Sunday, May 10, 2015

I can do this life in eleven days...


I learned another new concept from reading the one of the good books on the Atonement.  After leaving Egypt, the troubles of Israel were because of their lack of faith and trust in the Lord.  It is sometimes surprising to us why, with all the miracles they experienced before they left Egypt, they would struggle to believe the Lord could do what he commanded them to do.  Why did they murmur, why did they not trust, why couldn’t they just believe Him? I believe asking ourselves these same questions would be helpful to for us today?  Why do we struggle with the same spiritual issues that prevent the blessings of the atonement in our lives?

There is a very great lesson in a very short verse at the beginning of the book of Deuteronomy.  It states in Deuteronomy 1:2 - There are eleven days journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-Barnea.  In this geographical short sentence we are taught a great lesson.  

Horeb was Mount Sinai where Israel received the commandments.  Kadesh Barnea was the southern border of the Holy Land the Israelites' were to inherit.  From the place where God had given them the law it was only an eleven day journey to the land He had promised them.  I am sure eleven days would have been a difficult struggle but the actual journey actually took 40 years.  Why?

In Numbers we read in chapter 12-13 about the spy's going to bring back word on the promised land and their glowing report until they talked about the people already living there and became frightened.  Because of unbelief, the promise went from a blessing to a curse. The journey went from 11 days to 14,600 days because they were unwilling to exercise faith in the promises of the Lord.

The question we need to ask ourselves – what eleven day tasks is it taking us to forty years to accomplish because we do not trust and have faith in doing things the Lords way? What is our promised land today?  The forty year journey represents wasted time and lack of progress because we insist in doing things our own way.  

The eleven day journey represents faith, repentance, forgiveness and trust in the atonement.

The reality is that Israel still had to do the same things to enter the promised land – it was just 40 years longer i.e. trust and faith in the Lord.  It is reassuring the Lord will still take us into His rest even if we have to spend the 40 years in the wilderness but think how much further we could travel in this life if we do it His way.

This is a view at one of the homes of our sister missionaries, they have to suffer through every evening.


Cinco De Mayo is not celebrated here in Uganda.  But, this Mexican restaurant opened just a couple of months ago and they had a celebration.  We had the zone leaders, Elder Morley from Roosevelt, Utah and Elder Erau, from Mbale, Uganda, come with us for this festive occasion. (Elder Erau started his mission in Sierra Leone, but got shipped to Uganda to finish his last year because of Ebole).


Sister Gringo also came along to keep us in line.


We learned about hearts on the wall of the school at one of our jiggers projects.


And that leads to one of the Red Cross blood drives for our District.  There was a great turnout and they received over 60 pints of blood.


This could be a scene from anywhere in the USA.


 Ah, good old blood.  Save a life, give blood.


The District had a YSA activity and we were able to participate.  I gave them the introduction talk (to this blog) and Sister Squire played a couple of games with the group.  We had a good time but everything is a couple of hours behind schedule and that does drive me a bit crazy.



If there is food being served then the sisters will show up :) Okay, they showed up at the church because it had been raining and their feet were soaking wet. (Sister Apori and Sister Ntweatsile - the Sisters who line in our compound).


Always someone being silly (yes I am looking in a mirror).


Agnes made all the African skirts we sent home for the younger granddaughters with Ty and Al. She also made the aprons.  She is the one serving and was the co-chair of the event.


They do not go hungry.  Rice, potatoes, sauce, meat = yum.


Yes, they do play basketball in Uganda.  This is the branch parking lot in Jinja. None of these players are members.  Where are the missionaries?


Can you say new haircut? At a new salon?  I am always afraid it will not grow back.


Besides my wife, I love Treavor's Frys.


Tis the season when the yellow termites lose their wings.  The kids and parents will be under every light gathering them up.  They are attracted to the light and you will see hundreds of wings around every street light. And why gather them?  To eat of course!


Scatter wings, all along the way...sing it baby!


Old people out to linner.


In case you are wondering why we often go without power.  Now which line is it...

 

Sometimes you just want to break out in a random band.  We were driving back and pulled off because we saw something unusual.  It happens a lot here and that is why we love serving in Africa.


Can you think of a better way to end a blog than from someone dressed as Santa?





And finally, Happy Mothers Day to all you precious moms that put up with people like me.  Love you Nancy.  Mom, this is your first one in heaven, well, since you left to come to earth.  I love you!

No comments:

Post a Comment