Remember the Poor

shared by Cindy May and Pastor Experito

Dear friends,

2011 was a year of much change, prayer, and careful evaluation.  We know it’s been a while since we posted, and we all firmly believe that nothing in God’s Word has changed!  (Yes, we are stating the obvious there!) We still believe God’s Word calls us to remember the poor, to pursue the kingdom of heaven with great joy, and to excel in the grace of giving, pursuing the goal of equality.

We have continued in partnership and communication with both  Pastor Experito and his wife Justine in Gulu, and with Pastor Cyrus and his wife Eucabeth in Kisii.  We plan to share news from them with you on a monthly basis. 

Below is a personal email written by Experito regarding the events of his Christmas day.  Enjoy…

I have just returned from different villages where there had been IDP (Internally Displaced People). Recent reports indicated that some elderly people are starving to death. While most people returned to villages where they lived before the war, these elderly people could not return because they had lost most of their children and able relatives who could support them. This category of people remained behind.

With that in mind, our church decided to give these people a special Christmas treat. So I travelled to three of these IDP together with Charles, an elder in the church. We borrowed a vehicle where we loaded posho, rice and beans. We also raised some money to buy them meat!!! The ministry was exciting. Some of them cried tears of joy because it had not occurred to them that God could make such an arrangement which could cause a pastor to be out of his congregation on Christmas Day!!! It was an opportunity to share with them the love of God who leaves the 99 sheep and goes to look for the lost one. We were able to minister to a total of thirty elderly people.

Back at church, Justine, had remained with other leaders to serve kids of prisoners. Arrangements had been made to go to the homes of some of these prisoners and give a special treat to these kids!!!

When we had finished our ministry to the elderly, on our way back, the vehicle experienced a serious mechanical damage in the differential. It couldn’t move any further. The place did not have a slight network to make a phone call for help. Charles walked for over twenty miles in the evening to get help. I slept in the car. It is today that we were towed to Gulu.

Justine thought I had gone with the camera. She never took any pictures. At times when I go on some risky missions. I do not curry valuables like cameras which I might lose in the process especially when the support team is small. Therefore, I did not take any pictures.

Thank you for your prayers we have all arrived alive.

Happy New Year 2012!

Hugs and Love,
Experito

shared by Pastor Experito and Cindy May
These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also… (Acts 17:6)

It has been a pleasant moment to meet with Vincent the local area village chairperson. He found me taking pictures of kids as they were arriving for school.

He appreciated the way this school was put in a jungle where it was not easy for kids to access schooling because of distance from government-aided schools and the dangerous bushy roads they have to use en route to school.

He looked at the decent shoes and the backpacks and he was astounded to have such care and concern for the kids in the locality.  He expressed his great faith in the nursery school to grow to the High School level.  He saw also how they get meals at school which included beans and posho, which they eat before going back home since  many of the kids travel a fairly long distance. During break time they are provided with porridge.  He looked at the places where they play the games and  it was amazing to him.

The good water which was so abundant for the kids to drink at ease satisfied his curiosity, and he concluded that God has caring people in the world.

Happy Easter,
Experito

I was reminded by David Platt this morning that whenever we take clothing, we must also take the gospel.  Whenever we take water, we must take the gospel.  Satan doesn’t mind if we clothe and feed people on their way to hell.

While we rejoice in providing water to those who don’t have access to it, our greatest joy and ambition is in bringing the Living Water of Jesus to those who don’t yet know Him and the freedom and abundant life He brings.  In an area where witchcraft, war and death has had deep roots, the light of Jesus is being made known.  We thank God for Pastor Experito and those living in Kochgoma who are faithfully spreading the gospel, destroying strongholds, and taking every thought captive to obey Christ.

Last July, one of my dearest friends from high school turned 40.  (Yes, that means that I am now 4-0, too.)  In honor of her 40th birthday, she invited her family and friends to participate in raising funds for a well in Kochgoma.

Due to a broken camera and a stolen laptop, we have waited a very long time for these photos.  I just received them a couple of days ago, and it is with great delight that I get to share them…finally!  The fruit of a 40th birthday celebration.

