Posted in Africa, children, missions, orphans, Uganda

Harvest #Uganda #children

Posted on by moondustwriter

 

 

It’s that time of the year when grapes to hay to corn to apples are being harvested.

Bringing in crops is hard work and many hands are needed. I remember as a wee one when my family would harvest and can peaches and tomatoes. Large canvas sheets were laid out for the peaches. The tomatoes were gathered in pails. All the jars we could find would be sterilized in a big cook pot. We would buy dozens of new lids to set on top. Bags of sugar were lined up for the peaches and salt for the tomatoes. My hands were always sore from peeling off the skins and cutting the fruit. The smells in the kitchen were wonderful. The best part of those times that I remember was how our family worked together.

The Bible talks about The Harvest. This harvest is a labor of love. Why are there so few laborers for something that brings joy and glory to our Lord?

The harvest in Africa and around our world is ripe for the picking. From young children to the old and dying, there is sweet fruit waiting for gentle hands.

It is harvest time and we need to be on our knees and on our feet enjoying each moment we have to work for the Lord.

“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Matthew 9:36-38

 

There is always room in Northern Uganda for laborers. Yes there are a faithful few. Please consider loving the tribes in Uganda with Christ’s love!!!

 

Posted in children, missions, orphans, Uganda

Living #H2O #Uganda #children

Posted on by moondustwriter

 

Water is an essential for the Acholi tribe. They line up at the well, they walk for a day to fill jugs then carry them home, they use the Nile for commerce and transportation via canoe.  Water is a necessity for all tribes of the world. Our bodies were made to need water. In the Western culture, some people live on sugary drinks like iced tea, flavored coffee drinks, coca cola, even juices.

If I bathe in Coca Cola, I will be sticky and I’ll need another bath. If I wash my hands in fruit juice, my hands will taste good but they will need to be re-washed. And yet we spend oodles of money on liquids that do not give us the refreshment we need. People can even become addicted to some of these things mentioned.

That is also true in our walk as a Christian. We can pick and choose things to live by. We can choose things that aren’t the best; they can distract us from God’s Word. Those not so “good things” can cause us to sin.

In John 4: 13-15, Jesus met a woman who was coming to get water from a well much like the wells we have in Uganda. The woman knew Jesus was thirsty but Jesus knew the woman needed a water that did not come from a well.

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

 

The Living Water of Jesus never dries up, it never gets polluted, it cleans us from sin, and it’s Eternal. Let’s drink Jesus’ water and be like a water fountain that overflows with love each day.

 

Posted in Africa, children, missions, orphans

The Magic of a Smile #Uganda #orphans

Posted on by moondustwriter

I pulled this poem from an old post when we were trying to get to Liberia after the Ebola crisis. It applies as we meet South Sudanese children recently brought out of the refugee camp in No. Uganda

There’s a place you can only find

hold a small hand jump into a child’s mind

no magic needed for a child has more

close your eyes see what’s in store

the imagination as broad and wide

as celestial heavens the ocean’s tide

draw an “x” in the smallest place

look now where the fingers trace

it’s a tiny place where treasure hides

you never know just what you’ll find

crouch low in the dust forgotten corner

open your mind to a world full of color

 

Oh to hold small hands and look into smiling faces. We benefit so from these little ones who continue to teach us about our loving Heavenly Father.

 

“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 

Mark 10:13-15

Posted in Africa, children, missions, Pawel

The Village called Pawel #Uganda

Posted on by moondustwriter

 

The Pawellians have gone through many trials. For almost 20 years they were displaced from their village by the Lord’s Resistance Army. The present leadership witnessed their families being chased down, threatened and killed. It’s hard to rebuild a home from an ash heap. These people are strong, determined and loving. We are honored to be part of an amazing tribe.

 

 

The first time we visited Pawel the church was meeting beneath the tree I am standing beneath.

In less than 3 months a church was built. The church is now a little over one year old.

IMG_2488

Go Serv hut

 

 

There are school buildings recently built.   Go Serv Global Safe T Homes are being erected to house the So. Sudanese refugee children as I write this. Thanks Go Serve!!!

Our Sunday School of 75-100 children met under a mango tree. Now we will be in a school room; We are going to miss the mango tree Sunday School.

 

We cherish your prayers as we minister to young and old in the North and South. Journeying north always requires prayers as we share the road with truck drivers who use drugs to stay awake or calm down. Teaching Sunday School in Uganda. Thanks to children at Hope Point Sunday school for praying for us!!!

 

 

Little is MUCH When God is in it!!

  1. In the harvest field now ripened
    There’s a work for all to do;
    Hark! the voice of God is calling,
    To the harvest calling you.

