Progress | Protection | Perseverance

During the first week of February, Engineering Ministries International (EMI) was at Good Shepherd's Fold (GSF) with a project team. This team consisted of 13 design professionals - engineers and architects - from all over the world: the US, Canada, Northern Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Nigeria. I'll bet you can guess which nation I was representing. As some of you may know, engineers and architects are somewhat notorious for not getting along. However, the Lord surely did a work of grace among our team. He bound us together with one accord and one purpose that can only found through Jesus Christ. It was amazing to see His body at work through the EMI team, and it was a blessing to be a part of it. In the span of that one week, we created a master plan for GSF and a secondary school master plan for Amazima Ministries.

EMI design team 

EMI team with Amazima ministry leaders

A couple weeks ago, I was in a boda (public motorcycle transportation) accident while returning from running a test on the Amazima site. It was a minor accident, but still pretty scary. We were riding on the main road, and the boda came up behind a semi truck that was making its way slowly uphill. The boda driver slowed down, and then he attempted to make the transition from the road to the shoulder to pass the trailer on the outside. As soon as we hit the shoulder the front wheel started to wobble violently and then skidded out, laying the bike down on its side. Thankfully, the boda driver had slowed down enough to where I was able to hop off the bike backward and stay on my feet - although I dropped some of what I was holding. The driver, however, went down with the bike. As he got up and brushed himself off, I asked if he was ok. He assured me that he was, and he did not look to have any scrapes or wounds or be in much pain. He picked up the boda, straightened out the slightly bent headlamp, and then - with some trepidation on my part - we hopped back on to finish the journey. Praise God for his hand of protection over us! The accident could have been much worse. I have no doubt in my mind that people must have been praying.

In other news, David Fish and I recently had our first meeting with an EMI-recommended general foreman about hiring him to build the house. The foreman is a Ugandan named Sam Akora, and he is based out of Jinja. When Sam walked into our meeting, David immediately recognized him. It turns out David already knew Sam from attending Acacia Church in Jinja! It was remarkable to see how God had previously been working, and it gave both David and I tremendous peace. Again, what an answer to prayer. At this point, we have the architectural plans ready for permitting with the local offices. However, in recent weeks there has been a dispute over the land on which we will be building (and also on another portion of GSF property). So for now, even as things are moving forward, actual building will be on hold until the issue is fully resolved.

The site of the future Fish residence

There is still no water in our village home of Nyenga, and it has been out over 4 weeks now. We are still able to get water brought to us in jerry cans, but we have to purchase it at double the price and half the quality. The little rain we have gotten in the last few days has helped, but it is just not enough.

We have relatively stable power back at GSF - praise God! However, it seems like GSF has come under attack in other areas in the last few weeks. There have been the afore-mentioned legal disputes over land, arson to farmland, and transportation accidents. Which bring me to our prayer requests:

1) Pray for the settlement of the land disputes in a right and fair way and progress on the Fish residence.

2) Pray for encouragement and perseverance for GSF missionaries and staff despite the recent attacks.

3) Pray for the continued strengthening of our marriage.

4) Pray for water/more rain in Nyenga.

Thanks, and may God bless you.