jubilee missions

July 25, 2009, Saturday

This morning we had no power and heavy rain clouds kept us in deem light for a couple of hours. The clouds produced a nice rain shower and I thought of the parched land at home and prayed for rain there. Susan helped me shop for the food and supplies for the island trip. We bought maize flour, cassava flour, rice, beans, salt, sugar, oil, tomatoes, cabbages, onions, bell peppers, greens, lemons, eggplants, bread, butter, tea, washing soap (zabuni) and laundry powder, steel strings (steel wool for scrubbing pots), bleach (for cleaning the jeri cans that have algae in them), and some bug spray. We picked up the English Bibles that we had ordered, too. We bought some school supplies for the children at Patrick’s orphanage/school. Susan was buying things for the team that is coming on Monday and for the children. We had a car full of stuff so we had to make two trips to the house to finish all the shopping.

At the house, I’ve been organizing things and cleaning the jeri cans. Phil is purchasing the fuel to fill 11 jeri cans with 20 liters capacity in each. He is also buying the oil for the boat, extra spark plugs and kerosene for starting our charcoal cooking fires. I appreciate him helping me by making these purchases. His helper, Ebra, will help monitor the gas pumps so we won’t get cheated. I’ll buy a bag of charcoal from Patrick’s store at Namogango Village on Sigulu Island on Monday.

I’m at the house finishing this journaling before I go with Phil to the internet tonight. At the moment we have power but that hasn’t been the case all day.

I’m feeling confident about having everything ready for Monday. I’ve also rested some these last two days.

July 24, 2009, Friday

I didn’t sleep well last night. The power kept going off and on so the fan would start and stop.
When I was asleep, I was awakened by a small animal going across my arm. I thought it was a mouse! However, instead of running it was jumping so I knew it was the toad that usually stays in one of the bathrooms! It hopped off the end of my bed and I went back to sleep. Sometime later it jumped on me again. This time I used my flashlight to follow it’s jumps to the pile of clothes on the top of a box at the end of my bed. Evidently it had previously jumped on that pile and then jumped back on my bed. This time I made sure it was off the pile of clothes and onto the floor before I returned to bed. About 3 a.m. we had a rainstorm with lightning and thunder and hard rain for a couple of hours. I finally slept for a while until I woke up at 7 a.m. to the sound of the girls outside.

Let me explain where I’m staying. Phil is renting this house and another building about a quarter of a mile away. He is the founder and director of New Hope orphanage. There are about 16 girls who stay here and the balance of about 100 boys stay at the other building. The house here has three bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen and dining area. I’m sharing a room and bath with Susan who is the Children’s director of the orphanage. There are three bedrooms in the back, an outhouse that includes showers for the girls. Moses is the watchman who sleeps in the garage/room. Esther (Mama Jonah) is the housekeeper, cook and laundress. The compound has a concrete wall about 6 ft tall with iron spikes above the wall and broken glass embedded in concrete on the pillars. There is a double wide metal door that Moses opens to allow Phil’s truck and Susan’s car inside the front yard. There is electricity and indoor plumbing in the main house. This is a muzungu house. A house built for white/rich people to live in because the Ugandas can’t usually afford such a nice house. Phil bought a refrigerator and a stove that uses propane.
I’m in luxury compared to living as a Ugandan when I was with Prossy and Esther at Peter’s compound when I was here the first part of this year.

Susan had an errand to run this morning and then she planned to take me shopping to get the food, supplies and Bibles that I need for the islands. However, she had a problem in the village and hasn’t returned yet (she’s been gone about 12 hours). Peter was supposed to get me at 9 a.m. to take me to the bank to exchange money. He called at 9:30 and said he was coming but he didn’t show up until 1:30 p.m. He said he had a problem at New Grace School that he had to deal with first. I was able to exchange money and pick up some of the Bibles I’d ordered. Then Peter brought me back to the house where we ate a late lunch. Phil is in Kampala doing some business. I spent the rest of the day locating all the equipment, organizing and cleaning things.
The girls who live in the back were eager to help me wash out jeri cans and wash my dishes.
I took photos of them working and they enjoyed looking at themselves on my digital camera.
After they had finished helping me, I gave all of them some jelly beans that Marie had left with me to give to children. I gave some candies to Mama Jonah and three ladies from New Grace School who were here typing exams on Phil’s computer. All were happy to get the sweets from America.

