jubilee missions

August 12, 2009, Wednesday

I enjoyed my sleep last night. I’m feeling more rested today. Mama Jonah (housekeeper and cook) cooked scrambled eggs and toast for my breakfast. Student Esther came for a visit. We set up a conference with Peter and her teachers for Friday morning at 9 a.m. If her grades are good and she has been obedient to her teachers, then her sponsor will pay her school fees for the next school term. If not, then we won’t pay her school fees. During the first term she got expelled from school for fighting. She was allowed to return for the second term which she just finished. Students go to school year round here. They go 3 months and then are off for a month, so they have three terms and the first one starts in January. Esther’s mother is dead and her stepmother mistreats her so she stays with a neighbor in town since she got kicked out of boarding. She told me she didn’t eat yesterday and she was hungry, so I gave her some bread/butter and some hot tea. Before she left, I gave her a zip lock bag with several packages of peanut butter crackers for eating later. I know she doesn’t have money for transportation to go to her grandmother’s home in the village, so I will give it to her after our meeting on Friday.

I was supposed to leave for the church at 11 a.m. but the driver and truck didn’t arrive until 11:45. Badilu drove me north of Jinja where we picked up Pastor Godfrey and then continued to another village to Musisi Baptist Church. This isn’t a SOK church. We were greeted by three men, two ladies and a dozen children. We were setting up to play some music when I realized I had left the cord that connects the laptop to the sound system back in my room in Iganga, an hour and a half drive away. I’ve never forgotten a cord before. I had taken the cords and laptop out of the case so I could wash the case. I had to wait until the next day for the case to be thoroughly dry, then I forgot to put in the little cord! What to do? It would take too long to drive back to Iganga to get the cord. A young man named Nicolas, who was helping set up the equipment said he had a DVD player in Jinja that would work. Jinja was only about 45 minutes away so I sent Nicolas with Badilu in the truck to get it while I taught.

Godfrey translated for me as I taught the Ten Commandments, Salvation and holiness. There were only about 25 people present and most of them were children, but I taught anyway. No
one indicated they got saved today after we said the prayer together. We sang some songs while waiting for the men to return. I didn’t know if Nicolas understood what cords would be needed to connect to my machines, however, when they returned he quickly set up his DVD player and connected it to the projector and sound system. Everything worked! Thank you, Jesus! The church has 3 doors and many windows so it was hard to get it dark enough. Parts of the film were still difficult to see but more people continued to come until the crowd of 25 had grown to about 75.

During the film, Godfrey and I sat in the truck and visited. There is a private Christian school next to the church and the headmaster and deputy headmaster came to visit with us. Both of them are also pastors and want me to bring my program to their churches. Neither of their churches have a building yet. They meet under the shade trees so I told them we wouldn’t be able to show the film. They asked me if I could show it at night and I told them I couldn’t stay alone at night in their village and I can’t be on the roads after dark, so that wouldn’t be an option at this time. We had great conversation about God’s Word and what the people need to hear from the pastors. They asked me if I would come for a two or three day conference to teach if they could gather people from several churches in the area. I told them I like to teach but the problem is that people expect me to feed all the people for three days when I come and I don’t have the budget to feed everyone, so I can’t come to teach. They laughed and said that I wouldn’t have to feed everyone, but I know that is what is expected in Uganda. Instead of just being the guest speaker you become responsible financially for everything they need for the conference. I told them I can’t work with them this trip since the program is set and I leave in two weeks. I told them God knows the plans for my return, I don’t know yet. So God knows if I will be able to come to their churches in the future. It’s very hard because they will expect me to come and think I’ve made a promise to come when I haven’t made that commitment. I’m not trying to evade them but I can’t make a commitment if I don’t know if I can keep it. They asked me if my church in America believes in the gifts of the spirit including speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues, etc. I told them yes. We connected spiritually and I’d love to go to their churches. Kingdom Gospel Center has about 125 members and Miracle Center Church is a new church and has about 50 members. These churches are in their home villages not this one.

After the film, Godfrey took the microphone and had an altar call. A lady and a boy of about 10 years came forward to get saved. Then several ladies and children came for prayer for healing. One mother had a child of about 4 or 5 years who seemed to have autism. I was able to lay my hands on the child and pray while Godfrey prayed for the mother. Godfrey is an awesome evangelist! When he takes the microphone people always come forward to get saved and he doesn’t even talk very long. Thank you, Lord, for Pastor Godfrey! Glory! Two new souls snatched out of the pit of hell! Hallelujah!

I gave an elder the Bibles for the church. I had some extras with me so I gave one each to the two pastors that I had visited with. I don’t remember their names. I took pictures of the children and the ladies. One older lady invited me to come on Sunday and to spend more time with them.
Nicolas went with us as far as the round about by Jinja so he could return the DVD player. He works with a ministry called Acts Ministry Uganda. It is a group who do evangelism and outreaches to the villages. They also teach the Love Waits curriculum to the teens, which is an abstinence program. He works with the technology that’s why he knew what cords to bring and how to set everything up. Thank you, Lord, you knew I needed Nicolas today since I’d forgotten the cord. I enjoyed visiting with him in the truck. He said people don’t appreciate and take care of things that are given to them. He said he was taught how to use the EvangeCube and then became a trainer for his church. He said everyone wanted a cube but they didn’t use them for evangelism. He said, “I told them they aren’t like a flower to look at in your house, you should use them for their purpose.” He said most didn’t use them, so now he keeps the EvangeCubes and trains those who will go out evangelizing hut to hut with them. Then they have to return the cubes to him until the next outreach. He is a wise young man. I gave him two Bibles that I had with me. He will give one to another member of their group and he will keep one. He said some Bibles were once given to their church and everyone wanted one, even the people who couldn’t read. They just wanted one, but later when you went to their homes, you didn’t see the Bibles. They were either destroyed or sold. He said he was glad I wrote the church’s name in the Bibles and said they were for the church not individuals. He says what works for his church is now they charge 2,000 shillings per person who wants to use the Bible so they will take care of it and bring it back.