Solomon pumping water for his friends

In Acts, these men who went into Thessolonica were “accused” of having turned the world upside down.  And apparently they turned Thessolonica upside down, too.  Because Paul later wrote this about the Thessolonians: “For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere…For they themselves report how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”

We are praying as these little Koch-gomans receive the love and care of Jesus physically through water and food, and as they hear the gospel of truth and peace preached among them, that they will become young men and women who are accused of turning the world upside down for Him.

Your input in Justine’s and my life has been immeasurable and has given us definition for life.  Thank you for the laptop and its lock, peanut butter, batteries, camera and to have arranged dinner with Cindy’s dad and the team.  It was an awesome moment!

The partnership which could only have been crafted by our God cannot be traded for anything.

Hugs and Blessings,
Experito

Experito sitting in front of his water tank and church building

The classic peanut butter picture. (Experito, Cindys Dad, Justine, Cara, Cindys uncle)

Thank you for your love for the Lord, which overflows in giving.  Your contributions made possible Experito and Justine’s water tank (which provides water to their church members as well), the laptop AND lock (!), and of course the peanut butter.  I’ve heard reports of whooping and hollering associated with the gift of the peanut butter.  It’s a sight to behold .  The water tank, which saves Pastor Experito and Justine hours of walking each day, was donated last year.  They used to have to walk more than 2 kilometers to collect water.  You can see a picture of the old water collection site here.

And it is my prayer that (our) love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that (we) may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  Philippians 1:9-11

The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory!…and (we shall) give him (God) no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.

Isaiah 62:7

It is with unimaginable joy that I tell you what I saw at the new school in Kochgoma (Gulu).

We witnessed kids exuding with confidence as they put their feet in shoes for the first time in their life. You would not help to see parents and guardians looking at their kids with hope and joy. Indeed one can observe smiles on the faces of these people on whom a smile was an unusual phenomenon. Lives are getting touched for better.

These parents were all unanimous and earnest in appreciating the generosity of the friends of the unknown to care so much in lifting the standard of living for their children. One after the other they talked while narrating how such a jungle is turning out to be a place of inspiration. They expressed gratitude for the classroom, borehole (well), and feeding of their children at school. They also are grateful for the good teachers who have helped their children and can now speak and understand English. They appreciated the backpacks and kool aid drink, uniforms and more so the shoes!!!

I can see an investment in this community which has  both precious and priceless returns.
Many thanks to all who made it possible to make these kids have a smile as well.
Hugs and Love,
Experito

The first school in the village of Ajwiya (Kochgoma, Gulu)- Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded...

Sharing porridge at school

shared by Cindy May

For many years, Voice of the Martyrs has been one of my favorite ministries.  Today, a prisoner alert for Kim Kyung ll was posted, with an urgent call for an outpouring of public action.

If you are able, please join me in praying for Kyung, writing a letter (automatically translated into Chinese) to him, and leaving a message at the Chinese Embassy 213-807-8088, #3.

Location: China
Arrested: May 2002
Days Imprisoned: 3201

Print Fact Sheet

During early 1997, Kim Kyung ll and his brother crossed the border from North Korea into China. The following year he met a pastor, became a Christian and joined a Bible study group. Under the leadership of this pastor, Kyung ll served refugees from North Korea and started Bible studies in the Chengdoo region. He later became involved with sending refugees to South Korea.

Kyung ll was overseer of a safe house that discipled over 70 refugees. When a large number from the group were arrested by the Chinese police, he fled with some of the remaining refugees to the China-Mongolian border. He and his wife were captured, but the rest of the group continued their journey in the desert. Without their leader, they wandered for two days and finally crossed the border into Mongolia, where they reached the South Korean embassy and received passage to South Korea.

Kyung ll and his wife were sent back to North Korea and placed in prison. His pregnant wife was hit in the stomach with a stick forcing an abortion. In the prison there were many inmates who knew Kim well, but they protected him by pretending not to know him. Thus the authorities did not realize how involved he was with helping refugees escape from North Korea. He was released after serving only a short sentence. He remembers that those who protected his identity while in prison had asked him to work harder to let the world know about their situation.

