Before we went out to Kisoro we had been warned that our accommodation would be very “basic” and had no plumbing at all! When we arrived we were thankful to see that a shower and western style toilet had been provided for us; what a relief. Now if only we had some electric sockets in the kitchen it would be perfect. A few weeks further on and Malcolm put in electric sockets in the lounge and kitchen; excellent. Now if only we had some hot water it would be perfect. Two months later we obtained a water heater; wonderful, hot showers. Now if only we had some water plumbed into the kitchen it would be perfect.
Four months on and we are thinking, now if only we had a kitchen cupboard it would be perfect; but would it? It seems that the more we get the more we feel we need to have before things are “perfect”. Irene would like a chest of drawers and a soft rug to cover the concrete floor by the bed. Malcolm would really like a T.V (with English programmes), and how about a fence round the garden to keep people out, or a comfortable suite, or a car?
‘Those who love money never have enough; those who love wealth are never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to their owners except to feast their eyes on them?’ Ecclesiastes 5:10,11
It’s natural to want to strive to improve our surroundings to have a comfortable home where we are pleased to invite others, but do we strive in that same way to improve our relationship with God. Are we unsatisfied with the way things are, do we want more and more of the things He has to offer; a desire to get closer to Him, to give Him a home in our hearts where He would be pleased to stay. Have we the same yearning to improve our relationship with Him that we have to improve our level of comfort and material possessions?
If only we’d let you know what to pray for.
The last month has been busy. Irene has been immersing herself in the Vocational Training Centre. In addition to preparing a Business Studies course she has been asked to be the ‘matron’ keeping a motherly eye on the 14 young women who board with the Diocese. She has also been trying to help organise for a new, basic computer awareness course that has been offered for the first time. At the Cathedral she has recently preached at one of the quarterly Fellowship meetings held on a Saturday.
Malcolm is part way through visiting all 37 parishes to carry out a basic audit of their financial records, and to find out the needs for a training course for church treasurers proposed for later this year. Although some treasurers have a reasonable education, many are simple peasant farmers with limited training in dealing with numbers and money, let alone book-keeping. He has also received a request from Kisiizi Hospital, managed by a neighbouring Diocese, to help them on an occasional basis with auditing their financial systems which would require a difficult journey each time he visits and time away from Kisoro .
Please:
- Thank God for the work we are doing and for the opportunity to serve Him in many diverse ways
- Pray that
o we would have wisdom in recognising the work He wants us to do rather than just keeping ourselves busy
o Irene will be able to be sensitive to the needs of the young women that board here
o a suitable teacher will be appointed for the computer training course
o Malcolm would have wisdom in planning relevant, comprehensive but simple training for church Treasurers
o we are able to discern God’s will for us as we find out more about the needs of Kisiizi Hospital
To find out more about what we are doing then read our weekly blog by searching on the Internet for ‘Malcolm Irene Crawford’.
If only we all had a computer!
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