Meeting Ursulla Dewensse...

On Wednesday afternoon, I finally got to meet Ursulla.

Our family "sponsors" her as an orphan child through a ministry called Vision Trust - very similar to the ministry of Project Hope and Charite' toward orphans - helping her get food, clothing, and basic life needs met... while also helping her learn about the great love and salvation God offers through Jesus Christ.

I got to spend about an hour with her.  They think she is between 4-6 years old.  She lives with her mother in a house with lots of kids.  Her mother works all day, trying to sell peanuts and other things to be able to get food. 

Ursulla was sweet, trusting, and a little bit shy during our visit.  I shared some gifts with her, including the yellow stuffed bunny that she absolutely loved.  With the help of the translator, I was able to tell her about my family and how much we love her and pray for her.  I played a sound clip of Allie and Luke saying hi to Ursulla.

We went for a little walk, took lots of pictures, and sat together on a swing.  I didn't want to overwhelm her, but I did want to communicate that I was a safe person and that I care for her.  Our family has been praying for her for months and months now. 

The whole "helping orphans in Africa" thing just became a thousand times more personal, more urgent, and more in-my-face REAL when I got the chance to meet kids and hear their stories and witness the needs in their lives.

Multiply that by the investment of time, prayer, and money that our family is making... and the chance to meet this precious little girl who was born into a life without hope...

Then, to think that God may have blessed me with the opportunity, the responsibility, and the means to be an "agent of hope" in the life of a child on the other side of the world? 

All thanks and credit to God, and praise and prayers for the work he's doing in Ursulla's life... and the work he's doing in mine. 

Update from Bangui...

As we’re getting ready to leave to come back, my mind and heart are on overload. 

 

The past few days…

 

It’s now Thursday around noon, and we’ve checked our bags in at the local “Air France” station.  I am bringing home two big trunks (checked bags).

 

The past 3.5 days have been so FULL of meetings, conversations, travel, impressions, stories… it will take months, maybe years to unpack my mind and heart. 

 

Monday – camping trip to Bangui, stop at Boyali, Bossembele 2, Bossembele 1… camping overnight at Bossembele 1.

 

Tuesday – camping at Bossembele 1, visit to Bossembele 2, travel to Boyali again for lunch.. travel to AMAZING Boali waterfalls… do a google search.  It was like being at Niagara Falls Without all the commerce and people.  From Boali Falls we came back home, showered, ate… team time, etc.  Went to Café.

 

Wednesday – early breakfast @ Café’ with Dave Collins… We are Café’ junkies here.  Then to Sakpa church for school visit and presentations of gifts.  We were there at least 2 hours.  Came home, had lunch (burgers) and cole slaw and “ngunja” (their homemade stuff that looks like spinach but it’s not).  Wednesday afternoon – team time, and then at 4:10 pm, Christophe from ICDI brought Ursulla here along with her orphan supervisor/caretaker, Marie.  We sat and talked for about 20 minutes, and then I brought out the pics and gifts for Ursulla.  I showed her pics of our family, and played the audio files of Allie and Luke saying hello to Ursulla.  We went for a walk, sat on a swing, and she held my hand the entire time.  She let me hold her and took pictures together.  It was tremendous.  She LOVED the stuffed bunny. 

 

Immediately after Ursulla left, five of us went to the African artist’s market.  It was a blast to negotiate with all of the vendors there.. and I was glad we had help from the other missionaries. 

 

After that, we ate dinner (all leftovers) and then packed our bags and trunks for home.  Probably 5 hours a night the last 3 nights.  I’m sore and tired, but my heart and mind are overflowing with all good things. 

 

Thursday (today) – Breakfast here… then Dr. Francois Ngoumape from the Seminary here (Dean of Seminary in Bangui) and his wife came and picked me up and brought me over to speak to the seminary students and professors in their Chapel.  I spoke from Matthew 4:18-22 about the “Come, Follow Me” passage.  It was awesome to see all of those men and women preparing for ministries and churches that need them.  Part of that visit was to meet Pastor Yalimon Joel – who is the father to Girard, and pastor of our Bossembele Center 2 Church.  He is called “Joel.”  I did an audio interview with him and there was an instant chemistry and gratitude between us. 

 

After that, I talked with Dr. Ngoumape in his office, he prayed for us, and had me sign his guestbook.  Very cool.... 

 

When we got back to the Missions Center, several people were waiting to see us before our trip to the airport… one of them was Pastor Tizokoe of Sakpa… who had  brought a few things that I left accidentally at Sakpa (earplugs, hand-written notes, and – yes – sunscreen!).  IT was GREAT to see him again, but tough to say goodbye again.  Also tough to say goodbye to Immanuel, who is the coordinator here of the Hand in Hand program.  He’s basically the “superintendent” over all the teachers that are employed in the program… HE is the one who keeps up with how the schools, teachers, and churches are doing and visits them constantly.  They have 30+ schools like this to visit.  Currently, three do not have sponsors.

