Prince of Peace

 

 

We praise Jesus for a wonderful Christmas yesterday. Jesus is good to us and our family and we thank Him for His good gifts. We have been reminded afresh of how grateful we are for our four daughters. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

 

 Some of you might remember last year we celebrated Christmas with two South Sudanese student friends. We would request you to keep praying for South Sudan for while Christmas is over, the people of South Sudan still need tangible manifestations of the Prince of Peace.

 

We would also request you to pray for "peace" in our family's health. We have been battling fever, running noses, coughes, and general "yucky" feeling now for several weeks and cannot seem to get all six of us better. We are asking Jesus for a season of health.

 

As we approach 2014, Joanna and I want to thank Jesus afresh for so many of you carrying us, our family and our friends. May you sense the Presence of Jesus, no longer as the babe in a manger but as the King of Kings. We pray the Kingdom of God would continue to come. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

 

"Come (again), Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20

Sharing Stories...

"Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. There was such a large crowd along the shore that he got into a boat and sat down and spoke from there. He began to teach the people by telling many stories such as this one:..." Mark 4:1-2

We LOVE telling many stories to many people!!! What a fun privilege we have! The past couple weeks have been no exception. The Word has gone out many times into many hearts! Pray it might find fertile soil and grow and produce much fruit for the Kingdom!!!

One of my favorite men on the planet is Jane's daddy!
We recently got to share another Bible story with him.

Our dear dear friends and fellow story-tellers the Waflers...
Joanna, Jacob, Chloe, Elsie Jayne, Lucy, Sophia and Jack.

Hamida is a friend that Miriam Powdrill got to know when she helped us travel home-home
with the twins.  She has become a dear friend...this is her in front of her duka (shop selling
daily needs...soaps, veggies, bread and eggs and such).

Our "banana lady" whom we love!!
Sadly due to our lack of her language, we don't get to share too many Bible stories
with her...but she LOVES Lucy and we all LOVE her...
trusting He is communicating thru us in spite of our words.

Precious friends from India that we got to share a meal and a story with just this week!

Our friend, Mary, the tailor! She always is up for a story and a nice long chat!
WE LOVE ORAL BIBLE STORYTELLING with so many dear friends!!!

not ashamed...just thankful

From Hebrews...

He is not ashamed to call them brethren. 2:11

and

That they should not be made perfect apart from us. 11:40

Just thoughtful and THANKFUL that alone we are nothing. 

As we are teaching our babies and anyone who will listen, 

the One True God is a relationship in Himself...

God the FATHER, God the SON (Jesus), and God the HOLY SPIRIT

Just so thankful today for FRIENDS...we cannot be made perfect alone.

If you are reading this...you are one I am not ashamed of...you have carried us to Him countless times and we stand grateful. As a family, we look more like Him, because of each of you in our lives...these are just a few of the friends we are thankful for tonight...(from only the last few days)

Out with other missionary friends for an overnight!

Bible Study friends the girls love meeting with weekly.

Micah is the twins current favorite playmate!

Gilbert and Benson carry the Word to Nebbi district as faithful friends to Billy

Weekly women's bible study is such a strengthening each Monday morning.

Joyce and Mambo are some of our closest friends on this side of the sea.
We treasure their long friendship.

Sister friendship is FOREVER...Lucy is LOVING playing with
the twins now that they are really big enough to play!

Sharon is Elsie Jayne's dear friend. We have been talking about how Elsie will have to say good-bye when we leave Arua for daddy to go to school in Scotland...and Elsie's first response was weeping. Through her tears, she says, "you know what I'm thankful for mom?! We get to meet new special friends in the next place Jesus takes us."
We are so thankful for friends who have allowed us to know LOVE...may Love Himself continue to carry us.
WE LOVE YOU!!!
Thank you for being those who make us more like HIM!

Tenwek and Transitions

We love this place.
So thankful for Jesus' peace and presence here.

It is colder than Arua in the highlands of Kenya though.
Lucy thought she might freeze...we survived the 70 degree weather.
Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!!! :)

Wednesday morning, staff devotions...Genesis 1

Elsie Jayne LOVED participating in the Kindergarten class
of the Home School co-op for a few days.
Lucy loved playing THE big sister for those hours!

 We are so thankful to Jesus for the honor of getting to travel to Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya to share Biblical Orality and participate in training a group eager to share the stories of Scripture with those they minister to each day. In Jesus' kindness we got to go as a family this time and we had a fabulous week! 

