The Greatest Escape - September 2012

Some time ago we were speaking to someone from Britain who had been working as a volunteer in Kisoro for several weeks and preparing to return home. He said something that surprised us. He said he was looking forward to no longer being a prisoner in the town. When we asked what he meant we realised that even though most visitors had adapted to the poor roads and chaotic traffic and at least tolerated the culture, he had become so worried that he had refused to travel any further than the boundaries of what the travel guides describe as ' a scruffy town', keeping as much as possible within the project he was helping at. Having flown 4,000 miles to work here, he had never travelled further than a mile from that project. This meant he had had no experience of the stunning scenery that surrounds Kisoro; the panoramic views that caused Churchill to declare that Uganda must be the 'Pearl of Africa', the picturesque lakes within a short distance of Kisoro, or experienced the vitality of native churches and life in the local villages. He had made himself a prisoner in Kisoro.

Many of the locals may also feel themselves to be prisoners, but not of their own choosing. They were born in Uganda, maybe to poor, peasant farmers who struggle to find enough food to feed the family, let alone to pay their children’s school fees. They therefore grew up with little education, restricted health care, limited life expectancy, have little hope of advancement and are trapped in poverty. They can only dream of the lifestyle that we all enjoy in the west and which they glimpse in newspapers or on TV. They are prisoners of their circumstances.

And then there are the other prisoners we often see in Kisoro. The work gangs in chains and their distinctive yellow overalls, who have been allowed out of jail to carry out some hard labour clearing rubbish or digging fields. They have become prisoners because of some crime or sin they had committed.

We all may be prisoners within our own lives. Maybe because of our low self esteem, or because of our background and circumstances, or because of some unresolved sin in our lives. For all of us Jesus came 'to set the prisoners free'. (Luke 4:18). This may not mean He will change our circumstances, but if we turn to Him:

-         He is able to set us free from the insecurities that may restrict our lives.

-         He is able to help us rejoice in our circumstances and realise that He loves and cares for us in all situations

-         He will forgive us our sins and to free us from guilt that may remain

It is our last month in Kisoro before our return to the UK on 19th October.

Please thank God for:

-         His faithfulness in caring for us here, and our families in the UK

-         The work that we have been able to do, both at the Diocese, and at Potter’s Village child crisis centre and Kisiizi Hopital

Please pray for;

-         a safe return to the UK and that we settle back to our bungalow in Boston

-         wisdom and discernment as we think about what we might, or might not do in the future, including possible future placements abroad

-         Evasta, who Emmanuel church is sponsoring for work experience for the next two years. That she will settle into her role at the Vocational Training Centre when she finishes her computer course in December

-         those we leave behind, such as the CMS Mission partner, Jenny Green.  That they will continue to be encouraged by God.

To read our weekly blog search for ‘Malcolm and Irene Crawford’ or go to:

http://malcolmandirenecrawford.blogspot.com