granny-families Archives | Page 2 of 2

Blog, Discipleship Center, granny-families, Missionaries, Nasuti Uganda, Servants serving, Uganda

March 4, 2015July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

Barnstorming with Fred in Nasuti

BARNSTORMING

Fred writes: Yesterday we attended church at Acacia Community Church in Jinja, an open-air thatched roof church both reaching out to Ugandans and providing a place to worship for mzungu missionaries. And led by a pastor from West Virginia no less – “Can I get an amen!!” We then ate lunch at a little place called The Haven on the Nile river. Last night I had the privilege of executing our first African rat. Sucker was eating our bananas.

Today it was back on the bodas for a barnstorming run to 20 granny homes. We have only three left which we will get to tomorrow morning. One of the highlights was visiting a home where they had spent the very first night in their new home last night. They were walking on air. We went inside with the family and prayed a blessing on the home and that all who live there would know Jesus and look forward to the day when we all have a permanent home with Him. We also visited a home with a shrine behind it where the clan keeps their demons -not just any demons mind you, specialty demons. They give them a little house out back so they can call on them when they need them. Handy, I suppose. The granny there is a Christian but not all of her clan has followed in her footsteps, hence the continued presence of the shrine. Pray for them to see the Light and turn from their old ways.

I have a lot of time to think as I’m riding down the back roads and trails and today I was captured by thoughts about the masses of people I have seen, even out here in the bush. Walking, riding bikes, standing around in the trading centers, carrying jerrycans of water, pushing old bicycles laden with everything from huge bunches of bananas to massive bags of charcoal for their cook stoves, walking to and from school, laying around on their lawns with their babies (it was a scorcher today). I wondered how many of them have heard of Jesus. I couldn’t escape the question, ” If no one tells them, how will they know?” There are so many great things going on here and yet so much still to do and so many lost who need to be found.

Tomorrow we’ll catch up with the last three grannies and then observe an “interview” with a prospective granny home recipient.

Blog, dependency syndrome, Discipleship Center, FAMILY, Grannies, granny-families, Servants serving, widows & orphans

March 1, 2015July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

On the road again (sing it like Willie Nelson)

Keeping you in the loop through Fred (Langeland) – one of four servant-guests serving at The Way Home this week with Russ: –

Fred writes: Third day on the road today. Began with a beautiful sunrise – see below – and then we saddled up and rode about 1-1/2 hr. to our first stop. Really out there but the ride was beautiful. Tim Johnson rode with us, too. We stopped at only eight granny homes today because of the remote locations. We saw some beautiful babies today but were saddened to see that they were all wearing witchcraft bracelets. Even those who convert to Christianity often maintain their previous practices of black magic and ancestor worship. It’s really hard to see that knowing that they will never know the abundant life in Christ unless they can be led away from the old practices. Many of the Christian pastors here are uneducated and preach a gospel that isn’t really the Gospel. More on what The Way Home Africa is working on to help with that later.

We saw some beautiful gardens today – we were really impressed at one stop where there are three grannies in immediate proximity to each other and they have teamed up to do some major power-gardening. Many hands make light work. Their gardens produce a very abundant harvest and they not only feed their grandchildren, but also can sell enough excess to pay for all of their school fees. This concept really works when it’s applied and worked hard at.

As we visited some gardens that are a few years old it was really neat to see how the soil develops over time using the Farming God’s Way method. The soil here is naturally a gritty red clay. It is not particularly fertile and is even hard on farming implements due to the angular abrasive nature of the grit in it. The Farming God’s Way method of using planting holes instead of tilling the soil, covering the garden with mulch to retain moisture and minimize soil compaction, and returning the spent plants to the soil results in a rich, dark topsoil after only a couple growing seasons. It was very cool to see that the neighbors of the grannies being served by The Way Home Africa / Farming God’s Way partnership are taking notice and beginning to employ the same methods themselves. This is really a game changer for the folks over here.

We had a little excitement on the way back this afternoon. The rainy season is moving in and we were doing our best to skirt a big thunderstorm but just a couple miles from home base we were nailed by a pretty nasty hail storm and had to pull off in a small town and take shelter under a canopy with a large group of local men. They looked at us like we’re freaks but nobody bothered us. We often wave to people as we blast down the back roads and they wave back, give us a big grin and yell “mzungu!”. The Ugandan people are very friendly and helpful.

