Dear friends,

I have had a few conversations with Gary from NHU and Jay as well.They have decided, because of some changes happening at New Hope, I will not be able to work from here for them. Sam, the accounts director at New Hope is going to school soon and he will need someone full time at New Hope to help him, so they won't be needing me. Pretty devastating, because I was just getting ready to go part-time officially, now there is no job. I understand why New Hope needs to make this change, I just wish they would have communicated this in January. I left Uganda thinking working from the States would work for us and for NHU, now they are saying it will not. We still love the things they are doing with the children of Uganda, and we still will sponsor our children. Thanks for all of you support. We Love you.

Tom

December 2009

Prayer Requests for the Webers:
Please pray for God’s provision and for our support team to grow.
The Lord has really impressed on our hearts that our part is to share about New Hope and the rest is His department. Please pray for opportunities to tell others about what the Lord is doing in and through New Hope Uganda.
We are still hovering at 25% of our support goal. Please consider supporting us on a monthly basis. Our monthly need is for an additional 120 units of $25/month. (1 unit = $25, 2 units = $50.00, 3 units = $75.00 etc.)

Many of you, our friends have asked the question: When are we leaving for Uganda? The simple response is when God has supplied and raised the required support, and when that support has come in consistently for 3 months. We continue to pray for opportunities to share the mission of New Hope and the passion and calling that God has placed on our hearts to serve with New Hope Uganda and meet the needs of “the orphan and widow in their distress” (James 1:27). If you would like to learn more about New Hope Uganda and our ministry, please contact us at tjweber6@msn.com or call us at (719) 502-5583. You can also visit our blog . We would like to encourage those of you who have been praying and thinking about supporting us, to contribute to God’s work in Uganda. In Paul's letter to the Philippians, there is a clear depiction of the early missionaries dependence on the church to support the work of those who are called. Some of us are called to pray, others to encourage, still others to go, and other to send. We have felt God’s call, but without the prayers, encouragement, and financial support from the church how can we go? Please consider partnering with us in some way to fulfill God’s plan to help the children of Uganda. For those of you who are already participating in sending and supporting us in this calling, we sincerely appreciate and thank you for all that you do. May the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless you and your families now and in this next year. We can’t wait to see what God has planned for us in 2010.

Musana Camps in Gaba, Uganda

View of camp and lake Victoria









Setting up the tents. These tents will be placed upon concrete slabs once the pads are poured.







Katie with her crew taking down a rather large ant hill.









Jen and Renee painting new shower quarters.








Jen and Katie will be at the Musana Camps until this Saturday, when they return (7 hr drive) back to New Hope in Kasana. Then they will have a couple of days in Kasana to be with the children, before they go off for the next part of the mission trip. Please pray that God presence will go with them, where ever they go.

"Why are you still praying?"

Recently, I read through Exodus 14. The scene is this: Pharaoh's army is at the Israelite's heels, the people are panicking, and Moses finally speaks up: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today...the LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (vs. 13-14)
An inspiring, brief speech (which is my favorite kind). But then, Moses must have gone back to praying something like, "Oh Lord, I just told all these people you are going to save them. So, any time now, if ya don't mind. We're waiting on you."
I love the way God responds in the next verse: "Why are you still crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water . . ." In other words, God answered, "Moses, you dummy! What are you still praying about? Take action! I'll show up, trust me!"
I think that God requires us to take action before he shows up sometimes because it takes more faith. Could you imagine what an idiot you'd feel like if thousands of people were watching you to lead them to safety, you held out your hand, and then nothing happened? And yet, God told Moses to take the risk, with only a promise to rely on.
In the book, "Wild Goose Chase" (which I highly recommend), Mark Batterson says this in reference to Joshua 3:9-13 (this passage tells the story of when the Israelites are on their way to the Promised Land, and God tells the priests to step into the river: "You know why some of us have never seen God part a river? Because out feet are still firmly planted on dry ground. We're waiting on God while God is waiting on us!"
There is a time for everything:
A time for waiting, and a time for pursuing.
A time for silence, and a time for boldness.
A time for praying, and a time for worship and faith through action.

Jen and Kate are Uganda bound!

We can't believe the time for our mission trip to Uganda with Mountain Springs Church is here! Katie and I leave this Wednesday, June 3rd. Please pray for our safety and our effectiveness while we are in Uganda. Please pray for Tom, Emily, Josiah and Lydia. This is the longest amount of time I have ever been away from them. We will have very little, if any, opportunity to communicate back to the U.S. but the church will send out updates (see below).

If you would like updates on the team going to Uganda this summer, you can subscribe to:
uganda09-subscribe@elevateonline.com , and follow the prompts.

Thank you, in advance, for your prayers on our behalf!

