Life is never dull in missions.

Most recently, Ken’s leadership training mission to the Congo was celebrated by a large explosion just outside the Guest House compound. Nobody discovered the cause. Even worse, nobody cared. The training went well, however. Entertainment was provided by a pet parrot, who sang “O Canada” for a visiting American missionary.

Last year’s trips to East Africa featured teaching in our largest Bible College in the world, at Nyang’ori, Kenya, near Kisumu. It also included visits to remote outposts in Uganda, where crowds met for more teaching on leadership.

With all the turmoil in that part of the world, we still believe that the best way to change society is to let Jesus Christ change individuals.

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It couldn’t have been a coincidence.

The Ontario Hydro people must have known I am gearing up for another trip to Uganda. So they gave me a stress rehearsal. The power went out.

And stayed out. For 28 hours.

Shaving by candlelight and looking for toothpaste are familiar pastimes. The first place we lived in Africa, Zambezi, Zambia, had electricity four hours a day. Some days. Some months.

Perhaps blackouts are better than the brownouts. Mbale, Uganda featured frequent drops in voltage, but made up for it by providing 330 volts from time to time. Our fridge loved it.

(Of course, our fridge in Zambezi was powered by kerosene.)

So our African missionaries in training will soon be gathering in Kampala for another seminar. I will follow by helping train urban pastors, hoping to motivate them to reach out to our rural colleagues, who usually have no electricity at all.

Drought. Poverty. Corruption. Sickness. Famine. What is the answer to the problems in Africa? Change the individual, and a new creature emerges. One who will be honest. Will work hard. Will refuse bribes. Will show initiative. And will help others.

That is our challenge. And stress rehearsals help prepare us. May God bless you.

The Apostle Paul used different approaches to the challenges he faced. Marge and Ken have adjusted to obstacles by accepting the invitation to serve as pastor at Watford, Ontario, near Sarnia, and go to East Africa each year during their holidays. It is working well, and the Watford congregation is very encouraging. The September 12 trip is coming soon, with seminars planned for Kampala, Uganda pastors, as well as urban pastors from all over the country.

Thank you for your prayers and interest. May God be with you.

Malaria. The scourge of sub-Saharan Africa, where one million die each year from it.

Our superintendent from Malawi recently visited Uganda, and succumbed to a fatal attack. Ken was in that same area in July. The Uganda Superintendent had to be treated for malaria during Ken’s visit.

Although the disease was finally eradicated in the United States in 1951, it is still rampant in may parts of the tropical world.

Ken last suffered from it in 1986, and although experts say that the parasite remains in the system, he has not had another attack since.

It makes us thankful for the good health God gives us.

Sometimes missionary work gets tedious. But it sure feels good to receive thanks. Like these grateful girls in the photo, who expressed gratitude to Marge for leading the girls’ group, forty years ago in Zambia.

Or another good friend whom we met in Zambia 38 years ago, is still in touch. Or a friend from Mombasa who is now a missionary in Oman.

Most recently, Simon wrote to us about our two-year commitment in Goibei, Kenya. He reminisced about our time together. He had been given land, but hadn’t been able to transfer the ownership. We were able to help him. He didn’t have a long-term plan to generate income, so we sent him to Drivers’ Ed. We helped him further his studies. He also had health issues in his family, and we were able to pass on financial assistance. He also thanked us for mentoring him.

It feels good.

But it also feels good because your support and encouragement that we feel, are passed on to our friends in Uganda. So they feel good, too.

Thank you for your interest in what we are doing!

He did it! He actually managed to create the ultimate bottleneck. There were 240 bottles on his bicycle! It would be a challenge to his strength and balance to get down the hill. Going up would be worse! But he had to make his deliveries.

We wanted to deliver, too. Our trip to Uganda was highly anticipated!  Our indigenous missionaries were gathering at the mission station at Bombo, 30 km north of Kampala. The pastors at Entebbe, Bwaise, and Bombo knew we were coming, as well. They had plans for us.

And we wanted to deliver!

