Abiding In Jesus: 2006

22 December 2006

A Uganda Christmas Tree Tale

Dear Family and Friends,
Merry Christmas from Uganda! We have officially finished our first Swahili “term,” concluding with a written exam this last Wednesday and then an oral exam on Thursday. Both were quite challenging but we felt like Jesus really helped. We will hear back today (Friday) at what level of language proficiency the examiners discerned we have reached and also what the language school recommends for our continued studies. Since we are moving to Arua in January (hopefully the 20th), we will probably set up some sort of tutoring program once we are there. There is a bit of curiosity to see how Jesus will unfold the next leg in our Swahili learning adventure but we both feel so thankful for His gracious kindness over these first few months. We are realizing how much more we have to learn but we celebrate how He has helped us so much. The “break” (although some of you know, language learning never really takes breaks) for Christmas will be refreshing but we’d ask you to keep Swahili in your prayers for us as we long for Jesus to use whatever we know for His African purposes.
This is our first Christmas away from home and family and that has been a new experience. There have been some sad moments but Jesus has been so faithful and the little (maybe even silly) things have become even more fun and too some degree more significant. This morning the Mayos, our field director’s family called and joyfully shared the splendid news that they had found their copy of “White Christmas.” We promptly figured out when we could have a showing and are already inviting the rest of the field. There is nothing magical about White Christmas, but we thank Jesus for His provision of such a silly movie that reminds us of previous Christmas memories with our families. We are discovering that memories are precious gifts.
One of the grandest blessings has been our Christmas tree. In previous years, we never had a Christmas tree in Jackson because we always left to be with family. While we did find them here in a few select stories, they were expensive and we weren’t sure we really “needed” one. Well, last Saturday while trying to Christmas shop for Joanna, I got stuck in traffic at the Jinga roundabout, a notorious Kampala site for traffic. While sitting, I happened to notice, as usually, there were guys all along the road hawking anything you can imagine, from cowboy hats, to security locks to Sunday shoes. One man caught my eye for he had of all things, a little scrawny Christmas tree. I started to blow him off with a laugh at how ridiculous Africa life is, when it dawned on me that we didn’t have a tree and might as well ask him what he wanted for it. Well sure enough, he was willing to barter and as traffic began to move, I pulled a long cardboard box in through the window, a little stamped Christmas tree plastered on the side. I wasn’t even convinced there was a tree in the box but thought it was worth the gamble. The next shop I visited happened to have some lights and by the time I got home, I was excited. Sure enough, there was a “real-live artificial” tree in there and to Joanna’s great delight the lights even worked! Needless to say, we never realized how special some of the little things add to the season. There is a growing subtle confidence that our Heavenly Father finds great joy in gift-giving…whether of Jesus for all of Uganda or of scrawny African Christmas trees to new missionaries away from home. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! Merry Christmas!

11 December 2006

ARUA AGAIN

Early this last Friday morning we headed off for Arua. Amazingly enough, the road to Arua is remarkably good and the last 230 kilometers is considered some of the best in East Africa. Jesus has been preparing the way…literally for our arrival! The journey up was uneventful except for a few random pedestrians whom we passed with great delight (baboons). The trip up took seven and half hours and so we arrived mid-afternoon, road weary but excited and anxious to “be home.” It was the Rinehimers first experience of Arua and thus we took some time to familiarize them with the layout of the town. Some particular sights of interest were: the Eagle Air (line) office; the Indian grocery store which stocks lots of very helpful amenities including bran flakes, Digestive cookies, and yummy chocolate; the “recommended” hospital which is just out of town as well as the “strongly un-recommended” hospital; and the post office. The postal office, as they call it, was one of the highlights for all of us as we began the process of registering for a mail box. While it took some time and finding a place “locally” for “identification photos” was an adventure, on Saturday we were able to official register our new address (come January15th) as P.O. Box 53, Arua, Uganda!!! Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! For all of you who are aware of Joanna’s fondness for mail, it was like a piece of our puzzle, our beginning to call Uganda “home” puzzle, fell into place. We were able to tour again the house that Jesus has opened up for us to rent and it was fun to show the rest of our team where we will call “home.” We spent some time inquiring about other available houses for Rinehimers and talking with various locals and other missionaries. We thank Jesus for opening up several very encouraging missionary contacts even in just our short time there. We left our “Lovely Inn Guesthouse” early Sunday morning and arrived back in Kampala safely – our best pit stop being for three large elephants taking refuge off the main road under an African Acacia tree. We wake up this Monday a.m. a bit fatigued but thanking Jesus for His providential “going-before” grace and for the privilege to live in Uganda. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