Kim’s wife was released from prison shortly after the forced abortion. She escaped to South Korea with other family members. After his release, Kyung ll fled to China and worked at another safe house. He continued to disciple refugees and assisted them in escaping to South Korea. During April 2002, he was caught by the Chinese police. Since his arrest, he has been held in prison in China. He is scheduled to be sent back to North Korea when released from prison in China. All his family now live in South Korea. Pray Kim Kyung ll will not be sent back to North Korea, where he will surely be executed.

Deportation and Execution Likely
Kim Kyung ll has been in prison 10 years. Just days ago, VOM contacts received word that his sentence is expected to be commuted and he may be free in September. Normally this would be cause for rejoicing, but as soon as Kim Kyung ll is released he’ll face deportation to North Korea. There, he will almost certainly be executed. Our contact writes, “The only hope he may have is a huge outpouring of public awareness, which might at least delay his execution.”

Friends are working frantically to help Kim Kyung ll, but it’s not easy. Please pray for a solution and write Chinese officials today.*

*The email addresses provided for writing Chinese officials are not working.  The Embassy is denying/blocking them.  Leaving a message at the Embassy is the best way to communicate with them right now.

shared by Cara Murray

The new ambulance

The people of Alelesi seem to be doing well. When we first visited this community about 200 people had returned to the villages from the IDP camps (internally displaced persons), and now that number is up to almost 600. It is a great sign that people are leaving the camps, rebuilding their homes and starting to plant crops again.

We heard from many people how the bibles and  borehole (well) have really impacted the community. We heard stories from the community how many people have started going to church.

We also heard how the overall health of the community has improved drastically because of the borehole. They said that there are very few cases of diarrhea and skin rashes. They also said that they are able to accomplish a lot more during their days since they spend less time fetching water.

This woman shared how she benefited from the borehole.

One woman shared that her health has drastically improved with the new borehole because she is living with AIDS and previously the long distance to fetch water would make her extremely tired and she would have stop several times on the long trip. She is so grateful that with the clean water and easy access she is in much better health. We also heard from many people that abuse in the homes has decreased since the time it takes to fetch water has decreased. The several hours that it would take before would cause fights in the homes between husbands and wives and there would also be fights at the boreholes due to the amount of people waiting to get water.

We gave the community the bicycle that was donated and they were very excited. They are going to elect a committee to oversee the maintenance and operations of the bike. Since the bike will be available for the entire community to rent at a very small cost, the committee will oversee the scheduling and collection of money. We told the community that the purpose of the bike was 1) for emergency situations when somebody got sick and needed to go to the clinic and 2) for people to rent, as they need to go to town for the markets to either sell their crops or buy supplies. They were very receptive to this and the committee will put together rules and regulations for the use of the bicycle.

The borehole committee has collected over 300,000 shillings ($130) from monthly collections from the community and is lending out the money to the community, as they need it. Many people have been able to take their sick children to the clinic with this money and some have started small businesses.

Gospel Sharing
In both villages, Alelesi and Appeleun, I shared on Exodus 14 and 16, the story of how God freed the Israelites out of Egypt, led them across the Red Sea and how He provided for them time and time again. However, as we see through Exodus the Israelites continue to doubt God and at times wish they had never left Egypt. I talked about how many people give their life to Christ but when difficult times come they quickly doubt God and resort to complaining and other ways of dealing with the situation. Witchcraft and worship of ancestral spirits and culture are very common in Africa and I encouraged them to look at the Israelites and check their hearts. We don’t want a faith that is an inch deep but a faith that goes deep. We want to put all of our faith and trust in God alone.

We ought to not judge the Israelites but take the time to check our faith and assess if we turn to God during the tough times or if we complain and resort to other means. The people of both Alelesi and Appeleun spent upwards of 40 years living in camps because of the violence and attacks from the Karamonjog people. Despite the current difficult situations I encouraged them to look back on how God has provided for them and turn to Him in their current situations. Many people are returning back to the villages, starting gardens and living without fear, the very thing they wanted for years. God provided a borehole in each community that has allowed them to build homes and has improved their health drastically.

I also talked about how God provided for the Israelites out of love. He did not provide for them out of obligation or because the Israelites deserved it, he did it because he loved them. We also looked at Luke 12 about how God provides for the ravens and how much more God loves us than birds.

A message we continue to share when we go to these villages is that we come out of love and we feel the most important thing we can bring is the Word of God. We continue to encourage them to come together as a community and worship, pray and read the Word together.

