jubilee missions

August 5, 2009, Wednesday

It rained a little during the night but I slept very well. Talking children, walking past the church to go to school awakened me about 7 p.m. It’s now 9 a.m. and I’ve been journaling in my tent. Children have gathered outside the church and have been singing this morning. What a delightful sound is the sweet voices of children singing about Jesus. Thank you, Lord for a good night’s sleep.

After breakfast of chappati and tea, we took down the tents and organized the things. Pastor Godfrey came and I gave him 4 Bibles and 50 Books of Hope. He was very happy about so many people getting saved last night and now receiving these. He said he started the church about two years ago. Although he said the church didn’t have a name he said it is Evangelical Church. I gave him words of encouragement for pasturing the flock here.

Although the church had a place in the back for a short call (urinating), I had to hike to the top of the hill to the public toilets. The view from the top included the lake, the village and the mainland town of Bwonja in Mayugi District. Pastor brought some helpers and very quickly all of our things were down the hill, through the village and on the boat. The children bongaed with me and we said the Jesus cheer together at the beach. Several people, including the pastor and a man with a boat motor accompanied us to the next village. The boat ride took only about 10 minutes to Musoma Village on this same island of Jagusi. Patrick quickly found the Pastor Michael meet under a tree. Pastor arranged for us to put up our tents in a man’s yard who has put up a privacy fence made of old boat boards. The fence has gaps large enough for children to come through and they came through to watch us. It is very hot without much shade in the yard. The tents are in the full sun and since we arrived about noon the fence and houses didn’t give much shade. I found a short bush like tree and put a black piece of fabric under it so I could rest in the shade. The largest area of shade was used for a cot for the baby to sleep on since it was much too hot in the tents. About 3:30 we ate lunch of spaghetti, cabbage, eggplant, posho and pineapple. When the team was playing Skippo and I was sitting in the shade, the children were hanging on the fence and through the fence. The man who owns this yard and fence came out and yelled at the children to get away. He had a knife in his hand and he threw it at a child on the other side of the fence. Immediately a child was crying! The man went back into his house and the child continued to cry. I was in shock that he would throw a knife at the children. After a few minutes the child stopped crying and a parent never came to complain.

Patrick and I walked with the Pastor through the village to sign in with the LC and BMU. We also looked for a place to show the film. This village doesn’t have a large grassy area for drying fish since they don’t fish for those kinds. Grace and I visited with pastor’s wife, Sara, in their house. They have three children who ride in the boat to the mainland daily to go to school. The island government school is too far for them to walk. Patrick took a boat taxi to the mainland to buy fish, sugar, oleo, bread, soap and veggies. There’s a boat leaving hourly to transport people and goods back and forth. I had hoped to teach today, but Pastor had an errand to do on the mainland and since there was no church and no people, I didn’t get to teach again. I rested and read a book in the shade for a while. About an hour before setting up the film, I started interacting with the children more. I bongaed with them. They sang to me and I sang some songs for them. I recorded some of their singing and let them see and listen to themselves on my camera. They followed me like I was the pied piper to the area where we set up.

We set the film in a small area within the village. The Pastor spoke and the BMU man, who had the pastor read three different scriptures before the film. The LC is a Muslim but told the people that everyone is following Jesus and they should watch the film and not disturb. During the film I visited with Patrick about this trip to the islands. For me it has been the hardest trip in several ways: spiritual opposition is strong; pastors aren’t interested in our being here; pastors don’t arrange for me to teach; we’ve had to sleep outside in tents with all of our things crowded in the tents with us for the majority of the nights; I’ve been concerned about Grace working so hard after just having a baby; we haven’t had the third man to help with the boat and carrying things; many times there is no one to help the team carry things. Patrick said he thinks this is the hardest also, because when he was arranging the schedule with the pastors so weren’t interested, some changed there minds and he had to make two trips to some of the islands to finalize the schedule then when he rearranged the schedule to accommodate them, they still aren’t interested in us when we come (except for three pastors who were very accommodating) Only 3 out of 11 pastors showed enough interest in our visit to arrange for me to teach.

On the positive side, except for one night of a slight rain, the weather has been perfect and there aren’t swarms of lake flies like in January. The team has worked well together. The baby has been perfect! No one has broken the boat motor because Patrick sleeps with it in his tent every night! We’ve had plenty of good food and good health. The people come to see the film by the hundreds even when we have no church or pastor to host us. Glory to God! People are being saved and discipled. This trip we are plowing up hard ground in many places, but it is all part of God’s plan.

This pastor said he had seen us on Yebbi Island in January and had wanted us to bring our program here but didn’t know how to contact us. God knew our plans and God arranged it! He said that his church and the one in village #3 are church plants of the mother church in another village on this island. Praise God! They are into evangelism and church planting! That’s why they are just called Evangelical Church (a denomination) and don’t have a specific name.

About 250 people watched the film. Two drunken men joined during the second half and started talking loudly. After binding those demons, in Jesus’ name, they settled down and were quiet for the remainder of the film. I’m believing for all the people who see the film to be saved if they aren’t already. Since most people don’t have Bibles, I’m believing for the film to teach them much about Jesus. For the children, I’m believing that they will always remember seeing Jesus in the film and grow up to be mighty men and women of God! During the film, the full moon was bright and the Lord gave me another “shooting star” as a little kiss from him. I’m in His will even when it seems things aren’t as planned.

After the film the Pastor and the LC spoke again. They didn’t ask anyone to come forward for the salvation prayer. After putting everything in the tents we had supper of chadda, fish and rice. I was able to shower in the short call place, which is awfully dirty but I stand in a wash basin and don’t let my feet touch the ground. The neighbor had a radio on when we went to bed about 11 p.m. but I put in my ear plugs and went to sleep quickly.

August 5, 2009, Wednesday

It rained a little during the night but I slept very well. Talking children, walking past the church to go to school awakened me about 7 p.m. It’s now 9 a.m. and I’ve been journaling in my tent. Children have gathered outside the church and have been singing this morning. What a delightful sound is the sweet voices of children singing about Jesus. Thank you, Lord for a good night’s sleep.

After breakfast of chappati and tea, we took down the tents and organized the things. Pastor Godfrey came and I gave him 4 Bibles and 50 Books of Hope. He was very happy about so many people getting saved last night and now receiving these. He said he started the church about two years ago. Although he said the church didn’t have a name he said it is Evangelical Church. I gave him words of encouragement for pasturing the flock here.