I’ve rested today and finished reading a book. I was frustrated about waiting for people who said they were coming but didn’t. I release frustrations, expectations and not having any control over my schedule.

The girls are at the boys place having supper. Mama Jonah has left for the evening and left supper on the stove for us. Phil and Susan haven’t arrived yet, so I’m here alone. I haven’t even seen Moses, the watchman for most of the day. The power keeps going off and on, but it’s on again now.

I’m safe with food and water and a good place to sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll get the things I need for the trip to the islands on Monday.

Thank you, Lord for a good day. Thank you, for helping me have peace instead of frustration.
Glory to God! God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

July 23, 2009, Thursday

I slept comfortably until 7 a.m. and then did some emailing before Susan and I went to breakfast at 8:30 a.m. I’m really blessed to be in a hotel with power, running water and wireless internet! Thank you, Jesus for everything.

We checked out of the hotel and left about 10:30 a.m. It took us right at an hour to reach Kibembe Miracle Center Pentecostal Church which is past the village that was crowded for market days yesterday. Today it was easy to drive through the village because they weren’t having market day. Once or twice a week vendors come to a village and set up their wares. Hundreds of people come from the countryside and the surrounding villages to shop. Most people don’t ever leave the couple of square miles around their farms. Every half mile or maybe mile, there is another village, school and a couple of churches.

I visited Kibembe Miracle Center with the team a couple of weeks ago. SOK will help them with their church structure. Presently they have a stick and mud wall church with a dirt floor and iron sheets for the roof. Pastor Joseph said every Thursday is prayer and fasting from early morning until noon. When we arrived there were already people present since they had been fasting and praying. After Susan helped lead a few songs, I was able to start teaching by 12:30. I taught the Ten Commandments and did the ponchos to demonstrate salvation. All present were already saved, so I was able to teach the armor of God and the power of using our words to agree with God’s Word. I had my plastic sword with me as a visual. The people were very eager to learn and about 6 out of the 50 present had a Bible! That is more than most churches have. I taught them the chorus to two songs in English and Lugandan: I’m a friend of God and Rejoice in the Lord. They really liked it when I could sing in their language. There was one lady who was just filled to overflowing with joy. Every time I made a point with God’s Word, she would beam as she let out the thrill. After the teaching before we set up for the film, each man, woman and child greeted me personally and thanked me for the teaching. The joyous lady approached me crawling on her knees. I hadn’t noticed she was crippled. I got down on my knees in the dirt to hug her and greet her. What joy she has in the Lord despite her handicap! Her joy blessed me so much!

During the film more and more people came until the crowd was standing room only. There were about 200 people packed inside. Susan and I sat under the shadows of some trees across the road from the church. There wasn’t any shade by the church just a corn field. People came to greet Susan and me. Especially little children would come to shake my hand and talk to me. A little girl about 3 years old named Mercy became my new friend. She wanted to touch me and hold my hand and stay near to me.
Jesus said to let the little children come. In Uganda there are many children who have never seen a muzungu so when I show up, they are very curious. Some hesitate to touch my hand and watch others do it first before they will do it. They are dirty with raggedy clothes but they are precious in His sight.

Usually the people disperse to their huts and gardens quickly after the film, but today about a hundred of them escorted us to the car to say their goodbyes. Everyone was very appreciative of my coming with the Word of God and the Jesus film. They want me to come back. Pastor Moses has a Pentecostal church in the next village and he asked SOK for assistance with the structure and for me to come with my program. I have a letter for Peter from Moses because Peter organizes the church building projects and arranges for my schedule. I taught the children the Jesus cheer before we left and even the adults joined in the cheer.

