Kampala's Day off- Elephants and Giraffes

On Sunday night, June 19, we left the Bible School behind and flew back to Nairobi. Everyone looked forward to the visit to the elephant orphanage. We we not disappointed. These very loving animals bond to their personal trainers, who are with them twenty four hours a day.

Some have been orphaned by poachers, or found alone in the forests. They need love, warmth and attention just like little babies. Once they are two years old, theyare sent on toanother national forest.
At night time the trainer sleeps in a bunk, in the elephant's bedroom. The babies have a blanket tuckedaround them while they sleep and wear it all day for the first few months.

The trainers feed them their bottles, which look like they hold about four litres.

Those bottles were emptied very quickly!

Just for the record, these fascinating animals have wrinkles at a very young age, yet everyone kept saying how cute they were. I'm keeping that in mind!

On to the giraffe farm.

We had the fun of feeding them pellets right from our hands. Brenda, the nurse teacher, enjoyed the thrill of allowing a tall giraffe to take a pellet from between her lips. No one else wanted the same thrill, except a trainer below. Note: Brenda also taught classes on person cleanliness.

Our day-off was crowned with two more special events.

First... a visit to Pan African University, where Paul and Lynn Kohls take leadership roles, he the academic dean, and she a professor. Another beautiful Canadian couple who have given their lives to the education of Kenyan youth. An incredible environment of learning, with impressive grounds and buildings.

Second... dinner at Safari Hotel. The most beautiful grounds graced with gardens. pools, bridges and palms lighted for evening dining.

The menu included: crocodile, camel, goat, and gizzards. I tried all but the gizzards. Too many new tastes all at once.

Question: Is it okay to have this much fun on a 'mission trip'?

Come back again soon for more of Africa!
Margaret will share on the next couple blogs.

Africa- Kenya's Sunday's adventures

Hello from Africa!

Our adventures continue in this beautiful land of contrasts. Poverty in the middle of lush gardens and flowering trees. This is the rainy season, so the terrain is getting ready for planting or showing off its early produce.

Mike and Sheila Middlebrook were wonderful hosts while we stayed in N'yangori.

He is dean of the Bible school and together, they are only Canadians at the training facility, as the nationals now take the teaching postitions. With a Phd, Mike could surely have a high paying job in Canada but together they have chosen to invest in these beautiful young people. It was truly an honour to be in their classrooms, and to hear the quality of education they are receiving. Then we had the fun of teaching our own special topics.

There is such a passion for learning, an atmosphere of excellence in both the academic and spiritual development of the students. Imagine a classroom with neither powerpoint or overhead.

On Sunday we went to various villages. Catherine Routley, Daniel, our translator and I went to the church where Daniel is the pastor. We rode in the van over roads that were like washboards, with ruts and deep holes that threatened to devour us all.

I spoke to his congregation and Catharine, one of our nurses, sang accapella. Here we are with the gifts they presented to us. It includes six eggs, flowering plants, a cardboard painted house, a hanging decoration and a paper mache dish.

Just as we thought we were finished, each of us was presented with a tree sapling, in a plastic. We followed the whole group to the church yard where two holes had been dug. Then one at a time, Catherine and I planted the trees and covered the planting with soil. It was a big celelbration to mark the day we had shared. A wonderful memory for sure.

Margaret had her own adventure at another village church. Here are some of the women worshipping. Believe me, they are not afraid to raise their voices.

There are so many wonderful stories to tell, we could fill a book. Please come back again for more of this colourful land.

Hello from Africa!

Hello everyone,
Finally we found the internet!
Join us for our first few days.

Left Pearson Airport at 7:00 PM on June 13. Ready to go!





Arrived at Heathrow Airport at 7:00 AM June 14, seven hours ahead of you. Marg had a sad heart for the good shopping was at the other terminal. She did however survive and we walked off the sadness!

After three hour layover, we flew on to Nairobi, Kenya and arrived at the PAOC guesthouse at 10:30PM. What amazing flowers, trees and lush greenery everywhere we look. A few winks, a quick piece of toast and off again, another short flight to Kisumu, where we enjoyed the African dancers and singers that greeted us. At least that's what we thought. Really there was an important dignitary on the flight!

