So my latest ultrasound checked for kidney stones. What showed up?

Not the first, that caused the attack in November, 2006. It disappeared.

Nor the second and third, which showed up at the same time, and were still visible in August, 2007. They, too, have disappeared.

Nor the fourth, that was the last, in my right kidney. The technician can’t understand it. Gone.

It’s like the x-ray of my head — the tests showed nothing! I can leave for the international missions conference in peace.

I may take kidney stones for granite, but I don’t take God for granted.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

His return to Malawi shook him. In the December 27 edition of The Times, Matthew Parris, a self-proclaimed atheist, returned to Malawi after 45 years. “Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa…”, he admits. He goes on to say,

• “faith does more than support the missionary; it is transferred to his flock”;
• “the (African) Christians were always different… their faith seems to have liberated and relaxed them”;
• “they stood tall”
• “whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people…”

He discusses the effect of the Christian faith on African work ethic, and anxiety and fear of evil spirits. Marge and I first moved to African 39 years ago. We agree. Faith in Jesus Christ helps Africans — and Canadians!

Ken MacGowan

I’m back, we are moving into our home at Braeside, and contacting churches about next year’s plans for training of African missionaries in Uganda.

Would you pray for Simon Peter Emiau, our friend in Uganda? The doctors have discovered a hole in his left eye, and he faces surgery Tuesday.

Meanwhile, plans go ahead to install electricity at the mission station in Bombo, near Kampala. There is also the hope of digging a well.

Hope November is going well for you. God bless.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

Back from Africa. Moving into our new home at Braeside. And a special gift welcomed us.

A House Swarming Gift. Hundreds of flies invaded the home. The buzz lulled us to sleep at night.

Preparations are underway. Our new challenge is to train African missionaries to reach out to the 80 unreached people groups near Uganda. Some businessmen visited Simon Peter Emiau, the Uganda superintendent who is developing this training program. They want training to become missionaries to the Congo. As a result, they will be bringing 40 pastors to our mission station near Kampala. Electricity is being connected. A well will be drilled. And our program will have a jump start.

Thanks for your ongoing interest and support. God bless.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

So the parade was a great success. An event of celebration. On the other hand, the day of mourning involved millions.

We have left Kenya and returned temporarily to Canada.

So what parade? The one that was held in Nairobi after we left. The day of mourning? In Ontario when I arrived.

The next step? We are gearing up for an official opening of the church headquarters building in Kampala, Uganda. After that: our first missions training seminar at Bombo.

I will be filling you in as time goes by. The situation in East and central Africa is challenging. There are 50 people groups of over 100,000 people, within a narrow area, which have never been reached with the gospel. There are eager people in Ugandans who want to go! They just need the training.

So as of next year, Marge and I will be working with Rev Simon Peter Emiau, the Uganda General Superintendent of 4,000 churches, to equip African missionaries to go into these challenging areas. In the next few issues I will fill you in on why this method of missions is efficient and inexpensive.

And you make it possible with your support and interest. Thank you, and may God bless you.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

The invitation came months ago. Webuye. A remote, poverty-stricken section of Kenya near the border. The District Superintendent wanted me to come for a weekend and speak. So I went.

We had sat around and chatted till 11:55am Saturday, with no clue as to what I would be doing, to whom I would be speaking, and what the subject would be. Then I heard. There would be over 50 leaders from the area, and I would speak for 2 ½ hours on leadership. Fortunately I was ready. The people were warm and receptive. They spoke fondly of my brother-in-law, Kervan Chalmers, who lived there and built their church over 33 years ago!

The next morning we left the guest house at 7am, looking forward to breakfast at the Superintendent’s cousin’s at 8am. Oops. We needed to take a detour to see his home. To say it was rural is to say that Gibralter would be heavy to lift! We nearly got stuck on different occasions, slithering through deep mud with roads that slanted off to non-existent shoulders. Our breakfast visit was over 3 hours late. But who cared. Three speaking engagements lay ahead.

Right now Ken is planning to return to Canada to bring an update to friends and supporters.

It was a great question! The little Ugandan children looked down with puzzled expressions on their faces. This was a subject for world class theologians. What would the children say?

