After months odf preparation, a team of our brothers and sisters in Christ - men, women and children from West Texas - are at work in the east Africa nation of Uganda for Christian mission. The 2010 Uganda Mission Team from First Presbyterian Church of Midland will be sending back regular reports from Uganda, along with photos.Update #5
We had rains again last night but woke up to another beautiful day this morning. Robin started us out with a wonderful devotional from the chapter in our book on compassion. A perfect lesson for us as we walk the trails of Uganda. We are halfway through our week on the trail and Wednesday is always the day we seem to start having a few people feeling a little puny. Keep us all in your prayers for renewed strength to continue the work ahead. Today Robert Winkler, Ramon, and Jeff were on prison ministry while Ben, Thomas, Hannah, Allison and Tamara went to the schools. Cynthia, Karen Winkler, Pat, Vicki, Kathy, and Connie were at the Women's Health Conference and everyone else was on the trail today. At the crusade, Jim gave a wonderful sermon and Melissa, Garrett and Carole gave powerful testimonies.
The trail team today went a bit outside the village center to evangelize in a rural area. Walter Thompson and his translator, Charles, encountered Steven, who was tending his cattle and was very receptive to the gospel. After the man trusted Christ as his savior, the translator felt God leading him to talk with Steven about his marriage. Sure enough, Steven was having difficulty with his marriage and they were able to encourage him. Steven said he seldom goes into the village, so they set him up for a visit from the pastor.
Today the school team had a great day! The team went to 3 primary schools, however before reaching their first destination, they took an accidental 2 hour tour of the Uganda country-side that consisted of passing our soon to be established church more than once. With 14 people in one van, including sound equipment, personal space was not an option, but bonding however, was mandatory. The team finally reached the 3 schools and they thought it was amazing to see the children marvel at their white skin. All of the children were filled with great joy as the team gave their testimonies along with Ben's inspirational sermon. They could see God work in each of the student's lives. It was truly incredible. As the team prayed their last prayer, they had no doubt in their minds that God was present in these schools. The team began to realize that they learned more from these children than the children learned from them. So after 2 packages of glucose biscuits, a box of peanut butter sandwiches, a bag of jolly ranchers, and several hours later they arrived back at the hotel. They wish that you could have been there with them but thank goodness that you weren't! There was no more room left in the van.
Today Robert Rendall and his interpreter Stephan had a full day of visiting people on the trails and in the fields. They were in a hurry to get back to the bus when they stopped to take a picture of the poster advertising the crusade at the new Kanyumu Presbyterian Church. As they were walking away some children came running after them. Stephen determined there was an elderly lady that wanted to be prayed for. Upon arriving at her hut, her daughter explained the woman was very sick. She had been in the hospital in March and had been sent home. She was paralyzed on her left side and had a tumor. She was in very bad condition. Stephen and Robert went into her hut and prayed for her and her family. She was a Christian and although she was very ill, it was apparent she was very grateful.
The children's crusade was the best it has been so far. There were close to 400 kids packed into the church. Today is the first day that we had a microphone and it made all the difference in the world. We sang a Ugandan song as an introduction, and then Melissa told the children the story of Noah. When asked who had heard of Noah, only 5 kids raised their hands. They really enjoyed the story. The children's team then alternated between American songs and Ugandan songs. The American songs were: "He's got the whole world in his hands", "If you're happy and you know it", and "Happy all the time". We had some extra time at the end of the lesson, so Jared, a young Ugandan man who has helped with the children's crusade in previous years, came and sang more songs with them. The children were so excited. It was a wonderful experience.
More than 260 women came from 75 churches throughout eastern Uganda and Kenya for the Women's Health Conference that our team hosted at the Mbale Church today. The conference included four workshops: Karen and Cynthia led the childbirth and women's health section, Vicki taught on family planning, Pat and Kathy led a section on nutrition, including a cooking demonstration and Connie taught CPR. The women were amazingly open and uninhibited about the subject matter. They were quick to laugh and ask many follow-up questions. One of the highlights each year for the women at this conference is the closing ceremony. All the women anxiously await their "official" certificate complete with gold seal and signatures! Each church receives a bag of conference materials to take back to their congregations. An unexpected blessing followed the ceremony when a woman in the group suggested that the conference teachers be lifted up in prayer. We were lifted up in prayers "Uganda style" as all the women gathered around us, praying out loud, all at the same time. It was a beautiful ending to very special day for each of us.
The prison team, consisting of Ramon Billhimer, Robert Winkler, and Jeff Darr, went to the newly started Kibbuku Prison about an hour west of Mbale. The prison was smaller than expected, but the warden, his staff, and the inmates were glad to welcome the team. Ramon and Robert shared their testimonies about how God had worked in their lives. Robert was also able to share with the inmates that there were 127 American inmates from the Lynaugh Unit in Fort Stockton, TX (where Robert is part of a Kairos prison ministry) who were praying, at that very moment, for the inmates at Kibbuku. This really touched the inmates and staff. Jeff then gave a wonderful sermon on how God's grace is freely given to all who trust in Christ. When Pastor Moses from Uganda asked who wanted to receive Christ, five inmates came forward and Jeff led them through the "sinner's prayer". Many other inmates who did not come forward could be seen praying as well. As at all prisons, the team presented some essential items, such as, soap, blankets and water containers to the warden for which he was most appreciative. To see Christ changing lives made it a rewarding day at the prison.
