Monday, July 1, 2013

Sing for Joy! Lovinsa


Psalm 100:1-4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the Earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

 

Until I was almost 30 years old, my father, Jerry Gregston, was a Baptist music/worship leader.  I grew up singing in children’s choir, youth choir, and anytime the radio was on.  Worship through singing (even if off key) has been a part of my life for as long as I remember.  We have continued to be amazed at the praise and worship that takes place in Uganda.  Our worship services last 2 hours and a full 75 minutes of this is experience is spent standing, singing and praising our God.

 

We were recently introduced to Lovinsa, a 35 year old mother of 3. 
 
Lovinsa leads praise & worship at the Buddo Bible Community Church.  She has had a worsening swelling, infection, and pain in her neck for the past 20 years.  The swelling and pain increases until the area ruptures and drains.  This has started to affect her voice and ability to lead her church in worship.  She has never had the resources to have this problem addressed appropriately.  After seeing Lovinsa and hearing of her medical issues, we felt that the Due Unto Others team should participate in her care.  She has seen an ENT specialist, in Uganda.  It is felt that she has a cyst in her neck that has been present since her embryological development.  She had a CT scan and it was deemed that she needed to have this cyst/infection removed.  She is scheduled to have the operation done this week at Case Medical Clinic in Uganda. 

Psalm 146:1-2 Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

I am calling on all worship team or choir members to help us pray for Lovinsa.  Please consider helping financially in her care too.  Her proposed operation will cost approximately $700.  Imagine the display of God’s love as she receives a healing surgery.  Her weekly worship leading will be a demonstration to her church and her entire community.

To borrow my father’s sign off,

Sing for Joy!

 

Jay