In Christ's Strength,
Jen

Isn't She Lovely!... And Silly!

Emily is graduating! Crazy! We could have swore it was just a minute ago she was born. Time really does fly. It is a bitter-sweet time for us, bitter because Emily is no longer my little girl who needs me all the time, but sweet because she has grown into such a beautiful, woman of God. We are so proud of her and we can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for her next!
Here are a few pictures of our beautiful, funny, smart, deep daughter.

Lose it to Find it!

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 10:39

Recently, I started reading a book to my children that I read a few years ago called, “In the Meantime”, by Rob Brendle. It is an excellent book about hearing God’s calling, and waiting with intentionality, on God’s timing to fully live into that calling. Because of circumstances in our lives this book is speaking to me in ways it didn’t the first time I read it.
Yesterday, as we were reading, this phrase jumped off the page at me: “Embrace the losing season as much as you do the finding season. Maybe embrace it more because the degree to which we authentically lose determines the degree to which we authentically find.”
David from the Old Testament is a great example of waiting well. In I Samuel 16 David was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel, then he took his shepherd’s staff and harp, and went back to his father’s sheep. Later, David is called upon to sooth Saul’s demons by playing his harp. The king liked David and put him in charge of his armor. God planted the dream of being king to Israel, and then made him servant to Saul. David went back and forth, taking care of his father’s sheep and serving King Saul. He was losing himself in service to his father and to the king. David humbly served, pondering the dream of being king in his heart while he gave his life away to serve others. This was the training ground to be a great king, and David humbly submitted to God’s season of losing his life to find it. He became the greatest king of Israel and a man after God’s own heart.
I have been in a losing season for a few years, and it hasn’t always been pretty, but I want to embrace it like King David. The hope of the season of finding is to come. This is the training ground Jesus has chosen for me for my future. When I see my Savior face to face, I want Him to say, “You are a woman after my own heart, well done!”

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Mark 16:15

After a long delay, we are finally released and blessed by our church to start support raising! Tom and I had a meeting with two of the pastors from our church and they agree, it is time for us to move forward, toward Uganda. We are so pleased and so ready to get to New Hope Uganda.
Please pray for us as we make plans. We are praying about our next steps in this process. We appreciate your prayers and your support, dear friends.

In Christ's Mighty Name and in His Power,
Jen for the Webers

Psalm 50:10 "...for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills."

I have such a good story to share! Our God really loves us and He really does provide!

Okay, so here goes... Yesterday, I was on my way to Costco and Tom called me on the phone. He was home for lunch and had just gotten the mail. He said, "Who is Mary (last name)?"

I tried to put a face with that name and I couldn't think of anyone. Naturally, I asked, "Why?"

We received a card in the mail from Mary, thanking us for our kindness when her mother died. Both of us racked our brains to remember who this nice lady might be. Not only did Mary send us a beautiful card, she sent a check, a big check, for $500!. She said, "Please use this for your mission, in memory of our mother."
Finally, I remembered who Mary is. She is the mother of my sister's friend who we helped about a month ago. Mary's mother had passed away and they needed to clean out her apartment. My sister's friend called and asked for help and we gladly volunteered. Tom and I showed up but there was a mix up and we didn't connect, so we went home. A few hours later, while we were on our way to church, Mary's daughter called and asked if we were still coming to help. We took a vote and we all agreed, we should lend a hand instead of going to church. It was such a fun evening. The Weber kids were great and we were joking around as we worked. We got our reward because we had such a fun time together, and it felt good to help someone.

Here is the lesson: You can't out-give God!!
We gave a few hours of our time but Our God provided according to His glorious riches! Jesus is making our monthly payments for our short term trip to Uganda this summer.
Jen

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.”

The Lord has placed this dream in us to serve Him, by caring for the children of Uganda. Yet we come up against opposition. These Corinthians verses state how we feel some days; pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, abandoned and struck down. But when we feel like we are living these painful words we must remember the other side. We are not crushed, abandoned and we will not be destroyed. Our victory will come. We will fight the good fight and not give up just because it is hard.
His words and this dream of serving Him in Africa are fire in our hearts, and “a fire shut up in our bones” of which we are “weary of holding it in.” We must press on because of the love the Lord has placed in us for His precious children, who are forgotten by the world, yet are valued as precious jewels to our Father in heaven.
Our hearts are passionate to be a part of God’s healing in children without hope. The Lord is working mightily in Uganda, where He is giving a “New Hope”. We know that God has called us to be a part of His healing in Uganda, and we will “run and not grow weary and we will walk and not grow faint,” as we pursue what the Lord has burned into our souls.
Isaiah 6:8 says “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’
“Then I said, ‘Here am I, send me!’”
In Christ's Strength,
Jen for the Webers

"Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my Help and my Deliverer; O my God, do not delay." Psalm 40:17

It is Christmas afternoon, the girls went to buy movie tickets, Lydia and Josiah are playing with their new toys and the house is quiet. We have much to be thankful for this year; Tom's job, our children, family and friends, health, a warm house, plenty of food, being able to buy presents for our children... God is so good to us. He has blessed us so much and we never want to take His blessings for granted.

