an expression of that faith. For the people here, they are in poverty and live off the land. What is important to them? Cattle. It is their status in the community, their currency (or bank, they call them), symbolism of God's blessing, bride-price, identity. How can I serve them in the name of Jesus? Help them with what is important to them and do the greatest service of love, tell them about Jesus and the salvation and hope that comes through him.
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?... As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:14-26

On Saturday, Karamoja farewelled me good and proper with a stomach bug, eghhh. Typical. We left Sunday morning and said many, many goodbyes. Closure has its place, but it'd be easier if we never had to say goodbyes. It's been a year of ups and downs and I've learnt so much. I am praying I can come back again one day but for now, Vet school. Goodbye Uganda, Keep it real!

Thanksgiving Celebration in Karamoja

24^th November 2012

As an Australian, I didn't grow up celebrating Thanksgiving as a holiday. After experiencing it with 27 American friends, here in Karamoja though, I am a fan of it! Historically, I am told, the day came about when the Pilgrims (those who fled England because they were being persecuted for their faith) came to America for the first time (If you want to know the year, google it). Many of them did not survive their first year, but the Indians/Native Americans taught them how to cultivate the land for corn, pumpkin and other crops. Those who survived, celebrated by having a meal together with the Native Americans. Thanksgiving was born as they shared all the things they were thankful to God for.

Today, of course ,the old tradition means different things to different people but I love the idea of a day dedicated to praising God for all He does. Plus there is great food involved!

Summer and I had bought a pig for the festivities which was quite an ordeal. We put him (Boris) in the back of our 4wd and travelled the 45 minutes home. When we got back we were preparing his 'sleeping quarters' and he jumped out the window of the truck, and galloped through the thorn fence to our neighbours. As he was escaping one of our cats Mojo, who may have been feeling a bit threatened by this new member, leapt on his back screeching with her claws dug into him. He was squealing, she was growling, needless to say it was truly horrid. We ran over to our neighbours, caught Borisand brought him back, realising that out here, something that we'd tried to keep a bit on the “down-low” (that we had a pig) could never have been kept a secret. Small towns hey...

So we had spent all week debating how to 'do away with him' for the party. We finally decided to fob the responsibility off in the name of animal rights and opted for a bullet in the head. Quick, easy and finished, we thought. Well, all we had to do then, was find a gun.
Early Saturday morning Summer and I walked over to the army barracks to sweet talk our way into getting someone to help us. What we got in reply to "We were wondering if you could please come and shoot our pig for us?" was laughter and a "No". There was a 'but' however, which was that they sent with us 3 men who, we were assured, were "expert pig killers", don't ask me how someone gets that title, but there you go.

Jennifer and me preparing Boris

So, in the end we had a whole pigs worth of meat and I got a good revision session in on my swine anatomy too! There were also other strange and wonderful foods brought by our American guests; sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows on top, green beans smothered in creamy sweetcorn soup, pumpkin pie, deep fried onion rings, and more.



I am thankful for the year I have had here in Karamoja, for the friends I've made and the lessons God has taught me. How great is it that God can bring people from all corners of the world together for his work, redeeming the world back to Himself. I am thankful, so thankful, for John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."



I am thankful that God looked at the world, his creation that rejected him, and was not content to leave us dead in our sins, estranged from him. I am thankful for the gift of life through the death and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ.A holiday of being grateful :)

"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Some of our visitors for Thanksgiving

Update Melissa

John Chapter 3

Tuesday 20th November 

Today we had our last village bible studies with 2 villages they call Okutoot and Napana. Okutoot have had a relationship with KACHEP for about 2 years now but with Napana we have only just started visiting and getting to know them since the beginning of October this year. One of their biggest struggles is the distance they are from a church. They are about 20 km give or take from the closest two towns which is quite a long way to walk every Sunday! So one day when they saw us driving from Okutoot and asked us what we were doing, they asked us if we could come lead a Bible study in their village so they could have church every week too. At the beginning of our time with them, we found that there was only three strong Christians in Napana, but the majority of the people had no idea what Jesus was all about, especially the men. After the first couple of weeks as we told Bible stories, the men sadly stopped coming. A large group of women, teenagers and children kept coming however.

We took them through what is called chronological Bible storying, telling Bible stories from Creation and the Fall in Genesis, to the birth of Jesus and the gospel message of life through faith in Jesus' death and resurrection. This spans most of the Bible, leaving them with a good understanding of what Christians believe and the Good news that we are not, nor were we ever, alone here. 

So this week, our last week, I told the story of a man called Nicodemus and his interaction with Jesus, back around 30 AD, found in John Chapter 3. By God's grace, after the story and some discussion about the story and talking through what being a Christian means, 20 plus people gave their lives to Christ today. I was so grateful for Joshua, our translator and his heart for evangelism and wanting his people to understand the truth of Jesus. He translated, but interactively, making sure everyone understood what we were saying to them.

In this story it talks of 'the Kingdom of God' which is another way of saying Heaven, the place where we will be with God and where there is only his love. All sorrow and pain are wiped away. According to the Son of God, there is only one way to enter this kingdom, to be 'born again', through believing in Him and what He has done for the whole world on the cross. To Nicodemus, this was as confusing as it is to the next person when they hear such a concept for the first time. "How can we be born again? Can we jump back into our Mother's womb?" Nicodemus asks. Jesus means that to be his followers, there has to be a life change, we cannot keep living the way we are naturally inclined to and we cannot worship the things we did before. It has to be like we are literally starting over, hence the 'born again'. Anyone can say they will follow Jesus yet continue to live their life as if they don't. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says, "If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new." We are to turn our back on things like selfishness, greed & anger, and strive for those of love, kindness, generosity, etc. For the human race, you and I, this is easier said than done, and it takes a daily commitment and re-commitment as we live our lives, born again as new creations.

