Guarding the Heart of Your Marriage

I sit down beside a young, Ugandan girl with short-cropped hair to enjoy the morning service under the trees. Her name is Judith and she tells me that it is her first Sunday with us. She heard the music from the street and said to herself, "They worship God in there so I will go in and see."

John Michael, security guard for the compound, greets us with a toothy grin. He helps set up chairs and take them down. James, a fifteen-year old son of Mama Rose, distributes song books and then collects them at the close of the service.

Chuck and I share our testimonies in the service. A row of little children sit on the front all ears and smiles. Afterwards, they flock around the berry tree to pick and eat.

Innocent comes over and asks us some questions. He is handy with wood and wrought iron and has crafted many delightful pieces for the Nestor compound.

Mama Rose tells us she is a teacher, but now works for a family. Her favorite dish to prepare is boiled sweet potatoes, no spices. She says that is better on the stomach. I wish our Indian friends felt the same way!

Jenny, a pre-school teacher from the UK, will tend the missionary children when we begin our retreat on Tuesday. She will return home in August after a brief stint in Jinja.

James, a nineteen-year old guitarist from Britain, is thrilled with the pics and strings that Steve Johnson donated. He beams when he tells us he is learning to worship God with his music.

Jeremiah and Jessica, founders of Restoration orphanage, have fallen on many hard times and need the encouragement of the retreat. They are about to give up and throw in the towel.

Jose and Sol, Puerto Ricons, teach at the Welcome Home orphanage in the Christian school and at the seminary. They are long distance grandparents also, so enjoyed talking with them after lunch at Ling Lings, the best Chinese restaurant I have ever eaten at.

Jinja is a melting pot for all kinds of ethic groups. And the Nestor home almost feels like Francis Schaefer's La Brie in Swizterland where many would come to learn more about Christianity. The Nestor live in a Muslim neighborhood, but Christianity is still the dominant religion of Uganda (85%) with only 11% Islam influence. Still, every morning at 5:00 we wake up to the sounds of the mosque next door.

Many humorous stories about life in this land. Debbie tells me that one day she asked a Ugandan: "That is a beautiful tree. What do you call it?"

He replied, "A very beautiful African tree."

The piki pikis or boga bogas are also a humorous sight. These are bicycles on which the people carry anything and everything from dead bodies to furniture.

Las night during our boat ride on Lake Victoria we saw a variety of African birds and some macques leaping around in the trees. It was moving to realize that we were traveling the same Nile that Moses' basket waded in thousands of years ago. Only 4000 miles downstream and we would be in Egypt!

PRAY for us as we prepare for the retreat tomorrow. We are excited to begin our ministry to these beautiful servants of the Lord who serve on the frontlines.