August Update

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Home, Sweet Home... (Again?)

 Early this month we were able to move into the apartment that we’ll be calling our home for at least the next 9 months (minus some time back in North America this fall).  Since coming to Uganda we’ve spent three weeks in our first apartment, 3 ½ weeks house sitting for friends, 2 weeks back in our first apartment, and then moved to our current apartment (about 30 feet) 4 weeks ago.  After spending the last week in Kampala we’re back in our apartment for 4 weeks before heading to Pennsylvania.  Needless to say, all the moving has kept us fairly busy but it sure feels nice to finally set up our home. This trip is preparation for our return to Uganda in the new year. We will be able to jump into ministry & more language learning without the hassles of settling again.

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A Village Church

We recently had the opportunity to speak at a conference in the village of Paicho, about an hour’s drive from Gulu. We were connected to this group of church leaders when we spoke at our friends’ church a few weeks ago. Praise and worship had already begun as we arrived at the grass hut church and the steady beating of the cow skin drum & handmade instruments poured out. It was an unbelievably beautiful sound and Silas danced the entire time.  As the day went on, the number of church leaders grew as they arrived from the various villages surrounding Paicho. In the village, the grass hut churches have no electricity within the clay and mud walls and near the end of our opportunity to share our hearts, a severe storm rolled in. Even in the dark and rain pounding down and though the water was leaking through the grass roof and in through the open windows, the praises of the people rang out.

They asked us to share the vision God laid on our hearts, for discipling leaders and pastors, especially in the villages where Biblical training is difficult to find. It was incredible to see the response and interest. As many have shared with us… being trained in the Word of God is crucial to churches thriving. Even during our stay in Kampala, a pastor from Malawi connected with Heartstrings and a dear friend of ours from North Eastern Uganda shared about the need for discipleship throughout Africa. We are encouraged to see doors opening and pastors & church leaders who are hungry for the Word of God. 

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Prayer & the Home Goods Store

A couple of weeks ago I (tim) was running some errands and stopped by a home goods store to get a few cooking utensils.  As I was coming in the employee (who I had meet once before) was on the phone and even with my limited Acholi I was able to tell she having a conversation with her pastor.  Normally I would have simply done my shopping and been on my way, but I felt led to ask her about who she was talking too.  She shared with me and it turned out to be a pastor I knew.  Then she told me the reason she was calling him was that she needed prayer.  For the past number of nights every time she fell asleep she was having nightmares that she was being raped.  Her pastor wasn’t able to come to the shop that day so I asked her if I could pray with her there.  We prayed together and the next day I came back to see how she was doing.  When I walked through the door she had a big smile on her face and said she slept perfectly that night. 

God has been connecting us to people in all different ways.  A few weeks ago I took a wrong turn that lead into a dead end.  As I turned around I saw a guy stand up and wave at me.  It took me a second but then I recognized him as the leader of the drama and dance ministry that Janessa had led back in 2010.  Then a few days later I parked on the road waiting for a friend to come to the car and a pastor who I had taught in Bible School with passed by and we recognized each other.  He’s now overseeing a denomination of churches in and around Gulu and was excited to see how some of the pastors he’s overseeing could be involved in our discipleship.  

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PRAYER POINTS

-     Finishing up a few necessary projects around the house before we head back to 
North America for a few months

-          More divine moments like in the home goods store. That we would be sensitive to the 

Lord’s leading.

- For partners to connect with us through prayer and finances

- For understanding and persevering through learning Acholi

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We would love to hear from you!
E-mail us at:
cyphersinuganda@gmail.com

CANADA:
Attn: The Cyphers
Heartstrings World Mission
430 Lakewood Blvd
Winnipeg, MB R2J 4B6

USA:
Attn: The Cyphers
Harvest Alliance International
3620 Ocean Ranch Blvd
Oceanside, CA 92056