Shine a Light!

As I was reading today, God lead me to Luke 11. Sometimes scriptures you've read over and over become new to you, when God is trying to show you something!
Luke 11:33-36
"No one when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."
I love the first part of this scripture! When night falls and we turn lights on throughout the house, do we cover them up with a dark blanket? Or do we hide the lamps under the bed? Why is it we can go on for hours, days, even years, and never share our light that He has lit in us? Who have you shared your light with today, when is the last time you led someone to our Savior, we have a tremendous job as Christians to share this amazing light with those who are sitting quietly in the dark, waiting for that bright light to touch them. I know I never want my light to even flicker, but always shine brightly for Him! Lord, may you always remind me of that, and continue to show me ways that I may shine brighter, especially to those around me. Amen

A Thankful Heart!

O.K. Not that I am complaining, but since we have started on this road to Uganda 1 year ago now, we have went through a lot, we have lost a lot, and we have gained a closer relationship to our Lord as a result of this. My heart has pretty much been fine throughout all the transitions we have made, until recently! I don't know if it's just hormones, having a new little one or what, but lately, my heart has been a little broke, and it's not something you want to admit, it makes me feel a little less godly for some reason. The other day I found Samuel going nuts with a marker coloring all over the dresser in his bedroom! This is not the characteristics of our 5 year old! I went in a blaze, with my spanking hand ready! I said "who did this?" Assuming it was my three year old and Sam immediately spoke up saying "If I tell you it was me, will I get a spank?" Tears filled his eyes, and I said "why? Why would you do such a thing? This isn't even our dresser, it belongs to the missionary homes!" He replied " I know, that's why I did it! I want my old dresser back, my old house, and my old toys, I don't want drunk neighbors anymore mom" the whole time, tears are just pouring down his little cheeks, which again, if any of you know Sam this is just not him! My heart broke into two million pieces as I tried to choke back the tears and not cry along with him. I wanted to tell him "I know, I miss our home, the home Josh and I worked so hard for, my huge front porch where I could sit and rock my babies, our back yard, my dad stood in the pouring rain staining that fence for us". My boys have given up so many of their toys, their cool bed with the sliding board, their swing set, their dog, their cat, their mamaw and papaw's who love them so much! Peter will never even get to know his grandma and grandpas, never get to see them on a daily basis. And all that is going through my head is..... Is this really worth it?! I'm so sorry to even think that God, but my children's hearts are really hurting! Why do we need to go to Africa now?! For seven years, we had no children, no home of our own, that would have been a better time! So, as I choked back my tears, I explained to Sam and Zach, for now this is our home, temporally until God says it's time to go the Africa, and we must be happy and have His joy in our hearts. When Josh got home from work I explained what had happened, and immediately he to began to cry. It was a couple of days later when we were flipping through the channels and an infomercial came on, it was for Feed the Children. We've all seen it, the hungry children in the streets of Africa, flies on their eyeballs, ribs protruding, it is heart breaking. I turned it right away, and told Josh, I honestly don't even want to think about Africa right now! But something made me turn it back! There she was, a momma, just like me, she had two boys the same age as Sam and Zach with a small baby strapped to her back. She was so proud of her children. They had found a mud puddle with a small amount of very dirty water, the cow's back foot was standing in the mud puddle, and it had actually just pooped in it. The mom stood by, as her two little boys scooped that water up and drunk it with smiles on their faces. The tears again started flowing from my eyes, as the man hosting the show said "this mother loves her children just as much as you love yours" I repented for the sadness I had in my heart for crying over material things and realized how much we are needed and called to be a part of what God is doing in Africa. No, I cannot take clean water to everyone there, I cannot feed the starving, or give medical help to all those who need it. But what I can do is go with a happy heart, telling people like that momma standing there, God loves her and her children so much He sent His only Son to die for her. I can give that hope through Jesus Christ. I will praise and thank God right along with her when a mud puddle is found and the children's pains from hunger are gone for that very minute. Josh and I agreed we would never be sad again when our children cry over material things, that is not how we want to raise them, that is not what we want instilled in their little hearts. It was a couple days later, I laid the boys down for a nap, we didn't talk any more about the dresser or anything and Sam came into the bedroom with the tiny little bible he got when he was dedicated as a baby. I was singing to Peter, Sam didn't know I was listening, and he opened that little bible, not knowing how to read yet, and said "Yes God, I will go to Africa and tell the children you love them, because that's what the bible says".
I am so proud of my boys and the life God has called us into, I am so thankful for continually being drawn close to Him and realizing what truly is important. I thank you all for your prayers and partnership in helping us reach a country through God who confirms our calling in our hearts everyday.

Concert of Prayer!

Please be a part of The Concert of Prayer beginning 9.14.09! Go to wgm.org to check it out!