Although the church had a place in the back for a short call (urinating), I had to hike to the top of the hill to the public toilets. The view from the top included the lake, the village and the mainland town of Bwonja in Mayugi District. Pastor brought some helpers and very quickly all of our things were down the hill, through the village and on the boat. The children bongaed with me and we said the Jesus cheer together at the beach. Several people, including the pastor and a man with a boat motor accompanied us to the next village. The boat ride took only about 10 minutes to Musoma Village on this same island of Jagusi. Patrick quickly found the Pastor Michael meet under a tree. Pastor arranged for us to put up our tents in a man’s yard who has put up a privacy fence made of old boat boards. The fence has gaps large enough for children to come through and they came through to watch us. It is very hot without much shade in the yard. The tents are in the full sun and since we arrived about noon the fence and houses didn’t give much shade. I found a short bush like tree and put a black piece of fabric under it so I could rest in the shade. The largest area of shade was used for a cot for the baby to sleep on since it was much too hot in the tents. About 3:30 we ate lunch of spaghetti, cabbage, eggplant, posho and pineapple. When the team was playing Skippo and I was sitting in the shade, the children were hanging on the fence and through the fence. The man who owns this yard and fence came out and yelled at the children to get away. He had a knife in his hand and he threw it at a child on the other side of the fence. Immediately a child was crying! The man went back into his house and the child continued to cry. I was in shock that he would throw a knife at the children. After a few minutes the child stopped crying and a parent never came to complain.

Patrick and I walked with the Pastor through the village to sign in with the LC and BMU. We also looked for a place to show the film. This village doesn’t have a large grassy area for drying fish since they don’t fish for those kinds. Grace and I visited with pastor’s wife, Sara, in their house. They have three children who ride in the boat to the mainland daily to go to school. The island government school is too far for them to walk. Patrick took a boat taxi to the mainland to buy fish, sugar, oleo, bread, soap and veggies. There’s a boat leaving hourly to transport people and goods back and forth. I had hoped to teach today, but Pastor had an errand to do on the mainland and since there was no church and no people, I didn’t get to teach again. I rested and read a book in the shade for a while. About an hour before setting up the film, I started interacting with the children more. I bongaed with them. They sang to me and I sang some songs for them. I recorded some of their singing and let them see and listen to themselves on my camera. They followed me like I was the pied piper to the area where we set up.

We set the film in a small area within the village. The Pastor spoke and the BMU man, who had the pastor read three different scriptures before the film. The LC is a Muslim but told the people that everyone is following Jesus and they should watch the film and not disturb. During the film I visited with Patrick about this trip to the islands. For me it has been the hardest trip in several ways: spiritual opposition is strong; pastors aren’t interested in our being here; pastors don’t arrange for me to teach; we’ve had to sleep outside in tents with all of our things crowded in the tents with us for the majority of the nights; I’ve been concerned about Grace working so hard after just having a baby; we haven’t had the third man to help with the boat and carrying things; many times there is no one to help the team carry things. Patrick said he thinks this is the hardest also, because when he was arranging the schedule with the pastors so weren’t interested, some changed there minds and he had to make two trips to some of the islands to finalize the schedule then when he rearranged the schedule to accommodate them, they still aren’t interested in us when we come (except for three pastors who were very accommodating) Only 3 out of 11 pastors showed enough interest in our visit to arrange for me to teach.

On the positive side, except for one night of a slight rain, the weather has been perfect and there aren’t swarms of lake flies like in January. The team has worked well together. The baby has been perfect! No one has broken the boat motor because Patrick sleeps with it in his tent every night! We’ve had plenty of good food and good health. The people come to see the film by the hundreds even when we have no church or pastor to host us. Glory to God! People are being saved and discipled. This trip we are plowing up hard ground in many places, but it is all part of God’s plan.

This pastor said he had seen us on Yebbi Island in January and had wanted us to bring our program here but didn’t know how to contact us. God knew our plans and God arranged it! He said that his church and the one in village #3 are church plants of the mother church in another village on this island. Praise God! They are into evangelism and church planting! That’s why they are just called Evangelical Church (a denomination) and don’t have a specific name.

About 250 people watched the film. Two drunken men joined during the second half and started talking loudly. After binding those demons, in Jesus’ name, they settled down and were quiet for the remainder of the film. I’m believing for all the people who see the film to be saved if they aren’t already. Since most people don’t have Bibles, I’m believing for the film to teach them much about Jesus. For the children, I’m believing that they will always remember seeing Jesus in the film and grow up to be mighty men and women of God! During the film, the full moon was bright and the Lord gave me another “shooting star” as a little kiss from him. I’m in His will even when it seems things aren’t as planned.

After the film the Pastor and the LC spoke again. They didn’t ask anyone to come forward for the salvation prayer. After putting everything in the tents we had supper of chadda, fish and rice. I was able to shower in the short call place, which is awfully dirty but I stand in a wash basin and don’t let my feet touch the ground. The neighbor had a radio on when we went to bed about 11 p.m. but I put in my ear plugs and went to sleep quickly.

August 4, 2009. Tuesday

I slept well last night. I journaled in my tent before going outside to greet children and adults. The outhouse is located across the field down in the area where the pigs stay. I heard the faint cry of a small cat from down in the hole! Poor kitty! I felt so bad for the cat crying out for help. I don’t think anyone will try to get it out of the hole. I prayed for the Lord to let it die quickly without suffering for days. The only hope for the cat seems to be the mercy of death. I felt compassion for the cat. I though of the souls who are trapped in hell with no hope of getting out where not even the blessing of death can end the torment. Lord, give me more compassion for the lost, give me more love for them, give me more determination to take the Gospel of Jesus to everyone is met.

We had breakfast of chapatti and tea before taking the tents down and organizing things. The water here at the shoreline is too dirty for washing clothes or bathing so the ladies will do that at the next village. Pastor Patrick, teacher Job and a couple of other men came to greet us and help us this morning. Pastor encouraged me to come back and even stay here. They said they would build me a house by the church. I teased them and asked, “And a key for the lock on the toilet?”
They laughed. I gave the church four Bibles and Job 50 Books of Hope for teaching the children. They were so blessed and appreciative! They helped us carry things down the steep embankment to the boat. I saw a man with a wheelbarrow full of fresh pineapples at the shoreline. He was tossing each pineapple to a man on a boat who tossed it to another man on the boat who stacked them. They are taking the pineapples to another island for selling. We have eaten pineapple a couple of times and they are very sweet. They are grown on these tropical islands. We said our last good byes and took more pictures before leaving this village and island.

Our boat ride to Jagouse Island took about an hour. We can see the mainland with a large town from this island. The town name starts with a M and is in Mayugi District, south of Iganga. Jagouse Island has three villages that we will visit and each one is called Jagouse with a number. Today we landed at Jagouse #3 Village. Pastor and several men helped us unload and carry the things up through the village to the church on a gently sloping hillside of grasses for cattle grazing. At the shoreline as I sat with the baby in the shade while they did all the work, I watched several men working on a boat. They were taking out old boards, I assuming so they could reseal or replace them. It’s amazing to see how talented these people are. They make their own boats board by board with nails, metal stripping and tar for sealing. Another man was adding a coat of yellow and green paint to his boat. As I waited a man brought his cattle to the beach for watering. He introduced himself as the LC whom we would need to visit later for signing the book. As I walked to the church through the village I greeted the people. As in the other villages, the people are a mixture with Uganda and Kenya backgrounds. Swahili and Lugandan are both spoken and they seem to have mixed the two into their own particular dialect at times.

