Cees and Mirjam serve in Kotido, Uganda, to engage the Karimojong people for Christ. For twelve weeks, they have been running a pilot programme where people from seven small congregations have been gathering on Saturday mornings. They are the backbone of the congregation in their villages of a few hundred people, but they don’t have a Bible, and they can’t read. With the help of local leader Joseph, they have been teaching a new Bible story each week. Churches in the villages rely on such servants who, out of love for God and their people, ride their rickety bicycles down the dusty roads week after week.  There’s a lot of laughter; Noah was that man who built a barn for animals that could float on water. There’s nothing here in Kotido that looks like a boat…  During this program, it also became clear how hunger affects church life. One attendee shared that, “At first, seven of us from our village came to hear the stories. Then food was distributed at another church. The mosque also distributes food regularly. Our congregation’s members go wherever the food is.” Please pray for Cees, Mirjam and Joseph as they navigate the challenges of both spiritual and physical hunger within the local church.

Cees and Mirjam serve in Kotido, Uganda, to engage the Karimojong people for Christ. In addition to using audio Bibles, they have launched a Bible storytelling pilot program. On Saturdays, about 60 illiterate church workers from various (tree) churches in the area gather under a big tamarisk tree. Dirce (a colleague) or Mirjam tell the story as simply and factually as possible. They repeat this several times and each time ask what they’ve retained. After the fourth time, most of them know the entire story by heart and begin retelling it in pairs. They then discuss the application in small groups and repeat the entire story one or two more times. Now everyone has the Word in their minds and, hopefully, in their hearts as well, so it can be shared during the Sunday church service. The participants are very enthusiastic. In 12 weeks, they are taking them through major stages from Creation to the Second Coming. Pray that these stories take deep root and multiply outward. Pray for boldness as these church workers step out to share with neighbours, relatives, and villages that have yet to hear.

Cees and Mirjam serve in Kotido, Uganda, to engage the Karimojong people for Christ. They are currently facing a drought, and they see crops withering in the bone-dry, rock-hard soil. It is a source of great concern for them. Christians tend to see this as a punishment from God. A light shower last week seemed like a sign, but it’s really just a drop in the bucket, so please pray for the provision of rain. Ask that the Lord might sustain Cees and Mirjam as they discover more of the dark side of life in this community. This causes them to wrestle with questions like “What am I doing here? Where do I even start? What’s the point of my work? Am I actually making an impact?” Please pray for spiritual protection, perseverance and the faith to believe that their labours are not in vain.