 

Okay, I have to get off the computer… thanks, you guys, for praying and reading along… I will have even more to say in these next few weeks if anyone cares.  This has been great, to say the least!

 

 

 

Uhhh... Camping Updates from Africa?

Well, I just spent the last 30 minutes typing out a GREAT update for you about our 2-day camping trip here in Africa.

I went to upload it and lost it.

Unreal. I gotta get sleep.

I miss you guys and look forward to telling you about some unbelievable sights, some huge-hearted people, and some unforgettable moments just in these last 48 hours.

In another 48 hours, I get back on that plane to Paris.

Here goes the upload attempt. Did I make it?

Sunday @ Sakpa...

This morning, I woke up early feeling actually really good.  We were headed to Sakpa church for Sunday morning services there.

 

First, I got dressed here at the mission house and had some coffee.

 

Then, our team had some time of prayer and singing.

 

Next, we went to a local café and had breakfast.  Much to my surprise, the place had something that absolutely made my month.

 

Can you guess what it is?

 

Here are your options:

 

(1)     Air Conditioning

(2)     Free Wireless Internet Access

(3)     Awesome food

(4)     All of the above.

 

Did you guess?

 

As they say here… “oh la la…. ooh-shooh” – Number FOUR, baby.  All of the above. 

 

I was able to cool off in the A/C.  Even though I was ready and sweaty to preach – an already warm day only insulated by the pastor’s coat, dress shirt, tie, and long pants I was wearing.

 

I was able to download e-mails, check facebook, check the weather, and send a few notes.

 

I got some more to eat and it was a great vanilla cream torte.  Yowzers.

 

Okay, so then we made the 25-minute drive to Sakpa.

 

Pastor Tizokoe was out in the front to meet us, and several of the deacons were with him.  They ushered us into a side room to talk and pray.  And to feed us ANOTHER BREAKFAST!  Hot omelettes, bread, and fruit.

 

And I have to say, yet again, a phrase that has become all too familiar to the Underwood family and to readers of our blog…

 

“Man, these bananas are good!”

 

I took lots of pictures of the pastor, the building, the surrounding area, the many groups of kids who were waiting there.  The previous pastor died tragically several years ago, but his wife still faithfully attends the church and is somewhat of a matriarch or grandmother to the rest of the church family.  She was thrilled to see her picture after I got a snapshot on the digital camera.  Thank you, Meijer store, for a wonderful camera that works well even in Africa.  No, they didn’t give it to me for free, but the pics we’ve got here are priceless…

 

At around 9:30am, worship service started. 

 

Pastor Tizokoe welcomed everyone and set the tone for our morning.  Two choirs sang, both with drums and rhythm and people of ALL ages.  They had a battery-powered electric guitar.  They had drums.  They had sweet voices.  They had hymnals.  They had great smiles. 

 

I hope they didn’t mind me holding up my “recording device” and getting the sounds of many songs and things they said.

 

Pastor read the Scripture.  Deacons took the offering.  Tradition here is to walk forward and place your offering gift in the basket with your right hand. 

 

Barb Wooler translated for me as I preached from Matthew 4:18-22.  I’d speak a few words in English, and then she would repeat them in Sangho language.  Every once in a while, I’d sneak in a Sangho phrase just to play with them.  “Mingi, Mingi” means “many many.”  “Balao” means “Hello.”  I told a story about shopping at the African market yesterday, and that was probably their favorite part of the message.  At least they laughed and nodded a lot.  I was told that my humor would not be able to translate to them, but apparently that notion was quelled for a brief moment of speaker-relating-with-audience-bliss.

 

The message was 45-50 minutes, and we had a great time.  I was sweaty because of the heat was good.  Nice – I just found out that I’m missing a team meeting. 

 

I love you guys, and thanks for reading…

 

In Christ,

Gary U

Saturday Morning Questions...

Well, I get to type a quick blog entry after having my first shower in six days!

 

Just kidding. 

 

This will be a long blog entry.

 

It’s Saturday morning here in Bangui, and it’s already the hottest day during our time here.  We’ll probably push 100 degrees Fahrenheit today.  I bet you can Google it and find out.  I cannot.  You can, though.  But I can’t.

 

This morning, some of our team members are visiting with the orphan children that they personally sponsor.  What an awesome opportunity.  Most members of our team sponsor an orphan child through this Project Hope & Charite’, and some are visiting them at their homes. 