Susan said I need to come back to this area if possible before I go back to America. She said these people never get the opportunity to see the Jesus film, while people in villages closer to Iganga have had the opportunity. The Pastor invited me to stay longer next time and even spend the night in their village. When people see this film it has a powerful impact on them. Many of them are crying as they watch Jesus beaten and crucified. After the teaching and the film they are much better equipped to give the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their neighbors.

We left the church by 4:45 p.m. and Susan drove us back to Iganga. Part of the way we were in a rain storm. The AC doesn’t work in the car but I turned on the defrost to help us see where we were going. The rain stopped for a short time so I turned it off. Later when we were getting into another light shower I turned on the defrost again, but I must have punched the wrong buttons, because the car lost power and Susan had to pull over to the side of the road. I turned everything off but the car still wouldn’t start. We were just out of Mbale Town. I silently prayed. Phil is in Kampala and wouldn’t be able to come get us. I would have to call Peter. Then Susan put the car in park instead of drive. I told her to try to start it again and it started! Thank you Jesus! I made sure the defrost was off as we drove with the windows down a little so they wouldn’t fog up. Praise God, the rain stopped shortly after that incident. We stopped a couple of times on the side of the road for Susan to buy some yams and some potatoes. We arrived at dark, about 7:30 p.m. at Phil’s compound. There was no electricity in Iganga Town when we arrived. The lady they call Mama Jonah is the cook and housekeeper and she had left supper for us. Since Susan and I only had some snacks for lunch we hardily ate the rice, beans and meat stew she had prepared for us, using a flashlight and a solar light.

After showering using the flashlight the power came back on. Thank you Jesus! I thank Him for the people today, for a safe journey home, food to eat and electricity to turn the fan and power this computer.
God is good all the time! What an awesome day!

July 22, 2009, Wednesday

Susan and I slept well at Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale last night. This morning Susan and I rested after a scrumptious breakfast of fruit, tea, juice, eggs, bread, etc. I had some eggplant and cooked tomatoes too. We left about 11 a.m. for the 1.25 hour drive to the junction of the highway to Kapchorwa and the dirt road to Bulegeni Village. Pastor Francis was supposed to meet us at this junction but he wasn’t there. We called him and he said he was at trading center of Bulegeni. The village was 4 km from the highway and when arrived people and trucks were everywhere. It is market day! Throngs of people and goods lined the dirt road. Large trucks were unloading people, matooke, potatoes, etc. There was a traffic jam. Susan had to back up a couple of times and let big trucks go before we could proceed. I kept my window rolled up because people beg me for money and a drunken man followed alongside the car for awhile asking for money. It was hot in the car because the AC doesn’t work but I would rather be hot than deal with people reaching into the car. The road makes a Y in the center of the village and when Susan asked directions to the church we were directed to the left. I didn’t remember what the pastor looked like and with hundreds of people packed together it would have been impossible to locate him anyway. We drove about a quarter of a mile past the shoppers and trucks and called the pastor again. He said we were on the wrong branch and to come back. We drove close to the mass of people but I had Susan stop and park the car. We called him back and told him to come find us because we weren’t driving through the mob again to find him. We waited and wondered if he would ever come. Finally he found us and rode with us to direct us to his church on the right branch of the road. The church is on the side of the mountain up from the road. At the turn to go up the pastor had posted a sign inviting people to come to the Jesus film today! I didn’t think the car would make it up the steep path, but Susan is an excellent driver and made it up to the church. I was at Bulegeni Baptist Church with the team a couple of weeks ago to dedicate it. It is a small church that had been meeting in a stick shelter before SOK helped them build their permanent structure. The pastor and his wife and lots of small neighborhood children were the only ones there. Since it is market day most people are shopping. The pastor’s wife beat the drums for about 20 minutes to call the people. Then we set up the equipment and played music to call them in. Pastor Philemon from Tubani Baptist Church came on his motorcycle. We had asked him to come to pick up two boxes of the Book of Hope for his church and Pastor Peter’s church that we visited last week. I showed the books to them and explained how I had gotten them. Both pastors were very appreciative for the books. I started teaching about 2 p.m. and was finished by 3 p.m. I taught the Ten Commandments to about 60 people who indicated they were already saved. During the film more people continued to come including about 25 students who were just coming from school.

