Reflections....by Joey and Marie

Our neighbors from Oxford, OH emailed us and wanted to know how Joey and Marie were doing and how they liked living in Africa.  When our friend teaches her little boys about Africa, she explains to them that is where Joey and Marie live.  I thought their insights too cute not to share with others:)  I typed what Joey told me.  For those who ask how the children are, this gives you a good idea of what Joey and Marie have been up to lately.  Thanks again for many of you who continue to pray for our family.

Dear Xavier and Nicolas,

Hello, Xavier and Nicolas. This is Joey. I wish I could be there to play with you, but I live in Uganda now and not in America. The things I like about living here is I like the food and our house here. I have a good friend that lives at our house named Mbusa. He takes care of the outside of our home. I also have Moses as a friend. He is our guard at night. We have to have a guard so thieves won't get into our yard. We also have a fence that goes all around our yard and four dogs outside. Their names are Misty, Anthony, Pokey, and Remus. Pokey and Remus are puppies of Misty. Pokey is about a year old and Remus is three months old. Remus is the puppy of Misty and Anthony. So we have quite a family of dogs that protects us too. I don't like how it's warm all the time because we can't have snow. I want to come back to America so, I can play in snow. I like to spend my time reading books and playing with my Leapster. My favorite games are Batman and Star Wars. I love doing school with my mom and writing. I like learning about all different animals around the world. I'm excited about Christmas this year because my Gram Gram and Grandpa Nick are coming. We have our Christmas tree up and I made a chain to countdown the days till Christmas arrives. I can't wait to see Gram Gram and Grandpa Nick!!!! We hopefully will get to see you when we come back to America next year. I can't wait to play with you again.

Hello. This is Marie. I am glad to hear from you. My favorite thing in Uganda is the lovely sunsets. They can be pink, purple, orange or other colors. They are so pretty. I also love the people here. We have a helper named Prossie who cooks all our food. She is wonderful! This morning we had chocolate donuts for breakfast. Prossie does a wonderful job. She has a boy and a girl. They are so fun to play with. The little boy is two years old and the girl is four. We also have a great church close to our house. I enjoy going so much. I have so many friends that God has blessed me with. Another favorite thing I like doing is going swimming. There are very nice swimming pools in Jinja. Sometimes I go with my friends to the pool. Swimming is so fun because it is always hot here. School has been going fine this year and I am now in sixth grade. I've been memorizing the book of James. I know chapter 1 and almost all of 2. By the time we come back, I should almost have all of chapter 3 memorized. God is teaching me a lot of new things. The hard part now is doing what it says and that is what some of chapter 2 talks about. We are also learning about the first colonies in America. It has been very fun to learn how our country started. I have one more week of school before Christmas break. I am very happy that Christmas is coming! My grandparents are coming this year and are staying until after Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas this year. Hopefully we will see you next year. Bye!

Your Friends,

Joey and Marie

Doubts and Deliverance

Sometimes life in Uganda is tough. I know many will say life in all places has its ups and downs and realistically I know that. However, there are days where you get tired of burning trash and smoke rolling inside your house, screaming/crying children that live all around you, gates clanging shut and people yelling as you try as you might to have quiet time in the mornings with the Lord, dogs barking at all hours of the night, leaking pipes, and nothing ever going according to your plans. That is some of our life in Uganda. Most days I can overlook and not let these things bother or irk me so much. But then there are times where it just seems too much.

This has been a tough week with just living life here. There have been doubts that have crept in my mind. God is this really where you want us? Will I be able to live here year after year? Lord is anything I'm doing here making a difference? And the list goes on and on. I pray. I wait on Him. Then last night at my weekly Bible study all the women sat around and shared their struggles with living here as did I. God so sweetly answered my questions, one after another. I had a sweet Christian sister pray for me, During her prayer she asked God to clearly show me this week and reconfirm that this place is definitely where He wants us. Even as she was praying, I felt a peace overcome me that surpasses all understanding as Philippians 4:6-7 states (6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus). Not only did my Father surround me with that peace but at the same time Aaron received an email from a friend back in the states. In every paragraph our friend constantly reminded us that what we are doing here is for eternity. God is using us here to advance His kingdom. Then today I read where people have and are coming to Christ because a team from our home church, Urbancrest, were obedient in August to go share Christ in this Muslim village where a pastor from Uganda Baptist Seminary has a church. This is the update I just read from Terry Nester's newsletter:

