Pushing our children towards their destiny

The Pre-Teen department of the Children Ministry of my church invited the Parents of the kids to an interactive session on the 1st of April. At first, I thought it was an entertainment or a show with some April Fools flavor. What we got was a shocker, a barrel load of revelations and wise counsels that woke me up again.

The organizers worked hard to present their concerns as plainly and engaging as the issues demanded. It was a profound meeting. The result was clear. Most of us don’t know our children as we should and sadly, we thought we did.

Question after question, I was awed by the little bits and pieces of information I’d ignored about my son, Ed and how my negligence affected our relationship. I was surprised I didn’t know many of his favorite things but he knew mine.

Do you really know your child?

Pastor Toyin Kehinde’s pre-meeting comments that afternoon were profound. “…at this age, they are seeking for identity and adventure, wanting to prove they’re not babies anymore, and wrestling with the changes in their physical frame…” 

There are very sound Christian Parents whose children are still on the broad way. More disturbing is the fact that some of these Parents think all’s well with their children.

At this meeting, I confronted the fact that my prayers for my sons had been more out of fear than love. A measure of strictness that’s akin to terrorism had surfaced. It was obvious that my response to fear and the issues I was sensing could rock our boat.

How best do we raise our children in a vile society that’s glamorizing immorality, challenging and jettisoning the knowledge of God? As Parents, what are our limits in correcting, guiding and instructing our children along similar paths we’d once trod, without a sense of imposition or intimidation?

Hebrews 12:9-10 suggests parents should lead their children to the best of their abilities, whatever those are.

There’s a fine line between liberty and license. I sense that without grace and truth, one will hardly note the difference. We should give our children the liberty to explore and desire, but not the license to do as they please. This is where the problem lies for many parents.

Should we allow our children to base the discovery of themselves solely on what they think or feel is right for them? Should their comfort be more important to us than their character?

Jesus at age twelve knew God’s purpose for Him and was willing to engage it. However, the scriptures record, “And he went down with them [His parents] and came to Nazareth; and did as he was ordered…” Luke 2:51 BBE (my emphasis)

Jesus didn’t need to be “pushed”, He was self-motivated in the right direction. Most children aren’t. Shepherding them through the maze of life into adulthood is tougher than ever. When a Parent’s words or actions imply, “Please leave (child’s name) alone, or give them whatever they want, I don’t want trouble…”, they have unwittingly made room for chaos.

Children who shrink from discipline and never test their abilities or gifts (hidden or known), either by being “pushed” or “ushered” thereunto, grow into emotionally weak young adults who are more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

On the flip side though, are parents who are seeking status and accolades for themselves in the achievements of their children. So their “push” is not really for the well-being of the child but for their selfish gratification. How do we strike a healthy balance?

This very interesting and hilarious video clip below illustrates the challenge some parents have as they strive to chart a predictable course for their children.

What’s fundamentally wrong with this mother’s desire for her precious daughter? Did you have such an experience? Does it work?

This blog: How do I pray for my kids has a list of great prayers and perspectives that can be helpful.

Our mission to Teachers in South Sudan

A school teacher supervising 500 students daily has greater influence
than most pastors anywhere. I confirmed this in a memorable encounter with a
class of 110 children in Yei last month.

A child lay crying on
the dirt floor in the Baby Class of the school where I live and I went to see
what was wrong with him because his uniform was messed up, covered with dirt.

“He’s being very
stubborn and disturbing the class.” The teacher said.

I picked him off the
floor and tried to intervene. As I dusted him up, I asked him to apologize to
the class. He refused. I pleaded, he didn’t respond. I then turned to the class
and asked his classmates to say they forgive him, they didn’t respond to me
either.

It suddenly dawned on
me that I was not connecting with these kids and I asked their teacher to help
me.

She turned to the class
and spoke their language,
with some unique call-outs. Instantly they responded. What I struggled to
accomplish in 5mins, this lady achieved in seconds. It was instructive for me
and I promptly used that opportunity to drive home my message on the power and
influence of  teachers to that class teacher. She got it.

The student population
in Yei has doubled within 2years but same cannot be said about the teachers and
especially their capacity to impact knowledge. They know this and seek
assistance.