Susan rested in the car and I sat in the shadows of a mango tree during the film. We have to ignore the children during the film because if we interact with them all the children watching the film will come outside to visit with us. I want them to see the film so interact with them before and after the film for the most part. Behind the church I walked down the side of the mountain for a little way so I could take pictures of the mountains and cliffs across the valley. The views here are so beautiful. I can see plots of corn and matooke planted in the valleys and up part of the slopes until the soil gives way to jagged rocky cliffs. I feel so blessed to be here with these humble people who love Jesus. One of the ladies who came for the teaching and film shared with Pastor, who shared with me that she had never seen a movie of Jesus before and she was so happy to come to see it. My prayer is that all who see the film including the children will be saved and always remember Jesus’ actions and words. Glory what a privilege and honor to bring the Gospel of Jesus via the film to people who probably won’t ever own a Bible. I know they will remember and it will impact the advancement of the Kingdom of God! Pastor Moses from Deliverance Church just over the hill invited me to come to his church. He said all the people in this area need to see the film to encourage them in their faith. Pray for the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest field. What I’m doing is only a drop in the bucket to what is needed!

When the film was over, we met Pastor Joseph who is the pastor of the church we are visiting tomorrow and he gave Susan directions. Pastor Francis’ wife had prepared us some food but we had to decline since it was already after 5 p.m. and we needed to be back at the hotel before dark. The sun sets about 7 p.m. and it’s very dark by 7:30. It’s about 50 km back to the hotel which is about 30 miles but it takes a little over an hour to travel that distance. There are so many people, bicycles, animals and motorcycles on the roads that we must travel only about 50 km (30 mph) through the villages. On the open roads which are scarce, Susan get it up to about 60 mph at the most. There is a section of the road that close to Mbale Town where there are many potholes and the road has eroded on the shoulders. We dodge people, animals and other vehicles as everyone is crisscrossing and driving on the shoulders to avoid the holes and each other! Susan and I were very hungry when we arrived about 6:45 at the Sunrise Hotel for supper. We ordered bottled water, fried fish and French fries. After drinking water and taking food, we felt much better. Now we are back in our room at Mt. Elgon Hotel for the night.

Thank you, Lord for safety and salvations! Thank you Jesus, for a clean room with indoor plumbing and electricity! God you are so good to us!

July 21, 2009, Tuesday

This morning Susan and I left Phil’s house at 8 a.m. We stopped to buy some school supplies and get some gas in the car. We had a very low tire which had to be fixed. It had a nail in it so I paid to have a new tube put in instead of using the spare. Then we put air in another tire before we were ready to go to Kabeywa Baptist Church in the mountains below Kapchorwa. Susan drove for 2.5 hours from Iganga, through Mbale and on to the mountains. Along the way ladies and children place kernals of corn on the edge of the pavement to let them dry in the sun. The dried corn is ground into maize flour used in making porridge and posho to eat. I watched as the cows walked alongside the road and defecated in the drying corn. Yuck! In the evenings when we are driving back the owners are gathering up the dried corn to take home for grinding. We met Pastor Solomon at the turn off (branch) before Sipi Falls. He rode with us to take us to his church and the school that he started there. I had visited this church a couple of weeks ago with the team for the dedication of the church and taught them the song, “I’m a friend of God.” They were so happy to see us. The teacher and children and lots of adults were already waiting for us in the church when we arrived at noon. We set up and played music for about 30 minutes before I started teaching. The small church was packed as I taught the Ten Commandments and salvation using the ponchos. The LC, local chairman was present also. I don’t remember his name but we met him last time we came. I presented the pastor and teacher with the box of school supplies, small writing tablets and pencils, and they were very happy. The children sang for us as they had done before. After the teaching, we showed the film as it sprinkled rain outside. Rain is a blessing so when it rains when we come they say we brought them blessings of rain with out visit. I sat with Susan in the car and rested during the film as the ground was a bit wet. However, it didn’t rain much which we were grateful for because the soil is slippery when wet and the roads are rough and steep in this area of the mountainside. Pastor Solomon brought us cokes and some food (potatoes & beans). We were thankful because we hadn’t had time for much breakfast this morning and we were hungry. After the film, I also gave the teacher and pastor a box of the Book of Hope magazines. They were so happy. They gave me a new name because my name Nabirye is for the Busoga tribal area not this mountain area. My new name is Nambozo which means dearly beloved, favorite one. I love this new name and when they told me what it meant, I felt like my Heavenly Father was giving me the new name. I will treasure it!

