Prayer

Please pray!
My mom had a fall, she's admitted to the hospital and I'm feeling overwhelmed with decisions and alone within this American culture and a family that I no longer seem to be connected to

Pray for wisdom as we transition mom into rehab, for resources to provide her care, for unity within the family, for healing and peace for mom. For me to trust in the Lord with my whole heart, mind and soul

-Jean
415-858-4262

the KACHEP VIDEO is out

Published on Jul 24, 2013

See the various ministries within KACHEP: Karamoja Christian Ethnoveterinary Program.
This local Ugandan run NGO is really making a different in the lives of the people in Karamoja. Famine is gripping this region at this very moment, so please consider partnering with them to save lives.

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  watch here

  
  

  
  

46 dead as hunger pounds Karamoja, Teso

Heard from Mukisa that 46 people have died from starvation.

A group of elderly people and children in Moroto District wait for relief food that was distributed by the government on Saturday. PHOTO By Steven Ariong 

As the rains began showering Karamoja and Teso sub-regions, it was welcomed as a blessing, since crops were going to grow. But as the rains continued, the joy was turned into uneasiness as the heavy downpour started flooding gardens, washing away crops and roads. What that later meant was that there would not be any crops to harvest this season. That was in the first quarter of this year.

Today, the thousands of residents in Karamoja are going for days without food, while others are on the brink of death as a result of starvation. The severe hunger has so far killed 46 people in Karamoja in the last two months, according to local authorities. The worst hit district is Kaabong, where 20 people have been confirmed dead due to starvation. The other affected districts are Napak and Moroto.

The severe food shortage has forced more than 5,000 Karimojongs to flee the country into neighbouring Kenya, where the government is supplying food to its citizens. The government, through the Disaster Preparedness ministry, at the weekend launched an emergency food distribution initiative with the aim to rescue hundreds of starving families in the seven districts of Karamoja.

read more here 

Summer Root Update

Updates and happenings:

We have just completed a training in Nairobi on
Church Planting Movements (CPM). This came at an
opportune time for us as a team as we struggled with knowing
what our next steps are. We brought one of our national partners, Joshua Sagal with us and together we felt encouraged and enabled to fulfill the calling that God has placed on our hearts for Karamoja.

In the next couple of weeks we have some practical living things we have to take care of. We have been asked to switch houses with KACHEP. We have been staying in the rock houses that Tom and Jean built, while KACHEP has rented a local building for their office. Now we will be taking over the rented building as our residence and they will be taking the rock houses as their offices. This means that we have some work ahead of us as we clean, paint, build a pit latrine, shower shelter, a more secure fence, and move our possessions.

In the months of July through August we hope to continue to
work closely with KACHEP in their projects on animal health. We also hope to focus on trainings and producing some literature materials in relation to those trainings. We desire to empower the KACHEP staff as much as we can. In addition to this we will continue to do Bible Storying and Discipleship Bible Studies in the communities, putting into practice the things that we learned during the CPM training. As part of this, we are praying to find individuals who show a particular interest in spiritual things. We hope to disciples them into roles of leadership and empower them in being able to story to their people.

Plans for coming home!

In September I am coming home for five weeks!!! I leave Uganda September 8 and I hope to spend a lot of time the first two weeks visiting many of you and speaking at churches. Then I go to my friend’s wedding on the East coast and the last two weeks will be for rest and family. This visit wasn't on my original plan, but I think this visit timely as the last year and a half have been full of challenges. During this time Simon and Carina will take a couple of weeks for a vacation and then will head up to Kaabong for three weeks of intensive language study with our Baptist friends.

I will send out a schedule of my speaking engagements, in case you would like to come and listen.

My time home is rather tight, but if you would like me to come and speak to your church or Bible study group, please contact me and we will try to work something out.

Future plans:
I return to Uganda Oct. 15. In the months of October through January, we hope to be based in Nabilatuk and continue to participate in some of KACHEPs projects and the CPM work, but we will begin to take exploration trips into the greater Karamoja area. As I have expressed before, I believe that God made be moving us out of Nabilatuk into a new area. We want to find the pockets of Karamoja where the Gospel has not yet reached.

