Here is the Church....

(from a note I wrote a few weeks back, and was very inspired by people I know here in Delaware...)

Here is the church…Early in the morning, while it’s still dark, a man shows up early to shovel snow, throw down some salt, and unlock the doors.  Nobody really knows he’s doing it.  Yet it’s his personal act of worship.  He’s got a song in his heart as he serves the Bride of Christ and worships the King – with a snow shovel.

  

Here is the church…a group of friends hears about a couple who has struggled with some home repairs.  Four or five guys get together and say we want to help you remodel your house.  We’ll pay for it, we’ll put in the time and we know how to do it.  So they get together and volunteer hours and money and sweat.  They’ve got a song in their hearts as they serve their friends and worship the King.

Here is the church… three nights a week, guys meet in different homes to hang out, talk about sports and cars and work.  After a while, the conversation goes deeper and they start to talk about God and His Work in their lives.  They read the Bible together and ask questions and challenge each other to grow.  They pray for their marriages, for their kids, and for each other. 

Here is the church… every Sunday, a young couple volunteers their time to teach first graders in Sunday School.  They take a few hours that week to read and prepare and pray, but then they show up faithfully on Sundays and almost never get the credit.  They get the joy of seeing kids learn, ask questions, explore God personally, and tell their parents about Jesus. 

Here is the church... he doesn’t make much money and he never has.  But every month, he somehow sticks to his commitment to give back to God.  Sometimes he wonders if he can afford that check, but every time, God provides for his needs.  Friends at church have helped him out when he needed it most. 

     Here is the church… This is still the place where hurting people can find healing.  Where desperate people can find hope, and where broken people can find love.  Where any and all sinners are welcome, and all of us can find forgiveness and new life in Christ Jesus.  This is still the place – and we, the church, are still God’s people, for better or for worse… He’s committed to us… purchased us with His blood shed on the cross…

            We are still the people devoted to Jesus Christ…  We are devoted to Him… We pray, we serve, we give, we love, we stretch, we sacrifice, we depend, we persevere, we learn, we confess, we draw near….  We experience the power of God.    Here is the Church. 

Thoughts from Africa...

First of all, forgive me for not posting about Africa since the trip! 

Not a day goes by, though, that I am not seized by thoughts, impressions, memories, and lessons I've experienced in Africa.

This picture (left) is from our last full day in Bangui, when I got to spend much of the morning in Sakpa village.  Pastor Tizokoe and his wife are on right, and then the previous pastor's wife on the right end in yellow.  Hortence, our school teacher, is on the left in the picture.

If you want to hear the fresh memories and passion from my trip, I'd love for you to listen to the sermon I preached just two days after landing in Columbus.  Click here to listen. 

I may continue to use this blog as a journal... just sharing some random thoughts (and not-so-random ones) about what God's doing in my life and in the world. 

If you aren't currently involved in some way of helping people who are physically and spiritually poor, you are missing out, big time.  It's a great opportunity to really BE a follower of Christ... and a desperately-needed contribution to anyone in need. 

America is mostly financially blessed.  We have too much, and we hoard too much. 

Kids, parents, and grandparents really do suffer and die around the world because they can't get clean water, they can't get basic medications, or they can't get one good meal.  In my mind, I had heard that stuff before.  In my Africa journey, I came face to face with some of those people... some of those situations... some of those needs. 

One day, I believe we will all give account to God for how we lived our lives. What did we do with all the resources we've been given? 

Can we really be called a "Christian nation" when we've obsessed over our own freedoms and rights and happiness, while at least THREE BILLION people in the world live at or below the poverty level? 

Yeah, Africa has messed me up good.  I really hope to make some sort of difference... 

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