Please continue to pray for the health of our team, for the medical clinic that will begin tomorrow and for a great harvest of new believers for the new church in Kanyumu.
Blessings to all of you back home.
We had rains again last night but woke up to another beautiful day this morning. Robin started us out with a wonderful devotional from the chapter in our book on compassion. A perfect lesson for us as we walk the trails of Uganda. We are halfway through our week on the trail and Wednesday is always the day we seem to start having a few people feeling a little puny. Keep us all in your prayers for renewed strength to continue the work ahead. Today Robert Winkler, Ramon, and Jeff were on prison ministry while Ben, Thomas, Hannah, Allison and Tamara went to the schools. Cynthia, Karen Winkler, Pat, Vicki, Kathy, and Connie were at the Women's Health Conference and everyone else was on the trail today. At the crusade, Jim gave a wonderful sermon and Melissa, Garrett and Carole gave powerful testimonies.
The trail team today went a bit outside the village center to evangelize in a rural area. Walter Thompson and his translator, Charles, encountered Steven, who was tending his cattle and was very receptive to the gospel. After the man trusted Christ as his savior, the translator felt God leading him to talk with Steven about his marriage. Sure enough, Steven was having difficulty with his marriage and they were able to encourage him. Steven said he seldom goes into the village, so they set him up for a visit from the pastor.
Today the school team had a great day! The team went to 3 primary schools, however before reaching their first destination, they took an accidental 2 hour tour of the Uganda country-side that consisted of passing our soon to be established church more than once. With 14 people in one van, including sound equipment, personal space was not an option, but bonding however, was mandatory. The team finally reached the 3 schools and they thought it was amazing to see the children marvel at their white skin. All of the children were filled with great joy as the team gave their testimonies along with Ben's inspirational sermon. They could see God work in each of the student's lives. It was truly incredible. As the team prayed their last prayer, they had no doubt in their minds that God was present in these schools. The team began to realize that they learned more from these children than the children learned from them. So after 2 packages of glucose biscuits, a box of peanut butter sandwiches, a bag of jolly ranchers, and several hours later they arrived back at the hotel. They wish that you could have been there with them but thank goodness that you weren't! There was no more room left in the van.
Today Robert Rendall and his interpreter Stephan had a full day of visiting people on the trails and in the fields. They were in a hurry to get back to the bus when they stopped to take a picture of the poster advertising the crusade at the new Kanyumu Presbyterian Church. As they were walking away some children came running after them. Stephen determined there was an elderly lady that wanted to be prayed for. Upon arriving at her hut, her daughter explained the woman was very sick. She had been in the hospital in March and had been sent home. She was paralyzed on her left side and had a tumor. She was in very bad condition. Stephen and Robert went into her hut and prayed for her and her family. She was a Christian and although she was very ill, it was apparent she was very grateful.
The children's crusade was the best it has been so far. There were close to 400 kids packed into the church. Today is the first day that we had a microphone and it made all the difference in the world. We sang a Ugandan song as an introduction, and then Melissa told the children the story of Noah. When asked who had heard of Noah, only 5 kids raised their hands. They really enjoyed the story. The children's team then alternated between American songs and Ugandan songs. The American songs were: "He's got the whole world in his hands", "If you're happy and you know it", and "Happy all the time". We had some extra time at the end of the lesson, so Jared, a young Ugandan man who has helped with the children's crusade in previous years, came and sang more songs with them. The children were so excited. It was a wonderful experience.
More than 260 women came from 75 churches throughout eastern Uganda and Kenya for the Women's Health Conference that our team hosted at the Mbale Church today. The conference included four workshops: Karen and Cynthia led the childbirth and women's health section, Vicki taught on family planning, Pat and Kathy led a section on nutrition, including a cooking demonstration and Connie taught CPR. The women were amazingly open and uninhibited about the subject matter. They were quick to laugh and ask many follow-up questions. One of the highlights each year for the women at this conference is the closing ceremony. All the women anxiously await their "official" certificate complete with gold seal and signatures! Each church receives a bag of conference materials to take back to their congregations. An unexpected blessing followed the ceremony when a woman in the group suggested that the conference teachers be lifted up in prayer. We were lifted up in prayers "Uganda style" as all the women gathered around us, praying out loud, all at the same time. It was a beautiful ending to very special day for each of us.
The prison team, consisting of Ramon Billhimer, Robert Winkler, and Jeff Darr, went to the newly started Kibbuku Prison about an hour west of Mbale. The prison was smaller than expected, but the warden, his staff, and the inmates were glad to welcome the team. Ramon and Robert shared their testimonies about how God had worked in their lives. Robert was also able to share with the inmates that there were 127 American inmates from the Lynaugh Unit in Fort Stockton, TX (where Robert is part of a Kairos prison ministry) who were praying, at that very moment, for the inmates at Kibbuku. This really touched the inmates and staff. Jeff then gave a wonderful sermon on how God's grace is freely given to all who trust in Christ. When Pastor Moses from Uganda asked who wanted to receive Christ, five inmates came forward and Jeff led them through the "sinner's prayer". Many other inmates who did not come forward could be seen praying as well. As at all prisons, the team presented some essential items, such as, soap, blankets and water containers to the warden for which he was most appreciative. To see Christ changing lives made it a rewarding day at the prison.
Please continue to pray for the health of our team, for the medical clinic that will begin tomorrow and for a great harvest of new believers for the new church in Kanyumu.
Blessings to all of you back home.
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