Brooke's Uganda Ministry Update #3

Brooke’s Uganda Ministry Update #3 December 4, 2005

Dear friends,

“In the act of forgiveness we are declaring our faith in the future of a relationship and in the capacity of the wrongdoer to make a new beginning on a course that will be different from the one that caused the wrong. We are saying here is a chance to make a new beginning. It is an act of faith that the wrongdoer can change.”
Desmond Tutu from No Future Without Forgiveness

I have heard it said many times in the past few years that the greatest problem in our world today is alienation. I would submit that all of us can understand and perhaps resonate with that statement to a certain degree. Alienation within our families causes many psychological and emotional problems, alienation between nations leads to nuclear weapons, landmines, and terrorist bombings, alienation within a nation leads to children being abducted (as in Northern Uganda) and turned into child soldiers for a tribal war. Alienation is as close as us being depressed within ourselves and contemplating suicide often for not forgiving someone or not forgiving yourself. Alienation between us and our natural environment leads to pollution and instead of living in the Garden of Eden; we who have not been good stewards of this land given to us treat it with contempt and live in fear of global warming. So, you know me well enough to know I am not a negative person, but the question is, what do we do about this large problem? This is the whole reason Jesus came – to bring reconciliation. In this season of advent I want to challenge us all to draw closer to the one who offers us life in forgiveness. Forgiveness from the ways we have separated ourselves through sin from the One who created us in love in our mother’s womb, forgiveness offered to the ones who since the womb have caused us pain. Forgiveness gives us a future and a hope and as we close out another year, I hope we all have a chance to feel reconciled to ourselves, our Creator and our brothers and sisters who we share this planet with.

Psalm 139: 13, 15 & 16
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

I attended the International Justice Mission Banquet this week in Washington, DC and again was moved intensely by the stories of injustice, oppression and evil that exists in the world, particularly having to do with sexual sins involving children in the form of trafficking young ones and selling them into sexual slavery through deception and false hopes of obtaining good jobs in the city (for example). I also recently heard at the Chiapas Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in Mexico that in the largest amount of money that is made worldwide following drug and arms trade is that of sexual trade. I recently learned also that pornography is a larger business in terms of money making in the United States than that of all sports combined (professional and nonprofessional). I have to wonder if this pervasive worldwide ill isn’t somehow related to our need for reconciliation also. So many of my generation don’t know even how to engage in relationships with the opposite sex in a healthy way due to pornography and the idea of fantasy of what a woman or man looks like. We have these pseudo relationships that can never substitute for the real thing, but it seems easier to indulge lust than to reconcile with your spouse. Serious prayer and honest scrutiny need to be made into the roots of these abuses and why this obscene and huge trade happens worldwide and even in our own “Christian” nation. It seems wherever I have gone lately this issue arises – even in the southernmost province of Mexico in a seemingly beautiful town – very modern by my developing country standards but it seems that since it is a border area through which many illegal immigrants from Central America make their way through on their ways to the US that trafficking is a problem. What happens is that somehow a parent gets to the US (in an illegal way) and once established will send for their children to come – often paying someone to “escort” their child (as young as 6). The child often gets abused along the way by this escort offering the child for other services to boost their own pay. It is sick and I know you don’t want to hear the details, but as Gary Haugen said at the IJM banquet the other night – unless we know what is really happening, are confronted with it in a real way, it is too easy to not get involved.

James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

All of us have to realize we have a role to play in the Kingdom of God. Both offensive and defensive roles against the Prince of darkness are necessary – offensive in that we actively pursue helping orphans and widows (or their counterparts at-risk youth and single mothers in the US inner cities, those that have been marginalized) – and a defensive role that of protecting our minds and hearts from being polluted by the images the media presents that cause us to forget whose we are.

This past month has been one in which I have traveled to Mexico and through Los Angeles, gone on a retreat to Maryland with a group of women, and celebrated Thanksgiving with 27 at my friend’s house here in DC. My work is a continually evolving project and I am learning much about listening to the voice of the Lord in regards with how to order my days. Change always seems in the air and as of last week, instead of driving to Alexandria every day, I am working from home and rather than sharing time with an Office Manager, I am working solo with my counterparts on the west coast available at the closet call I need to make. It is interesting working on behalf of the church in Uganda and yet being here in DC. Working for a ministry that is truly international and not being able to see the orphans I am helping to sponsor in front of me. But, I have many photos and videos of my time there to remind me of Emily and her mother Margaret, her father Emmanuel, her brother Elvis and then I am brought into prayer and excitement again about the role I am honored to fulfill here. My days have been full and very intriguing. I am very much enjoying spending time talking to different ministries and pastors – I am learning more and more through my travels both internationally and here to different churches in the Washington metro area that God’s Spirit is everywhere and that if His children are seeking Him with truth it will be obvious that we are brothers and sisters and this awesome sense of love will be present. When I spoke about alienation earlier it is unfortunate that much of this has fragmented the church – both worldwide and also domestically – there are currently 488 types of Baptist groups in the US. I think diversity is strength as long as we can remain united and walking in love towards each other, which unfortunately isn’t always the case.

“To my surprise I felt this love growing in me for the church, for the little suburban church I attended, and for the Church as a whole in all its forms and denominations.”
Brian McLaren in a Generous Orthodoxy

I am at the place where I can identify with Brian McLaren’s statement and my prayer is that we would be one in Jesus – for when He is lifted up He will draw all men to Himself (John 12:32). Please pray with me for the Church worldwide to be living according to the religion Jesus practiced (James 1:27) and to be loving as He loved, by washing each other’s feet humbly serving both friend and enemy. I am challenged by these scriptures everyday and I believe we all should be.

Proverbs 29: 18 “When there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.”

Matthew 22: 36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

A last bit of exciting news I will share with you all is that I have heard back from the Rotary Foundation and I have been assigned to study in Australia during the 2006-2007 school year! I was assigned to the University of Newcastle which is located in Newcastle, in New South Wales, just north of Sydney by an hour or two. I am very excited to know where the Lord would have me and also what I will be studying. My program will be a Master’s of Social Development and Change and will be one that I can finish in a year (which is as long as the funding lasts also) so it is a huge blessing that I will come out of that year with a debt-free Masters – Praise God! Due to the semesters starting in different ways in the Southern hemisphere I actually won’t begin my program until February of 2007 which also means I still have a whole year to work in Washington, DC and to really be able to fulfill the main project I have been assigned (to bring 3,000 Americans to our annual conference in October) and follow-up before leaving. I am very excited to be able to continue relationships with those I have met from Australia over the years and continue to develop them in deeper ways through a year in their country. So, with that being said, I continue to thank you for your prayers over my life and ministry and know that if you are a friend that lives far away – you have a futon to stay at in Washington for at least another year.

I will also leave you with evidence that we desire reconciliation and redemption – just go see “Walk the Line” the new movie about Johnny Cash or “Pride and Prejudice” who doesn’t love it when miscommunication ends and love flourishes? Weddings and births remind us also – congratulations Dawn and Matt for the commitment you made last week and congratulations Kiersten and John for the one you will make next week. Let’s keep hopeful and prayerful on how we can live redeemed lives.

God bless you and keep you and know you are loved,

Brooke