It is our hope that by February or March we would know what steps God wants us to take. If He tells us to stay in Nabilatuk, we will stay, but if He tells us to move we want to move as He directs. We are earnestly seeking Him.

Praises: 

• Team unity, I really love Simon and Carina Gruber and praise God that He sent them my way
• Continued support for KACHEP- when Tom and Jean left last year, there was a great question as to whether or not KACHEP would survive. In June, Christian Veterinarian Mission officially withdrew their support for KACHEP since Dr Jean was no longer serving with them. In May God provided another ministry partner called Uttermost Ministries. This will allow KACHEP to continue to work and to receive donations through Uttermost Ministries. It also continues to give us an umbrella of support so that we can live and work in Karamoja. 
• Pioneers International has been registered as an NGO in Uganda. This has been a two and a half year process. This is a blessing for us because now team members can receive their work permits through Pioneers. Simon and Carina are currently in the process of getting their work permits. 
• For the doors God is opening through Bible storying and discipleship.

Prayer Requests

• That God would give us grace and strength as we move compounds. 
• That God will direct us to people who want to be disciple
• We have started storying in a new village called Napoingae and though we have only been there a few weeks, there seems to be a great spiritual interest. This interest is not limited to women and children (as in most of our other Bible study areas), but also includes the youth, warriors and elders. Pray that the seeds of truth will bear good fruit in this village. Pray that individuals will become leaders for their people and will take the Word to heart. 
• Pray that God will enable us to train the staff at KACHEP well, so that when we leave, they will remain empowered to continue the work. 
• That God will show us where to go and what to do every single day of our ministry, and that we would have humble, listening ears to hear and obey His voice. 
• For health and safety for our team
• For more workers to work alongside us

Update Summer

Bush Fire

On a particular Thursday, we were enjoying some time of rest and reflection. No classes occupied our time, just the inexpressible beauty of living the in great African Plains. I had been sick for several weeks and had been relegated to a tight regime of sleeping. Tired of this regime, I rebelled and decided to make a cake for everyone at camp. This is not an easy task considering that I only had five ingredients to work with and no oven to bake it in, but where there is a will, there is a way. So, with a determined will, I built a good fire and heated sand to bake my cake. I mixed the five ingredients that we had with as much vigor and love that I could muster and when the fire was hot enough, I nestled my pan in the midst of the sand to cook it as best as possible.

In the midst of my endeavors, I heard a strange sound… almost a popping, snapping. I ignored it at first, but it grew louder. I went to investigate. It was coming from behind my hut. In the valley below a farmer had set his fields ablaze in an effort to clear them before the next planting season began. Smoke soon filled the sky and the birds of prey swooped in to collect rats, snakes and other critters that tried to escape the flames. I went back to cooking, not thinking much about it.

But the wind changed, and the fire charged up the hill with wild abandon. Flames taller than I consumed the brush that blanketed the hill. In horror I realized that its’ greedy appetite wanted to consume our huts as well. In front of my hut there was a large pile of grass and sticks- left over building materials from the school house. If the flames captured the grass we knew that all would be lost. My grass thatched roof would easily catch fire and the few possessions I had with me would be consumed.

Everyone jumped into action. We carried bundle after bundle of grass to a safer spot across the road. Just as we were about to grab the last couple of bundles, the fire suddenly leaped out at us and chased us away. The grass burst into flames and we were forced to redirect our attention on saving the houses. We grabbed sticks and began to beat the flames; we poured water from the jerry cans onto the roofs of the huts and removed items of value from inside. It was a fierce battle, but the hand of the Lord was fighting with us and we were able to conquer the flames! The fire left an ugly scare on our land, its fingers reaching within a couple of feet from my hut and several other huts.

But once we were saved from one battle, a new one began for me. I had a major asthma attack, and found that I had to fight for every breath. I sat inside a vehicle and tried to breathe the cleaner air, hoping that it would help, but as the minutes ticked by, my breathing became more and more labored and painful.

During this time, one of my teammates explored the damage done by the fire. The fire had wiped a blackened hand throughout our camp but amazingly nothing of importance was burnt and no one was hurt. Our cooking area had experienced the flames as well, but there, sitting on the charcoal stove sat my cooking pot. When they lifted the lid they discovered that my cake was baked to perfection!

