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.