"The woman conceived a child and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she coul hide him no longer, she got him a basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children'...And she named him Moses, and said,
Because I drew him out of the water.' " Exodus 2:2-6;10b
You may be wondering what this passage has to do with our time here in Uganda. Well, I have an answer for you! Today six out of our eight team members had the opportunity to go white water rafting down the Nile River. That's right! The Nile River...and it was an amazing experience! Not only because we got to have a great adventure here - or a Gue (pronounced gooey) "Great Ugandan Experience" as we like to call them, but also because we got to experience God's creation again today. Personally it was an indescribable experience to raft down the Nile River - a part of my history as a Christian. I could only think "wow I get to actually see one of the places mentioned in the bible" the words to describe it are hard to find. Romans 1:19 & 20 is called to mind though, which says "because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, and His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." For those who don't know, the Nile Rive is about 50 feet deep and the white water is created by such a massive force of water flowing through a small expanse of space - not by rocks like most cases. It is a marvelous thing for the eye to behold! "Bless the Lord O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; ou are clothed with splendor and majesty,....He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter, forever and ever You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled, At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away." (Psalm 104: 1, 5-7) This is our God - He is the author of creation and at His command it obeys.
Rafting down the Nile was not only an indescribable experience, but it was FUN!! We had a great guide named Jeffrey who is native to Uganda. We started out slow...swimming through the first very small rapids...but after that - WHEW!! What a day! The total trip consisted of about 10 white water rapid areas, most being level 3 rapids, with several level 5's scattered in there. We had a picnic lunch on an island in the middle of the Nile, then headed on for the BIG one! Well...they actually call it the BAD one...and it is the final rapid of the trip. Five of us decided to raft it and let me just say it is not for the faint hearted! We actually had to move the raft around the first part of the final rapids because it is a level six...and way to advanced for us - or most people at that. So we reboarded...got into position and headed into the rapids. We made about 20 seconds and then over we went! I can now say I have experienced being plunged into the rapids of the Nile River and then shortly spit back out! When I finally surfaced I was suprised to find that the storm that had been threatening itself had finally begun and it was pouring down rain. By the time everyone got back into the boat from the flip, the rain had subsided and the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen was stretching across the Nile from end to end. So not only did we get to experience one of the biblical locations, we also got to see one of the first signs of God's covenant with His people! What a day!
I know that you must think that rafting the Nile was the highlight of my day...but it isn't. On the ride to the Nile, Adam and I had the pleasure of sitting next to a guy named Bjorn from Norway on the bus and sharing the truth of God's word with Him. Bjorn is 26 year old guy vacationing in Uganda - he has investigated religion somewhat and come to the conclusion that he believes the Big Bang theory and that we are all on earth by chance and that our death will the final for us - not heaven or hell or afterlife. It was very challenging and convicting to share with him. My eyes were opened in a very real way that the battle we are fighting against the enemy is changing daily and that his lies are great and many. Our world is quickly changing into one where we aren't merely sharing Jesus Christ as saviour of our sins - we are rapidly facing a culture of people who don't even believe in sin. Our battle is great and daily.
Please continue praying for us!
Much love,
Jenna
Because I drew him out of the water.' " Exodus 2:2-6;10b
You may be wondering what this passage has to do with our time here in Uganda. Well, I have an answer for you! Today six out of our eight team members had the opportunity to go white water rafting down the Nile River. That's right! The Nile River...and it was an amazing experience! Not only because we got to have a great adventure here - or a Gue (pronounced gooey) "Great Ugandan Experience" as we like to call them, but also because we got to experience God's creation again today. Personally it was an indescribable experience to raft down the Nile River - a part of my history as a Christian. I could only think "wow I get to actually see one of the places mentioned in the bible" the words to describe it are hard to find. Romans 1:19 & 20 is called to mind though, which says "because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, and His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." For those who don't know, the Nile Rive is about 50 feet deep and the white water is created by such a massive force of water flowing through a small expanse of space - not by rocks like most cases. It is a marvelous thing for the eye to behold! "Bless the Lord O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; ou are clothed with splendor and majesty,....He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter, forever and ever You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled, At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away." (Psalm 104: 1, 5-7) This is our God - He is the author of creation and at His command it obeys.