Blog, dependency syndrome, Discipleship Center, FAMILY, Grannies, granny-families, Servants serving, Uganda, widows & orphans

February 28, 2015July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

The Way Home- Backroads Tour Day 2

One of The Way Home’s guest-servants this week, blogs about his second day on the roads to photo journal our granny families with Heather:

OUR SECOND DAY ON THE BACKROADS

Fred writes: We spent another day on the backroads of Uganda visiting with 13 grannies at their homes. We observed several fine gardens being prepared for planting. They’re prepping the planting holes now and will plant the seed in another week or two when the next semi-annual rainy season begins. We also prayed with each one that their garden would produce abundantly. No all of them have gardens – we’ve met a few who are blind and one today wasn’t able to get up from her mat on the floor – but some of them we’ve seen have been astounding. While the grand kids are away at school the grannies work on preparing and maintaining their gardens. The idea is that they will be able to raise enough crop to not only feed their family but also enough extra to sell so they can pay the kids’ school fees. If you can’t pay, you don’t go to school here.

We’re learning many things about how to best to help people in other cultures work their way out of poverty. It’s so easy as westerners to want to just put together a team, write a check, and fix the problem. We can see, though, the dependency problems that creates. As we ride the bodas through the little towns along the way we can hear the kids calling out for money from the mzungus. When we pull into the villages it’s like the circus just pulled into town. People come from all around the village to see what we have brought for them. It’s encouraging to see how The Way Home Africa is working to break that cycle with the people they serve. They’re working hard to fade into the background as they train up more and more Ugandans to do the work on the ground. They’re also willing to apply tough love in situations where the recipients sit back on their hands expecting the work to be done for them.

Well tomorrow it’s back to the bush on our trusty bodas and will be joined on our journey for a day by Tim Johnson. Please continue to pray for us and for the work of The Way Home Africa.

Blog, Discipleship Center, FAMILY, Grannies, granny-families, Servants serving, Uganda, widows & orphans

February 27, 2015July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

Beating Around the Bush

The Way Home’s “Servant’s Retreat” in the discipleship village is filled this week with….well…Servants! Let us share the blog of one of those servants, Fred Langeland, who has come with one of our two senior advocate’s, Heather Osborn to accomplish a very BIG job…photo journaling our, now 60, Granny Families:

Fred writes: Today was an adventure unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. We were on dirt bikes literally beating through the African bush. When I talk about Africa I normally hesitate to use words like “bush” and “village.” In one of my classes in Bible college we had a student from Africa and I remember her complaining that Americans all thought everybody in Africa grew up in a grass hut out in the bush. She was from a modern city and found our presumption both ignorant and arrogant. Well, we weren’t in the city today! We visited 17 granny homes, meeting with them, taking photos, and looking at their gardens. We were really in the African bush. We went down roads that weren’t even roads – some of them just a path between villages. If we had lost our leader you never would have seen Heather or me again – there was no way to know where we were or where the next turn would lead. I’d be building our grass huts as you read this.

My being here is an incredible gift and an experience I don’t want to squander on myself. I believe God provided the means for me to be here for a reason. Today in the solitude of my motorcycle helmet I recalled a thought from our devotions last night. The person who shared it didn’t remember where she got it so I can’t cite credit but it goes like this: “In Christian life and witness so much is lost because we are indefinite. The devil is not worried by our pious aspirations. He is troubled when, in obedience to God, for the glory of Christ and in the power of the Spirit, we make firm practical decisions to do specific things for the Lord.” Pious aspirations. Ever have any of those? To be the best wife or husband your spouse could ever dream of. To be the dad that yours wasn’t. To get out of debt. To save for a secure retirement. To have deep conversations with your kids so they don’t make the same mistakes you did. To be a godly man or woman. I’ve certainly had more than my share of them and many of them have ended in my being indefinite. My prayer is that through this experience I’ll move beyond pious aspirations about spreading the gospel to the poor in Africa into practical decisions to do specific things. In obedience to God. For the glory of Christ. In the power of the Spirit.

black friday, Blog, Christams giving, Christmas, FAMILY, family gift exchange, granny-families, Uganda, widows & orphans

November 27, 2014July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

Joy & Purpose giving this Christmas!

