Sudanese Students and Schedules

Nelson (a friend), James & Rebecca
We also wanted to introduce to you two of our friends, Elnai James and Hawa Rebecca. Last week was visitation day for Ushindi Secondary School. Secondary is the Ugandan equivalent to high school and the boarding schools only have one visitation per term. So we found ourselves out at Ushindi, a beautiful campus near Arua town nestled among the mango trees.
Our one friend, James is a Sudanese refugee who we met through a Bible translator working in Arua. He is a warm hearted kid with an older brother who occasionally helps us out when we need a substitute watchman. Rebecca is the daughter of Bismark, an Episcopal bishop for a district in Southern Sudan. A close friend of ours was a class mate of his in Nairobi and because he had worked in Arua before, we began email correspondence. We discovered he had a daughter schooling in Arua so we went to meet her and had a terrific time getting to know her as well as a better feel for Ugandan education. While at times seemingly random, we thank Jesus for these opportunities to love the people either He brings to us or whom we can reach out to.

(The picture is Christopher's enormous welcoming home of Joanna when we first arrived. Our hearts are hurting with him.)

You all do so much for us but we also want to request special prayer for our watchman, Christopher. He suffered a stroke now three weeks ago and his right arm and hand are still paralyzed and causing him great pain. We visited him yesterday and he was in quite sad spirits which is just hard. We were wondering if there would be several people who would be willing to join with us this week in asking Jesus to touch him and heal his arm. Asante Sana (Thank you very much)!

We also wanted to give you a calendar to be praying over:
Tuesday 17th - Joanna's Birthday (Hooray!) and we go to Kampala for field meetings
Thursday 19th - Jeannie and Erica meet with Susan to explore several ministry opportunities
Friday 20th - We fly to Kenya for a leadership conference
Friday - May 4th - We return to Kampala
Tuesday May 8th - We return to Arua
Wednesday May 9th - A team of IWU college students arrives

Thank you for caring about our schedule. We don't know what email/blog access will be like over the next couple of weeks but know we are so grateful for your loving Jesus and us! Please also pray for our team as they carry on with opening opportunities here in Arua and then preparation for the college team. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

Billy & Joanna Coppedge

Goat Roasts and Nebbi Friends

We had never been to a real goat roast. Like with the spit and a rotisserie and a full bodied goat. But then we had never been invited to the Arua Mayor's after Easter Cook Out either. We had gotten invited as a team so beginning of last week we all went together and it was quite an experience. The best part was the social interaction all five us had with a whole bunch of new and familiar faces. There was a whole assortment of missionaries and nationals, church leaders and government folks. We milled around like at a church picnic, feasting on goat and drinking cokes. The missionary community here is a unique assortment of people and families from literally all over but there is a familial bond that we are rapidly discovering. For example, one sweet lady working with the Catholic Radio graced us with her homemade ice cream which up until that point we had only heard delicious rumors about just such an "impossible to get" blessing. Needless to say, she has many friends:) We thank Jesus for continuing to order our relationships and interactions with the people/leadership of Arua. Thank you for praying with us for the mayor and his wife, Charles and Cathy Asiki (and Sherry, the ice cream lady:)

Jeannie, Pam Wafler (a dear friend), Erica & Joanna

We also returned to our friends in Nebbi; the senior pastor of the little church is Cosmas and his associate, Benson Omre. After taking some time to pray and process some of what we had presented on our last visit, they expressed a deep interest in beginning some form of pastoral training! We were elated and had an hour and half of just walking through expectations, timetables, and and the possibility of starting small but adding with time. The whole team was encouraged and then they invited us out to a small crusade one of their new church-plants was hosting. It was "only 12 kilometers" away but it was 12 kilometers into the BUSH. Sure enough though, there was a gathering of thirty adults and numberless kids praising Jesus under a huge African tree. The great part was the first song was in Swahili and so we were able to sing along!

Jesus is working and while some more planning will be necessary, we are looking at the first of June to begin. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

African Egg Hunting

Instructions for the Egg Cracking Game
Last Saturday was one of the highlights for our team in Arua. We had invited a number of our immediate neighbors to bring their children (and dependents) over for an Easter Egg Hunt. The design was to get to know our neighbors a bit better but then also give a clear presentation of the Gospel to both children and parents. Jesus came to our Egg Hunt. We played the Egg Cracking game which of course none of them had every played but even the adults got into. Hard boiled eggs are quite familiar in Uganda and to our somewhat surprise, almost everyone ate their egg after the game! Then we spread out across our yard in search of "sweets." We are discovering it is hard to go wrong with a candy hunt... world-over it is a heart winner.
The Terribly Difficult Choice: Egg or BlowPop First?
Once again, when we pulled the parents into hunting with us... everyone seemed to find great delight in discovering something even more delicious than a boiled egg!

After the hunt, one of the mothers named Gertrude graciously helped our friend, Jeannie Banter as she shared the Easter story using Resurrection Eggs. She and Jeannie made a great team and then Joanna shared her testimony and the importance of loving Jesus personally. We had a closing prayer and then they sheepishly asked if they could all perform their "Sunday School Song." It was fantastic and we felt like God really worked for us and on our behalf. Please keep praying for our neighbors and friends, that they might see Jesus in us.

Three of the Parents: Gertrude, Simon & Gladys

There were five parents, twelve children, and two teenagers. The mix was just right and I think we were most surprised to have that many of the parents come. We really enjoyed getting to interact with everyone and we believe every tummy went home full with plenty of sugar and each heart with fresh grace from Jesus.

Thank you for your prayers and sharing with us in the joy of loving the people that God had brought into our lives. What Easter Joy!

Excited with You,
Billy & Joanna

An African Village Church

You all have been praying for us. We have known and sensed it in our hearts! Thank you. We are so grateful for your carrying us and being a part of what Jesus is doing this Holy Week in Arua, Uganda. Allow us just to update you on how Jesus is answering your prayers. We did go to Nebbi this last Saturday to meet with a Pastor Cosmas and the pastoral leadership from several other churches. Pastor Cosmas’ story is really quite fascinating as he planted an evangelical church and then as God began to bless the ministry, several other independent churches in the area approached him about their becoming affiliated with his church. The loose affiliation has grown to six churches and thus with representatives from all six being there on Saturday, we meet with approximately twenty-four leaders.They greeted us very warmly with the large banana stalks and balloons decorating the front of the church building (an “obvious” indication it was a very special occasion). The day was full with tag-team preaching and teaching, trying to encourage their hearts as well as give them a better understanding of who we are as World Gospel Mission/Africa Gospel Church. While we felt like Jesus really helped us, we are also becoming quite aware that we are birthing a new ministry and none of us have done this before.

We are excited about Pastor Cosmas and his assistant pastor, Benson Omre and all the potential that they have reaching the men and women of Nebbi, Uganda. Truth be told though, we need your help. We are not sure of what the next step is for following up with them and their fellow pastors. Many of you are preparing your heart in some way for Easter…whether through fasting of some sort, a special devotional reading, or attending additional services this week. We were just wondering if you would be willing to say a quick prayer for us and for Cosmas and Benson as you sit down for your devotions or on your way to church. Whatever Jesus has for all of us will be good and we believe He wants to use your prayers. Thank you for partnering with us and we consider it a privilege to celebrate Easter with you via the Spirit of Jesus. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!