Luke Buescher Uganda
Dear Friends and Family, I pray this letter finds you abiding in the love and joy of our Savior.
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Another quarter has rolled by, lockdowns have come, gone, and come again. If you are anything like me, by now you are becoming a bit exhausted with curfews, mask mandates, social distancing, vaccine debates, accusation, mistrust, and division. Lately, I find myself feeling like I wish I could just shrug this whole strange season off like an overweight backpack at the end of a long hike. This feeling has only increased during the last few months since I have been immobilized due to my broken leg. Despite my own thoughts about how necessary or unnecessary all the changes have been the last year and a half, the fact remains that things have changed. Relationships and interaction with people are strained and awkward, and the world is divided and hostile towards one another in a way I haven't seen before. However, in the midst of all this God's mission for the church remains unchanged. I had the opportunity to counsel a young man from my community the other day who is going through some very difficult situations at home. I encouraged him that God did not make any mistakes by putting him in his family. God knew him before the foundations of the world and has good works prepared for him. Of all the people who ever have or ever will live on the earth, God saw fit to put him within his nation, community, and family; to be a light and a testimony, to fulfill the great commission, to fight for and pray for those around him. I can easily become overwhelmed with all of the big-picture things that are happening in the world. I can concentrate on the politics and pain that seem bent on the division and destruction of people. I can easily become discouraged. I need to remember that what is true of my friend's situation in his family is true of our situation in the world. God did not make any mistakes by putting us in this strange period of history. He knows each one of us and has placed us in the world at this time to be salt and light, to turn many to salvation, to love Him and love others. The more I focus and worry over the global confusion, division, and pain, the less energy I have to love my neighbor. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus instructs his followers not to worry about tomorrow for each day has enough to worry about by itself. Paul instructs the Philippian church, a church struggling with division and bitterness within their ranks, that they ought to be anxious for nothing, but bring everything to the Lord in prayer. Writing an update every few months gives me an opportunity to reflect on my heart and life. This season I have been convicted that I need to "leave the God things to God", as they say here. I need to focus on loving God and others in the day-to-day and bring whatever anxieties I may have to the Lord in prayer.
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(1) The community house up to where I have been able to complete it. (2 & 3) Daily devotions with community members. (4) Celebrating my roommate's birthday gave us a chance to gather the community, and share with them about God's goodness. (5) A very packed Sunday fellowship.
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I am very happy to announce that I have moved into the community house along with two other men from my church. Daily, we do devotions together with anyone interested in starting each day with fellowship, prayer, and the word. Weekly, we are running two separate fellowships. The first fellowship meets on Friday and is currently studying through the book of acts. The second fellowship meets on Sunday, in place of the normal church service, as lockdown still prohibits the gathering of churches.
It is truly a blessing to do life together with the community that God has called me to. Recently one of my neighbors shared a testimony during our Sunday fellowship. She simply wanted to thank God that Her life has been transformed. "I am not the same person that I was back in those days," she said, adding, "It is because we have been meeting every day to study the word of God". how wonderful it is to see and participate in the growth of the church.
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Stateside Visit and Update Dinner
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Although I hadn't had any intention of making a trip back to the states for about another 2 years, life is full of surprises. A close family member of mine will be getting married in October, and I will be heading back to attend the wedding. Because airfare is rather expensive, I have decided to extend my trip up to five weeks, rather than just being there for the week of the wedding. I will be doing a bit of traveling, hoping to visit my brother in Washington state and visit Chihuahua Mexico to reconnect with my friends and see the ministry there. While my time will be rather limited while I am back, I would love to see as many of you as possible.
RMC, my sending church, has graciously offered to provide a room and food for me to invite you all to an update dinner where I will share more in depth what is going on here and answer any questions you may have concerning the ministry. While I am waiting for confirmation, we have a tentative date set for the 22nd of October. PLEASE SET THIS DATE ASIDE IN YOUR CALENDARS AND RSVP SO I HAVE AN ACCURATE HEADCOUNT TO GIVE TO RMC. This can be accomplished by simply responding to this email with the number of people who are planning to attend. I will send out a confirmation email including the time and address for the event as soon as everything is confirmed.
Additionally, I will be available to connect on a more personal basis for a few weeks while I am home. Please see the above calendar with my available days marked as "free". I will be available for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, hiking, fishing, Ice cream, coffee, jam sessions, skydiving, or any other way you would like to connect with me while I'm back. I will schedule my time on a first come first serve basis, so please take a look and see what day may work for you. I would feel very blessed and honored to connect with each one of you.
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Prayer requests and financial details
Would you consider partnering with me in dedicated daily prayer and financial support?
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Prayer Requests
- That I would be filled with wisdom and boldness to declare the word of God in truth.
- That I would abide in the Love of Christ, finding strength and victory in Him.
- 2 Timothy 2:21-22
- For the Ugandan Church; that it would be built up and established in the word of God, Love of Christ, and in the Fellowship of the Spirit.
- For the team of Missionaries working in Uganda; for unity, wisdom, and direction.
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Donations:
2. Either create an account by clicking "SIGN UP", or just click "GIVE AS GUEST"
3. Hit the drop-down for "select gift fund" and choose missions
4. Select "Uganda (Buescher, Luke)"
5. Complete payment information
If you would like to mail in a donation you may send it to,
Rocky Mountain Calvary, 4285 Academy Blvd N, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.
Please include a note with the donation specifying it is for Luke Buescher to Uganda. Please do not write in the memo line.
Donations are tax-deductible
Finally, if you are interested in staying up to date on what’s happening while I’m here, please send me an e-mail at Lukebuescher7@gmail.com, and put “Newsletter” in the subject line.
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P.S. I am drop-dead serious about skydiving if anyone's up for an adventure.
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