August 13, 2009 Thursday
After toast and tea, Badilu and I left about 9:45 a.m. After getting fuel in town we drove to Jinja and picked up Pastor Godfrey. On the way to the church we stopped in a village and Godfrey bought the chapatti and some bread like donuts for our lunch. I’ve been bringing bottles of water for us each day and paying for the food we buy. We went to Wakisi Baptist Church in Wakisi Village in Mukono District crossing over the Nile River on the bridge. It still amazes me to think that I’m at the source of the Nile River before it flows north for thousands of miles to reach the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. Awesome! Thank you, Lord for the thrill of seeing the Nile River again. This church was built in 2003 by Servants of the King but the sign had deteriorated so much I couldn’t read who it was built by, except it was someone in TX. It is built next to a government school and the school uses the church as a classroom. The inside the church was filled with school benches. School has just dismissed for the holidays this week so the school was empty. I talked to a couple of the teachers.
Pastor Christopher met us along with Pastor Richard, who pastors a church we will visit in a few days. We were arrived about 11:30 so I had time to visit with the pastors for a while before we set the machines and started the music to draw people. Pastor Godfrey has a heart to disciple the pastors. He and several of the pastors have started a Bible School in another village. I will see the place later this week. Godfrey called several pastors to come met me today and have an informal forum: Pastor David from Grace Christian Baptist Church; Pastor Wilberforce from Revival Mission Baptist Church; Pastor James from Heart Touch Christian Church; Pastor Gabriel from Nakirubi Baptist Church and Pastors Christopher and Peter from Wakisi Baptist Church. We had introductions and a short visit before I started the music and the teaching.
When I taught there were about 7 pastors, 2 women, 2 men and a dozen children. The pastors say they need teachings to encourage them and I noticed some were writing down the scripture references on pieces of paper. After the teaching several of the pastors asked where they could get the Ten Commandments posters so I gave them the website address. This village isn’t too far from Jinja where they can go to an internet café. During the film the pastors sat with me outside under the shade on school benches. The ladies had prepared rice for us to eat and we continued our forum while eating. They had lots of questions about Servants of the King. All of them need assistance with church building because many are meeting under the shade trees and have no structure at all. I explained some of the process and referred them to Peter for the applications.
The other main concern was that they need people to come teach them in a 2-3 day conference.
They want me to come back next time with a team to teach them and encourage them as pastors.
I explained to them, like I did to the two pastors yesterday, that I do not have the funds to feed a group of people for 2-3 days at a conference. They assured me they could bring their own food and feed themselves. We all agreed that God would have to provide the people to come with me and the finances for me and the team to come. They will be praying for God to provide so they can get more teaching about God’s Word. I really want to teach at conferences so I can reach the pastors who will reach more people. Pastor Joe at Jubilee has already written the curriculum for winning souls and making disciples. Pastor Lety prophesied to me that she saw a training center where many would be trained to go out. Glory to God! Divine appointments! I need people to come with me next summer to teach at these conferences. The two pastors yesterday want me to come to their villages for a conference too. Conferences would be an efficient way to disciple many people at once. Please pray with me about this possibility.
The pastors expressed to me that most missionaries stay in Kampala or the larger towns but few come to the villages where they are really needed the most. They said famous evangelists and pastors say they are helping the pastors and people in the villages, but in reality they are lying because the help never gets to the villages while those famous ones drive around in fancy cars.
I understand their frustration and their discouragement. My coming to their churches would be such a blessing but since most don’t have a building, I can’t show the film. Hopefully, Servants of the King can assist them with structures. I explained to them that Servants of the King members are not allowed to ask for money from anyone. We tell what we do and wait for the Holy Spirit to tell someone to help with building a church. We have to wait on God. After our visit the pastors and I joined hands and we ended with prayer. What a blessing and honor to meet these mighty men of God!