We came home to a lot of transition and change...but we're in Him and we are together and He IS going before.
Holding on to Jesus as we hold onto each other into the tomorrows He has for us!
So thankful to have each of you holding on to HIM for us and with us.
He is good and His LOVE endures FOREVER!
Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

In the Beginning...

“In the beginning...” Genesis 1:1 

Recently we had the privilege to be in South Sudan doing a Bible storytelling training. The pastors in the the area of Tonj do not have the Old Testament in their language. Imagine being a pastor with no means of ever understanding creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham or Joseph. And that is just stories from Genesis! It was our privilege to work through some of these OT stories in small groups (through translation) with church leaders who had never heard them. It was awesome and sacred. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!   

Beginnings and Genesis is a theme for us right now as the the pastoral training program in Uganda is just beginning its third term this year focusing on stories from Genesis 1-11.  We have fallen in love with these stories (again) as they introduce all the major themes in Scripture. During a training to prepare the facilitators to teach these stories from Genesis, we discussed “In the beginning...” is actually an example of so many beginnings. God is doing something and yet it is still dark! (Have you every felt like that?) The pastors love this story because God names the darkness and God is actively at work in the darkness. In cultures here in Uganda, where darkness is so real, this opening creation story captures the hope of the Gospel - God is greater than the darkness and is bringing light into dark places. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!  

We have been sensing God is opening up for us a new beginning. For some time Jesus has been talking to us about more schooling. We are exploring doctoral studies specifically related to orality. Slowly the light is shining through what has been “dark” concerning timing and logistics. We feel very excited about a “new beginning” but also a little overwhelmed at having to consider leaving what has become “home.” While the way is not completely “light” yet, the next months are going to be filled with transitioning out of our responsibilities and relationships here in Africa as well as trying to process all Jesus has been doing since we left September 4, 2006.  We are making plans to be in the States Spring 2014 and we anticipate seeing many of you. By the grace of Jesus, doctoral

school will “begin” next fall. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

As we walk into the shadows of the days ahead, we praise Him for you.  We need your continued love, prayers and support maybe more now than ever before. How God is going to unfold all the details in the days ahead, we do not know. However “...The light was good.” We believe there is more goodness ahead. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

Immediate Prayer Requests:

1.) Our family travels in Kenya August 31-September 7 for a Bible storytelling training.

2.) Wisdom as we continue to help Africa Gospel Church with their training curriculum development

3.) Grace as we consider what leaving Arua will look like for our family, specifically the girls

The Summer of Searls

The past six weeks...we are just calling it for now the Summer of Searls! And what a FABULOUS SUMMER it has been! 

Dan and Katy Beth have been able to jump in to Bible Story-telling and have been a part of our pastors lives in Nebbi as well as in South Sudan and they have met our friends in Arua in between!

The girls have loved on all of the little people that are daily a part of our life in Arua and the ones that come through our home-home regularly.

Literally the DAY before they left Arua, Katy Beth led a women's retreat including 5 nations that met together to hear from Him!

One integral character in the story of this summer is Mundu, the pig. 

Susannah has always wanted a pet pig...for the last 5 weeks...her dreams came true.

Tomorrow morning she flies home to Budapest and begins her senior year of high school...and we have a pig.  (we wish we had Susannah instead!)

  

Dan and Pastor Cosmas in Nebbi.

Katy Beth with Uncle Joel's wife Christine and Baby Jacob.

Katy Beth and Pastor Joyce last Sunday morning outside of Nebbi town...

The summer needs a lot more pictures and many more stories to capture, but this is a start.

Our hearts are full as we say good-bye. God has been SO GOOD to us.

We praise Him for the gift of family and shared memories...shared life.

Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

South Sudan from Katy Beth's perspective!

Our sister Katy Beth Searls and her family (WGM missionaries to Hungary for the past 20+ years) are staying with us this month and we are delighted to be sharing in ministry with FAMILY!!! This is her perspective from a resent training in South Sudan!