Another teammate poked around in the charred bundles of grass. There he found a burnt snake- in the very pile of grass that I was reaching for as the flames chased me away!

In the aftermath of the fire we ate cake (and crispy snake!) and rejoiced in God’s protection. Then I went to Kaabong to get breathing treatments and to be in cleaner air. I recovered well and am doing fine.

“This is what the LORD says- He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:1-2

There really aren’t very good pictures of the bush fire, so here are some random ones… On top are pictures of our cooking area. Then there’s a picture of me being cheeky, and a beautiful sunset, and on the right are some of my favorite Karamojong guys: Ngole, Teko Simon and Nalobe. Ngole was our language helper. Simon was our translator extraordinaire. All of these guys are men of faith and are ready to share their faith with their tribesmen!

Update Jean

Siblings that pass away have special meaning to us. They are often close in age to us and their death may bring to mind our own mortality. Life is no longer taken for granted. Someone from our generation has passed away. If the death is unexpected, there may be loose ends in the relationship that have not been dealt with. It is common that a death of a sibling brings upon a search for meaning. We may ask ourselves if we are accomplishing the goals that we have set for ourselves.

CC BY 3.0

Source: Brother Death Poems http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/death/death-brother-poems.asp#ixzz2RwbWQ96H
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com

At the Funeral:

step by step

tomoro this gal will finally get back to Karamoja. its been almost a year, yet it still draws me near, forces me to smile, excites me -yet at this season, it causes me anxiety too.

i ruminate how i will be received -now that i am on my final 2 months of being a Ugandan resident. after i leave Uganda 2 june , i'll return as 'just a visitor'; albeit a visitor with a rich history and past joys and struggles in Karamoja -none the less, a visitor. But - so much has changed in my personal life, and thus in the perception of outsiders in 'who i am'. even in my chaos -i hold on to the truth that God is the same yesterday as today and tomoro...

its gotten 'easier' since i arrived in Uganda at the end of last month, pushing forward and visiting friends -both  expat and local. but there are still times of struggle - the best tack seems to admit fault and move on. to take time alone in the word, to enter into worship, to revel at His creation, to exercise regularly and to get rest.

saying thanks, and goodbye

to do what i'm supposed to do, and not more - and not less. to rest in Him, that He is God, He is in control

if i'm square with God -the words will come as needed, when i get in those awkward situations. this is life, and i am in the thick of it. broken and weak, but still His precious daughter. i stand in Him

i'm still growing, still healing -like layers of an abalone shell

pray for me as i journey -that the piki would be ready by the morning, that the roads would be smooth, that my heart would continue to mend

Please pray

Please pray for me as I'm here, having time to say goodbye, to 'give them love and give them wings', and for me to embrace the memories, regrets and even the profound joy of being in my favorite places in the world crowds in on me and makes my heart heavy and weary. 

Beseech that the Holy Spirit would breathe into me that I  might overcome the sense of sad loss, of so much that once was, now uncompleted and unfulfilled.

Jean

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!

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!

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

The Truck

Hello Friends, Here is an update about a new opportunity on how you can help with the work the Lord is doing here... if the Lord moves on your heart to do so. I see this as a long-term need that is necessary for my continued work here. But it seems like such a huge need, but, if it's of God, God will provide.

The Truck

One of the notorious truths about Karamoja is that the roads are, what? Awful!!! As the natural resources of Karamoja are becoming known to the outside world, more and more rock trucks come lumbering up the road to exploit these resources. But the roads were not made to support multiple tons of rock and truck, and the trucks were not made to support the roads, and so they get stuck. And when they get stuck they create craters and ruts that become saturated with rain water and make the road nearly impassible for everyone. Thus a sturdy, 4X4 vehicle is a necessity for life in Karamoja.

When Dr. Jean first arrived here, back in 1998, she bought an old Land Cruiser that had been used in Sudan as an ambulance. So the seats in the back sit sideways and the suspension is nearly shot from years of hard driving on rough roads. During the time of great unrest, she added the cow horns to the front as a symbol that she came in peace, as a protector and helper of the cows and not as an enemy. God used these horns to help save her life several times as she drove through very dangerous territory. Now, as peace begins to settle in the land, the horns still represent our friendship and connection to the people and the cows. As we drive the vehicle, people will often rush to the road to wave at us and shout “Nakaala, Nakaala!” which is Jean’s Karamojong name.