From Wednesday evening to Sunday afternoon, we were constantly on the move, speaking, teaching and preaching at the N'yangori Bible School. What an incredible group of Kenyan students, about 250 passionate Christians who know how to worship and pray. We may just bring a few back with us sometime, for they have much to teach us. We spoke at eight different villages and oh, how the roads gave us the ride of the year, with many bumps, shakes, and holes.



On Saturday, the nurses helped to organize the first clinic. What a moving experience.



So long for now!

Hello

Too long! It's been much too long. Life has its way of crowding in and filling every wee space on the day timer. But tonight I had to drop by to say 'hello' and 'so long.'

'So long' for in just four days, I join nine others to make our way to Kenya/Uganda.

The excitement is rising, for not only does our team have the privilege of encouraging with words, but also with actions.

Four nurses will participate in teaching basic principles of hygiene and provide HIV testing.

Through the generosity of many, huge amounts of syringes, needles and other medical supplies have been donated.

In this picture, my daughter-in-law and I unload the first contributions. It is wonderful to know that our abundance can fill a huge need in those African countries.

Stop by often in the next few weeks to join us in our adventure of depositing physical, mental and spiritual nourishment to those we go to serve.

So long for now.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace.

Numbers 7:24-26

Risk-taking adventures in 2011

This first week of 2011 brings thoughts of a fresh start, a new beginning. What will unfold this year? Will there be happiness, sadness, challenge or adventure? For many of us, there will be a combination of all four.

Recently a friend sent me this thought, based on Ephesians 3:20.

Set out each day believing in your dreams. Know without a doubt that you were made for amazing things.

Memories of January 2009 came immediately to mind. Let me share one of our first adventures of that year.

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Picacho Peak came into view as we drove on Interstate #10 two hours southeast of Phoenix, Arizona. With an elevation of over 3500 feet, it's a hiker's delight. I had readily agreed to climb that mountain while sitting comfortably in my brother-in-law's home. It sounded like an adventure I didn't want to miss during our winter holiday this year.

But as the beauty of the blue sky, the rugged mountain and desert stared back at us, so did the height of the Peak. Bare rocks showing off their steep vertical stood ready to challenge every fibre of my being. Did I really agree to this?

After parking the car, Don, Dee, Bob and I got out. Loaded with water bottles and a light lunch, we started the two mile hike to the top. At first, just a few small rocks covered the trail, but soon large boulders took their place, making each step an effort.

My walking routine back home hadn't prepared me for this cardio workout. Are we almost there? A look below showed we had made progress, the distance to the bottom evoking chills down my spine and all the way to my toes. Can I make it? Another glance convinced me it was insurmountable.

A few feet ahead I spotted the cables, erected to provide climbers leverage to conquer the steep incline. Netting hung loosely near the precipice for those who lost their footing. Thankful for borrowed gloves, I grabbed the cable and pulled, now questioning my upper body strength.

"Look over here, I want a picture." I turned my head slowly to see Don snap a memory, proof that we were still going up. Fresh thoughts of children and grandchildren at home, how high and how foolish we were, sent fear deep into the pit of my stomach. Suddenly retreat seemed the most favourable option.

"It's our choice," says Chuck Swindoll, "We can allow fear to make us victims or we can challenge fear to work for us by driving us to a deeper dependence on God." I opted for the latter.

Looking back at the rock, I discovered something. Focusing on the rock ahead and just putting one foot in front of the other, my confidence grew. Two hours later, cheers arose as we stepped on to the top. What a view awaited us! Those sandwiches tasted good until another frightening thought—the only way down is the way we came up.

Cautiously beginning the descent, I looked for solid, less steep footholds. I began to slide... straight down. The easy looking step turned out to be slippery shale. Near the bottom, Bob looked at me and commented, "I kept thinking of the song, On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand." Together we experienced the reality of walking on the Rock.

I marvelled that more than a month before, God gave me a verse for 2009, Habakkuk 3:19. "The sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He enables me to go on the heights." (NIV)

God made us for climbing mountains. But, as Steven Curtis Chapman states in his book The Great Adventure, "Once we start factoring in reason, and understanding, and safety, and comfortable living, we miss so much of the adventure we're really called to live, which is a life of faith."

Sound simple? I like it that way. And it appears Jesus had a passion for simplicity, stating that even children have the qualifications to enter the kingdom. They clasp faith as easily as taking the hand of a child next to them in a game of Ring Around The Rosy.