07 December 2006

Preparing for Arua

Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! This last week we saw Jesus work in some tremendous ways for which we praise Him. Some of them were quite exciting and yet others were just reassurances of His nearness. Somehow the little scheduling adjustments that He made and the relational interruptions we didn’t plan carried a divine weight all on their own. They were intangible evidences that He is working for us… One of the big excitements earlier in the week was that we got the “green light” to move to Arua on January 8th! While we were soaking in that reality, we met with our potential land lord a few days later. He lives here in Kampala but has a great little house to rent in Arua. He is graciously willing to work with us but he is asking we give him until January 15th to have everything ready. We honestly were a bit disappointed but trust Jesus knows the right time table and regardless, we hope to finalize on the house with the landlord this coming week! That is a huge praise and thank you so much as many of you all have been praying with us for just the right housing set-up. On Saturday, we went downtown and felt like Jesus really led us to some things for the house… to be honest, it is a little thought-provoking to be setting up a home in a place like Arua, Uganda. Exciting. Challenging. Prayerful. A whole mixture of emotions. Sunday, Billy got to preach at Kampala International University and that was a terrific experience. There were numerous African countries represented in the student body and it was just exciting to be able to share the word with hungry African hearts. They were very warm and we counted it a privilege to celebrate Advent together. Many of you were praying and we want you to know we are grateful. Thank you. This coming week we have Swahili each morning except Friday when we again go up to Arua to visit. We will be traveling this time with our field director, Jon Mayo and our close friends, John and Erica Rinehimer. We would ask for prayer for traveling mercies as we will be driving, the right network of contacts and relationships, and specifically a house for the Rinehimers. We have shared with some of you, but Kampala does not feel like home. Arua already has that sense and so we both are anticipating “going home.”

(We tried to include a picture of the house we are prayerfully pursuing! Thanks for praying with us for Jesus' Arua Home.)

27 November 2006

Thanksgiving In Uganda

This last week has been a unique mixture of highs and lows. Monday of last week (20th), our close friends and fellow missionaries, John and Erica Rinehimer, arrived in Uganda. We were elated and they brightened the whole holiday week. Jesus has been so gracious to provide friendships here and we feel very connected to a number of folks for which we are very grateful. There was a certain delight though in seeing old friends again and we thank Jesus for them.
Thursday was honestly a hard day for both of us. Maybe the toughest yet in Uganda. We got up early and made French toast...and both seriously missed our moms. The hardest part was nothing here was "thanksgiving." We still had Swahili class, still had to run errands, still had to figure out life in Uganda. Not bad...just weird. Nothing was familiar. No Macy Parade, no football, no faces we know so well, no neices or nephews climbing our shoulders. Friday the WGM Uganda field celebrated and that really did feel more like a holiday. We were 27 people all together and that almost felt like home. Turkey was availabe through the U.S. embassy for which we all were grateful! Funny though, the thing everyone of us missed the most...not the parades, football, or even food but the people. So many of you all prayed for us and we thank you. Jesus has been very present and honestly we feel bonded to those whom we have shared these last days with. He is faithful to provide.
One of the highlights amidst the week was we got to meet with the landlord of one of the houses we checked out in Arua. He was overly gracious and very much willing to work with us. Nothing is official yet but please continue to pray for the LORD's unfolding the best housing arrangement for us and our team in Arua.
Please mark your prayer calender: Billy preaches on Sunday at the University church. Also we are planning another survey/scouting trip to Arua December 8-10 with the Rinehimers and Jon Mayo. Housing and contacts are at the top of our priority prayer list.
We thank Jesus for you all these days and your willingness to hold the ropes with us. Happy Beginning Advent Season.