Now that Tom and Jean are leaving the field the truck goes back to CVM (Christian Veterinarian Missions, whom Jean was with). I had the opportunity to buy the truck, but have chosen not to. As much as I like the truck for sentimental reasons, I recognize that it is not a reliable vehicle for me. Since I am not much of a mechanic, I need something that I can trust will get me to my destination (without costing me hundreds of dollars worth of fuel and repairs). So it is with sadness that I say goodbye to this great truck. I have actually really enjoyed learning how to drive it (left-side manual transmission), and taking on the challenges of the roads with it (love the adrenalin rush that comes from conquering the really muddy spots).

But since I am not buying this truck, and since it is necessary to have a truck for Karamoja, I must look into buying a new truck for me/the team. Vehicles here are very expensive. In addition to the initial cost of the vehicle, you also have to pay import taxes which can nearly double the price. Thus, for a good, used land cruiser you can pay about $17,000.00. I had initially thought that I would buy a motorcycle to travel around Karamoja (much cheaper), but with the changes of team dynamics, I know that I need a real vehicle instead of just a motorbike. So I am asking for your help. If you would like to contribute to buying a vehicle, you can send your donation to Pioneers (follow the directions below) and add a slip of paper specifying “vehicle funds”. I really appreciate your help in this. It is a need I cannot meet on my own. CVM has allowed me to continue to use the truck until March, 2013, so the sooner the funds come in, the better. Thank you!

Thank you for your faithful friendship and prayers.
Summer

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Please help support Summer's missionary work in Uganda by prayerfully giving through Pioneers by using the following link, and fill out the form. Thank you so much!
Website: https://webapps.pioneers.org/V2/giving/GiftInfo?name=Summer+Root&accountid=111084
Missionary Name: Summer Root
Account Number: 111084

September Rains, and October Heat

Update on Ryan

As I write this update its now the month of October(as if you havent noticed).  While all you on that side of the world are watching the colors of the Autumn leaves, life continues on here.  It took many years to get used to not having real seasons.  We have seasons of course, wet and dry.  For the last month and a half I've been adapting to the changes in temperature.  Living next to a giant green mountain had its perks, cool weather even when it was really hot.  Kitgum on the other hand is lacking mountains but at least there is a river that borders the town.  Every day these days is like the mid nineties and as many of you experienced this summer, its not a very nice temperature.  I mean if I had a pool that would be a great temp to live at, but sadly I am lacking a pool.
  So I have now taught the church and a few other ministries for a month.  It has been a good switch for me because teaching in town is a bit more fun.  In the village I taught things rather simply knowing that the people I ministered to were less educated.  So extra illustrations, and little jokes here and there are lost in the silence.  In town I can use all those extra ways of keeping people attentive and applying the truths of scripture to their lives.  It has been a challenge, and I like challenges.
   I have all these different ideas I want to put forth in this new area of ministry but I want to move slowly.  One of the ministries on my heart is to get the youth involved in the church.  We have a few but I desire to bring many youth into the church.  So please pray as I plan school outreaches in the coming weeks.  I want to open a door for further ministries.  The other day I tracked down all the schools in town and they're really spread out.  It's funny how every town is different in their layout.  The kids have to walk a long way to get to their schools.  So please pray for open doors in the schools and step one of my plan to reach the youth of this town.  As for me personally I ask that you would pray that God would fill me with his Spirit daily, and that I would long for what He longs for
  Oh I almost forget a few last things.  First thing I have started a page to raise funds to get a well for the farm in the village.  We want to provide work for people year round and abundant water.  All we have to raise is 2500 dollars and we can put one in so far we have $350 here is the link www.facebook.com/GiveABoreholeToMoruKo?ref=tn_tnmn  Please help us to make this happen.  Secondly my motorcycle was stolen over 2.5weeks ago.  We are still keeping our ears open for whatever news may come, but it could be a lost cause.  Pray that in the case God still wants me to have a motorcycle that he would provide the funds a good one probably costs $1500.  Please commit these things to prayer.  Thanks for reading

from here

Ride for Refuge

Dennis' Story

 "It was dark when they came in to my village and set it on fire. It was 1993, West Uganda and I don't remember much of that night, I don't remember how they killed my mum and my dad, only of hearing it afterward, I just remember being taken. Kony and his men kidnapped us small ones and made us walk for days and days with no food or water. We were all tied together as we marched along and beat us if we were slow. One boy tied with us died in those few days of marching, but they wouldn't untie him, they made us drag him along with us. We reached a river that was higher than we were tall. All I remember was fear as we crossed, still all tied together as a group.

