“April showers bring May flowers” is an idiom in the U.S., but somehow this year, it’s very applicable in Uganda too! The spring rains were late in Kiburara, but with the April showers, we have seen a greening of all the farms around us and rapid growth for the seeds planted in February.
This holds true for the gardens Mary designed and planted around our home too. Sarah wanted something pretty and Moses something edible, so she produced a plan to incorporate the two…all close to the house so we could reclaim used water for garden use in the event of drought.
We planted vegetables among the flowers and more tropical plants, like pineapple, in the same space as our Irish potatoes and interesting shrubs. It is quite a mix, and we are watching over them as any gardener would, anticipating a nice variety when the various harvests begin.
Jesus often used nature to illustrate truths for us in parables and it is not lost on us how rhythms of Nature can parallel different seasons of growth in our lives. Just as we prepared the soil in our garden, (improving the ground to receive seed) we have seen how this early gardening period resembled our early months here in Uganda. A farmer trusts that early preparation done well, will help the plants to bear fruit and it is no different in our case!
When we arrived in September (eight plus months ago) we began little by little, to till the “soil” so to speak. New concepts and ideas are like new seeds that you can get excited about growing but that need the right soil mix to grow well. We were grateful that Moses and his different teams of faithful leaders, had already begun preparing for planting deeper discipleship which has been our main thrust.
Solid growth takes time and will continue to take more as we course correct here and there. But just like our physical gardens, we have begun to see wonderful ‘first fruits’ as we invest in lives in Kiburara (western region), and in Buloba (eastern region).
Our leader’s bible study group has completed two books of the Bible together using the inductive study tools we have shown them. A handful of leaders had had training of this sort, but for our groups, this was a brand-new concept. Consequently, the conversation around the scriptures were Mary and Paul heavy. As the weeks went on, the groups got livelier, and people felt free to think through (and speak about) what we were reading and studying together. The group really benefited by all the input and different perspectives, and we were repeatedly told how helpful this training has been for them.
April 30th, we began our third training module in Kiburara. This time, in addition to our study, we will regularly observe how our members lead their own groups in the study method. Hopefully, this opens a door to encourage and strengthen them as they take the process, make it their own and pass the skills to those they lead.
Our SUV has now arrived after clearing customs and registration. With this new addition we can begin thinking how to move out to other villages and ways we can ready those places for planting too! More good stuff ahead.
Just as there are areas of a garden that sometimes do not do as well as others (for a variety of reasons), we have also seen slower progress of our initiatives. Adjustments to our listening skills has been highlighted and the need to be better learners! We have done the assumption thing too much, missing clues we should have seen! With our groups we assumed that our attendees were at a certain level of understanding just because they attend meetings or enjoy talking to Murunga’s and foreigners.
For Mary’s part, the last trimester at Alpha & Omega High School was one of sparse yields. Weeks into the term, God revealed faulty assumptions she had made as she jumped into Ruth’s story with the girls. She did not see that the girls were limited in bible knowledge due to different church and home backgrounds. She had not done her prep work well, so her progress was delayed. Despite these missteps, the girls were interested enough to come, and we kept building friendships. She is grateful for that!
Paul has had a similar epiphany with his men’s fellowship group, and we have been discussing what shifts may be needed going forward. Pray that we can listen better to God and to others in the community, so we become more discerning of change that needs to happen. We desire to bear fruit that really matters and will last.
God continues to use all sorts of ways to teach us here. Our Kiburara church has been going through the book of Acts chapter by chapter. Paul has been able to teach bible study prior to the main sermon most Sunday’s, so we have enjoyed doing a deeper dive into what the first church of Jesus followers was like.
When the Book of Acts written by Luke, the same Luke who wrote the Gospel, it details the events of the early Christian church. Wow, there is wild stuff happening! Some highlights include – Jesus ascends back to His Father as his followers watch, Peter becomes an articulate public speaker, a big crowd hears the Gospel message (each in their own language), and thousands turn to follow Christ and join the disciples in Jerusalem. As events roll on, lame men are miraculously able to walk, others have prison chains and doors opened by angels and dead people are prayed back to life!
Here is the thing though, the people who followed Jesus were just ordinary people whose hearts were open to the new life found in Him. Yes, there were miracles happening, but their day-in and day-out living grounded their community in the deep, rich soil of scripture study……..God’s redemption story, in prayer to hear from and talk to God, as well as fellowship with one another that strengthened and encouraged them. It was from THIS place that the Spirit of God produced such amazing, life altering fruit and even the miraculous!
As make shifts in how we approach the discipleship work God’s called us to here, the growth and maintenance of our physical garden provides a regular visual of how we are to nurture people well too. We are to be good “farmers” teaching others to go deep into the rich soil of the Word and trust the harvest to God. We hope that you likewise will be better farmers in the fields God has called you to care for…wherever they are! Happy Spring!!!
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