NGM Update 196 It's Too Common

Death
January 11, 2008

Death is too too common in Uganda.  It's been a consistent part of her history.  Disease, dictators, devastation, and deception, have been prominent paths to death.

I hate death.  I love life.  Jesus is my explanation. He came to Earth to give life and to give it abundantly!  I live to be a transportation device for Him and the life He brings.

Most of you know that we made an exciting move last year.  After four years of tolerating a deceiving landlord we moved several blocks into a better facility, at a reasonable price, with a fantastic landlord who is sympathetic to our work in Uganda.

This week I received word about a tragedy at the "old" house where we had lived and which we used for hosting short term mission teams.  We had always considered the two story quad in the compound that adjoined ours to be a safety advantage for us.  Soldiers occupied that building.  Since the only people who can lawfully be in possession of guns are those issued by the government to soldiers and police, thieves are reluctant to operate in their vicinity.

This week a serious argument erupted between one of the soldiers and his wife who lived in that two story structure.  She ran from him, into our former compound and house, and the renters there secured the doors.  The soldier pursued his wife only to find his access to her blocked by the locked doors.  He began to fire his weapon randomly into the house.  His apparent rage resulted in the death of a two year old girl.  Just another story lost in the sea of other such stories from Uganda.  The soldier is on the run now and the wife has been extracted from the attic of our former house.  But, there is a mother and father just around the corner from our new house who are lost in grief.  Another senseless death.

Abdu and Betty can only imagine what their lives might be like today if they were still residing in that house, waiting for our return in March.  The Lord once again has been their Protector.  Death can overtake anyone anywhere.  But death is not to be feared.  The safest place to be is in His care.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
    He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    He is my God, and I trust in Him.
For He will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with His feathers.
    He will shelter you with His wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.

                                                                                                            Psalm 91:1-7


These updates are also posted on the Next Generation Ministries blog and are more attractive than email postings.  You can find them at http://nextgenministries.blogspot.com/