I simply cannot wait to meet Pastor George and his family...mostly because of Lawren, my oldest daughter's experience there in February. As she described the beauty of Kisoro, she also shared the wonderful experience with Pastor George's family. "Mom, you are going to love it in Kisoro. Pastor George's family is just like ours. There are always people in and out of his house."
In the last 24 hours, including the dishwasher repair man, there have been 14 people around at various times. I won't even start to count the stray dog and her puppies that my kids incessantly are sneaking into the house....or the new hamster that everyone is trying to adjust to since Squirt got out of his cage and went missing.
But there is one word that sums up my excitement about the whole trip: DISCIPLESHIP.
It might take the rest of my life for the reality to sink in that I get to to and make disciples of another nation. I get to participate in a river baptism similar to my own personal baptism. I get to share the importance of discipleship to both women and children.
See, the message is vital because I was one that fell through the cracks. Sure I had Godly people in and out of my life as a child but it wasn't until I wound up pregnant as a young single woman in Dodge City, Kansas right out of college that real discipleship began.
It was then that my church friend Meg began pressing into my life...asking the hard questions, showing up with dinner, inviting me over to hang out with her family, doing life together...all the while whispering the secrets of the kingdom of God to me. And although it was something totally new and even foreign to me, my soul latched on.
I don't want those women and children of Kisoro to fall through the cracks. If the Father allows, I want to whisper the secrets of the kingdom of God to them while I talk about the ministry of Christ and his disciples.
Would you please pray that their hearts be receptive and they too latch on. Furthermore, pray they go and make disciples in their own families and communities.
Yeah! I got the video to work. I hope it works for you as well. Enjoy and thank you for being a part of my love story.
Love, Pam
Please click on the paypal button to the right to give to our fundraising support for this upcoming trip.
The love story of Simon and Aggie Paech, missionaries in Kampala, Uganda continues here at River of Life . Today's story focuses on the work God is doing in Kisoro, a town southwest of Kampala.
Simon and Aggie met Pastor George, from Kisoro, while attending seminary classes. After hearing the work God was doing through Pastor George there, the Paech's knew it would be a wonderful opportunity to join God where He was already at work.
Kisoro Kids is the newest ministry birthed to Uganda Journey, who is partnering with Pastor George and the Kisoro Baptist Association to provide an educational experience for kids in Kisoro. Currently Uganda Journey is supporting 40 kids that otherwise would not be able to attend school.
How do I get to be a part of this love story?
Well, in February my sweet oldest daughter Lawren, my friend Chris, and my dear friend Amanda flew to Uganda on a type of scouting trip. Their purpose was to logistically map out, based on time spent with existing ministries, how our upcoming team could be most effective. See, we really want to be an ongoing part of the people's lives associated with Simon and Aggie. If Simon and Aggie are being the hands and feet of Jesus, then we from home, their sending church Life's Journey, want to be the arms, legs, and rest of the body.
Anyway, during the scouting trip, the three, along with Simon and Aggie drove to Kisoro to meet Pastor George and his family.
It was on that trip that Pastor George said he needed someone to come in and talk to the people in the Kisoro churches about being a Godly wife and mother. Both Amanda and Lawren immediately knew discipleship was my heart throb. The existing Momheart ministry I am privileged to lead here will carry right over into the lives of the Ugandan women.
From The Taste of New Wine by Keith Miller, on discipleship, "Only Jesus Christ who bids us follow Him, knows the journeys end. But we do know that it will be a road of boundless mercy. Discipleship means joy."
I wanted to include a video here of the work going on in Kisoro but it's not cooperating. So enjoy below a few pictures Chris took while there in February. All of these were taken in Kisoro.
To be a poverty stricken nation, they sure have some joyful smiles. I think they know my Jesus. I can't wait to spend time with them and encourage them in their journey. Please help me by clicking on the pay pal button to the right of my blog. We are still raising support to go.