FAMILY investing in FAMILY this CHRISTMAS

One Family decided this Christmas their family gift exchange would set a NEW tradition. A tradition of giving that will make a real difference in the lives of FAMILY. Instead of choosing names and dollar limits for a family gift exchange … they decided to pool their family giving dollars and build a house. Not just any house, but a house for a destitute Widow struggling to raise her own orphaned grandchildren after burying her own children.

The Way Home identifies these women living in poor conditions, often living in mud huts in remote areas of Uganda. For just $2,200 you can bless a grandmother this Christmas with a new brick home! In addition to their new home, they will receiving training and mentoring for sustainable farming through Farming God’s Way Biblical Worldview program. This farming program will assist the grandmother in increasing her yield up to ten times and, most importantly, Faith in God’s provision. Each new home purchased also includes a latrine as well as weekly Bible teaching and preventative medicine.

Celebrate the birth of Jesus by making a difference this Christmas, prayerfully consider giving a new home for a widow in place of a family gift exchange, office exchange or just because you want to make an impact this year.

FAMILY GIFT EXCHANGE

Blog, Grannies, granny-families, Uganda, widows & orphans

April 8, 2014July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

Publishers Clearing House in Uganda???

You would think so!

I mean that’s what it seriously feels like each year when we interview the ‘neediest of the needy’ widows, left to raise their orphaned grandchildren, deep in the village of one of the most destitute areas of Uganda.

If you can…imagine this?
…they have lost their husband and now, without any time to grieve the death of their own children
…opened their humble leaking thatched roofed, mud hut to their now, orphaned grandchildren
…when they don’t have a clue where their own next meal is coming from!!
would numbers help you imagine? The average number of children our grannies have in their care is 5.5…one of our grannies has 14!

There is nothing more humbling

It is obvious throughout scripture…that God cares for widows & orphans…and because He does…we do/can too!

but to actually SEE it happen before our very eyes..

AND to be the one’s called by God to deliver that news to them is a privilege that there are no words for…

but a picture is worth a thousand of them right??

What happens when a destitute widow raising her orphaned grandchildren hears that her prayers for provision have been heard and answered?
#HOPE!!!!

Sharing that picture of HOPE with you from deep in the village of the “Pearl of Africa”

P.S. wish you were here 🙂

Blog, Farming God's Way, Grannies, granny-families, widows & orphans

May 26, 2013July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

OUTSTANDING in their field!!!

…And we do mean that both literally and figuratively!!

As you look through this pre-harvest window deep into the villages of Luuka and Namatumba, ENJOY the fruit of these courageous and hard working Granny’s labor, with us.

They are proud..we are prouder…and surely God is most proud as these granny-families have begun to thrive by applying the principles of Farming God’s Way to their lives and their farms. They AND their gardens are visible, living testimonies of God’s abundant provision.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow….

adoption, Blog, granny-families, Uganda, widows & orphans

April 13, 2013July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

ADOPTION for KEEPS!

A permanent commitment of LOVE…

no matter where the road may lead…

Have you ever thought about how much peace & security you have in knowing that God’s adoption of YOU into His family, is permanent?

“Adoption” is one of God’s most powerful words…it describes God’s love for mankind.

Jesus offer’s God’s love to us in a form we could understand…adoption.

Galatians 4:4-5 tells us that God’s primary purpose for sending Jesus into the world was to arrange for our adoption.“…God sent forth His Son…that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

and in John 1:12 ”But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

Jesus Himself said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18

He also said, “I go to prepare a place for you …and I will come again to receive you to myself; ( ‘to adopt you’ Rom 8:23) “that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:2-3

A word we love to think of that’s a partial explanation of ‘Adoption’ is the word “permanency”. Christ will come to us, He will come again and He will receive us to Himself. A forever commitment.

We adopted our three boy’s Joseph, Dominick, and Samson with the concept of ‘permanency’ firmly in mind. When confronted with trials parent’s face raising children in this age, we reflect on the commitment of ‘permanency’. To each of His believer’s (us), Jesus makes the commitment of ‘permanency’. We constantly admire our Granny’s so much as we see their infinitely more serious trials they face than we, in raising their orphaned grand kids.We think of the thoughts must enter the minds of children whose biological parents are erased from their lives for whatever reason. “Who will take care of me”? “Does anyone love me”? “Where will I sleep, what will I eat, will I be safe”? what will happen to my sisters & brothers?