The Planning Committee
for the Yei Teachers’ Conference is working assiduously to gather other
teachers to a weekend of training, instruction and discussion in May 2013. This
will be our second conference for school teachers. I’m impressed with their
preparations for this conference.

Our ministry is youth
based. Students are our primary targets and as such, working closely with
teachers is a strategic necessity.

With this conference
and our ministry, we aim:

1. To see that our
overall outreach to the youths (most of whom are students and make-up over
70-75% of our church members) is amplified on account of our meaningful
connection with the teachers.

2. To facilitate a
deliberate collaborative effort between school teachers and other faith-based
ministries like ours. Thereby providing spiritual leadership and counsel needed
to guide student morally.

3. We are looking for
individuals and corporate faith-based teacher-trainers and educators; who are
willing to come to South Sudan for a season, to offer training to our teachers
as part of their contribution to the building of this new Nation and service to
God.

4. We long to see
teachers in Yei and South Sudan make eternal commitments to follow, love and
serve Jesus Christ, thereby become fruitful participants in God’s redemptive
Kingdom purpose. Thus, this Conference will always have an evangelistic thrust.

5. We long to see well
trained and discipled Patrons and Matrons of the fast growing Christian student
fellowships. Teachers, who not only teach well but also model godliness and
take the lead in our many student meetings from term to term.

We are gathering a team
of instructors and ministers for this Conference, seasoned teachers and teacher
trainers with many years experience in the education sector. They are coming to
invest their grace and gifting in the Nation of South Sudan through the
teachers and the students under them. Please pray for this Conference.

We dream of a day when
every school in South Sudan will have teachers who love and obey Jesus on
account of our ministry. Teachers, whose perspective of their profession
shifted from wage earning to a call, because they bought into our vision.

We are building
relationships with teachers in Yei and praying God, in His masterful ways to
weave our ministry with theirs for maximum impact among the youth of the land.

Please stand with us. 

 

 

I shouldn’t be worried but I am

Jesus knows the reality of this temptation, to worry and fret over life’s challenges. Yet, He simply commands us, “…Let not your heart be troubled…”

It’s just been one story after another here in Yei. Within the network of friends I’m discipling, I daily encounter seemingly endless reports of struggles and pain.

From a fresh rape case to other matters too disturbing to write in this limited space, I’m worried. And it worries me that I’m worried.

Maybe I should practice concern and stave off worry in cases like the aforementioned. After all should it be easy not to worry when this dear sister, a student, who has suffered with a bag load of unresolved personal issues, was raped last week and now needs the equivalent of $15 USD to finish bailing herself, her sister and her mother from jail after they beat up the culprit for his crime?

And it also shouldn’t worry me too much that the culprit – a student in a school 100 meters from my room – has already posted bail and been released by the police.

In his testimony, he confessed that he used witchcraft to access the girl’s room and ambushed her after everyone else had fallen asleep.

Am I just amplifying this matter unnecessarily? After all, it’s not an epidemic. Sadly though, as I write this, some brethren feel this sister is not sincere.  “How is it possible for someone to enter your room, strip you naked, and start having sex with you without you even knowing it?” Some have dared to ask.

But would you feel differently if the victim was your child, your sister, your friend…or even your own mother?

In violent and volatile environments like this, how do you teach young girls and ladies to protect themselves against such damaging crimes?

What should be the appropriate response for a pastor, a leader, or a parent whose child or family member has been raped?

Most challenging of all, what if the culprit is your disciple, your son, your brother, your friend… or even your own father?

How do you teach young boys and men to conduct themselves, much less control themselves?

You may have simpler answers to these difficult questions, and if so, I’d love to know them.

I do know that at the core of this intensely painful situation is the need for vigorous discipleship. Our discipleship needs here are immense!

I’m worried. And the root of my worry is that we seem to be giving more attention to projects, programs and property than people. The apathy to matters like this here is worrisome.

Time is running out to lay proper foundations. Damage control is always more expense and arduous than preventative measures.

We continue to covet your prayers and welcome your counsels. 

