FNC ACADEMY: January 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

STORY

God, I'm not sure what you have in store for this place, Your plans are just that, YOUR PLANS. Kids are playing all around, you can hear their innocent little voices, one is now crying out to momma. A rooster crows near by, and someone has just knocked on the gate to come in. Mornings in Kampala are special, dusty, but special. When the sun comes, you are welcomed by Africa.

I'm re-reading a book I purchased a while back called "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years". Donald Miller, most famous for his book, "Blue Like Jazz", says, "That it's hard for a person to write great stories when they are living one." Not sure if that's my excuse for not writing lately, but I'm wondering if there is some truth Don has uncovered. He also goes on to say that, "People need to be forced into a good story, something needs to happen to change their current course or story." For example, getting fired from or quitting your job, selling your house, a death of a loved one, a life threatening accident, your parents divorcing, the list is endless. Which brings me to a question I would like to propose on those that care to read this blog...What are you living for? Seriously, what makes you get up in the mornings and do what you do? Is it a mortgage, car payment, school loans, pressure from society, your kids, your spouse, that next vacation or holiday, (and by the way, none of these are bad things to get up for). But I ask you, what story are you living, is it boring, or is it one that would make an amazing movie? Think about it...most of us live for stuff, really, at the end of the day, what have we accomplished? Donald Miller writes, "Imagine going to see a movie about a guy that has a house, drives a Volvo, wife, two kids, goes to work M-F, works for the weekends, goes to church then gets older, has grand kids, gets cancer then dies. Honestly, what kind of movie or story would that be? Don't know about you but I would ask for a refund. But this is exactly the kind of stories most of us tend to live. What makes a great movie or story? risk, tension, faith, the unknown, passion, determination, fight? All the above. Yet most of us are content with driving a Volvo.

Now, I can't tell you how much I would love some normalcy, things to be even remotely predictable for even one day. Maybe in chapter 2 God will write a few normal paragraphs for us, but for now we continue to trust.

Wendy was asked to teach Kindergarten (the same school the girls go to) on a Saturday, and started on the following Monday. Can you say, predictable? She loves it. It's definitely had its challenges, but God has led her through them. Oh, and the girls are doing so well. Our days begin before sun up, around 5:15 am, and are out the door by 7:05 for the 20-30 minute commute, depending on the "jam" (that's traffic for all those who want to know). Can you believe that I am the first one up...trust me, it's something that still surprises me and WENDY! Lucy found a friend named Dawn. I asked her this morning what she liked most about Dawn and she replied, "She is still black." (Have no idea where this came from, but she had just woken up.) Yes, Lucy is getting crazier and funnier with each passing day. Emma is growing up in front of our eyes, she's beginning to be a real young lady...and responsible! Don't know where she gets it. Annie continues to be miss fashion, adapting her style to the Ugandan culture...her room is the cleanest and most organized, even more than mom and dads.

FNC Base Camp is looking AMAZING! You all should see it for yourselves...you would be proud! The paint is almost complete, and some new desks and chairs have been purchased and are in place. The recording/rehearsal room (the blue room) has found a partner and has agreed to help us with the equipment part of things until we can afford to attain our own. Just last week I posted on Facebook that FNC had it's first decision for Christ right outside my office window. And the best part, I had nothing to do with it! Martha, our new admin, shared with me the news that our painter, Pastor Dan, (yes he really is a Pastor at a near by church) struck up a friendly conversation with the gentleman that served the staff lunch earlier in the day, and before he was done, he asked Jesus to come into his heart. Honestly, I am in awe of the work that God is doing, even today as we are just moving into our
campus!

Some prayer requests I want to ask you all for...

1. God would make MARCH 1st (our first FNC Night) what He intends for it to be. That those who need to be there, will be there.

2. Continued health, physically and spiritually for The Gilliland's

3. Provision for FNC rent and salaries. Rent is $400/mo, Salaries are $800/mo

4. Wisdom for FNC, that God would make his perfect will clear to the leadership.

Thanks once again for all the prayers and support, they really do help and go a long way here in such a far away place. For the readers that took my earlier paragraph regarding "story" offensive, please accept my apologies in advance. My heart desires people to live the life that God desires, a life that is full, a life that Jesus calls us to. God's story is amazing, the best story lived in history, a story that is still told even after 2000 years, a story that continues to be lived through His people, a story that saves. When Jesus returns and the lights come up, I want to see my name listed as the credits roll.

