We had no idea where to go, but were surprized by a few simple miracles

So it took a month of working into the night (to the extent of becoming ill), but I learned to do animation, and put together this short film of how it all happened



The first woman was a prostitute who almost died, but met Jesus in a dream; which led to me and my wife meeting (who drew the people)

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We could see people running around screaming. A hut, one of their homes, had caught fire. Possibly from the scorching noon day sun. We were sitting under the shade, sipping cool drinks. Moments earlier we had driven past, and they had cheered and danced; thinking we were finally delivering aid. But we had not come for them. We had come to visit a friend in the next field

Now we could see them screaming with no water to put the fire out, but still running in to pull their belongings out

There was nothing I could do; so I closed my eyes and prayed: "God, please make it rain." It was midday, just below the Sahara, in the hot season; there wasn't a cloud in the sky

A drop of water landed on my hand. I opened my eyes. What followed was a torrential downpour, that not only put out the fire, but also sent us running for cover

10 minutes later the rain ended; there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the Ugandans I was with said they'd never seen weather like it before

That happened to me in Lira Uganda, 2004. A more recent event of another refugee's home going up in a fireball happened in 2016... But let me tell you about that another time

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A guy here felt called to pray in various towns. So he’s left to do it, even though he doesn’t have the money and doesn’t think it will be safe. He had just come from Nigeria by bus. He paid for the trip, and went to get a bite. But then the bus filled up, so they unloaded his bags, and left without him. He lost his money. But when he eventually got here, he found the same people just sitting around: an armed gang had waylaid them and cleaned them out. So he thanks God for his protection

But things don’t happen like I expect here. I was throwing up bile last week, a novel experience. And a guy who lives with me asked his supporters in Zambia to pray about it. He said it was a real challenge and blessing to them that a foreigner was here and throwing up. I’m not sure that’s quite how I intended to bless people...

But this guy used to be a successful drug dealer, and was never caught. So I wont give any pictures of him. He prays about everything he does, and is working with a partner on projects that sometimes seem impossible. Though the partner has decided not to return, because of the war

We went around to a friend from Nigeria, and said: “We really need your prayers, because our landlord is forcing us out of the house and we have nowhere to go.” We didn’t have a lot of faith, since houses are hard to get here. Our friend responded “Wow — this is an answer to prayer.” We had been digging our house out after the rain, and trying to stop it falling down. On seeing this our friend had been close to forcing us out himself, and said “If God can answer my prayers to kick you out; he can easily find you another house.”

It’s still a big issue though, as we haven’t yet found one

I canceled a trip to the north, incase the rebels came. But I went to the east a few weeks ago. And it pushed me to think: “Somebody would have to be crazy to come here.” I’ve found life harder than I expected, and even simple things difficult to do. Like cooking tea in the dark. These things teach me my strength has to come from God. Though I’ve spent some of the last few weeks resting, mostly due to sickness and heat stress

The rebels were more active in the east a few days ago. And it looked like they might come here. Some people I trust from Switzerland included me in their evacuation plans, and they act from past experience. But there’s been no new fighting for the last 2 days. So we no longer expect them. But if they do come, I’ll email you again when I reach the home

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My friend’s nephew was trying to break down the front door with a knife, screaming “I’m going to kill you.” His nephew had joined a terrorist group, and this was the answer to my friend becoming Christian

The neighbours heard the sound, and called the police. When they came, his nephew fled...

And our pastor is still in prison. He is charged with attempting to overthrow the government. Still no evidence to support any charge has been given

It reminded me of my friend Suleyman. His family had handed him to the police for changing his faith, and the police imprisoned him. There was little hope for his release. The prison janitor was a Christian however. When they discovered each other; the janitor would smuggle in scraps of the Bible, to pass to him. Maybe a little like how drugs get into our prisons?

I don’t know how it happened: But one day Suleyman simply walked past the prison guards, out through the gate; got to the border, and crossed over. Without anyone stopping him

Last month our pastor’s children got to visit him. This month he has been moved to a maximum security facility. Next month he will have been in prison for one year. It is hard and disheartening for him. He needs our prayers

He needs to know hope in the midst of his trouble, like Paul and Silas in Acts 16

“The joy of the LORD is our strength.” This is our answer when the world is too much

Our pastor’s church have been having barbeque baptisms by the sea, birthday parties full of laughter; they’re begining new churches, and having meetings of praise and worship: even of exuberant celebration

It is in this praise that we do what God asks of us: to agree that he is good and awesome

This is our reality. This is a joy that we and the church are learning to stand in

Sometimes yes, this world is too much for us. But is it ever too much for God? What he says rather than what we see is a perspective of hope. What is life like from that perspective?

Yesterday I enjoyed where God says that in the future the lions will eat grass, wolves will live with lambs, and toddlers will play beside cobras; with no harm or destruction (Isaiah 11)

That’s too cute

... Now my friend asks me to bring him a large TV, to help him invite strangers into that same home his nephew came to; to sit with his family, and tell them of his hope