Living emotionally healthy spiritually

When I asked my mentor and coach, Seth Barnes to recommend some “must-read” books to me a few weeks ago, Peter Scazzero‘s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality was first on the list.

He’d seen and heard some of my struggles and my request presented him an opportunity to introduce this great book, to help drive home a few points and stabilize my cruise. I’m most grateful.

I must confess that I struggled to finish this book. I can’t count how many times I abandoned it, muting “oh my goodness” under my breath. It pressed me into hidden matters of the heart that need immediate attention. Some of the issues will take a while to unpack.

As we head into the year 2013, which I believe is loaded with life-changing prospects for good, I highly recommend this book to every Christian. Young or old, broken or well-made, single or married, divorced or wishing it, rich or poor, active in ministry, on some job or just there– please get this 227 paged book and give yourself a chance to grow in the right places this year.

Laced with many personal, practical examples and guidelines, this book offers something truly unique. It also has a DVD and Workbook to help discuss and digest the details.

Here are a few extracts:

“Christian spirituality, without an integration of emotional health, can be deadly-to yourself, your relationship with God, and the people around you… Because people are having real, and helpful spiritual experiences in certain areas of their lives- such as worship, prayer, Bible studies, and fellowship- they mistakenly believe they are doing fine, even if their relational life and interior world is not in order. This apparent “progress” then provides the reason for not doing the hard work of maturing.”

Peter Scazzero explains that “the great temptations towards the false self” traps the soul with three major prongs. First is the- I am what I do (Performance); then, I am what I have (Possession) and third, I am what others think (Popularity).

“…it is essential for us to clearly identify the primary symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality that continue to wreak havoc on our personal lives and our churches. The following are the top ten symptoms indicating if someone is suffering from a bad case of emotionally unhealthy spirituality.”

1.                   Using God to run from God

2.                   Ignoring the emotions of anger, sadness, and fear

3.                   Dying to the wrong things

4.                   Denying the past’s impact on the present

5.                   Dividing our lives into “secular” and “sacred” compartments

6.                   Doing for God instead of being with God

7.                   Spiritualizing away conflict

8.                   Covering over brokenness, weakness, and failure

9.                   Living without limits

10.               Judging other people’s spiritual journey       

He graciously explained these symptoms. 

We are called to follow Christ and make Him loved and worshiped by the way we relate to the world around us. Some of us are doing poorly at this and know it. But some others, though weak too, are totally oblivious of what must change and why. Like that blind man in Mark 8:22-25, they see men like trees, walking; sadly, they are content. After all, it’s better than the former state of darkness.

Adults as Emotional Infants

o   Look for others to take care of them

o   Are driven by need for instant gratification

o   Use others as objects to meet their needs

Adults as Emotional Children

o   Are content and happy as long as they receive what they want

o   Interpret disagreement as personal offenses and are easily hurt

o   Complain, withdraw, manipulate, take revenge, become sarcastic when they don’t get their way

o   Have great difficulty calmly discussing their needs and wants in a mature, loving way

Adults as Emotional Adolescents

o   Tend to often be defensive

o   Keep score of what they give so they can ask for something later in return

o   Deal with conflict poorly, often blaming, appeasing, going to a third party, pouting, or ignoring the issue entirely

o   Have great difficulty truly listening to another person’s pain, disappointments, or needs

o   Are critical and judgmental, yet threatened and alarmed themselves by criticism

Growing into emotionally mature adults doesn’t happen naturally. It takes hard work. If these (select) categories above as highlighted in the book connect with you in a personal way, that’s okay. Question is, what should you do to engage for change? 

There’s hope for all that see the cracks and decide to deliberately press into the loving arms of a Father who’s saying, “Come into my presence boldly, I have a Man like you in here already.” Heb 10:19-22 (My summary) This book can help.