We held a medical clinic in August for two days and treated over 300 families! We treated a 70 year-old church member named Sylvester, who had a huge mass completely covering the right side of his chest. I mean, it was swelled as large as a throw pillow! He was taken to Jinja Main Hospital first, who then referred us to Mulago Hospital in Kampala. To make a long story short, he was operated on last week and they removed the mass and said, “It was innocent.” That sounds much better than just using the word, “Benign”! On Wednesday, last week, we took him to his home in the village and the whole family was there to welcome us! Pastor Robert called me on Friday to let me know that all six of Sylvester’s sons want to receive Christ because of the love of Christ shown to their father through the local church! It reminded me of what I just preached in I Peter 2:12: “To live such good (excellent, fair to look at, noble, righteous, holy) lives among the pagans (nations) that, though they may accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”

So now I step back. I see that through the inconveniences of a life lived in Uganda there is such sweetness. Sweetness in the people that I teach at the seminary, ones that I encounter as I am in Jinja, and my children who I teach at home. As I've been teaching community health at the seminary, I work to use the Bible to show how Jesus taught about the Christian's responsibility to care for a person spiritually as well as physically. Had the older man not seen the love of Christ lived out through others by caring for his physical needs, he may very well still be in spiritual darkness. It has been so sweet how God has used this one story to show how obedience to serve, to partner with pastors that we are teaching at the seminary, to be concerned for ones physical state as well as their spiritual, to love on others as Christ did can change the world one person at a time. As Jesus taught, the Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matthew 9:37). There are many who still need to hear the redemptive story of Christ, but our family is dedicated to remaining steadfast in our purpose to teach and disciple to the end's of the earth:)

This is now my prayer: Lord, help me to be a faithful worker and follower of You as I share the gospel through not only my words but my actions as well. You are my teacher and I want to continue to sit at Your feet and learn all I can from you. Give me the wisdom to stay the course and keep my eyes fixed on You in times of weariness. Thank you Heavenly Father for delivering me from doubting our purpose here. Jesus you are my sweet Deliverer!!

A Year Has Gone and Went

A Medical Clinic in the Village

It's really hard to believe that a year has gone by since moving to Uganda.  Where has the time gone?  I wrote that there is a time warp here:)  Not really, but days fly and since there is no change of season here, it is harder to keep track of time.  The other day I was talking with a few Ugandan friends and was mentioning  that Aaron and my birthdays are in the fall.  As soon as the comment left my mouth, I realized they had no idea what fall was.  So I quickly explained about the seasons.  I do enjoy teaching the Ugandans about life in America, because they are so curious and it quickly opens doors up to mor conversation.

Living here has been beyond anything I could have ever dreamed.  God's plans always seem to turn out that way:)  Much better than anything I could plan, dream, or even imagine.  Some people have asked if five years ago we could have imagined this is where God would have us.  I just laugh, because honestly five years ago we had only been Christians less than three years.  So no, this is probably one of the last places on earth I thought we would ever be.  Plus, beyond that I would have never imagined a year ago that I would be teaching at the seminary alongside of Aaron.  That has been the greatest leap of faith personally for me.  Many don't understand the fear I had speaking in front of adults.  I can remember when we were visiting and sharing with churches, I would threaten Aaron not to put me in front of people to share.  At one point I did share in a women's Bible study with my knees a knocking and my stomach in knots.  So for me to be teaching in front of adults, let alone pastors and teachers, is a huge hurdle that God helped me to overcome. Every day God is showing more and more of who I am, how He gifted me, and what He wants me to do with those talents.  Now I look so forward to traveling back to the States in the spring and having opportunities to share how God is transforming East Africa by what is going on at the seminary.  It's so amazing and humbling to be a part of and I want to give God all the glory how it is happening.  I sometimes tease Aaron that he better watch out when we share at gatherings and churches from now on because he may not be able to shut me up:)