“The world is lost because the world participated in the fall. That is what distinguishes the world from creation, which is good. ‘World’ is the biblical word for fallen creation- spoiled in its nature, its structures, and its systems by involvement with the fall of its caretaker- man. Thus there is no changing the world by humanitarian ideals or rational principles, because they originate in the world’s equally spoiled caretaker. Only God can change the world by a gracious recreation of the caretaker, followed by the restoration of the world (Romans 8:19-22)”.~ unknown

We received the following email a couple of months ago from someone we have never met. We thought we would share it here. Frank and Cindy May

Hello,

My name is Charlie, a dentist in Spokane. I was searching around the internet for missions in dentistry, etc., when I happened upon a link to your ministry. I had no intention on going to the site as I surveyed the list of links. I do not know you and there are many ministries out there. But for some reason, my eyes kept seeing your names and I was compelled to go there. And so I did.

I loved reading your blog and my heart was moved.

I saw your links to David Platt and I had never heard of him. But you said it was a “must-see” for Christians, so I took you up on that. Well, let’s make a long story short, our family has been having “video nights” using David’s series and they have impacted us in amazing ways.  Not an hour goes by without some kind of thought towards our richness and how we can use our resources for heaven and not for ourselves just as Christ showed us. You were right: they are life-changing and I could not be more excited for what God is doing.

So I want to thank you. You, who I do not know, yet used by God to direct our thoughts towards heaven.

David Platt has become kind of a “second” pastor to us and a regular on our podcast subscriptions. I’m especially moved to see my 19 year old downloading many of David’s sermons to his ipod and the other night he had friends in his room and when I dropped in, they were watching one of David’s sermons on Radical Christianity. This has been real powerful.

Tomorrow night we start the Faith Works series. I’m excited about that. We would love to get other families involved with us too as they would be great for a small group ministry.

God Bless you guys in all your ministry and I will always be grateful to you as

Your brother in the Lord,
Charlie

We are so thankful to the person who introduced us to David Platt’s teaching on one of the most important subjects in the Bible.  We can’t help but share what God has used in our lives.  For anyone who leads a small group, these are two excellent series. (Click on the images above for links to the two online video message series.) Frank has led a couple of groups through this. And we love going through it again ourselves. It is powerful, and truly is a “must-see”. It fits well into a 13-week group. If you have questions or ideas, comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact us! ~ Frank and Cindy

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

shared by Nicholas Kowald

Hi! My name is Nicholas. I am 12 years old and I live in Australia but I am on my way to Africa!!

My uncle drove us to the airport and we hopped out of the car and grabbed our suit cases and walked into the building. Team Australia consisted of me, Aunty Narelle and Dad. After 12 hours of flying we touched down on the ground in South Africa and got off the plane. It was a long trip and now I was suffering from jet lag. It was the first time I had ever experienced it.

Finally Team Australia reached Uganda after a few hours of flight and now the jet lag was really starting to hit me. I swear I could have fallen asleep when we arrived. We were met by Frank (Team America), Seggy (Team Uganda) and Mark who was in Team Uganda as well. We had dinner at a hotel and then left for Banana Village. We reached Banana Village and then I crashed… 

Me and dad woke up and walked around to see Banana village, when I casually mentioned how cool it would be to see some monkeys. Trusting my luck we walked outside and looked around and a monkey tried to kill us… literally it started dropping random bits of rotten fruit down to hit us on the head. Luckily no one was hurt. What a fun welcome to Uganda!

One thing I forgot to mention was that the Greg and Patti Kerr arrived last night so now we were a proper team united from different continents. We were together. The team was as follows: Team America: Greg, Frank, Patti and Cara (Cara lives in Uganda but is born in America so its hard to categorize her!) Team Australia: Nicholas, Andrew and Narelle and finally Team Uganda: Seggy and every other person here!

We traveled for five hours to get to our first destination: “Gulu”. On the way we saw the Nile river and baboons. Even Cara was acting like a tourist! We reached our hotel (which I highly disliked, next time I want to sleep in a hut) and met Pastor Experito and his wife Justine. I then went for a swim in the hotel pool and we left for dinner…

We all sat down, ordered and 4 hours later we got our last meal. At least we got to know everyone better. We had taken a young man for dinner named Alfred and he didn’t seem to mind that the food had taken so long.  In fact we might still be waiting for my drink!