18 November 2006

An Arua Adventure

So we found ourselves in Arua these last couple of days. It was a blitz trip up and back and not at all expected! We really wanted to go and felt excited to visit Arua again, this time as actually here to live. It was the first time we had flown up which was an adventure but we made it safely and Jesus immediately began putting pieces together. Stan Wafler and his wife, Pam, are IMB missionaries who have been in Arua for five years now and they and their family graciously took us in for the morning, even giving us a lift from the air strip (you could not call it an airport!) into town. We have only been on one of two of these scouting trips and we are always reminded of Joshua and Caleb spying out the land! It is fascinating because while you never can guess how God will work, you really almost expect Him too in dramatic ways and each moment we found ourselves surprised by His joyful blessings. One of those was that Mrs. Pam is close friends with Mrs. Cathy Asiki, the wife of mayor of Arua. While Pam’s afternoon was full, Cathy volunteered to spend several hours with us. So there we were... tromping through Aruan neighborhoods in our Chaco sandals, scribbling down notes while we looked for available housing and asked a lot of questions. That first night we dined at the new Indian Restaurant, the Lovely Inn, which was the answer to many prayers for a possible “date-night” restaurant. It was fantastic and we chuckled that even all the way up in Arua, we could watch European soccer on their television! One of the great adventures is transportation and since we had no vehicle, Friday morning we opted for a bicycle taxi which really is an experience all on its own. When you come to visit, we’ll arrange a ride for you! Friday afternoon we got caught in a heavy down pour, much to the bemusement of many “Aruans.” Due to the rain and then because as a rule, we do not do much after dark in Uganda ever, we called it an early night at the Heritage Court Guest house and dined on goat stew and rice. A few crickets joined us during the night but actual hot water made all the difference! Thank you so much for your continued prayers as we follow up on housing leads for our team (us, the Rinehimers who arrive Monday! and Jeannie Banter who comes in January). Also, that we will continue to sense the LORD’s guidance and direction as suddenly the elusive “Arua” dream is slowly becoming our reality. We thank you for sharing in that reality with us in so many ways.

(We are having trouble posting pictures but we'll work on posting the one of Joanna on her bicycle taxi)

07 November 2006

A Happy Surprise

Unexpected House Guests

This last weekend we have had the privilege to host the Ironside family. They are a gifted couple with four fantastic boys and due to some unexpected circumstances, they had no place to sleep last Friday night. Their house was ready but all their furniture was buried in their container under African “paperwork.” The great news though is that they finally did get approval to unpack Monday morning and several of us were able to help them unload. While we had invited them to come crash with us a week or so ago, we never expected they would actually need a place. We had a ton of fun though and it was really special to see how Jesus connected us with all of their boys as well as with Kevin and Pamela. We are hoping that once the dust settles from moving in, there will be continued opportunities for serving Jesus alongside each other. In light of missing several of our closest friends as well as our nieces and nephews, we considered them a tremendous blessing from Jesus. He always expands our “families.”
The other interesting news is that we got a new Swahili teacher. Mwalimu (teacher) David came Monday and passed the “torch” on to our new Mwalimu Jared. He is a young Kenyan who is studying at the University here in Kampala. It will take us a little while to transition but he seems to know his stuff and we are excited, trusting he is from Jesus. Tuesday morning was terrific and and he pushed both of us in fresh but helpful ways. We are thankful to Jesus because we feel like we have acquired a rudimentary foundation of simple sentences with basic vocabulary. Sunday (two days ago), we got to attend a village church an hour out of Kampala amidst the sugar cane fields. Much of the service was in Swahili and to our delight we were able to understand bits and pieces. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! Amidst the celebration though, we realize it is a dangerous place to settle. Please be praying that Jesus can use Jared to move us to then next level of language proficiency for Kingdom purposes.
We would also like to request pray for our close friends John and Erica Rinehimer. They leave the States very soon and will be arriving in Uganda on Nov. 20th. We cannot wait! If the Lord brings them to mind, please pray for their final days packing up with good byes and then their actual move. We are grateful.
Thank you again for being part of our team.