We left Godfrey off in another village so he could get a bicycle taxi (bodaboda) back to his village. We left Nicolas outside of Jinja and I gave him money for transportation back to his village. Badilu drove me back to Iganga and we arrived after the sun had set but we still had some daylight left. Kenneth, Susan’s brother is staying here now since school is out for the month holiday and we ate supper together. Mama Jonah had cooked rice, noodles and chicken for our supper. Susan was still out in a village and Phil is in Kampala, so it was just Kenneth and me eating together. Kenneth is a senior in high school although it is called Secondary 6 here. He speaks English fluently so we had a good discussion about the US and Uganda. When he goes to University he wants to study law, teaching or divinity. We discussed some politics, laws, lawlessness, bribery and prisons. Here when a thief is caught the people usually kill the thief or the police kill them. They don’t often live to go to court because there is so much bribery going on that the thief might not be convicted, so the police or people just kill them first. That has recently happened here in Iganga according to Kenneth. He said the jails/prisons in Uganda are very bad. Inmates get fed once a day, the beds have bedbugs that bite you all night and you have to work (digging) in the gardens all day. He said he heard the jails in America are great with lots of food and even TV. He said some Ugandans who are very poor want to break the law in America so they can go to jail and have food to eat. I doubt this can happen since people who are very poor won’t be able to get a Visa to America. He said you can get fake passports in Uganda easily and then go to the Sudan before going to America. I still doubt this can happen but I do know our jails are much better than their jails and probably our prisoners have more food than most Ugandans.

Susan returned shortly after we had finished supper, so we visited with her for a while. Now I’m journaling in the privacy of my bedroom with electricity and lights to see by. Thank you, Jesus for all the blessings of the day. Thank you for the salvation of souls! Glory!

August 11, 2009, Tuesday

I slept so well last night. I’m clean and I have a bed and a toilet too! Glory! The little things I take for granted at home, I appreciate much more here. I spent part of the day cleaning cords and machines. I went to town with Phil and Susan and was able to send some emails. I talked with Peter and Godfrey about arranging for me to go to churches starting tomorrow. I rested and enjoyed drinking cold water (Phil has a frig). We are rice, eggplant and fish for lunch. Phil left for Kampala in the late afternoon. One of the girls in his orphanage is having surgery on her leg that had a break previously but since it wasn’t set it healed crooked. She is an orphan so her uncle accompanied her to the hospital. They will return on Friday.

Student Rose and Student Sofi came by to see me. They are out of school for the holidays. Rose will be going to the village to stay with her grandmother since both of her parents are dead. She came by to talk to me about the school fees and other requirements for the next term. Rose is a boarding student in Secondary 5 at Iganga Parents Secondary School. Sofi is in Secondary 2 at New Grace and is a day student. Both girls are serious about their schooling and don’t get in trouble in school. I told both of them that I’d have to check with their teachers and check their grades before their sponsors would pay their school fees and pay for their school supplies. I gave Rose money for her transportation to her grandmother’s village. I really like both of these girls and I know they want to better themselves by getting a good education. I’m sure their grades are good, but I must hold them accountable. They each gave me a list of the requirements and supplies they would need next term.

I enjoyed the day resting, reading and cleaning things. Thank you, Lord, for the comfort of this house. Especially thank you for the island ministry team. Bless them Lord! I lift up the pastors and people who saw the Jesus film on the island villages to you Lord. Lord, send someone to disciple Pastor Michael on Simwe Island. Thank you, Lord.

August 10, 2009, Monday

This morning we were up before seven so we could eat breakfast and load the boat. I played with baby Nambozo while Grace washed clothes and Mary washed dishes and the men loaded the boat. We had tea and chappati and the last of the trail mix. We took a couple of team photos since we all have our new t-shirts on. We were on the boat by 9 a.m. for the hour boat ride to Busiro, the village on the mainland where Peter would pick me up. The water was smooth as glass this morning as I enjoyed my last boat ride. Several people joined us on the boat to go to the village because it is market day today. The team was quiet for a while because we are all sad to say goodbye and have this trip come to an end. Grace said she wanted me to live on Sigulu with her. I teased Mary and asked her if she would be having a new baby when I come next time. She laughed and indicated no because she already has 6 children. We also had a time of retelling funny parts of the trip. Grace is called Fish Eagle because she snatched some fish off of Pius plate during one of our meals. Pius and Mary hide food from each other at times. Once Pius took the last of the eggplant so that Mary didn’t get any. So Mary hid the fish from Pius and he didn’t get fish that night. They are so much fun. They tease and banter with each other in such an innocent way. They love peanut butter and I bring those small individual tubs so that I can stretch the peanut butter longer. Each breakfast we only use one tub. I don’t eat any so that there will be more for them. They take turns hiding or hogging the g-nut sauce, as they call it.
We have lots of good memories. I will miss my friends who have become my family here.
God willing, I will return in January to go to more islands with the Gospel.

At Busiro, I gave Grace some money to buy Baby Nambozo a dress. She quickly shopped while they were loading the van. She changed the baby into her new dress and brought her to me for pictures. I’ve taken lots of pictures of this precious tiny baby girl during these two weeks. She is such a good baby. She has several names: Hope, Sandy, Nambozo and another one I don’t remember. They usually call her baby Nambozo after me. Nambozo means dearly loved favorite daughter. I hugged Grace, Mary and the baby goodbye and shook Patrick’s hand. He is such a godly, kind, gentle, smart, hard working, honest man. Good men are hard to find in Uganda.

By 1 p.m. I was back at Phil’s house in Iganga, where we unloaded the van. I enjoyed showering and washing my hair! Having a toilet to set on is such a luxury! I can drink all the water I want to because I can go to the bathroom when I need to instead of taking a hike and hiding in the bushes from the children. I’m staying in a vacant room with all my things instead of sharing with Susan. I need some space and privacy. Susan is wonderful but talks on the phone or listens to music constantly and I need some quiet time alone. She understands. I cleaned and organized some things but I’ll clean the equipment tomorrow. I’ve eaten fish and rice for supper and had an orange Fanta soda along with lots of cold water.

