May 2021

“You are my servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:9b-10.

God continues to show Himself faithful to our family as we continue depending on Him.  We were relieved when after 21 long days we were finally freed from our quarantine to interact with the outside world.  Our time to ourselves was really helpful as it freed us to focus on our family.  The time was especially helpful for me as it allowed me to write out lesson plans for multiple books of the Bible, which has been one of my primary rolls since returning home.  However, it wasn’t easy to watch so many things get stacked up on the “to do when we get out list”.  The rush to catch up has been necessary and exhausting, and unfortunately our family’s health still isn’t completely back.  But we are content in the arms of our omniscient Father. 

Luke Buescher teaching through 1st Peter.

As missionaries, the joy of watching the Lord work far outweighs the cost of exhaustion and frustrations, it can even become so commonplace that have to remind ourselves not to take it for granted.  We praise God as we reflect on what God has done in the last month: We had the privilege of being the conduit by which two of our Calvary churches received church buildings.  The ability to encourage the congregations and give responsibility of the building to them was an honor.  I was given the responsibility of teaching the pastors in our school through the books of 1, 2, and 3 John; it’s always a blessing to be in the Word every day, organizing lessons and preparing sermons, and even leading daily devotions with the staff here at the farm.  Possibly the most special thing in the last month was being invited to preach at the birthday party of our 2 year old neighbor.  Before preaching I was praying over a boy who had a splitting migraine, and by God’s grace he was healed. Then, despite giving what, from my perspective, was my worst sermon yet, the girls’ mother and 3 others got saved. After the party I was able to sit with them and explain more about their new relationship with God.  An old woman at the party also came to me with multiple health problems. She had gone from doctor to doctor trying to find healing from chronic pain in her knees, chest, and nonfunctioning hand and arm.  I prayed for her as well.  The next day I heard a report saying that she had danced into the night, praising God for restoring her.   We praise God that He upholds and helps us.

One of the two church buildings erected in May for our Calvary Chapel church plants.
My neighbors birthday party; the woman who was healed is above my right shoulder in the gold. The boy who was healed of his migraine is on the opposite end of the couch sitting on the arm, and the two women on the couch with me are among the four who got saved.

Praise God:

  • That we recovered from Covid.
  • That Apio is integrating into our family well.
  • That he is present in our human events.

Please Pray:

  • For our family’s health as we continue to fight illness.
  • For Uganda as we are about to enter a second Covid 19 lockdown.
  • For wisdom for our team as we try and adjust our activities according to the new government guidelines.

In Christ,

Matt, Noelle, Apio, Emma, Madeline, Noah & Charlotte