We were so thrilled to have Mary Baraka share her testimony with women at Trinity during her visit to us in September.
Mary from Uganda from Jamey Durham on Vimeo.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Paul Baraka (Namusaala, Uganda)
This is the video of Paul Baraka that we showed in church at Trinity on August 17. After he shared about the joy of being one man in Christ, Paul got down on his knees and used a cloth to wash our feet. It was one of the most moving events in each of our lives.
Counselor Training
Wow!
The three dyas of counselor training were unbelievable. It seemed that the plans Joan, Kathleen, and Donna prayed about were exactly what was needed for Titus' ministry. Rarely have I been on a misison trip where what was needed matched so well with what was planned. Thanks be to God! Enjoy these pics, the highlights of which was the newly elected bishop handing out certificates of completion after the training was finished.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Hope Christian School
Here is a short slide show of Hope Christian School in Namusaala, Uganda. Here 75 students come from the surrounding countryside for a secondary education in English. Very few Bari-speaking people have a secondary education. This school is two years old and and seeks to help these children of Sudanese descent to take the next step in their lives. How might we help this school? We could...
a) Help sponsor students.
b) Develop pen pal relationships from our schools to their school.
c) Build a school building.
a) Help sponsor students.
b) Develop pen pal relationships from our schools to their school.
c) Build a school building.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING!
Hi everyone!
This is just a quick post to say all is well and we have not had internet access until today for a few minutes when I could get away for a quick visit to an internet cafe. We likely won't have access again until we return. We will update the blog with stories after we get back.
We have been blown away by God amazing provision for a successful visit. Saturday and Sunday went so well that we said, "If nothing else positive happens, this experience has been so very good."
But we can all honestly say that everyday has seen so many good things. The counseling training has gone beyond our best hopes. Kathleen, Joan, and Donna have all done such a great job. To see Todd TG interact with kids in the schools and churches is awesome. The soccer balls from OC Rec and the Basketballs from NWC camps have been a HUGE hit. Todd has also been doing physical labor at Titus' house, much to the surprise of local Ugandans, who evidently have not seen a 'mizungu' (Westerner) do much physical labor. And, when we handed out the radios, it was as if some one had just won a million dollars. They are so grateful.
Well, time to get back the training sessions.
God bless you all,
Jon
This is just a quick post to say all is well and we have not had internet access until today for a few minutes when I could get away for a quick visit to an internet cafe. We likely won't have access again until we return. We will update the blog with stories after we get back.
We have been blown away by God amazing provision for a successful visit. Saturday and Sunday went so well that we said, "If nothing else positive happens, this experience has been so very good."
But we can all honestly say that everyday has seen so many good things. The counseling training has gone beyond our best hopes. Kathleen, Joan, and Donna have all done such a great job. To see Todd TG interact with kids in the schools and churches is awesome. The soccer balls from OC Rec and the Basketballs from NWC camps have been a HUGE hit. Todd has also been doing physical labor at Titus' house, much to the surprise of local Ugandans, who evidently have not seen a 'mizungu' (Westerner) do much physical labor. And, when we handed out the radios, it was as if some one had just won a million dollars. They are so grateful.
Well, time to get back the training sessions.
God bless you all,
Jon
Saturday, July 26, 2008
I'm going to Uganda!!!
Last fall I prayed a prayer that something like this, "Lord, would you expand my circle of life, I feel too content in Orange City."
I can easily say that this year has been one of the most exciting years of my life. Going to Uganda is an honor and thrill to me. I have never been out of the country. The part I will be playing on the team will be as an abstinence educator. My experience in teaching abstinence began about 15 years ago as a new teacher in a public school. I realized that many students are never taught how saving sex for marriage will benefit them in many areas of their lives. I have a passion for teaching abstinence. More recently I was an abstinence educator in Northwest Iowa.
I am so excited that God is using my experience to teach people His plan for sexual purity in Uganda.
Uganda has had alot of success in encouraging abstinence but it still has a high HIV/AIDS rate. Abstinence is a message that needs to be continually taught. I will be training other leaders to teach students about sexual self-control.
Pray for us to have health and energy. Pray also that we will have culturally accurate examples to share with our audience. Pray for restful sleep. Donna D
I can easily say that this year has been one of the most exciting years of my life. Going to Uganda is an honor and thrill to me. I have never been out of the country. The part I will be playing on the team will be as an abstinence educator. My experience in teaching abstinence began about 15 years ago as a new teacher in a public school. I realized that many students are never taught how saving sex for marriage will benefit them in many areas of their lives. I have a passion for teaching abstinence. More recently I was an abstinence educator in Northwest Iowa.
I am so excited that God is using my experience to teach people His plan for sexual purity in Uganda.
