Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two
can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Eccelesiaties 4: 9-12

Sitting around our office lunch table for our very first 2014 Monday devotions, I could not imagine a better topic than the celebration of friendship. In Uganda, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are one long big celebration, and all through these days many of us take time to reflect on the year that was and relish in the warm memories of friends, families, and even strangers who at one point were there to lift us up.

Taking time to reflect makes us realize how inter-dependent we are and that without others to come alongside us, we possibly would never have made it through. So sitting at the table listening to David Acidri read from Ecclesiastics 4:9-12 and share about the value of friends, we at World Renew Uganda were in all ways celebrating the friendship that we have with each one of you: we celebrate your love, selflessness, and the sacrifice you have made over the past year and longer in order to fulfill our biblical mandate: “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”. Micah 6:8.

We want to begin the year by sharing with you a testament to your ‘friendship’ with us.

You will read about the refugees in Koboko who are excited about the possibility of a hot meal each day, a peasant farmer reaping big from his garden – and all because you have called us “friend!” By holding hands with World Renew and our Ugandan partners, we have formed a threefold cord to bring about transformation and spread the love of Christ to thousands of people! So this year we shall continue to celebrate you! We too request that you share with us your prayer requests, and as a threefold cord we shall present them to the Lord for His mercy and fulfillment.

Transitions

This will be my last newsletter as a member of the World Renew Uganda team. After many years of living and serving in Uganda, Josephine and I will be moving to Dar es Salaam, where I will be taking over the World Renew Tanzania country director position.

So much has happened since I arrived here from Rwanda in mid-2000. Most significant for me was my marriage to Josephine in 2002. She has been my best friend and advisor these past twelve years. Through our marriage I became a Ugandan in-law, and this has exposed me to all of the joys and sorrows of life in a Ugandan extended family. I have also been blessed to see so many lives changed (including my own) through the fine work and testimony of my World Renew Uganda teammates and our Ugandan partner organization colleagues. Please remember our team, our partners, and the communities they serve in your prayers in this time of transition.

Our call to move to Tanzania was very compelling, and while we will miss Uganda we are looking forward to new challenges, meeting new people, making new friends, seeing new places, and learning more about this big, beautiful, and diverse East African country of 45 million people.

We are also looking forward to keeping you informed about how your prayer support and financial support are making a difference in lives and communities in Tanzania.

We ask for your prayers for Josephine and me as we make this move and for the World Renew Tanzania team as we start our work together.

Blessings! 

Jim Zylstra

Team Leader
World Renew Uganda