Uganda: Update #9

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. Here is a report from Midland's 2008 Uganda Mission Team.
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Uganda Update 9

The angels were singing today as the new church in Nalumbembe was bursting at the seams for it’s first service. The singing and praising was pouring from the church as soon as we pulled up to the building. We were greeted by many whom we had witnessed to on the trail. After joining in for several of the worship songs we broke into groups for Sunday School.

Outside under a tree, Karen Winkler led the children’s program, which had over a hundred children. They sang songs, taught the children the Hand Prayer, and did a special art project using the children’s hands the illustrate the Hand Prayer. Kathy Schorr taught the women on prayer. The group consisted of mainly new Christians and Kathy shared that prayer was the first step to a relationship with Christ. The lesson was very well received and the women were very open with questions and opinions. Joey Willis led the men in class in the new clinic building where he gave them points on being a follower of Christ. Once everyone gathered back together inside the church, there were songs from several different choirs including “Amazing Grace” performed by the Midland Muzungus (white people).

It was a wonderful moment as Pastor Robert was installed as the new pastor.A special treat was that both his parents and brothers and sisters were there to share in his joy. Jim Longstreet presented the church with a beautiful stained glass cross made by Gary and Gail Gilliland that will hang in one of the windows. Karen Winkler presented the children of the church with scripture cards that were lovingly made by our Vacation Bible School children and a children’s Bible for their Sunday School. Steve Schorr gave the message about God’s calling individuals to Himself and calling the church into being. Overall the day was more than we could have hoped for-- witnessing the birth of a new church and the joy of those who had come to be part of what God was doing.

Lunch was served one last time on the grounds not only to us but also to all who were there. As Pastor Vincent remarked, “We have fed your souls, now we will feed your physical bodies.” I know it was a day that those who attended felt loved and welcomed.

In the evening we hosted a dinner on the grounds of our hotel for all the pastors in the Presbytery and their wives. It was a wonderful, relaxing time of fellowship. As the sun went down on our last night in Mbale we shared communion with all our Ugandan brothers and sisters. It truly has been such a special day for us all.

As we get ready to get on the road for Entebbe tomorrow morning we have several team members who have a little stomach bug, so please keep them in your prayers.

Tomorrow night we will be in Entebbe and the situation of internet service is unknown so there may or may not be a report tomorrow. We have had the time of our lives this past week and hope that you have somehow been able to share a portion of what we have been feeling through the emails. There is no way to ever express what transpires over here---you have to see it to believe it. We would love for more of you to see it with us next year.

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Please, keep them all in your hearts and on your 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.