I’m tired, but comfortable. I’m happy yet sad to not be with my island family. I’ve talked with Peter and Pastor Godfrey to arrange for me to visit churches starting on Wednesday, if possible.
Tomorrow I will clean and rest and hopefully go to the internet. Thank you, Lord, for letting us go to 7 islands and 14 villages in 15 days. Over 5000 people saw the Jesus film and we planted a new church. Many people got saved and healed and delivered. Many children learned to cheer, Jesus loves me so much and to sing “I’m a friend of God.” Glory to God in the Highest! Hallelujah to the King! Come Lord, Jesus, come!

August 10, 2009, Monday

This morning we were up before seven so we could eat breakfast and load the boat. I played with baby Nambozo while Grace washed clothes and Mary washed dishes and the men loaded the boat. We had tea and chappati and the last of the trail mix. We took a couple of team photos since we all have our new t-shirts on. We were on the boat by 9 a.m. for the hour boat ride to Busiro, the village on the mainland where Peter would pick me up. The water was smooth as glass this morning as I enjoyed my last boat ride. Several people joined us on the boat to go to the village because it is market day today. The team was quiet for a while because we are all sad to say goodbye and have this trip come to an end. Grace said she wanted me to live on Sigulu with her. I teased Mary and asked her if she would be having a new baby when I come next time. She laughed and indicated no because she already has 6 children. We also had a time of retelling funny parts of the trip. Grace is called Fish Eagle because she snatched some fish off of Pius plate during one of our meals. Pius and Mary hide food from each other at times. Once Pius took the last of the eggplant so that Mary didn’t get any. So Mary hid the fish from Pius and he didn’t get fish that night. They are so much fun. They tease and banter with each other in such an innocent way. They love peanut butter and I bring those small individual tubs so that I can stretch the peanut butter longer. Each breakfast we only use one tub. I don’t eat any so that there will be more for them. They take turns hiding or hogging the g-nut sauce, as they call it.
We have lots of good memories. I will miss my friends who have become my family here.
God willing, I will return in January to go to more islands with the Gospel.

At Busiro, I gave Grace some money to buy Baby Nambozo a dress. She quickly shopped while they were loading the van. She changed the baby into her new dress and brought her to me for pictures. I’ve taken lots of pictures of this precious tiny baby girl during these two weeks. She is such a good baby. She has several names: Hope, Sandy, Nambozo and another one I don’t remember. They usually call her baby Nambozo after me. Nambozo means dearly loved favorite daughter. I hugged Grace, Mary and the baby goodbye and shook Patrick’s hand. He is such a godly, kind, gentle, smart, hard working, honest man. Good men are hard to find in Uganda.

By 1 p.m. I was back at Phil’s house in Iganga, where we unloaded the van. I enjoyed showering and washing my hair! Having a toilet to set on is such a luxury! I can drink all the water I want to because I can go to the bathroom when I need to instead of taking a hike and hiding in the bushes from the children. I’m staying in a vacant room with all my things instead of sharing with Susan. I need some space and privacy. Susan is wonderful but talks on the phone or listens to music constantly and I need some quiet time alone. She understands. I cleaned and organized some things but I’ll clean the equipment tomorrow. I’ve eaten fish and rice for supper and had an orange Fanta soda along with lots of cold water.

I’m tired, but comfortable. I’m happy yet sad to not be with my island family. I’ve talked with Peter and Pastor Godfrey to arrange for me to visit churches starting on Wednesday, if possible.
Tomorrow I will clean and rest and hopefully go to the internet. Thank you, Lord, for letting us go to 7 islands and 14 villages in 15 days. Over 5000 people saw the Jesus film and we planted a new church. Many people got saved and healed and delivered. Many children learned to cheer, Jesus loves me so much and to sing “I’m a friend of God.” Glory to God in the Highest! Hallelujah to the King! Come Lord, Jesus, come!

August 9, 2009, Sunday

Last night when I went to bed the loud talking from the men at the bar next to our tents kept me awake. They continued for a couple of hours. Then when they were finally getting quiet the dogs started howling. There are two female, one male and about 10 pups and all howled like coyotes! They were close to our tents! Some men started yelling at the dogs and laughing.
I don’t know why the dogs barked but they settled down after a while. I finally went to sleep.

Then about 3:30 a.m. a thunder storm came. I am thankful we are in tents with all of our things and not on the boat during the storm. It seemed like it stormed about an hour. As the storm diminished, I went back to sleep. Before sunrise the people were talking again, especially the drunks, along with the crowing roosters next to the tents. I’ll be so glad to get a good night sleep in a real bed!

I’m journaling in my tent and there are no children outside chattering, only adults talking in the village. Now it is starting to rain a little again.

We had chappati, tea and some trail mix for breakfast and then started talking down the tents. The little rain hadn’t lasted long and the sky was clearing. The ground was muddy and the tents were still wet but we will set them up and clean them in Namongongo Village on Sigulu Island later today. The acting pastor never returned neither did the real pastor. There wasn’t any church service happening under the trees as the team carried things down to the boat. Pius bought a small pig from Michael and I watched him and some children chasing the pig. They finally caught it and put it into the boat. Pius also took two of the puppies. On Sigulu Island where the team lives there are lots of monkeys. They eat the people’s crops but barking dogs keep the monkeys away. Pius will use the dogs to guard his crops of matooke, tomatoes and maize.

Michael came to talk to me as I sat with the baby while the team was carrying things to the boat. I asked him if he wanted to be saved and stop drinking alcohol. At first he just laughed and walked a little ways off but then he came back. I asked him again. He said yes so I told him I would pray for him after the boat was loaded.

