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Then
David inquired of the Lord, saying "Shall I go up against the
Philistines? Will you give them into my hands?" And the Lord said to
David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your
hand."
2 Samuel 5:19
Greetings,
Life is a real adventure as we inquire of the Lord. Often
we pray, “God, please bring the people to us you want us to help.”
Inquiring of the Lord is at the forefront of all our decisions. It is
amazing what God does when we ask for guidance and wait to see what
He wants us to do next.
When we traveled back to the US from Uganda we wondered what was ahead.
God’s showing us many open doors and closed doors as we transition
to new things.
God is always connecting the dots.
A friend from Watermark Church contacted me to help a Ugandan youth she
sponsored for years. The student had finished school and was no
longer sponsored. After searching for her sponsor, the young woman
found her on social media. She desperately needed emotional and
spiritual help as the result of a trauma. She was suicidal and had
no where to turn. Margaret and the sponsor were able to connect to her on
Whats App. After discovering the details, Margaret suggested a plan to
get help in Uganda and put her sponsor in touch sharing a weekly
Bible Study on-line. Margaret felt the study would help draw them closer
together and provide healing for the young woman's heart. Margaret agreed
to help her with her resume and have a Ugandan friend introduce her to a
small group of women in Navigators close to where she lived in Uganda.
She told us she wanted to be a barista so we are exploring her
options. We are so grateful to God she is recovering.
Another amazing story started with a wedding announcement of
two students we mentored at Uganda Christian University and a 12
year old letter. They were just good friends at the time but romance
bloomed.
Elizabeth, who is an industrial designer/artist, sent Margaret a message
she was getting married and guess who it was? Simon Peter is his
name. Both received help with their resumes and completed a
class" Problem-solving God’s Way" from The Rock. As
Margaret chatted with them Simon Peter asked for help finding his
sponsor. He lost track and wanted to show his appreciation. The
family was from Dallas, the father worked for JP Morgan, his wife
was named Sarah and they had two daughters and one son. I
called a friend, mentioned the name of the family and she knew
the family. God is amazing!
 Simon Peter’s grandmother had been contacted two
weeks earlier about a letter for Simon Peter from his Compassion sponsor.
The Ugandan postal system is very different from the U.S. With amazement
he read the letter and realized it had been lost for years. Their
youngest child was two years old at the time the letter was written.
Now the son is 14 years old. When Margaret chatted with Sarah in Dallas,
she mentioned there were many letters written but apparently not received
over the years. Simon Peter is so grateful being reunited with his
sponsors.
Simon Peter and Elizabeth are just a few of the over 600
graduates of Uganda Christian University who have been mentored over
the years. To read more about the 600, click here.
Mark participated in a mission trip to Guatemala, where his mission work
began more than 20 years ago. The banner was used as a camp visual aid
and is about being accepted, secure and significant as believers in
Jesus. Our identity in Christ is foundational. The Rock donated the
banner and Spanish Life Application Bibles to the discipleship ministry
there. Below are pictures of the Guatemala team from Dallas and Mark's group
of children.
 
Mark finished his certification with Freedom in Christ and
is scheduling Freedom appointments as he receives referrals. The Rock
also provided a Community Freedom Curriculum to a friend’s church in
Grand Rapids. He had shared with them the discipleship tools when he
visited. Embracing the concepts, they were excited to implement it at
their church. The freedom tools which are Biblical help us deal with all
kinds of challenges in life. It is a practical way to embrace being more
than a conqueror with Jesus.
Margaret continues working with people needing help understanding their
God-given skills, resumes and healing from past hurts both in Uganda
and Dallas. This week she has eight students in Uganda
needing career assistance and the students continue to refer their
friends to her.
Part of our continued work in Uganda is providing Life Application Bibles
to people wanting to go deeper in the Word along with remotely preparing
people to understand their identity in Christ. Click here to donate to Bible Resources.
Sharing our joy and appreciation,
Mark and
Margaret
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