Uganda Newsletter

March/April, 2008, Kampala, Uganda, Africa – and Richmond, Virginia

FAREWELL UGANDA, HELLO AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!

We are amazed to say that we have completed our three years in Kampala, Uganda, and have returned to the US. It is with a sad heart that these last words will be written about our farewell there for we truly will miss Uganda…all but the wearying traffic and poor, poor roads. We moved to the Baptist Mission guesthouse our last week to finish last minute packing and to be available for our Ugandan friends to come by for visits. Rose baked 10 banana breads and we just spent time with friends sharing banana bread and drinking Fanta Orange….which they love, but cannot afford. We were so humbled by many who came to pray over us before we departed. And many tears were shared; which shocked us, because Ugandans do not cry easily. Our hearts are knitted with so many of them and we beg you to continue to PRAY for the house churches, the celebration points and leaders there. There are many struggles to be faced and challenges to be met for the churches to remain strong and intact. PRAY for the team leaders, Anthony and Misti Shelton, who will give leadership to the house church movement in Kampala and throughout Uganda, and for the Berrys and the Carsons who are members of the team.

As we reflect upon our Uganda experience we would not have wanted to have been there without the sweet hand of the Lord to guide us, protect us and sustain us. And also, we did not want to be there without the love, encouragement and support given by so many of you to us; which has made our journey so much richer and sweeter. To you, we do express our deepest love and gratitude.

Uganda and Ugandans have indelibly imprinted their beauty, love and culture upon us and our lives are richer by having been influenced and blessed these three years of ministry. This would be too long if we began to culminate and remember all the people, the sharing, the evangelism, the joy and delight of their welcoming ways and a myriad of other things that have so blessed us. I won’t even try to express that on paper but am grateful that in small increments I have been able to do the newsletters each month; as much for our sakes as for those of you who have been so kind to read them and pray with us about many expressed needs.

But certainly the highlight of our ministry was the privilege to share Jesus with hundreds (with the help of volunteers and also our national brothers and sisters), and to see so hundreds come to a personal faith in Him. We were so strengthened in our ministry by a huge number of volunteers who came and labored beside us and faithfully shared Jesus in some very difficult situations and circumstances. Also, we have been so blessed to have ministered among the poor, the sick and dying and those whose lives were truly poverty stricken and ill and life was quickly fading from them. We did not leave America knowing that those in such dire circumstances would be the ones among whom we would minister but we are grateful that God led us to this special group of people. We’ve been so challenged and encouraged to learn more about these dear folks who suffer greatly from the perils of poverty, diseases and ravages of war but who are so precious and grateful for anything and who really have so few expectations. We have been challenged by a people whose love for God and their worship of Him is filled with great feeling, joy, praise, pathos and prayer. They are not ashamed in the least to express deep and humble praise and gratitude to Him for their lives and salvation. And then for sure it has been a blessing to be able to give Bibles to people who had never had the privilege to have or to hold a Bible of their own in their language. Many of you gave money for Bibles and we do wish you could see these Bibles being used in the services scattered out all over the city. PRAY for God’s Word to flourish.

We are certainly enjoying being home with our family and friends and what a delight to be with our sweet grandson, Isaac, and he has never seemed afraid of us and comes to us very easily from his parents’ arms. He is one happy “fella” and makes our day with his smiles, arms outstretched, good disposition and hugs and kisses. We are 25 miles out from Richmond and we sure dislike the price of gas but we are still making our trek in to the city as often as we can. We have had several weeks with Danny’s mom, who lives in Atlanta, and she is now in Richmond with us until first part of June. And then Jason surprised us on Mother’s Day and had a 5 day visit. So we are having a wonderful time here with family. But we do miss our precious friends and relationships in Kampala.

We have completed our Candidate consulting interviews and medical assessments and if we get medical clearance we will be moving to Kenya in latter part of 2008. We are not sure about the date now as we just found out we are going to be grandparents again December 16. If possible, we would like to postpone our return until later in December and see another Hood enter the world. We may have become grandparents late in life but we might catch up quickly. HA. PRAY for our medical clearance to go smoothly.

We are speaking in churches and looking forward to doing more of that in these coming months. It has been a delight to already see many of you and we look forward to seeing others in the coming months. Our friends and prayer supporters have been so meaningful in the work of the Lord through us in Kampala. Thank you so much for faithfully lifting us up to the Father these three years and many other ways you have shared in our lives. We are grateful for this experience and for the support of brothers and sisters in the Lord who give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program in your churches. Please know that those two aspects of giving help to keep us and 5,000+ other missionaries on the field around the world.

We love you and so look forward to our paths crossing in future months.

Danny and Claudia