We gave the Books of Hope to the LC man and asked him to give one to each family. They people were excited to get some magazines about God and Jesus. Then Patrick and I accompanied Michael to his bar which had several people inside, already drinking/drunk. I preached salvation and freedom from being a slave to alcohol. Michael prayed the prayer of salvation in front of these people! Glory! The Lord impressed me to anoint him for God’s service as a pastor of this new church because God already had him preaching to the people last night and this morning! I anointed him with oil and told him that in the Bible God would send a prophet to anoint a priest or a king for his service and that God told me to anoint him as pastor of this new church. As I prayed for Michael and gave him words from God, his eyes filled with tears and his countenance changed! He is a new creation. The old man is gone. He is a new creation in Christ! Hallelujah! I prayed for the bar to be the new church and for Michael as the new pastor. Several people inside then said they wanted to be saved too, so I invited them outside. Two men and three ladies got saved! One of the men asked me to pray for him so he would stop drinking, which I did. Glory to God! The man is set free. He was so happy. He was praising God with his hands up and joy on his face! Michael came to the shore with us and Patrick got the two Bibles that we would have given to the other pastor and I wrote the name of the new church inside, Simwe Church, and gave them to Pastor Michael. I told him to start teaching the people with the book of John, so we marked that place and Pastor Michael said he would. He said he needs us to come back and check on him. He needs discipling and encouragement.

As we pulled away from the shore, I was overcome with joy! A very small island with one small very poor village now has a church, a pastor, Bibles, the Book of Hope and the people have seen the Jesus film. Glory to God! What an awesome Sunday morning. I was singing praised to God for the 1.5 hour boat ride back to Sigulu Island.

These past two weeks have been very difficult, but so rewarding. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people.

At Namogongo Village, Pius, Patrick and Mary washed the tents, cots, dishes and plastic boxes while Grace took care of the baby and cooked lunch. I helped with the baby and greeted children and adults. Since I’ve been in this village many times, lots of people come by to say hello to me. I visited with Silas, the teenage boy who helped us last time. I gave him a team t-shirt and some pictures. He was very proud and happy. I visited with Ruth, Patrick’s first wife and also gave her a t-shirt. She has to stay at home with the children and run the store while Patrick is with the team. I’m sure it’s difficult for her since Grace is the second wife and she has Patrick’s new baby girl. I brought all three ladies: Grace, Ruth and Mary, small bottles of shampoo from the US. They were happy to get it and I know Ruth appreciated me including her.

We had lunch of posho, spaghetti and eggplant. I was able to take a shower with the wash basin in a vacant room and I felt like a new person to be clean again. I had hoped to take a nap but the baby was sleeping on the single bed in the room with several large sacks of corn and most of our things, so there was no room on the bed or the floor for a nap. At least there is an outhouse close to the area where the room is and where we were eating. Grace smoked the fish we bought on Simwe Island for Susan.

We showed the Jesus film outside of the Baptist Church where Pastor John is still pasturing. About 250 people came to see it in Swahili. I enjoyed the brilliant starlight with lightening in the distance as I worshiped and prayed. The Lord, gave me another shooting star, a little kiss from My Lord and Savior. I’ve shown the film in this village about 6 times now and people still want to see it again. After the film we had supper of rice and chicken. Patrick got us a chicken for supper which was a welcome change from fish. Grace and the baby slept on the floor in the small room while I slept on the bed. I went to sleep quickly since it was dark, quiet and comfortable. Thank you, Lord for an awesome day!

August 9, 2009, Sunday

Last night when I went to bed the loud talking from the men at the bar next to our tents kept me awake. They continued for a couple of hours. Then when they were finally getting quiet the dogs started howling. There are two female, one male and about 10 pups and all howled like coyotes! They were close to our tents! Some men started yelling at the dogs and laughing.
I don’t know why the dogs barked but they settled down after a while. I finally went to sleep.

Then about 3:30 a.m. a thunder storm came. I am thankful we are in tents with all of our things and not on the boat during the storm. It seemed like it stormed about an hour. As the storm diminished, I went back to sleep. Before sunrise the people were talking again, especially the drunks, along with the crowing roosters next to the tents. I’ll be so glad to get a good night sleep in a real bed!

I’m journaling in my tent and there are no children outside chattering, only adults talking in the village. Now it is starting to rain a little again.

We had chappati, tea and some trail mix for breakfast and then started talking down the tents. The little rain hadn’t lasted long and the sky was clearing. The ground was muddy and the tents were still wet but we will set them up and clean them in Namongongo Village on Sigulu Island later today. The acting pastor never returned neither did the real pastor. There wasn’t any church service happening under the trees as the team carried things down to the boat. Pius bought a small pig from Michael and I watched him and some children chasing the pig. They finally caught it and put it into the boat. Pius also took two of the puppies. On Sigulu Island where the team lives there are lots of monkeys. They eat the people’s crops but barking dogs keep the monkeys away. Pius will use the dogs to guard his crops of matooke, tomatoes and maize.

Michael came to talk to me as I sat with the baby while the team was carrying things to the boat. I asked him if he wanted to be saved and stop drinking alcohol. At first he just laughed and walked a little ways off but then he came back. I asked him again. He said yes so I told him I would pray for him after the boat was loaded.

We gave the Books of Hope to the LC man and asked him to give one to each family. They people were excited to get some magazines about God and Jesus. Then Patrick and I accompanied Michael to his bar which had several people inside, already drinking/drunk. I preached salvation and freedom from being a slave to alcohol. Michael prayed the prayer of salvation in front of these people! Glory! The Lord impressed me to anoint him for God’s service as a pastor of this new church because God already had him preaching to the people last night and this morning! I anointed him with oil and told him that in the Bible God would send a prophet to anoint a priest or a king for his service and that God told me to anoint him as pastor of this new church. As I prayed for Michael and gave him words from God, his eyes filled with tears and his countenance changed! He is a new creation. The old man is gone. He is a new creation in Christ! Hallelujah! I prayed for the bar to be the new church and for Michael as the new pastor. Several people inside then said they wanted to be saved too, so I invited them outside. Two men and three ladies got saved! One of the men asked me to pray for him so he would stop drinking, which I did. Glory to God! The man is set free. He was so happy. He was praising God with his hands up and joy on his face! Michael came to the shore with us and Patrick got the two Bibles that we would have given to the other pastor and I wrote the name of the new church inside, Simwe Church, and gave them to Pastor Michael. I told him to start teaching the people with the book of John, so we marked that place and Pastor Michael said he would. He said he needs us to come back and check on him. He needs discipling and encouragement.

