Karamoja Okkens

Well, yesterday we returned to our home here in Nakaale after spending the week down country. A wonderful time of swimming, ice cream and seeing friends. Not to mention a wonderful internet connection! It had been quite some time since the family had been out of Karamoja, so we were excited from some little luxuries. Hot showers, ice cream, pool, and yes a little shopping ;-). We also had a great time visiting with our teammates and new friends in Mbale, and also seeing friends we haven't seen in a long time. Thank you to all who made the visit wonderful! Until the next time...which won't be so long! P.S. Cholera update. It is still here, but moving slowly. Someone did die in the nearby village of Kopetatum (where we hold a early Sunday morning service). I think still just a few cases seen at the clinic, but not everyone goes to the clinic. So please continue to keep the community in prayer.

Well, it seems our clinic has had two cholera cases since I last wrote. Please pray for Dr. Jim and the clinic staff as they handle things. The cases were a child and wife of one of our workers. Right now, we are actually down country enjoying some vacation so are not right in the middle of it. Please keep our teammates and neighbors in prayer.

It has been confirmed that there is a cholera outbreak in our district. So far there have been no cases at our clinic. If we are just careful to wash our hands and not drink water from the river or puddles (of course not!), we should be fine. Please be praying for all in our region who will be affected by this. Pray also for Dr. Jim Knox and the clinic staff as they prepare to deal with possible cases.

Yes, this morning we decided to go as a family to the closest trading town, Namalu. Right before we left I was trying to Skype with my parents, but, as can often happen, it was a bit 'in & out'. So, David says, 'lets bring the laptop with us to Namalu where we can get a strong signal!'. So off we went, fully prepared to be quite the spectacle in town. We thought we found a 'secluded' spot, but that soon changed after about 20 minutes. It was quite the scene. My parents actually got a kick out of seeing these Karimojong in the background of the video while Skyping. We even took it on the road and continued Skyping while driving back into the center of town and walking into a shop to buy a few things. Even ran into a friend, and she enjoyed 'meeting' my parents. But then we decided the craziness needed to end. The scene of wzungu (white people) + technology out and about here in Karamoja can only be endured by us for so long!

We are excited about a new ministry venue, which has emerged ‘right under our nose’. For years we have had a work in Kopetatum . That has been the west side of Kopetatum, across the river. To get there we have had to pass through the east side of Kopetatum before the river through a village which never seemed to me like a great venue for ministry. Well, in recent months, one resident of that village, Mariko, has been among the regular group working with Bob Wright for the work for food program of the farm project. (We have begun teaching Bible stories to these folks during the work since a good group is required to sit under the tree and remove the seeds from the hibiscus plants Bob has been growing.) Mariko invited us to begin teaching in his village and promised to ‘mobilize’ (invite the community). I agreed. I have since led a study there on Friday afternoon and preached in the afternoon on the Lord’s Day. Both times the ministry has been well attended and well received. The folks...