Uganda has had alot of success in encouraging abstinence but it still has a high HIV/AIDS rate. Abstinence is a message that needs to be continually taught. I will be training other leaders to teach students about sexual self-control.
Pray for us to have health and energy. Pray also that we will have culturally accurate examples to share with our audience. Pray for restful sleep. Donna D
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Journey to Africa
My journey to Africa began about 15 years ago at a missions conference called Urbana. I left that conference feeling a call to go to Africa. I didn't know exactly when or even what I was to do, but I felt in my heart that I needed to go.
During this past year, my opportunity to Africa finally arrived. I was asked to be a member of our church's mission team. Our team is organized into three dirrerent areas: local, national, and global. After sharing our visions and passions, I was asked to join the global group and take a trip to Uganda.
I am excited yet nervous about this trip. Our main goal for this trip is to train lay counselors for a new counseling center, but I am not a counselor. Instead, I will be looking for ways to serve and form other long-term relationships. I feel as if God has been training and preparing me for the past fifteen years for what is to come, but I am still wondering exactly how God will use me. I pray that my eyes may be open, and that I may not miss any signs God reveals while I am there. I am excited to see what God has in store!
During this past year, my opportunity to Africa finally arrived. I was asked to be a member of our church's mission team. Our team is organized into three dirrerent areas: local, national, and global. After sharing our visions and passions, I was asked to join the global group and take a trip to Uganda.
I am excited yet nervous about this trip. Our main goal for this trip is to train lay counselors for a new counseling center, but I am not a counselor. Instead, I will be looking for ways to serve and form other long-term relationships. I feel as if God has been training and preparing me for the past fifteen years for what is to come, but I am still wondering exactly how God will use me. I pray that my eyes may be open, and that I may not miss any signs God reveals while I am there. I am excited to see what God has in store!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
An opportunity to help and learn - July 20
In the spring of 2006, seeds were planted in my heart for the people of Africa through an adult education class offered at my church on Hope in Action. Our Associate Pastor, Jon Nelson, shared with us through some DVDs about the AIDS epidemic in Africa and how devastating it is in the lives of the individuals, families and communities. The needs are overwhelming and the question “how can I help?” became a pressing and disturbing question in my heart. Simultaneously, Jon Opgenorth, our Pastor, went on sabbatical during which time he traveled to Uganda and developed a relationship with a local Ugandan pastor, Rev. Canon Captain Titus Baraka. Our worlds met when Jon shared about his trip and he described Titus’s vision for setting up a counseling center to help those in his community, primarily with youth and college-aged students who are struggling with issues involving HIV/AIDS. The seeds that were planted in my heart began to grow as they were watered with further questions and prayer. The mission’s team, of which I am a part, began to talk about what it would take to respond to Titus’ vision and request for help to set up a counseling center and to help train lay counselors. It was then that our church, Trinity Reformed Church, decided to send a team of 5 to encourage and support Titus in his immediate efforts and to explore the possibility of developing a long term relationship with him and his church. I am very excited to be of help where I can and I am also eager to learn from our brothers and sisters across the world about their persons, faith and culture. Joan
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A Letter from Titus
Here is a recent letter I received from Titus. It will give you a sense for the kind of man we are going to partner with in Uganda. Please note that we will not be near where he was in this letter and should not in any danger from the violence of the LRA. Titus will be preaching at Trinity in September, when he visits the Words of Hope board meeting in our church.
Dear Friends,
Grace and peace to you all from God our father and Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Once again I wish to 'thank you' for your support and for your prayers.
God has continued being very faithful to us in the abundance of his Grace. Our family is doing well at this time even tho we had several bouts with malaria. My wife Mary and daughter Hope were hospitalized with malaria and on my return from the 2 week trip to Sudan I contacted malaria.
In my last letter I think I mentioned the trip I made to Juba in southern Sudan to conduct a Mission & Evangelism conference. In June I took a team from Chattanooga, Tenn. to do a follow up conferences in this area in Sudan. Where we were staying there were quite a few U.N. military observers and de-mining personnel from countries such as the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, India and Pakistan.
We struck up a friendship with a Peruvian officer who was seriously plying us with questions about Christ, asking for prayer, etc. He took me for a walk asking me questions related to the reality about our soul and eternity. After I shared with him my understanding of the Biblical plan of Salvation, I was amazed when he asked me to go with him into the Cathedral Church building and asked me to pray for him. Earlier at the local Anglican Church a soldier from India had come to Christ. I suspect none of those U.N. folk or the officials who sent them, ever dreamed that they were coming to Sudan to get ministered to by local folks.
