Perhaps it’s appropriate that this blog is “number 7,” since “7” is the perfect or complete number. This noted, and although our recent venture to Uganda is “complete,” I am fully convinced that it is not over; rather I do believe that it has just begun. As I indicated in my last two blogs, I believe that the door for a return visit to Uganda and the Otino Waa Orphanage is wide open.
Following our two-day retreat on July 30-31, we met with the lead-pastor, who indicated that he’d like to encourage another pastoral retreat, focusing more fully upon John’s Gospel. To his encouragement I volunteered:
“I’ve completed a similar study of the first half of Mark’s Gospel, and hope soon to complete the second half, followed by a resource centered upon the epistles of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians.”
“Yes, that’d be fine. You could teach John and then Mark, and after you’ve taught Mark, I’d like you to teach Acts.”
“Ah,” I said, smiling, “yes, perhaps I could teach Acts—to write and publish a resource for Acts would stretch me, but that might be possible.”
“And then,” he said, “you could teach the Book of Revelation.”
I laughed.
“That would definitely stretch me!” I said. “Perhaps I could work with the first six chapters of Revelation, but thereafter … I don’t know.”
He smiled.
“By the way,” I said, “there is much you don’t know about me, and much I don’t know about you. I'm very Presbyterian, you know, and yours is a Pentecostal church.”
Once again he smiled. “Yes,” he said, “but if you begin with a solid foundation, you can then be radical.”
My laughter was free: his understanding is wonderful, which in great measure explains how it is that he has encouraged the planting of twenty-seven churches, who now need their pastors to receive further training, education, and encouragement—and thus his informal invitation for me to return.
Of course, I know that there is “many a slip between cup and lip,” but I do believe that Uganda will now figure in my future, even as I believe that Malawi and Romania are integral to that future. For the next five-to-seven years, if our Lord grants me the grace of health and opportunity, I can envision ministry among pastors in Malawi (mid-fall), in Romania (late-winter), and Uganda (late-spring). But always: grace.
I pray that I will be able to share more “Uganda Days” with you.
Hopefully,
Stan
Ps. Please pray regarding a return to Malawi, September 26 – October 11.