An African Christmas

We have had an exciting Christmas week! The great thing is...no matter what Christmas FEELS like, it is still true that our Creator came to earth as a precious baby in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. We are so grateful!


The Saturday before Christmas while we were again in Nebbi, we realized Elsie Jayne was running a high fever. We quickly gave her tylenol and dismissed it. She was gaining three new teeth at once, so we assumed that was the problem. When she still had a temperature of 103+ that night, we realized we may need a second opinion other than just our teeth diagnosis.

A German nurse who is a dear friend and a British doctor at our local mission hospital both encouraged us to immediately begin malaria treatment. There would be no way to test her until Monday morning, but waiting two days could be dangerous in a child of her size. So, we began the great parental journey of trying to figure out how to get a big round disc that tastes bitter down the throat of a thirteen month old determined not to swallow.

Those next two days were quite scary. Her fever kept spiking and the motrin and tylenol seemed to be in vain, bathing to keep the fever down every few hours wasn't really working either, but as we sent out an email to our prayer supporters and family we sensed Jesus' hand upon her little body and the fever broke Monday morning.

She has progressively improved since then. It has been a long week, but we have had new hope every day. Monday we went and tested that for sure we were treating the right illness. She did have malaria, but we can see now that she responded to the meds and Jesus has touched her.

She is finally herself now! She even smiles again...sorry she couldn't really yet on Christmas day when the family picture was taken. Billy went to preach at a friends' church in Yumbe, Uganda on Christmas Day.
We celebrated Jesus' birth as a family on Friday and then welcomed some friends to lunch...we attempted for the first time to prepare our own turkey! We bought him a few weeks ago, Billy killed him on Wednesday and Friday we had a Boxing Day "Christmas" celebration. Joanna even stuffed it for us! Ugandan turkeys we decided are mostly skin and bones, but the meat we did get was yummy! (almost like home...)

Earlier in the week we had entertained the children of some of our other missionary friends so their parents could wrap presents and just have a moment of calm in their homes on Christmas week. We all made "gingerbread" manger scenes made from local cookies and homemade icing! It was really fun...hopefully the kids had a good time too.

On Christmas Eve we welcomed about 20 Ugandan friends to see "The Nativity" and have lunch with us. It was fun to watch any movie with them, but then to see their responses to the dramatization of the days leading up to the birth of Jesus was really powerful! They were all happy to go home with some fun gifts to help with Christmas dinner!

We really want to thank SO MANY of you who were praying with us for Elsie Jayne. If you don't receive our prayer updates, but want to, please email and let us know to add you. billy.coppedge@wgm.org

We trust you had a great Christmas and have a blessed 2009!

The Learning Curve

You'd figure after we have been going to Nebbi to disciple and interact with our pastors, things would become relatively routine. In a sense they remain familiar - same church, same pastors, more or less the same local food. But this weekend was somehow different.
Cosmos and Benson, two of our pastors who have had leadership roles over the last year, came up to Arua on Tuesday because there were some "serious" issues to discuss. The long and short is interpersonal conflict and confusion among several of the pastors. I have to say, my initial response was - hooray! We must be doing something right if there is potential "spiritual competition" and division. While growing up, often when something went amiss for unexplainable reasons, my mama would borrow from C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters - "Smells like ol' Slewfoot is at work." This smelled like ol' Slewfoot! (We still need your prayers!) Thus, we felt it would be best for me to go down Friday evening to have a "chat" with one of our guys.
Usually we take the Land Rover to Nebbi, but Joanna was planning on coming with Elsie Jayne Saturaday morning and it was high time we had tested "public transport" to Nebbi. So Friday afternoon I found myself lost in the Arua taxi park, looking for the "stage" where you pick a taxi to Nebbi. Sure enough, some kind soul assisted me to the right pick up area and within a short while, me and six of my newest friends were crammed into a small four door taxi. We made "great time" even though we stopped once for one of the passengers to pick up his luggage from the roadside, once for mangos, and once for grasshoppers - a real treat this time of year!
Jesus really helped with the interpersonal conversation with our pastor friend Friday evening. Conflict and confrontation in my own culture is hard enough but learning how to follow Jesus amidst a different culture when those conversations are necessary requires a is a whole new level of grace and learning. Jesus was graciously present though with us, for which I thank Him.
Saturday morning, when I got to the church only two other pastors were there - the two other pastors I "needed" to speak with regarding another interpersonal matter. So while everyone else trickled in, I listened to their sides of the story and promptly invited them for another more in-depth conversation this Thursday. We all took tea (which means breakfast) togetherand then jumped into an introduction of what the next year of training will look like. By that time Joanna and Elsie Jayne had arrived - with much fanfare and delight. Elsie Jayne was such a help!!! Needless to say, she adds something to everything she is included on. She thoroughly enjoyed her "normal" lunch and then ate again with us and the pastors.
Of course, then she needed to "wash" her hands which was a wonderful experience Pastor Cosmos was more than delighted to "pour" for her!
Joanna had brought the final exam results - Hallelujah! Praise GOD that everyone passed! With their returned exams, they all received an official Africa Gospel Church pastor's identity card. Needless to say, they were all smiles!