We said goodbye to our sisters and brothers in Christ about 4:30 and started out 1.25 hour trip to Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale Town. We checked into our room and rested for a while before going to the Sunrise Hotel for supper. The Sunrise Hotel prices for food are much cheaper than at Mt. Elgon Hotel. However, both charge the same price for a room with two beds for two people (67,000 shillings = $33.50). Mt. Elgon is a nicer hotel with wireless internet and even a swimming pool! We ate fish fillet and chips and sodas for supper for the price of 19,000 shillings or $9.50. At Mt. Elgon the same food would have been $15.50!

Pastor Solomon called to be sure we arrived safely. Shortly afterwards, Peter called to check on us too. Susan and I sharing cultural information before she talked on the phone and I went to the lobby to do internet. We are safe, clean, comfortable and have full stomachs. Katonda mulungi! God is good!

July 20, 2009, Monday

I was supposed to go to a church at noon and at l1:45 a.m. Susan was on the phone arranging for a driver and translator for me. Badilu drove Scovia (Susan’s mother) and me to Budabada Christian Church about 30 minutes out of Iganga Town. When we arrived at the SOK church built in 2008 by JMK there was only a man and some children there. The man isn’t the pastor but the founder of the church, the one who gave the land for the church to be built on. The church is a large Anglican church with many windows and openings above the windows. I knew it would be difficult to darken it enough for the film so I had Scovia translate the solution to the man. He got some teenaged boys to help him put up a tarp over some of the windows, mats on some and my black fabrics on others. We played the music for about 30 minutes and then I taught. By the time I started there were about 80 people present most of them children. Two teachers from a church we dedicated with Kemper were present with some of their students. They said their school and church aren’t far from this one and they want me to bring the film there too. Scovia did an excellent job translating and when it was time to lead them in the prayer of salvation I had her do it instead of her translating me. Glory to God about 80 people raised their hands that they got saved today. We sang and celebrated! Thank you, Jesus! During the showing of the film I stayed inside the church most of the time but half way through I went outside to call Susan to let the driver know when to pick us up. I visited with some of the children and ladies while outside. There was a large turtle beside the church. It’s the first one I’ve seen in Uganda so I took some pictures. The children were surprised when I picked it up!

About 30 minutes before the film was over, the elder brought Scovia and me some food: rice, matooke, meat and sauce. It was already 5 p.m. and we hadn’t had lunch so we were thankful that they fed us.
Badilu, the driver, picked us up about 6 p.m. and drove me back to Phil’s house. After unloading the car, I visited with Phil about the generator and how to adjust the throttle. Later at night we ate rice, matooke and cabbage for supper. Peter joins us and we discussed my schedule for this week in the Kapchorwa area and following weeks at the islands. We made some phone calls to pastor to make sure everything was arranged.

It was an awesome day! Thank you, Jesus for the salvation of souls! I’m excited about traveling back to the beautiful mountains tomorrow.

Hello my friends and family,

Thank you for your faithfulness to pray. Today is Saturday and Peter and Susan got to see the American dentists. They didn’t pull their teeth. Peter had his tooth cleaned and they sent Susan to a dentist in Jinja to have hers filled.

I’m working at the internet at the Paradise hotel while they are at the dentist in town. Susan drove me to two churches in the Mbale area on Wed. and Thursday. I taught and showed the film. Yesterday we went to a church in the Pallisa district. I prayed for many ladies, one man and several children. God is good. Katonda mulungi! After I had prayed for about 8 ladies, who God healed, I had them come forward and pray for the rest of the people needing prayer. I told them the power of God heals, not the words of a muzungu (white person) so they can pray God’s words also. By faith I know all are healed! Thank you, Jesus.

