An Ebeneezer

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebeneezer; for he said, 
'Till now the Lord has helped us.'"  I Samuel 7:12

Ebeneezers can be raised with stone and in our day of technology...on a blog...

One year ago today we left America and it is with joy that we want to say loudly, "Till now the Lord has helped us!!"

He has helped us through moving, and turned our hearts more fully towards our heavenly home.  He has helped us through learning our way around Uganda and has brought us more fully towards the cross.  He has brought us new friends and soothed the wounds of missing our old friends.  He has allowed us to see more of our sinful natures and yet allowed us to see more of his grace.

We have also been privileged to see our children grow.  Leaving friends and all that was familiar was hard.  The refining fire burned hot, but the master never failed.  He drew them close to himself.  They learned a bit more of what it means to cry out, "God, Help!"  They drew close to each other and have become best friends.  They have gained confidence with and love for the world outside our gate.  They are learning not to dwell on "was that fun?" but rather, "did I love well?"  They are learning to give more of themselves and their belongings as they have moved from being "poorer" Americans to "rich" ex-pats.

By God's grace alone, we have seen KTC students learn and graduate, our little OPCU church here in Mbale move to our compound and begin to grow again, reconciliation between previously split churches, babies born, saints ushered into glory, church members married, and many prayers answered.

God has been so good and we praise him for all that he has done!

This picture was taken our last day of missionary training in March, 2011.