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 #7
Joy was the topic of our devotional this beautiful Ugandan morning led by Robert Winkler. Henri Nouwen says that " . . . great sorrow and great joy are often seen to be parts of the same experience. Often we discover the joy in the midst of the sorrow."
That was amazingly applicable as today was a day of extreme highs and extreme lows for the team. The suffering and pain of the people that come to the medical clinic is heartbreaking, but the joy we feel for all the people who have come to know the love of Christ is overwhelming. We want to share with you all the stories of the day but this day has been very long and emotionally draining. Highlights of this, our last day on the trail, will be sent out tomorrow, after we have had a good night's rest. We have included some pictures of the day to help you share in our experience.
Yesterday's experience with the medical clinic at the church left us exhausted and emotionally raw. We saw the whole spectrum of the human experience: the sick and those getting healing, the desperate and the hopeful, the served and the servants, frustration and relief, sorrow and joy, chaos and organization. The hardest thing was turning away many who needed help. But God's mercy is new every morning! A great blessing was unity. It seemed at every crisis, emergency, problem to solve, or crowd to control there was a Ugandan and an American working side by side. We have always believed that when we do this together, it would be easier for people to see that it is Jesus who heals, Jesus who comforts, Jesus who saves...and not us. Another blessing was the simple reminder that Jesus had days like that. Luke tells about how the crowds "pressed in on Him" seeking healing. Even He didn't heal everyone! On several occasions Jesus left when the people came looking for him. (We note that the Bible doesn't tell us about those who did not receive help) Our devotional this morning was about "Joy". "Joy", it said, "is based on spiritual knowledge that while the world in which we live is shrouded in darkness, God has overcome the world." We rest in this hope!
Ralph, Garrett & Tamara went to the prisons to minister to the prisoners. It was an exciting experience with a very energetic atmosphere! The sermons and testimonies were very inspirational and well received from the prisoners and their families. In the end, two men accepted Christ into their lives!! It was amazing to see God working in a place where people feel they have been forgotten and have lost all hope.
Connie, Melissa, and Robert Rendall visited the schools. Kawo-Kidale Primary school, consisting of grades P1-P7, was the first stop. Connie and Melissa gave their testimonies, and then Robert preached the story of Jesus to them. When Robert asked if everyone would like to trust in Jesus, almost every hand was raised. As they prayed the confession prayer, even the smallest children had their hands over their eyes in reverent prayer. They then visited Nyero Rock High School, a school of 1800 students, but only one-third of them were present for various reasons. As the teenagers filed in, the three-team members felt very intimated, but once the praise and worship began, every kid in the room jumped up and whole-heartedly participated putting the team's fears to rest. The schools choirs led the lively praise and the team said that there is nothing like witnessing 600 high school students, teachers, and administrators dancing and praising the Lord at the top of their lungs in a government run school. Freedom of religion is alive and well in Uganda!
At the request of the Presbytery of Eastern Uganda, the mission team has been assisting with classes on discipleship. Separate classes are being held for young women and for young men under the leadership of Elder Peterson. Mission team members Karen Williams, Steve Schorr, Walter Thompson, and Jim Alsup have been assisting with the classes, using materials furnished by Karen Williams. Lively discussions concerning such things as men having more than one wife, church discipline and other issues unique to Ugandan culture have experienced. This is a needed part of the team's ministry that hopefully would be expanded and pursued.
Allison, Thomas and Karen Williams shared their testimonies to a large crowd and Walter Thompson gave the sermon. After such a long, hard day, it was inspirational to listen these wonderful, personal encounters with God.
Joy was the topic of our devotional this beautiful Ugandan morning led by Robert Winkler. Henri Nouwen says that " . . . great sorrow and great joy are often seen to be parts of the same experience. Often we discover the joy in the midst of the sorrow."
That was amazingly applicable as today was a day of extreme highs and extreme lows for the team. The suffering and pain of the people that come to the medical clinic is heartbreaking, but the joy we feel for all the people who have come to know the love of Christ is overwhelming. We want to share with you all the stories of the day but this day has been very long and emotionally draining. Highlights of this, our last day on the trail, will be sent out tomorrow, after we have had a good night's rest. We have included some pictures of the day to help you share in our experience.
Yesterday's experience with the medical clinic at the church left us exhausted and emotionally raw. We saw the whole spectrum of the human experience: the sick and those getting healing, the desperate and the hopeful, the served and the servants, frustration and relief, sorrow and joy, chaos and organization. The hardest thing was turning away many who needed help. But God's mercy is new every morning! A great blessing was unity. It seemed at every crisis, emergency, problem to solve, or crowd to control there was a Ugandan and an American working side by side. We have always believed that when we do this together, it would be easier for people to see that it is Jesus who heals, Jesus who comforts, Jesus who saves...and not us. Another blessing was the simple reminder that Jesus had days like that. Luke tells about how the crowds "pressed in on Him" seeking healing. Even He didn't heal everyone! On several occasions Jesus left when the people came looking for him. (We note that the Bible doesn't tell us about those who did not receive help) Our devotional this morning was about "Joy". "Joy", it said, "is based on spiritual knowledge that while the world in which we live is shrouded in darkness, God has overcome the world." We rest in this hope!
Ralph, Garrett & Tamara went to the prisons to minister to the prisoners. It was an exciting experience with a very energetic atmosphere! The sermons and testimonies were very inspirational and well received from the prisoners and their families. In the end, two men accepted Christ into their lives!! It was amazing to see God working in a place where people feel they have been forgotten and have lost all hope.
Connie, Melissa, and Robert Rendall visited the schools. Kawo-Kidale Primary school, consisting of grades P1-P7, was the first stop. Connie and Melissa gave their testimonies, and then Robert preached the story of Jesus to them. When Robert asked if everyone would like to trust in Jesus, almost every hand was raised. As they prayed the confession prayer, even the smallest children had their hands over their eyes in reverent prayer. They then visited Nyero Rock High School, a school of 1800 students, but only one-third of them were present for various reasons. As the teenagers filed in, the three-team members felt very intimated, but once the praise and worship began, every kid in the room jumped up and whole-heartedly participated putting the team's fears to rest. The schools choirs led the lively praise and the team said that there is nothing like witnessing 600 high school students, teachers, and administrators dancing and praising the Lord at the top of their lungs in a government run school. Freedom of religion is alive and well in Uganda!
At the request of the Presbytery of Eastern Uganda, the mission team has been assisting with classes on discipleship. Separate classes are being held for young women and for young men under the leadership of Elder Peterson. Mission team members Karen Williams, Steve Schorr, Walter Thompson, and Jim Alsup have been assisting with the classes, using materials furnished by Karen Williams. Lively discussions concerning such things as men having more than one wife, church discipline and other issues unique to Ugandan culture have experienced. This is a needed part of the team's ministry that hopefully would be expanded and pursued.
Allison, Thomas and Karen Williams shared their testimonies to a large crowd and Walter Thompson gave the sermon. After such a long, hard day, it was inspirational to listen these wonderful, personal encounters with God.
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