Hi everyone, welcome to the Darby Family Blog, we use this to keep our family, friends and supporters up to date with what we (and more importantly what God) is doing. For those of you who don’t know us well we have used this page to say a little bit more about us. Our family is Tim, Linda, Joshua, Annabelle and Elsa Darby. Tim is originally from Essex and Linda is from Kenya.
Tim previously worked for five years as an Environmental Consultant focusing on the quality, risk assessment and management of groundwater, surface water and soils. He has a degree in geology from Southampton and masters from Loughborough University on international water and environmental development.
Linda has a degree in Law and Philosophy and has completed a Legal Practice Course (LPC). She most previously worked in employment law in a trade union.
We moved to Gulu in northern Uganda in Autumn 2013. In these years we have been in Gulu, we have spent our time language learning as well pursuing development and justice ministries. Tim has been involved in SanPlats projects and in 2017 started WET (Water and Environmental Technical Consulting). WET is operating like a business for individuals and organisations and the profits are used to subsidise clean water provision for village communities.
Linda has been working closely with the Ugandan Christian Lawyers providing advice and assistance to those in need of it. Setting up Student fellowship at Gulu University and most recently starting the Child Protection project which trains primary schools within the district of Gulu about safe guarding children against abuse.
Support
We are so thankful to BMS who provide a monthly allowance to cover food, rent and basics. However for BMS to be able to do this, they rely on donations and support from the Churches and individuals such as yourselves. If you would like to help and support us to continue the work here please check the link 24:7 partners.
Snail mail
Also if you want to write us a letter or send us anything (chocolate is always welcome) We have a postbox in Gulu. Our address is p.o box 364, Gulu Uganda. Post is really reliable here and usually only takes 2 weeks.
More about us
Below is an extract from a report we gave to our church titled WHO, WHAT, WHERE and WHY… It gives a bit more information about WHY we felt called to mission, WHO we will be going with, WHERE we are going and WHAT we are likely to be doing there.
WHY?
We believe that God is calling us to work as a family in Uganda with BMS. God has guided us for over 8 years though the Bible, our desires to serve him and others and through the words and advice of other Christians. We applied initially with BMS in January 2010 to volunteer for a couple of months but circumstances stopped that and we believe that God was calling us to go straight in at the deep end and serve in long-term mission. We were comforted with these words from 2 Thessalonians 1:11 ‘…we constantly pray for you that our God may count you worthy of his calling and that by his power he may fulfil every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.’ We prayed and spoke to our Pastor and our families and felt unexplainable peace about the prospect of becoming long-term workers.
WHO?
BMS World mission are supported by Baptist churches all around the county and dates back to 1792 when people like William Carey in India. They now work in around 35 countries on four different continents and are involved in church planting, development, disaster relief, education, health, media and advocacy.
In preparation we spent 9 months training in IMC (International Mission Centre) in Birmingham where we studied subjects including missiology, cross-cultural studies, development and mission.
WHERE?
We were placed in Gulu in Northern Uganda for at least the first two years. Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa and sits on the equator. The population is about 35million, of those, three million are living with Aids and two million children are orphaned. 38% of the population live on less than $1.25 a day.
Gulu is the second largest town in Uganda although far behind the capital, Kampala, the main inhabitants are the Acholi people. Gulu has had a long history of violence, since Idi Amin and recent attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army. More than 20,000 people have been abducted, often children, who were abused, forced to kill and take mind changing drugs.
WHAT
Linda works with the Ugandan Christian Lawyers Fraternity (UCLF) who give legal advice and are involved in community rights awareness, making wills, drawing contracts, preventing disputes and mediating so that pastors and local leaders can resolve disputes whilst at the same time protecting the rights of vulnerable people (particularly women and children). Tim has been involved in water and sanitation development projects in Gulu and the surrounding communities.
Darbys' Diary 
Linda, Tim, Joshua and Annabel,
We at Kislingbury and Upton Baptist Church continue to remember and pray for you all and your specific situations – reading your supplied info. with interest.
Our pastor, Marilyn Webb, with whom you stayed when you visited with us last year has now moved on to Purley BC and the remaining leaders are continuing to serve the church. We would value your prayers as we seek God’s way for our future.
Linda, with regard to the difficulty that you recently experienced I felt prompted to get in touch to say that I am gradually learning to ask appropriate questions rather than make statements. I think this might be less confrontational and may encourage folk to think about the situations/circumstances in a different light, maybe. If possible, I have found individual conversations are more helpful than in an open forum.
But I have no idea if this may be acceptable in the culture in which you find yourself.
I’m sure with your background and skill you will be well prepared and able to interact with those who see things differently in order to bring about a change of mind and heart for the benefit of those whom you seek to serve.
Please forgive me if I have misunderstood the issues or if all of the above seems like I am trying to ‘teach my grandmother to suck eggs’, as the expression goes. It just came to my mind … and it seems that Jesus (as recorded in the gospels) sometimes took a similar approach.
One thing I am sure of: please don’t ‘beat yourself up’ over this issue.
Our God gives wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5 ff)
Every blessing to you all.
Yours, in Christ,
Bruce Furniss