Missionary Challenges

This is from a recent newsletter from the Tricaricos, missionaries in Uganda:
"Many of you already heard about the fire in Kopetatum.... It spread quickly and completely destroyed two mantayas (fenced clusters of residential huts)....
"The disaster has presented many opportunities for us and significant challenges to us. We love our neighbors. We want to show our love, but the best ways to do so are not always clear to us. Our suffering neighbors have asked us for money and food. They know we have the resources to make things much different for them in a very short period of time. But would that be the best way to love a people enslaved by the sins of idleness, drunkenness, and deceit? I must admit that Matthew 5:42 is a hard saying for me. Does Jesus mean that on every occasion, we disciples must :give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you?" I do not think he does. Surely, in some capacity, he does want us to say "yes" to those who ask. In the case of our mission here, we often deny requests that come. Or, to put it differently, we try to reshape the requests so that some long-term good might come from short-term relief.
"Some years ago our mission helped the people of Kopetatum start a stone-selling business. Many of the residents have spent time hammering and pounding the rocks in their village and forming mounds of them to display for sale. In fact, we have been pleased to buy their stones for our own construction needs. So,. we told our friends that we want to store up some rocks for future projects, and would like to buy from them right away. This, we thought, would provide a genuine flow of cash that could be used for food and materials for rebuilding.
"The response from most of the people was outrage. Our buying things that require them to work is not assistance, you see. They only acknowledge material gifts as bona fide expressions of love, and told us as much. Dave and I met with some of the men to talk about our plan, but we were not heard. they were not interested. We repeated our offer, even though there did not seem to be any takers. This has been hard. We pity our friends so much. They need Christ. they need to see themselves as divine image-bearers who are able, with the strength that God provides. to solve their problems in ways other than by begging for money. Do pray that they would see these things. Holy Spirit come!
"I am happy to report that a man came to us the next day, having worked hard cracking stones. His name is Loduk Albino, a member of the church, and crippled. He can't use his legs, but his arms are strong. In one day, he had pummeled and piled enough stones to bring in money to feed his family for more than a week. We bought them. On another day, some women arrived, proudly announcing their stones were ready. We are buying theirs too. We are prepared to buy from any who come, all the while offering them freely what cannot be bought--the gospel of our lord and peace with God through his blood (Isaiah 55:1-2)."

Kate Kelly's blog

While I was thinking about Garrett and Kristen, I was reminded that Kate Kelly also has a blog. Kate is in Dublin, Ireland. Like Garrett and Kristen, we at Covenant have a lot invested in her, and want to follow that up by praying for her. Now Kate has not updated her blog in a while, so you might find her on Facebook and remind her.... Or you might try her other blog.
Did you know that if you sign in you can receive updates from all these blogs? If you don't know how, ask someone who does--they are all around church (mostly under 30, but also some old-timers like myself).

Garrett and Kristen's blog

In case you hadn't seen it, just a reminder--Garrett and Kristen have a blog where they report on their lives in the Ukraine. At Covenant we have invested a lot in them--financially but also in many other ways. Let us also invest in prayer for them. Take a moment to look at it and pray for them.

An Athiest in Praise of Missionaries

Ben Hopp's blog pointed me to this article. If you haven't seen it, it is quite fascinating. An athiest argues that missionaries have done more to transform Africa than anyone else (secular charities, NGO's, governments, etc.).

Something different

Sometimes being a missionary is quite exciting... click here.

Ben Hopp's Visit

Check out the Hopps' blog, where he writes about his visit to Covenant (and shooting a potato gun at the Kelly's). (You will need "approval" from Ben to veiw his blog--email him if you are not signed up yet).