 

Our family sponsors a child through Vision Trust and ICDI.  We are working to schedule a time for me to meet Ursulla and her mother.  Ursulla is probably 5 years old now, and lives in the Boy-Rabe village here in the city.  On Thursday when we were driving through the city, I did see a street sign that basically said, “Boy-Rabe >>>”  so her village was probably out that direction. 

 

I think I posted her information and a brief testimony/commentary about her in a previous blog post, probably in mid-September.  Dave Martin (from our church in Delaware, OH) was here in September when Ursulla and her mother were brought over to visit, hoping to meet me here. 

 

I look forward to meeting her and seeing her smile.  We are grateful for the opportunity to help her and her family out in this way.  Certainly, I believe it is worthwhile, and it’s the right thing to do.  At the same time, we pray for God’s blessing on her life and her family.  We pray that she would know the great love, compassion, attention, and rescue offered by her heavenly Father.  We pray that she would grow to be a healthy, cared-for, growing and learning young woman… but that she would see and love God’s hand in all of this. 

 

Interesting… we pray the same thing for Allie, Luke, and Julie.  If we try raising our own kids without God’s help, strength, guidance, wisdom, and love – is there any lasting or significant value in that?  The same goes for Ursulla, if we “sponsor” her, but don’t prayerfully seek and encourage God’s Spirit to guide, protect, love, teach, empower, and lead her…

 

Sponsoring a child does feel good.  It is the right thing to do.  Food, clothing, shelter.  We all should do these kind of things – not to make ourselves feel better or less guilty or whatever… but because OTHER PEOPLE REALLY NEED IT… Even more, I strongly believe God wants us to do it.  Even more (?!?!!) is the belief and opportunity that this sponsorship is part of God’s eternal work in me, and part of His eternal work in her – Ursulla Dewensse. 

 

So… two prayer requests.. (1) Pray that I’ll get the chance to meet Ursulla, encourage her, and be some small reflection of Christ’s love and compassion to her.  (2) If you would be so bold… pray about how God may want you to do something for somebody else… ask God to sharpen your heart to the needs of others, and to help you develop a generous and compassionate heart like His. 

 

And, back to the beginning of my e-mail… I was kidding about the shower.  The truth is, I did indeed take a shower.  However, I have indeed showered more than once in the last six days. 

 

With love from Africa,

Pastor Gary

 

 

 

 

Day 2 - Hand in Hand Visits, Dinner with Missionaries...

I don’t have much time to type this…

 

But today was amazing.  My heart was full… thrilled with the chance to finally meet our friends at SAKPA church and school today.  It was fun, thrilling, emotional, rewarding, and beautiful.

 

As we drove up the rocky, red, dusty road on this sunny and 90s humid day, I saw kids and adults of all ages waiting for us.  Cheering for us.  Smiling at us.  Thrilled to meet us. 

 

I recognized Pastor Tizokoe and Teacher Hortence immediately, and jumped out to greet them, shake their hands, talk with them for a few minutes… it is an amazing church with a true heart to reach and serve the poor and orphans in their community. 

 

I got to meet all the kids, shake their hands, talk, play Frisbee… our entire team was there (all the short-term team, and several missionaries) as a part of this 90 minute visit to Sakpa.  First of three visits.  Church on Sunday is coming.  Next Wednesday we visit for the whole morning and will give out gifts to all the kids. 

 

So thankful to sit in the classroom and talk with Pastor Tizokoe for a while.  Dude has 8 kids.  Unreal!  All of their deacons were there, helping put up the walls and cement the outer layers of the pastor’s office there and the extra room.  Deaconnesses were there, preparing lunch for all the kids…

 

Before we left, the ladies of the church presented our team with lots of HUGE FRUIT.  Bananas, papayas, and a bunch of other things.  I actually got to belt out the phrase, “MAN, THESE BANANAS ARE GOOD!”

 

Hortence has been teaching our kids for five weeks, and on all accounts she is doing a great job.  They do a lot of interaction with the teacher.  She asks questions, and they all answer in unison.  They sing the alphabet song.  They sing praise songs together.  They shout out their multiplication and addition charts.  They take turns sharing verses or texts that they are memorizing and then share with the class.  The students are learning how to write on their own little chalkboards – learning their printing and their cursive.  The Hand in Hand directors here were VERY impressed with the teacher and the students, and how much progress has been made in just five weeks. 

 

It is an unspeakable thrill to see the body of Christ in action.  Many of their church family (adult volunteers and leaders too) were here today to celebrate the school, eat together, and meet our team.  Just thinking about these moments and these opportunities makes me cry.  For one, I am tired.  For two, I am humbled, honored, and growing more passionate about actually BEING the church – in Delaware, Africa, and anywhere else… but just BE THE CHURCH.