As we pulled away from the shore, I was overcome with joy! A very small island with one small very poor village now has a church, a pastor, Bibles, the Book of Hope and the people have seen the Jesus film. Glory to God! What an awesome Sunday morning. I was singing praised to God for the 1.5 hour boat ride back to Sigulu Island.

These past two weeks have been very difficult, but so rewarding. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people.

At Namogongo Village, Pius, Patrick and Mary washed the tents, cots, dishes and plastic boxes while Grace took care of the baby and cooked lunch. I helped with the baby and greeted children and adults. Since I’ve been in this village many times, lots of people come by to say hello to me. I visited with Silas, the teenage boy who helped us last time. I gave him a team t-shirt and some pictures. He was very proud and happy. I visited with Ruth, Patrick’s first wife and also gave her a t-shirt. She has to stay at home with the children and run the store while Patrick is with the team. I’m sure it’s difficult for her since Grace is the second wife and she has Patrick’s new baby girl. I brought all three ladies: Grace, Ruth and Mary, small bottles of shampoo from the US. They were happy to get it and I know Ruth appreciated me including her.

We had lunch of posho, spaghetti and eggplant. I was able to take a shower with the wash basin in a vacant room and I felt like a new person to be clean again. I had hoped to take a nap but the baby was sleeping on the single bed in the room with several large sacks of corn and most of our things, so there was no room on the bed or the floor for a nap. At least there is an outhouse close to the area where the room is and where we were eating. Grace smoked the fish we bought on Simwe Island for Susan.

We showed the Jesus film outside of the Baptist Church where Pastor John is still pasturing. About 250 people came to see it in Swahili. I enjoyed the brilliant starlight with lightening in the distance as I worshiped and prayed. The Lord, gave me another shooting star, a little kiss from My Lord and Savior. I’ve shown the film in this village about 6 times now and people still want to see it again. After the film we had supper of rice and chicken. Patrick got us a chicken for supper which was a welcome change from fish. Grace and the baby slept on the floor in the small room while I slept on the bed. I went to sleep quickly since it was dark, quiet and comfortable. Thank you, Lord for an awesome day!

August 9, 2009, Sunday

Last night when I went to bed the loud talking from the men at the bar next to our tents kept me awake. They continued for a couple of hours. Then when they were finally getting quiet the dogs started howling. There are two female, one male and about 10 pups and all howled like coyotes! They were close to our tents! Some men started yelling at the dogs and laughing.
I don’t know why the dogs barked but they settled down after a while. I finally went to sleep.

Then about 3:30 a.m. a thunder storm came. I am thankful we are in tents with all of our things and not on the boat during the storm. It seemed like it stormed about an hour. As the storm diminished, I went back to sleep. Before sunrise the people were talking again, especially the drunks, along with the crowing roosters next to the tents. I’ll be so glad to get a good night sleep in a real bed!

I’m journaling in my tent and there are no children outside chattering, only adults talking in the village. Now it is starting to rain a little again.

We had chappati, tea and some trail mix for breakfast and then started talking down the tents. The little rain hadn’t lasted long and the sky was clearing. The ground was muddy and the tents were still wet but we will set them up and clean them in Namongongo Village on Sigulu Island later today. The acting pastor never returned neither did the real pastor. There wasn’t any church service happening under the trees as the team carried things down to the boat. Pius bought a small pig from Michael and I watched him and some children chasing the pig. They finally caught it and put it into the boat. Pius also took two of the puppies. On Sigulu Island where the team lives there are lots of monkeys. They eat the people’s crops but barking dogs keep the monkeys away. Pius will use the dogs to guard his crops of matooke, tomatoes and maize.

Michael came to talk to me as I sat with the baby while the team was carrying things to the boat. I asked him if he wanted to be saved and stop drinking alcohol. At first he just laughed and walked a little ways off but then he came back. I asked him again. He said yes so I told him I would pray for him after the boat was loaded.

We gave the Books of Hope to the LC man and asked him to give one to each family. They people were excited to get some magazines about God and Jesus. Then Patrick and I accompanied Michael to his bar which had several people inside, already drinking/drunk. I preached salvation and freedom from being a slave to alcohol. Michael prayed the prayer of salvation in front of these people! Glory! The Lord impressed me to anoint him for God’s service as a pastor of this new church because God already had him preaching to the people last night and this morning! I anointed him with oil and told him that in the Bible God would send a prophet to anoint a priest or a king for his service and that God told me to anoint him as pastor of this new church. As I prayed for Michael and gave him words from God, his eyes filled with tears and his countenance changed! He is a new creation. The old man is gone. He is a new creation in Christ! Hallelujah! I prayed for the bar to be the new church and for Michael as the new pastor. Several people inside then said they wanted to be saved too, so I invited them outside. Two men and three ladies got saved! One of the men asked me to pray for him so he would stop drinking, which I did. Glory to God! The man is set free. He was so happy. He was praising God with his hands up and joy on his face! Michael came to the shore with us and Patrick got the two Bibles that we would have given to the other pastor and I wrote the name of the new church inside, Simwe Church, and gave them to Pastor Michael. I told him to start teaching the people with the book of John, so we marked that place and Pastor Michael said he would. He said he needs us to come back and check on him. He needs discipling and encouragement.

As we pulled away from the shore, I was overcome with joy! A very small island with one small very poor village now has a church, a pastor, Bibles, the Book of Hope and the people have seen the Jesus film. Glory to God! What an awesome Sunday morning. I was singing praised to God for the 1.5 hour boat ride back to Sigulu Island.

These past two weeks have been very difficult, but so rewarding. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people.