According to the Pastor, the church started about two years ago and it doesn’t have a name. It is a small mud wall and floor church with a tin roof. They have decorated it is streamers of strips of leftover fabrics crisscrossing from side to side. In another village I saw a lady mixing cow dung and mud to resurface her step and porch into her hut. Patrick explained that cow dung is used to help hold the mud together. I was wondering how the wall stayed so firm since the dirt is powder fine. Cow dung works very well. I’m glad I don’t have to do home repairs by mixing it with dirt! Thank you, Jesus, for the blessings of living in America.

Patrick explained why we were going to many small islands instead of the larger one he had planned for us to visit this trip. He said Kenya and Uganda are disputing whether or not the island belongs to Uganda or Kenya. Both countries had sent soldiers to the island and were prepared to fight but the UN sent in peace negotiators. The troops were removed while the two presidents discuss the issue. The ownership has to do with fishing rights. Kenya doesn’t have many islands or land bordering Lake Victoria. Uganda has lots of land bordering the lake and has a big fish export business. Kenya wants in on the fishing rights. The people on the island are from both countries and probably don’t care which country they are a part of. The President of Uganda said Kenya could have the island but Uganda keeps the water and the fish! Very funny! Anyway, Patrick felt like it wasn’t safe to be on that island at this time since fighting could erupt at any time. Seems Uganda has sent soldiers back to the island recently and the final outcome of ownership hasn’t been decided.

The ladies cooked lunch and I took a nap. We ate about 3 p.m. They had cooked fish, spaghetti, posho, eggplant and cabbage. What a feast! Mary and Pius tease each other and hassle each other so much you’d think they were siblings! Mary didn’t get any eggplant because Pius took the last of it. So she didn’t give Pius any fish! She put the fish bowl under the table and refused to pass it to him. All this is down with humor but seriousness too. Patrick and I each gave Mary some of our eggplant. When I gave Pius a piece of my fish, Grace grabbed it off of his plate and put it in her mouth! I told her she was faster than the fish eagles who swoop down to grab the drying fish from the nets! Everyone laughed. The team’s banter and playfulness is delightfully sweet!

Patrick and I walked to the LC’s house to sign the book. He took us to the office that was locked and no one was around with the key. The BMU and LC share the same office so we weren’t able to sign with either of them. However, he welcomed us and told us to feel free and safe. Back at the church, I waited for people to come so I could teach. The pastor had helped us carry things but then we didn’t see him the rest of the afternoon. Many children had followed me through the village to the church. They were waiting along with a couple of ladies who had come to see the film. Grace explained the film would happen after dark so they left. I took the children outside and taught them the Jesus cheer and “I’m a friend of God” song. They sang several songs for me and I recorded them with my camera. I had them sit down and be quiet so they could hear themselves singing on my camera. They were delighted. I continued to interact with them outside as the men sat up the tents inside the church.

The pastor came about sunset as we were setting up for the film. I had to repent for being frustrated that I didn’t get to teach. I came along way and it costs a lot of money, time and inconvenience to come so I was disappointed that the pastor not to gather the people for teaching of God’s Word. This time the lack of teaching has been very frustrating. I don’t know if Patrick isn’t explaining the program with the correct emphasis or if the pastors just aren’t interested! During the film I was repenting of expectations and frustrations and forgiving the pastor.

Before the film started, there was lightning in the near distance and heavy clouds. I prayed and rebuked the rain. God parted the clouds above us and I could see stars! Thank you, Jesus. I continued to pray as more people came until the crowd was about 250. About half way through the film, it started to rain with a gentle little rain. We quickly covered all the equipment with plastic and put on our raincoats. Some of the people left but about 100 of them huddled inside the church with our three tents and supplies! I stayed outside in the gentle rain guarded the equipment. We prayed and waited. The pastor finally went inside to settle the children down.
After about 30 minutes the clouds had passed and the full moon was brightly shining again. The people came back as we uncovered the equipment and restarted the film. Thank you, Jesus, for a short, gentle rain. I so much wanted these people to see the whole film since it would be their only chance because tomorrow we go to another village. After the film I handed the pastor the microphone and he talked to the people. Most of the people stayed as he talked. Then they stood up and about 100 stepped forward to receive Christ. He asked me to pray with them for salvation. Glory! Hallelujah! About 100 people joined the family of God today and were snatched from the jaws of hell! Praises to the King of Kings!

We ate supper of rice and beans about 11 p.m. after the film. The ladies had been napping as they were waiting for the film to end. I explained again that they could eat before us and go on to bed instead of waiting for the film to be over. After bathing, I was so happy as I laid down that it took a while for me to calm down enough to go to sleep.

Thank you, Jesus. Although I didn’t get to teach, the Holy Spirit brought many souls into salvation tonight. Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord, for a church to have our tents and our things in so that when it rained everything stayed dry.

August 3, 2009, Monday

This morning I was awakened by people talking, men going to their boats, etc. I slept fairly well. The LC secretary who spoke with the microphone last night came this morning to ask for a Bible. She goes to the church that refused us. She and the BMU man asked to see the letter the pastor had sent us so I showed them. Patrick explained the situation. The lady insisted she needed a Bible and Patrick suggested since she was from the Disciples of God Church and also an official maybe we should give her a Bible. I explained that we had given the Pastor in the last village a Bible that would have gone to her church but since they refused I gave it to them. I explained that I don’t have enough to give to everyone, I only bring for the Pastor. She kept insisting for a while but I continued to refuse. Finally she left. We had breakfast of tea and cold chappati, then took down the tents. While organizing and taking things to the boat, a young man came to ask for a Bible. I appreciate people’s desire to have God’s Word and I wish I could bring thousands of Bibles, but since I can’t, I bring the Jesus film for everyone to see the Book of Luke via media. No one helped us carry the things or load the boat. I held baby girl as they did all the work. While holding her I continued to bonga with some children, who were the only ones to accompany us to the boat and wave to us as we left. In this village we were breaking up hard ground and we had much spiritual resistance. Praise God about 300 people saw the film last night.

As the boat pulled away, I was happy to be moving on to Sirinya Island and Village. I asked Patrick to phone ahead and tell them we were coming and ask for people to help us carry our things. The boat ride took about 30 minutes and I felt lighter and freer as we went across the water. The spiritual oppression lifted. The morning air was cool and we arrived by noon. Patrick went ashore and came back in a short time with Pastor Patrick, a lady and two men. I came ashore to greet them. The Pastor and the lady were going to the village we just left because one of their people had been arrested and was jailed there. Pastor said he would return shortly. The two men and then some others helped us carry our things up a steep embankment and then across a grassy field with nets of drying fish to the church. The distance was fairly short, just steep at the beginning. We have a church to put our tents and things in tonight! Thank you Jesus! Also thank you Lord for the helpers today.

