MISSION TALK WITH SHEJI VARGHESE | KAIROS GLOBAL | JANUARY 2019

Author: Sheji Varghese P.

Intro: Sheji Varghese and family went for a One Month Mission in Uganda which made a deep impact on their lives. Read about their African experiences

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8)

Thanks to the mercy of God, we could go for One Month Mission (OMM) in Uganda, Africa. We got the inspiration for the OMM from one of the Mission Awareness Program conducted by the JY Mission Desk of Oman. The sharing of Santhosh chettan, a pioneer of African mission, challenged us. After a long period of prayer discernment, we took the decision to go ahead. But we were worried about our second daughter, Sarah, who was just one-and-a-half-years-old. There was a 100-days of spiritual preparation. A few days before the travel, we heard about the spreading of ZICCA VIRUS in African region. However, the Word of God strengthened us to go ahead. “Leave all your worries unto Him and he will take care of you.”

The first few days we were in Fort Portal, helping with the retreat for full-timers in Uganda. We experienced the love and care of Bishop Robert Muhirwa of Fort Portal diocese on these days. After the retreat, we went to our assigned mission area, Paidha parish of Nebbi diocese which is about 500 km from Fort portal. It was a night-long journey on a bus. The conductor of the bus gave us some safety instruction and asked for a common prayer prior to the journey and someone from the bus led a prayer in the name of Jesus.

We were warmly welcomed by the Parish priest, Fr. Richard. He asked us to visit the family prayer units of the Parish and share about Christian Marriage and the importance of sacraments. We received warm welcome from each village group and they were so patient to hear us. Though the parishioners are poor, their love and care was so amazing. They invited us to their home to pray and enjoy their local food which is made from dried tapioca. It was just like we are following Jesus with his disciples throughout our mission journey. We prayed for many missionaries to reach Africa and bring many to our Lord Jesus Christ. “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Matthew 9:37–38)

One day, we visited a family where both the couples were affected with AIDS. We prayed and ate food together. Moved, they said this was the first time someone from outside had visited their house. We were just doing everything according to the prompting of Holy Spirit. We did what Jesus would have done if He was there.

The celebration of the Holy Mass in an African language was a great experience, especially on Sundays. The parishioners bring their agricultural products and during the offertory bring them by a dancing procession. It was beautiful. We could witness the richness of our Mother church in its splendid ways in Uganda.

We got an opportunity to share our experience in a local radio and were also invited to share the Word of God at a common Charismatic gathering at a Church premises. We could see the miraculous power of Jesus through the healing of the sick, deliverance etc. We thanked God for giving us this opportunity to be His missionaries and thus be closer to Him. We believed Jesus will surely stand with us - “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God”. (Luke 12:8).

Our children enjoyed those days in Uganda more than us. During those 30 days, we never went to any Hospital for any medical reasons for our children though we regularly had hospital visits back in Muscat. Children were playing with the Africans even though they don’t understand their languages. 

During this Year of Mercy, we could visit three Cathedrals of Uganda; Kampala, Nebbi, and Fort Portal. On the last day of our mission, we visited the Uganda Martyr’s shrine at Namugongo which is the place where the early Christians were brutally martyred for Christ. 

This OMM period was a great time of grace in our life. We got enough time to speak and share together which deepened our family relations. During those days, we were deeply meditating on the blessings which we had been enjoying in our life. The food we eat, the water we drink, the house we have, the dress we wear. People in the other side of the world are lacking many of their necessities and we are blessed with many and yet always complaining to God for unnecessary things.  After our OMM, we took a decision to avoid unnecessary shopping, ensure zero wastage of food and always thank God for the blessings we enjoy. 

We pray and encourage everyone to go for mission and share the Gospel of the Lord with others. Our church needs many missionaries to proclaim His message. 

Sheji Varghese lives in Oman with his wife, Jincy, and three daughters. They are actively involved in the Jesus Youth movement.