At Namogongo Village, Pius, Patrick and Mary washed the tents, cots, dishes and plastic boxes while Grace took care of the baby and cooked lunch. I helped with the baby and greeted children and adults. Since I’ve been in this village many times, lots of people come by to say hello to me. I visited with Silas, the teenage boy who helped us last time. I gave him a team t-shirt and some pictures. He was very proud and happy. I visited with Ruth, Patrick’s first wife and also gave her a t-shirt. She has to stay at home with the children and run the store while Patrick is with the team. I’m sure it’s difficult for her since Grace is the second wife and she has Patrick’s new baby girl. I brought all three ladies: Grace, Ruth and Mary, small bottles of shampoo from the US. They were happy to get it and I know Ruth appreciated me including her.

We had lunch of posho, spaghetti and eggplant. I was able to take a shower with the wash basin in a vacant room and I felt like a new person to be clean again. I had hoped to take a nap but the baby was sleeping on the single bed in the room with several large sacks of corn and most of our things, so there was no room on the bed or the floor for a nap. At least there is an outhouse close to the area where the room is and where we were eating. Grace smoked the fish we bought on Simwe Island for Susan.

We showed the Jesus film outside of the Baptist Church where Pastor John is still pasturing. About 250 people came to see it in Swahili. I enjoyed the brilliant starlight with lightening in the distance as I worshiped and prayed. The Lord, gave me another shooting star, a little kiss from My Lord and Savior. I’ve shown the film in this village about 6 times now and people still want to see it again. After the film we had supper of rice and chicken. Patrick got us a chicken for supper which was a welcome change from fish. Grace and the baby slept on the floor in the small room while I slept on the bed. I went to sleep quickly since it was dark, quiet and comfortable. Thank you, Lord for an awesome day!

August 9, 2009, Sunday

Last night when I went to bed the loud talking from the men at the bar next to our tents kept me awake. They continued for a couple of hours. Then when they were finally getting quiet the dogs started howling. There are two female, one male and about 10 pups and all howled like coyotes! They were close to our tents! Some men started yelling at the dogs and laughing.
I don’t know why the dogs barked but they settled down after a while. I finally went to sleep.

Then about 3:30 a.m. a thunder storm came. I am thankful we are in tents with all of our things and not on the boat during the storm. It seemed like it stormed about an hour. As the storm diminished, I went back to sleep. Before sunrise the people were talking again, especially the drunks, along with the crowing roosters next to the tents. I’ll be so glad to get a good night sleep in a real bed!

I’m journaling in my tent and there are no children outside chattering, only adults talking in the village. Now it is starting to rain a little again.

We had chappati, tea and some trail mix for breakfast and then started talking down the tents. The little rain hadn’t lasted long and the sky was clearing. The ground was muddy and the tents were still wet but we will set them up and clean them in Namongongo Village on Sigulu Island later today. The acting pastor never returned neither did the real pastor. There wasn’t any church service happening under the trees as the team carried things down to the boat. Pius bought a small pig from Michael and I watched him and some children chasing the pig. They finally caught it and put it into the boat. Pius also took two of the puppies. On Sigulu Island where the team lives there are lots of monkeys. They eat the people’s crops but barking dogs keep the monkeys away. Pius will use the dogs to guard his crops of matooke, tomatoes and maize.

Michael came to talk to me as I sat with the baby while the team was carrying things to the boat. I asked him if he wanted to be saved and stop drinking alcohol. At first he just laughed and walked a little ways off but then he came back. I asked him again. He said yes so I told him I would pray for him after the boat was loaded.

We gave the Books of Hope to the LC man and asked him to give one to each family. They people were excited to get some magazines about God and Jesus. Then Patrick and I accompanied Michael to his bar which had several people inside, already drinking/drunk. I preached salvation and freedom from being a slave to alcohol. Michael prayed the prayer of salvation in front of these people! Glory! The Lord impressed me to anoint him for God’s service as a pastor of this new church because God already had him preaching to the people last night and this morning! I anointed him with oil and told him that in the Bible God would send a prophet to anoint a priest or a king for his service and that God told me to anoint him as pastor of this new church. As I prayed for Michael and gave him words from God, his eyes filled with tears and his countenance changed! He is a new creation. The old man is gone. He is a new creation in Christ! Hallelujah! I prayed for the bar to be the new church and for Michael as the new pastor. Several people inside then said they wanted to be saved too, so I invited them outside. Two men and three ladies got saved! One of the men asked me to pray for him so he would stop drinking, which I did. Glory to God! The man is set free. He was so happy. He was praising God with his hands up and joy on his face! Michael came to the shore with us and Patrick got the two Bibles that we would have given to the other pastor and I wrote the name of the new church inside, Simwe Church, and gave them to Pastor Michael. I told him to start teaching the people with the book of John, so we marked that place and Pastor Michael said he would. He said he needs us to come back and check on him. He needs discipling and encouragement.

As we pulled away from the shore, I was overcome with joy! A very small island with one small very poor village now has a church, a pastor, Bibles, the Book of Hope and the people have seen the Jesus film. Glory to God! What an awesome Sunday morning. I was singing praised to God for the 1.5 hour boat ride back to Sigulu Island.

These past two weeks have been very difficult, but so rewarding. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people.

At Namogongo Village, Pius, Patrick and Mary washed the tents, cots, dishes and plastic boxes while Grace took care of the baby and cooked lunch. I helped with the baby and greeted children and adults. Since I’ve been in this village many times, lots of people come by to say hello to me. I visited with Silas, the teenage boy who helped us last time. I gave him a team t-shirt and some pictures. He was very proud and happy. I visited with Ruth, Patrick’s first wife and also gave her a t-shirt. She has to stay at home with the children and run the store while Patrick is with the team. I’m sure it’s difficult for her since Grace is the second wife and she has Patrick’s new baby girl. I brought all three ladies: Grace, Ruth and Mary, small bottles of shampoo from the US. They were happy to get it and I know Ruth appreciated me including her.

We had lunch of posho, spaghetti and eggplant. I was able to take a shower with the wash basin in a vacant room and I felt like a new person to be clean again. I had hoped to take a nap but the baby was sleeping on the single bed in the room with several large sacks of corn and most of our things, so there was no room on the bed or the floor for a nap. At least there is an outhouse close to the area where the room is and where we were eating. Grace smoked the fish we bought on Simwe Island for Susan.

