“Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you!” It’s a simple children’s Valentine rhyme, but one that many of us know by heart. February is the month to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and we’re no exception. This year we pressed into that idea of appreciating those we love here in Uganda too…not only sharing why we do it but also sharing by example.
In the last 5-6 years birthdays and anniversaries have begun to be recognized and celebrated more widely in Ugandan villages. But Valentines Day wasn’t on the radar, until we explained the holiday to our partner Pastor Moses.
It’s difficult to have ‘couple time’ away from the busy life that surrounds them in our village of Kiburara, but we asked Moses if he’d consider doing a “western thing” to surprise his wife Sarah and he eagerly agreed! Arrangements were made at a hotel (an hour away), to enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
We were so blessed to see how they enjoyed each other’s company in a setting just perfect for sweethearts.
At the first of the month, we began 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Coincidentally, both our church in the states and here in Uganda were doing it. It was sweet to have prayer partners in both places. We took a break from the fast portion for our Valentines Day celebration, but overall, the 21 days of focused, dedicated prayer and fasting, helped us center on God. It was a real refreshment for us.
This focus, combined with the story of Saint Valentine shaped our prayers this month. Saint Valentine was a physician and a priest during the early church persecution under Claudius II. Claudius, at the time, was conscripting soldiers for the Roman army. Against the emperor’s orders, Valentine would secretly marry engaged couples so the man wouldn’t have to go to war. He did it to save lives but when he was discovered, he was jailed for his faith and for this “rebellious” acts. Legend has it that on the day of his execution, St. Valentine wrote a note to his jailer’s daughter, whom he’d healed of blindness. He signed the note, “from your Valentine,” before he died.
When Jesus spoke to his traveling band of disciples, he best captured what Valentine stood for: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
The reason I focus on this faucet of love and the power of love is because of a significant event that took place this month…. just a few days before, Valentine’s Day.
We’ve seen lots of enthusiasm teaching inductive bible study this year. Several of the emerging leaders are now exploring the Bible more thoroughly, strengthening their understanding of the Word.
One of our groups in the village of Kanara has really grabbed hold of the inductive method we’ve been teaching. We have LOVED meeting them weekly to hear them process through the scriptures together. We’ve been with this group since last fall, and we enjoyed getting to know them.
What we didn’t know until Monday prior to February 14th, was that these students didn’t own Bibles! You see, we asked them to do homework and to bring it to class. We wanted to make sure they grasped the concepts. When class ended, we were disappointed that only one person had done the homework. It seemed strange to us because many in the group were teachers.
One of the young men approached us after class for prayer because he wanted to study but didn’t own a bible. I had to ask him to repeat his request because I was surprised! Then I held the class from leaving and asked if anyone else needed a bible, EVERY hand but one went up. EVERY hand, all fourteen! To our shame, we had never asked if they owned bibles. We just assumed. We assumed because it’s normal in the U.S. that most of us have multiple bibles laying around.
It reminded us of all the assumptions we’d made when we first arrived. We confessed our ignorance, apologized for not seeing and apologized again for thinking no one wanted to do the homework.
Mary and I discussed the need on the drive home. We told Moses about the situation and asked if he could pick up new bibles for the class participants if we could find the money. He was eager to help (he also hadn’t known the situation). On Valentine’s Day, Moses picked up a box of new bibles for our class as a special gift of love.
The next Monday, when we handed out the bibles, you would have thought we were in an Oprah or Ellen DeGeneres audience giving away cars! Everyone was jumping up and down, shouting and squealing as tears ran down their faces. SUCH amazing joy at being gifted their own copy of God’s Word! I think our faces may have mirrored theirs as we learned afresh the impact of DOING John 13:34
“…as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
This moment has resonated in our hearts ever since. After this epiphany, we asked how many other participants in our C.O.M.A. classes had bibles. So, now we are on a quest how to get bibles into the hands of these believers. Each of them loves God and wants to know about Him. They are hungry to “feed” on His truths.
Because of the enthusiasm generated by our groups that can read, and are literate, we are now in touch with others who can’t read but are excited to learn more from the scriptures.
In it all, two things have encouraged us. First, we’re encouraged by the hunger we see, (even with those who can’t read) for going deeper with their Savior and to know and understand the scriptures. And secondly, we’re sobered by how simple things like knowing how to read or owning a Bible can help mature a villager’s faith.
Please consider helping us to purchase more bibles (they cost about $12 each). We will screen the recipients and thank you in advance! It’s our goal to get another 50 bibles to have on hand to give out to those who genuinely hunger to follow hard after Christ.
Please email us if you would like to help at upwithuganda@gmail.com and keep us and the leaders here in prayer. We will need wisdom to know how best to navigate this evolving situation!
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