March Update

UPDATED ROAD MAP

After lots of paperwork, waiting, more paperwork and more waiting we’re in the last phase of the immigration process for Janessa to get permanent residency in the US.  The last step we need to complete will be an interview for Janessa at the US Consulate in Montreal on May 12^th.  The best part about finally having a date for the completion of this process is that now we can set a more specific timeline in place for going to Uganda.  A few days after the interview we’ll travel down to Pennsylvania where we’ll stay for just over a month before going to Uganda in mid-June.  We’ll stay in Uganda until the fall when we’ll travel back to Pennsylvania to share our vision and build our support base.  The goal of this initial trip of only about four months will be to learn the language, reconnect with churches and ministries in Gulu, and prepare our long term budget both for us personally and for the ministry.  It will be a lot to do in a short amount of time which is why we’ve been getting a head start on our language learning while still at home.  After a visit up to Winnipeg for Christmas, Lord willing we’ll be heading back to Uganda the beginning of next year.

    

INTRO TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS

In order for us to serve as missionaries in Uganda we’ll have two missionary sending organizations that we’ll be working through.  These two organizations are Heartstrings World Mission (in Canada) and Harvest Alliance (in the US).  We’re blessed to have these two ministries be our encouragement and supervision for our ministry in Uganda.  We have been apart of Heartstrings World Mission for a number of years and it is based out of our home church in Winnipeg, Bethel Community Church. We were introduced to Harvest Alliance by a missionary friend from our time in Uganda, Stacey Syrocki.  They are based out of southern California and have dozens of missionaries all over the world.  We are excited to have these two organizations praying for us, helping guide us, encouraging us and holding us accountable as we serve in Uganda. 

VISION FOR SERVING

A snapshot of the beauty in Northern Uganda

Uganda is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people.  Statistics show that 75-85% of the population in Uganda identifies as Christian.  This statistic might make it seem strange for us to go there as missionaries but that stat alone doesn’t give the most accurate picture of the situation.  There are many Christians in Uganda, but there are many who live in villages where there isn’t a church close enough to attend.  They may identify as Christians but they aren’t able to fellowship together to grow in their relationship with God.  Some attend churches that are run by pastors who love God, but have never been trained or discipled as to how to shepherd over their flock.  They have hearts to serve God but often don’t know how to move beyond receiving Christ to living for him daily.  Others identify as Christians but when problems arise in their life visit witch doctors to help them.  The reason for this is that they don’t view Christ as exclusive.  He is one of multiple gods that have different powers.  Still others receive Christ at evangelism events and their relationship with God doesn’t go any further.  Our vision is to disciple pastors so that they can disciple their church members into a relationship with God that goes beyond simply receiving salvation into living for his glory and in his love every day.

PRAYER POINTS

For partners to connect with us through prayer and finances

For the final stage of the immigration process to be completed

For understanding and persevering through learning Acholi

We would love to hear from you!

E-mail us at:
cyphersinuganda@gmail.com

February Update

ISRAEL TRIP

Our family (with a sleepy Silas) on the shore of the Sea of Galilee

For two weeks in February we were blessed to be touring Israel.  This was the first time in Israel for Janessa and Silas (of course) and the second time for me.  It's amazing to be able to walk where Jesus walked and see different cities and archeological sites from Bible times.  Our guide, Yossi, was a Messianic Jew and he shared with us that only around 2% in Israel (Jews and Arabs) are Christians.  It's crazy to think that the place where Jesus physically was for his entire life now has such a small amount of his followers.  Israel is in need of our prayers for many reasons. Yossi shared this phrase "the challenges with Israel and its neighbors seems like an equation with too many variables to solve".  As Psalms 122:6 instructs us "pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

LANGUAGE LEARNING

Our fridge/ Acholi language bulletin board

Our Acholi language learning is coming along.  With the help of our Acholi-English dictionary our apartment is now covered with post it notes in Acholi.  (unfortunately the dictionary is Acholi-English so I couldn't simply look up the english word, we had to go through the entire dictionary searching for words we could use).  After a little break on our Israel trip we're back at it and starting to learn some verbs and phrases.  This past Sunday we had Watoto Children's Choir at our church and since a few of them were from Gulu we had a chance to practice some of the things we learned.  Still a long ways to go but spending time on it now will give us a huge head start when we arrive in Uganda.

VISION FOR SERVING

A snapshot of the beauty in Northern Uganda

We want to share a little with you each month about why we feel called to serve in Uganda.  It begins, as all missions does, with the great commission, Matthew 28:19 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.  Uganda is a country alive with passion for Christ but lacking in discipleship.  I once heard a pastor in Uganda quote the great commission "go and make converts" instead of disciples.  This to me showed one of the major struggles in Uganda.  Most sermons I've heard in Uganda focus on evangelism and don't take the next step of how we should live for Christ. This struggle is by no means unique to Christianity in Uganda but there is a lack of depth in following Christ.  This is why our desire is to help disciple pastors and church leaders towards a deeper relationship with God so that they can lead their flock to do the same.  The desire for a deeper walk with God is absolutely there, it only needs a few people to be leaders in showing what it looks like.  Thank you for your prayers and financial support as we follow God's calling on our lives to help see this movement started.

PRAYER POINTS

For partners to connect with us through prayer and finances

For the final stage of the immigration process to be completed

For understanding and persevering through learning Acholi

We would love to hear from you!

E-mail us at:
cyphersinuganda@gmail.com

January Update

We're Officially Missionaries!

We've been planning, hoping and praying about God's timing for us to go back to Uganda and we're excited to announce that the time is here!  Well almost here.  While we're not in Uganda yet we're on our way there.  That means lots of planning paperwork, language learning and fundraising.  Lord willing we'll be moving to Uganda in June after Silas has turned a year old and received his 12 month immunizations.  The past two weeks we were able to take a roadtrip through western Canada to visit family and friends and share our heart for Uganda.  Each time we share it makes us even more excited to go and serve.

                                Road Map to Uganda

Over the next few months our full time commitment will be preparing to serve in Uganda.  So in order to keep us on track and provide directions for our time, we've made a roadmap from now to June of what tasks we're focused on and what our priorities are for each day.  We have some exciting things planned, like a trip to Israel the last two weeks of February, and some timing that is still uncertain, like completing the process for Janessa's residency in the States. We'd ask for you to be praying for us for all the work that needs to be done and focus required to accomplish what God has laid out before us.  Keep up to date with us by checking out our blog: http://cyphersinuganda.blogspot.ca 

Language Learning

Kopango! Hello! Uganda has two official languages, English and Swahili. However, we will be serving up in the northern region with the Acholi people, who mainly speak in Luo.  One of our main focuses for the next few months is to begin learning Acholi (a dialect of Luo).  We picked up a few phrases and words the last time we were in Uganda, and one that will have not forgotten is the word for water…pii (pronounced pee). We believe it will be such an incredible asset to communicate without the need of a translator.  We have found some Acholi language resources that will give us a head start on our learning and plan to continue once we arrive in Uganda.

Welcome to our blog!

Hello! 

Welcome to our blog! We will post updates here on our upcoming journey back to Uganda, Africa. Thank you for your love and support as we begin our transition and we hope you join us for the journey! 

Love, 

the Cyphers