Updates and Thoughts

Hey all, long time no post...



Things keep moving along here and time continues to fly by hence the length betweens posts. My excuse is that it really feels like I posted about 4 days ago... not two weeks.



Anyway, work picked up last week and I stayed busy on a number of projects including working on proposals for a 'people with disabilities program,' an extension of an 'HIV/AIDS program,' and a 'child protection program.' So I stayed busy last week, though things seemed to have settled down somewhat this week. I'm narrowing in on two weeks left here in Uganda.



One thing I have been staying busy with on a weekly basis is an ongoing bible study/lesson that I've been leading. Last month I led a study on 'worship,' this month I'm leading a study on the sermon on the mount. It's amazing what being in a new place, reading something for the hundredth time, how it can grab hold of you in a new way and reveal something new. But of course along with this revelation comes a thousand new questions... I like questions though so it's ok.

I was struck when reading through the beatitudes that if we really believe the gift of the beatitudes, the blessing for those who are imperfect, broken and suffering, then we are forced to look at the world in a new way. This may not seem like much of a revelation, but think about it. Christ comes proclaiming blessing on all who are imperfect, all who struggle, all who are 'the least' and accepts us as we are. When we accept this blessing, this statement, that 'God is on the side of everyone he should be on the side of (including us)' we change. When God meets us in our brokenness, in our lack, we no longer see others in the same way. We're not able to put people in boxes anymore, rather we see them as human (perhaps a small glimpse of how God sees us). Things aren't so easy anymore, things aren't so black and white, right or wrong, democrat or republican. We are forced to be in the midst of conflict in a new way, a way that reaches out to both sides, a way that offers a third option. In my opinion this is the essence of 'peacemaking...' seeing a third way.

Another thing that came up in discussions was a frustration that the message is so hopeful for a better future, yet on the surface seemingly accepting of the suffering, struggling, mourning and brokenness of humanity. The promise seems to be for 'that day,' in the future, when heaven and earth meet. But I think it's also a call for action. As I said, by accepting this blessing we are changed. In following Christ we too extend this blessing to others, to walk with them, to be on their side, to love them regarless of who they are or what they've done. It is not a coincidence that the passage ends with a blessing for the persecuted AND an immediate repetition of the inevitability of this persecution. If we were called simply to accept God's blessing and continue living our lives unchanged then there would be no reason to talk about persecution.

So anyway, those are my thoughts for now. I'll enjoy my remaining two weeks of nice, warm weather and prepare myself for the arctic chill that's going to hit me when I step out of the airport.


Peace,
Matt

Guesthouse

A few pictures of the guesthouse...

The common area upstairs

My little room, the bed is off to the right

The front door of the guesthouse

The guesthouse from the outside... the office is off to the right out of the picture.

Trip to Kapchorwa

Hey all,

My apologies for the huge gap between posts, I returned to Kampala late Wednesday night and took the day yesterday to rest and recover. My trip was relaxing and productive and I really enjoyed my time in the clean mountain air (See pictures below). I worked mostly on helping the staff to finish taking, naming and editing photos for those sponsored children who still needed it. In all we did this for roughly 370 kids, which was quite a successful week!

But it's very good to be "home" again in Kampala, joined this time by the study abroad students who have spent the last month in various places around the country. I am on a slight sensory overload with all the noise and commotion in the house but as I've said before it is good to be joined by some more company.

This morning I had the pleasure of once again leading the office in devotions. I had a chance to play guitar some more and talk a bit more about worship... this time worship as a sacrifice/offering. Though I've thought about this before, I found it interesting as I looked through the examples to see the transformation that occurs throughout the Bible concerning sacrifice. Worship as sacrifice is first seen in the story of Abraham (Genesis 22) where Abraham calls what he is about to do (sacrifice isaac) "worship." And throughout the old testament we see the links between sacrifice and worship in Old Testament law. Sacrifices were offerings of worship to God, meant to be perfect and without any flaw. Then Christ comes along and becomes a new kind of sacrifice, atoning the past, present and future sins of the world. The old way has passed and through his death a new way of sacrifice is established. This way, which Paul talks about extensively, requires not the sacrifice of animals or crops but rather the sacrifice of ourselves, to be "immitators of God," and "offer ourselves to him." We "offer our bodies as living sacrifices." So that was just something that struck me as I was preparing to lead.

Peace,

Matt

(View from the office and guesthouse)

(View from the other side, looking back on the office)