The journey home was almost as exciting as the trip down. We stopped to pick up charcoal which we'll give away as Christmas presents. The Land Rover was piled high which added to the excitement and we trust the one charcoal lady was happy with her sale.
After charcoal, we decided to brave the mango market! Bravery is what it takes but Joanna managed and we had mango, pineapple and banana smoothies today as a tribute to her victory.
After mangos, we dropped one bag of charcoal off at our friend Susan's house. She was so excited!!! Let's say, for all practical purposes, her place is a little bit off the beaten path.

We did finally arrive home, weary but very thankful. Elsie Jayne's bath water was "village dirty," which is always a mixture of humor and dismay:)
Jesus continues to teach us more about His faithfulness, the people He has called us to, and even our own hearts. We are grateful for His patience and His presence on adventurous weekends like this one.
Thank you for your prayers - specifically, pray this next week as we continue crafting next year's "curriculum" as well as meet for our "continued" conversation on Thursday with two of our pastors. We are grateful for your intercession.
Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

the big race

Preparations for the half-marathon began a couple of months ago! Elsie Jayne has missed seeing her daddy when she first gets up in the morning, but loves greeting him when he returns from his morning run! Stretching with Billy has been a daily highlight for her! :)

In the same way we feel Jesus is stretching us...stretching our muscles so we are ready for the days ahead. The coming year will be one that stretches, but we trust will produce great reward as well!
The morning of the MTN Marathon in Kampala was an early one! Billy ran with a good friend and new colleague to Arua (beginning later this month), Nick Strong. We are excited about "running" with Nick in the coming year! Jesus is kind to provide the blessing of not only Himself, but also a teammate for these days!

As Daddy finished the race we were there to celebrate with him. So we look forward to accomplishing all the Lord has before us in the year ahead and celebrating the victory of obedience.
Pray with us for His leading to be clear and our courage to obey no matter what He asks as we press on in Sudan, in Nebbi (here in Uganda) and wherever else He continues to lead.

The Infinite Riches in Jesus

Our family's favorite hymn was penned by Annie Johnson Flint.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction, He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

When we have exhausted our store of endurance
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of the inifinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

So many of you keep emailing, sending cards and letting us know you are praying for us these days! We are SO GRATEFUL! We must confess...rather than feeling the weight of greater burdens, or increased labors, we are sensing His infinite riches and are finding joy, and hope, and excitment in each new day. That is His dear presence through your faithful prayers...thank you!

Jesus has met us many times in the last week. Elsie Jayne had one final birthday bash once we made it home to Arua where I could make her a cake! :) She had another American/British friend who was turning three the same week, so we celebrated together.

The next day we went to Nebbi for the final exam. Jesus helped us all three (four), but it was a LONG day. We left just after seven and reached home just before six in the evening! Elsie Jayne was a trooper with no real nap all day. It was hard on her though and that is the day we decided we might not all go to Sudan this weekend for training. You may need to be one and a half or two to do international road trips with no naps!

Billy has made it safely to Yei, Sudan and has met up with some of our pastors there already. The rest will join them today. Please pray as he was met with some exciting inquiries from the guys about what the future of WGM Sudan might look like. It's exciting how we all have ideas and in these begining stages we can lay them all on the table, but pray with us that the men might be eager to meet with Jesus and know HIS PLANS and PURPOSES for WGM Sudan and the days ahead!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELSIE JAYNE

Elsie Jayne had her first birthday on Monday. She was happy to celebrate in Kampala, where we had traveled for our final good-byes to John and Erica. We were supposed to be traveling home on her birthday, but there were car problems, so she got to celebrate in the big city, which we all loved!
Here is her week in review!

Out for a birthday breakfast with daddy!...maybe Starbucks in 2010!
They are both looking forward to that!


A package arrived from America to Kampala on Elsie Jayne's Birthday!
How fun to have a cool puppy dog to open on the actual day!
Thanks Matt and Bonnie!

