Hello From Restoration Gateway!
October 24, 2007
From Left to Right: Peggy, Janice, Tim
Update From Janice
October 21, 2007
The people here are wonderful. Church was great this morning. We baptized 10 people!! That’s a total of 21 baptisms since our church started Aug. 26.
The Trimbles will soon be joining the RG team long-term and their house should be finished this week. Tim is itching to lay foundations for 2 orphan homes. About the brick mixture—–The “house” that’s being built for the Trimbles and Peggy will be sort of like a duplex, and is a “practice” building. The bricks are made with red soil, black soil, sand and cement. The mixture of those 4 ingredients is still being perfected. It’s not a problem, though, because all of the bricks that have been made and used for this current building are good, strong bricks. We’re just still trying to decide which mixture we like best. This “home” will eventually be used for offices and storage. The Trimbles will have 2 bedrooms and a full bath downstairs, and Peggy will have the same thing on her side. Upstairs they will share a kitchen and large porch. There’s also a large room located directly above their bedrooms/bath. Right now, I’m sure people think our container home is the “ivory palace”, but this new abode will soon be looked upon as that. However, before you know it we’ll all be living in the first orphan homes—–before we actually start the orphan ministry.
One of the girls that was baptized today is Deborah. She’s 20 and works with children at a nursery or primary school right here close to the land. Melissa Troxel met her when she visited the school a few weeks ago, and Deborah translated for Melissa as she spoke to the kids. Deborah has such a horrible story, but she’s filled with such joy. After church she came upstairs in the container, and we visited. In 1996 at age 9 or 10 Deborah was abducted from her school and stabbed in her stomach, chest and back. Half of one of her ears was cut off and the LRA rebels started to cut her lips off. You can still see the scar. They stopped because they thought Deborah was dead. Government soldiers found her and took her to the hospital where she was cared for. Upon returning home she found that her parents, 3 older brothers and 2 older sisters had all been murdered by the LRA. After she was baptized by Melissa today, she was crying tears of joy while talking to Melissa. She told Melissa that she just had so much joy in her heart. What a testimony to the Lord. I’m going to love getting to know Deborah and having her in our church.
We’re doing well, and enjoying our time in this great place.
Thanks for your prayers.
Love,
Janice
Church Planting
October 18, 2007
Our church here at Restoration Gateway is thriving, and yesterday (Oct. 14) we celebrated as 6 men were baptized. More want to be baptized this coming Sunday. Thank you for praying for the discipling of each one. Joy fills our hearts as we watch God quickly restore people and do a transforming work in this land of Uganda.
God’s People
October 18, 2007
We are amazed at what God is doing in so many lives here. Our 40+ workers have been set apart for Restoration Gateway in its infancy. It is our belief that God will use this small number to disciple many in the future. Most of the work force at Restoration Gateway are displaced people who fled here years ago from the rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army. God continues to teach us, as we see these people who have been severely oppressed and unjustly mistreated so easily and graciously forgive those who have hurt them. Chapters 6 and 7 of the Book of Matthew come to mind. What a blessing to work among people who embrace the truth of God’s Word.
Finally Sun Energized
October 18, 2007
Since our last update we at Restoration Gateway are enjoying solar-generated power. What a treat to operate electrical equipment, including our computers, without the constant noise of a generator.
A big thank-you goes to Brian Thomas from Baylor University who came and initiated the system. We are also grateful for Mark Owen and Mark Bower who traveled to Restoration Gateway after Brian and finished the installation for us. God continues to provide for needs here.
Prayer & Fasting
October 18, 2007
Hosting a prayer and fasting retreat for pastors was a highlight at Restoration Gateway in September. About a dozen pastors spent 2 days on the land listening to the Lord, and much was accomplished while they were here. The site for the tabernacle/multipurpose building was dedicated with a time of repentance and hearing the Word of the Lord. We shared the Lord’s Supper and feasted before they left on Saturday to get back to their churches for Sunday. We hope to have other times of uniting pastors and eventually have a reconciliation meeting at Restoration Gateway, bringing pastors from southern and northern Uganda together early next year.
Update from Janice
October 7, 2007
Today we had a wonderful service before the LORD with about 120 people and 1 young man, Stephen, coming forward to accept the Lord. George Mukisa and Patrick Onen preached the Word of the Lord and led worship. Many children are attending our services. We will launch our official children’s ministry next Sunday. God is doing amazing things among the people here. He’s raising His children up quickly to be a part of the restoration here in this land.
Thank all of you who are praying for God’s ministry here. God is listening. Please keep it up.
Update from Tim
October 5, 2007
Greetings from Uganda in Jesus’ name!
God is indeed on the move here. Many lives have been changed by His saving grace. We have seen Him provide everything needed to establish this biblically based community through which restoration can come into northern Uganda. We now have an excellent base camp from which to begin the major construction. We will start on the Tabernacle and orphan homes as soon as the rains let up. They are working on a new road directly into the 500 acres God has given us on the Nile River. We are right in the midst of one of the poorest sub-counties in all of Uganda and at the major gateway to the north. We believe that God will send out many from this place.