For UPDATED PICS of the BASE CAMP and FNC Band...please visit out PICS page.

Friday, January 4, 2013

GOD IS MOVING...

God is moving and the ride seems to be getting faster and faster. We have certainly had our challenges with many more to come, but when God decides to move, He moves, and nothing can stop His amazing will. In just over two and a half months, God has blessed us with not only a house, but now He has decided to bless us once again with a Base Camp for Friday Night Church! I'll have to admit, with the budget we were starting with, I really thought we were only going to be able to afford a small rehearsal room or office, and for that I would have been most satisfied. But when God moves, He not only moves, He provides!

Bethel Christian Academy is a small, but growing school of 65-70 students strong. So strong they are having to move into a larger facility. Reba Rwothumio, Micah Rwothumio's daughter, (my long time friend and Pastor of UCF) had been attending this school for more than a year. Emma, Annie and Lucy were invited to come and visit the school the last few days of the term back in December. The last day they were there, the school performed their annual Christmas play/musical with all the parents in attendance. It was a blast, and for the first time since we left the states, I sensed a small slice of normal. During the play I leaned over to Micah and asked how much this place would cost to lease, all the time thinking the property would be way over our meager budget, not to mention it probably not being available. Micah said, "Probably around a million shillings or so per month", which is around $400. I'm not sure if Micah saw my eyes, but they for sure got bigger.

Two days went by before I got up the nerve to go and meet with Miss Esta, the principal and director of Bethel Christian Academy. She was happy to talk with me and even called the landlord of the property before we were finished. I wasn't shocked to hear that 7 other people had called regarding the compound, but something still told me not to give up. Then Miss Esta revealed to me what they were paying in rent...one million shillings! I just about hit the floor, the exact number that Micah had guessed. Honestly, this property is worth three times that, and maybe more...but we were a long way off, or it least I thought, from getting this compound. Miss Esta gave us the landlords number and told us to call him, that he was waiting for our call.

Godwin's has been my friend and right hand man since we arrived. Our relationship began up country back in April of this year, when Micah decided I needed to see the "REAL UGANDA". We had discussed going to see the wild kingdom many times over the years, but I guess this time Micah ran out of patience. Godwin's or Gody, was a last minute addition to the trip, and boy I'm glad that he joined us. Gody is coming to 30 years and was recently married to a wonderful Kenyan lady named Nancy...we love Nancy and we love her smile...Gody certainly married UP!

So I asked Gody to call and set up a meeting with the Landlord. Gody is the one that found and negotiated the deal for our home. After meeting with the owner, Gody not only got us the property, but negotiated the rate at 1.1 million shillings! Just 35 dollars over what the school was paying! The Landlord knows Jesus, and he knows that Jesus will be shared in his property. Though he didn't say it, I think that's why he chose us over the rest. God bless this man.

So that's the story of how God gave us this compound...honestly, words or even pictures can't describe how amazing this new campus is. It's HUGE, with way more space than we ever imagined having at this point in the ministry, and the location couldn't be more perfect. Just a 12 minute drive from my home and just 15 minutes from UCF (our home church). But God is helping us plan well. The first thing we are doing is painting the place inside and out. We have already hired 4 people to help us facilitate the property. First, a Care-taker, his name is Alfred. Second, a night guard, his name is Sam. Third, an administrator, her name is Nancy, and fourth, a foot soldier or property manager of the compound, and his name is Godwin's! All four are sold out to Jesus and can't wait to see what God is going to accomplish here at FNC Base Camp.

WE NEED YOUR HELP...if you've taken the time to read this story of how God is moving amongst the ministry of Friday Night Church, would you please take a moment and ask yourself if you could help us with not only your prayers but a financial gift? Now is the time. For most of you, I've not up to this point asked you point blank to help support this ministry, but God is moving, and we need your help. One time gifts are great, but what we really need are monthly commitments...commitments that will not only support FNC, but families that are employed by FNC. God has provided, He is providing and He will provide.