After getting everything organized in the church, the ladies began cooking lunch and I interacted with the children. I watched the ladies gathering up the small fish from the drying nets on the grassy field. Children with containers were picking up fish also. Patrick said the children are allowed to pick up the fish that fall to the ground and when they gather enough they can sell them. It reminds me of Ruth picking up the leftovers during the barley harvest in the Bible. After many bongas and pictures, I took a nap on the cot outside in the shade of the church with chattering children around me. I was so exhausted that I slept despite the noisy children. I awoke about an hour later in time for lunch.

We ate at 2:30 which is one of the earliest lunches we’ve had. Part of my tiredness is from not having enough to eat during the day, not sleeping well at night and not drinking enough water (for lack of facilities). We ate spaghetti, posho, smoked fish and small fish (I didn’t eat small fish). In order to use the outhouse, I have to get a key from Job and walk about 100 yards.
After a trip to the outhouse, Patrick and I went to sign in with the police. The man is a Muslim but greeted us warmly and told us if any drunken men bother us, just let him or his men know and he would arrest them and let them spend the night in his jail. The jail is a room with a door that can lock in the police station. Then we signed in with the LC and the BMU person. To find these people, Job, David and Pastor Patrick walked with us through the village guiding us from place to place. We also stopped at the pastor’s home and prayed blessings inside. Job told me he is a Sunday School teacher for the children. David teaches adults the Bible. Both are originally from Kenya. I bongaed with children as we went through the village to the various places. There was a large group of children by the church that I bongaed with also. When they started to follow us, Job told them to wait at the church for us. When we got back all the children followed us inside the church along with about four ladies. Patrick asked me if I was going to change clothes before teaching. I had on pants for boat riding and needed to put on my skirt. I got the key to the outhouse and went there to change. When I returned, the ladies were gone but there were about 100 children. I had Job help me as we had all of them come outside and sit on the grassy area so I could teach them. All the fish had been gathered and the nets had been taken up. Since Job is there teacher, they respond to his instructions. He helped me teach them the Jesus cheer in English, Swahili and Luganda. Then using the pictures, we taught them the Ten Commandments. Three girls, who make up the children’s choir sang some songs for us. I taught them “I’m a friend of God” in English and Luganda. Then Job taught it in Swahili. Since we were outside, the adults watched and listened from a distance. They are always delighted when I interact with their children. The children here aren’t as afraid of me so I asked if other muzungus have come here. Job said they have visitors regularly from UK and Australia. They expect some to be back in October. I asked if they have had the Jesus film in the village before and he said yes. Interesting. Sounds like this village has regular missionaries while the village just across on the next island had never seen a muzungu or the film. There is much less spiritual oppression here for sure.

When the teaching was finished, Job told the children to go home and eat and bath and come back for the film when it got dark. Only about half of them left. If I went into the church, the remaining children would follow me. If I went to talk to Mary or Grace, they would follow me.
So I sat outside with them sitting around me and I prayed for them silently as they stared at me and/or interacted with each other. While I was distracting them, the men could set up the tents inside the church. When Job returned I asked him to have the children move back and sit so I could get things ready for the film. They obeyed him and we started preparing for the film. The men hung the sheet between two long boat poles that they dug holes for. Pastor Patrick, Job and David asked lots of questions about the sound system and the equipment.

About 400 people watched the film and they even clapped in several appropriate places. Two thirds of them sat in an orderly way on the grass while the others stood. I enjoyed my music and worshiping during the film. I could hear the swish of the waves on the beach below as I watched the clouds hiding the almost full moon. At the beginning of the film, I felt a few rain drops, but it didn’t rain. Glory to God! After the film Pastor Patrick spoke and so did another pastor from another church in the village. Also about 30 people raised their hands that they got saved tonight. Katonda mulungi! God is good! Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your work of drawing them to Jesus. Thank you, Lord for your mighty angels who go forth to do your will of binding the demons and protecting the people and us.

After the film we ate beans and rice for supper. Then I was able to bathe inside the church as the men waited outside. As I laid down on the cot even the smell of the gas from the generator in my tent didn’t prevent me from quickly falling asleep. What a blessed day. Thank you Lord. I enjoyed today and I feel much better physically. We just completed our eighth day and eighth village. We have five more to go! I told Patrick that the next time I come when he arranges our schedule to arrange two days in the same place in the middle of the two weeks so we can have a day of rest. He agreed. I suggested this last time but he said no that we should continue. I’m glad the next time we come we’ll have a rest day.

August 2, 2009, Sunday

This morning I was awakened before dawn by a lady who entered the church and started singing and praying. I asked her to keep quiet in Luganda but she continued for about 30 minutes, then she left. I was angry, frustrated and thought how rude of her to wake us up. She could have prayed silently or prayed outside or at her house which is next to the church! I kept forgiving her and asking God to take away my anger. My expectations were that I would be able to sleep without being disturbed this morning. All of the team are very tired and need a good night’s sleep. The ladies last night and now this one this morning disturbed our sleeping. Probably, the lady comes before church in the early morning to intercede but instead of it feeling like a blessing this morning it felt like a curse. I confess having expectations and anger and frustration. I’m sure her motives were pure.

We quickly took down the tents and packed up things to vacate the church so they could have service this morning. We had breakfast of tea and mundas (fried bread). Patrick received a note from the pastor at the next church/village. Although we had scheduled to be there today they send the note asking us not to come. They are a Disciples of God Church too. I believe this must be a false church because they are the ones who keep blocking us from coming. This church, Life Center Church had asked us to stay for service but we had declined. Now we are staying here for service. We will go to the next village and show the film tonight but won’t deal with the Disciples of God Church. We’ll be sleeping with our things in the tents outside again tonight. Although the pastors of the Disciples of God Churches are not helping us, the people in the villages turn out in big numbers to see the film. They need the Word of God, so we will take it to them tonight. The Lord will provide a pastor of another church for us to connect with and bless with the Bibles and Book of Hope.

I’m journaling in the church while the children are having Sunday School outside. The teacher has been reviewing the Ten Commandments with them that I taught yesterday. I’m looking forward to teaching again this morning. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
I’m glad to know we aren’t welcome in the next church so we can spend more time here. These people love the Lord and are very helpful and appreciative of our being here.