Mercy triumphs over judgement = "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He (Jesus Christ) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his Word is not in us. I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours but also for the sins of the whole world."         1 John 1:8-2:1-2

The people of Napana decided to make this informed choice today after meeting with them for 7 weeks now. They were told that it is a relationship, not an obligatory religion and something to fall out of because it is too hard. It is grace. We will do wrong things, Jesus knows that, that is why He, and not us,  had to pay the price for our sins, and he forgives us when we truly want to change.

Pray for them that they would continue on this narrow road of salvation, confessing where they stumble, rejoicing in the knowledge that they are forgiven, submitting their actions and decisions to Christ and trusting in him for everything.

Praise God for his awesomeness!!!!!!!

Melissa

Who am I?

Who I am, aka - my identity, has been so much tied into ‘what I do’ - God wants that to change. Who ‘I am’ is ‘who I am in Him’ –what He has done, not what I have done. I’ve aimed to allow my work to also be worship; all the while searching (and finding) meaningful work that I enjoy and within it I can make a difference in the lives around me.

I still believe this is good, but –I need to further strive to equate my identity in who I am in Christ –not my identity based on ‘what’ I do.

This is a good lesson for me to revisit –now, while still in my 40’s and not at retirement. As we age, or have debilitating accidents, ‘regular work’ gets forced out of our daily lives, which I imagine the abruptness (of identity) would be even more difficult. Now I have a chance to practice what I’ve been preaching. Leaving the mission field of Uganda, life as I’ve known it for 15 years, is giving me an opportunity to live this out. As an adult, I have had a handful of titles – Doctor –working as a vet in America, Missionary - serving with CVM short term in Haiti & Cameroon and long term in Uganda, Wife –married to Tom in Uganda for 8 years, PhD candidate –studying and defending in Belgium in 2008.

But, now, the question begs –who am I? If I’m not a missionary, who am I? Is there really a box that I need to fill in that asks for my title, my identity? Even though we’ve left ‘front line ministry’ and many roles have changed -

I still am, and remain, a child of God (Jn 1). I stand in Him as I sit in my ashes and grieve over my losses. I am complete in Christ (Col1). Thus, I’m accepted.

I am hidden with Christ in God (Col 3). I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rm 8). Thus, I am secure.

I am God’s workmanship (Eph2) and I can do all things thru Him, who strengthens me.  Thus, I am significant!

I do not discount the work that Tom and I have been able to be a part of overseas.  We are grateful that the seeds we’ve planted and others that we’ve watered will still be tended primarily by the Holy Spirit, but also the hands of KACHEP, Summer Root and the Grubers. Please pray for them!

Today, I’m in Germany to meet Simon and Carina Gruber to help in the handover of our ministry to them. Formerly with Campus Crusade, he’s a theologian and she’s a vet. They’ll move to Karamoja to join Summer and KACHEP in January. I will join them for 3 months in March, and I plan to visit every year for a couple of months. Let me know if you are interested in joining me.

KACHEP - Emmy, Olum, Andreas, James, Joshua, Miriam, Christina, Alyce (visiting sis of Mel), Melissa, Valentina, Nabur and Summer
 

KACHEP got another huge batch of day-old chicks last month for the various communities; next month they’ll train another group of select women how to keep healthy goats as another dozen local goats get new homes. Pray for Melissa as she returns to Australia and Carina steps in.
 

Here's one of the family's that you have been supporting thru our work
-  young Longok and his baby goat
 

Tom has returned from Uganda and is getting settled into Texas and looking for teaching jobs at the seminary level and church work. I was able to spend a month backpacking in California, the last week in snow.  Thanks for your prayers regarding my health. Two days ago in Belgium, my neurosurgeon reassured me that my neck is doing well. We are both searching for jobs.  Please feel free to let us know of any leads. As my health is doing well, I plan to get back into large animal veterinary practice and get involved in a community church. We both have loose ends to tie up, some of them with readers of this note.

We continue to rest in the Lord, in whom we are accepted, secure and significant. This is the last month we will receive support thru CVM, therefore, we again urge you to transfer your financial support to KACHEP through CVM, contact Vicki at vvangorkom@cvmusa.org

Paul Elmhorst (Our Father’s House church, WI) is setting up a non-profit fund for KACHEP to transition away from CVM (mid 2013). Another option is to support Summer and the Grubers (see pic below) through Pioneers Int’l or to support another CVM worker, Emily Arndt, who will also do ethnovet work, as I did and KACHEP continues to do.
 

This year has been a time for me to be humble, honest and wounded. Intense Christian counselling for us has helped us start the healing process; my month in the wilderness was delightful - just me and the Lord, with the Spirit groaning through me. Thanks for your prayers.

Within each of us is a space that only God can fill,
 

 

PS Be blessed thanks for your years of support and prayers; for standing with and by us and in Him. Hoping to visit you this summer with KACHEP’s manager, Mukisa -please contact me to look at dates for a visit jeangrade@yahoo.com