One Great Hour of Sharing

Wrapping Up Uganda

Here's Susan's latest email from Uganda....

Dear Friends,

Diane and I have had a wonderful time here in Kampala.  We have a much better understanding about UHR and the other two organizations that Milton works with.  UHR is a very solid program but they need assistance in a variety of ways.  I have some ideas to share that are very do-able in helping Milton with his remarkable program.

For those of you who had the UHR experience a couple of years ago when they came to the United States, I want you to know all of the kids have grown considerably - physically and matured.  Their dancing is way beyond what we all saw two years ago.  And I wish you could meet the kids that did not come to our area!  I just love being in a place where the people are so friendly and outgoing!

Of course there has been more to my trip than UHR.  Uganda has developed or I should say Kampala has developed way beyond what the city was when I lived here 4 years ago.  I have been off to my old haunts and have re-connected with several people I knew when I lived here.  I connected with an art gallery owner and I may have a Ugandan art exhibit at my apartment in Troy for a Troy Night Out mixed in with Diane's fantastic photographs of Uganda.  By the way, Diane is having a photography exhibit at RPI, her reception is on August 15th.  We intend to do a Uganda awareness at her receptions - and sell a few items to raise some funds for the extended UHR family.

We are off for lunch today with Milton, Naomi, their babies and the Norwegians that currently fund the UHR program.  Tomorrow we are having lunch with former Greenwich girl, Leslie Nielsen and Tuesday we are packing up and flying out via Amsterdam.  We land at JFK on Wednesday afternoon.  It will be good to come home but I know I will return soon and often to Uganda.

Be well and be in touch,
Susan

First week in Uganda

Susan sent another update yesterday-

Dear Friends and Family,


I have been in Uganda now for a week! The time has flown by so quickly. Each day brings new surprises and meeting up with old friends both in the UHR troupe and other people I once knew! Kampala is an exciting city. The guest house where my friend Diane and I are staying is a lovely oasis after being in the hustle and bustle of a very busy and developing city!


We are gathering so much information about and for UHR and two other organizations that are assisting street kids in getting off the streets. Lots to process and lots to share upon our return. It is great Diane is a photographer - our story will be easier to tell accompanied by her photographs.


We just returned from an interesting occasion. The UHR troupe was performing at the University art center for an opening of an art exhibit using the native Bugandan bark cloth. Prior to colonization the Bugandan kingdom clothed themselves in bark cloth - this Ugandan artist has created some very cool fashions made out of the bark cloth - the opening of the exhibit included a performance by UHR and the honored guest was the Prince of Buganda.


I am so happy to be back in Uganda - in many ways I feel I never left - except this time I do not have a car... We have been mostly taking special hires - which are taxis. Always negotiating a price. Gasoline is about $10 a gallon here...


For those of you who know and love Milton and the UHR troupe - they are all well and happy. We have seen all of the kids who came to Greenwich - except Sophie. Sophie just had a baby - but she is still training with the troupe. Tonight Milton was performing with a Greenwich Central School baseball shirt on - and to think yesterday he was appointed the minister of Education in his kingdom! We met his babies last Sunday - beautiful and Naomi is lovely.


I could go on and on - but I will save more for later.


Be well and love-

Susan

Susan Gordon is in Uganda

Just got this email from Susan....

I am just getting to computer time. slept in after an amazing day yesterday with Milton and the kids. i feel so inspired and have many ideas about what I want to do here in Uganda now and in the future. it was wonderful to reconnect with all of the kids - not only the ones that came to the USA but the kids who did not and who I knew when I lived and worked here four years ago.


I spent many hours with Milton - we had lunch at the University together away from the compound and his busy life. today he is being appointed as the Minister of Education in his kingdom of Uganda and tomorrow he goes to his kingodm for the official ceremony! this is great appointment for him - not bad for an orphan kid who eventually got a college education and has created an incredible social program here in Uganda for former street kids - and the kids stay in his program and now several are going to university - working at jobs to do it! no loans and no families. we could all learn so much from these people!


Tonight the troupe is performing at the national soccer stadium for the opening ceremonies for all African soccer games (big/huge tournaments) - the President of Uganda will be there and so will Diane and me. Milton put us on his crew list to take pictures! I am very excited!!!


An example of the kind and honest people the Ugandans are. This morning the front desk person at Mamba came to me with a pair of glasses and a note. Diane had left her glasses in the taxi we took from the airport - the driver found the glasses this morning and returned them to us with a note. That is Uganda.

A Push-up For A Donut

*DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK*

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery.

Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. "How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night." "200?"

"That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said.""Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it." Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?" "Sure!" Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, "No!" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut." "Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular.

Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a donut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

Too Cute

This is a precious rendition

The Promise of Easter

A message to the PC(USA) from the General Assembly Stated Clerk

by The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick
PC(USA) General Assembly stated clerk

LOUISVILLE — This is a good year for Easter to come early!

The date of Easter this year, March 23, is the earliest it has been for almost 200 years. With all of the pain and suffering in the world, the conflict in our church, and the deep yearning for the good news that can only be answered by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an early Easter is just what the world needs.

In my years of working in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the church around the world, I have been struck by how the Easter message brings life, hope, and salvation to people in so many different contexts and finds expression in so many different ways. The ultimate triumph of the love of God in the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, brings incredible hope and joy to people who, like Jesus, face tremendous obstacles to fullness of life.

For those suffering from the guilt of sin, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the good news of forgiveness and newness of life.

For those facing death, the resurrection is the promise that death is swallowed up in victory and we are invited to share with Christ in life eternal.

For those feeling deserted or overwhelmed by life’s circumstances, the resurrection is the promise that no suffering is so great that it cannot be overcome by the love of God through Christ.

For those struggling for justice against great odds, the resurrection is the demonstration that God’s righteousness will ultimately triumph in this world.

For all of us, the resurrection is the assurance that “nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).

Easter is the church’s finest hour and God’s greatest blessing to each and every one of us. As you celebrate new life again this Easter, may your heart be filled with the love of Christ and the joy of being part of a community of resurrection people.

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!