Church started about 9:30 with some singing and then some teaching about marriage. Patrick translated it for me and it was a good teaching. Then the church choir sang several songs. The choir consisted of 6 ladies with matching green t-shirts. Then there were many testimonies from people. The elder leading the service reviewed the salvation beads that I taught yesterday. Praise God for His Word. I started teaching about 11:30. I taught about forgiveness and led them in a prayer where they forgave people they named to God. It was great to be able to refer to what Jesus said in the film last night. Then I taught the armor of God and used my plastic sword. Then I taught examples of the power of our words. My teaching was followed by a time of prayer for those who came forward. Most of them were sick with stomach problems, including many children. One lady was overweight and had joint and back pain. I rebuked diabeties and pain. She had forgiven everyone, so I could also rebuke bitterness. A man came forward for prayer for his children as they would be taking their end of term exams.

Thank you Lord for letting us stay here and have fellowship. After church, we gave the pastor two Bibles for the church and the Topical Study Bible for her, since she will be taking some Bible study course. Pastor Josephine was so appreciative, as were the congregation. Then we brought out the Book of Hope and the people were so excited that each family would get a book.
Pastor said they have 42 families in the church and we gave them 50 books. After many thank yous and lots of photos, the people helped us carry everything to the boat. Thank you, Jesus for the help this morning. While the boat was being loaded some of the ladies were asking me questions through a translator. They asked about my age, my family and my hair. They enjoyed feeling the texture of my hair! One lady asked us to come to her house to pray, so after the boat was loaded Patrick and I went to her house. We prayed for blessings and for a business for the family to make money to send their kids to school. Then we went to the pastor’s home and prayed there. Finally, I bongaed children again at the beach before entering the boat. What a blessed Sunday it was at this church. After several hard days, this was surely a blessing from God.

The boat ride was less than 30 minutes to Kakwara Village on this same island of Bumba. Patrick went ashore and talked to some people. Then I went with him to the police office to sign in. A man walked with us to show us where to go and then he walked with us around the village to find the place to show the film and put our tents. We saw the church that sent the letter refusing us to come. It would have been a good place and we had the option to have the police force them to let us show the film there, but we didn’t want to do that. The BMU’s house and office is just up from the shoreline and he offered for us to put our tents in front of his house.
Across from the tents was an area that would be good for the film.

I sat with the baby in the shade while Patrick and Pius set up the tents and the ladies started hauling everything off the boat. We didn’t have any help this time so I was happy that the distance was short. I can hear the lapping of the waves on the sandy shore from the tents.

It was already about 4:30 and we hadn’t eaten since the morning, so I sent the ladies to buy some chapatti to strengthen us as the cooked supper. The children here have never seen a muzungu, so although there are many children looking at me most run away when I try to bonga. I rested in my tent for a while before it was time to set up the equipment. I took some nice photos of the sunset over the lake! When I asked where to take a short call, a lady escorted Grace and I on a hike through the village, past the Disciples of God Church, through some more huts and then into a grass field that had just been burned. Literally, the fire was about 100 yards away and some of the clumps of burned grasses still had live embers! The lady said the short call places were dirty in the village so we squatted beside burned bunches of grass. It’s a good thing it was already dark. The moon isn’t full but it gives so much light that we don’t even need a flashlight to walk.

About 300 people came to see the film, which was amazing to me since no one knew we were coming! Thank you, Jesus. You prepared the people’s hearts. Patrick said one of the government people told him that didn’t know about us and they were so glad we didn’t pass this village buy because they needed this film. There are several churches in the village according to one man I talked with: Catholic, Protestant, 7th Day and Disciples. We didn’t meet any pastors. Before the film we had the LC greet people and the secretary of the BMU. After the film Patrick used the microphone to talk to the people about salvation. During the film, I was able to walk by the sandy beach and hear the sound of the waves as I prayed and worshiped the Lord. During the last hour of the film, supper was ready and we were eager to eat. So about 9 p.m. we ate fish, rice, chadda and cabbage. After the film we put everything in our tents again before going to sleep. Most of the night it was quiet.

August 1, 2009, Saturday

About 4 a.m. the LC’s wife was right outside my tent talking loudly and making all kinds of noise. I thought maybe she was bathing but she continued to talk loudly to someone and make noise. I dozed back to sleep but was awakened regularly by her noise and talking. Before sunrise I was up to go for a short call and saw that she had set up things to make chappati this morning. There were rows of dough balls on the table we used last night. She was sitting about 10 feet from my tent! I’m hiding from the children in my tent to journal and it’s 7:45 a.m.

We had breakfast of tea and chappati we bought from the lady who kept us awake. I took a short shower in the urinal stall which was awful but better than no bathing for a couple of days.

Pastor Albert came to help us this morning. We accompanied him to his home in the village and met his wife and one year old daughter. He said he just started this African Gospel Church in March. He is originally from another island and all his family is saved. He showed us the 10 by 10 foot room they rented for the church which is now too small so they have rented another building which is larger. He showed us that building too. He invited us into his small home, another maybe 12 by 12 foot room with a curtain divider to separate the living from bedroom. He asked us to pray in his house and we did.

Pastor Albert and another man and some children helped us carry the things the short distance to the shore. Before we started loading the pastor from church we will visit today called to see if we were coming. What a wonderful thing to be welcomed by someone when we arrive. We gave Pastor Albert the Bibles and Books of Hope before we left and he was very appreciative.

I’m glad to leave Sugetti Island. There has been much spiritual opposition here. All three churches were Disciples of God denomination and none of the pastors showed up or unlocked the church doors for us. Only one had a church member help us. I felt like I’ve been doing everything with a 50 pound weight around me. Mary was sick. Patrick and I had a little upset stomach but not bad. The people were delightful but the spiritual darkness was great. As we left the island, the weight lifted too.

The boat ride to Bumba Island took less than 30 minutes. We left earlier than usual about 11 a.m. so it was a bit cooler with a nice breeze and smooth water. When we arrived at Bukavmbwe Village we were greeted by several women and children who immediately helped us unload the boat. What a difference to be welcomed and helped! The church was a good walk up the hill but since we had helpers and even a man with a bicycle to take some of the heavy things, it wasn’t hard. We are in a nice mud wall and floor church with a tin roof. The children gathered immediately at the shore and continued with us up to the church. The language is a mixture of Swahili and Lugandan.

We rested as the ladies cooked lunch. We ate early today about 2:30 p.m. and had cabbage, spaghetti, posho and eggplant. The people gathered quickly and I was able to teach starting about 4 p.m. Glory to God! I finally got to teach. There were about 35 adults and about that many children present as I taught the Ten Commandments, Salvation, holiness and the salvation bead bracelets. The people were delighted to get them. I had a round of diarehea before the teaching and had a lot of discomfort during the teaching, but the Lord helped my body make it to the end of the teaching, then I quickly went to the bushes nearby. This village as has been the case in several others, do not have toilets. People just go to the bushes wherever.

We set the tents and cots before starting the music and the Jesus film in Luganda. We showed the film outside of the church building which was great because the ladies were able to watch the film as they watched supper cooking. About 300 people came to watch it and the lady pastor talked to the people before and after the film. Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus for the film. A couple of drunk men also came and talked loudly during the film. I’m praying for their salvation and freedom from their bondage.