… Isn’t this the spiritual condition we face leading up to the moment of decision in choosing Christ as Savior?

Notice an amazing parallel of Christs’ saying He will permanently adopt and care for us, and someone stepping forward and saying “where I am, there you may be also” in answer to these most urgent questions of an orphaned child. Our Granny’s grandchildren can feel comfort and love, knowing that a future was planned for them that’s in their best interest. Their Granny’s love commitment is concrete evidence to them of God’s love and sovereignty in their lives. Our commitment to strengthen the Granny Families and show them the Way Home, is in honor of ‘family’ and of Christ, the true and permanent HOME & Father to every believer.

What an amazing God and FATHER we serve!

Blog, Grannies, granny-families, widows & orphans

March 4, 2013July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

Pray-paring for ABUNDANCE!

ABUNDANCE!!! what a great problem to have in the village where food is scarce and lives hang in the balance every day.

This is the ‘problem’ we have in Luuka district where our widowed grannies have now been convinced that if they FARM & LIVE God’s Way He WILL provide abundantly beyond what they could hope or imagine…and they have the visible ‘fruit’ to prove his promise!

Preparing for Abundance — Storehouse additions!

SO WE PRAYpare for His abundant provision this growing season with our newly designed secure additions of STOREHOUSES to enable these granny-families to eat, pay for school fees, and even have an income from their abundant harvest provided by the Lord!

A WONDER TO BEHOLD…God’s faithful provision to HIS faithful widowed grannies who have taken on the responsibility to raise their orphaned grandchildren. Glory to God!

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:23

Blog, granny-families, widows & orphans

November 3, 2012July 24, 2022 Baugh Family

YOUR VOTE MATTERS!

TAAAA DAAAAA!!! We are very excited to share our joy in unveiling …

our new website WWW.THEWAYHOMEAFRICA.COM ;

share it with your friends and keep in touch by letting us know what you think…at info@thewayhomeafrica.com

With God’s provision of an extremely patient and gifted missionary / webmaster from the Ukraine, Jason Wiser (http://webinationstation.com), our new user-friendly website and store to benefit destitute widows raising orphans deep in the village of eastern Uganda…is now LIVE and responsive on an internet connection near YOU!

Get involved and stay in the loop of all the latest news by subscribing to our updates too! 5 minute overview of just what The Way Home is all about:

THE WAY HOME MINISTRY in REVIEW 2012

PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYER:

Our staff in Uganda has successfully kept the foundations building, the families thriving, and the futures developing for our 40 granny families and the surrounding village community while we were in the states
Even though the drought has been long & the rainy season late…our Granny Families Farming God’s Way gardens have produced testimony harvests to God’s Glory!
Pray for wisdom as we emphasize outreach through Farming God’s Way to the rapidly growing Muslim community in our Luuka district.
Please pray for our planning of our “adoption-God’s idea!” seminar to 100 pastors and their wives in early January

“I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS;

I WILL COME TO YOU”…

John 14:18

Grateful & Blessed from YOUR FEET… keeping FAMILY together in Uganda!

Russ & Marcia …Joseph, Dominick & Samson 🙂

granny-families

Barnstorming with Fred in Nasuti

BARNSTORMING

On the road again (sing it like Willie Nelson)

Keeping you in the loop through Fred (Langeland) – one of four servant-guests serving at The Way Home this week with Russ: –

The Way Home- Backroads Tour Day 2

One of The Way Home’s guest-servants this week, blogs about his second day on the roads to photo journal our granny families with Heather:

OUR SECOND DAY ON THE BACKROADS

Beating Around the Bush

Joy & Purpose giving this Christmas!

Publishers Clearing House in Uganda???

OUTSTANDING in their field!!!

ADOPTION for KEEPS!

A permanent commitment of LOVE…

no matter where the road may lead…

What an amazing God and FATHER we serve!

Pray-paring for ABUNDANCE!

YOUR VOTE MATTERS!

YOUR VOTE MATTERS!

TAAAA DAAAAA!!! We are very excited to share our joy in unveiling …

our new website WWW.THEWAYHOMEAFRICA.COM ;

share it with your friends and keep in touch by letting us know what you think…at info@thewayhomeafrica.com

THE WAY HOME MINISTRY in REVIEW 2012

John 14:18

Grateful & Blessed from YOUR FEET… keeping FAMILY together in Uganda!

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