28 October 2006

Locked Out!!!

The picture may require a little explanation but the lesson learned is that it is just as easy to lock yourself out of your house…whether you are in Uganda or in America! This weekend we have had a mini-field retreat with our field pastor and his wife, Rick and Janie Burkhalter. On Friday, we had a wonderfully relaxing day as a team at a beautiful resort not far from our house. We came home about 6:00 p.m. hoping for quick showers and a bit to eat before they all came over at 7:30 for games. Wearily we dragged our sunburned selves up the steps, already anticipating cool showers when we realized the house was locked…tight. Locking yourself out of your house in a country where every window has bars makes “breaking in” a bit more challenging. Conveniently the spare key had been accidentally left inside instead of at our neighbors. Our day watchman, Mugisha (in the blue shirt overseeing) and our night watchman, Julius (in the window), graciously helped us try to rig some sort of wiring device to fish the keys off their rack (see the picture). After numerous failed attempts, a hidden set of keys was located but needless to say we did not get showers before our company came. They did come though and we had a brilliant time playing and laughing. These days we would request your prayers that Jesus would talk to our hearts as families but also as a field. The challenges are many; the resources limited; but our God is BIG. Even for getting into our own house! Thank you for laughing with us.

Billy & Joanna Coppedge

Many of you have been praying for our family in light of Moms Coppedge going to be with Jesus. Thank you. Please keep praying as our family continues to thank Jesus for such a grandmother but also begins the process of sorting through ninety-two precious years of life’s treasures. Jesus has been present here in Uganda for us even amidst the sadness.

20 October 2006

An Opportunity to Trust Jesus

Serving Jesus is such a privilege. We thank Him for entrusting us with so much. At times you wonder what He is thinking, but apparently in His patience and kindness, He believes we are capable of what sometimes feels more than we'd wish to carry. This afternoon we got the call from my Daddy that his mother, Moms Coppedge(my grandmother) went to be with Jesus. She passed away 5:15 on the 19th. The incredible blessing was all the family got to be with her when Jesus came including my oldest sister Katy Beth (who just flew in from Hungary). While such moments are ever so painful, we thank Jesus she loved and served Him for 92 years. This week we praise God for godly grandparents and parents. There is a sense of responsibility and calling... in some way we carry her witness for Jesus to men and women in Uganda. What a privilge. To be honest, the week has been hard. We knew she was close to going and that makes everything a little cloudy. We'd covet your prayers for my family as they celebrate her life and spend these days thanking Jesus for all the ways she pointed us as a family to Him. Jesus has been very real and while you may laugh, the puppy we got at the beginning of the week has been a wonderful distraction/blessing. Thank you for your prayers and love.

For Love of Jesus

17 October 2006

A New Addition to the Team

This last Sunday a man appeared at our gate just as we were leaving for church. He was from Armor Group, a near-by business that trains dogs to assist law enforcement in tracking, narcotics, explosives, and security. The previous Saturday, we had been trying to practice our Swahili and spoke briefly with the Armor Group guard. The guard had misunderstood our questions and thought we wanted a dog. The company promptly sent this man named Wilson(not the pastor previously mentioned) over to offer us the "last" available puppy. We had both assumed we would have a dog for security in Arua but neither of us had thought through how we would actually acquire such an animal. Jesus apparently recognized our confusion and solved the problem by bring the dog to us! We finally talked Wilson into giving us a day to pray about it so we could make a somewhat emotionally stable decision (as the dog was wooing hearts even as we talked). But the damage had been done and there was no turning back. Needless to say, we are now the owners of a "vicious" security dog. The adventure continues and we chuckle because Jesus seems to continue to delight in the BIG and the small things. We are quite grateful He cares about both!

