"The unifying factor is Jesus": CMS mission partners Heather and David Sharland
(Photo: © Sharlands/CMS)By David and Heather Sharland, working in healthcare and sustainable farming in Uganda
When you look at our work, you could ask the question: “What holds it all together? What is the unifying factor?”
The answer is Jesus.
During a week we have many opportunities to share Jesus.
Here is a recent week:
Monday:
Monday is an office day; we meet with people to share ideas, plans and pray. We enjoy offering and receiving hospitality.
Tuesday:
Meeting and praying with blind boys When Madelin and her husband Daudi were preparing for the birth of their first baby, Heather supervised her antenatal care. Madelin went into labour last night, and needed a c-section. We visited her this morning and prayed, giving thanks for the safe delivery of baby Melody. At the local primary school, there is a blind unit for boys. Every week we have a Bible club for the 15 boys after school.
Wednesday:
David goes to Eden Farm to work alongside the people there. Midway through the morning they share tea and talk about biblical principles for farming practices.
Thursday:
Heather and a colleague are doing a clinic support supervision visit to Anayribu. We enjoy encouraging the nurses in the remote health centres and answering their questions. This week, a woman came to the clinic on the carrier of a bicycle. When she got off she was limping. In great fear, she told us that bad spirits and wizards had made her lame. We prayed for her physical and spiritual healing, and shared scripture with her. We asked the local pastor to follow up with her.
Friday:
We were invited to a local church fellowship in the afternoon in Wandi Parish to share about trees, the environment and the Bible. On the way, we turned off onto a small track. The sky was black with rain clouds and the path became less noticeable. Praise God we arrived! It felt like a house fellowship in Bible times. About 15 people packed into a small room 3 x 3 metres. After the rain stopped another 20 women and at least 10 children came to listen; it was close fellowship!
Saturday:
Trees distributed to local pastors It’s time to distribute trees in Ogoko. Families are willing to plant, the rains have come and the holes are dug. At one place along the road there was a flood. Two game wardens told us: "There is no way you can drive through," and pointed to their hips. "It is up to here." We prayed and waited. After 10 minutes, Heather walked through the 500 metre stretch of water; in the wheel tracks, it came just above her knees. David engaged the four-wheel drive and drove as steadily as possible as amazing plumes of water rose either side of the car. What a blessing God gave us, as we distributed 780 trees. We went home a different way.
Sunday:
This is a day for us to enjoy fellowship at our local church. It is wonderful to be part of a large community coming to worship God and listen to Bible teaching. Another week is about to begin. We thank God for all the opportunities we had to share Jesus during this past week.
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