Crosslinks MP Smith

Thank you to those who have mailed, requesting an update. We’ve tried to arrange this letter so that, whether you have 5 minutes waiting for the kettle to boil or 15 minutes with your feet up, you can access our news in snippets. Please do let us know how you’re getting on – hearing from friends in UK is always an encouragement!

It is said in Uganda that when it rains it is a blessing from God

Recent torrential rain in eastern and northern Uganda has challenged this view. Heavy rains have persisted since May bringing flooding and landslides, causing homes to collapse, schools to close, and break down in health and social facilities; rivers have burst their banks, roads have been damaged, bridges swept away, water sources contaminated, and famine looms in the areas affected by the floods.

A colleague of mine called Tony at AMG said, ‘When God brings the rains we have been praying for, in this way, we wonder why he answers our prayers in such a fashion that causes the problems that the floods are bringing.’ People fear that crops soon to be harvested will be damaged and rendered unusable. The problem has not reached crisis proportions as yet, but so far the government has not equipped itself well enough for the struggles caused by the extended period of rainfall.

Please pray that God’s people in the national church networks and denominations would respond generously in light of the catastrophe, and in this way promote the gospel that they seek to proclaim from the Scriptures.

With the Training Needs Assessment complete, Steve’s report has been well-received by AMG, and the stage is now set for foundational training in Bible knowledge and doctrine, Christian character, and Bible-handling skills with children.

KEST is going through a challenging time this semester, since at the start of the academic year it has had only four new students register for courses. Please pray for godly leadership & vision for the principal, Solomon Nkesiga, and the rest of the faculty as they consider further plans.

Steve is teaching the preparation and practice of expository preaching. The class is made up of Rogers (from Tanzania), Peter (a Dinka from South Sudan), Jimmy (a Ugandan who is a pastor and general secretary of a network of 250 churches), Loyce (a Ugandan involved in ministry in her local church), David, Rogers & Simon (two Ugandans & one Englishman with a Christian micro- finance initiative called ‘Five Talents’), and Zepha (one of Steve’s colleagues at The Titus Group – see below).

Please give thanks that although some children have left the nursery others have taken their place, so contact is being made with more families.

Please pray for Florence who helps at the nursery as she is looking to find a full time job as a secretary. We hope that she will find what she is looking for and that we can find another Christian helper to replace her.

Since we last wrote The Titus Group (TG) has met twice. The impetus has been growing as those men regularly attending have begun to bring friends along. God has already brought fruit from this initiative: Zepha from the TG committee has organised for October a Kampala-wide meeting of men from within the Baptist church network; church pastors have begun attending and found the mix of Bible exposition and group discussion & prayer a stimulating model for the local church setting.

We plan to launch The Titus Group formerly in January 2008. This will involve a great deal as we aim to invite around 100 church leaders from the main Christian denominations and Christian men of influence in the city. We will also prepare and print resources for men to take away: a strategy for starting / running men’s meetings in the local church, guidance in reading Bible 1-1 with men, & a Bible study guide on the letter to Titus.

Praise God – Gwyn is expecting another child, due in February 2008. Pregnancy in this malarious climate has its obvious risks and we’d value your prayers for the health of both mother & baby as we look forward and plan for next year. We’re overjoyed and thank God daily for this child.
Joshua is growing into a happy and healthy young boy, with a strong will and a fun character. Having learnt to say “thank you” in Luganda, he’s turning out to be a real charmer with the locals. His favourite activity recently has been looking for cockroaches in our drains. He also loves cars.

We returned to Uganda at the end of August after a brief visit to the UK for the wedding of Gwyn’s sister Elly to Mark. Time spent with both sides of the family, as well as the events surrounding the marriage celebrations, are times that we will cherish for months & years to come.
Shortly after the wedding Gwyn’s father, David, underwent elective heart surgery to replace a weak aorta valve. The surgery went well but the recovery was less than smooth. It has been particularly hard for Gwyn to hear news about his progress from afar (and down a time-delayed phone connection) but David is back home and recovering well, thankfully!

Douda’s carpentry business has been struggling which has caused us to meet less regularly. Do pray that we’d be able to link up soon to study the Scriptures along with ‘Jones’.

We’ve settled at Agape Baptist Church, Ntinda, it is encouraging to be amongst friends there.

Smith, Steve and Gwyn - Uganda