Once I escaped from the LRA and I just ran. I had no plan, I just ran and ran until I could go no further. I thought I was free but they caught up with me and beat me as they brought me back to do their work of terrorising. That's all we seemed to ever do.

Quite a few years later the Ugandan police found us and arrested us. It was in prison that I found peace. A Christian group was advocating for the education of ex-child soldiers so that on release we could have some skills to get employment. I learnt how to lay cement & bricks, build structures like houses and walls and I learnt about Jesus. I could not forgive myself before this for all that I had done and I could not forgive those who had made me do it either. It was only through having Jesus in my life and knowing that he takes all that sin and pain away by his work on the cross that I could let it all go and be who I am today.

When I was released from prison I tried to return to my village. I am a Cholie by tribe and I went back to see if any of my people were there, but no one would accept me home. Too many of my tribe were fearful of what we had done in our past and wouldn't let us come home. That is why I came here to Soroti, but now I feel happy to be able to minister to boys who have been put through what I was put through. Together, with the help of our mighty God, we can strive to let go of the past and make decisions to change our future, knowing that God alone will come again to judge the living and the dead, to bring justice, and that I am covered and protected by the blood of Jesus Christ."  

This is the testimony of one of the members that I heard on Saturday's bike ride "Ride for refuge" to raise awareness for ex-child soldiers. We rode 25km to the Obalinga mass grave site, where 360 people are buried. They are all people who died in the LRA insurgence on the 16th June 2003. When we got there the site was all over grown with weeds and so we had to hoe and slash the whole area (hard work in the African sun!). We then had a memorial ceremony and cycled back to our base to have lunch together.

 Many of the men who cycled have similar stories as Dennis, but many have not been able to adjust to normal life again like he has. Many are in severe inner turmoil, suffering greatly over their sense of identity (as rejection from family members and tribe members is very common), over guilt and over anger. Many are angry with God, not believing that he was suffering along with them as he watched every evil and wicked deed they were a part of, not knowing that he is the opposite to all of that, he is love. Many don't know what to do with themselves and see Jesus as their only hope but don't know where to go from there.

So much prayer and wisdom is needed for them and for the patient souls who are working with them, walking with them each step of the way, hearing their stories, and letting God heal them and bring them back to Him, for His purposes.
here 

Newsletter Tom and Jean October 2012

Newsletter Tom and Jean October 2012

Happy Birthday Melissa Graham

from here

Photoes Melissa

Beauty & hard work



Cute kids 

Edula making

Cows - every individual is so special there is no
Karamojan word for herd







Dikdik I wanted to rescue



 

Harvest time - sorghum

Joy comes with age too

Kids of Karamoja

Mt Hyena

Old man wants his photo taken too

Neem oil group

Our house - sunflowers!

Sheep - they look like goats!

Vet studies with an audience!



 






 

 

 

 

Redemption

Wilkerson, Mike.  Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols we Worship and the Wounds we Carry.  Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2011.  208 pp.  $15.99.  Purchase at Westminster for $10.71.

Introduction

Mike Wilkerson is a pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA.  His passion is engaging in and restoring the gospel to counseling ministries in the church.  He leads Mars’ Hill Redemption Group ministry.  This is yet another quality resource offered by Re:Lit, a ministry of the Resurgence.