We showed the Jesus film outside of the Baptist Church where Pastor John is still pasturing. About 250 people came to see it in Swahili. I enjoyed the brilliant starlight with lightening in the distance as I worshiped and prayed. The Lord, gave me another shooting star, a little kiss from My Lord and Savior. I’ve shown the film in this village about 6 times now and people still want to see it again. After the film we had supper of rice and chicken. Patrick got us a chicken for supper which was a welcome change from fish. Grace and the baby slept on the floor in the small room while I slept on the bed. I went to sleep quickly since it was dark, quiet and comfortable. Thank you, Lord for an awesome day!

August 8, 2009, Saturday

I slept well last night. This morning the chattering of the children outside of the church woke most of us up by 7 a.m. I’m hiding in my tent again journaling. While doing this I heard several children wailing loudly and then the children weren’t by the church any longer. Patrick told me later that a lady with a cane came and caned the children and told them to go away from the church. Of course, after a while, they gradually returned or maybe it was a different set of children.

We ate chappati and tea for breakfast. I brought out the bag of trail mix that I’ve kept in my duffle bag. The team always enjoys this and it’s a nice treat at the end of the trip. We took down tents and organized. Pastor Michael came and we gave him the Bibles and the Book of Hope.
Some adults from the church and some children helped carry everything through the village down to the beach. A large group of children gathered behind me and accompanied me to the shore. While they loaded the boat, I led the kids in the cheer and song again. Then we all waved goodbye to each other as the boat pulled away.

There is a Jagusi Village #5 but we aren’t going there since there is no church and it is all Muslim. Today we traveled about 45 minutes to the small island of Simwe which has only one village called Simwe. When we arrived Patrick went to find the pastor and LC. They returned shortly. The man acting as pastor while the head pastor is on the mainland greeted us as did the LC and the BMU man. Several men, one woman and a couple of children helped us carry our things. This small village has only about 70 people and the LC said some have gone to other areas since the fishing here isn’t good. There is no church building but they recently started a church. We set the tents under the shadows of a large tree and put all of our things inside.

Only about 10 children greeted me for bongaing. A lady that spoke of English conversed with me. As the ladies cooked lunch, I rested under the tree at first but moved into my tent because a man and woman where have a shouting argument close to me. The breeze was cool in the tent so I took a nap and then read a book. #9 lying! We signed in with the LC who was sober and nice.
Then we signed in with the Michael, the BMU, who had been drinking! Another man who had been drinking haselled me for help for this poor village! Jessica asked for a Bible and she asked what I was going to give to the village. I told her I brought the Jesus film and that is all I give in the villages. I found out the shouting was because Michael, the BMU, had taken some fish from a child and the mother was shouting at him. Patrick or Grace had expressed our desire to buy some fish and I think Michael took the fish from the child in hopes of selling it to us! Michael is a joker (con man) and a drunk.

Needless to say, I didn’t get to teach today. Despite that, the whether was cool and pleasant and I got to teach the small group of children the cheer and song. The adults said the children had never seen a muzungu before. At dusk we step up the equipment and about 45 people watched it. This was our smallest crowd but this is also the smallest village and almost everyone in the village came. Michael, the BMU man, sat with Pius on the bench by the machines. The LC spoke with the microphone before and after the film. The team introduced themselves with the microphone too. After the film, I had Patrick invite people to be saved but no one responded.
As we were eating supper of rice, some men were talking loudly in the nearby hut. Patrick said that is the bar and those are the drinking men but they are discussing the film and Jesus! Glory! They have never seen this film before and the LC told Patrick it was very good for them to see it because maybe now some of them will stop their bad ways and be better people. As we ate supper the drinking men continued to discuss Jesus. Michael, who is the owner of the bar, was telling them that they need to go to church and pray in the morning before they go fishing so that God can bless their fishing. They continued to discuss loudly as we continued eating. Thank you, Jesus. I pray all will be saved! I told Patrick that most of this trip has been breaking up hard ground for planting the seed of the Word of God. We have been obedient to take the Gospel and God is in charge of the results. My heart was sad that they didn’t receive Jesus tonight because I don’t want any of them to end up in hell. I’m thankful for the film and believe they will continue thinking about Jesus.

As I laid down to sleep, I could still hear the men talking loudly. I’m looking forward to returning to Sigulu tomorrow where I can bathe and rest before going back to the mainland on Monday. We’ve spent 13 days in the tents and I’m ready to be clean and to rest well at night.
Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to take the Gospel to these villages.

August 6, 2009, Thursday

Thank you, Lord for a good night’s sleep and no rain on the tents! I woke about 7 p.m. The children are outside the fence by my tent waiting for me to come out. I’m hiding inside while I journal. I thank the Lord for yesterday, for so many people seeing the film, for the good night’s sleep and the surprises of this new day. God’s mercy is new every morning! He has the plans!

After having breakfast of bread and tea, we started organizing and taking down the tents.
Pastor Michael came this morning and we had a chance to visit. He pastors the mother church of the one in this village. He lives here but pastors at village #5 which we will be at tomorrow.
I asked him about the pastor of this village and Pastor Godfrey was out of town yesterday but is back today. I asked him to have Godfrey come because I wanted to give him the Bibles and Books of Hope. Godfrey and his wife Martha came. They were very appreciative of the Bibles and the Book of Hope. Martha teaches the children. They have about 30 families in the church. These gifts were an encouragement to them. I expressed my disappointment at not getting to teach today. Pastor A said he didn’t know about my teaching or he would have arranged. That’s a #9, lie. Patrick told him a month ago when he arranged for us to come and I told him yesterday when we arrived and were sitting in the LC’s office. He said he would arrange for me to teach at his church tomorrow. He said he had talked to the Pastor of the church were we are going today and he is prepared for us. I asked him to call the pastor to arrange for my teaching. In front of me he called the pastor and said he would arrange for the teaching.