 

What was South Sudan like? Here are a few quick reflections: We were with the Dinka tribe, doing pastors training with about 30 South Sudanese pastors, university aged students, both men and women who were there to learn Bible Stories. The Dinka are TALL—like their arms and especially their legs go on forever….it’s sooooooo fascinating—they are just lanky!! Amazing. Beautiful people!! God is sooooo amazing! I kept looking at their scars on their foreheads from their initiation rites and thinking, “This is for REAL!?! I’m sitting here in real life?!!” Really special. The women wear beautiful sari type scarves over their dresses—lovely. The women don’t tie their babies on their backs like here in Uganda, they kill a goat and put their babies in the skin and sling them over their shoulders, so you think the women are carrying goats around and they are their babies! They really have cows and the cows are amazing with their BIG horns. Cows are their money and often of more importance than their children, especially their girls. The boys don’t go to school, they take care of the cows and when they are young men, they go to school. They make clicks to say, “Ok…Yes…” They smile when they talk to you and they are hilarious—the pastors laughed a LOT! They talk a lot. Outside like in the market, they would look at us, but not friendly-like. It makes a difference if you love Jesus or not. The Dinka have twins and keep their twins, unlike here in Arua,Uganda. They called us Mandiet (mother of twins) and Mundiet (father of twins). Of course, that is Billy’s name too so they thought that was hilarious too!!! We all did. There was one Pastor Augustino who has 5 twins living out of 6. That is an amazing thing for this part of the world—a gift.

We were deep in South Sudan. It was an honor to serve alongside those who live in a place that is difficult. Almost ALL the food has to be flown in! We took fruits, veggies, chickens and eggs when we went! There are almost no roads in to Tonj and the ones that go are HORRIBLE!!! You literally fly to the end of the earth and there Jesus is working!!!!

We LOVED the pastors’ training—LOVED it! Loved seeing my brother Billy in action—he’s sooo loved, not a surprise. He’s so gifted at communicating the Word in a way that they can understand. The Power of the Gospel is amazing. We loved seeing them learn the stories. They are CONCRETE thinkers. I loved looking at the stories through their eyes. Jesus was sooooo good to us. LOVED the small group interactions of learning the stories, delving into the stories and finding the treasures—loved what they saw, giggled at what they didn’t see, grieved a bit at ALL they can’t see, but rejoiced at anything they could comprehend and PRAYED that Jesus would take it and let it germinate in their hearts and minds and that the Holy Spirit would water it and bring to their understandings in new ways deeper things of God.

I was in a group that studied Genesis 3. There are only about 20 Old Testament stories translated into DInka—they have them copied and bound in a spiral notebook. They only had one copy in that group of 30 of this Dinka OT. I just cried when I saw it, not to have the OT in your language—so much you can’t understand! They asked for OT stories. So one in the group who had an English Bible would read them a couple verses and then they’d translate it into Dinka. Then the group would memorize those verses and then they’d add another couple!!!! We were on holy ground. My group was working on Gen. 3 and they had no idea that the crafty snake was Satan. They were fascinated by his craftiness and spent a lot of time talking about that…finally, they turned to me and said, “One way TODAY people might be crafty would be to try to get a pastor to take another wife. They could say, ‘God said to multiply and fill the earth… and your wife is getting old. Get another one, a young one.’ That would be crafty.” Yes. I agreed that would be craftiness TODAY! They LOVED getting it into practical application today. We loved watching them work on digging into the stories for the treasures and then putting the treasures into applications! They got better the more we practiced! Jesus is so good to have let us be a part of sharing His word with these ones who had never heard these stories before—and they are the pastors!!!

Dan and I told the story of the Prodigal Son. I told it—it’s long—and Dan did a one man drama acting it out. THEY LOVED IT!!!!!! When we were done, we had them tell their neighbor the story while Dan re-enacted the drama part of it. They LOVED it and when they were done, they all stood up together and burst into a song of praise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s the power of God’s word!! SO neat!!! We had such fun teaching the treasures of the story and the applications—we did a part two on the last day as there was so much. Then one of the men stood up and said, “This story is true today. My brother took our property and left and has gone away to a far country. I want to pray that he will return and that I will be ready when he comes back.” We had such a sweet time of prayer praying for the ones who are far away and for us to be ready to welcome them back when they come. They prayed over us before we left—Pastor Ruben who is old and has had leprosy, so one of his hands is only a stub—he prayed over us in Dinka. Talk about a holy moment—how did WE get to be chosen of all the ones on earth? Jesus is sooo good to us.

