How Did He Know?

I kept sitting in this church in Kampala, Uganda wondering, "how could this guy know what I needed to hear?" "I don't know him."  "I have never met him."  "I don't even know his name."  "He doesn't know one thing about me."

Just a few hours before the church service I had landed in Entebbe, drove to Kampala, checked in,  went to bed, had breakfast, rode a bus to his church, walked in and found a seat in a very crowded auditorium. I sang, and prayed with the rest of the people. A good service. THEN he started preaching and it was like I was the only person in the audience.  It was like he was my best friend, knew everything about me, was able to read my mind and see into my heart. He knew what I needed to hear. How did he know? This proves several things to me but I will share a couple of key items.  God is not limited by space or distance, He lives within us through the Holy Spirit so He is always with us every where. God can use complete stranger(s) to help us grow, change and become more like Him especially if the stranger is preaching the Word.  It was no surprise to God, He knew I was going to be in that church and He knew what that pastor was going to preach. None of it was an accident.

Ross

What Makes You Laugh?

2 Clowns!

What makes you laugh? I mean besides this picture (of me and my buddy Ray Sanders) and maybe my writing?  Life is short and we take ourselves so seriously most of the time that we spend little time just laughing. My wife says she likes to hear me laugh. No one has ever said that to me before. So I started thinking about it. I started to notice that I like to hear people laugh too. It makes me happy and makes me feel good to hear them laugh. Especially my wife, kids, grandkids, friends and co-workers. I love playing golf with guys that want to laugh and have fun while shooting a good round of golf. When I play with those guys I have the most fun on the course. The Bible says that "laughter is good medicine for the soul." Laughter is a good thing. It just makes you feel better. We all need to laugh more.

So, what makes you laugh???

Ross

4-Clowns From Spain

4 Clowns from Spain!

These fine young people were seated next to me on the plane from Brussels to Entebbe, Uganda.  When you are on a plane for 10 hours it is rather hard to ignore those seated around you.  Couple that with my personality, mix in some professional clowns and it is impossible not to have some fun! This is the picture of the 4-clowns from Spain.  Real Clowns! So why are they going to Uganda? They were headed there for two weeks to (in their words) "spread some joy and laughter into the lives of some kids and a few adults that could use some." Amazing! I don't speak Spanish and they did not speak English very well but we managed to communicate and enjoy our short time together. I enjoyed getting to know them. I was impressed by them. What a story.  God gave them a gift and instead of hiding it under a bushel or using it in easy venues they decided to take the show on the road and visit some schools, hospitals and orphanages to provide joy and laughter. This story, like the rest I have shared with you this past week, inspire me.

Ross

4 Nurses on Mission of Mercy!

Meet Four Wonderful Nurses



I first met these ladies on the plane to Uganda, however, I did not inquire about what they were doing.  We meet up again in the airport waiting to fly back from Uganda.  These four ladies took a week of their vacation and went to Kampala and held a free clinic.  The clinic was to be 5-days in length but after seeing 800 patients in 4-days they ran out of supplies and could not open on the last day as planned.  Do the math, that is 5o-patients a day per nurse, per day! No wonder they look a bit worn out.  These ladies traveled by themselves to Uganda to help meet a need. They paid for the trip themselves.  They are a great example to me and should be to all of us.  I am reminded of the quote, "What you do in life echoes for eternity" these ladies have created some loud echoes.

Ross

38 Years In the Congo!

Meet Sister Marie,

She began her service to the Lord as a nurse in the Congo back in 1963 at the ripe  old age of 22.  Just a few months after her arrival war broke out.  Sister Marie and the 4 other  nurses that worked so closely to save lives and help so many with health issues were now smack dap in the middle of a war.  Faced with the reality that they were not in a safe place but rather a very dangers one, they continued to serve.  Early in 1964, the five nursers were huddled together by troops bound and determined to over turn the government. Sister Marie was standing next to a nurse that was older and more or less the leader of the nurses.  One of the soldiers suddenly and with out warning viciously killed the lead nurse standing next to Sister Marie.  Sister Marie said that the nurse died in her arms asking her to be sure to tell her mom and dad how much she loved them.  Sister Marie shed a tear as she re-lived experience telling me the story.  Today, after over 38 years in the field she has retired to a place much calmer...Brussels, Belgium. She was on her way home after having visited her friends that still serve in the Congo. She told me one other sad story. She said that "nothing has really changed in the Congo." So I had to asked her a follow up question, Do you regret spending your entire life serving in the Congo? She responded, "Oh, NO! My life is about helping people and I help thousands and thousands of people that desperately needed my help."

Ross

Tatiana's First Steps in the USA

Tatiana's First Steps In The USA!

My trip was full of great things including these special moments. Tatiana's first steps on U.S. soil with her mom by her side. Her mom first met her 3 years ago in an orphanage while on a Mission trip with her church.  She has worked tirelessly for 3 years to adopt her and bring her to join the rest of her family in the Dayton, Ohio area.  They sat across from me on the plane from Brussels to Chicago.  Tatiana, just eight years old is a wonderful little girl.  Welcome to the USA Tatiana! Ross

My New German Friends

4 Inspiring Young Adults!

Saturday Night we were waiting at the airport in Kampala, Uganda for our flight back to the U.S.  We had some bit of time to wait and we were fortunate to meet four very bright young people from Egenhausen, Germany.  Three nurses and and engineer. They were on holiday from work and used their free time to come to Mukono, Uganda to care for some orphans at the Christian Mission for the Unreached, orphans home. They were all in their 20's and giving their lives away to a higher cause.  They were inspiring! Pictured below; Simon Brehmer-29-Engineer, Rebecca Hammer-21-Nurse, Jacquelin Kirn-21-Nurse, Paniela Laaser-24-Nurse

Ross

Kampala Business Conference

Compassion International Business Conference

Last week I spoke to over 40 business leaders in Downtown Kampala, Uganda. Kampala is the capitol City of Uganda.  I discussed banking in the U.S. and specifically how we conduct business at Bank2. I pointed out a hand full of our core values and how they help us to achieve success.  I also focused on how Christian business leaders  must insist on integrity, honesty and they must lead by example.  Leaders must be above reproach. At the time I prepared my comments I had no idea that one of the huge problems facing Uganda is corruption in the business world and the government. It was a topic of much discussion in the newspapers of Kampala last week.  My comments were very timely and the questions I received during the Q & A after my speech indicated I selected the correct topics. It was a truly amazing experience and I am thankful to Compassion International for inviting.

Ross