The pastors, children and some men helped us carry everything to the boat. It was a short distance, about 15 minutes to Jagusi #4 Village. We expected to be greeted by the pastor and have some helpers to carry the things. Patrick went ashore to find the pastor when he didn’t meet us at the landing. Many children greeted us and I replied from the boat. When Patrick returned he said the pastor wasn’t in the village today! Patrick went to check in with the LC and see where we could set up our tents. When he returned the children and one man helped us carry the things up hill to the yard of the LC. Thank you, Jesus, for a large shade tree to set the tents up under. It seems the church is very far to walk to with all our things and is probably locked since the pastor isn’t here! #9 #9 #9 Lying seems to be the problem. I forgive and release the pastors who lied to me today.

I was able to interact with the large group of children, about 40, who had gathered around me. I taught them the cheer in three languages and the song, “I’m a friend of God,” in two languages as the men set up camp and the ladies started cooking. I asked the children to sing to me and they were delighted to sing me the national anthem and school song along with a couple of others. After a time of doing this, I dismissed them to there homes for lunch and I rested on my cot for a while in the shade with a cool breeze. This place is so much cooler than yesterday’s campsite, which was so hot with very little shade.

When I took a hike to make a short call in the bushes, I walked past an area used for witchcraft. There were a couple of cow horns set up with a rock and some pots in such a way that looked like an altar. I did some spiritual warfare and continued to the bushes. Most of the villages don’t have toilets, people just go to the bushes. Imagine a thousand people defecating wherever they can find a spot away from their houses. Yuck! I have to be careful where I walk! Maybe that’s why things are so fertile here! For urination after dark, people just go anywhere. During the film showings men and children will walk away from the group just far enough into the darkness to go unnoticed and urinate. Then they rejoin the group. When I go to the bushes, I have one of the ladies stop the children from following me. I have had them follow me and share the information that I was using the toilet with their friends! I’ll be happy to have some privacy again when I go back to the mainland.

A lady from the church where we were supposed to be came to say she was organizing people for me to teach. Patrick told her when the people had gathered we would come. Meanwhile we ate lunch about 3 p.m. of spaghetti, posho and fish. I tried to rest again and read a book but the children were back from their lunch and talking to me. I ignored them and continued to read. A boy of about 9 ran up to me and grabbed my leg and then ran off laughing. He had been laughing inappropriately before with a mocking spirit. I fussed at the children to go away, but of course they didn’t. Patrick came with another pastor. Pastor Frederick’s pastor’s Deliverance Church and said he would arrange for me to teach. The lady who was supposed to be arranging for the original church came up and there was some discussion where I was to teach. They agreed to join their groups. As Patrick went to check out this church, I went into my tent to change into a skirt for teaching and to get my things for teaching. The children were just outside so I zipped my door and window closed so I could change clothes. As I did so, a child threw a rock at my tent door! I thought it probably was the obnoxious one who had grabbed my leg.
After changing when I came out of the tent, I fussed at that boy, but the group indicated it was a different boy and pointed him out. The boy left the group as they pointed him out.

After a while Patrick returned and I walked with him accompanied by about 50 children. Once Patrick told me to wait as he went ahead, so I took that time to do the cheer and some songs with the kids again. Then we proceeded to a small area between two rows of houses where chairs were brought out and a table placed before me so I could teach. After praying and singing, I was able to teach the Ten Commandments. It was already 5:30 when I started so I couldn’t teach everything I usually teach. The teaching had to be translated twice into Swahili and Luganda since people on these islands are a mixture from those two backgrounds. We ended with the children and adults singing “I’m a friend of God.” A young adult man assisted with the Bible reading and the translating into Luganda. He has a rebellious, unteachable spirit. When he couldn’t find the book of Deuteronomy, Patrick tried to help him but the man insisted it was in the New Testament! When we told him to read one verse, he’d read two! Language wasn’t a problem since Patrick was the one giving the instructions! After teaching, there was some discussion about where to set up for the film. This young man started telling me what to do and how to do it! I told me we knew what to do and that Patrick and the men would decide. This young man reminds me of Charles, a translator I had last summer.

We set up in a large open area and before we could start the generator we already had about a hundred people. Pastor Frederick invited the people with the microphone and then we played music for a while. I’ve been showing Luganda translation for the last several nights but tonight we showed Swahili. The crowd grew and grew until I estimated about 600-700 people! Glory to God! Thank you, Lord, for Pastor Frederick!
Shortly after the film started, the young translator, came to me asking for Bibles. I firmly told him no. After he left, Patrick shared that the man told him at 7 p.m. that he was supposed to take us to the pastor’s house up from the village. Patrick told him if he was to meet us and take us to the pastor’s home, it was too late now. We’d been here since noon and we weren’t moving our things now. #9 LYING If the pastor had told him to meet us, he didn’t. The pastor is out of town so why would we go to his house when he isn’t there! The man said we were staying in a bad place. The LC’s brother is a witchdoctor and does his witchcraft where we are staying. Patrick told him we were not moving tonight. The man insisted but Patrick was firm. Patrick said he learned from the lady who was trying to arrange for the teaching that the Pastor went to the church we were at two days ago for prayer and fasting!

Regardless of the lying and drama with the pastor and the translator, many people saw the Jesus film. I was able to worship and do spiritual warfare during the film. I praise God for the film and the opportunity that these people have to know and receive Jesus. After the film Pastor Frederick talked to the people and invited those who wanted to be saved to come forward for prayer. He gave me the microphone so we could start taking down the equipment. Then someone threw a hand full of dirt/gravel at us and the machines. The pastor got distracted by this incident and tried to find the person who was running away. Of course, I didn’t understand that the people were waiting to be prayed for because I was putting away the machines. I don’t know if the Pastor got to pray with them or not. Patrick shared later that the children had said some of the boys are really bad. They won’t behave in school or respect the adults. However, most of the children were delightful and happy to cheer and sing with me.

We ate beans and rice by the full moonlight before going to bed about 11 p.m. I did some praying about sleeping in the enemy’s camp. God is always faithful. Greater is He who is in us that he who is in the world. I’m grateful that I got to teach today and interact with the children. I’m thankful that so many people saw the film and that God brought Pastor Frederick to help us.
I plan to give him the Bibles and Books of Hope tomorrow.