This little rubber ducky was a favorite gift!
Colleagues from Kampala, Uncle Kenneth and Aunt Delight gave Elsie Jayne this great treasure.

Elsie Jayne looked so pretty in her birthday dress from Papa!
She loved going out to eat in the big city!
One fun place even had balloons!

The best part of being in the city was getting to spend some time with our dearest friends Tina and Imam and their precious little Angela.
It was so fun just to catch up with them and share with one another all of God's goodness to us in the days we've been apart!

Elsie Jayne had a present waiting for her at home from some Arua friends.
The flowers were by her bed and the note reads:
"Happy Birthday Elsie Jayne,

Welcome back to Arua!

May God bless you and may you live to blow a thousand candles."

We are so thankful for Elsie Jayne's first year!
Jesus is so kind to entrust her to us...and we are delighted to trust her back to Him.
He is carrying us all four now!!!

Pray with us as tomorrow we plan to all go to Nebbi for the day.
We will give the final exam for year one and do a special lesson on Christmas.
Pray as we focus on the birth of our Savior, His Life and Light would be so real in our midst.
There are some divisions and confusion amongst the pastors in Nebbi just now.
Please pray for unity as well as discernment as we seek Jesus and His best for each person and each Church.

Answered Prayers and Parties

Jesus is so faithful! He continues to amaze us with His generosity, goodness and even timing! Saturday we got home late afternoon from the final year one training in Nebbi. We will go back next month for the exam and preparations for year two, but this weekend was John and Erica's last good-bye in Nebbi and the pastor's final official training for this year. What an incredible answer to prayer...truly more than we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21) that Rinehimers even saw a training, let alone a full year! When we all arrived two years ago, we only hoped to make some good contacts and have some possible pastors needing training by this point, but look at all Jesus has done!!!

Arriving home, John Onek, a pastor in training from Sudan met us. He sat in our living room and relayed the events of the last few days and how clearly He had seen God work for him. Many groups and missions wait weeks, some months, others literally years to recieve their registration to work in Southern Sudan. Rev. John had WGM's Registration with him to give to us!!! He had found favor with the officials and Jesus had literally made a way where there was no way and now WGM is officially registered in that nation! John told us, "it is clearly because you have so many people in America that pray for you and for us...this is a miracle!" PRAISE JESUS!!!! It is a miracle and your prayers are being answered!

A third answer to prayer we would like to share with you is that yesterday was Billy's daddy's birthday! We are so thankful to Jesus we could call and speak with him and that Jesus is continuing to touch him and work in his life!!! We stand amazed at God's goodness to give us such a father and bless us with another year of life with him! Elsie Jayne was eager to celebrate her grand-daddy and wore her own birthday hat to celebrate (thanks Jamie!).

We have another party today as we count down the days with John and Erica...only four more in Arua! Pray that this time with our staff and friends is a rich and meaningful time for them and that they have the closer needed as they head back to America.

Many of you have asked about our plans as John and Erica go. While these are sad days and difficult days, their going isn't a surprise for any of the four of us. Just as Jeannie committed to being a part of the team for the first year, they made a committment to WGM to serve in Arua for two years. That time is quickly coming to a close. While we have been so thankful for these days of serving together we release them to God's goodnes for them stateside now.

We have no plans of leaving Arua any time soon. Our original committment is what WGM calls a "career appointment." Meaning, this is home, until Jesus asks to be elsewhere. We don't PLAN to return to the states until 2010 (and then that time will be only a few months to visit supporting churches, friends, and family). We realize He has surprised us before and may again, but we are trusting that Arua is His best for now for our family. Do pray with us about how Jesus might grow our team in the days ahead. Children are a great addition, but we'd love the colleagues He has planned for us in His time also!!! Thank you for praying with us!

Also, as we have seen Jesus answer so many prayers, we ask you to keep praying with us about how the ministry might look in the coming days. Sudan is a wide open door now. How does Jesus want us to take advantage of these days?! What should the second full year of training in Nebbi look like? Is there another village or town where Jesus might want to open up more discipling pastoral training work? Just pray He leads us.

In our own home, pray with us as Elsie Jayne has had something "interesting" growing on her tummy in the past couple of weeks. This morning she was diagnosed with a tropical boil. We aren't medical people, but we understand that it sounds worse than it is and she should be fine. Still, we ask you to keep praying for health and wholeness for all (four) of us!

Growing!

