Prayer letter KACHEP

Greetings in the name of the Lord. Thanks go to the Lord who has made us to go through the old year and begin a good new year 2013 Let me share how the KACHEP Ethnovet products have changed the lives of the rural women. KACHEP is producing Neem products, and one of them is the Neem oil. This multipurpose tree was planted by early missionaries, and we have planted thousands of trees in various villages. Hand production of neem oil by hand is time intensive. Women gather, sort and dry seeds which they crush to make Neem oil. The seeds are collected from the ground, sorted, outer flesh removed, seed pit split, pulled apart and ground using special local stones. The oil is then squeezed and packaged. More than five women are involved in this activity gathering twice a week at KACHEP office. The Neem leader Anna Lojalu has grandchildren who were attacked by scabies all over their skin, giving them painful, itchy and contagious wounds. However she never had money to take them to the nearest health center. Anna Lojalu informed Joshua on how scabies had attacked her family, and Joshua advised her to use Neem oil which she was making.  Anna Lojalu used this oil for three weeks, and it helped to transform the skins of her grandchildren in the Manyattas. Now, many other women who saw how well Neem oil worked are coming to office all the time looking for oil. Anna has now embarked seriously to produce Neem oil and tell other people about its healing properties.  This has become her means of livelihood. She sells it and gets money to buy food and pay school fees for some of her grandchildren. She is now training more women on producing the Neem oil and most community members have liked the project. We thank our friends who have been supporting this project so much. May the Lord bless you! Prayer requests Sustainable funding of the Neem project God’s provision for the staff after June (as CVM support ends), and a smooth transition to Uttermost Ministries (see below) We thank you all for the support Pray for Chairman Loumo John who just survived a car accident in Moroto God bless you, Mukisa A note from Jean Grade:  Christian Veterinary Mission is phasing out its support of KACHEP at the end of June.  For this reason, I (Jean) am pleased to introduce Uttermost Ministries who has stepped forward to cover KACHEP funding channels. Uttermost Ministries is part of my home church (Our Father’s House, 501(c) 3) in Chili, WI.  Paul Elmhorst, its founder, has visited KACHEP twice. What does this mean?  You can still support KACHEP financially for tax donations.  Uttermost Ministries will help to send out regular prayer letter updates and hold the team financially and spiritually accountable. This is a key to sustainability and for me to become less as others become more. I have been convicted lately that I am just a table server.  Some water, others plant –I want to be mindful to step back and let the Lord work. He’s in the kitchen, planning the menu, seasoning it all –I have been blessed to be His table server. Thanks for joining us in the meal. To set up your support; or any questions you may have –contact Paul and Mary Elmhorst at pmelmhorst@tds.net  or (715) 937-4004 I’ll be in Uganda by Easter and had hoped in June to return stateside with Mukisa and Mr Loumo, unfortunately, the US Embassy denied their visas. This frustrated them and us who had worked so hard to ‘make it happen’. Immediately, I feared what might evolve/dissolve if they wouldn’t come to the states to meet Uttermost Ministries team and set up working terms, to meet supporters, develop grant writing skill from someone other than me… thankfully, Uttermost Ministries is committed to KACHEP, won’t you join them, too? Now, I am just trying to step back, cease striving and let God be God (and other members in the body). I have peace in letting go, trusting the Lord whom we serve to complete the work He has started. Waiting for the banquet, Jean   Looking for a video grapher join me in May to make a video of KACHEP’s work. Interested? Pray for wisdom Anna Lojalu –front, next to Jean. Behind her is Nalem Rose, another KACHEP field worker, who was tragically killed a couple of months ago when a gang of warriors starting shooting in her village after wounding KACHEP's guard

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What Defines Us?

Monday, March 25, 2013

I was talking with a dear brother in Christ this week and our conversation ended up with a question. Where do we find our identity? What makes me, me? Unique to myself but still connected to the rest of mankind.

One person might answer "I find myself in what I feel." The problem with this thought is that emotions and feelings are tricky things that can change like the weather. If I only find myself whenever I "feel" alive then my life would only be a series of emotional highs and lows and at the very bottom I may wish to give it all up. There is no guarantee that I'll ever have another emotional high so I might want to quit while I am ahead. Go out on top! But then life would be something of a high stakes craps game. But like the dice game, either a pair of ones, the lowest, or a pair of sixes, the highest, still put you out of the game. That forces us to live to the most average median number or emotional state. Hardly how we want to be defined, Mr. Average.

Another man might say that what defines me is my work. Western men in general define themselves this way. I'm Bob-accountant. Phil-mechanic. Larry-cook.  If our passion is our work, it starts well but when you cannot do what defines you anymore then why go on living. This is why so many men soon die after their retirement. They are totally lost without the definition of worth that work gives them.

Still others find their definition in relationships. Marriage can bring definition. Bev and I once took a trip to Kenya and since she booked everything the name was under Beverly. So everyone we met called me Mr. Beaverly. That name stuck with me for five years! I don't mind being connected with my wife and I hope she feels the same. But will we only be described as, "He's the guy that has the great wife." "She's the one who has that quiet husband."

Some find their definition in their physical ability, what I can do. I am a runner, a tennis player, a cripple, a Parkinson's patient or whatever else ails us. Too often we end up here. Defining our existence by the strength and abilities of our bodies. When we do this, degenerative diseases or cancer or whatever else we face becomes our label. It is constant struggle for me not to define myself by my disease. I am more than that.

Some insist it is their reputation that defines them. How others see them. Sin or righteousness that will define us. "He is such an evil man." Or "Such a good man." This too has its drawbacks as the good man or evil man will often be labeled according to his latest act. Good or evil. By what standard do we measure it. Who of us is objective enough to apply the standard of good or evil, in a fair and timely manner?

Is it our sin that defines us? Is it our drunkenness, our uncontrolled tongue. Is it our sexual immorality, whether heterosexual or homosexual, that says who we are? We must be more than the things that hold us in bondage.

Of all the ways we can find ourselves the only true way is in Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God through His son Jesus is the only accurate definition we will ever have of ourselves. That is because of God's unchanging nature. The best definition we can have is "child of God". And we define ourselves not with pride 
but true humility.

When we allow our lives to be defined by Jesus we now find our true worth. Ephesians 1:5 says we are  adopted sons of Jesus, or through Jesus adopted as sons of God the Father. Here is where I am really defined. And this should be what is said about all of us. we are holy and blameless; redeemed by His blood; our sins forgiven, having wisdom and understanding, together with God under heaven.

Now what defines me will not change. The immutable God has put His definition on me by means of His true son, Jesus. I am predestined to bring God glory. That is His will for my life and all men's lives. Living  to know our Creator, our Savior, our God. Living to show Him holy, full of grace and love. Patient and abounding in love.

What defines me? Not what I feel, not what I do, not who I married. My true definition is I am me because God loves me. What makes me, me is Jesus Christ in me.  Any other answer misses God's purpose for why we were created. Find yourself today!

Newsletter KACHEP

From CWM Kachep