After a long journey, a team of our brothers and sisters in Christ - men, women and children from West Texas - have arrived in the east Africa nation of Uganda for Christian mission. The 2009 Uganda Mission Team from First Presbyterian Church of Midland will be sending back regular reports from Uganda, along with photos.
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Another beautiful day in Africa. The mornings are very pleasant this time of year and we have been sitting under the trees for our devotional time each morning. Rita Childs taught our devotional on Chapter 11 entitled, “Perseverance” which is a fitting subject for the middle of our week. This is usually the day that the rigorous schedule we have been keeping begins to catch up with us. But we have been blessed this week with very few illnesses so far. Today we had three people going to the prisons, three people going to the schools, six people conducting the seminar, two people going to see the water wells and twelve people on the trail. At the crusades, Dawn Dickeson, Malone Sams and Lisa Zachry shared their testimony and Al Spinks preached his sermon on the parable of the sower. It is always such an inspirational sermon for the people of Uganda.
Health and Nutrition Seminar
Rita Childs, Richard, Sigrid and Adrienne Coats, Pat Hunter and Karen Winkler conducted a Health and Nutrition Seminar at Pastor Morris’ church. The seminar was amazing. Pat taught First Aid care, Rita taught Oral Rehydration, Sigrid, Richard and Adrienne taught Nutrition and Karen taught a Community Hygiene class. There were 70 churches represented and over two hundred and fifty participants. They were eager to learn, asked wonderful thought-provoking questions and represented each community and church very well. The women were so excited to receive their certificate of participation and satchel full of information and materials to take back to their churches. We challenged the women to use the knowledge they received to witness and share Christ with others.
Prison Ministry
The trip to Bubulo prison was cool and refreshing for Jeff Darr, Robert Winkler and Cynthia Howard. A rainstorm blew in and nearly cancelled the prison ministry for the day. But everyone was rejoicing over the downpour since Uganda is in such a drought. (Although their drought looks a lot greener than ours!) The group waited out the storm in the commandant’s office, joking how scary it would be to have to stay the night in the prison. But after some time the program started and Cynthia and Robert gave testimonies followed with a rousing sermon by Jeff Darr. As we do each visit to the prisons, we left much needed supplies as a gesture of good will---blankets, soap, flour and Bibles. They also left a children’s Bible because sadly, the incarcerated women who have infants must have them accompany them to the prison. The children’s Bible was really a blessing to the women.
Water Wells
Ramon, Louisa and Sharon went with Dr. Patrick today to observe and video the water wells being constructed in the village of Komuge. The “mayor” of the village personally escorted them to the sites to explain the construction and the necessity of the wells to the villagers. They have waited two years for Dr. Patrick to have the funds to be able to build. Up until this time the community as well as all livestock and critters of the wild have used the same water supply. They are hopeful that the Lord will provide the funds to help establish fish hatcheries for the village to have a source of food as well as income. The villagers were all participating building their well and were so gracious and grateful to all of us. To show their appreciation, they prepared a feast of roasted corn for all to enjoy. The group ended with a tour of Dr. Patrick’s hospital, health clinic and operating room. They were able to view the new anesthesia machine donated by First Presbyterian Church as well as members of the community. Everyone in the hospital, except one, were being treated for malaria. Dr. Patrick explained that for $10, a mosquito net can save the lives of two children!!
Trail Story
Robyn Zachry has been so amazed and in awe of how God works. Before she came to Uganda and even up until yesterday, she was so worried about sharing with people. She said she felt so inadequate and completely unable to do the job. But she found out that God is so much bigger than her imperfections. Robyn said, “I was so focused on myself and didn’t grasp the fact that this isn’t about me. He doesn’t need me to be adequate. He doesn’t need me at all! But He called me to be obedient and in return, He has spoken through me and I feel so blessed that I get to come along for the ride. God is good…all the time.”
School Ministry
Ben Spinks, Kathryn Gates and Carole Campbell visited three schools today. They had such a fun time, sharing the gospel with all the children. Ben was the hit of the show – the children could not believe he was only seventeen – and SOOO tall!
