Hello Family and Friends,
[Once again I am going to write this blog as if I am still in Uganda.]
Thank you all for all of your prayers and thoughts. I can honestly tell you that I truly need them. Have you ever wondered where God is when loneliness smashes into your life? Have you ever wondered why you are going through pain, suffering, hardships, and trials? Have you ever questioned God being distant? I have no idea as to why I am having such a hard time here at GSF. I have no idea as to why I have been struggling as much as I have. All I can is that I am tired and empty! All I can say is that I am drained and ready to leave. However, this is my last week here and I need to attempt to finish strong.
*******
I talked to Mark a few days ago and we concluded that I would leave the teenagers something that would benefit them. We decided that I would put together a study guide on Romans for them to have and study. I started complying all my information from the NASB Key Word Study Bible with a Hebrew and Greek Dictionary, one of my professor's class notes on Romans, and a commentary on Romans. The only bad thing that was hindering me was that the power went out a couple of times. The study guide consisted of a short summary of each chapter followed by several questions for the teenagers to think about. You see that is what I want the teens to do; use their mind and actually think. However, I know that is hard because the majority of teenagers in the world do not want to think after they are done with school activities. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will guide these teens and give them an urgency to study the Bible, specifically, Romans. It was a little hard to complete this study because I was already on EMPTY and at times did not feel like it. Long story short, I ended up finishing the study guide later on Saturday (Feb 20). I showed Mark the final copy of the study guide and he worked on it to fit 16 pages, which would cost less to make copies (the cost was 100 shillings per copy). He later said it was good and for me to ask how many wanted the study guide during Sunday School. Nine people signed up, including one of the missionary kids. I was completly astonished because I only thought there would be a few to sign up for it. Praise God for that! I do not know if these teens will actually read over the study guide, but at least they have it. Praise God! Amina!
*******
The missionary from New Zealand, Lucreia came earlier this week. It was nice to have some company at the guesthouse again. She was here about a year ago for 8 months. We both are leaving GSF on Monday morning. However, I will be staying in Enteebe for the night and will fly out on Tuesday night. I am staying in an hotel in Enteebe. Hoepfully, Jamie's old supervisors will contact me so we can talk and hang out. I am going to miss GSF and Uganda, but I am very glad that I get to see my fiancee in a few days!
-Chandler Sharpe
[Present time now].....
I can honestly tell you that my journey to Uganda this time was very eye opening. Last time I came here, I was so pumped up for missions (woo hoo!), but this time around I believe my eyes were opened to the reality of the missionary life. God showed me that yes the missionary life is fun and exciting, but on the other hand it can be very draining and tiring. It can be good, but it can also suck. Jamie and some of my friends were glad that my eyes were truly opened to the reality of the missionary life. I have no idea why I went through some hardships and trials there, but to be honest in the end God got the glory. He knows exactly want happened and why it did happen. Thank you all for taking this journey with me. I truly appriecate all that you guys have done! I thank God for all your prayers and encouragement! Praise God for all of you! You guys rock!!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
UPDATES FROM - FEBRUARY 6-13
Hello family and friends!
I am sure all of you have heard that I am back in the states now! I arrived in Richmond last Wednesday after a 4 hour delay. I think it was for a security reason, but later found out that the airport people had the wrong information. I was upset, frustrated, and tired. By that time I had flown for about 16 1/2 hours and I just wanted to get home to my beautiful fiancee. To make a long story short, I ended sitting by an older woman who was really nice to talk to (She was in her earlier 80's and this was her first time flying without her husband) and made it to Richmond around 7:40 pm. It was so great to see Jamie!! I almost did not recognize her. She looked great!!! I am still trying to get accustomed to see "mzungus" every where. Worshiping with people at the YMCA in Bedford, VA (Bedrock Community Church) was a mixture of overwhelming and encouraging. However, I have to say that I am very glad to be back here in Lynchburg. I am also glad that I am back with my beautiful fiancee, Jamie Nicole Benedict!
*******
I did not have much time to give you all an update of the week of February 6-13. (I am going to be writing as if I am still in Uganda.) I hope everyone does not get confused. Here we go:
I am glad that the Bumgarner team is coming later on tonight (Feb 6). This week has been very hard! Right now I am the only one at the Guest House and it can be very lonely. God is there. God is here. Yeah I know that, but at times I feel like He is not there or here. I feel so empty right now. Like I said on my last blog, I am on EMPTY right now. I am DRAINED right now. I feel like I cannot give much more. That is why I am longing for the team to come. I am still having a difficult time here. Part of me does not understand why God wanted me here in Uganda for this amount of time, while Jamie is in the states living her own life.