Emotionally Mature Adult

o   Able to ask for what they need, want, and prefer  -clearly, directly, honestly, respectfully

o   Recognize, manage and take responsibility for their own thoughts and feelings

o   Can, when under stress state their own beliefs and values without becoming adversarial

o   Respect others without having to change them and give people room to make mistakes

o   Accurately access their own limits, strengths, and weaknesses and are able to freely discuss them with others

o   Are deeply in tune with their own emotional world (brokenness) and thus are able to enter into the feelings, needs, and concerns of others without losing themselves

o   Have the capacity to resolve conflict maturely and negotiate solutions that consider the perspectives of others (even when there are clearly wrong)

If this Emotionally Mature Adult is not the goal of Christian discipleship, I don’t know what is. 

Let’s strive for this, beginning with ourselves, in 2013 and beyond.

This is not a call to another New Year Resolution. This is a call to live free and die happy.

Happy Year New my friend!!

100 opportunities to make a difference

After her visit to Yei last September, my dear wife Sola has not been the same. Her encounters during this trip were incredibly profound.

She was greatly stirred by the diverse needs of many young girls there. She kept wondering how to help. Some of the girls are struggling to pay their way through school as they search for a loving arm to hold them and a listening ear to hear them.

The love and concern she showed some of these girls made a strong impression in their hearts and their response overwhelmed her. They met a friend, a counselor, an accessible leader and more importantly, that mother-figure they could trust but have missed these years.

She saw needs that her limited presence, presents and prayers alone cannot address.

When we celebrated Sola’s 40th birthday a month ago, she shared the vision of a pet project which was inspired by her encounters with some of the students during her last mission trip.

She said, “One of my primary desires as I mark this 40th birthday is to create awareness about the huge challenges faced by youths in South Sudan on account of poor or no education, and raise support to better the lot of a few.”

“I intend therefore to establish an Education Fund to provide school fees for 100 students in Yei, South Sudan, every year beginning 2013 academic session, for the next 10years.”

“It will be a wonderful adventure to connect with these students (and their families) who will be selected from least privileged backgrounds and offer to pay their school fees throughout their secondary education, thereby build life changing relationships with them.”

“Please fulfill my joy and make this project a bridge, connecting these students to sponsors like you. The destiny of someone, somewhere in South Sudan who you may never see, could be changed forever by your partnering with me here.”

“I call this 10-year project, Sons and Daughters of Deborah Education Fund. My first name is Deborah.”

The average fee for each student per school year is $120 (One Hundred and Twenty US Dollars). This can be given quarterly in $30 (Thirty US Dollars) installments or yearly, at the sponsor’s convenience.

Here are your options:

(i) One term, one-time only, $40

(ii) Full session, one-time only, $120

(iii) A full session every year, $120 yearly (for 2-10years)

You are free to sponsor more than one student. We strongly recommend that sponsors who’d want to commit to supporting a student for a full year and beyond, be connected with the recipient student(s).

This is the plan and the purpose. When we receive your support, we’ll tag you to the student or students (if you are sponsoring more than one). 

We’d then help you establish a long distance relationship with this student, so that you can help motivate, mentor and nurture him/her while their discipling process continues within our network in Yei. 

We’ll also send you periodic report on each student with copies of their school term result.

The Sons and Daughters of Deborah Fellowship will be birth from this project. This will serve as a forum for interaction and fun for these students.

If you’d love to partner with us to make a difference in the life of 100 secondary school students every year in Yei, South Sudan, please send an email to: sons.n.daughters.of.deborah@gmail.com or click [HERE] to make your tax deductible donation or just indicate your interest in the comments column below. Please tell us what you intend to do and how.

You are served here, with an opportunity to positively influence the destiny of one of the least of these students, to be in their life-story, unite with their family for a long time and help lead them out of poverty. Please grab this opportunity and let’s journey together.

When the flood gate of tears burst

When I read this Seth Barnes’ blog highlighting  Amie Gallegos’ blog where she shamelessly stripped, sharing her past and the brokenness from which God had lifted her, I was shocked.

Somehow, I knew this Amie’s excellent piece would serve a good purpose in my fellowship and discipleship sessions in South Sudan someday.

What I didn’t know was that it would come handy sooner than later. At the Students’ conference two months ago, this great article opened the flood gates to an incredible encounter and healing among the young ladies during the conference in Yei, South Sudan.

Like Seth said, “What Amie shares is shocking… But it also contains the seeds of connection. I believe young people like Amie are dying for connection and are willing to take great risks to get it.”