Patrick said the church had planned an overnight prayer and worship service but he told the pastor that we needed to sleep. After the film I reminded the pastor that we needed to sleep and not have an overnight. She agreed. We ate supper of beans and rice inside the church and then prepared for sleeping. Two ladies insisted they sleep in the church also. Patrick said they had come from far for the overnight. I don’t mind them sleeping inside but they talked for quite a while, even though we told them we wanted to sleep and to please be quiet. Finally they stopped talking. A little while later another lady came and started rearranging the benches so she could sleep inside. I told her no overnight tonight and of course I don’t think she understood. Patrick said something to Grace and she spoke to the lady, who then left.

I felt so much lighter today. I was happy to be able to teach and thankful for the help for the team carrying so many things a long distance. We have a more secure place to stay inside for the night and we anticipated a good night’s sleep after the ladies stopped talking.

July 31, 2009, Friday

Last night was the best night’s sleep yet. It was quiet and I slept until almost daylight. I’m journaling on the computer in the hut and the owner has thoughtfully put his radio station on an English speaking one for me. We can’t communicate which I regret, but Patrick translates when it’s needed. The ladies are at the beach washing clothes and dishes. The men are around or else went to bathe. Baby is sleeping in the tent.

The LC who spoke with the microphone last night came to see us this morning. He is also a pastor. I gave a Bible to him and 50 of the Book of Hope. He was very appreciative.

After breakfast of bread and tea we took everything out of the tents and took them down. Several people helped us carry things to the boat. I sat with the baby in the shade of the hut while they took things. A lady came who had a badly swollen finger and pain. The finger had white under the skin and black tissue on the outside. I prayed for her finger. It really looks bad and is causing pain all up her arm. Then I prayed for a man with pain in his leg and lady with chest pains. The man who hosted us, Isaac, asked us to pray for his business. We went inside the hut he let us use, which is his business hut (fishing). I prayed for blessings on him and his business and family. Then he said he had chest pain. I prayed for his healing. Patrick asked if I had tabs for indigestion. I had two Rolaids in my fanny pack which I gave the man. Earlier, I’d given Mary some tabs for headache. After the praying, I went to the beach where they were loading the boat. We gave Isaac, the Bible and Books of Hope for his pastor and church. By 12:20 we were leaving the beach for Naluwele Village on this same island.

The twenty minute ride was on a smooth lake. We sat in the boat as Patrick went ashore to find the pastor. He came back within about 30 minutes to say the pastor was gone for a conference and we’d need to set up the tents outside again. We sat in the boat as Pius and he sat them up. No one came to help us carry things. Thankfully it was a short distance to the LC’s house and a partial shade arbor when we had permission to stay. Mary isn’t feeling well so she held the baby while Grace did most of the hauling until the men finished the tents. After about two hours in the boat, I went ashore to the welcome shade. At the beach I already had a group of children to bonga with. I held the baby in the shade while they continued carrying things and placing them in the tents. Mary and Grace started cooking but it was about 4 p.m. before we ate rice. I gave Mary some tabs for an upset stomach. While waiting to eat, I rested on a cot in the shade with a cool breeze. After over an hour of interacting with the children I was ready for some space. Grace rested with the baby and Mary rested too, as the rice cooked. The men didn’t come back from the lake for a couple of hours because they were servicing the boat motor.

We are near the video hall with the bull horn speaker and it started up about 3 p.m. When the children hear the generator start they run to the building with the speaker in anticipation of the broadcast. It sounds like radio, with news, soaps and music. About 4 p.m. a crusade started a with a generator, sound system, keyboard and microphones. There were about 25 singers/dancers dressed in white shirts and black trousers/skirts. They sang for over an hour. I went for a while to watch, but soon came back to rest in my tent. The singing stopped and the preaching went on for another hour. We weren’t sure when the crusade would be over so we could show the film. About 7 p.m. the preaching was over and we set the equipment. It looked like rain clouds over the lake, so I rebuked the rain in Jesus’ name for the showing of the film and during the night. Then we waited for another 30 minutes of music before the crusade was over. We started the film at 8 p.m. after the LC spoke and Pastor Albert, from another church, spoke. We immediately had a large crown and more kept coming until we had an estimated 400 people. We ate supper of matooke, spaghetti and fish during the second hour of the film. Mary still is feeling bad so I gave her a pepto pill. Grace and the baby went to bed after supper. Pastor Albert talked to the people after the film. He said he would see us in the morning. I was very appreciative of his help. The LC and his wife have been very hospitable, letting us use their short call stall. When I asked for a toilet, I was told they don’t have any. I would have to walk up the hill to the bushes. Before dark, during the crusade a girl about 12 years old escorted me for the quarter mile walk through the village and up the hill to an area of tall grasses. I prayed I wouldn’t have to make the return trip during the night!

Without the privacy of a church building, I wasn’t able to bathe before bed! Yuck! I don’t like to go to bed dirty! There was a man hanging out watching us put everything in the tents. Patrick talked to the LC about the man, who obviously was either drunk or mentally unstable. The LC escorted him away from the area.

The music from the video hall blared on and on. I’d gone into my tent about 11:30 and it was still going. The peace and quiet of the village is invaded by this awful noise until at least midnight!

I was very discouraged today, when no one greeted us or helped us. Then the crusade went on and on. However, many people saw the film of Jesus. Jesus said if we left him up all people would be drawn to him. I lift him up on a sheet in the village and people are drawn to him.
Glory to God! Thank you, Lord for the day. Heal Mary and strengthen Grace. Bless the children and people of this village.

July 31, 2009, Friday

Last night was the best night’s sleep yet. It was quiet and I slept until almost daylight. I’m journaling on the computer in the hut and the owner has thoughtfully put his radio station on an English speaking one for me. We can’t communicate which I regret, but Patrick translates when it’s needed. The ladies are at the beach washing clothes and dishes. The men are around or else went to bathe. Baby is sleeping in the tent.

The LC who spoke with the microphone last night came to see us this morning. He is also a pastor. I gave a Bible to him and 50 of the Book of Hope. He was very appreciative.

After breakfast of bread and tea we took everything out of the tents and took them down. Several people helped us carry things to the boat. I sat with the baby in the shade of the hut while they took things. A lady came who had a badly swollen finger and pain. The finger had white under the skin and black tissue on the outside. I prayed for her finger. It really looks bad and is causing pain all up her arm. Then I prayed for a man with pain in his leg and lady with chest pains. The man who hosted us, Isaac, asked us to pray for his business. We went inside the hut he let us use, which is his business hut (fishing). I prayed for blessings on him and his business and family. Then he said he had chest pain. I prayed for his healing. Patrick asked if I had tabs for indigestion. I had two Rolaids in my fanny pack which I gave the man. Earlier, I’d given Mary some tabs for headache. After the praying, I went to the beach where they were loading the boat. We gave Isaac, the Bible and Books of Hope for his pastor and church. By 12:20 we were leaving the beach for Naluwele Village on this same island.