What is a disciple?

Once we give our hearts to the Lord Jesus does that automatically make us one of His disciples? As Christians we have a mighty duty to Him. The bible tells us it is not enough to attend church on Sunday mornings, go home and forget about Him until next Sunday when we meet with other believers again. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our every day lives that we push our Godly duties to the side, like devotion, praise even prayer. When we do this over time we find ourselves slipping further away from Him. Just like a marriage, how can we only go to our spouse once a week and speak with them and listen to them, having a meaningful relationship? Our Lord requires so much more! And we should be more than happy to accommodate! What is it that you can do during the week to show Your Savior how serious you are about serving Him? What "job" is He calling you to and what are you doing for Him, to help further the Kingdom of God? How can you be a better disciple for Christ?
The deeper I grow in Him, the more I am able to hear His voice telling me what to do and how to serve Him for today! I want this to be my prayer every morning of every day, Lord, what can I do for you and your people today, who can I pray for, who can I help? We are learning with three small boys, full time ministry, a busy home school schedule, full time 40 hour a week job, getting ready to begin, it is extremely difficult to find alone time for Christ! Or is it?! I have learned when you pray for time, you get it! There are always moments we can seize, beautiful moments we can spend with Him, times when we can just stop and listen, not for Him to answer our every need (He knows those before we even ask), but times when we can ask Him, "What can I do for you today Lord" asking with a pure servants heart!
If you want to become a disciple of our savior you can begin today! Develop the practice each day of spending time alone with Him. Pray for God to send others your way to minister to, others willing to commit themselves to Him by changing the world through evangelism and discipleship. The world desperately needs such a change, but only our Lord Jesus Christ has the power and plan to change men's hearts and nations!

He's Finally Here!

My midwife Chris

9lb 5oz and 22 inches long




Here he is.... Mr. Peter Joshua Bryant! Peter was born Tuesday, August 4th and has been such a joy in our lives! Thank you all for your prayers! Sam and Zach are totally in love with their new little brother and we are all having fun spoiling him as much as we can!

Uganda Prayer Requests

Thanks so much for all of your thoughts and prayers while we have been on our journey, preparing for Uganda.

In case any of you are qualified and are looking to do some international travel, Heritage International School (where Sam and Zach will attend) is in desperate need of a high school English teacher for this school year! The school term starts on August 10th, but they would take an English teacher whenever he/she can arrive. Because of other shortages, many teachers are taking on extra loads to teach these classes. Please pray that one could be found. Pray for the new volunteer teachers arriving to teach the upcoming year that they will adjust well to Uganda and be a blessing to their students.

We obviously appreciate and covet your prayers, but if you could also remember the folks that are already over in Uganda doing the work. Please pray for the physical & spiritual health of the missionaries & their families:
—Southern Uganda Missionaries:
• John & Beth Muehleisen
• Jonathan & Lisa Mayo (Jordan & Ethan)
(Jon and Lisa are our Field Directors)
• Kenneth & Delight Hopson (Kaleb, Austin, & Emilee)
(Ken and Delight are actually back in the states traveling)
• Lisa Fish
• Keith & Donna Bourne (Haley & Rachel)
• Jean Komline

—Northern Uganda Missionaries
• Billy & Joanna Coppedge (Elsie Jayne & Lucy)

—Missionary Disciples (First term missionaries like us)
• Jamie Friedrich
• The Hallahan Family
• The Rambo Family
• The Guilliams Family
• Pam Wilson
• The Ferg Family
• The Burke Family

Please continue to pray for..
• the field housing situation. With rent increases and more missionaries arriving, the need for affordable field housing continues to remain a need.

• the monthly pastoral trainings taking place in 10 different locations including 1 in Sudan. Over 110 pastors are being trained at 3 different levels.

• the youth pastoral training and all of the youth outreach ministries.

• our field directors as they continue to look at new areas for outreach. New ministries have already begun in South Sudan . We are now looking at ministry opportunities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 5 strategic locations within Uganda .

• 25 to 30 new missionaries to come along in the next 5 years to meet the needs of the expanding ministries.

• land to be purchased to build an Urban Center or to be able to purchase land with an existing building for multi-purpose ministries in Kampala. This Urban Center would be a place for the 600 plus students from 11 African countries in the University Ministry. It would be a multi purpose building for a church to reach professionals, a place to begin businesses or to rent out to other businesses to help fund the ministries of the church.
Please pray that God will provide the necessary resources to meet the needs within all of the ministry opportunities.
• Us that we will always have a Christ-like attitude and keep Him the center focus of our family and our ministry, and that we would be a light to those we come into contact with here and Uganda.

Stay Blessed,
Josh and Angela

Isaiah

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest though the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.