Dear Cherished Interested’s,                                                                                         November 20th, 2023

Missed a Sunday to attend a Confirmation in the bush.  Way south of Usa River just about off any Google map reference.  Service was beautiful with 24 confirmands way out in the sticks, beautiful country. 

Yesterday I was again the sick one.  Hilda did everything on foot from the house, returning to check on me.  Today, a day late but while down off the mountain, we took the Sunday messages to the children at Makumira Secondary School.

-----------------------------------------

Don’t tell anyone.  Not yet.  Still immigration troubles possible, but..

I attended my first class as a student of Theology at Tumaini University, Makumira, today.  I am starting over a month late.  But, I have started.  The Dean has ordered me to come to her office anytime for anything.  I am lost but swimming for the surface.

Yes I was so sick this morning I could hardly stand, let alone walk half a kilometer up to the truck and then drive to school.  Hilda went with me today.  Still sick and very tired but somehow energized by the amazing inclusive kindness of the students I am in program with.

I was able to amaze the Dean by showing her my student ID with three years of campus access printed on it as she was under the impression that I could not do more than one year.  She was thrilled that problem got worked through and was bubbling about me working hard and doing well so that she could extend that into a fourth year.

Mchungaji Daktari Justin Mungure, a graduate of that university and someone I have preached for multiple times, accompanied us to campus this morning.  When visiting with us afterward he indicated two things: local pastors plan to work me while I go to school in order to cram the fifth year practical into those same three or four years ..  And several people are looking for housing for us closer to campus, more cost effective housing. 

There is another Mchungaji Daktari Mungure possibly in my future.  She may be my academic advisor and serves some dual capacity both the ELCT and the ELCA.  Please don’t out her..  I am not the ELCA flavor of the week, if I ever was, but as my mother might have said; strong medicine can taste bad but still do its job.    

--------------------------------------

Yes, flooding and death and destruction.  We are safe.  We are a team.  Your prayers make everything possible by whispering our names in our Heavenly Fathers ear.

You do that.  Thank You.

--------------------------------------

Some heartbreaking revelations about close people refusing their commitments to us. 

Commitments made to facilitate our doing everything we can and more to help them.  Manipulation sucks wherever it is.  Pray that God can enter it and somehow fix what I cannot even address, as isolation and triangulation are the bastion of the fearful and self-righteous..  It does not matter how much you love them, how much you were willing to sacrifice for them.   

---------------------------------------

Yes please …

Relationships here on the ground in addition to my imperfections and mistakes are being used to try to drive us away from our striving.  Each day is a sincere struggle.  Hopefully that means we’re on the right track.  Please pray for those around us.  Please pray for the local faces which fearlessly now smile and greet us as we walk.  

Please keep crumpling us up and throwing us at God.  That is where we need to be.  God will sort us out.

One day at a time.  Just like how you each live.  Just one day at a time. 

Thank you, each of you.

              -------------------------------------------------------

What to Pray for:

Our armed forces families, our leadership, our people, whole world round, all of Gods kids -

All the tough and blessing expressed above –

The love of folks –

Whatever is on your hearts and minds for us –

For our children and grand-children who miss us.. 

For Makumira Secondary School looking to share stories and partner in some way with a foreign school, Great leaders, teachers, students, programs, strong backs, minds, and hearts –

For our health to stay ahead of whatever is before us –

For those who have braved the donate button to discover Kajun Crofton, our daughter who helps getting each one of your donations to us and every blogpost to where you can read it -

For each and every one of you –

Each and every one of your prayers, your precious conversations with God –

Prayers, Your Prayer, Even your groaning prayers makes all the difference..

Vern W

May life be as Music to your Heart – May Music be as Heart to your Life – May Heart be as Life to your Music