Summary

Divided into eight chapters with an epilogue and appendix, Mike Wilkerson takes his theology of counseling from the book of Exodus.  Chapter one explains that when you suffer God is near even if He does not seem so.  chapter two answers the question of how long the trial and tribulation will last as well as offers encouragement to those who are in the midst of trials.
Chapter three looks at the redemptive work of God in the Passover and what it means for your life in the here and now.  The fourth chapter, perhaps the most important chapter looks at the impact of the Passover as breaking free from bondage through the crossing of the Red Sea.
The final four chapters offer encouragement and hope as the Christian now faces a life of freedom, often for the first time that they can recall, and now must deal with so many other problems that they had no idea were even present.  In the end, the reader will see that we must always fight to continue keeping God as our greatest desire.
Each chapter concludes with a recommended resource section, scripture readings, and questions for reflection.

Review

Based on the book of Exodus, Pastor Wilkerson gives a Christ-centered approach to dealing with those thorny counseling issues that many may not be familiar with.  The real-life examples and case studies show that these time-tested principles are worth investigating further.  What is more, Mike does not come off as the “end all, be all” of biblical counseling.  He does not claim this is the only way to do it, nor does he say that no other way of counseling will work.
What he does show in a somewhat subtle manner is that the Bible does in fact hold answers to life’s most pressing issues.  Perhaps what was most enjoyable (and frustrating) element of this book was the real need that exists for biblical-based counseling today.  At some point in the reading of this book, you will be able to identify with one of the stories shared (if not more).  That is not to say that this book is one of those written to show you how you need to be counseled because of something that has happened in your past.  Rather, you will see the need for counseling but also the need for a gospel-centered approach to life.

Recommendation

If you are involved in the ministry and are wanting to begin a counseling ministry, Redemption would be a nice resource to add to your library.  If you are struggling yourself with pain and suffering from a bygone era, then Redemption becomes an almost essential read as it will be a sweet balm to a hurting soul.

Here more

Melissa Graham 23/04/12 and 2/05/12

Ostentatious owners

23/04/12

I am a person who really doesn't like it when people are all up in my space. However, it seems that you cannot survive as a white vet in Karamoja if you stay with this attitude. Today a man came to our doors saying he had sick cattle that we needed to see, all he could tell us was one symptom for each of them. It was our day off, a day to ourselves when we don't treat animals, but this man would not take no for an answer, every time we'd say please come on Monday we can treat them then he would say, ‘ok I come at 4:30 this afternoon?’ Um… No. ‘5 o'clock then? Ok I'll come then’. No!

At 5pm he came and I went out to see that he had brought every cow he owns to us. I waited for them to get a hold of the sick animal (we have no cattle crush here so they just whistle and grab the horns) and then as I started the physical examination and tried to work out what was wrong with the bull, the owner wouldn't stop repeating the one symptom he knew. He could speak English, which is a rare thing, but he wasn't the best at it :) I somehow also suspected, as time went on, that he liked the sound of his own voice. It turned out that the one symptom he was repeating, the cow did not have, changing the diagnosis completely.

In addition to that, imagine trying to listen to lung sounds, the heart rate and rumination noise while you have three to five men talking loudly around you. However, as soon as I told them to be quiet, they were, which was good. I think somehow they knew that you don't want to upset the young, white, animal doctor girl with a rectal thermometer in her hand. Worst was still to come for me though as I told the owner the treatment, saying the bull needed an oral dewormer and then he replied "no you give vaccination for antibiotics".

Firstly, that sentence makes no sense as vaccination and antibiotics are two different things and secondly, the bull needs neither. I struggled to know how to tell him this though. Lesson of the day, how do you keep your cool and stay respectful when you are becoming frustrated to the core of your being?

Then, haha, as I ignored the men all around me trying to tell me what to do I gave it the treatment for intestinal worms, having to tell the boy holding the bull’s head "quap, quap, quap!!!", which means 'down', maybe I had become the one liking the sound of my own voice but I tried to explain to them that you cannot hold the animal's head to the sky when inserting medicine into the mouth as it may go into the lungs. It sounded better in my mind than when I tried to explain it to them. Language can really be a barrier here, as can owners, who do what this man did next.

We looked at the next poor cow that was sick and it had severely laboured breathing and a fever, looking like a form of pneumonia. So, as I am giving the treatment, injecting an antibiotic into the hindlimb muscles, the owner actually tried to take the syringe from me! Seriously! I was so shocked I am surprised I got all the medicine in. For the first time in my life I had to defend my position and tell an elder man to back away and let me do what I came here to. Miriam, who was watching, said she was impressed, she said, you know that's what you got to do around here, you gotta be tough, even when you don't feel like you are.

