Karamoja Okkens

You have seen pictures before of Caleb's friends enjoying Saturday play dates. A little while back I realized that this time could be our family's little ministry. If nothing else, the kids would enjoy some playing they wouldn't get at home and would enjoy some lunch they may not get at home. I have also thought to pray more faithfully for these boys. Today I gave the kids coloring pages of a Roman soldier to color and then talked briefly about Ephesians 6 and putting on the armor of God. Not all the boys were there today including the one that would have helped even more bridge the language gap, but we still read the passage in Karimojong and then said a few things about it. No major preaching session, just decided to grab a little moment. I have been encouraging my kids to think about how they are sharing Jesus with their friends by the way they play with them. And yes, to grab little moments. You can keep Naru, Losili, Tony and Bob in prayer with us. That God would draw ...

Please pray with us for Nangiro Michael and his wife Martha. These Karimojong neighbors have suffered great loss. Their baby boy died yesterday after suddenly coming down with some illness. This alone brings great sorrow, but that isn't all. Last Sunday Martha's mother died from an illness she was struggling with for some time and about one month ago Michael and Martha's only other living child (4 yrs.) died of a snake bite. The sorrow is great in this family today. For several weeks now they have faithfully been attending church with us. Please pray that our Mission would be able to comfort and encourage this family, that the Lord would draw them close.

But on the 6th....flexibility when living in Uganda! Our Mission team and most of our clinic staff enjoyed the 4th together...on the 6th. Everyone had fun playing volleyball and a few other games then went inside for a somewhat traditional 4th of July meal. I guess many of our African friends weren't too sure the hotdogs were actually meat (our we sure of that?!), but enjoyed it all very much.

Lokwii David is laboring full-time again. We praise the Lord for his continued growth in grace and progress in ministry. This has enabled us to divide our labors and explore possible new venues. Well, not too far from our Naminyit Village study is a place called Naliakat (which is also part of broader Naminyit). Last week, after the Naminyit study, Lokwii Paul and I visited this new place and found some folks who seemed very eager to host a weekly Bible study. Yesterday, we returned there. As we sat under the big tree, a group of men, women and children quickly gathered. I counted about sixty. It is rare to see such a large group interested in stopping their activities to sit and listen to the Word of God. It seemed to be very well received. They actually applauded when we finished. They heard about King Balak’s efforts to bring a curse upon the people of Israel through the prophet Balaam (Numbers 22-24). They learned of the Lord’s work, even through a talking donkey, to ...

Please continue to pray for Karamoja Education Outreach and our Mission's Christian preschool that is set to open in the fall.    http://faithopchurch.org/#/karamoja-education-outreach/4574881056

Last week Lokwii Paul and I went out to teach a Bible story together. In a couple of different villages we had the same interesting experience. We told the story from Numbers 20 where Moses sinned by striking the rock with his staff contrary to the Lord’s clear command to tell the rock to bring forth water for the Israelites. We taught how the story reminds us that all people are sinners. The Israelites sinned by grumbling and complaining. Moses also sinned. He failed to believe in the Lord and to uphold Him as holy before the people (Nu. 20:12). His spirit became bitter and he spoke rashly with his lips (Ps. 106:33). So he lost the privilege of leading the people into the land which God had promised. Our friends agreed with us that all people are sinners. We explored further this sad reality. “Is it really true that every single person who ever lived was a sinner?” “Yes, all sinners.” “Not even one exception?” “Not one.”   When I mentioned that there was actually one ...

Our good friend Lokwii David and his wife Helen, having their third child, Lotee Nathan baptized this past Sunday.