As this week is drawing to a close, I can say that I am very glad I decided to come to Uganda. Not only was it good to meet with the various regional communication teams – there are currently five teams: LatinCom (South America), SpiceCom (India), EuroCom (Europe), AfriCom (Africa), AspaCom (Asia and the Pacific) – but it was good to simply meet these people and spend time with them outside of any formal setting; talk with them, joke around with them (and we did a lot of that), have coffee (or tea) together, etc.

As I shared in my previous update, we met together on Monday as YWAM Communication Team (CommTeam) leaders from all over the world including some African staff who are interested in being involved in CommTeams here in Africa.

We started out with reports form the various CommTeams and what’s been going on in their teams.  The reports were encouraging, but the same subject kept being repeated: finances is an issue.  How do we raise finances for the equipment we need to fulfill the task set before us, and to turn all of the wonderful plans we have into reality.  The task that has been set before us from YWAM’s Global Leadership Team is simply put, Heal YWAM’s Nervous System; easier said than done.  We’re beginning to realize that, at least in some cases, it’s going to be a matter not just of healing, but of creating the nervous system.

We are also well aware of the fact that in all these endeavors, God must remain at the center, since “except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psa. 127:1).  He is the Great Healer and Creator God.  And He offers us the awesome privilege of being co-creators with Him and bringing His healing where it is needed.

We continued with a brainstorming session on possible ways to do fundraising and came up with a few ideas, but nothing set in concrete.  We also addressed the issue of CommTeams from “richer” nations and bases partnering with CommTeams from smaller bases.  I have come away with a deep conviction that we, in Europe need to take this on as part and parcel of our ministry and I will be sharing this vision anytime I get the chance to address CommTeams from bases in Europe.

As I also shared in the mini photo update, on Wednesday, Rebecca and I were able to sit with Ruth and Joy (Jhoana), from the US and Venezuela respectively.  They had many questions about EuroCom, how it is structured and what the opportunites for are for getting involved.  I explained that the European Field was divided into four regions, which is divided into nations, etc. and that they could be involved at any level.  It was good to be able to talk with them and also encouraging to me to have someone showing interest in working at a Regional level.

On a personal level, it was also very good to be back in Uganda again.  Jolanda and I were here on our DTS outreach in 1996.  Some things have changed, but much hasn’t.  Back in ’96, the Boda Bodas (a form of transportation where you hop on the back of bike, a sort of bike taxi) were all bicycles, and now there are also plenty of motorcycle Boda Bodas.  For slightly longer distances, the main form of transportation is still the mini-van taxi in which they manage to cram 14 people not including the driver.

Since this update has already gotten out of hand as far as length goes, I will stop here.  I fly back to Holland on Friday evening and arrive there on Saturday morning.  Please pray for safe travel and health since I have been having some stomach troubles.

Thank you once again for reading these updates and praying for us.

Blessings,
Rodney (Jolanda, Lisa and Sarah)

Comm Team meetings 2009, Uganda

We started our Communication Teams (Comm Teams) meeting today.  There people from five different regions represented here: LatinCom (South America), SpiceCom (India), EuroCom (Europe), AfriCom (Africa), AspaCom (Asia and the Pacific), plus various individuals who are interested in being involved in or starting Comm Teams in at least 6 African countries.  Altogether we represent 11 different nationalities.  Since we’re still meeting, I’ll share more about the meeting later this week.

I can share, however, that in the first two days that I was here, before the “official” meeting started, I was able to meet with 4 people and discuss various subjects.  Two of the people are young ladies who might be interested in working with EuroCom in some aspect.  Another one of the four was a man who works in Switzerland who is looking into ways to create websites for bases in Africa and so we were able to discuss web-hosting options and brainstorm ways in which we could make this a reality.

It’s amazing how meetings like this just seem to bring a certain amount of synergy with them.  There must be an anointing from God to get things done in a more timely fashion than normal.

Homefront

It’s difficult here to get internet access, and keep in touch with my family in that way, but one of the staff who left yesterday allowed me to have her SIM card which I could pop into my phone allowing me to receive calls from home.  On the homefront, Jolanda and the girls are doing well.  They were missing me, and anytime something goes wrong or Jolanda has to be stern with them, they start crying and asking for Daddy.  Please continue to pray for them for their health and safety and that Lisa will have a good time in spite of the fact that Daddy is not there during her Spring Break.

Be on the look out for another update later this week.

Blessings,
Rodney (and Jolanda, Lisa and Sarah)