So I haven't done a very good job of keeping this blog updated in the last few months.  Every time I have thought about it, I get overwhelmed.  There is so much to tell, and many times I don't know where to begin.  In the last few months here are some things that have happened:  I have finished up teaching Marie and Joey school, went to Kenya, had two teams visit, taught at the seminary, started another school year with Marie and Joey while the older boys are finishing up last years curriculum this week, and am preparing to begin teaching again in another week at the seminary.  Much of this is just every day life for us.  I wonder why others want to hear about this or that, but then people will say that they love to hear updates of our life since they don't have the opportunity to talk or visit with us face to face.  Because of this I want to strive to do better at updating the blog.  I know there are some that don't use Facebook which is where I post many of our family and ministry pictures.  For those of you who don't, I would like to share some pictures below to give you a better idea of what the last few months have been like.  I hope you enjoy.

God bless and please continue to pray for health and safety for our family.  This country that we live in is absolutely beautiful but at the same time danger lurks almost everywhere.  Because of the diligent prayers of others, its why we can live and work here.  We thank all of you who take our family to God's throne regularly.

Teaching at the seminary

Morning teaching with Joey and Marie

Nick and Dylan at Hanah Moshi

Marie teaching/singing with the children

After a long day of ministry (health clinic and VBS)

Taking a break with great friends from the U.S.

The team from our home church, Urbancrest (missing Doss and Michelle)

Dylan and our dear friend, Todd at a local supermarket ( like the Santa hat!!)

Marie and a very good friend, Mindy.

Joey's 9th Birthday

Marie and Joey with Dad in Kenya

Marie dressing Dad up:)

Us in Kenya

Kenyan landscape

This is paradise!!!

Time Warp

It seems that Uganda has a time warp.   In many ways things moves slower...people on foot and bikes, no power tools for planting/building, or people taking time on their way to visit with others.  However, in other ways time just disappears and moves at warp speed....bodas(motorcycles)/taxis(vans) zooming everywhere, another graduation at the seminary finished, and we've lived here for 9 months but it only seems like a few months.  I just realized that it's been about a month since I've last posted, but it seems like yesterday.  I guess that's what happens when God  has you engaged with your surroundings and you are learning so much in such a short period of time.  

If you saw our latest newsletter, you read where Uganda Baptist Seminary just graduated almost 40 students.  Needless to say that much work goes into the preparation of graduation, and I had the opportunity to help where I could.  I've also been helping out in the clinic at the seminary since Evelyn Frost, the school nurse, has been back in the states for a few weeks.  That always provides great learning experiences.  However, the students were so gracious to pass the flu on to me, and  after two weeks I'm still trying to rid myself of it :)  I'm looking forward to Evelyn being back as I prepare to start teaching an English class to a Certificate class on Tuesday.  I haven't been able to teach in a couple of months, and I'm so looking forward to being back in the classroom.

Aaron and I with Jacob, a student and good friend

All lined up and ready to begin

Our family also had an opportunity to travel to Kampala this past week for orthodontist appointments for three of our children.  While we were there we decided to spend the night at a nice hotel that is connected to the mall.  It's the first time we have stayed in a hotel that is very much like any hotel you might find in the States.  It was a real treat, and we even were blessed with an upgraded room when we arrived.  The hotel said they wanted to give us the Villa.  We didn't exactly know what that meant, but we ended up with a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, LR, dining room townhouse.  Like I told Aaron, I've only seen something like that in the movies.  We thank the Lord for blessing us which such a nice surprise. While we were there, we took the children to see their first movie in Uganda.  We viewed, The Avengers, which was okay.  The movie theater was little too warm for my liking even at 10:00 at night:)  We had a good time getting a way from home for a few days.  Even the traffic wasn't too bad and Aaron trusted me to drive all the way to the big city:)

This is our local fast food drive-thru on the way to Kampala

You have the choice between chicken or goat on a stick or livers on a stick
Aaron calls it salmonella on a stick:)

Sad to say, Nicholas, has been dealing with malaria.  He started not feeling well last Tuesday and continued to get worse each day.  I tested him twice, but the rapid malaria test came back negative both times.  By Friday someone mentioned that the rapid test only checks for one type of malaria.  There are four different strands of malaria.  So, I quickly started him on the medication and by that night his temperature was 104 degrees.  That was after two hours of ibuprofen, so I became quite concerned.  After sending out a prayer request on Facebook, within an hour his temperature broke and by the next morning there was great improvement.  I thank God for many of you who prayed and encouraged me as I was waiting for Nicholas to start feeling better.  It is so difficult when one of your children is so sick.  So please continue to pray for our family's health.  We are coming into contact with so many new bugs and parasites and our bodies are continually having to fight these new things.  Your prayers do matter and we find strength through them.

