"A prezzie!" Sally exclaimed when I handed her the small package while on mission overseas. "I love prezzies!" And who doesn't? For those of us who are not Australian, I'll interpret. Prezzies are presents. Oh, and fam din is family dinner. Get it? Our Australian friends like to abbreviate everything—lippy for lipstick, sunnies for sunglasses, cozies for bathing costume or what we in America call a bathing suit. Ed and I arrived home from Uganda mission very late on May 27 and when the jet lag cleared a bit, I found a super welcome home prezzie awaiting us!
I clicked open an e-mail to find great news from Cristiano Nunes, Bridge for Peace leader in Brazil and my dear brother in Christ. He had contacted a Catholic foundation in Italy and had gone through the tedious process of application and verification. He wrote, "The project for the Ugandan sponsorship … is almost complete. Ten kids ... will be assisted at the beginning...then after these, (we) can submit more children as the project develops...I'm so happy for this little sign of hope....some more kids will be able to go to school. And I'm part of it. Praise the Lord!"
My brother Christiano has a way with understatement. Ten kids is a big sign of hope to me. It's a big sign to the ten that get to go. It gives others hope, also. The day we left Uganda. I prayed privately for a pastor. In a low voice he said. "Yesterday I had a telephone call from parents who could not afford to send their children to school. They were looking for help. My heart bleeds…" This is a sign of hope for that pastor.
Five years ago, we took a step in faith. Sensing God was leading us Bridge for Peace board of directors voted "yes" unanimously to sponsor 14 Ugandan orphans education. We had to raise up sponsors, plan fund raisers, put together power points and brochures and speak to interested groups. It was a struggle, but God met the need. Now with the help of Cristiano in Brazil and a foundation in Italy 10 more children would have good news. What a gift! God is joining together the body of Christ from America, Australia, Brazil, and Europe to meet the needs of our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ from Africa.
Thank you, Jesus. I love my welcome home prezzie that is so obviously heaven sent!
June 3, 2011
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