Life is not easy and none of us are going to avoid trials, its part of being on the planet. Trails are not fun, but the Lord uses them to refine us. Currently, we feel as if we are in the fire, as we wait for resolution regarding us and Cornerstone. We ask, "Why?" and "when will it be finished?" We continually need to reflect on God's goodness to us and remember how He has covered us in the past. How's His record of goodness to us? Perfect. Please pray that we would remember this and that we would trust His timing and His control over every detail of our lives.

Tom is doing all he can to resolve this issue, but there are other people involved and we must trust the Lord to move the hearts of men, so we can move forward. We are in the first stages of an agreement but it all needs to be put in writing. We are praying this can all be resolved by mid-January.

Our prayer is to get moving on support raising soon and we pray the Lord would move mightily to get us to Uganda. Our hearts long to be where the Lord is calling us, serving the children of Uganda. He is our Deliverer and we pray He would not delay.

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
In Christ Alone,
Jen for the Webers

Thank you, Jesus! Blessed Beyond Measure!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com
Tom and I are blessed beyond measure! When I am weary and tired, my silly children make me smile and help me to not take life to seriously.

Bumps in the Road Hurt!!

We hit a bump in the road as we pursue getting to Uganda. The building company Tom worked for, that went out of business about this time last year, has become a source of pain for the Webers. There are some legal issues we need to deal with before we can move forward on Uganda. Because Tom was the financial officer of the company, we are being included in the legal matters. Please pray the conflict would be resolved by January and we would be able to move forward on support raising. We know Jesus' timing is perfect and he is in control of all of this. We wait expectantly to see what He will do.

Do Hard Things

I recently finished the book by twin brothers Alex and Brett Harris, "Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations". I decided to read it for no other reason than the title was so intriguing to me, but soon after picking it up, I discovered this book would be influential to my life.
"Do Hard Things" exposes our cultures expectations of teenagers to be way low - and how we, as teens, fall into the trap and do the minimum amount of required work. But it's more of a call to a higher standard, a better way of living. As a matter of fact, these are the opening lines of the book:

"Most people don't expect you to understand what we're going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don't expect you to care. And even if you care, they don't expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don't expect it to last.
Well, we do."

The Harris brothers explain that the teen years are a launch pad for the rest of our lives. I had one of those moments when everything in you seems to scream out "yes!" I know I was made for more than just enduring the teen years - I was made to live them. The crazy thing is, in order to really live, you have to do what the title sums up: DO HARD THINGS. We're not going to live the abundant life that Jesus promises by just "having fun" and "coasting" through these critical years, but by continually pushing back the limits of our comfort zones and doing things that are bigger than ourselves. And, guess what . . . that's going to be hard. But I really felt God telling me that even the short time I have left here in the states, I need to live into that. "Emily, it's time to start living a radical, faith-hope-and-love filled life . . . now," He seems to be telling me. It's not enough to dream it if I don't pursue it. I don't know what that's going to look like . . . but I know that it will please Him, and that it will be the best way of living there is. It's time for me to join the world changers and leaders of my generation. William Pitt from Amazing Grace says it right:
"We're too young to know that some things are impossible, so we will do them anyway."

-Emily
For more information about the "Do Hard Things" movement, go to www.TheRebelution.com.

"Sell Your Possesions..."

Tom and I have been seriously looking at all of the belongings we have accumulated over the past 20 years and we are a bit overwhelmed. By American standards we have very little, but when we contemplate moving to another continent it looks like a mountain of stuff! Our solution? Craig's list, Ebay and garage sales!
This week we have been Craig's listing a bunch of stuff and we are planning a garage sale on Friday. We have sold a few items on Craig's list and I felt a little sadness in my heart. I don't think I am materialistic, but it hurts, just a little, to get rid of some of our treasures. Then I thought of the rich young man in Matthew. Jesus tells him, " If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
The young man went away sad because he had great wealth. I sympathized with this young man when I read this story. It is hard to "sell everything", then I remember the rest of what Jesus said, "...you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me." All of our treasures are nothing compared to Jesus and His promise of heaven. As I sold our chop saw yesterday it felt a little liberating and I felt Jesus' pleasure with us. I am not saying it won't still hurt as we let go of our belongings, but it is our sacrifice, kind of a burnt offering to our Lord and Savior. Please pray for our family as we let go of this world to follow Jesus in this Great Adventure He has called us on.
Please pray we are able to sell our stuff to add to our fund to Uganda.
In Christ Alone,
Jen