The twenty minute ride was on a smooth lake. We sat in the boat as Patrick went ashore to find the pastor. He came back within about 30 minutes to say the pastor was gone for a conference and we’d need to set up the tents outside again. We sat in the boat as Pius and he sat them up. No one came to help us carry things. Thankfully it was a short distance to the LC’s house and a partial shade arbor when we had permission to stay. Mary isn’t feeling well so she held the baby while Grace did most of the hauling until the men finished the tents. After about two hours in the boat, I went ashore to the welcome shade. At the beach I already had a group of children to bonga with. I held the baby in the shade while they continued carrying things and placing them in the tents. Mary and Grace started cooking but it was about 4 p.m. before we ate rice. I gave Mary some tabs for an upset stomach. While waiting to eat, I rested on a cot in the shade with a cool breeze. After over an hour of interacting with the children I was ready for some space. Grace rested with the baby and Mary rested too, as the rice cooked. The men didn’t come back from the lake for a couple of hours because they were servicing the boat motor.

We are near the video hall with the bull horn speaker and it started up about 3 p.m. When the children hear the generator start they run to the building with the speaker in anticipation of the broadcast. It sounds like radio, with news, soaps and music. About 4 p.m. a crusade started a with a generator, sound system, keyboard and microphones. There were about 25 singers/dancers dressed in white shirts and black trousers/skirts. They sang for over an hour. I went for a while to watch, but soon came back to rest in my tent. The singing stopped and the preaching went on for another hour. We weren’t sure when the crusade would be over so we could show the film. About 7 p.m. the preaching was over and we set the equipment. It looked like rain clouds over the lake, so I rebuked the rain in Jesus’ name for the showing of the film and during the night. Then we waited for another 30 minutes of music before the crusade was over. We started the film at 8 p.m. after the LC spoke and Pastor Albert, from another church, spoke. We immediately had a large crown and more kept coming until we had an estimated 400 people. We ate supper of matooke, spaghetti and fish during the second hour of the film. Mary still is feeling bad so I gave her a pepto pill. Grace and the baby went to bed after supper. Pastor Albert talked to the people after the film. He said he would see us in the morning. I was very appreciative of his help. The LC and his wife have been very hospitable, letting us use their short call stall. When I asked for a toilet, I was told they don’t have any. I would have to walk up the hill to the bushes. Before dark, during the crusade a girl about 12 years old escorted me for the quarter mile walk through the village and up the hill to an area of tall grasses. I prayed I wouldn’t have to make the return trip during the night!

Without the privacy of a church building, I wasn’t able to bathe before bed! Yuck! I don’t like to go to bed dirty! There was a man hanging out watching us put everything in the tents. Patrick talked to the LC about the man, who obviously was either drunk or mentally unstable. The LC escorted him away from the area.

The music from the video hall blared on and on. I’d gone into my tent about 11:30 and it was still going. The peace and quiet of the village is invaded by this awful noise until at least midnight!

I was very discouraged today, when no one greeted us or helped us. Then the crusade went on and on. However, many people saw the film of Jesus. Jesus said if we left him up all people would be drawn to him. I lift him up on a sheet in the village and people are drawn to him.
Glory to God! Thank you, Lord for the day. Heal Mary and strengthen Grace. Bless the children and people of this village.

July 30, 2009, Thursday

I stayed in my tent as long as possible this morning to avoid the crowd of children waiting outside to see the muzungu. Finally I got up about 7:30 a.m. The ladies went to the lake to wash the dishes and clothes and I held baby Anyango until she fell asleep. Now I’m hiding in the tent journaling using battery power on the computer. God knows the plans for today and I’m always surprised! He is good all the time and we are traveling according to his will and plans.

We only had one man helping us load the boat, so it took from 10 til l2 to get everything taken down and loaded into the boat. I sat with the things in the village holding the baby while they carried things. Moses, the man who owned the store across the path from our tents, is having his store remodeled. It is a stick and mud structure with a tin roof. A new brick wall has been constructed for the back wall. This morning the side wall fell in and I think it was unexpected because everyone jumped and then Moses and his wife began moving things out of the store. The set up there store next to our things as the remodeling man shoveled out the dirt to dig a trench for the wall of bricks. Moses hassled me while I was sitting. He asked me to give the village some help because they are so poor. I explained my ministry and said I couldn’t help. He offered me one of his children to take back to America and I told him I would be put in jail for stealing a child. He said he would go to the authorities and give his permission. I continued to refuse to take his child or give help to his village. He pressured me and I told him I must obey God and not man. He said since I came to his village, I needed to give them something to remember me.

Since the pastor wasn’t here, I had Patrick give the policeman a Bible. He had asked for one yesterday and I told him I only had Bibles for the pastors. I gave the second one to the man who helped us unload and load the boat and spoke to the people before and after the film. Patrick said he was a member of a different church than the one we were supposed to work with. I gave both men a wooden cross and gave them one to take back to Moses and give to him. Moses was very helpful. He loaned us chairs and a table.

The boat ride was very short today, just 20 minutes to the next village on Segetti Island. This landing has a sand beach. Patrick left us in the boat while he went to locate the pastor and the church. As we waited, I decided to get out of the boat and enjoy the beach and clear water. I got in the water with all my clothes on and washed my arms, legs, feet and face. I didn’t get to bath yesterday. I also washed my hair. Then to rinse it I floated on my back in the shallow water. Grace, Mary and Pius were amazed that I could swim and enjoyed watching me in the water. I enjoyed walking on the sandy beach which helped clean my feet and toe nails. The Lord sent birds and butterflies to entertain me as we waited for I over an hour. I snuck up on a black bird that was drying its wings on the shore. I got as close as 6 feet before it flew away.

Finally, Patrick returned to tell us that the Pastor had left for a burial in Kenya, the church wasn’t complete and it is too far to carry all the things. A man from the church offered for us to put our things in one of his houses. Patrick explained to him that we would like to put our tents in his yard and we would keep all our things with us in our tents. This man and some other people helped us carry the things up from the beach, which was a great blessing. Thank you, Jesus, for answering my prayer for more helpers for my team. I’m concerned about Grace carrying heavy things since she just had a baby. Jonathan never joined us, so we are one person short on helpers. Patrick set up the tents and organized the things inside them as they were brought up. After another hour, I was off the beach and up in the tent area. The huts next to our tents had strings of small fish drying. The smelled really strong! I call them necklace fish because they are about 4-5 inches long and on a string.