Tomorrow begins the medical clinic. Please continue to pray for health, boldness and stamina for the team.
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Another beautiful day in Africa. The mornings are very pleasant this time of year and we have been sitting under the trees for our devotional time each morning. Rita Childs taught our devotional on Chapter 11 entitled, “Perseverance” which is a fitting subject for the middle of our week. This is usually the day that the rigorous schedule we have been keeping begins to catch up with us. But we have been blessed this week with very few illnesses so far. Today we had three people going to the prisons, three people going to the schools, six people conducting the seminar, two people going to see the water wells and twelve people on the trail. At the crusades, Dawn Dickeson, Malone Sams and Lisa Zachry shared their testimony and Al Spinks preached his sermon on the parable of the sower. It is always such an inspirational sermon for the people of Uganda.
Health and Nutrition Seminar
Rita Childs, Richard, Sigrid and Adrienne Coats, Pat Hunter and Karen Winkler conducted a Health and Nutrition Seminar at Pastor Morris’ church. The seminar was amazing. Pat taught First Aid care, Rita taught Oral Rehydration, Sigrid, Richard and Adrienne taught Nutrition and Karen taught a Community Hygiene class. There were 70 churches represented and over two hundred and fifty participants. They were eager to learn, asked wonderful thought-provoking questions and represented each community and church very well. The women were so excited to receive their certificate of participation and satchel full of information and materials to take back to their churches. We challenged the women to use the knowledge they received to witness and share Christ with others.
Prison Ministry
The trip to Bubulo prison was cool and refreshing for Jeff Darr, Robert Winkler and Cynthia Howard. A rainstorm blew in and nearly cancelled the prison ministry for the day. But everyone was rejoicing over the downpour since Uganda is in such a drought. (Although their drought looks a lot greener than ours!) The group waited out the storm in the commandant’s office, joking how scary it would be to have to stay the night in the prison. But after some time the program started and Cynthia and Robert gave testimonies followed with a rousing sermon by Jeff Darr. As we do each visit to the prisons, we left much needed supplies as a gesture of good will---blankets, soap, flour and Bibles. They also left a children’s Bible because sadly, the incarcerated women who have infants must have them accompany them to the prison. The children’s Bible was really a blessing to the women.
Water Wells
Ramon, Louisa and Sharon went with Dr. Patrick today to observe and video the water wells being constructed in the village of Komuge. The “mayor” of the village personally escorted them to the sites to explain the construction and the necessity of the wells to the villagers. They have waited two years for Dr. Patrick to have the funds to be able to build. Up until this time the community as well as all livestock and critters of the wild have used the same water supply. They are hopeful that the Lord will provide the funds to help establish fish hatcheries for the village to have a source of food as well as income. The villagers were all participating building their well and were so gracious and grateful to all of us. To show their appreciation, they prepared a feast of roasted corn for all to enjoy. The group ended with a tour of Dr. Patrick’s hospital, health clinic and operating room. They were able to view the new anesthesia machine donated by First Presbyterian Church as well as members of the community. Everyone in the hospital, except one, were being treated for malaria. Dr. Patrick explained that for $10, a mosquito net can save the lives of two children!!
Trail Story
Robyn Zachry has been so amazed and in awe of how God works. Before she came to Uganda and even up until yesterday, she was so worried about sharing with people. She said she felt so inadequate and completely unable to do the job. But she found out that God is so much bigger than her imperfections. Robyn said, “I was so focused on myself and didn’t grasp the fact that this isn’t about me. He doesn’t need me to be adequate. He doesn’t need me at all! But He called me to be obedient and in return, He has spoken through me and I feel so blessed that I get to come along for the ride. God is good…all the time.”
School Ministry
Ben Spinks, Kathryn Gates and Carole Campbell visited three schools today. They had such a fun time, sharing the gospel with all the children. Ben was the hit of the show – the children could not believe he was only seventeen – and SOOO tall!
Tomorrow begins the medical clinic. Please continue to pray for health, boldness and stamina for the team.
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