    • Refrain:
      Little is much when God is in it!
      Labor not for wealth or fame;
      There’s a crown, and you can win it,
      If you go in Jesus’ name.
  2. In the mad rush of the broad way,
    In the hurry and the strife,
    Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,
    Give to them the Word of Life.
  3. Does the place you’re called to labor
    Seem so small and little known?
    It is great if God is in it,
    And He’ll not forget His own.
  4. Are you laid aside from service,
    Body worn from toil and care?
    You can still be in the battle,
    In the sacred place of prayer.
  5. When the conflict here is ended
    And our race on earth is run,
    He will say, if we are faithful,
    “Welcome home, My child—well done!”

 

A favorite hymn of my missionary grandmother

 

Lyrics by Kittie Suffield 1927  

Thank you for stopping as we share some of the highlights of Uganda and the beautiful people who live there.  We are auto posting these blogs as wi-fi is spotty and time to post is rare.

 

Posted in Africa, children, Pawel

Reaching for the sky #uganda #children

Posted on by moondustwriter

 

silly
sticker
cutie
picture pose

They are silly

others small

when they smile

joy showers all

they are busy

some are shy

Pawel’s children

reach the sky

One thing I’ve learned over the years of children’s ministry – no matter the country, children love to play and they love it when you play with them. Mr. Fish and Mrs. Fish are getting a little old to run after the football but we jump, hope, march, and hold spoons with ping pong balls in our mouths.

The perfect title for one of my favorite Psalms “The Song of Ascents”

 

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

As we prepare to board a plane for 23 hours, we ask for you to pray for our travel safety as well as for opportunities. Our last trip another passenger and I were able to assist a widowed Muslim woman. This woman was alone, didn’t know how to fill out the necessary paperwork, and I could tell she was stressed by flying.  I held her hand across the aisle. Though we didn’t speak the same language,the language of love spoke volumes.

Thank you for stopping as we share some of the highlights of Uganda ministry and the beautiful people who live there.  Many of our posts will be auto posted as wi-fi is spotty and time to post is rare.

 We are Mr and Mrs Fish!!!

Posted in Africa, children, missions

Ready Set GO… #Uganda

Posted on by moondustwriter

We are counting down the hours until we leave for Uganda. Our original plans (return in Jan) were put on hold when Mr. Fish needed a surgery that was going to require a year to recover from. (ughhh).

By God’s grace Mrs. Fish found a job to help pay for the surgery. In caring for elderly patients, she has been blessed and revived.

And then…

God healed Mr. Fish!!!

The money Mrs. Fish has been earning is paying for most of this trip to Uganda. And the timing couldn’t have worked out better for us and Pawel.

Oh yes fish. Most of the children in Uganda (and now US) know us as Mr and Mrs Fish as our last name was hard to pronounce and remember. The children remember the name that the Lord chose.

And so we leave in Sept to Fish for Children…

 

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” And at once they left their nets and followed Him.”

Matthew 4: 18-20

 

Photography: “Time Flys” Hazy Air and Space Museum  and “Fish Fountain” Entebbe, Uganda

©Moondust Designs 2016 and 2017

Posted in A to Z, Africa, children, orphans, packing

Zeek #atozchallenge

Posted on by moondustwriter

Dear Africa

I will end this letter with a P.S. to my cousin Zeek.

I know you are no longer a toddler,  you’ve already scraped your knees, you climb many fences, and tall trees. I hope as you grow that this thing you know – you are loved by your cousins on the East.

You have a loving family and I am grateful that they found you healthy on the steps of the hospital. Not all orphans are as blessed as you. I hope to hold and hug several as I am one day closer to Africa.

cousin-zeek

 

My cousin’s son was found (several days old) on the steps of a hospital. No one knows anything about him. Was his mother from Johannesburg or one of the outlying towns? That dear little face melted my heart.

P.S.S. My bags are full now what do I do?

Z

Last Day to enjoy A to Zers:
Posted in A to Z, Africa, children, orphans, packing

YoYo #atozchallenge

Posted on by moondustwriter

Y

Dear Africa:

As I pack I am trying to think of small toys that I can take for orphans. Yoyo is a possibility. I already have 100 frisbees. My only concern is they are kinda hard to learn and when the string breaks you are out of luck. Hmmm

I went to yoyo.com and found all sorts of toys like legos, playdoh, dolls and even duncan yoyos. I remember buying 2 yoyos for $1.00. Now they range from $7 to $20. Im packing a ??? toy for the moment.

Any one have ideas for other small toys that children would love???

Enjoying these A to Zers as we finish the month:

 

Posted in A to Z, Africa, children, poetry

You can’t see it but it’s there #atozchallenge #poetry

Posted on by moondustwriter

Dear Africa:

Today I write a poem for the children I hope to meet. I know already that I will learn so much more from them than I can ever teach.

stained-glass-window

There’s a place you can only find

hold a small hand jump into a child’s mind

no magic needed for a child has more

close your eyes see what’s in store

the imagination as broad and wide

as celestial heavens the ocean’s tide

draw an “x” in the smallest place

look now where the fingers trace

its a tiny place where treasure hides

you never know just what you’ll find

crouch low in the dust forgotten corner

open your mind to a world full of color

fingers