At that Conference, we had a Brother-to-brothers and Sister-to-sisters session; where I encouraged the senior Brothers and senior Sisters facilitating the sessions to share their own personal experiences, fears, failures and brokenness before reading Amie Gallegos’ blog for all to hear. They did and the connection happened.

One after the other, in the three classes for the girls, they began to openly share the deeply hidden horrors of their past, the bitterness they’ve borne for so many years, the fears and sense of unworthiness, the unspeakable sexual abuse from close family members, their insecurities and so much more.

The dam gave way and the flood gate of tears burst. The pain released in the air by these precious souls was almost tangible. I was broken. Several issues troubled me that evening.

First, I wondered why they’ve carried these pain for so long? How could these be happening right under our nose?

How could they have held-in these deep issues of unforgiveness and bitterness, and expect the move of God?

Why does the leadership seem nonchalant, ignorant and powerless to these matters of the heart among the youth?

In the end, there was repentance that opened the doors for healing.

Here are my recommendations to youth leaders and pastors, who desperately long to see young people within their network loosed from the incapacitating grip of yesterday’s baggage of shame and bitterness.

1.                  Be the first to strip. Your personal struggles with life is crucial to cracking the dam restraining the release of many insecurities. Dispensing bits and pieces of our brokenness at the appropriate moments could be more effective than many empty sermons.

2.                  When you share your own brokenness, you experience a fulfillment and release that frees you to lead those in need of healing. So learn to do it right.

3.                   Use books, videos, anything that addresses identity issues. Materials like Amie’s blog and the Mask have worked well for me in creating a healthy atmosphere where young people can freely unmask.

4.                  Young people need to know they are not alone in their struggles and search for reality. Our puritan disposition to life will often be counter-productive if what we say is different from what they sense and see. Be real yourself! They’ll catch what you are, not what you claim.

5.         Validate them in their weakness. They’ve judged themselves and condemned themselves for so long. Don’t add yours. Guide them to the light.

6.                  Turn on the light slowly. People who have lived in any form of darkness for a long time don’t accept light without first attempting to hide. So, when we turn on the light slowly we deliberately create an enabling platform where they can unmask and publicly pledge their allegiance to Jesus Christ without shame.

7.         Each case has itself own fingerprint. Seek the Holy Spirit for directions. He knows better.

8.                  Truth will never contradict truth, regardless of time or place. Know the truth, live it and teach it. Your personal experience may be real but may not be the truth. Don’t make your experience the message.

9.                   Find and learn how to connect the Truth, Jesus, to every case. He’s always there, waiting to be discovered. “In the beginning was the Light…”

You must be crazy

In September 2003, God took me out of Lagos Nigeria to
Atlanta in USA and said to me, “I brought you here to get your attention.” Nine years on, He still has me, but not pinned down where we started.

We’ve moved on to matters of eternal consequence that greatly
challenge my total being.

My life took a wild
turn from that day and I was labeled crazy
by some that felt I was making a great mistake, abandoning my career in Computer Science, with huge prospects in a place like America
for cross-cultural missions in war-torn Sudan.

I can’t blame them. Following Jesus never made sense. You
have to be crazy enough to follow Jesus to the end.

The first disciples of Jesus were totally insane. Though
some recovered from their insanity when He said, “For
My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.” John
6:53-66 We read there that many of the disciples left
Him and went away. For them, He took it too far.

Those that remained had reached the point of
no-return.

Else, how do you explain their continued devotion when
they heard Jesus say, “Indeed, it is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom
of God.” Bewildered, they promptly asked; “Who, then can be
saved?” Mark
10:25-28

I wonder if Peter heard Jesus’ response to their
anxiety before he lamented, “Lo, we have left all and have
followed You.” If I were there that day, I say to Peter, “You must be crazy.”

Peter’s fear
and concern are legitimate. Most of us don’t start-out crazy. Self preservation comes with humanness, but we catch the crazy virus as we take baby steps along the narrow path with Jesus. The
fathers of our faith nursed their individual fears as they followed in
obedience.

