August 17, 2009, Monday
This morning Badru and I left about 10:30 a.m. after he had finished washing the truck. We picked up Godfrey and then Richard. The drive is in the same direction as Saturday but further. We turned left at the Nile Brewery after crossing the Nile River. Then we drove for about 45 minutes on dirt roads that turned to dirt foot paths. We drove past about 100 inmates in bright yellow uniforms digging in the government farmland on the lowlands with Lake Victoria in the distance. Inmates must work out in the sun and heat and they don’t even get to eat what they raise in the fields. If their families don’t bring them food they just get porridge or posho once a day in jail. Then we drove up the hills to Tongolo Village where we were on Saturday and picked up Pastor Christopher. As we went up a high hill we could see Lake Victoria in the far distance and hills all around. We continued through rural areas with scattered huts and farms. The children and adults greeted me as we drove past and I replied with “Jambo”. We picked up Pastor Paul from his house on the way to Kabale Village as the road turned to a foot path through the vegetation. We arrived at Kabale Church on the side of a hill built by SOK in 2003. Pastor Dison greeted us as well as about 300 students! School was let out for the holidays on Friday but the students came today to get their reports. Next to the church is a shelter used as a school along with the church building. The children were in orange gingham checked uniforms and surrounded me immediately. After greeting the Pastor, I had Godfrey help me interact with the children by translating. I taught them the Jesus Cheer and I’m a Friend of God song. They sang the Ugandan National Anthem and school song to me. Then we sang, “Jesus loves me” together.
This is a different song than our “Jesus loves me” song. Then all of us went inside the church.
We set the equipment and only played two songs to call the people to church since it was already filled with children. I taught them the Ten Commandments and Pastor Richard translated for me.
We started the film about 2:30 p.m. During the film we sat outside in the shade and ate our chapatti and another food which was a fried bread triangle with peas inside. I forgot the name of these. Large black clouds were forming and coming up from behind the hillside. Godfrey said it wouldn’t rain on us because the rain was going the other way. I thought it would rain and we did get a few sprinkles but no rain. Godfrey said since he is a farmer he knows if it will rain.
During the film I visited some with Pastor Paul. He was in a really bad vehicle accident on June 7. He was in a van taxi going from Kampala to Jinja when the driver caused them to crash with a trailer. All the people were killed except Paul! God spared his life but he had chest injuries and a dislocated right hip. He said a Good Samaritan came by the accident and picked him up and put him in their truck to take him to the hospital. He spent some time in the hospital and is still limping and can’t walk too much. He isn’t in a cast. He said they wanted to do x-rays but he didn’t have the money. I asked him if he had a lot of pain. He said the pain was very bad and when the doctor wrote for the medicine for pain, he didn’t have the money to buy the medicine. He said since many people died in the accident, it was reported in the newspaper and on the television news in Kampala. He said he knew God spared his life so he could continue doing God’s work.
As I visited with Richard he gave me an awesome praise report. The building he is renting to hold church in is next door to a witch doctor. Yesterday, the witch doctor’s wife and children came to see the Jesus film. A church member called Richard this morning to give him a praise report. The wife of the witch doctor said she wanted to join the church! Praise God! I don’t know if she got saved but she will be coming to church. Glory! Richard said when the wife comes usually the children come too, so he was very encouraged by this news. Richard lives in another village away from the church he just planted 5 months ago. When we let him off there was a sign advertising the witch doctor for that area. I asked Richard about this and he confirmed that another witch doctor lives close to where he lives. Richard’s family history is witchcraft. He said they believed in household gods called Lubale and Mukama. His family members used alcohol and drugs. When he got saved at 17 years, his family chased him away from the house and he went to the pastor of the nearest church, who took him in. Richard said maybe that is why God has him living by a witch doctor and has his church by a different witch doctor in another village. Richard can witness well to these lost ones.
Godfrey was a Muslim and Richard was raised with witch craft. Glory to God! Both men love the Lord and are doing mighty things to advance the kingdom of God in Uganda. They have humble servants hearts. After the film Godfrey took the microphone and soon Richard was helping him pray with about 65 people who came forward to be saved! Hallelujah! What an awesome day. I got to interact with and teach lots of children and many people got saved. Pastor Dison of this church said these people had never seen the Jesus film and he was so appreciative of having it. He said when they talk to the children about Jesus dying for them they can’t really understand what they mean but now since they have seen Jesus crucified and risen in the film, the children will understand better. He thanked me over and over again for coming. When I gave him the Bibles and the Books of Hope, he was over whelmed. He said to please extend his thanks, appreciation and blessings to the people in the US who made it possible for them to receive these gifts. I gave him 200 Books of Hope which is enough for every hut in the village to have a copy. Praises to you, Lord. The Gospel of Jesus came to this village via teaching, film, Bibles and Books of Hope. I pray for all to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we left the church the children were surrounding the truck so I lead them in the cheer and song again. Two boys kept making mean faces at me as we left. I know it was the demons in the boys who were doing it so I rebuked the demons in Jesus’ name and claimed the boys for the kingdom of God.
Badru, my driver, is Muslim but he has been going inside the church to watch the film each day. Usually he doesn’t come in for my teaching. When Godfrey takes the microphone to call people forward to receive Jesus, usually Badru leaves the church. Richard, Godfrey and I have been praying that he will get saved, but we aren’t witnessing to him. We are letting the Holy Spirit speak to him through the film. Today, when Godfrey took the microphone, Badru didn’t leave.
He didn’t come forward or indicate he wanted to be saved or got saved, but I noticed he was wiping his eyes with his fingers several times. Glory to God! I pray he got saved today!
Although it didn’t rain on us it did rain close by so the air was cool and pleasant today. I wasn’t as tired since it wasn’t as hot today. The truck’s AC doesn’t work so we always have the windows down which makes it bearable. However with the windows down the dust on the dirt roads often bothers my sinuses. On the paved roads every other vehicle’s exhaust is black smoke which adds to my sinus congestion. However, I haven’t had too many bad headaches, just mild discomfort. Thank you, Jesus, for keeping me healthy.
We dropped off Richard at the first stop and Godfrey about 15 minutes later. Badru and I arrived at Phil’s house before dark about 6:30. Phil, Beth, Beverly, Kenneth and Scovia went to the clinic in town for the girls’ treatments. Both girls are much better now. While they were gone I rested on my bed waiting for their return and supper. During their absence, Susan returned from Nairobe, Kenya. When they returned they were so happy to see her. All the girls who sleep here in the orphanage were ecstatic to see her too. They call her Mama although she is only 26 years old. Susan had told them she would be back after midnight tonight so she surprised them with her early return. After much visiting, we all ate supper of rice and beef soup. I was very tired and happy to get to bed by 10:30 p.m. Tomorrow is a resting day so I won’t be going to a church.
Thank you, Lord, for the children, for salvation of souls, for the people who sent money for Bibles and for the people who supply the Book of Hope. Lord, I know the time is short because you are coming soon. I’m blessed to be about your business in Uganda. Thank you for healing Beth and Beverly and bringing Susan back safely.
