An A-Team Update

Last Sunday (March 29th) - Our teammate, Nickolas Strong, helped organize a soccer (futbol as it is known here) tournament. Eight teams played from various schools from around Arua with Nicholas sharing the Gospel with them afterwards. Nicholas got to practice one of the stories we have been learning with our pastors in Nebbi and did a fantastic job of challenging the audience to trust in Jesus.
Then last Tuesday, we were back in Nebbi district again. We have divided our pastors into two groups; one meets in Nebbi town and the other in a nearby trading center called Akaba. Rainy season welcomed us to Akaba - see the yellow doored church where we meet - it poured and poured. We did get underway but only after a short (2 hours!) rain delay wherein we fortified ourselves against the chilly weather with a hearty breakfast of sugary black tea and a "unique mix" of roasted peanuts and soybeans.
By the time we got to Nebbi town in the afternoon, it had dried out enough for us to practice in pairs outside and Jesus gave us some really solid interaction with those pastors.
Elsie Jayne as always is the star of our family show. Whether smiling hello or even toodling goodbye, she is really cute. She got to play with her friend Esther last weekend which was very exciting. She is very adventurous and is ever so quickly learning how to climb. We celebrate her accomplishments with joy and fear!
Today we had a very exciting experience. It actually began last night when our guard came to our window to quietly request our "torch" (flashlight). He had sat down in a chair next to the guard house when he felt something on his leg. A snake of some sort darted past his leg and into the guard house! I have to admit that after "confirmed" the snake was still in the guard house, we decided to wait for daylight. Needless to say, our guard spent no time inside the house last night.
This morning, we found him ever so cautiously emptying the house, trying to clear out hiding places. Soon Simon, our day watchman arrived and together they "encouraged" the snake's exit. It exited alright and hooded up for all of us. I wish I knew more details for those interested, needless to say though, our black 4-5 foot cobra met his untimely death under a bombardment of flowerbed stones and sticks.Joanna and I have found truth can appear in the most unexpected moments. As the snake's head was finally severed, Simon muttered, "A fitting way to begin Holy Week." This Holy Week, we pray you sense the Presence and the Victory of the One who ultimately came to crush the head of another serpent. Let us not miss a chance to thank you again for your prayers for our protection and particularly, that of our children. Jesus is good to us.