"And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" Acts 2:47
This morning we were able to sleep in some, which was nice. We held the women's conference today. Pastor Ruth had personally invited over 200 widows/women today. She ministers to over 800 widows/women in Tororo and the nearby areas. Her heart for the women is evident and her desire to bring the Love of God to them even more so.
We had planned on starting around 10:00 am, and as I've mentioned in previous blogs time schedules in Africa just aren't as rigid as they are in the states. Where we would be frantic that time was wasting, they are calm and take their time to get things done.
As we pulled up to the conference hall the women were already inside singing praises to God. Many had been there since 7:30am, waiting in anticipation. It was refreshing to the soul.
We all started out of the van and I happened to be first. I was facing everyone in the van and we were all in conversation about the early arrival of these precious women when suddenly a high pitched shrill, (something called trilling) came running up behind me and about scared me to death! A similiar sound of a battle cry, but for the women in Uganda it is used as a gesture of joy, anticipation and great enthusiam for the Lord. No doubt the look on my face as I jumped 3 feet in the air was priceless as the rest of our team giggled at the sight! LOL
As we began to enter the building more trilling came from the women inside. It was a strange thing to witness for me, but fun I must say.
The morning started out with praise and worship. Many of the songs the women sing have a story in scripture and motions to them. One in particular was about being delivered from bondage out of egypt. They sang and began placing items on their heads and walking around as if they were leaving egypt headed for the promise land. As they sang, it was pressed on my heart to share with them that an important part of making it to the promise land was obedience. Many of those that were delivered never made it to the promise land because of their disobedience.
Pastor Ruth had gone through the formalities and introductions and then let the women know that the rest of the program would be turned over to me, to me? Many of you may know and some may not that public speaking is not my strength in gifts. I have expressed this to God many many times, and for some reason he just does not take me seriously! This trip would prove to be a turning point for my fear of speaking. Before this day, or trip for that matter it would have made me ill to speak in front of a large or even small group. Today however, I had no fear at all. You could feel the presence of Jesus in the room, and the verse "if God is for you, who can be against you" kept coming to mind. I actually began to enjoy talking and felt very much at ease. Thank you, Jesus, it could only have come from You!
The overall theme for the conference was about the fruit of the spirit. We had the privilege of handing out to each widow a booklet of the gospel of John. Each of the team would teach on scripture from this book so that each women could go home and meditate on the verses. We had been informed by Pastor Ruth that many of these women had been lied to by other preachers, telling them that God loved some more than others. We were more than happy to reveal to them that he loves us all the same!
We all knew that we would speak on a verse from the book of John, but each of us really had no idea what exactly would be said by the other. Again, Gods fingerprints were all over this day. As each of us spoke, our messages would lead into the next like a well orchestrated masterpiece. I don't know why we all look or seemed so shocked by it, after all,it is God we're talking about! ha!
Sharlyn gave her testimony of the heartbreak that comes from abuse as a child, and how through Gods grace she was able to forgive. Noone on our team had any idea that she would share such a difficult story. I was so proud of her and felt such a blessing to be called her friend!
Jeanice would share a story of the widows mite. Many of them were able to relate to this story. I love how Jeanice speaks on Gods word. She speaks from what God places on her heart at the moment. It's amazing to see God at work through her.
I was able to share about the fruit of the spirit and how it's only through God and a changed heart that we are able to produce these qualities in our life. Jan had given a message of salvation. What a powerful witness she is for Christ! Her words are strong yet gentle, they ring out His truth in every detail. Through her ministering four widows came forward and gave professions of faith! What an awesome sight to behold. Many had raised hands that they too excepted Christ.
A guest speaker on behalf of the Ugandan women was present also. She gave them hope for the rights of women in Uganda. The women are still oppressed by men in Uganda and it's been until just recently that they have a found a voice and are being heard. It's another example of how blessed we are in the United States.
We took a break and headed back to the hotel for a few minutes. It would be a welcome break for Jan as she still was not feeling well. She decided to stay behind and rest the remainder of the day.
As we arrived back at the conference the women were enjoying a lunch of rice, beef, and cabbage that God had provided through the wonderful donations that were given through garage sales. You have no idea how grateful these women were. Pastor Ruth had motioned to us to get in line and have some lunch. As we looked around we realized that no one was eating with utensils, they all were using their fingers. We decided it might be best to sit this lunch out. Although this custom is very foreign to us to eat with your hands, it's completely normal and exceptable for the people of uganda.
After lunch the women come forward and we handed each one a new garden hoe, seeds, toothbrushes and some candy. Again, these wonderful gifts came from donations that were so graciously given for this trip. The women were excited, some trilling again as they waited in line. It was not the most glamourous gift to give a woman, but I can tell you that it would be the most practical and useful, and would continue to help them long after we were gone to provide food for their families.
As Sharlyn, Jeanice and I were setting up the table for quick and easy distribution we noticed some school children coming home. They were waiting up in the balcony and watching. We checked our supplies and saw that there were plenty of toothbrushes and sweets to hand out to them when the women had all been given their gifts. Suddenly, what was about a handful of children, turned into a line of them outside the door! We were all too happy to extend Gods love and provision to them. It seemed as though our heads were down and we were reaching and handing, and so on, when all of a sudden Pastor Ruth said, "don't give to this one!". We looked up in bewilderment, and she smiled at us and the child and said, "he's already got, look at his face he is smiling, trying to trick you out of another". Well, there you have it! A kid is a kid and they were trying to get back in line for another round of candy. LOL
As we headed back to the hotel we could help but smile at another God driven day!
"Evangelization is a process of bringing the gospel to people where they are, not where we want them to be...When the gospel reaches a people where they are, their response to the gospel is the church in a new place." Vincent Donovan Missionary to Tanzania
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