Karamoja Okkens

I have often said that my life in Africa probably looks a lot like yours in America…apart from some very different kind of scenery. In some ways life can be pretty routine. On the other hand, there is always the need to be prepared for the unexpected. A night’s sleep might be interrupted by the 2am whining and barking of our dogs after they have chased an animal (most recently it was a genet) up into a tree.  Just this week the morning homeschool plans were thrown out the window as our whole compound spent almost two hours figuring out how to get to and kill a very large black mamba snake which was hiding up in the under parts of our vehicle. Routine in our home schooling, but not necessarily scheduled. Routine in our weekly activities but with a visitor or teammate usually coming or going. My mornings are filled with school or some other educational experience. Doing my best, well usually my best, at juggling three grade levels of subjects. Thankfully the kids are on autopilot ...

Rains have come in plenty. It is very wet these days. Muddy roads will make for challenging travels again. Yet we are thankful for the plowing and planting taking place in many fields. We appreciate your prayers both for our travels but also for the farms of our friends here. We are thankful for our new teammates, the Robbins. You are welcome to check out their blog ( mygandarobbins.wordpress.com ) as there are interesting adventures going on in their lives about which we ask you to pray. It has been fun getting to know their family and for me to get into a ministry rhythm with my new colleague, the other Pastor David. Actually, our Karimojong friends have given him the name “Pastor Lokut”. His family’s arrival on the field was during the dry season which is very windy. Lokut means wind . (The same name was given to our son, Caleb, who also first came to Karamoja during windy times). This will help distinguish the two pastors, leaving me the lone Pastor David. (Despite attempts earl...

Is it really almost March?! An update is overdue. It has been a crazy time in Uganda leading up to this past week’s election. After all was said and done, we cannot say that we were terribly surprised to hear the result. The nation will continue with the same president. We rest under the sovereign rule of the God of heaven who, in His timing and according to His will, “removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21). In fact, a while back we finished teaching through the Daniel stories for our village evangelistic Bible studies. Now we are in the book of Ezra, learning about the Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The same God who had called Israel out of slavery in Egypt to dwell with Him in the Land of Canaan did great things to return them after the exile. He is the same God who is calling a people out of slavery to sin and into fellowship with His Son, Jesus, who is the true temple, Immanuel, God with us. Please pray His blessing on these studies....

An update is way overdue, especially considering how deeply we feel the need of your prayers these days. The Knoxes left at the beginning of the month. The Tricaricos left just last week. Then Taryn Dieckmann left this week. Our team feels extremely small at the moment. Saying goodbye to teammates has been bitter sweet. On the positive side, it has provided wonderful opportunity to reflect upon our years together and how much we have been blessed by our friendships. The bitter part is obvious. Seeing them go has left much sorrow in our hearts this Christmas Season. I suppose it should help us to think about the sorrow endured by the Son of God who for a time left behind his home in glory with the Father and came into this world to suffer for us. We rejoice that his sacrifice means such a wonderful reunion which we will all enjoy together in glory one day! As for the departure of the Knoxes and the ongoing work of the Clinic, some of you may have already read what I wrote fo...

Not a word I really like because it means change, and I don't like change. But, that is what this year has been about. As most of you know, two families on our team are leaving the field this next month and returning to the States. I know God is in all of this but it still requires steps of faith - sometimes I feel like just baby steps - on my part as I walk through it. This past week our whole team (minus two families) gathered for a retreat. We were blessed by good times of fellowship and encouraging messages. Pastor Chris Folkerts, who is our teammate, Eric Tuininga's cousin, shared from Ephesians 3: 14-21. He reminded us of the relationship we have with our Father, how He strengthens us through His Spirit, Christ's immeasurable love for us and what a glorious God we serve. What a needed reminder and good encouragement to remember Christ's power and love. Things I am blessed by because I am His child. I also need to be praying these truths daily in my life as Satan l...

Thank you for your prayers for the team that is here. We have a quality group of young men and women eagerly serving the Lord. Last week we were in one primary school where we spent five days teaching Bible stories, performing skits, teaching songs, playing games and just enjoying being with the kids. The teaching has been on how Jesus fulfills the Biblical offices of prophet, priest and king. The students responded well to the instruction. The team also had opportunities to visit various villages where they taught some of the same lessons. Today we began the same program in a new school. Since this week’s program is in the afternoons, the team is also spending time in the mornings in other local schools where our pre-primary teachers have a regular presence. So we are thankful for the many opportunities before us to be sharing the gospel with hundreds of young folks. On Thursday, Pastor Peter, Pastor Al and I led the conference for pastors. As advertised, some one hundred pastors...