This summer we celebrate 8 years in Uganda and the seeds we have planted during these years are watered by your faithful prayers. In answer to your many prayers, closed doors have been opened, finances have been provided, and lives have been changed. We understand more than ever the need for an army of intercessors to be behind us. You will touch Uganda with the hidden work of prayer even though you may never meet the people for whom you are praying. The seeds will grow as you pray!

Jennifer was asked to lead the daily devotional at the Bishops' wives 4–day conference again this year and also at a Pastors' wives conference in Kitgum with Phoebe Orombi. Phil spent several months in the United States and traveled extensively showing the documentary film, "Sing", produced by John Scanlon, focusing on our ministry in northern Uganda. The Scanlons hosted a "premiere opening" in Georgetown for the film where Phil was able to speak to an overflowing room full of Washington business men and woman. We are deeply grateful for John's incredible gift to us as we hope this film will stir the hearts of people for missions and bring awareness of the desperate need for the children in northern Uganda who suffer in unimaginable ways. There are many other ministry opportunities we could tell you about, but we would like to focus on what God has done in us during our years of ministry in Uganda.

In reflecting on what we have learned during the past 8 years, I think the thing that is a daily lesson for us is learning to thank God for the gift of life and daily blessings…. sounds trite in a way, but picture this.....

We will never forget our very first prayer meeting in the home of Ugandan friends. We arrived when there was no electricity and one small candle dimly lit the dark room. Over twenty people were crowded into a space that could hold 6 maybe 8 people comfortably. It was uncomfortable, with no breeze reaching us through the one window in the room. I didn't feel thankful – I felt annoyed and hot! My comforts were being challenged and stripped away. Then they began to worship – African style -- and the presence of the Lord was more refreshing than any wind which could have blown on that hot, still night. The first prayer was something like this, "Thank you, Lord, that you kept me through the night and that I had life today." I thought, "When was the last time I thanked God for keeping me through the night?" In America we just presume that we will make it through the night without some kind of catastrophe, like thieves plundering our homes with guns held to our heads, or malaria attacks or some other illness which could snuff out our lives. Thus began our journey of learning to be grateful – truly grateful to our loving Father for his tender care and protection of us moment by moment and day by day. In Philippians 4:11-12, while sitting in prison, Paul says he learned to be content in all things. Yes, contentment is something we have to cultivate and practice -- eventually we learn how to be content in all things. We are trying to cultivate that contentment, but find we are still at the level of giving thanks in "most" things, rather than all things. God has had to chip away at our hardened hearts and teach us the true meaning of being thankful. One classroom of His instruction was a small, dark, hot room in Uganda.

When we said "Yes, God send me," we discovered His plan is amazing because He then began the process of changing us so we could make an impact for Him! How grateful we are for these years of being allowed to join hands with God to serve in Uganda. It hasn't been without many frustrations as we have had to adjust to many cultural differences, but through it God has had numerous lessons to teach us about being grateful and patient, learning and listening -- relationship building rather than accomplishing our goals -- and so much more.

In Uganda people live close to the edge of survival and the fragile nature of life here has increased our ability to be thankful and we find we are now less demanding. As Americans, had we become too independent to need God moment by moment anymore? Had we become too comfortable to be truly thankful? God has stretched us and changed us. Little did we know that WE were the mission field God had in mind when we said, "Yes, Lord – send me!"

We are preparing for a furlough as Owen is graduating from Rift Valley Academy in Kenya and he will be attending Covenant College. This is also David's last year at UVA and he has missed not having a home during the years we have been away. We are truly grateful for the friends who have stood in our place for David. Jennifer's mother who is now 88 years old has just moved to assisted living and this year will be an important time in her life for Jennifer to spend with her. Jennifer will remain most of the year in the USA and Phil will be in Uganda much of the time, focusing on teaching several worship courses at Uganda Christian University.

We have received a number of letters from our Ugandan friends to say good-bye for our furlough -- they have written to thank us for our ministry here in Uganda. So often we focus on the sea of need before us and wonder what difference can we possibly be making -- it is overwhelming at times. But when we invest in building one life at a time for Christ, we know God will be faithful to accomplish His purposes in each individual. Since you have been faithful to support us both financially and prayerfully during these 8 years, we thought we would share a few of their comments with you which have deeply blessed us…

• "Never forget I am one life that was changed for the better because you came to Uganda."
• "Phil, like an oasis you appeared in my desert to refresh a thirsty man in the desire to see the church rise to a new level in worship."
• "When you go back "home" please pass our thanks to your support team. They've blessed Uganda by sending us the gift of you."
• "I am holding you up in prayer because you're doing the most excellent missionary work in Uganda."
• We thank Him for whatever small difference for Christ we might have made in Uganda.

For every life we have touched for the Lord and strengthened spiritually, we want to say "thank you" for your faithfulness to stand with us as we serve in Uganda. We thank God for making our days full and rewarding us with many opportunities for ministry as we encourage our Ugandan friends to walk closely with Christ and be worshippers! †