Please continue to pray for us as Aaron and I teach at the seminary.  The next term starts Tuesday.  We are looking forward to it and the opportunities that God presents in the classroom.  Many times it's hard to believe that we are teaching men and women from all over East Africa.  The impact that this teaching could have could be huge, but only God knows for sure.  Please pray that we make the most out of the time that we have with these students to disciple them and grow them, so in turn they can teach hundreds of others about the Gospel of Christ.  We are so grateful to so many of you who have continually prayed for us through these past few years.  We have a wonderful team of supporters, and we couldn't do what we do if it wasn't for you all.  Till next time, God Bless!!!

Our Latest Newsletter

Here is this month's newsletter.  If you would like to get these newsletters directly in your inbox, then email me to get added to our distribution list.  We love to share what God continues to do through us here in Uganda.  Thank you to all of those you continually pray for our family.  We so appreciate it.

http://www.gatewayglobaloutreach.org/Bogan/Newsletters/Archive/NewsletterApr2012.pdf

Parenting in Africa

This is an article that I recently read.  Thought it was so well said, that I wanted to share.  It's so true:)

Some people tell me it is brave to raise my kids in Africa. They could get malaria or be bitten by a poisonous snake. They don’t have a Sunday School class. They can’t eat gluten-free foods. Their friends are Muslims. They live far away from cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents.

My initial reaction is to be tempted to say, “Well, I think it is brave to raise kids in America.” I know my heart, my soul-shriveling tendency to love the world. I know my kids, how quickly they could be sucked into the idolatry of a nation whose church is the shopping mall and whose God is the latest iPhone.

But this kneejerk reaction is wrong because it assumes brave is the right word to use to describe parenting, whether in Africa or in the United States.

Brave is the wrong word.

Life As Fasting

Living overseas is a form of fasting. Fasting from the comforts of a would-be heaven on earth where there are hot showers, dishwashers and clothes dryers, fully-stocked grocery stores and someone else to teach piano lessons. Living overseas is fasting that says, “this much, O God, this much, I want to know you.” And, “this much, O God, this much, I want you to be known”.

I want to know God deeply and I want him to be known so much that I will risk scary diseases, fast from my beloved family and worldly comforts, and teach my children to engage with neighbors of differing faiths. But to live and fast like that, to raise my children like that, isn’t brave.

When I think about mothering my three children who love this steamy, desert nation, I don’t feel brave. I feel dependent. Helplessly, desperately, breathlessly, clingingly dependent.

Dependent

Any mother, anywhere in the world, could receive a phone call in the next five minutes about a car accident. A child could decide Jesus is an imaginary friend and reject truth. Another could fall into immoral living.

There is nothing brave about loving little people who will grow up and could choose to abandon the things of God. But for dependency on the promises and character of God, there is terror and anxiety.

Being dependent isn’t just for mothers living in Africa. The only way to parent is with faith that God is able to keep and hold our children. The only way to parent is to be dependent on his sovereign plan and tender care for them. Dependent on the strength of the everlasting arms to hold us, to hold our children, and to keep us in perfect peace with our minds stayed on Him.

No, brave is not the right word for parents.

Dependent is.

Rachel Pieh Jones is a wife, mother, and freelance writer. She and her husband Tom have three children: Magdalene (11), Henry (11), and Lucy (6). She lives in east Africa and blogs at djiboutijones.com

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm....... In Africa

There are so many things that I find interesting living here. Uganda is a place where most things are not done with excellency and so you bear the fruit of that. Some examples are

- buying new items and within a few days they no longer work

- electrical outages for days because company doesn't have vital parts needed

- electric gets turned off because of not paying your bill, which you did but they
were behind on billing- so to turn it back on all you have to do is switch the
breaker back on inside the electrical box:)

- electrical boxes outside that are not water tight so wires rust and catch on fire

- dogs barking/kids screaming all hours of the day. This last week there was a dog on our lane that has barked all hours of the night.

