January Conference in Kampala

The conference in Uganda in January, was great fun. Expecially the time in the evenings with the other young missionaries (mostly young ladies.) We played Uno until 11pm a few nights and ate well. It is certainly an emotional time for me when I go from such a time of social engagement and then leave those people. Perhaps this is part of the sacrifice that Christ want me to make.

At the conference I laughed so hard that tears were streaming down my face. Can't remember precisely what the tears of joy were for; laughing at a stupid joke I made I'm sure. Most of my jokes are stupid. As God is the creator of our hearts, He surely desired us to express laughter and merriment as often as possible. We are created in His image, we laugh, sometimes so hard
we stream tears; therefore I believe Jesus also must have used humor to express love and truth.
Tell me your picture of Christ. Is it wrong to think of Jesus doubling over with a side ache as a result of laughing over many funny jokes with the disciples. I feel both images (Jesus on the Cross and Jesus laughing) are true of our Lord; great sacrifice and great humanity.
Does God laugh?

"Tears of joy will stream down their faces and I will lead them home with great care!"
Jeremiah 31:9

The time in Kampala, was a gift. The fellowship with other AIM believers
from eastern and central Africa was a great encouragement.
Our speaker spent three days teaching on the theme
of unity. He emphasized the crucial role all Christians are called to perform in loving other followers of Christ. And this unity starts with your own family, and then extends to your fellow missionary partners. The scripture came from the book of John (chapters 17-19).
A highlight for me was reading John 17:20-23, "My prayer for all of them is that they are one." Unity. Jesus fervently prayed for each one of us to demonstrate our love by living in harmony with our fellow missionaries on the field and in the workplace.

Thankfully, the Lord was crucified and resurrected in order that we can be cleansed from all
unrighteousness.

Upon my return to Torit I began my usual journey through the marketplace. Torit is a stream of shops strung together with a few open and large city streets. As I walked through one of the main strips, near where many young Sudanese boys hang out with their motor bikes,
I noticed a fairly large crowd. Now, I was curious. I meandered through to the side of the hardware shop and witnessed some very hard core pornography. Shocked at the movie being shown...in public!! I let the operator of the video (& the local Dinka store owner) have it. Not sure what the Swahili word for #$!@ but my pronounciation wasn't too far off.
What should I have done?
What would Christ have done? I believe he would have also angrily lectured the owner.
Perhaps He would have done more? Jesus was exposed to sin .. but never corupted. Never.

I love the smell of smoke even though I don't smoke. But smoke, and crowded pool halls draw me in. So yes, I played my first pool game since arriving back into Africa. It was located in one
of the make shift bars that are popping up through out Torit. As you might guess, the pool
table was ripped up and lopsided. And I was easily defeated by my experienced Sudanese opponent. Better luck to me next time huh?

I have a weight room. Hugh, life altering news I know. But it's finally assembled. Tree pulley
system, cement and re-bar barbells and water jugs, a bench and now even professionally made dumbbells. I can now fully commence with my favorite hobby. Far better than the rocks I used while in Uganda. The shredded fingers prove that.