Perhaps that's what trusting is all about—taking Jesus' hand, knowing He will guide my steps. After all, He had first-hand experience climbing the mountain.

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Have a wonderful 2011 and remember to 'live' every day!

Enjoying the adventure

Ruth

The Translator

A hundred women, beautifully dressed in multi-coloured sari arrived, chatting noisily while picking up a cup of hot masala tea. After several minutes of enjoying friendly greetings, each one found her place to sit on a red plastic chair in the Calcutta India Bible Society office, situated on the second floor of a two hundred year old heritage building. The meeting began.

Then Sahana pulled the extra fabric of the crisp white and royal blue sari scarf over her bowed head and prayed out loud in Bengali. Although I did not understand the language, her powerful voice, clear delivery and sincere approach drew me into God's presence. I looked forward to her interpreting for the day's event, and especially for my message.

In spite of the excessive heat sending rivulets of perspiration along my hairline and beyond, chills rippled down my spine as she translated the recited scripture and message on a woman's value. As I turned, she did also. At my slightest hand movement, hers followed. Words barely left my mouth before she grabbed them and threw them out to the audience. Volume, voice and inflection copied perfectly, challenging me to focus on my words. Although we both had different coloured skin and looked nothing alike, I watched in amazement as I saw myself in Sahana. She became me for that day. Not only were words interpreted but so was I. In doing so, she powerfully communicated God's word, His love, plan and purpose for women to enjoy their divinely designed role. In a male dominated society, they were timely words.

Sahana Adhikary, born into the highest Hindu caste order, Brahman, excitedly shared the meaning of her name with me. "Sahana means voice, Adhikary means king so I am the 'voice of the King'". Accepting Christ as her saviour necessitated leaving her cultural heritage behind. With a bold determination to speak about her newfound faith, she lived out her name.

Meanwhile, out on the streets of Calcutta, festival preparations were under way for the Durga Pujit, one of the biggest annual Hindu celebrations. Ten days of feasts, partying and sacrificing to honour the goddess of all creation. The eight- armed, three- eyed idol is believed to wipe away the miseries and suffering of her devotees. In a culture where caste position still exists, it wasn’t difficult to see that this idol held them in bondage, each dwelling making an effort to display their own shrine or altar, whether simple or elaborate. Daily displays of flowers, incense and food marked every few feet along the sidewalk or road in an attempt to gain Durga's favour. All were oblivious to the fact that no more sacrifices are needed to enjoy an abundant life.

During our time together, I enjoyed Sahana's companionship, watching her brown eyes flash understanding as she passed on my words and thoughts. Without her, there was no message of hope that day.

I can't help but wonder if God felt like that when Jesus became His translator. Language wasn't the barrier, sin was. When Jesus appeared, He translated the words of the Father, communicating to us the greatest story of love.

The streets were busy the day He arrived on earth too. Many were not aware that the Prince of Peace had arrived. But to those who listened, they heard a voice say, "Behold the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:23 NAS

"The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son." John 1:14 The Message

There is power in being an image-bearer. For that reason, here is my Christmas prayer for this year: May the image of God, the Son, be reflected in everything I say and do, so that I may translate who He is to others.

Ruth in Action- Krivoy Rog, Ukraine

Memories of our time in the Ukraine linger, creating a longing to return. While Bob worked on the rehab centre, Margaret and I spoke, taught and gleaned many treasures of wisdom from women and men in that area.

Church of Praise- Pastors Conference- November 24- 25

Margaret Gibb and Brian Egert- keynote speakers

At the beginning of each session, I shared my love for memorizing and a few tips that I have found helpful.

Below: Anya, my translator interprets my recitation of Psalm 8.

Giving instruction to the conference participants. The goal: to collectively recite the nine verses of the Psalm using their own creative ideas.

A bag of oranges provides an illustration. Ask me "what?"

The second day at the Pastors conference. Rejoicing filled the room as all joined in to recite, "Oh Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth." Joy erupts on each face as the task is completed.

The above picture was taken before renovations began. Over one hundred twenty-two churches have birthed from this mother church.

I have been extremely blessed with this privilege of encouraging the 'hiding of God's word in one's heart'. The response from Ukrainians is overwhelming.

Check out this group of women practicing the Psalm. Let me know your thoughts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzJpTql_JcM

Enjoying the journey!

Ruth

Stop by again very soon for more action in Ukraine!