It was honestly a very stressful half hour to hour long treatment time, and the longer I was out there, the more people came to watch including a group of shepherd boys who unfortunately did not knowing the meaning of personal space, all trying to get a good look at what the thermometer says or 'where will she stick that needle' or 'ooh what is in that hoof there?' So... it turns out I need personal space. Who knew? ;)

 

My time to story: Sitting under a tree relaxing with some Karamojans

2/05/12

Wednesday the 2nd May was a great day. Miriam and I, with Joshua (a local guy and friend who has worked with KACHEP for most of its time, with animal work, agroforestry work and evangelism work, plus translates for us) and Olum (local animal health worker and traditional healer) drove down to Lolachat, where we would be doing the spraying that day. Summer had malaria (not a great part of this story) and so had to stay home, sick in bed :(

Usually each Wednesday spraying consists of three parts; tick-spraying cattle, sheep and goats, vet treatments and a Bible story at the end. With Summer not there she asked if I would like to tell the story. I jumped at the opportunity and I told the story of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32). I love this story for what it tells us of both God and humanity in the characters of the father and the sons. I feel it's applicable to all ears that may hear it because everyone rebels against God, whether they live in Aus or here in K'jong, just like the younger son in the story rebels against his father. Just like in the story, as soon as we ask for forgiveness and turn away from living life our own way, God forgives. He loves us so much, he is waiting for this, in fact! He wants us to come back into relationship with him just like the father in the story waited for his son to come home.

The people were very interactive with the story, in the usual Karamojong way and although I wish I could be telling the story in their language without needing a translator, I was also glad to have Joshua there. He often gets really excited about acting stories out and so when the part of the story came where the son returns home he got up and acted out the father looking out across the land and seeing the son and then racing out to greet him, ha ha he is really good value for that! Even as an older man he still gets youthfully excited when it comes to telling people about God.

I really loved sitting around with the people, sharing with them and then listening to their thoughts on it afterwards. It just feels so natural to sit under a tree here and talk about God together, I may look really different to them but somehow they accepted me, listened to the story and were even interested to know more. Afterwards the conversation took a really cool turn into explaining how it is that God can forgive us, like the father does in the story. How is it that God can forgive everyone's sins, every wrong thing done against him, and all we have to do is ask for our record of wrongs to be metaphorically wiped clean? What a great question and segue into talking about Jesus. The Karamojans understand the idea of sacrifice probably better than we do the first time we hear it because, in many ways the people here live like they are in the pages of the old testament. When wrong is done, a price must be paid, blood of an animal is shed, for justice, they “get” that, it's how life is here. Like us they may not understand how it could be that God could love us that much to send his son to take on the weight of such a sacrifice, all the sins of the world paid, once for all but they can believe. Jesus died that death so we don't have to.

Afterward we prayed to our powerful God for anything that was on their hearts. A lot of the people there had lost cattle to 'enemies' recently and this is a massive blow to them, their livelihoods, their sustainability and even their ability to provide for their families. I feel so sad for them I can't even put it into words. Some of them have people come and attack their villages and homes every week. I cannot imagine how that must feel for them; that insecurity and worry. But the crazy thing is when I talk to them about it they often repeat 'mam nache, iyey akutch' to me, 'God is there, we do not worry', the faith of those who believe out here is such an encouragement to me. It is true God is here, God is in every situation and God takes on our worries and troubles. I also asked Joshua to pray for Summer, who is really feeling horrible. Turns out malaria sucks. Thank God he has given the world an effective and relatively pain free treatment for it. If she had brucellosis (another common disease out here) she would have to have 5ml of antibiotic injected into her thigh muscle daily for 14 days! There's a silver lining for everything.

Later in the afternoon we returned home and got stuck into some language learning, it is fun to be able to say more and more to the people around you each week. You really take language for granted when you are back home and can speak to everyone easily.

Since writing the above, Summer has finished her malaria treatment and apart from stomach upsets and remaining fatigue (malaria destroys red blood cells= iron depletion= muscle weakness), she has recovered :) PTL

All my love, Mel.