Back Home Again

Well I am now back in the states and it feels good to be home! You can check out my website at www.ToMakeHimKnown.com for updated pictures, some stories and even a couple videos from the time in Uganda. I will probably be leaving at the beginning of March to head back to Taiwan to staff the next Titus Project school there for a couple months before leading another team of Bible Teachers back to Asia to train pastors. I don't know exactly where yet, but we will most likely head to either Mongolia or Myanmar. But for now I am enjoying the chance to rest and spend time with family and friends.

The biggest reason I am excited to be home is because I have received the greatest gift I could ever hope for: new eyes! While I was in Uganda I learned that my sister had sent an email out to many of my supporters to see if enough money could be raised for me to get lasik surgery. Well, I was astonished to find out that enough money came in and the only question was whether or not I would be a candidate for the surgery. Just a couple days ago I went in for a pre-op exam and learned that I am a perfect candidate and so tomorrow I will be going into surgery to have lasik on both of my eyes! I truly can't believe this is happening. It is a dream I have had for at least ten years and never imagined I could ever actually afford it. The generosity of those who made this possible has totally overwhelmed me and I am praising God for this amazing blessing.

As for my last week in Uganda, it was wonderful. I was able to work with the same group of pastors for a second week and it was so much fun to work with them again, taking them deeper into studying the Word. By the end of the seminar the feedback was truly amazing as these pastors told me how their whole understanding of the Bible had changed and they were giving examples of how they had used what they had learned over the weekend in preparing their sermons and how the Bible was coming alive to them like never before. They even picked out the church that they said they will convert to a school if I would agree to come and start a Bible school for the priests in the region! I wish you could speak to some of these pastors and see what a difference your support of this ministry has been making.

My last day in Uganda was quite memorable as I spent it hanging out with Paul and William, the two pastors from Sudan that we met last year and then helped to attend the Bible School in Jinja. I took both of them into the city to get their first western meal of their lives: pizza. They absolutely loved it, and it was so much fun to see them try to figure out how to eat it. Later that night William & Paul came down to my room asking if we could share communion together before I departed. It was one of the coolest communions I have ever taken part in -as these two great men of faith asked me to lead us in taking the Lord's supper and then they prayed for me. I was so touched and blessed. The only consolation I had in leaving is knowing that I will be returning next year and will see them again.I have attached a picture of the three of us on the last day together.

So now I am back home resting and tomorrow I am getting lasik surgery. Next week I would like to begin spending time with friends and supporters before heading out again in just under a month.

So please continue to pray:
- Please pray for the surgery, that it goes well and that my eyes heal well and gain good vision. The doctor is a little concerned about the quick turnaround of my trip home not being sufficient time for the eyes to fully heal.
- Please pray for my visa situation for Taiwan. I am waiting on my visa to be processed so I can stay there for a longer period of time. It has been processing for the last 5 weeks and there is no way to know when it will be finished.
- Please pray that this time home will be refreshing and restoring. As you have read, I got pretty worn out on this last trip and even after being home a week I am still very tired.
- Please pray that this time home would be fruitful in relationships with friends and family.
- Please pray that the Lord will raise up the necessary monthly financial support I need to continue on with this ministry.

Thank you.

James
www.ToMakeHimKnown.com