Suddenly one little guy smiled shyly and looked up. He knew the answer! What were the first words of Jesus Christ after the resurrection?

“Ta-da….!”

And it certainly was a “drum-roll”, “symphony orchestra proclamation. Jesus had defeated death! Let the cymbals clash! Let the trumpets shout!

Well, my visit to Uganda was another “Ta-da” moment. For 7 years Simon Peter Emiau, the General Superintendent of Uganda’s 4,000 churches (which represents 25% of all our churches in Africa), has had a vision. Train African missionaries to go into un-reached areas of the Congo, Sudan, Rwanda and other neighbouring countries. Last year an American missionary was led to donate a 7.2-acre mission station! It is 16 miles north of Kampala, at a town called Bombo. There it sits, with dormitories for 40, an open-concept auditorium for 300, a kitchen, offices, and other buildings. With a little effort the 3 full-time managers can grow crops and raise pigs to maintain the buildings. The accommodation is Spartan – a real boot camp! But the potential is enormous!

Next February, Lord willing, the new national church Headquarters will be officially opened in Kampala, and the first event of the Training Centre will take place. We hope to be there. Meanwhile, our budget will help launch the project! Plans are underway!

Thank you for making it possible for us to represent you in Uganda! God bless!

Ken & Marge MacGowan

They are served in two ways. Charcoal barbequed, or boiled then dried in the sun.

Mice. That’s right. Mouse-kabobs. A rare treat offered along the Blantyre-Lilongwe road in Malawi. Tourists must be alert, however. Such treats are only available in certain locations. They make a humorous interlude along the narrow, asphalt road sometimes winding beside the Mozambique border among the lazy, rolling hills.

Fiuni was another matter. He is 3, and is beginning to walk. He can only say a few words. And he is HIV positive. Our orphanage in Malawi is giving him a chance at life, and he is responding well to love and personal care.

In fact, you can be proud of our missionary staff in Malawi. They provide care for disabled children, pastor churches, visit rural churches, run the Bible College and facilitate extension education, conduct radio programs, and offer philanthropic relief.

It was a great visit. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

Complete:
It was a relief to see the completion of a Diploma level course I have written on the Holy Spirit. Over 75 pages long, with hundreds of Scripture references, it was a challenge.

Replete:
Our joy was replete when the extension students expressed their appreciation at Kapsabet. It has been an adventure and a joy traveling there early on Saturday mornings, and the last session was especially exhilarating with the steep, muddy hill down to the tin church.

Retreat
During the last two weeks we have hosted 440 guests over 6 days. Our facilities are great, the costs minimal, and our workers still ended up with a bonus, and a deposit in our new scholarship fund for needy students.

Repeat:
The Bible College will soon reopen, and two classes await me, with 30 hours’ instruction planned over 6 days. It is fun!

Discrete:
I have been asked to go to Malawi to do some research and planning for the missions department. You may not receive e-mail replies from me as quickly, until September 13.

Explet(ives):
What the excited mob shouted at me as they poured out of their villages for the tribal rituals that take place every four years. One motorist had his car overturned when he didn’t smile in response to the “welcome”.

Deplete:
After nearly two years in Africa, this is what the budget suffers. Depletion. The ten families we support say they will miss us when we are on home assignment at the end of October, but they understand that their well-being depends on your support.

Delete:
Hey, don’t delete this until you’ve read it!

May God bless you.
Ken & Marge MacGowan

One of the greatest sources of encouragement has been your interest, prayer, and financial support. Thank you very, very much for keeping us in mind as we represent you in East Africa.

I am scheduled to return to Canada for home assignment in November. It would be my pleasure to meet with you, your church missions committee, the board, or the congregation. I hope to have a brief Power Point presentation at that time.

We will be continuing our ministry of leadership training, but this time in Uganda in 2009. We have trained teachers, Bible College students, church leaders, school leaders, and community leaders in Kenya. Our goal in Uganda is to train African missionaries to represent you, and us in the Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, and other areas where there are still unreached people.

Our home assignment will probably last three months. If you would like me to visit, please let me know by e-mail, as I will not have a phone contact until November. Thank you, and may God bless you as you continue blessing us.

Ken & Marge MacGowan