Visiting the churches was unforgettable. The Entebbe congregation sang to inspired accompaniment. The Bwaise congregation welcomed us as Ken preached twice, later giving a Bible study in English and French. The Congolese and Rwandese members were especially pleased! When the conversation switched to Swahili after the service, their smiles widened like the Zambezi River in flood season. Pastor Alex at Bombo treated us royally, as Marge spent a day with the ladies. They were delighted to make crafts that they could sell. They were excited to hear some basic medical tips from “Where There is No Doctor”.  Ken was able to visit one of the fifty AIDS-affected homes, receiving help from the church. Pastor Alex is an exemplary pastor!

Next time we will be letting you know about the 23 African missionaries we met, and some of their stories. Some interesting conversations arose. One was about cannibals. Are they still active? Apparently so, according to 5 of our workers in northeast Uganda.

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to our next missions trip – we appreciate your help in making it possible.

Avoiding a bottleneck.

God bless.

It’s official. We are scheduled to fly from Toronto to Entebbe, Uganda, on January 15, returning March 2.

And things are shaping up at the mission station in Bombo.

Thirty church-planters from Uganda are attending a conference. Starting churches is foundational to the strategy of missions in Africa. Cities often have several evangelical congregations, but remote villages are usually untouched by the Gospel. In 1970 we entered such a rural village, Muhomba, brought in an African missionary, and planted a church. A few months ago we heard that our congregation in Muhomba is STILL going strong! After 39 years!

The participants in this Ugandan conference are enjoying a new “luxury” – electricity! A line has been strung from a nearby school, and lights festoon the rustic buildings of Bombo. It’s a definite plus – it’s so discouraging to encounter snakes in the dark.

As we prepare for our departure, please continue to pray for a place for us to stay, and wheels for us to drive.

Some of you may not have received our Christmas poem. Please let me know your mailing address if you would like one.

Thanks again, and may God bless you.

For some time the World Missions Department and we have been looking for ways to increase our missions budget to allow us to minister more effectively in East Africa. In August the WMD asked us to seek a ministry position in a local church, increasing our missions income while allowing us to plan three annual 6-week trips to East Africa.

We thank God for opening a wonderful door of ministry to us. Rev Kevin Shepherd, Lead Pastor of Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church in Burlington, Ontario, has offered me the position of “Missionary in Residence”, with immediate effect. Most of my duties in Canada will be related to missions strategy and training in Glad Tidings.

Will we continue to need your support? Yes, most definitely. We cannot continue to send money to our Uganda colleagues and prepare for the training seminars without you.

Will your donations continue to go towards ministry in Uganda? Yes, as they always have.

Is there a Scriptural model? Yes, the Apostle Paul joined the ministry team in Antioch (see Acts 11:26). Later he went on three missionary journeys, with Antioch his home base. Other churches were partners with Paul, with Antioch, and with each other. They gave toward his mission. Churches and individuals in Corinth (2 Corinthians 9:5), in Philippi (Philippians 4:10), and in other, unnamed places (2 Corinthians 11:5) helped financially, and received reports from Paul. Romans 16 lists several names.

Partnership: this new system maintains your partnership with us, but forms a new link with Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church in Burlington, furthering missions. Finally, it strengthens the link with African workers who count on your support and prayers, as they prepare to reach out to new, remote areas, and people who have never heard the Gospel. This is a partnership that includes a circle spanning 10,000 miles.

What difference will it make in your relationship with us? You will continue to hear from us, you will be kept up to date, and you will be able to rejoice with our other partners as we further the kingdom of God.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write. Thank you for continuing to partner with us, working in harmony with others around the world. May God bless you!

Canada is a land of programs. Activities. Schedules. To-do lists.

Africa, on the other hand, emphasizes people. Relationships. Dynamics – what about  the people involved in programs and activities, and how they interact?

So we are always interested to hear about our African colleagues. The Goibei Mission programs are ended for us, but what about the people? It was exciting to hear this week that Simon and Agnes, the managers of our Goibei station, have just gone on to help in another mission program in Kisumu! Employment is very scarce in Western Kenya, and they have been able to continue to support their family!

There were 10 other families on that station, and it saddens me to think about them. I trust they will survive.

Perhaps we, as Canadians, should pause in our busy schedules to reflect on the people around us. Jesus Christ had to travel from Jerusalem to Galilee, but chose the less-travelled road through hostile Samaria. Why? To minister to a certain woman at a well.

God is fairly busy, but He takes time for us.  May He continue to keep you!