Ethiopia………….Uganda and beyond

Last year my son Tom Jr. and I traveled to Uganda and then on to Ethiopia to work with impacted children……..it was a very special trip and one that reset some of our priorities in general. This year, he and I along with Shirley (my wife of 40 years) and a Team from Grants Pass Oregon ( River Valley Community Church) “stretched” a bit by joining an organization called E3. Our trip was going to be similar to last years, but because we seriously believe God specifically set the agenda and the locations, it promised to be “one for the records”. None of us will ever forget the time in both Jimma, Ethiopia, (for several, a second week was spent in Southern Ethiopia working with an “un-engaged” people group), Kampala, Lira, and on to Arua, Uganda.

In Jima, our group focused on an un-reached people group…. In this region of Ethiopia, we went out into the outskirts of a city with some 150 thousand people to share the Gospel message to both Islamic and Orthodox nationals. In just about all instances, it’s safe to say the vast majority of the people encountered have never seen “white people” ; certainly very few have ever heard the Christian “good news”. We worked in the outlying community for only a few days………..only 3 days of actual field work with the people. In that time, we shared with nearly 6,000 individuals, and incredibly, 535 made decisions for Christ and requested follow-up visits for fellowship/worship/teaching/discipleship training. It was a time of great celebration, of unspeakable joy for many of us who watched God work his plan, to be part of changed lives, to experience a small taste of persecution (all were threatened on at least one occasion; Shirley was threatened with spears and machete’s and Tom Jr. was in the middle of a city riot where he and others shared the Gospel message in a Muslim stronghold).

Some of us were blessed to be a part of a prison visit where a woman named Stephanie shared the gospel and watched 140 men nearly crush each other in order to get forward and pray to receive Christ. Others watch a young woman named Brandy share her faith FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER……….she introduced 93 people to Christ her first day! I am not exaggerating any of this. God had told a number of our people “show up and then get out of the way”. In truth, apart from Him, we can do nothing. What a blessing to watch Him when He chooses to do these kinds of things through His kids!

During a second week, part of our team went to Southern Ethiopia ( I wont mention the name of the city for obvious reasons) to gather cultural and social norm traditions in order to help others in the future know best how to share the good news to them without “offending” their culture. It was real “out of the box” ministry and one none of us will ever forget. Here, we were able to spend time with the “kids of the country” and that was a great joy to us.

Most went on to Uganda to work with PATH Ministries……….a “miracle of an orphanage” started a few years ago by Bob and Carol Higgins. The team gave music (guitar) lessons, shared expertise in Accounting principles ( something very much needed in a place that operates off of charitable giving from hundreds of individuals), made crafts for the 150+ kids at the orphanage, taught some English, sang some songs, ……..the list is too long to list all that was shared with these abandoned kids of Northern Uganda. While there this team spent time in IDP camps (where displaced people are forced to live until the 20 year old Civil War with the LRA finally ends), went to hospitals and Trauma Centers where abducted kids get needed therapy once released from the LRA, and also got a chance to encourage Bob and Carol in their work.

I spent time with a missions pastor friend (Dar Wolber from River Valley) in Kampala and Arua ( Northwest Uganda on the border of The Democratic Republic of Congo). We wanted to continue to look at needs in Uganda relative to the war and of course AIDS. We met with UNHCR officials, WHO officials as well as some unexpected meetings with both church and other NGO program managers.

Why do we do this work you might ask? My answer is really simple: I think God has given us a passion for impacted kids around the world……..I think He wants all of us to know about the real “world condition” and frankly develop a Christian world view. If we can in some small way communicate this to people we come in contact with, then our ministry is worth all of the time and all of the cost and all of the effort. I we can aid just one child in our efforts; if we can convince just one other person or couple to do the same, well then, we say that’s enough.

The good news is………..we’ve seen much more than that and we are eternally grateful.

We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us and Kids-Stuff in the future.

Be blessed

Tom