Uganda: Update #2

A team of our brothers and sisters in Christ - men, women and children from West Texas - are in the east Africa nation of Uganda for Christian mission. Midland's 2008 Uganda Mission Team is composed of 32 men, women and children, and here is their second report from Uganda.
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Amazing First Sunday in Uganda

Before we even begin this e-mail we struggle how to put into words this incredible day. The mission team was divided into eight teams of three or four people per team. They were sent out to churches that had been established in the past few years, four of which were planted by previous First Pres. teams. Each team came back with stories of how they visibly saw the work of the Holy Spirit. All the teams reported that the churches seem to be doing well and the congregations were extremely welcoming.

The Holy Spirit filled the rafters with rejoicing and praise and it was all that we could do to contain ourselves. Why do we, as Americans, worry about containing ourselves when we are surrounded by people who have completely surrendered themselves to the Spirit? There is so much we can learn about worship from our Ugandan brothers and sisters. There is nothing in this world that compares to experiencing the power of Ugandan prayer. Everyone praying uninhibitedly out loud to our Lord, the sound echoing off the rafters and filling every inch of the church. It is the sound of heaven - prayers being lifted up to our Almighty God, prayers that dance around the angels as they sing praises and thanksgiving. It is an experience that can only be understood by being here. And now the new members of our team know why Uganda has become such a part of the rest of us.

Susan Strange, Elizabeth Darr, Louisa Musselman, Randy Willis, Lisa Zachary, Hannah and Thomas Schorr, Maddie, Ellie, Ben and Sam Spinks, Missy and Audrey Grimes, Karen Winkler and Page Price led the Children’s Sunday school at the churches. Stories abounded about the openness and willingness of the children to participate in all the activities planned. Bible stories of the parables, teaching the Hand Prayer, singing songs and puppet plays highlighted the morning.

The Women’s Sunday school classes, most times held under the trees, were amazing and inspiring as well. Robin Darr, Cynthia Howard, Pat Hunter, Vickie Miller, Kathy Schorr and Debbie Spinks enjoyed the interaction with these women of faith as they studied prayer, being joyful, training up children and how to be a Godly woman.

Men’s classes were led by Ralph Green, Link Grimes with help from his sons Nelson and Lewis, Jim Alsup, Joey Willis, Jim Longstreet, Steve Schorr, Al Spinks, and Robert Winkler. They had many exchanges with the men and were so impressed by their knowledge and insight of the scriptures.

Sermons were given by Jeff Darr, Link Grimes, Jim Alsup, Randy Willis, Jim Longstreet, Steve Schorr, Al Spinks and Robert Winkler. Listening to the sermons in both English and Ugandan brought the Gospel to a whole new light.

Highlights of the day:

* Definitely – the veterans watching the “Newbies” experience their first Ugandan worship service!
* Comments from Newbies:
• Overwhelming
• Surreal
• Moved by the realness of their faith and their passion
• Indescribable
• If I had to leave Uganda tonight, the whole trip was worth this day
* Handing out the stuffed bears that Chrissy Mee and the children made to share with the Ugandan children.
* The churches expressing such gratitude for the spiritual and financial support of our church
* Singing out of a Ugandan Hymnal with Ugandan lyrics and feeling the presence of God overcoming all barriers
* The remarkable sounds of the choirs, the prayers and the praises being lifted up simultaneously

Today was about worshipping with established churches and believers. Tomorrow begins the mission work where we will reach out to the un-churched and begin building a congregation for the new church at Nalumbembe. Please continue praying for good health, safety and boldness as we hit the trails in the morning.

P.S. We are experiencing internet difficulties and updates may be delayed. You may receive two updates at a time if we can’t get through daily. We will also try and send pictures in separate e-mail.
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Please, keep them all in your hearts and on you minds, in your thoughts and in your prayers.

Want to know more about Uganda? You can visit the Uganda entry in 'The World Factbook' maintained by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. You can also visit the official Uganda tourism website maintained by the Uganda Tourist Board. And Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas, has a webpage devoted to Mbale Presbyterian Church of Uganda.