I’m blessed so much by the peace, love, joy and energy that comes from God. Spiritually, I feel less oppressed than when I was here at the beginning of the year. Glory to God!

The weather is hot but not unbearable like in Texas. The air at night and in the morning is cooler and comfortable for sleeping with only a fan to circulate the air. I’ve made many new muzungu friends from other organizations while at the Paradise Hotel in Jinja. What an awesome God we serve. It’s so amazing to watch as he networks his people so they can work together as the body of Christ. Glory to God!

I still haven’t had time to do detail journaling. Maybe next week! I’m blessed to be working with less down time.

Thank you again for praying. God is honoring your prayers in awesome ways. Praises to the Lord, Jesus.

Love from your sister in Christ,
Sandy

Hello prayer warriors,

Yesterday we traveled all day from Iganga to Mbarrarra and we saw some zebras and antelope on the way. This morning we drove to Elizabeth National Park near the Congo border. We saw some elephants on the way into the park. This afternoon we took a two hour boat ride and saw hippos, elephants, cap buffalo, crocodiles and lots of birds. I can’t believe I’m here in Africa and seeing these awesome creatures that God made. What a blessing! I’ve been here 8 times and finally I’ve gotten to see the animals! Thank you, Jesus.

We are staying in the hostel tonight but I’m using the internet at the fancy, expensive lodge! Tomorrow we travel back toward Kampala and hope to see some lions on the way out of the park.

Please pray for Peter as he has a toothache and needs to get it extracted. He continues to drive us across Uganda unselfishly. Jason and Beverly leave on Saturday. Kemper and Marie leave on Sunday.
Please continue to pray for our safety on the roads and for their flights.

Thank you for your faithfulness. I wish you were here to see these beautiful animals.

Love,
Sandy

Hello Prayer Warriors,

Thank you for praying for Peter. He has continued to drive us many miles everyday with a toothache. Yesterday morning we saw lions at the park before we drove out of the park.
After traveling for about 4 hours we stopped for the night in Fort Portal at a nice place with good food. Today we drove 5-6 hours to Entebbe airport where we said good bye to Jason and Beverly. Then Peter drove us another four hours to Jinja where we are staying tonight. In the morning we will inaugurate a church before Peter drives Kemper and Marie back to the airport.

I plan to stay a Phil’s tomorrow night and start organizing for my visits to churches this week.
I’m sad to say goodbye to the team members but I’m also excited about starting my program of visiting churches to teach and show the Jesus film.

Thank you for praying for travel mercies and safety as the team members travel home. Also thank you for continuing to pray for the churches I’ll visit and the people who will hear the gospel through my teaching and the film.

Pray for Peter to find a good dentist and to have a quick recovery from the tooth extraction.
I appreciate you so much. I’m so blessed to have you as my prayer team. Thank you again.

July 7, 2009, Tuesday

After a good night’s sleep my body feels much better, although my back is sore from bumping against the seat for 8 hours yesterday. We left Mt. Elgon hotel and the beautiful Mt. Elgon range of mountains this morning and drove to Iganga. We picked up our extra suitcases at Phil’s house and then checked into the Mum Resort just outside of Iganga.

Then we went to Jinja for lunch and the Source and the last shopping opportunity for the team. I bought some more things for Mariposa International. We arrived back at the Mum about 4 p.m. Everyone went to their rooms for resting and repacking. They only had one double room so Beverly and Marie are staying in it. Jason, Kemper and I all have single rooms. Peter is staying at his own home in Iganga.

Tomorrow we leave about 6 a.m. to drive west across Uganda to a national park where we can see some animals. We will probably be driving 12 hours but at least we will be on paved roads in our comfortable van. Thank you, Jesus.

I don’t know where we will be staying or if there will be internet available so you might not hear from me for a few days.

Please continue to left up our safety and health in your prayers. Also we hope to visit some more churches by Friday and Saturday before Kemper leaves on Sunday. Please continue to pray for those who don’t know Jesus to receive him.

Love from your sister in Christ,
Sandy