Prison ministry, Zambia

After meeting with my mother and preparing to drive around Puget Sound (see previous post), I received a phone call from a fellow missionary.  Marc and I are both called to serve our Lord and savior in international prison ministry.  He is called to Zambia, while I am called to Uganda.  He is called and equipped to reach out to national leaders of the prison system and to prepare and conduct crusades for large audiences of prisoners.  I, on the other hand, am called to a more localized ministry, gathering and preparing a team, and together with that team working with smaller numbers of prisoners, sharing the gospel, engaging in conversation week by week.

We can, and we want to work together, despite being separated by a few countries.  So, when he called to say that he had arrived in Seattle and would be here for a few hours before catching his connecting flight, I rushed to the airport.  We had a great one-hour meeting. Meeting each other in person for the first time and talking about prison ministry.  God willing, he will be able to expand his ministry to other countries in 2022, possibly Uganda.  God willing, the Truth is Light prison ministry that I am part of in Northwest Uganda, and the Hope for Restoration Initiative prison ministry in Southern Uganda will be able to follow up Marc’s prison ministry crusade with prison ministry discipleship.  God willing.

Ferry

For those unfamiliar with the Puget Sound region of Washington state, USA, there is a large inlet from the Pacific Ocean called Puget Sound.  While it is possible to reach the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas by driving part way around Puget Sound and then across the Tacoma Narrows bridge, it is more timely and fuel efficient to take the ferry across.

Prior to going to Uganda for missionary work, I lived and worked on the Kitsap peninsula.  I have family on the other (eastern, or metropolitan) side of Puget Sound.  This past month I have been trying to catch up with family as well as those I used to live and work with (near).  Unfortunately, CoVid-19 concerns has people calling out of work each day, leaving the Washington State Ferries (WSF) system without enough staff to run both ferries on each route.  The ferries are frequently full when both boats are running.  With only one in service the wait time for the next boat, and the number of people waiting make it more practical to drive around.  I hope they turn out to be healthy and just cautious.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving.  Today is thanksgiving in the US and I want to give thanks for the opportunity to help the prison ministry in Uganda.  I also wish to give thanks for the computer skills ministry in Uganda.