It is 7:15pm in Uganda and everything is now quiet at the compound. The day began early as Bernie met on the verandah at 8:30 with the five young men of I AM for discipleship. Sally and I were busy getting ready for the Bible retreat which was to start at 10am. We had a beautiful day and we were all able to sit outside under the tarp for the entire day. We had approximately
32 people for the all-day study. There was a good time of worship and praise with many playing guitars and singing. Bernie taught from 11:30-1:45 and there was good contribution and discussion during the teaching. Around 2pm we stopped for a large lunch of African dishes which had been prepared by a local Ugandan and served here at the house. We continued the teachings after lunch and the last group left the house about 6pm. Many commented about how much they enjoyed the teachings and that they had learned some new things. All brought their Bibles and took notes. Bernie is great at involving the entire group and questioning their understanding of the lesson. So we had much group participation.
Bernie left about 5:45 with Timo and Peter to drive to Kiraku for village visitation. Each of the guys want Bernie to accompany them to the villages where they have on-going ministries.
Tomorrow will be church, lunch and visit to Naama. I hope Bernie and Sally will be able to keep up the pace they are setting. Everyone loves having them here, and many hope to meet with Bernie privately or in small groups. Sally and I will meet with some of the women early in the week.
Becky, Bernie and Sally, all my love to you and the work you are doing. A recent workshop lead me to the writings of an American poet and psychologist named Clarissa Pinkola-Estés, PhD. Her work has centered on children and soldiers experiencing post-traumatic syndrome. When I read the following, my mind leapt from teaching children here to all of you teaching children in Africa about the light of the world…
“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts — adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take “everyone on Earth” to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.
…One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires … causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these — to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both – are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.”
My prayers are with you as you shine your light and gather souls. Love, Cathy