Anticipation

Are you old enough to remember the Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef" commercials?  If you are, then you are likely over 30 years old.  The commercial was from 1984.  If you don’t remember that ad, you most assuredly won’t remember the Heinz Ketchup commercial (1979) where they try to convince you that the ketchup is so thick and tasty it is worth the wait, while it comes out of the bottle.  The song says “anticipation is making me wait”.  As many of you know, I just finished working on a “Walk to Emmaus” men’s retreat 10 days ago.  One of the buzz lines of the weekend is “do not anticipate”.  This is repeated to try to get the first time attendees to relax in the moment and not worry about what is next.

 

I’ve got to tell you, I am full of anticipation right now.  I don’t think anticipating is necessarily a bad thing.  Sure, we should make good use of today, because we all know that this IS the day that the Lord has made.  “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”. Psalm 118:24 

We too should not worry too much about the future:  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:34.

I am not worried about tomorrow, nor am I discounting today, BUT I am anticipating what God will accomplish through the Due Unto Others team in Uganda this summer.  Romans 8:24-25  says,  “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it”.  I have not seen what will happen in Uganda while we are there, but I am eagerly waiting, with perseverance, for it.  We feel that God has called us to go back to Uganda to continue our medical missions there.  Because of this call, we know that he has big plans for His Kingdom work there.

I can’t wait to see our friends from Africa Renewal Ministries and the Renewal Healthcare Network.  Thanks to the internet and facebook, we have been able to keep up with them and make plans for this summer, but it is just not the same as working with them daily.  I am anticipating reconnecting with some of the “That One Persons”, like Jamil, James, Tendo, Nakiganda, Joseph (from Soroti), Shakib, Jonathan and others.  We have been receiving pictures of them, but interacting with them is such a joy.  We look forward to worshipping our God with the people of Uganda.

 

You can be a part of the Due Unto Others team in Uganda for 2013!  Here are the 3 ways that you can help our team:

1.)    We need many prayers.  Please lift up the people that we have treated and the people that we will be treating this summer.  Please pray in all things that God will be glorified.

2.)    You could join us for a 2 week short term trip to serve God and the people of Uganda.  Please email me dueunto@gmail.com for more information and pricing.

3.)    You could partner with us to raise the money required to take the Due Unto Others team to the rural areas of Uganda and to purchase all of the medical supplies required to put on 6 weeks worth of clinics.  Please email me to get more information on this as well.

 

We know that God has a reason for us going back to Uganda this summer.  We are looking forwarded to our time there, but ANTICIPATION IS MAKING US WAIT.

 

Jay