We trust you sense His delight this week. Thank you for praying for us. We have been here a month and feel both humbled and grateful for all your love.

Billy & Joanna...and Marori

11 October 2006

An African Country Church

This last Sunday we were invited to attend a one year anniversary celebration for a new church located outside of the capital of Kampala. The name of the area was Natchigala and the church was set amidst a beautiful tea estate, green tea bushes covering the hill side like a blanket. The drive out was delightful as both of us were reminded of how much we had missed the open countryside with its vivid colors and six foot red-clay termite hills. We got lost trying to follow the heavily overgrown trail but eventually pulled up at a “rustic” structure of bamboo siding, tin roofing sheets, and several large tarps whipping in the late morning breeze.
As “muzungus” (a white person but as a statement of fact and not demeaning) we received a lot of looks and many greeted us with joy-filled smiles. The audience’s clothing and appearance was a full spectrum ranging from several women who had their hair done professionally to numerous children in the back who were without even cheap bata sandals.
The pastor’s name is Wilson and the church in Natchigala was born in his heart as he realized the need for Jesus in the Natchigala community. He and his wife, Grace, are some of our heroes as we continue to learn from their willingness to leap out upon the promises of God and see what He would do with not much more than an available couple.
It was a refreshing privilege to be back in an African “pulpit” (there was none!) and re-experience the humor generated by misunderstandings between the preacher and the translator. Jesus was faithful and it dawned on us during the extended celebrations that this was our fourth Sunday in Uganda.
Thank you for standing with us as part of Jesus' team and as we cannot say thank you enough for "holding the ropes."
The Africa Gospel Church of Natchigala sends their “greetings!”

01 October 2006

A Chance to Share Jesus

At the end of this last week, I met with our Field Director Jon Mayo and he promptly summarized my (our) priorities for the next three months: Jesus, Joanna, Swahili. Kindly but very firmly he cautioned me to stay on task and inspite of wanting to serve in more "tangible" ways, resist the urge in light of the Bigger Picture. This morning in my prayer with Jesus, I was just sharing my desire for some opportunity to share Jesus with a non-Christian, inspite of my "strick" assignment to not go looking for other ministries.
Not long after that, while fixing coffee there was a rap on our backdoor and it was Patrick, our guard. He sadly informed me that his "brother-cousin" had passed away in the night and he was asking for permission to be excused to attend to funeral details. We talked for a few minutes and then while I assumed he was a Christian, I thought I would just "double-check." To my surprise, his response was, "My wife and I have not yet made that decision." What opened up then was a chance for me to share with Patrick about a pair of sisters who once lost their brother named Lazarus and how Jesus showed up and declared that He was indeed the Resurrection and the Life. Patrick did not immediate pray to receive Jesus but I believe the experience really was probably more for me... I prayed for such an opportunity, not imagining how it would work being surrounded mostly by only other missionaries, and yet before breakfast, Jesus provided just such an opportunity.
Amazingly enough, Joanna had been carrying the same burden for an opportunity to share Jesus and she had a very similar experience shortly after church this afternoon. She was talking with a freshman girl(in high school) named Agnus who seemed to know the Christian answers and even indicated her parents were "born-again." She had never made a decision for Jesus herself though. Joanna shared a bit of her own testimony then about the necessity of personal faith and what Jesus had done in her own life. Once again, Agnus did not promptly ask Jesus into her heart but she did get to hear a clear explanation of how and furthermore, that Jesus loved her. With Jesus, you never know quite what your "normal" day will look like!
Thank you again for praying with us...for Swahili; for our current fellow missionaries; for other missionaries soon coming to join us; and for more opportunities like today...to share Jesus!

Your Fellow Teammates,
Billy and Joanna Coppedge

(While we do not have a picture of either Patrick or Agnus, we wanted you to "meet" Joanna's friend Caroline)

24 September 2006

African Sunday

This morning we got up early and walked with Catherine, one of our volunteer friends, to the nearby Kampala International University. Arriving on the campus, which was spotted with litter from some concert last night, we mounted numerous concrete stairs, and found ourselves in a large open room. The pews were student desks, the kind that the small table folds down on your lab to write.