*******
The Bumgarner team came in later Saturday night. There were 2 older couples with them. It was so much fun to listen to all of their stories. One of the couples were missionaries in Japan for 22 years W/O a furlough (Zane and Berma). Can you believe that? One of the couples had a ventriloquist ministry, which was pretty interesting (Bill and Karen). Then there was James and Marilyn! James was an old-time missionary evangelist and Marilyn was a nurse in the states. All of these people were such a great team. Bill and Karen went to about 30 secondary and primary schools to do their ministry. I went with them for a couple of them. To be honest, their ventriloquist ministry was a little too American for me, but none the less God moved and worked. It was very humbling to go to one of these primary schools. The headteacher or headmaster invited us 3 to his office and summoned one of the girls to bring everyone cookies and a soda (I had Mountain Dew, which just came to Uganda about a year ago). I felt very honored that the headmaster would serve us sodas and cookies. He later told us that eggs are being cooked for us. I thought they were going to be scrambled eggs, but later found out that they were hard boiled eggs. Once again I felt very honored that the headmaster would do that for us. However, I did not deserve that hospitality. None of us did! But in this culture, they are taught to respect visitors more than their own people. Interesting huh? James and Zane did a pastor's conference at the GSF chapel. I went to a couple of the meetings and found out what each letter in BAPTIST stood for. I can tell you that James was in his element. He enjoyed encouraging the pastors with God's Word. He just enjoyed being at GSF. Marilyn and Berma were supposed to meet with the pastor's wife, but there was only 1 woman there. We later found out that this woman said she was a pastor, interesting. Ben and I helped with lunch for the 7 or 8 pastors. It was fun serving them! During one of the afternoons Zane and I had a very interesting conversation. It started out okay, but ended up being a debate. We went from talking about the American church today to homosexuality to piercings to tattoos. I have no idea how all of this got brought up! I had to walk away because I was offended and actually got tired of talking or debating. I came up with this conclusion: Our grandparents generation needs us and my generation needs them! They need new and fresh ideas. We need wisdom and more wisdom. Even though I got my toes stepped on, it was very encouraging to be around other "mzungus" who you could understand. The Bumgarner team left Friday morning (Feb 12) and their plane left early Saturday morning (Feb 13). Apart from helping with the Pastor's Conference I helped Ben with his computer class. We only did computer class for several days because the power went out and Mark was waiting until early evening to turn on the generator. I
*******
Continue to pray for all the missionaries here! They (We) need all of your prayers! A missionary from New Zealand is coming on Sunday afternoon. Thank you for all of your prayers and support! Praise God for each and every one of you! Take care.
-Chandler
I am sure all of you have heard that I am back in the states now! I arrived in Richmond last Wednesday after a 4 hour delay. I think it was for a security reason, but later found out that the airport people had the wrong information. I was upset, frustrated, and tired. By that time I had flown for about 16 1/2 hours and I just wanted to get home to my beautiful fiancee. To make a long story short, I ended sitting by an older woman who was really nice to talk to (She was in her earlier 80's and this was her first time flying without her husband) and made it to Richmond around 7:40 pm. It was so great to see Jamie!! I almost did not recognize her. She looked great!!! I am still trying to get accustomed to see "mzungus" every where. Worshiping with people at the YMCA in Bedford, VA (Bedrock Community Church) was a mixture of overwhelming and encouraging. However, I have to say that I am very glad to be back here in Lynchburg. I am also glad that I am back with my beautiful fiancee, Jamie Nicole Benedict!
*******
I did not have much time to give you all an update of the week of February 6-13. (I am going to be writing as if I am still in Uganda.) I hope everyone does not get confused. Here we go:
I am glad that the Bumgarner team is coming later on tonight (Feb 6). This week has been very hard! Right now I am the only one at the Guest House and it can be very lonely. God is there. God is here. Yeah I know that, but at times I feel like He is not there or here. I feel so empty right now. Like I said on my last blog, I am on EMPTY right now. I am DRAINED right now. I feel like I cannot give much more. That is why I am longing for the team to come. I am still having a difficult time here. Part of me does not understand why God wanted me here in Uganda for this amount of time, while Jamie is in the states living her own life.
*******
The Bumgarner team came in later Saturday night. There were 2 older couples with them. It was so much fun to listen to all of their stories. One of the couples were missionaries in Japan for 22 years W/O a furlough (Zane and Berma). Can you believe that? One of the couples had a ventriloquist ministry, which was pretty interesting (Bill and Karen). Then there was James and Marilyn! James was an old-time missionary evangelist and Marilyn was a nurse in the states. All of these people were such a great team. Bill and Karen went to about 30 secondary and primary schools to do their ministry. I went with them for a couple of them. To be honest, their ventriloquist ministry was a little too American for me, but none the less God moved and worked. It was very humbling to go to one of these primary schools. The headteacher or headmaster invited us 3 to his office and summoned one of the girls to bring everyone cookies and a soda (I had Mountain Dew, which just came to Uganda about a year ago). I felt very honored that the headmaster would serve us sodas and cookies. He later told us that eggs are being cooked for us. I thought they were going to be scrambled eggs, but later found out that they were hard boiled eggs. Once again I felt very honored that the headmaster would do that for us. However, I did not deserve that hospitality. None of us did! But in this culture, they are taught to respect visitors more than their own people. Interesting huh? James and Zane did a pastor's conference at the GSF chapel. I went to a couple of the meetings and found out what each letter in BAPTIST stood for. I can tell you that James was in his element. He enjoyed encouraging the pastors with God's Word. He just enjoyed being at GSF. Marilyn and Berma were supposed to meet with the pastor's wife, but there was only 1 woman there. We later found out that this woman said she was a pastor, interesting. Ben and I helped with lunch for the 7 or 8 pastors. It was fun serving them! During one of the afternoons Zane and I had a very interesting conversation. It started out okay, but ended up being a debate. We went from talking about the American church today to homosexuality to piercings to tattoos. I have no idea how all of this got brought up! I had to walk away because I was offended and actually got tired of talking or debating. I came up with this conclusion: Our grandparents generation needs us and my generation needs them! They need new and fresh ideas. We need wisdom and more wisdom. Even though I got my toes stepped on, it was very encouraging to be around other "mzungus" who you could understand. The Bumgarner team left Friday morning (Feb 12) and their plane left early Saturday morning (Feb 13). Apart from helping with the Pastor's Conference I helped Ben with his computer class. We only did computer class for several days because the power went out and Mark was waiting until early evening to turn on the generator. I
*******
Continue to pray for all the missionaries here! They (We) need all of your prayers! A missionary from New Zealand is coming on Sunday afternoon. Thank you for all of your prayers and support! Praise God for each and every one of you! Take care.
-Chandler
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