This second Sudanese clergy conference was in Lainya, just 37 miles from where we were staying -nearly a 4 hour trip thought because of the state of the roads there. Another reason for the length of the trip was that we had to stop and wait while de-miners who were cleaning the roads and nearby fields exploded one of the bombs.
When we arrived in Lainya, we found it remote and undeveloped - no electricity or cell phone network, even the bishop was living in a mud and thatch house. We were dropped off and would be picked up at the end of the week. That evening we learned that the notoriously brutal rebel of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) from Uganda had attacked a village on the Sudan/Congo border killing 28 people and were headed our way. Being pursued by the armies of Uganda, south Sudan & Congo, as the LRA army ran they split in two groups and had surrounded our position, some being near as 16 km. There was nothing for us to do but pray and go to bed. The next morning found us still alive. We went ahead and had our clergy conference and it was blessed by the Lord. Praise God.
The pastor's testimonies were humbling to all of us. Many of the pastors had lost all of their children. Some to the LRA, others to the civil war or poison, even curses by witch doctors. One pastor had been attacked by a lion which tore his throat, then was crippled by a land mine, then lost his wife and children. Another man had been at our clergy meeting in October but on retuning home found his son had gone out to the bush with friends. When they were discovered they were killed by the LRA. For several days the dad searched for his son, and finally found his body, hidden under grass and by then, covered with maggots. He wrapped him, carried him home and buried him, the pastor refused to continue in his church work. There are plenty more stories. Many of these pastors fear they don't have the emotional wherewithal to serve God anymore, yet in spite of the fact that they receive no pay for their work, they continue serving! They depend for their sustenance on farming, and despite the fact that our conference was held during the planting season and it was a sacrifice to be there, they still came. We talked about forgiveness, we talked about inner healing; the clergy said it was a great blessing to them. Many now plan to begin weekly or monthly clergy meetings for mutual encouragement and then they'll put on similar conferences to train their own people. Praise God! Thanks to God for such a remarkable opportunity and for the privilege to have a small hand in bringing much needed healing.
This week from 6th to 13th July we are in a great evangelistic mission in Jinja the city around the source of the Nile. It is a grand mission with a team of about 67 people. I am leading a team to High schools and prisons. Other areas are Mass preaching on a crusade ground, meeting of business people in hotels and politicians in their offices. I will be in charge of leading a seminar for those who professed faith in Christ on Saturday, then Sunday I will be baptizing some including 5 muslim adults.
Thank you again for your encouragement and support through giving and through prayer. It is a privilege to be able to go on your behalf working for the Lord.
We hope to meet many of you in September. My wife, Mary and I will be coming to the states for Words of Hope board meeting and some speaking and preaching in the Western Michigan area Iowa .
Rev. Capt. Titus Baraka
Mukono Uganda
Dear Friends,
Grace and peace to you all from God our father and Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Once again I wish to 'thank you' for your support and for your prayers.
God has continued being very faithful to us in the abundance of his Grace. Our family is doing well at this time even tho we had several bouts with malaria. My wife Mary and daughter Hope were hospitalized with malaria and on my return from the 2 week trip to Sudan I contacted malaria.
In my last letter I think I mentioned the trip I made to Juba in southern Sudan to conduct a Mission & Evangelism conference. In June I took a team from Chattanooga, Tenn. to do a follow up conferences in this area in Sudan. Where we were staying there were quite a few U.N. military observers and de-mining personnel from countries such as the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, India and Pakistan.
We struck up a friendship with a Peruvian officer who was seriously plying us with questions about Christ, asking for prayer, etc. He took me for a walk asking me questions related to the reality about our soul and eternity. After I shared with him my understanding of the Biblical plan of Salvation, I was amazed when he asked me to go with him into the Cathedral Church building and asked me to pray for him. Earlier at the local Anglican Church a soldier from India had come to Christ. I suspect none of those U.N. folk or the officials who sent them, ever dreamed that they were coming to Sudan to get ministered to by local folks.
This second Sudanese clergy conference was in Lainya, just 37 miles from where we were staying -nearly a 4 hour trip thought because of the state of the roads there. Another reason for the length of the trip was that we had to stop and wait while de-miners who were cleaning the roads and nearby fields exploded one of the bombs.
When we arrived in Lainya, we found it remote and undeveloped - no electricity or cell phone network, even the bishop was living in a mud and thatch house. We were dropped off and would be picked up at the end of the week. That evening we learned that the notoriously brutal rebel of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) from Uganda had attacked a village on the Sudan/Congo border killing 28 people and were headed our way. Being pursued by the armies of Uganda, south Sudan & Congo, as the LRA army ran they split in two groups and had surrounded our position, some being near as 16 km. There was nothing for us to do but pray and go to bed. The next morning found us still alive. We went ahead and had our clergy conference and it was blessed by the Lord. Praise God.