The next day we headed out to Alfred’s parents house where we saw the borehole (well) that Remember the Poor had donated. After a short visit we prayed for them and got back into the car. We then drove for a long time to a school where we were greeted by song and dance. We then left after talking to everyone. On the way back Pastor Experito’s tire deflated and we had to leave him.

The next day we went back to the school again. We all split up into two groups and left for three houses each. Unfortunately at our first house no one was there so that took it down to two, but everything else was awesome such as when we reached the first house we went inside their hut and I prayed and talked to them. (Using a translator) I said “I wish I lived here… you have way better houses than what we have in Australia… we have these massive houses that we don’t need.” The reply was “from now on you live here” and lots of laughs.“  Dad then said that my Mum would be sad if I stayed here!

The second house I found puppies and I played with them. They asked my dad whether or not I wanted to keep one… my dad’s reply was that we already had a dog… anyway how would we get it back to Australia?

We left Gulu that day…  I had decided that someday I was going back.

We keep going all over the place, which is fine with me!  And now we are going to Katakwi from Banana Village, but on the way there we are stopping at Seggy’s parents house for lunch, there I eat a feast with my hands… it was sooooooooooooooooo good. I got out the rocket balloons and I brought kids from all over to watch. It was awesome!

One the way to Katakwi, God put on a “Fire works” display for us (lightning is awesome). We reached the place we were staying but there were not enough rooms for all of us, so Seggy and Cara found more rooms at a nearby motel.

Today I woke up remembering that I somehow was meant to find verses for my preaching to the kids in Apelleun… but the light was not working and it was still dark. I waited a bit longer. Then I got out my Bible and found what I wanted to use and Cara and Seggy came over to us for breakfast. We then got into the van rolled the door shut and started driving.  We reached the village and we were swarmed by numerous kids.  Something was telling me that this was going to be chaos.  I was right!  When I was speaking, the hundreds of kids lost interest and lots were looking forward to when I would stop talking. My message did not make its way to their ears. The translator was great; the number of kids was not. When we handed out the beads to the children to make bracelets we were swamped. I also used the rocket balloons and the kids went psycho over it. They loved it… I loved it!  

Alelesi was a lot better. We did the same thing but this time we made pre-made bracelets and there were twenty kids not three hundred, so we got a lot better response from the kids. And I felt that I spoke a lot better this time and the beads were in better control now, though the kids did not like the balloons as much this time but I liked this village better…

We then left Katakwi for Jinja so we sat down in the car and drove for a long time when we finally reached Jinja.  We went to Tonya’s house to stay and we talked for a while and I played with Christopher and Clayton until I had to go to bed.

I woke up surrounded by a mosquito net as usual and dropped down from the bunk bed; then I got up and went out to see only a few people up and doing things like me.  A while later Tonya had made us all banana bread which was really nice. Dad had also invented nutella and banana which tastes just like a chocolate banana– we had a banana breakie. We then got everyone together and we walked to Renee’s house and were met by lots of little children and mothers. Dad got me to have a photo with a young baby named Sophia.  Soon I was cradling her.



At lunch time I went out to help feed the five hundred! They consisted of all children. I was handing out the bananas and having a great time. It was really tiring though! 

The next day was my last day in Uganda in which I gave one hundred dollars to Cara for a bike and cart for the Alelesi village, and after I took a bodoh bodoh (a taxi like motorcycle) with dad to Cara’s house it was so fun! We walked to the Nkumba School/ church and took two children with us to go to the beach (Lake Victoria). At the beach we had fish and chips which tasted great. I even ate the eye ball. It was the best! I felt really sad that I had to go and I kept on looking at my surrounding area thinking how much I would miss it all, and I promised many people that I would come back. I said goodbye to the people I would not see in the morning and went to bed.

I awoke and remembered I was leaving and I was really sad. Frank, Patti and Greg got up early to see the Australians off and then we were driven to the airport by Seggy.

So here I am sitting at this computer typing up 2 weeks of information: a really hard job to get information to you. I love Uganda and I need to go back someday… as a missionary!…. someday.