LivingStone or CornerStone?

Wednesday, April 29

9:00 pm

Mt. Elgon Hotel

Phillip thoughtfully began the first session by reading I Peter 2:4-5.  In case you don't have your Bible handy, here is what it says:    

“As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living-stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

I love it!  Jesus is the Living Stone and we are also like Living Stones.  As I sit here thinking about all the inferences that can be made with this verse and the idea of bringing students to a place to grow intellectually and spiritually – my mind can't even keep up.  

What makes it even more amazing to me is that the name originally came from Dr. David Livingstone, who was a Scottish missionary/explorer to Africa during the late 1800's.  Many admire Dr. Livingstone for his courageousness and innovative approach to reaching out to African natives. Some say he paved the way for future missionaries to serve in the African interior.  

Earlier this evening Dennis Okoth reminded us that further on in I Peter 2, Jesus is also referred to as the CornerStone.  I've always thought of “cornerstone” in terms of “essential for foundation” ....and it is!  But Dennis suggested that a cornerstone also brings together two sides.  I'm not sure if this is news to you, but LIU is an effort of folks from both Churches of Christ (CoC) and Christian Churches (CC).  What an amazing example of the unity and harmony found in Christ – and as Dennis pointed out, this is happening on African Soil.  Amazing!   

By the way, we have begun every session by reciting I Peter 2:4-5.  It still gives me chills.  Wish you were here!  

-Julie

SUMMIT POST 1

Wednesday, May 29

1:00 pm

Mt. Elgon Hotel

Today mainly consisted of over eager bzugu's (swahili for white folk) milling about Mt. Elgon Hotel in bright yellow shirts spontaneously shaking a stranger's hand while loudly and cheerfully declaring “You are most welcome!”

So many contributed in various ways to prepare for this day.  Putting the participant binders together took a team of 10 adults – and I literally mean just stacking the preprinted papers up and putting them in a binder.  It seems we are A.) Really excited that the big day has finally arrived  B.) Nervous that everyone will notice the misspelling on page 27 in the binders   C.) Slightly sleep deprived  or D.) On the verge of a nervous breakdown.  

Despite our best efforts, the conference seems to be off to a great start.  But then again, the first meetings are just about to begin.  

Blogger on the Field,

-Julie

(If you are confused as to what I am talking about - see the post below...)

Field Correspondent

My high-school English teacher will be flabbergasted.  I can see her now.  Correcting my grammar while telling her current students....”See, this is why paying attention in my class is important.”   Here I am – ten years later – the unofficial, under-qualified, but ever-dedicated “Field Correspondent” for Livingstone International University's 2009 Advisors Summit.  

I'll do my best to keep all the folks around the world updated on the  LIU Summit and I promise to make it more entertaining than actually attending three days of lectures.  I'll keep as close to the truth and on topic as possible – but the entertaining part has to come from somewhere, right?  

Today's lesson: Listen to your English Teacher.

-Julie Reagan

Overdue From Uganda

Below is from my email update.

Yes. You’re right.  It has been a long time.  Admit it – you haven’t even noticed.  Okay, maybe you have.  I’ve actually received several emails titled “How’s Life?”- “Are You There?” - “Have you been eaten by wild animals?”  So, I figured it was time for a mass email update. 

 

School.

We have wrapped up economics with a final research paper.  Both my students compared today’s economy and President Obama with the 1930’s economy and President Roosevelt.  Their papers are excellent!  I am so proud of the progress we’ve made.  We also plan to create documents to help a local non-profit agency whose aim is to educate local coffee farmers on the process of establishing a farming co-op and the general idea of international free trade. 

 

In history, I decided to let the students chose from a list of pre-approved topics.  So far we have covered the following units in depth: Islam and the Middle East; Communism and Soviet Union/Russia.  This class is made up of all boys and we have all enjoyed digging into the history and reading about current events in these not so far off places.  Two weeks ago we began a unit on Southeast Asia (including Korea).  Of course, the boys are especially enjoying the parts about the Vietnam and Korean Wars.  They want to know all about military tactics “back then.”  Since I don’t have the luxury of a textbook, you can’t imagine how thankful I am for the internet and encyclopedias (even if they are from 1998).   