While the ladies were cooking, I bongaed with children. I taught them the cheer and a song. They sang to me and we had a wonderful time until lunch was ready about 4:30. We were hungry and took our food inside the man’s extra house. There was no teaching again today.
I went with Grace to the beach and as she washed the dishes, I bathed. I used lake water and huddled in a reed area next to the water. I was so happy to bath and change clothes. I’ve worn the same ones for two days. We walked past the BMU and LC, and a group of people. One man was talking passionately, so I surmised it was an issue with ownership of something and they were holding court. Back at the hut, I laid on the cot to rest for about 30 minutes before it was time to set up for the film.

There wasn’t a good place to hang the sheet, so Patrick used the long pole from the boat and another one. He dug holes and planted them and then hung the sheet between them. We set up in an area close to our tents. As we were setting up, a man brought us a bucket of small catfish for our supper. Patrick had bought us some dried fish earlier. The local bull horn was playing music and talk, probably the radio, when we started the film. About 10 minutes into the film, they turned it off. Praise God! It’s hard for people to hear when that noise is blaring. The local chairman and the beach management man both spoke to the people before the film. During the film many people came. They all sat down in an orderly way. Usually most of them stand. Patrick said we had more people than last night’s 500 people. He estimated about 600. I couldn’t really tell because I was sitting toward one side. Because of the huts, I couldn’t walk around behind the people to pray. They brought me a chair and I sat to the far side to pray. I’m so blessed to see Jesus lifted up so the people can come to him. After the film the LC spoke to the people. Patrick said the LC is a pastor of another church that is “up” which means inland from the beach. Patrick and I decided to give the Bibles to the LC and the man whose house we are using and divide the Books of Hope between these two churches.

We ate supper of rice, chadda, dried fish and catfish. I just ate the dried fish and rice. I don’t really like the chadda. Pius and Grace vied for the casings with the fish eggs from the catfish. I decided I didn’t want to eat the catfish. It was about 11:30 when we went to bed.

I praise God for the many people who saw Jesus on the film tonight. What a blessing to bring the Word via the film in Swahili. After the film, the summary and the talk by the LC, the people were still sitting while we took down the equipment. Later Patrick said the people were waiting for us to preach. They are ripe for the Word of God. Had I known we could have preached!! Glory to God! Hallelujah!

July 29, 2009, Wednesday

During the night I was awakened by flapping tin sheets but I thought someone might be trying to break in. I had some fear so I prayed and rebuked it. Several times I smelled sulphur like burnt matches. I prayed over the church, repented on behalf of the people and bound the demons. I pleaded the blood of Jesus over us and our things. I went back to sleep.

This morning the ladies are washing clothes and dishes at the lake. Patrick is holding baby Anyango Sandra and I’m journaling. I’m hiding in the church from the children who want to come inside and see the muzungu! We have kept the door closed and Patrick told them not to come in. I’m thankful for some quiet time to journal and reflect and prepare for the new day and new village.

I gave the pastor two Bibles and the Book of Hope. She said the village has about 100 families and she has ten in her church. The 100 Books of Hope will be given one per family and she will share with the pastor of the other church. After breakfast of bread, tea, and chapatti brought to us by the Pastor Rebecca, the church members helped us haul everything to the boat.

The boat ride was smoother today than yesterday. The sun was hot without a cloud in the sky.
The heat, the hum of the motor and the long ride (2 hours) made me want to sleep. When we arrived at Segetti Island we beached at Dembe Village. Patrick went to find the pastor while we sat in the boat. We sat about an hour in the heat. It’s a good thing I brought umbrellas for the three of us ladies. Especially the new born baby girl needed the shade of the umbrella. When Patrick returned he told us the pastor had left for a conference, locked up the church and taken the keys with him. Patrick had met with him a week ago to set up today as our day to come and the pastor indicated he would be here. Patrick located a place to put our tents, even though there was no shade. The men put up the tents while we waited in the boat. Then some church members helped carry out things and Patrick and Pius packed them inside our tents for security.
I sat on a rock on the beach with the baby and the umbrella while they hauled everything up into the village. By the time I went up to the village, I had been in the sun for a little over four hours.

The ladies had started cooking in the shade of some houses. I greeted a large crowd of children who surrounded me as I sat in the shade. I greeted men and ladies with the Swahili greeting “Aballee” and they replied “Misuelee” (I’ve spelled them how they sound not how they are really spelled.) I had to release frustration with the pastor for locking the church and taking the key, leaving us in tents outside, which is much less secure for us and our things. I forgive him and ask the Lord to bless him.

We ate lunch about 3:30 p.m. of chadda, spaghetti and cabbage. Patrick set up the cots and I took a nap in the shade. Shade, water, a full stomach and a nap revived me. Patrick and I visited with the policeman, who asked for a Bible. Then we signed in with the Local Chairman (LC). We looked for the BMU man (Beach Management Unit) but couldn’t find him. We decided to set up the film next to the policeman’s house where is a clearing of land for the people to see the film tonight. Then we rested in the shade and visited with people and children until evening.

I was disappointed that I didn’t get to teach today, but God knows the plans. He orders our steps and I release expectations. I know when the day looks discouraging that the enemy is the one trying to discourage me. God is in charge and his plans are best. The church man who owns the store close to where we put our tents has been very kind. He’s brought us chairs and a table to use. Another man from the church helped organize people to help carry things this morning and he assisted us as we set up the equipment. Patrick and Pius had changed the oil in the generator and added fuel. It worked perfectly. Thank you, Jesus! Since Phil served it the generator has been working much better than the last two times I’ve been here. That’s a big Praise the Lord!

I was amazed at the people who came to see the film. We estimated the biggest crowd so far, about 400 people! During the two hours almost every minute some else walked up and joined the crowd! Praise God! Many people have seen the Gospel of Luke and know how to receive eternal life through the film. Before and after the film the church man talked to the people in Swahili. Patrick said that he told the people they must decide about whether or not to accept Jesus, but they couldn’t say they never knew they had the choice. He told them there were several churches in the village they could go to.

During the film, I listened to my music, prayed and bound the demons. The half moon gave enough light to see well without a torch (flashlight). The stars were bright too and once when I looked up the Lord gave me a shooting star, a little kiss from him to me. The day was long, hot and discouraging. I didn’t get to teach and our lodging isn’t good but God is good all the time and many people had a chance to be saved tonight.

After the film we ate beans and rice and then entered our tents for the night. I slept with the film equipment including the generator and dirty dishes. The men slept with the fuel cans and other things. The ladies had the baby and we didn’t want them to have any things with fuel in their tents. I hadn’t slept well for two nights and when I laid down in cramped quarters without bathing or clean clothes, with the local bull horn blasting music over the village at 11 p.m., I didn’t know if I would sleep again. However, I was so tired, that even though people walked by us all night talking loudly, I slept. Thank you, Jesus! I got up a couple of times in the night for a short call (urinate). Once I saw the glow of the golden half moon setting and the other time with the moon already set, the sky was a splash of starlight!