Every disciple is graciously
guided towards the narrow way where total abandonment is inevitable. It can be
a very frightful trip on account of the rejection, misunderstandings, uncertainties
and the share mystery choosing it portends.

Yet, therein is the
fullness of our existence pegged by the hands of a loving Father, who’s the All Mighty God.

“Journeys
open up our spirit to the possibility of a reality it hasn’t yet rasped. Away
from the familiar, our hearts become a place where God can work, a place where
only faith will sustain us. Even though our physical travels may not last a
year, the lessons we learn will continue to rend our hearts for years to come.
The journey is more than an escape from the things that have come to define us
in life – it’s a chance to break free from the shackles of an ordinary
existence.” – From Kingdom Journeys – Rediscovering The Lost
Spiritual Discipline by Seth Barnes

Once again, I hear
Jesus saying, “With men it is impossible, but not
with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Our life as we know it
and have it must be lived on God’s terms. The “with God” angle is the faith dimension, the only acceptable
way to relate with an All-Sufficient God.

If you finally got the
chance today to take a huge step, in faith, on account of God’s nudge in your
heart, what will it be?

It’s only in this “with God” arena that we begin
to dream and dare to live the impossible from season to season. The invitation
to craziness is served daily and the fruit are as sure as the promises
of God.

Who will be the primary
beneficiaries of your act of crazy obedience?

I dare you to be crazy, Mubarak was crazy.

We are made for this place

It’s been a season of pure fun,
fueled by suspense, uncertainties and raw life ministry realities as we went on
our first family mission trip, visiting Yei in South Sudan via Uganda.

Planning and preparing for this trip made us stronger as a family. Not just because the children for the first time fasted and prayed for three days straight but the overall sense of purpose and focus was remarkable. 

Our road ride into Yei from Uganda was incredible. I’ve had several
challenging rides on that road, but this outclassed them all. In retrospect,
the presence of my family made a huge difference as to what levels of danger I
could tolerate with them present. There’s a vital lesson here.

God answered us at every turn during this trip and proved His word true in ways we’ll not soon forget.

From provisions that came in all within
the week of travel to the very last day of this trip, to provision of the taxi driver
that took us from Koboko village into Yei, who masterfully waded through the
muddy roads and ditches, the flight out of Yei that saw Ed and Othniel sharing one seat, we could never have planned it like this.

The Students’ and Youths’ Conference, our ministry to the youth and Sola’s connection with the young ladies were all profound. We were overjoyed every evening as we reflected, debriefed
and prayed.

The children blended in so well, as most
children their ages do and made friends everywhere. Their outgoing nature and
good manners made a clear statement. “Your children are well
behaved…” was a comment we heard often. We were proud parents. 

They learnt a new song in Arabic – “ile ita Yesu ile ita…” meaning “It’s only you Jesus it’s
only you…” Truly, truly, so true!

When Gift, now 16, whom we took
into our home four years ago was serving the kids in Dreamland and reading to
them, tears of joy moistened my eyes. She came into our family unable to read or
write. Here, she’s ministering to these less privileged children and making a
difference.

You know you’ve hit the bull’s-eye in any family trip when the kids begin to use lines like, “When we come again…”  in several sentences. Gift, Ed and Othniel made several promises to their new friends, assuring them of their return. We’d certainly be back.

Though short, this is by far, one of my best
mission trips in many ways. Once again, the presence of my family was key.

We have several notable
testimonies of tears of sorrow turned into tears of joy, of hope restored, of prayers answered and of needs met. We’ll be sharing them later and reflecting on the lessons learned.

When Sola said, “God’s giving us
a glimpse of what our ministry here could look like when we finally settle
in…” She took the words right out of my mouth.

We’ll post a few pictures later to help you
connect with the fun we’ve had. But for now, please join us to appreciate God for all He’s done with and for us.

Heading to South Sudan with our kids

Sola and I are 9days away from taking our kids on their first missions trip to Yei, South Sudan. Our transition to
settling there is underway. This 3weeks trip is crucial beyond words.

The excitement is off the roof for
the kids. I don’t blame them. It’s a long holiday for them and with a trip like
this on the agenda, what could be better?