 

Trivia: None of my students call me Miss Reagan.  I am most often referred to as Teachie-Weechie, Sensei, Stalin, and as of today….Drill Sergeant Ma’am.  My title changes with our unit of study. 

 

Team.

Since I last wrote, our team has traveled to Kenya twice.  Early March we traveled to Sunrise Acres for a three day team retreat.  The cooler weather of Kenya and the more western style homes proved to be the perfect atmosphere for rejuvenation.  Taking advantage of our location and time off from school, my roommates and I hopped on local buses and taxis and traveled around Kenya. We drove through two different game parks and came within spitting distance of all the Big Five game animals.  We also spent one night in Nairobi….where we were kind-of awe struck by all of its civilization…it reminded me of my first trip to New York City.  We wrapped up our trip with a visit to a children’s home in Kitale that our team supports.  Hopefully, I’ll post a video of that amazing visit soon.

 

More recently, the women from our team traveled to Kenya to meet with other missionary women from all over East Africa.  There were about 40 in all.  Most of these women spend their time teaching, encouraging and feeding the spiritual needs of others. The time we had together was spent nurturing our own spiritual needs and of course just being girls.  We also played a White Elephant game.  Some really nice person in the States had sent over a box full of American goodies, each wrapped in newspaper.  We could each select a gift or steal someone else’s gift.  Here were some of the gifts:  Macaroni & Cheese, Cornbread mix, Cheese-Whiz (shrieks filled the room), Cheese Nips, Brownie Mix (Gasp!), Cake Mix with…Icing (Gimmie!), Velveeta, Pecans….You get the idea.  You might not understand the idea unless you’ve lived in a third-world culture.  This is making me hungry….Moving on.

 

We have new teammates!  Vince and Joy Vigil (pronounced V-hill), who are both in their early twenties, have joined our team!  Vince is working with Good News Productions, which is more media focused while Joy will be working with deaf students attending our Bible School.

 

This week also begins our University Summit Meetings.  These meeting bring together folks from all over East Africa who are focused on developing the best possible Christian University here in Mbale.  From these meetings, an Advisory Board will be formed that can make steps towards administrative recruitment and fundraising.  The University already has a great website: http://livingstone.ac.ug/  

 

Life.

Personally, I am enjoying my time in Uganda and beginning to thrive in its culture!  I have recently become a confident Ugandan driver as well as a hard nosed negotiator.  The first of May, my cousin Martha Sue and friend Maria Barringer came to Uganda for a visit.  I love the opportunity to show off Uganda and had as much fun putting together the logistics of their visit as I did actually spending time with them.  Maybe a travel agent job in my future??

 

Speaking of the future….Several are asking what I have planned when I return in August.  The answer is that I am planning on doing whatever God leads me to do.  (That’s a spiritual way of saying I don’t have a clue.)

 

So, the one with no clue sends you warmest regards and congratulates you on reading this entire email.

 

Thanks for your prayers, emails, and support – keep them coming!

-Julie Reagan

Milestones

Last week I DROVE to Jinja to meet Sue and Maria.  Sue (my cousin) and Maria (my friend) were visiting from Georgia! I had so much fun arranging the logistics of their visit....brought back memories of my campaign scheduling days....only this was much more fun!!  

 

Back to the major milestone....I DROVE ALL THE WAY TO JINJA!  Dodging people, potholes, and bicycles....Overtaking slow moving trucks....Navigating unmarked detours....Defeating mountain-like speed bumps....Declaring to all of Uganda "I am not intimidated by your standard transmissions and erratic driving habits.....but, please don't hit me...."  

 

Also, while in town picking up our new dresses, my roommates and I got caught in a terrible storm.  This storm even "brought the ice."  This is the first time many Ugandans have ever witnessed a Hail Storm.  Pictures of both the ice and the new dress below!