One final LOVE gift—it was really at the beginning. We flew in a little 5 seater missionary bush plane and Dan got to fly a ton of the way there!! The pilot was a former navy pilot who let Dan fly and explained about anything he wanted to know about. Dan did great flying—not just model planes but now a real live one flown over the African bush! Throw yourself into the will of God and He will give you the desires of your heart!!!

Thanks for praying for us. Jesus helped Billy’s wife, Joanna, and the girls as they held down the fort in Arua. The girls had a great week and taught the Bible Club by themselves. They did Noah’s ark and guess what? It rained!! Perfect!!!

We felt your prayers. THANK YOU!!!

We have a FULL week of VBS outreaches ahead. We return to Hungary Aug. 18^th. The next 2 weeks will go quickly. We’re determined to enjoy every moment and thank Jesus for making it possible for us to be here.

In Him with Great JOY,

Katy Beth Searls for Dan and the girls as well as Billy and Joanna Coppedge and their 4 girls J

Burundi Training

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! We give thanks to Jesus for a fresh season of Hope. Jesus is full of surprises and these days are full of traveling opportunities. This last week I (Billy) had the privilege of being in Bujambura, Burundi for a Bible Storytelling training. Our training team was made up of Americans, Kenyans and Ugandans and we had a great time working together. Approximately 20-25 participants joined us from around Burundi to discuss using storytelling to communicate the Word.  As always, the best part is getting to delve into the stories of Scripture with men and women on the ground offering Jesus to their communities.  

This was the group we were with for three days.

Moses of Kenya facilitating a session



Jonathan (right) is the WGM Uganda director. He grew up as a missionary kid in Burundi so it was great to have him on the team. Rev. Paul is the president of Light University in Buambura, a Christian university with 4,000 students. Paul grew up being discipled by the WGM missionaries. We had a wonderful dinner together one evening and now WGM and Light Univeristy are looking for ways to work together to multiple Hope in Burundi.

It is never easy to be away from home, but there are some fun things to anticipate upon returning. Specifically in a family with five women, I had the privilege of going multiple "dates" this week.

Elsie Jayne and Sophia Anne and I went for breakfast which was really fun.



Then here are Lucy and Chloe as we get ready to go for lunch. Happy Times.

This week holds more possibilities for hope. Jeannie Banter who was on the original Arua Team in 2007 arrives tomorrow with two other women. They will be involved in ministry here in Arua as well as joining Joanna in facilitating a women's retreat/training in Nebbi on Monday and Tuesday of next week. We are looking forward to having Jeannie "back home."

We said Jesus is full of surprises and another unique opportunity has arisen for me to go to a conference that is discussing how to integrate oral methodologies into theological education. I say "unique" because the conference is in Hong Kong. This will be my first time there and I'd appreciate your prayers for wisdom, discernment, and fruitful conversations.

A quick review of our upcoming calender:
Jeannie's team: June 6-15
  Sunday (9th) Worship with Nebbi Churches
  Monday - Tuesday (10-11th) Women's Retreat/Training
  Wednesday-Friday (12-14th) Ministry in Arua
Billy to Hong Kong: June 8-15th
Family Holiday: End of June
Billy's Sister and her family: Arrive July 8

I would ask you to please pray for:
- Joanna as she hosts the team, cares for the girls and manages life
- Jesus to come to the Women's Retreat and really meet these women
- Jesus to come to the Orality Conference in Hong Kong

Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

Billy in South Africa

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege to go with six other guys to South Africa for a Wild At Heart Boot Camp offered by Ransomed Heart Ministries. Jesus was so present and real, I honestly believe I can testify for the whole lot of us - We met with God. It was brilliant. Thank you for your prayers. Afterwards, I got to spend a few days with my cousin processing what Jesus had said at the boot camp and showing him (my cousin) some of South Africa's beauty. Jesus is very good.

This is me with Dr. Ben Roberts - He is the eye specialist at Tenwek Hospital and we have worked together before, trying to combine Bible storytelling with sharing the Good News to eye patients. I was so glad he came to the boot camp.

 

Laurence and I at the end of the continent of Africa. Absolutely Brilliant.

So many of you were praying for Joanna and the girls while I was gone. Thank you. We are very grateful.

 

I leave again today for Burundi for a Bible storytelling training with a whole new group of pastors. WGM has had ministry in Burundi but long ago. God has opened up opportunities there again and we are excited to go and offer this training. 