Jesus has truly entrusted us with MUCH. Being at the consultation in Sudan with others ministering in that country was eye opening for us and encouraging as well. The work will not be easy, but Jesus can make a way...we'll just keep trusting Him to open the right doors and lead us. WE ARE
TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!! We are so grateful to Jesus for all the journeys He has led us on and continues to bring us back together as a family! We are super excited about the way He is not only growing our family in Him, but also physically growing us...Elsie Jayne is thrilled to be almost a year old and happy to announce that she will be a BIG SISTER in a few months! Joanna is due in May. Elsie Jayne has been pure joy to us and we can only imagine the excitement of two little people in our lives! Joanna has been quite sick these early days though, so please do pray with us for health and no nausea! Thank you!
Thank you for carrying us to Jesus and trusting us to Him in your prayers! We are grateful to Jesus to be partnering with you all to share His love within our own family, Arua, Uganda, and Sudan!!!

A DAY OF CELEBRATION!

Last Friday in Nebbi there was a big celebration to say we love you and good-bye to John and Erica. The first of many such celebrations around the country in the next few weeks. We are sad to see the Rinehimers return to the states, but were thrilled to see our churches love them in such a gracious, generous, loving way!

The pastors who are in training in Nebbi brought some representation from each of their congregations for a day of singing, eating, gift-giving and loving...all directed to John and Erica and their ministry among us over the last two years!!! What a special day it was.

Elsie Jayne with Pastor Cosmas and his wife Joyce as we waited in their home for the festivities to begin.

Pastors Andrew and Joyce...all dressed up for the special occasion.

Dancing in the gifts...just like at a wedding celebration here in Uganda.


John and Erica recieving their good-bye gifts!


With the pastors in training!...please pray for these...that they might grow in Jesus even as we feebly attempt to show them His Life and Love.

Daily Life

It's the little things that just happen in the daily-ness of life that somehow point to the eternal. We pray these examples of recent happenings in our life are truly making an eternal impact!

We ate out at a local restaurant recently and had the manager ask us if we liked to read. His name is Baker and as the conversation continued it became clear, he was not a believer. He loves to read and thought we looked like people who might have books (a.k.a. money to buy books for ourselves or others). A few days later he came by the house and we were able to share with Baker his first Bible! He was so excited!!! Pray with us that he might hunger for the True Word and for Jesus!!!

Only a couple of days after we met Baker we had a security police man at the Arua Airfield ask us for a Bible. We were happy to share one but only had our study bibles with us. Joanna went back out the next day to take all four of the active duty officers at the airfield a bible. They were delighted and were so thankful. They asked her to read something to them right then. What a special time it was to read from Phillippians 3 of Jesus and Who He is and Who He calls us to be! Pray for the three men and one lady who serve at the airfield...that they might have the same attitude and life as Christ!

Elsie Jayne continues to point her mom and dad to Jesus!!! She is braver and bolder each day as she smiles and greets everyone she meets and stands and just dances with joy at a new day of life!! Oh that we might share in her joy just in living a new day! God is so good to bless us with today!

I wonder what eternal realities He is working out in each of our lives as we wake up, go to dinner, drive (or fly) to a meeting...Jesus is about His eternal purposes and we praise Him!

Answered Prayer

It's the little things that seem quite big on this side of the sea sometimes...
We have been getting low on baby wipes...no big deal, just run to Wal-Mart, right?! We have been praying over the baby wipe shortage for about a month as we've seen it coming. Literally the LAST day...Jesus brought a team from New Jersey with a bag for us. They didn't even know who it was from, they just said they were asked to bring it to us...it was a huge bag FULL OF BABY WIPES!!!!!!!!! Not only has Jesus shown us HIS FAITHFULNESS to each one of us personally, but now as a couple and how much more now is He showing us His faithfulness to our precious daughter. It may sound strange to you, but we simply had to stop and praise Jesus for His provision yet again!

Home Sweet Home

Daddy's home from Sudan! The road was totally mud and many daddy's are still sitting out there hoping to get their vehicles pulled out...please pray for them. We thank Jesus for a strong big car that took Billy to Yei, Sudan for training and brought him home to us again!
This week we have the priveldge of spending time with our friends the Waflers. Pam and Stan are celebrating their 20 years of marriage on a second honey-moon and we are enjoying their children...Jacob, Jack and Joanna. Last night for dinner Joanna wanted to use her new cookbook sent out from the states and make HULA STIR FRY. We had a really happy Hawaiian themed dinner party!

Jacob has a goat he is keeping to start a goat business. She recently has had a kid...who is affectionately named Buddy. Part of each day is walking mama and baby outside the fence where there is better grass to enjoy!
Elsie Jayne also LOVES the attention of three great friends!