But do I feel the same way?

The anxiety racing through me in
anticipation of this trip is intense.

How are the kids going to deal with
the change they’ll experience? Someone said children handle culture shock
better than adults. I hope so.

Ed is 11yrs and Othniel is 5. Both
have never seen or used a squatty potty, needless to say a pit latrine, which is
what we use in Yei.

What of safety? Shouldn’t we be
concerned about sicknesses and diseases? Will they enjoy that “barbecued
water” for their baths?

They will spend days with the 100 orphan
kids at Dreamland, how will they cope with the meals, the bathroom,  the sanitation, bed space and other things within the dormitory
structure of the place?

As far as temperaments go, Ed is an
extrovert like his mum and seems to handle himself well amidst kids his age and
even older. But Othniel is daddy’s boy, introverted and happy to run his own show.
I can’t wait to see how they connect with other kids in Yei.

Will it be love on arrival or will
homesickness hit them when they see the dirt roads and taste the dust that
charge the air in the absence of rain?

Will they be a nuisance and
hindrance of some sort to the ministry there or bring a measure of grace we
never imagined existed within them?

Sola and I have thought through
most of these concerns and we came to a conclusion that what they stand to gain
by going and engaging, far outweighs whatever risks could be involved.

We want our boys to value relationships
and we are convinced that exposing them to cross cultural missions is one good way
of helping them meet and love people who are different from them; and learn to
appreciate the divergent beauties and also life challenges many kids are living
with.

We’d have achieved our family goals
for this trip if the boys see their time with their peers as an opportunity to
be a blessing, discover and display their gifts, appreciate Abba for the privileges they
enjoy and also see how and why they should take their place in prayers with us
for this call.

It will be a joy to see them
serving, praying for other kids, leading some to Jesus, sharing their stories and learning the language. 

It will be so worth
it if they begin to understand that God is not just willing but able to
manifest signs and wonders through them, though they are young.

Sola and I feel we won’t have the
moral right to ask other parents to release their kids to us to make these
trips in the future, as a way of discipling them and helping them discover
their place in the kingdom, if we don’t lead ours along the same path and watch them benefit from it.

We’ll be making long road trips
from Uganda to South Sudan and we beseech Abba for safety.

The funding we need is yet to
arrive. We don’t have a third of what’s budgeted, but we believe.

We covet your prayers and your
support as we plan and pray to make our first launch out.

Lessons from the Students’ Marathon 2012 (Part 3 of 3)

“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.” T. Alan Armstrong

Few days before this marathon, a brother and I accidentally met Reida Keji training alone along a less traveled road outside town. She’d run over 2kms and had 8kms more to cover. She did this every morning before school and in the evening after school.

Two things thrilled me about her and I remarked to the brother with me, “…this girl will take the first prize again… she’s doing something unique.”

First, she was training alone.

I saw a self-motivated girl with determination written all over her. She seemed to be training for a stage greater than this Students’ Marathon. 

She was seeing her future and running towards it alone.

Second, she was doing it secretly. Though she had the option of running around town where she’d be seen by her admirers, after all she’s the current champion; instead she made her preparation private and personal by running along a lonely road, far from public view. That’s not common with young people.

When asked why she chose to train alone and in secret when others were training together in the fields and around town, the summary of her response was, “I challenge myself better when I’m alone and I don’t want attention. It is easy to be distracted when you know people are watching.” What profound perspectives from a young mind!

I wasn’t surprised when I gave her the first-place card at that finish line. You don’t win a marathon back-to-back if you are not gifted and well prepared. 

Her express desire for greater laurels and a stage beyond what this marathon offered was confirmed when she ran again the following day after winning the first prize, still on the same lonely road. Her passion and dream motivates her and we’ve taken notice.

But for now, her discipleship is our utmost concern and preoccupation. Spiritual formation is at the core of our drive. Creating a platform that attracts gifted athletes like Reida is our aim with this Marathon. We will not lose focus.

Will she qualify for the next Olympics and carry the flag of South Sudan in Rio come 2016?

We must be dreaming. 

Abba smiles.

                       [Reida relishes her victory after the marathon in this video clip below]