Dear praying brothers and sisters;

It is a time of transitions for the Proctor family. In a week, on the 31st of January, we leave to return to our beloved Uganda.

We are so very thankful for your prayers, and for God’s kind answers to them, over the past few months. Meredith’s cancer treatment was completely successful, and she is fully restored to health and to her cheerful spirit. We have been visiting OPC congregations throughout the U.S. over the past few months, and it has been a blessing to be able to share some of the things that the Lord is doing in the Mbale work in Uganda. The Lord has been, and continues to be, abundant in kindness and mercy towards His children, and we are thankful for the blessings He has showered upon us in the past year: health and sweet fellowship with family in the states, with congregations in the OPC, and with many other friends and congregations in the broader body of Jesus Christ. As we transition back to the field, we do so with hearts full of joy and thankfulness.

We are also preparing for another significant transition. We are planning to return to Uganda for a 5 month transitional period, and then return permanently to the U.S. towards the end of June 2011. This exclusively reflects family dynamics. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church’s Committee on Foreign Missions has been wonderful and faithful in their support over the past years, our teammates in Uganda have been a blessing to work with, the OPC has been a wonderful and faithful supporting church, the work in Uganda is thriving and you, our prayer partners, have been a tremendous blessing to us through your faithful prayers, emails, cards, and care packages.

Our intention is to return to the states where I will seek a pastoral call. We would appreciate your prayers in two areas over the next few months:

Family:

1. That our transition to Uganda on Monday the 31st be smooth. There is much last minute “busyness” associated with packing up the whole family and getting us all back “home” in Mbale
2. That our remaining 5 months be fruitful, both in ministry and in transitioning the ministry for where the Lord will be taking it in the future
3. Particularly that our children would be blessed and find their comfort in God’s providence during this time. We’ve lived in Uganda for 7 1/2 years, and our children see moving back to the states as a frightening prospect. Their only knowledge of the states is what they’ve experienced on furlough – a busy place, meeting lots and lots of people, and very unsettled in terms of their “stuff” that is at home as well as being separated from their friends in Uganda.

Ministry:

1. That the Lord will raise up 2 ministers and a deacon to take up and continue to grow the work in Mbale
2. That the Ugandan brothers and sisters will not see our departure as a disaster in their personal lives and ministry, but rather see Christ removing one tool and replacing with other tools. Obviously, we have developed deep relationships with the brothers and sisters over the years, but at the end of the day, we’re just clay vessels – easily swapped out for better ones in the Lord’s use.

Yours in the bonds of Christ Jesus,

Phil, Meredith, Lydia, Hannah, Naomi, and John Knox

Posted: 01|22|11 at 9:47 pm. Filed under: Missions.
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