At about 7:55am, the room probably held 45 students and they were already beginning to sing. There were a number of songs in English which was a tremendous blessing for us and then they had two specials...one a dance group and the second a vocal choir. Albeit we chuckled to ourselves about the dance group, the attitude of the entire service was worshipful and Pastor Kenneth spoke with conviction and intensity. By the end of the service at about 10:30, approximately 700 young people had filled the room.

There are many questions in our hearts about how to love Jesus in Africa and how to train and teach people to love Jesus. But after a morning like this, you wonder if maybe we are the ones who stand in need of the teaching. We get to practice soon as tomorrow morning we wake up to start Swahili classes...pray that we will have "teachable" hearts.

Thank you for your prayers and love. His beauty is a source of great joy.

Happy Sabbath,

Billy & Joanna Coppedge

17 September 2006

We Made It!!!

Dear Family and Friends - We did make it Uganda!!! Hooray for Jesus! The airline graciously allowed us six bags and all of them arrived which was a miracle. Our field director, Jon Mayo was at the airport to pick us up and it was great to see him. We got settled Friday morning into a large apartment which fortunately was already furnished by other missionaries who are home on HMA. We thank Jesus for His provision and are learning to call it "home."

Saturday was low-key with some Q/A time with the Mayos and then some grocery shopping which was very exciting. The grocery store was nicer than we remembered and we thank Jesus for that. We have had several meals with the five VIA (volunteers) who are here as well, the two women sharing the other side of the duplex with us and the three boys not far away. We all went to church together this morning and some of the church members remembered us from two years ago. That was an encouragement to our hearts.

We go to an international church service tonight and then jump into the week. It is a little tricky getting internet access (thus no pictures this time - sorry) so we are working on that as well as getting a feel for what else we will need to set up a home here. Language school does not officially start for us for another week but beginning tomorrow (monday), we have cultural classes every afternoon for two hours. It is a week long deal and then the following Monday we dive into Swahili. We'll try to begin some Swahili learning on our own just with the computer program we have to prep us for the real thing! Thanks for praying!

Our spirits are good and while things are different, Jesus has been very present. We are learning new "night noises" and "sounds" which honestly kept us up some last night...you just don't feel the same sense of security as "Wilmore," but Jesus has been so fiathful and very real. We praise Him for His kindness and patience.

We could not be here without your prayers. Please continue to pray. We believe He is here and at work; it is a privilege to work alongside our Jesus.

Deeply Grateful for Your Support and Love,
Billy & Joanna
Acts 26:22-23

12 September 2006

This Is It...Uganda Bound

Friends and Family -

The time in Hungary has been a time of refreshment and restoration. We are so thankful for this half-way stop to recover from jet-lag and be in the secure home of our family.

We are leaving Hungary on Thursday afternoon at 12:20...we fly to London and then leave that night at 7:45 and arrive in Entebbe, Uganda at 5:40 on Friday morning.

You may laugh but the word that describes our hearts in so many ways at this junction is that of "mystery." There are real hopes and well to be honest, real fears of what is to come. But amidst that tension, there is a continued sense this is where Jesus is calling us and that fuels a genuine sense that this is "right" and to be anywhere else but Uganda-bound would be not only disobedient but "less than real."

We would not be going if it was not for you. Thank you so much for being a part of God's team with us. May He find us faithful.

(the picture is of us with the Searls family and our dear friends Jolayne and Tibi with their baby Emma)

06 September 2006

Adventures Traveling to Hungary

WE MADE IT TO HUNGARY!!! HOORAY! Thank you so much for your prayers! We literally felt them and inspite of a wild trip, there was a very real sense of the Presence of Jesus the whole way. We almost missed the flight in Chicago to London...then security in London did not like our carry-ons so we had to go out immigration, check our "extra" bag and then go back through security before we finally made our flight to Budapest. It was delayed so our family as very anxious for us to arrive...but arrive we did and promptly slept eleven hours last night!