The pastor's testimonies were humbling to all of us. Many of the pastors had lost all of their children. Some to the LRA, others to the civil war or poison, even curses by witch doctors. One pastor had been attacked by a lion which tore his throat, then was crippled by a land mine, then lost his wife and children. Another man had been at our clergy meeting in October but on retuning home found his son had gone out to the bush with friends. When they were discovered they were killed by the LRA. For several days the dad searched for his son, and finally found his body, hidden under grass and by then, covered with maggots. He wrapped him, carried him home and buried him, the pastor refused to continue in his church work. There are plenty more stories. Many of these pastors fear they don't have the emotional wherewithal to serve God anymore, yet in spite of the fact that they receive no pay for their work, they continue serving! They depend for their sustenance on farming, and despite the fact that our conference was held during the planting season and it was a sacrifice to be there, they still came. We talked about forgiveness, we talked about inner healing; the clergy said it was a great blessing to them. Many now plan to begin weekly or monthly clergy meetings for mutual encouragement and then they'll put on similar conferences to train their own people. Praise God! Thanks to God for such a remarkable opportunity and for the privilege to have a small hand in bringing much needed healing.
This week from 6th to 13th July we are in a great evangelistic mission in Jinja the city around the source of the Nile. It is a grand mission with a team of about 67 people. I am leading a team to High schools and prisons. Other areas are Mass preaching on a crusade ground, meeting of business people in hotels and politicians in their offices. I will be in charge of leading a seminar for those who professed faith in Christ on Saturday, then Sunday I will be baptizing some including 5 muslim adults.
Thank you again for your encouragement and support through giving and through prayer. It is a privilege to be able to go on your behalf working for the Lord.
We hope to meet many of you in September. My wife, Mary and I will be coming to the states for Words of Hope board meeting and some speaking and preaching in the Western Michigan area Iowa .
Rev. Capt. Titus Baraka
Mukono Uganda
The Goal of the Trip
So, what will we do?
Here's the Vision:
In August of 2008, Trinity Reformed Church will be sending a team of five people to bless Titus. The team has three objectives:
1) to equip Titus for administering the counseling center,
2) to train 30 lay counselors,
3) to identify future partnership in ministry among the Bari people.
Africa is struggling to emerge from the plagues of HIV/AIDS, refugee displacement, and pervasive poverty. Yet, hope abounds everywhere.
We cannot change the whole continent, but we believe God is calling us to partner with one group of Christ followers in one particular place.
Here's the Vision:
In August of 2008, Trinity Reformed Church will be sending a team of five people to bless Titus. The team has three objectives:
1) to equip Titus for administering the counseling center,
2) to train 30 lay counselors,
3) to identify future partnership in ministry among the Bari people.
Africa is struggling to emerge from the plagues of HIV/AIDS, refugee displacement, and pervasive poverty. Yet, hope abounds everywhere.
We cannot change the whole continent, but we believe God is calling us to partner with one group of Christ followers in one particular place.
Why Uganda?
Pastor Jon Opgenorth experienced a defining moment in April of 2007, when he met the Rev. Titus Baraka in Mukono, Uganda, while on his sabbatical.
Titus had begun one ministry and was preparing to launch another:
Words of Hope Uganda:
Titus began a radio ministry that broadcasts the gospel in Bari (the only radio program in that language) and two other common languages. These broadcasts are Bible-oriented and offer basic life skills for dealing with issues young people face.
Bethesda Counseling Center:
He is now beginning a counseling ministry to teens and college students that will help confront HIV/AIDS as well as the many issues that young people deal with (career choices, marriage, dating, depression, etc.).
Pastor Jon began to sense that Titus was like the man from Macedonia calling out to Paul (Acts 16:9) to come and help. Jon shared that passion with Trinity’s global mission team, and they shared the desire to see what the Lord will do. See the post - The Goal of the Trip - for what the team will do.
Titus had begun one ministry and was preparing to launch another:
Words of Hope Uganda:
Titus began a radio ministry that broadcasts the gospel in Bari (the only radio program in that language) and two other common languages. These broadcasts are Bible-oriented and offer basic life skills for dealing with issues young people face.
Bethesda Counseling Center:
He is now beginning a counseling ministry to teens and college students that will help confront HIV/AIDS as well as the many issues that young people deal with (career choices, marriage, dating, depression, etc.).
Pastor Jon began to sense that Titus was like the man from Macedonia calling out to Paul (Acts 16:9) to come and help. Jon shared that passion with Trinity’s global mission team, and they shared the desire to see what the Lord will do. See the post - The Goal of the Trip - for what the team will do.
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