- when getting dependent and student passes for family, lawyer tells you that immigration has lost the file. Waiting to see what to do about this one:)

- still waiting for screens to be finished on guest house from January when the man told me that he would be back the next day

- when you go purchase cooking gas, all the gas stations say "it is finished"

- security company that you have hired doesn't pay guards for weeks and if we were not to pay our workers we would be taken to court

So these are just a few things off the top of my head in the last few days I've been dealing with. Life here is a huge adjustment and sometimes frustrating. The Lord has said we will have trials, which can be every day trials such as these. In James 1:12 it says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial." We are blessed because if he exude the Love of Christ through these small trials then God will bless us with "the crown of life." My interactions with the people around me is a direct correlation with how much I love the Lord. Sometimes I don't want to think this because then I would realize that sometimes I don't love the Lord very much. My sinful nature takes over and I'm not very loving to the people that I'm speaking to because of by own desires (retaliation for what I think is right) as Peter wrote in 1:14. Peter 1:15 states, "that desire gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. I thank God for the trials here, because if we didn't have them then I would think I could live here without seeking God's wisdom and direction. Daily I'm reminded that is not possible here in our new home nor in the U.S. either. But it becomes much more evident when you are constantly out of your comfort zone:)

My prayer is that people (my family, workers, students at the seminary, other missionaries, shopkeepers and parking attendants in Jinja) when they see me will know that I love them like their Creator loves them. In some ways I do wonder if that is possible, but since I have the Holy Spirit in me which is the same as Jesus walking right beside me, then it is. I pray that each day I learn how to be more and more like Jesus. To do that every interaction I have needs to be more and more like Him. Please pray that every step I take is one step closer to being like Jesus:) For everyone who reads this, I pray that we all will heed what Colossians 4:5-6 says, "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Teaching at the Seminary

It still sounds strange to me to say that I'm a teacher at Uganda Baptist Seminary. As I wrote in my last post, this is never what I thought I would be doing here when we came. I think most times when I step into the classroom I'm feeling excitement and nervousness at the same time. Soon after I start teaching that soon disappears and I just feel at peace. Never in a hundred years would I have envisioned myself standing in front of a classroom teaching pastors and teachers in East Africa. But God has put me there and surprisingly, I have found that I love it!!!

Last week I began teaching a five day English class to a new Diploma class. So for five days we sang grammar songs, diagrammed sentences, and learned how to construct a well written paragraph. I would have never guessed that you could have so much fun learning grammar, but I was bound and determined not to make it boring for them. So with drum in hand, I entered the classroom and many of the students thought I had gone and lost my mind:) However, we had a great time of learning and by the end of five days, most had great improvement with their English skills. Most importantly I could see how many of them were starting to see how improving their English communication skills were going to benefit them and their church community when they returned. Many of the students were excited to understand how organizing their thoughts better would lead to better sermons and better communication about God's word. I'm still in awe how God is using me in a way that I would have never ever expected.

This week I have been teaching Community Health/Leadership to a Certificate class. The class has been interesting, fun, and an education for me. It's one thing to be prepared to teach them the knowledge that I've gained over the years, but it's another for them to teach me. But many times that is exactly what happens. The students have taught me something new every day. What I've determined is that I can stand and teach the facts, but if I don't understand what they are thinking and where they are coming from, I will not be effective. So yesterday I allowed them to share what information has been passed on to them about malaria. Here are some interesting comments from the class: malaria is contracted from eating too many mangoes or paw-paws, eating cold food, walking in the rain, drinking contaminated water, letting your child cry and scream, or having an evil spirit. There were many more:) But, what was neat is that students were starting to make connections today as to why some of these myths have come about. To be part of teaching them, to think critically and to use knowledge from the Bible to mold their thinking, has been wonderful. Needless to say, there have been times this week that students would ask me a theological question, and I thank God that He anointed me with His wisdom and knowledge. Sometimes I would think where in the world did that just come from. But I know God is in the business of getting His message across to those who really want to know Truth.