The most horrific but hysterical part of the journey was concerning one of our action packer trunks. It was "slightly" over weight and while packing it, we had been cautious to use only the handles on either end. While checking it in Cincinnati, the kind sky cap grabbed the middle handle and promptly broke off a huge chunk of the front of our trunk. Not just the handle, an entire chunk of the plastic trunk ripped open!!!

Overwhelmed...we debated what to do in between tears and laughs and after finding a role of duck tape and several bungie cords, we prayed over it and sent it on its way. Well, it arrived...minus two of the cords and in a huge plastic bag which miracleously held it together. When we opened the plastic bag, we realized the trunk had literally broken into pieces and the above picture is our witness. Fortunately we think everything made it, although Joanna's tennis shoes were scrapped from where the trunk had been drug across the concrete. Hilarious and Terrible all at the same time.

We are so thankful to Jesus to be here and for His merciful grace. We are short one bag which did not make it but hopefully it will turn up. We love you all dearly and are excited to be in the journey! Hallalejuh! Praise God Forever!

03 September 2006

Passport, Please...

HOORAY! We are leaving. We fly out Monday, September 4th at 7:45pm. We go from Cincinnati to Chicago to London to Budapest where we visit a week with Billy's sister Katy Beth and her family; then we fly back to London on the 14th and arrive in Uganda on the 15th at 5:30am. We are so sad to leave our families and friends but we continue to sense "this is the way, walk yea in it." This last week has been filled with cups of coffee with family, packing, sorting and lots of good byes. We go knowing we will miss so many of you but we go knowing and sensing the love of so many people. Thank you.

Someone mentioned this week - "You need to go with a sense of adventure and hope." In so many ways, that sums up how our hearts are as we leave... anticipating a hopeful adventure with Jesus. He is so kind and gracious to give us the privilege to go; there is no other option.

So that you will know: our first week in Uganda will be orientation to the field and country...things like where to buy milk and bread. Then, beginning week two, a language teacher will come to the apartment we will stay in and begin tutoring us in Swahili. It will be an 8:00-1:00 daily schedule with the afternoons free for homework assignments and practicing conversation.

PLEASE pray we will be faithful: in our walk with Jesus, in our marriage, in our language learning, and in our bearing the burden to raise up pastoral leadership for the Ugandan Church.

We are so thankful to Jesus for you and your support and encouragement. Thank you for being part of our team.

Billy & Joanna Coppedge

(the above picture is our final goodbye with our close friends Bryce and Stephanie Hogan)

05 August 2006

Released for Uganda

Hallalujah! Praise God Forever! We have been officially released from World Gospel Mission.

We never would have been though if it had not been for the abundant mercies of Jesus and the gracious sacrifical love of so many persons and families. We knew from other missionaries' experiences that God rarely provides "well-in-advance" and sure enough, He waited until our very last scheduled "meeting" to provide our outstanding needs.

Prior to that last "meeting," we spent almost four weeks in New Jersey which was an incredible opportunity to share in warm-hearted churches and with Jesus seeking kids. While we are "new" to the Delanco Campmeeting family, we have grown to love them and they have been a deep source of encouragement and support.

We finished up July at Indian Springs in central Georgia, which is our home campmeeting. What a privilege it was to be there as the actual missionaries. The breakfast conversations and sharing times around the grounds were not only a blessing to our hearts but memorable for the days ahead. One of the significant prayer requests was how God was going to provide the last of our monthly support needs. True to His character though and as a kind Father, He did provide and what sacrifical love was poured out on us as well as on the Fullers (the other missionary family). Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

Even more meaningful than the wonderful offering, was the commissioning prayer time the camp had for us on the last Friday evening. We knelt at a very sacred altar and many of our family and dearest friends laid hands on us and prayed for God to go with us. How thankful we are to Jesus for Indian Springs.

