The period of Lent begins today (Ash Wednesday) and will continue for 40 days up to Easter. Lent is a time when Christians remember that Jesus went into the desert for 40 days before beginning his public ministry and where he prayed, fasted and was tempted. A friend said to me yesterday what she enjoys about Lent is that it is one of the periods in the Christian calendar that has not become commercialised (well that is one of the reasons why I think I am beginning a new relationship with Lent).
For Lent I have decided to join the Fairfield Lent Prayer Challenge and pray every morning at 7.14am (it’s not too late for you to begin too!); I am also planning to read two chapters of the Bible every day and to ‘give’ something each day and ‘give up’ something each day (will not divulge what they are here…).
Thinking about Lent has reminded me about two themes that I want to develop more in my life: discipline and being intentional. And what better way to try and cement those two themes into my life then throughout Lent!
Jody
midst a world where life can often by ‘short and cheap’.
ing to use my gifts to serve the poor. After much prayer, persistence and persuasive talking I have managed to train about 280 teachers from 52 primary schools over the past month. The peak of all this training was four workshops held in the four divisions of the municipal here, organised by the local schools inspector and the head teachers’ association. Contrary to local cultural expectations, there was no ‘sitting allowance’ or ‘transport allowance’ (money) given to teachers for attending – one of the perks they had grown accustomed to from post-war rehabilitation work. In spite of this, I received a phenomenal response from many primary schools and have been swamped with offers to visit schools and do follow-up training and further support the teachers who attended. The Municipal Education Officer (top dog for the town schools here) even offered me an office if I return… tempting offer). Although my time is coming to an end for this season of our life I feel extremely grateful that I have been able to hopefully make some small difference in these local schools. I pray these local teachers will continue with the work, that these children will learn to read and write and money will not remain a barrier to education here.
Dan and Jodes... in Gulu, Uganda 