Pastor David told me his testimony. He is about 25 years old and most of his life was a Catholic. He was in Senior 4 (sophomore) when his father died. His stepmother loved me and was rich so she continued to pay his school fees even though his father had died. (This is very unusual for a step parent to support a child when their parent dies). He said he was friends with an older woman that he called Grandmother. She would allow him to go to her orchards and pick food to eat anytime. She also invited him to evening Bible devotionals in her house. They loved each other very much and David enjoyed spending time at her house. When he was in Senior 5 (junior) she invited him to come to her church as a guest. He agreed to go with her and she told the members ahead of time that she was bringing a special guest. He sat by her and was shy but did introduce himself to the church. Later, when the Pastor preached, James said it was just for him. He had completed all the sacraments in the Catholic Church and thought he was okay with God, but learned that day that he was a sinner and they Jesus had died for him. He got “born again” that day. Later he told his brothers and sisters that he was a born again Christian now. They didn’t say too much about it. He said every morning his job was to haul 4 jeri cans of water for the family and every evening he walk 2 km to the family garden to pick and carry home the food for the evening meal. Other times he was with his friends or with Grandmother.
The next Sunday when the family was walking together to the Catholic Church, he separated from them and walked to the Protestant Church. He came home from church after his family had already eaten lunch and his stepmother gave him two choices: go to school and give up salvation or keep salvation and give up your schooling. He continued to attend school although she hadn’t paid the school fees. The administration knew she was rich and she always paid so they let him keep coming. When it came time for the final exams, he was sent home until she would pay. She told him that he was supposed to make a choice because he couldn’t have schooling and salvation. He chose to keep his salvation and dropped out of school. He said his life had changed so much that he just couldn’t give us Jesus. Before Jesus he hung out with friends who were doing bad things after he was born again he no longer participated in those things. He said he went to one of the islands to become a fisherman to earn money and live. I don’t know how long he stayed there but he came back to Jinja and attended and completed seminary in 2007.
He became an evangelist going hut to hut telling people about Jesus. Last October, he went to a village and asked the local official if he could teach about Jesus and go door to door. The LC gave his permission and even organized people for him to teach. David was surprised and a little overwhelmed when he saw the large group of people, eager to hear about Jesus. After preaching many people got saved! The village had no church and the people were so appreciative of salvation that they wanted to start a church. David said they could meet on Wednesday evening for Bible studies which they did. However, the people insisted he be their pastor and they start a church. They loved him so much for bringing the Good News of Jesus to them. David’s brother had gotten him a job in Kampala and kept telling David to come to Kampala for this good job. David had to say no to his brother because he must pastor the people the Lord has given him.
They don’t have a building. They meet under the shade tree. David said yesterday and today the people are cutting timber to make a shelter for their church. David said the Lord impressed upon him to come to this informal meeting today but while we are talking his people are working to build a shelter for their church. David, a man after God’s own heart, dearly beloved man of God.
Who of us would give up our education, a good job and a good future, to pastor a group of poor people in a remote village?
I admire and respect these pastors so much. Life is hard and pastoring is even harder. They need more Bible teaching and encouragement. I was able to give four of the pastors 50 copies each of the Book of Hope. That’s all I brought today. We will stop off in the morning and deliver 50 copies to Pastor David on our way to the next church. After the film I gave Pastor Christopher of this church and Pastor David some Bibles. Pastor David was over come with joy. He couldn’t believe the big blessing of 4 Bibles for his church. After the film Pastor Godfrey spoke with the people (about 125 saw the film) and many indicated they were already saved. However, one woman came forward to receive Christ! Glory to God! Praises to our King!
After leaving Pastors Richard and David at the intersection of the road, we continued to Jinja. There was a stalled car on the bridge so there was a traffic jam. We waited almost half an hour to get across the bridge. We left Pastor Godfrey at the round about on the Iganga side of Jinja and then Badilu drove us to Phil’s house about 30 minutes away. After unloading all the equipment, he took me to the internet in town. However the power was off in town so I didn’t get to do emails. Maybe tomorrow.
I’ve had supper of rice, greens and beans. I’ve had a shower and I’m ready for sleeping as soon as I finish this journaling.
Thank you, Lord for the Pastors and for the lady who got saved today. Thank you, for Pastor Godfrey’s help and translating. Another blessed day Lord. I give you all glory, honor and praise because only you are worthy.
