Far Reaching Ministries Blog

Count Your Blessings,

name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done…”

I remember receiving a letter many months back from some dear Christian friends who were going through a rough time with a son who had been in a serious accident. She wrote this song at the top of her email, and literally named each and ever step along the way to the miraculous recovery of their son. The song truly reminds me to count each and every blessing that God gives us, and it reminds me that His blessings are many when I look. Since we’ve been back, we’ve had many blessings to count! I was wondering how it would be to come back after having had such a wonderful reunion with our family, friends and the churches who support us. I was worried over how the boys would adjust after having had such a social life in the states. Would the church members still be here? Would all our personal belongings not be stolen? Worries... fears...anxieties!

BUT, our first weeks back have been full of experiencing God’s mercy and grace! First, the church is not only looking beautiful physically, but the Body of Christ is growing in new ways. I was so encouraged to receive loving hugs and warm welcomes as we came back. It was so cute to see all the Ugandan boys running up to our boys and jumping all over them to welcome them back. The love we felt here truly helped us forget the sadness we had of leaving everyone in the states.

Also, I was thankful that we had a week reprieve, a slight coolness hung over Entebbe before it began to get really hot. This is the time of year I usually loathe, but I am sure it is the prayers of you all that have given us all contentment.

On top of that, the little house we are staying in for the next two months is a charming cottage. We are right around the corner from our house being built, and the “new” house is actually coming along quite well. We have begun the homeschool cooperative here in this house, using the wash room as one classroom, and our dining room table as another. We are making due and having joy with it. Again, I’m sure it’s due to your prayers.

We miss you all, but God is good…all the time...because that is His nature. Thank you for a wonderful visit in the states.

WE LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
LOREN

No Furloughs For God

What a blessing it has been to return and see God’s faithfulness to the work during the months we were gone. Not that we expected God to take a furlough while we were, but it was a wonderful affirmation to see the amazing ways God continued to provide and work while we were away. I won’t have time to share all of it this letter, but I will share a little of the physical progress that was made on the facility. On the church/school front, the office and Nursery classroom is finished and we are progressing towards completing three more classrooms. On the farm, the piggery is complete and we have our first “herd” of six pigs. The “Matoke” we planted last season is starting to bear fruit and we are readying the soil to plant potatoes, vegetables, and more “matoke”. As exciting as it is to see a project or a building or a farm come to "uition, it is even more thri#ing to see Jesus getting a hold of peoples lives. I think of the man who is currently tending the farm...his name is Emmanuel. He came to the church one Sunday with deep and infected wounds all over his body. He had been working as a “slave” on an island for several years to “employers” who never paid him, and his condition was due to his strenuous work, horrid living conditions, and lack of food. It really looked like “death was knocking...” He sat through the service and afterward came forward for prayer to accept Christ into his heart. Zane and some other’s prayed for him and he went on his way. He came back the next week TOTALLY healed. His wounds were gone, and he looked healthy and strong. It really was a miracle...and he knows it. Since then he has been so joyful. “Mukama ye bazibwe!” (Praise the Lord!) is how he will always greets you. As he had no work, and we needed a full time person on the farm to tend the pigs, that is where he is now joyfully serving.

Keep Emmanuel and the many like him in your prayers. The physical healing is merely an illustration of what Jesus wants to accomplish in their lives....and yours!

BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL - CRAIG