So I thank God that He has given this opportunity to show me things that I would have never experienced or known. I am learning more about the culture every day by learning from the students that come from all over East Africa. My prayer is that they will be able to take the information that I have taught them back to their communitites and villages. Hopefully they will educate others about God's word and what it says about creation. That may be in the form of better English and communication skills, or it may be in the form of Biblical health education.

The family is doing well. Marie just got over a stomach bug which left her very weak and tired. We praise God that the virus was short lived and she is on the mend. However, Joey has it now and is working hard to get the vomit in the bucket:) We pray by tomorrow he will be feeling much better. Nick and Dylan are growing like weeds and doing great. Aaron and I are looking forward to celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary on Sunday. It's really hard to believe that we have been married that long. I still feel like I'm 25:) It has been a wonderful 18 years with Aaron and I praise the Lord for such a Godly man in my life. Please continue to pray for our health and safety. Also for Aaron and I as we continue to teach and interact with the students at the seminary. We so appreciate all of you who walk alongside of us through prayers and encouragement. We are so blessed!!!!!!

The Lord Continues to Stretch

A few weeks ago I was asked if I would like to teach the Community Health Education class at seminary. My first reaction was to say, "No, thank you." But before I could, I heard myself saying, "Sure." Oh, boy what had just come out of my mouth. Now, don't get me wrong, I love teaching. I would rather teach my children then almost anything at all. But this isn't teaching children, this is teaching pastors and church leaders. Big difference. Plus, speaking in a public forum is my least favorite thing to do. Or I had convinced myself of this. So after saying yes, I began to prepare for the six hours I would be teaching. I would be required to teach on HIV/AIDS and anything else that would be pertinent for them to take back, so they could educate their community and church.

So starting on Wed. afternoon, I walked into a large classroom to teach health to over 50 pastors and church leaders. Talk about being nervous, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19: 26). Starting out I was extremely nervous, but quickly I calmed down and found that it was enjoyable. However, not all was enjoyable. Like the students constantly stopping me and saying that they couldn't understand my accent, and I was speaking too fast. There were others who thought it was funny to make comments on everything, or try to get others to laugh at their jokes. All in all I learned alot that day and to be real honest, wasn't sure that I was where God wanted me to be because it was hard. I was being stretched. So I said to the Lord, "if you want me to continue teaching at the seminary, then you need to make it very clear within the next two days." More than anything, I just did not think I was connecting with the students. I was pleasantly surprised the next day when I was looking forward to going back in the classroom. After day two of teaching, I was kidding around with the students, they were understanding me better, and I was enjoying myself. I was a bit surprised at the quick turnaround, but God doesn't mess around:) By day three, I was sad to see the class end. I so enjoyed getting to know the students better, having the ability to educate on health diseases and nutrition where they would have the abilitly to impact hundreds of others with the information, and having the opportunity to understand more about this culture and people. Wow, God was stretching and growing me in a way that I could have never imagined. Now, I'm scheduled to teach an English class and the Community Health class for the next term. I know more growth and stretching will continue to occur. I have a tremendous amount to learn, and it seems here in Uganda it is constant or just more obvious than back in the states:)

I also had the opportunity last week of holding clinic at the seminary when the nurse wasn't available. I continue to learn so much each time I do this. My nursing skills continue to grow and again He stretches me. Another responsiblity that I'm enjoying is the bookroom at school. It doesn't require much time, unless it's at the beginning or end of term. Well, last week was the final week of the term. So I was getting packets together for the instructors for their classes, preparing the textbooks for each class, and intaking books from classes that were finishing. I really enjoy working in the bookroom and organizing the curriculum for all the classes.

So if you would have asked me before we moved here, if I would be teaching and working at the seminary, I would have quickly said, "I don't think so." I would have told you that I thought God would have me working in an orphanage doing nursing care. To me that is what made sense. However, God had/has another plan to stretch me and show me His plan and purpose for my life. My job is to stay obedient to what He calls me to do. I thank God I didn't allow the fear stop me from being obedient to walk through the door that He opened, even when I didn't understand. Psalm 128:1 says,"Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him." I pray that I will strive to stay obedient to Him.