Rafting down the Nile was not only an indescribable experience, but it was FUN!! We had a great guide named Jeffrey who is native to Uganda. We started out slow...swimming through the first very small rapids...but after that - WHEW!! What a day! The total trip consisted of about 10 white water rapid areas, most being level 3 rapids, with several level 5's scattered in there. We had a picnic lunch on an island in the middle of the Nile, then headed on for the BIG one! Well...they actually call it the BAD one...and it is the final rapid of the trip. Five of us decided to raft it and let me just say it is not for the faint hearted! We actually had to move the raft around the first part of the final rapids because it is a level six...and way to advanced for us - or most people at that. So we reboarded...got into position and headed into the rapids. We made about 20 seconds and then over we went! I can now say I have experienced being plunged into the rapids of the Nile River and then shortly spit back out! When I finally surfaced I was suprised to find that the storm that had been threatening itself had finally begun and it was pouring down rain. By the time everyone got back into the boat from the flip, the rain had subsided and the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen was stretching across the Nile from end to end. So not only did we get to experience one of the biblical locations, we also got to see one of the first signs of God's covenant with His people! What a day!
I know that you must think that rafting the Nile was the highlight of my day...but it isn't. On the ride to the Nile, Adam and I had the pleasure of sitting next to a guy named Bjorn from Norway on the bus and sharing the truth of God's word with Him. Bjorn is 26 year old guy vacationing in Uganda - he has investigated religion somewhat and come to the conclusion that he believes the Big Bang theory and that we are all on earth by chance and that our death will the final for us - not heaven or hell or afterlife. It was very challenging and convicting to share with him. My eyes were opened in a very real way that the battle we are fighting against the enemy is changing daily and that his lies are great and many. Our world is quickly changing into one where we aren't merely sharing Jesus Christ as saviour of our sins - we are rapidly facing a culture of people who don't even believe in sin. Our battle is great and daily.
Please continue praying for us!
Much love,
Jenna
3 comments:
My dear daughter, I am so glad that you are experiencing God's glory in such a magnificent way. This will be a trip to remember for a lifetime.
News from home: Gov. Bob Riley on Thursday turned to a higher power. The governor issued a proclamation calling for a week of prayer for rain, beginning Saturday June 29.
Riley encouraged Alabamians to pray "individually and in their houses of worship." It has rained just about every day, not enough to bring us out of the drought, but enough that your dad had to cut the grass. LOL
Now that you are an ole pro at rafting, we will have to take your dad down the Coosa when you get home.
We pray for your safety and that you will continue to spread the good news with the people of Uganda.
All my love,
Mom
Jenna......
It brings tears to my eyes to know that you are experiencing the marvelous works of our almighty creator. To have it, to be in the middle of it, and to be able to share it with others.
I have been keeping up with the teams posts and ther is such a warmth that fill my heart and soul to read the ministry that all of you doing......oh the seeds that you are planting!!!
I have shared your blog and a copy of the site address with the Frazer staff so they may be able to grasp the light the each of you are shinning to brightly. There are several of us here including myself praying for you and the team.
Be safe and I CANT wait until you get home!!!
MUCH LOVE!!
In Him,
Keri
Jenna, I don't know if you are able to check your email, so I am going to write you here. If I tell you after you get home, it will be too late!
I saw Dr. Dickinson today and told him about your trip. He said that he knows the medical group that is with you. He knows Dr. Whittington (sp???) very well and told me to tell you to tell him that he said, Hi!" Dr. D. said that he helped provide some of the drugs that the group took with them.
I see that you are wearing your new jacket!
Hugs
Mom
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