We then spent the first week in August up at WGM Headquarters in Marion, IN and had a very good experience attending orientation camp for new missionaries. While there, they officially released us to leave for Uganda September 4th!!! Hooray!

Thank you so much for praying, giving, loving, and sending us forth. We are privileged to have a few days this month with our families as we pack, rest, and prepare our hearts for all God has ahead in Uganda.

29 June 2006

A Delanco Blessing

The missionary to China, Jonathan Goforth writes,

"The greatest blessings are not things but opportunities."

We are very grateful to Jesus for His blessings, particularly this week of being able to be up at Delanco Camp. It has been a wonderful opportunity for us. Last night was missionary night and we sensed Jesus' Presence and help for which we are very thankful. The interaction with campers (this week it has been high schoolers) has been good and Jesus has given us numerous "blessings" (opportunities) to have many conversations pointing to Himself.
We both have been teaching a class during the morning which has proved to be challenging but there is a sense the young people are listening. Please keep praying we can be faithful to Jesus and sensitive to His Spirit as we interact, whether on the volleyball court, at the alter, or the lunch table.

One funny fact is that we actually "live" here at camp for three weeks which is the longest we are any one single place until we leave for Uganda... Feels like "home"!!!

Next week (2-9) is Delanco Campmeeting and our team mates John and Erica Rinehimer will be here at camp as well. We feel privileged to be at John's "home" camp and share together as a team what GOD has called all of us to in Uganda. Three Cheers for Jesus.

Just so you know,
July 2 we are Livingstone UMC
July 9 we are at Bethsada UMC
July 16 we are at Lord of Lords Church

Please continue to pray as we relate with campers, interact with staff and share with churches. Jesus is so good and we praise Him for His faithfulness!

A Sandy Pair of Camp Missionaries:)

17 April 2006

African Easter

It is fascinating to think of where we will celebrate Easter next year. Resurrection Sunday in a thatched roof church? Under a tree? With an international community of sorts? In english? or Swahili?

All sorts of thoughts run through your head...yet I was reminded again of the immense size of Jesus. What I mean is...Ephesians 2 talks about how He fills all thing with Himself. I love that because there is no place the Presence of the Risen Jesus cannot penetrate. As we are headed to a dark place, a spiritually dark place like Uganda, there is a great comfort in the reminder that there is no darkness the light of Jesus cannot permeate through. That is our prayer, that these days He would be preparing the soil of hearts in Uganda...Sudan...Congo, so that the darkness can be breeched with calvary love.

Naive? I do not want to be. Skeptically? not that either. Some how there has to be a balance of both the fear and overwhelming obstacles, yet measured up alongside the fact Jesus wants to do nothing less than pour out His self-giving Spirit in the lives and hearts of African families. That is not presuming on His grace as a young missionary; that is standing on His promises.

We need you to keep praying. That we will trust Him, amidst the fears and unknowns. Thank you for praying, for giving, for partnering with us.

This coming weekend (4-23) we'll be speaking at Faith Memorial in OH. Please pray with us for His purposes to be accomplished.

Hallelujah. Praise God Forever!

Billy & Joanna Coppedge

28 March 2006

On the Road...Again

We leave on Friday for four days in New Jersey. We are so excited that Jesus has blessed us with the opportunity to return to Delanco Camp. We will be sharing at a Junior High Reunion Weekend. Many students we met this summer will be returning. Pray Jesus shares His heart through us and in spite of us. The theme of the weekend is the cross. Oh, that we might live in the reality of Calvary.
On Sunday morning, we travel to Edison, New Jersey and throughout the day share four times. To whom much is given much is required and the Lord has entrusted us with much on this weekend. Please pray He is gloried and draws many including the two of us, to Himself.

21 February 2006

February 21, 2006

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 17:20-21 (NKJV)

Out of the overflow of abiding in Jesus...

- May we cultivate a deeper walk with Him.

- May our marriage reflect the Triune Life.

- May He enable and sustain us in training

and discipling pastors and church leaders

throughout Africa