 

Could you please pray: 1.) For strength for Joanna to be with the girls without me. Specifically could you pray for sleep at night for everyone! 2.) For hungry participants at the training, that the time around the Word would be filled with the presence of Jesus.

 

Thank you for being on our team. We are so grateful.

The PEACE of God...

which is beyond all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!

 Phil. 4:7

He maketh peace in thy borders...Psalm 147:14

Isn't that a lovely promise!? He makes peace where we are! He is peace where He is! So thankful for Jesus' nearness tonight!

Billy is traveling this week. He has gone to South Africa for a Wild At Heart BootCamp with some WGM East Africa colleagues and his cousin! What an incredible opportunity to grow in Jesus, process, be refreshed and revived and LIVE life with other men who love him and love Jesus! Will you pray with us that all of God's good purposes are accomplished in these days?!

Billy is actually traveling a lot in the next weeks and we, the Coppedge ladies, invite you to pray with us for those journeys and ministries but also for all Jesus entrusts to us right here...within our own borders!

May 8-18 Billy in South Africa
May 11-June 15 Taylor Techau comes as a 6 week VIA!
May 20 Lucy Mae makes FOUR!
May 25-31 Billy in Burundi for Bible Storying training
June 4-15 Jeannie Banter and team visiting
June 8-15 Billy traveling to Hong Kong for International Orality Network Theological Consultation
June 10-11 Women's Conference for Nebbi Churches
June 17 Family Holiday!

Our weekly program here at home will include leading Children's Sunday School, Mother's Morning Out, Mom's Bible Study, 2 Weekly Children's Bible Lessons along with hosting lots of visitors.

These are busy days, but they are good days and we are eager to see how Jesus works in and thru them. Thank you for joining us in this journey!!!

A Day in the Life of the Coppedge Ladies

I used to get regular questions about what a "normal" day looked like for us. I would routinely respond that there was no normal and while that is SO TRUE still...we thought we'd give a little picture preview of a day in the life of the Coppedge ladies...

 

Dad had a battle with a rat in the kitchen, so breakfast one day last week
was in our courtyard....this was still mid-battle when the stove
had been removed but still no rat found!
The girls thought this was GREAT FUN!

Sophia Anne and Chloe Kate are DELIGHTED that mango season is here!
They are SO STICKY all day everyday!
Praise Jesus for juicy mangos!

 

 After one mango bath, we had a quick 18 month twiny photo-op! Sophia is in black and Chloe in white.  Sophie is still our talker and Chloe our active girl. Sophie's first "sentence" was this week. "Where daddy go?" when he left with the big girls to just grab milk at the duka. Chloe dances more than she walks, but runs if she's not dancing!

 

 

 Another dancer is our little ballerina, Lucy Mae...later that same day, we went to the local "golf course" where daddy and some friends from his weekly Arua Bible study were playing frisbee golf.  The walk made for fun photos, but we captured one of some of the players too before heading to our friend Amelie's for a swim!

Chloe, Billy, Lucy, Benard, Gerrard, Elsie Jayne, Jack, and CT
taking a time out from their game!

A cool dip on a hot day! Thanks Amelie!!!

 Friday was another full day, but FUN! We had lunch with my friend Faida and her baby Junior! She is very open to the Gospel...pray with us for her and her family as they seek TRUTH!

 

We rushed from lunch to a baptism.
Our friends David and Medline pastor a Calvary Chapel Church here in Arua and three of our friends were being baptized in the local pool!

My friend Medline and her daughter Melody...
born just a couple of months before the twins.

David, Medline's husband and our friend Doug baptize Betty while Karis and Kylee look on.

 Our next stop Friday afternoon was at our friend Beatrice's home...she has been sick. You have prayed for her before...will you ask the Father to touch and heal his daughter. Her youngest is in her lap in this photo and she has three older children, but she and her husband care for around 10 kids from various brothers and sisters...they truly are a James 1:27 family! Pray with us for encouragment, health, blessing and God's provision! THANK YOU!!!

Elsie Jayne playing in a huge pile of bricks at Beatrice's home.

We concluded the day at the post office...Elsie took this fabulous shot of our post manager who helps us send letters to grandparents and friends and also recieve our mail.

Thanks for your willingness to carry us on our days just around town...

We have traveled much with lots of trainings already this year...but even when we are in Arua, thanks for carrying us to Jesus...and praying that our friends might know Him more and be more wholy His!