 

Get off the sidelines and into the game.  Stop saying “one day, I’ll do something big for God.”   Just start doing it.  Start really praying.  Really giving.  Really going.  Really allowing God’s heart for the WORLD to become your heart for the WORLD.  This trip is part of a process God has been doing in my life – it is not just a ten-day thrill ride that is quite a privilege… it is connected to a past, present, and future of how God wants me to embrace HIS burden and passion for people.  These people are precious to Him.

 

Delaware Grace?  I love you guys.  I am so incredibly proud of God’s work in you and through you… you have given far beyond what we initially hoped for… I’ve only visited ONE school for barely over ONE hour.  And every prayer, every thought, every dollar, every conversation, every moment of this… is part of God’s Spirit carrying on a GREAT WORK..  Please don’t close your heart.  Please don’t embrace comfort or hope someone else will do it. 

 

WE are the body of Christ… WE includes Delaware Grace, it includes all of my/our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ohio, in the US, in Africa… and to the very ends of the earth. 

 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  (Matthew 5:6). 

 

This was indeed a righteous day.  A first meeting for our church and theirs (Sakpa), and just a taste of God’s kind of filling – his kind of progress and blessing – in our lives together.  Whatever it takes, I hope God keeps me hungry for more of this…

 

And man, those bananas are good.  Thank you, Pastor Tizokoe, Hortence, deacons,deaconesses, and our kids in the Sakpa village.  You guys rock! 

 

Thanks for reading.  If we had Facebook out here, I’d be posting pics and videos like nobody’s business. 

 

With love in Christ,

Gary U

Update #2 from Bangui... (Thursday night)

Well, it looks like we’re sending out all of today’s e-mails in one bundle at the end of the day, so you’re getting two updates at the same time…

 

We spent the afternoon at the Project Hope & Charite’ orphan care center. 

 

Two words: Amazing.  Amazing. 

 

After about a 20-minute drive and some nasty roads with huge potholes… we made it to the center.  Kids were running after our white SUV/Bus to greet us, and then – no joke – about 200 kids in the playground area welcomed us… All wanted to shake hands, say hello, smile, take pictures, sing, and make conversation. 

 

At first, one of their teachers led them all in a rally with some shouts and claps in rhythm… very cool.  Yes, I have video.  No, I cannot post it from here.

 

Yes, it was surreal – 200-300 orphans there today at the school.  Amazing to see this… to meet them… to talk with the teachers… to take lots of pictures…

 

It’s not just something we show pictures or read about.. these are real kids, with real families, real lives, real stories, real needs, real eyes. 

 

Each one has a story… a testimony… being orphans, many of the stories are tragic.

 

One of the teachers introduced us to a group of the high-performing students.  We went into their classroom and each one was introduced.  We asked the kids some questions too.  The questions evolved from “what’s your favorite game?” … to “what’s your favorite Bible story?” …. to… kids just standing up to share how grateful they are for us…

 

One girl shared that she lives with her aunt and uncle, and they have their own kids as well, and that they don’t ever have much food.  When they have food, it goes to their immediate children first, and sometimes there is nothing left to feed this girl or the others who are not part of the immediate family.  She asked us to pray for her and for her family.  Not a dry eye in the place – from our team members…

 

Several other kids shared similar stories. 

 

Maybe this trip will help some of my desires become burning passions.  Maybe it will fuel a flame for future ministry or help in different places in the world.

 

I love seeing Project Hope & Charite’ actually do BOTH – give actual water (physical needs) and also living water (spiritual needs). 

 

Quite honestly, I am tired of the criticism and bickering between Christians in the USA about some of these things... As in… some get focused on the spiritual needs to the neglect of the physical… and others get focused on the physical needs to the neglect of the spiritual… Unfortunately, we kid ourselves if we think this is an either-or battle here.  As always, it’s faith PLUS deeds. 

 

I’ve even heard some of that feedback on the “Beatitudes” series… as if “Blessed are the poor in spirit” is only a reference to spiritual.  Luke 6 seems to indicate otherwise – the same sermon quoted by Jesus with just “blessed are the poor.”  Please stop acting like it’s one or the other, and start doing both.  Our Christian faith is not just teaching truth, it is LIVING that truth with our good-deeds life as well.  I think we all have time to do both.  Do we have time not to? 

 

Okay, enough venting… but it is great to be on the front lines and see heroes of the faith loving and teaching these kids about Christ.  Feed them, clothe them, love them, pray for them, give them a family… do it all in the name of Jesus.  Don’t waste time criticizing people who don’t do it like you would.  Spend that time, instead, making a difference while you can, where you can.

 

I am so serious.  =).  I love you guys and am praying for you… thanks for praying for me on this great adventure!  More tomorrow… heading to Sakpa, and can’t wait… Can’t hardly stand to wait. 

 

Before I close, an update on logistics here: Note to large mosquito flying by as I type – get outta here, buddy.