Depending on where you are in the world, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, or why are you checking emails in the middle of the night? Go back to sleep!
Honestly, I have been promising Evelyn to get out an updated newsletter for several weeks. Her cold stares have finally gotten me moving. My concern has been the recognition that not a lot of new and exciting things are happening. No dramatic experiences to write about concerning the ministry of Global Mosaic International from my perspective. I just watch Evelyn work away at all the ongoing tasks that maintain the ministry.
Plan A for 2020 had been leading a training in Northern Virginia, traveling to Uganda for a time of teaching, return to our home in Malaysia, several weeks of training in Brunei. And then back to Malaysia for the rest of 2020. All these doors for this time were slammed shut.
We did share in last update that the work of Global Mosaic has not stopped. Evelyn has only journeyed each day and night to her desk right next to mine here in Virginia. This is definitely a paradigm shift for us. From 2002 through 2015 she was off to wherever all over the world while I continued to work as an RN here in the USA. Now in our 48th year of marriage we are rediscovering? each other?
Just as I felt pressure to produce this update, others are feeling the pressure from Evelyn to continue their studies, complete course development, or translate materials for far-flung language groups around the globe. Here is a quote from one of the students in the Kigumba Christian Mosaic Counseling School in Uganda. They are doing online learning on (American Psychiatric Association) APA-style formatting for writing. GMI is setting high standards and expectations to give each student confidence and credibility at the college level.
“On the APA course, we have had a good time learning, Thank you for giving us a good teacher. What we discovered with the students is to do practice always because the work is quite much. Some times I wake up in the morning and go to the office and do the work, and some times I go after digging the soil to make both ends meet. This means that I have to use the paraffin as the source for my lights and I have discovered the effects on my eyes and the house. By the grace of God, we have raised some money from the sales of our crops towards the purchase of the solar system and we believe God for the rest of the money. This will help me a lot in case power goes just like it does I will be able to beat up the date line of my assignments.”
I apologize for earlier statement; exciting things ARE happening. No big bangs but individuals in quiet places who have been challenged to learn and develop skills of counseling and people-helping to affect their communities. The office this student refers to is the Kigumba Christian Mosaic Counseling School’s location. Due to the financial support of many of you, the rent is being paid, internet access is connected, and books are filling a library. Thank you.
To finish this update we will share a bit of our personal life here in Virginia.
Back to the excitement track, this first picture is from just outside our front door. I would not say Evelyn panicked but she now refuses to go out this particular door anymore.