Count Your Blessings!

I praise God for another year of service in Uganda. During our Thanksgiving meal with some of our missionaries and Ugandan friends, we sang the song, “Count Your Blessings.” As we all sang, we would stop and go around the table and talk about what we were most thankful for. It was awesome hearing the different testimonies of God’s faithfulness and provision. To hear people genuinely praise God for their life….for His protection over them, for His guidance and His safety over them as they travel these crazy roads here in Uganda.

As we close out 2009 I also want to “Count my many blessings…” I want to praise God for each one of you who pray for us. For you, who know how to intercede for us, for the many times you’ve said to me, “I pray for you and your family EVERYDAY!” I rejoice greatly for your willingness to ask God’s Hand to be on our lives and on the people of Uganda. For you petitioning God for the souls of mankind, for you seeking Him on our behalf….there’s no greater joy than to know we are loved and prayed for by you, so thanks for standing in the gap and please keep it up!!

I also want to praise God for each one of you who have sacrificially given to the work here. As I was trying to come up with a new budget for the new year, I went through the list of donors for 2009 and I was overwhelmed by your faithfulness in your giving to us! I know every dollar given to our work here was given out of a genuine love for the Nester family and for the precious people of Uganda. Thank you! I am so blessed by your generosity. I know some of you have fallen on hard times and weren’t able to keep your financial commitments to us, but that’s okay….God Knows what we need and He is Faithful! Let me give you a quick report of what you’ve help accomplish in 2009:

1) We’ve been able to start 38 Bible Schools in Uganda and Kenya

2) We planted a church in our house with over 150 people in attendance! We’ve been able to teach entirely through the books of Romans, Ephesians,

I John and Philippians! (We just started a series through Matthew)

3) We’ve been able to host a Marriage Conference for our missionary community

4) We’ve hosted 3 teams from the US this year (5 teams are on the books for 2010)

5) We were able to purchase a new van for the ministry

6) We’ve been able to start construction on two churches

7) We’ve been able to assist in the Macedonian Project to reach the slums of our town, Jinja

8) We’ve been able to show the JESUS film in a number of villages

9) We’ve helped a number of orphans with school fees and scholastic materials

10) We’ve spoken in 6 Pastors Conferences (training 100’s of pastors in Bible Truth)

11) We’ve spoken in 6 Youth Conferences (training 100’s of youth in Bible Truth)

12) We’ve been able to financially help a number of widows with their upkeep

I mean, the list could go on and on and on….but this just shows some of what your generosity has helped us accomplish in 2009. So, Thank You!!! I count it all joy to serve along side of you! Through your prayers and financial support we are making a difference in East Africa.

One of the Realities of Uganda

A few months ago a lady named "Christine" from our church asked me to pray for her. She said she had been to the hospital in Kampala and diagnosed with cancer in her feet and legs. She then proceeded to show me the swelling and "rottenness" of her feet and ankles. The skin looked like it was "peeling" off of her from the calves downward. I took her to one of the American nurses who attends our church and she said, "Yes, it could be cancer, but you can't really tell by just a physical exam, so bring us your paperwork from Mulago and we'll look at everything and see if there's something further we can do." I then prayed for her and she went on her way. A number of months went by and I didn't see or hear from "Christine" again until last Sunday....when I saw her I asked if she had brought her papers from Mulago Hospital and she she had them. I told her to wait after church so we could talk and see what we could do to help her.

After church, (by the way a 19 year old boy got saved after the service!) I met with "Christine" and I noticed as she handed me her papers that she began to cry....She handed me a 3X5 green card from the clinic that stated her name and then "HIV POSITIVE." Nothing else on the card.....just the "stigma" of her name labeled as "HIV POSITIVE." I sat there with this 29 year old girl and began to cry along with her. It was a difficult moment for me! I sat there, stunned, face to face with the reality of so many here in Uganda. After some time I began to ask her some hard questions, "Do you have children?" (No, I've had 2 children die of HIV) "Are you married?" (No, I'm a widow, my husband has died of HIV) "Are you taking medications?" (No, I fear going to the clinic to get started)......
I got on the phone and called Holly, a mzungu, (white person) who has an orphanage for HIV children and got some counsel from her. She made an appointment for "Christine" to come to her office and she would escort her to the "Hope Clinic" to be seen by doctors and given the newest and most advanced ARV's on the market for free. She promised to walk with her and get her started with her treatments, to be there during this beginning process to answer any questions and calm any fears. I then prayed for her and she left....as she walked out of the gate, I thought of the pain that she must be feeling: the loss of a husband, the burial of not one, but two children and now the reality of this disease in her own body. I also thought of the hope she has as a follower of Jesus Christ: the promise of a day when there will be no more tears, a day when there will be no more pain and a day when there will be no more HIV/Aids!
"Even so, come Lord Jesus!"

A Good Monday!

Today was great! Why? Because I never left the house! I was dog-tired from the US team and the road-trips and the travels, plus hosting a party on Saturday and preaching at church on Sunday....well-deserved rest was a true blessing! Vance Havner used to say, "The man who burns the candle on both ends is not as bright as he thinks he is!" I say, " Amen" to that!!

However, I did manage to reply to some emails and send some encouraging notes to some people, I even got to download a ton of pictures from the camera today (which I hope to post on here soon!) But most of all, I got to relax and spend time with God and the wonderful wife He's blessed me with!

God bless you all and thanks for reading and praying for us.....we are eternally grateful for your love and support to our family!

My First Day into the Blog World

Today I officially opened up my blog.....don't know if people will read it but it's a way to keep you informed about the busy and crazy life of the Nester family....