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world"- Jesus

It's a funny promise, but Jesus does promise we will have trouble in this world. Some days it feels as if we are surrounded by trouble on all sides, but then I remember the rest of the promise. "I have overcome the world."
Just when I think the troubles of this world will make me lose heart, Jesus reminds me of the blessings in my life and how He walks with me through hard things. Not only does Jesus stay with me always, which is enough, but He showers me with love through His precious children.
My good friend Jill, reminded me this morning of the blessing of children in my life. Not just my wonderful Webers but all of the children God has given me to love; nieces and nephews, my friend's children and children at church. And soon, We will be loving children in a far off country, people who are precious to the Father but in this world their value isn't recognized. I am overwhelmed with joy for the opportunity.
This world can be so discouraging and hard, but Jesus shows me promises of better things through the young people in my life.
I see Jesus' love and His strength to overcome in these 4 faces.

Jen's post

We went to South Dakota over Labor Day weekend.
We stayed with the Wood family. We are very thankful for them giving us a place to stay while we were there. (with all honesty, we were more spoiled there than we were ever here!) We also got to eat the best Cheesecake in the world!!! I mean, you would get a really small piece and barely be able to finish it!
While we were there, we saw Mt. Rushmore. We got to go to a free museum, (Well, the cost was paid with our entree fee) where we learned a lot of cool facts! Like how they were planning to do their whole bodies until World War II started; and how it only took them fourteen years to build it. Also, my personal favorite fact is, that when they were building Thomas Jefferson, he was supposed to be to the left of George Washington, but the rock wasn't strong enough, and a crack went down his face! So, they did the only thing that they could do, they blew his face off the mountain and started over!!! I though that it was funny! It was all around really cool. . . that is, all but the weather!
It was 102 wopp'n degrees out!!! HOT HOT HOT!! "This ice cream is the best Kate!" Lydia told me, and somehow I don't think that it was the taste, it how refreshing it was to have something cold!
While we were enjoying our Frosties, we were told we were going to Bear Country! (A wild life reserve!) It was so hot out, barely any animals were out! But once we got to the bears, things changed!

We all were happy to see animals that actually moved! By the end of the "safari", there was a sign that read, "Baby Animals". We all decided to go look at the babies. Most of those animals were moving too.
"Dude, it's a lot cooler out of the sun!"

"Do you have any food?"

The day we left, we decided to stop by Devil's Tower in Wyoming!

It was really cool there. It looked a little like a tree stump.

All in all, it was great trip. We got to see a lot of cool things and learned a lot about Uganda.
I am glad that we were able to go and have such a good time.

Kate

Emily

I can't believe we are old enough to have a child who is 17! We celebrated Emily's 17th birthday on Sunday. As we look back over the last 17 years, we have watched our baby grow into a beautiful, passionate woman of God. Emily is on fire for Jesus and has a depth that only the Lord can give. It is hard to think about the day she won't be in our home on a daily basis, but we can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for this beautiful young woman.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and failthful instruction is on her tongue." Prov 31:27&28

Crazy Love

Emily and I are reading a Fantastic Book called "Crazy Love". Something struck a chord in me when we were reading the first chapter. The author, Francis Chan talks about the All Powerful God and how we live as if He was created for us, instead of us being created for Him. Francis writes about some of the questions people pose like, "Why are there so many people dying of starvation? Why is my family so messed up? Why don't You make Yourself more obvious to the people who need You?"
"The answer to each of these questions is simply this: because He's God. He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving. As much as we want God to explain himself to us, His creation, we are in no place to demand that He give an account to us."
God has given us the resources, time and talent to make a difference in this world. Now I am thinking about how He might be asking the church, especially the church in the West, "Why aren't you making a difference with what I have given you." the Bible says "To whom much is given much is required." We have been given so much and God is waiting for us to hold up our end of the bargain.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving us the opportunity to be a part of Your healing on this earth.
Jen

Show me your faith

This morning as I spent time with God, several verses came to mind. The first was James 2:18 where James challenges us and says "show me your faith without any works, and I will show you my faith by my works". The second verse was from I John 3:18 where John say "let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth". I guess what hit me is the idea that God wants us to walk out our faith in a practical and real way. It's not just believing, believing in His calling for your life, but in our walking with him, walking in faith, taking those steps. Trusting, moving, acting on what he wants, His plans. That is where I am at. God desires obedience over sacrifice (although sometimes He asks for both). As he calls us into His bigger story, we need to take action steps of faith, to meet God where he is at. We truly want to be about what God is doing. This is where the action is, where one can find the abundant life that God promises.

Tom