The following is a love story...a true one. Although, by the time I am finished it will seem hard to fathom. It's not your high school sweetheart's love story, or becoming reunited with a past flame love story but rather a love story of epic proportion that could possibly shape your view about God, life, ministry, and faith. So hang on. This is the condensed version.
Simon, my church friend, went on a mission trip to Kampala, Uganda approximately 6 years ago. He went with specific motives as well as the desire to serve. What he was not expecting was to fall in love with the Ugandan woman Agnes, who interpreted for them during the trip.
Their courtship transpired over the next year via skype, phone calls, and letters. At the end of the first year Simon made another trip to Uganda to BE CERTAIN he was hearing correctly.
A resounding "YES" was the result of their reuniting. Simon returned to the United States to began preparing for his marriage and move to another continent. He had a few details to iron out:)
Have I mentioned his fiance Aggie had five children. At our last shared meal together at Guthries on Bailey Cove, I applauded Simon for giving me great hope for my life as a single mom of five children that any man would ever love me.
Within the next year or so, Simon left his job at UAH, said goodbye to family and friends and headed to Uganda to begin this new venture as a missionary to serve alongside his new wife Aggie. Thank goodness for internet as we all vicariously celebrated their marriage here in the states as well.
This past September Simon, Aggie, and their newest family member Ivy came to Huntsville to spend time in the states. It was Aggie's first trip to the US. We had their family in our home for a meet and greet. It was an opportunity for the missionaries to share some of what their ministry needs are and give people an opportunity to support them. I decorated a wall of my living room to honor their arrival.
Notice the Noah's Ark right below their pictures and Hannah's artwork. The plaque to the top right of the ark reads, "Without faith it is impossible to please God" from Hebrews.
That day around 30 people, a great percentage of the crowd college and school age kids, heard me make the following comment and question:
"Simon, you are part of a crazy love story. You go on a mission trip, fall in love, return to the states, court overseas, leave your job, marry a black women with five kids, and move across the ocean. I equate your faith to that of Noah. That's the kind of faith I want these kids here today to have. Now that you have followed God, what have you heard from him since you've been in Uganda."
Simon answered with another beautiful part of the story that filled in the blanks. You must read this with Simon's Australian accent or it won't be the same. He said, "You know, I sponsored a kid through Compassion international for ten years. When I heard about that first trip 6 years ago, I wondered if it might be an opportunity to meet my child. It turned out to be the same location so I signed up. Meeting and growing to love Aggie was easy but getting past the sheer magnitude of five kids was something I had to work through with the Lord. I felt as though God said, "Simon, you have been faithful with this one child for ten years and now I am giving you five! So I kind of feel like they're my trophies."
Now I get to be a part of the love story....
When the Lord called me to go on this mission trip, there was alot to work through myself. How much sense does it make to the average person for a single mom of five kids to lose two weeks of pay from her part time job, pack up, find childcare for 15 days for those remaining home, and raise support to go share the love of Christ with the people of Uganda. As I continued to question the Lord, argue with the Lord, and try to literally stuff the thoughts and desire to go, the Lord reminded me of my comment made the day the Paechs were in my home. When I said, I want my kids to have that kind of faith, the faith like Noah and you. The Father said, "Pam, I want YOU to have that kind of faith."
So friends, I leave August 15 for Kampala, Uganda to serve alongside a wonderful team of folks through Life's Journey Church. My sweet friend Amy has added a paypal button to the side of my blog for any who might financially partner with me to help fund this trip. I still have a ways to go to complete my fundraising for this trip. Will you too be a part of a faith like Noah's to help carry the good news and go and make disciples of all nations.
If it's not a good time to give financially, can I count on you to pray? Specifically pray for healing from a sinus infection and restored strength as I prepare to go. Also, tomorrow we get our shots to travel. Pray for no adverse effects.
Below is a video highlighting the ministries that Uganda Journey is involved with. Please take a moment to get to know the Paechs and enter into their world for just a few. You will be blessed. I
promise.
