Heart of God East Africa is taking the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Africa. Our aim is to offer compassion, love, and encouragement for the body and soul to the men, women and children of East Africa. The ministry works under the leading of the Holy Spirit. We partner together with local indigenous ministries, organizations and leaders. We are fully committed to fulfill Christ's command to look after the orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27).
The woman about whom you are about to read is named Susan. Susan in on death row in a women’s prison.
In order to protect her and the ministry the name of the prison is being withheld.
She is very dedicated to the Lord. As you will read this wasn’t always the case.
Susan was involved in the murder of her husband. She says that her husband didn’t have enough trust in her, he could not make decisions over his trust in her without the counsel of his mother. Susan became frustrated and felt the need to claim her right as a wife. Things got progressively worse, they were fighting nearly everyday.
One fateful night, things would change forever in the course of Susan’s life. Her husband came home and they began fighting. They fought almost the entire night. Susan felt that her life was in danger and so she plotted to kill her husband. Susan was not a believer and made her decision based on two reasons.
Number one, she wanted to end her misery. Number two she knew she would benefit from the riches of the family.
She devised a plan with the house maid and they killed her husband. They made the claim to authorities that they had been attacked by gangs. Investigations were made and she was found guilty of her husbands murder.
Susan has been in prison for the past twelve years. Five years ago, Susan had an encounter with God. She confessed her guilt of murder, she poured her heart out to Him and the LORD had mercy on her.
Susan has since that time become the praise and worship leader in the prison. She witnesses to the other women.
She is condemned to hang in November 2011. She is not afraid of her judgement because she knows that “my body will be hanged but my life is in the LORD”.
Susan claims, “the LORD allowed me to come here that I may know HIm, so I know I will not die here”.
Susan recently sat for her senior 6 exams and passed. She is now enrolled for university classes.
When you look at Susan, it’s hard to believe her story. She sings and worships God with a love like no other. She is not what you would expect to see of a woman in prison about to be hanged.
When our team ministered inside this prison in June 2011 and found the news about Susan’s sentence it broke our hearts. She radiates Christ and sings with joy in her heart. This is a woman whose chains have been broken!
Susan’s favorite scripture is “He turned my mourning into dancing” Psalm 30:11.
Life Transforming Prison Ministry, Saphan Muhanguzi
My name is Justine and I’m from the western region of Uganda.
I was a business woman dealing in onions and passion fruit. One day my friend and I were in a taxi. I met a brother in this taxi who was a Lt. in the Army. I hadn’t seen him in a long time. We talked and talked. He catered to my needs along the way, buying me food and other items. We had gone a long distance, nearly 100 miles, when he told me that I should probably get out. I was near home. I told him that no one would buy the merchandise I had with me here. He insisted that he did not want me to see what was going to happen. I didn’t know what he meant. I did not suspect that he could do anything bad.
As we continued the journey he told the driver to stop. He said that he wanted to have a short phone call.
The driver explained that this particular area was not safe, there were armed robbers along the road.
He insisted the driver stop. When he got out of the taxi another man in the back did the same.
Suddenly, both men pulled out pistols. The driver and passangers were told to get out of the vehicle and to strip down.
In a very short time everyone was completely naked, except for my friend and I. We were told to get back in the taxi.
As we entered the vehicle, another taxi had passed by on the opposite side of the street. Unknowing at the time, the vehicle saw what was happening and went for help. The men got back in the vehicle and headed toward Kampala.
After about 15 miles the police caught up to our vehicle. The men noticed the police approaching. They parked the vehicle and ran into the swamp. When the police finally reached the vehicle with my friend and me inside, they had begun helping us, suspecting that we were victims.
Within a few minutes, the group of people that had been robbed reached our vehicle. They wanted to tear us to pieces. This confused the police. These passangers began to explain that we were a part of the robbery because we had talked with, and eaten with one of the suspects the entire trip, and that we were not stripped and left on the roadside.
We were arrested, and after a few days we were taken to court. I admitted that I knew one of the robbers, that he had been a friend of mine. I explained to the court that my friend with me was just a victim of circumstance. She did not know either of them. She was released. Because I knew the robber and was in the vehicle at the time of the robbery, I was considered an accessory to the cime and was condemned to death. The year was 1992.
There were so many of us in the condemned section. So many were executed at one time that I remained there frightened and alone.
I too was given my execution date and when the day came, I was told that my file was missing.
It was shortly afterwards that a group of preachers came to the prison, found me alone and told me about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. That day I received Christ as my personal savior. Suddenly, I had Hope.
One of the circumstances of my imprisonment was that no one knew where I was. My husband, children, friends, and relatives thought that I must have been killed. As the time passed, the grief stricken family and friends all gathered for my funeral.
In 2008, my husband remarried. I would find this out later.
Also, in 2008 a woman came to the prison to do interviews of woman and air them on her televison program called “Untold Story”. I was interviewed on her program. This is how my family realized that I was still alive. No one including my husband and children believed it was me. Only one of my daughters said, “this is my mother!”
In Africa, prisoners are typically denounced by the family. I was no different. I had no visitors apart from the occasional brethren that would visit the prison. Then one day God brought a friend to me. I call him dad even though I am oder than him. His name is Pastor Saphan. He began visiting me every Thursday. He brought me meat to eat after going without for seventeen years. He cared for me, ministered to my needs, and I felt loved once again.
During my seventeen years in prison I have read the Bible many times. I would pray to God day after day. One night, the Lord told me that I’m not going to die in prison. I was here for a divine purpose. He said that he would bring people here and that I would minister to them. They would accept Him and be released, but I would remain here. And, indeed the Lord has done it so, many times. Praise God.
A miracle came in 2009. I had a meeting with Saphan and he rquested that I pray and fast for a few days, that the Lord was going to pardon me. I did it, and after a few days the government declared that it was going to pardon all the prisoners that had been incarcerated for long periods. I was to be one of them! I was taken to court, not knowing what would happen. I was told that my release date will be in May 2013. I look at the days remaining as a few weeks to go. I have one challenge and that is where will I go after I’m released.
Pastor Saphan has promised to take me to his home. I am wondering if I will be a burden to him since I am now very old.
I trust that my God that opened prison doors for me will make provision for me. I thank everyone that is praying for me, and has helped in my provision during my time of distress that God will bless you.
“So if you are suffering according to God’s will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.” I Peter 4:19 (NLT)
Life Transforming Prison Ministry, Saphan Muhanguzi
Today is Sunday, it's our day of worship services. Yes, services. We will all split up into five groups, head out to different churches and worship among the people, Gods people.
For me, I can't help but think of the scripture in Psalm 91:1 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
This comes to mind as we have new team members this year. Sure, we're going to church and there should be no fear in worship with God, but the fact remains we are in another country. The fear doesn't stem from worshipping God, it's in the wonder of how others worship God and where we fit in. Will it look like our worship? Will it sound like our worship? The answer is an emphatic NO.
If we are to look again at Psalm 91 we will see that our home is in Christ, our worship is in Christ. The comfort and safety, security and love are all found in Him. Today, we would each experience that even though we are in different worship services in a different country. It's surely going to be an amazing day!
My group would head to Royal Palace Ministries, led by Pastor Steven Onanuma and his wife Roselyn. In our group was myself, Sommer, Sean and Cassandra. As is typical in Ugandan churches, guests are escorted up front to a place of honor. It's quite a humbling experience. Pastor Steven opened with greetings, introduced the elders of the church and then allowed us to introduce ourselves. I gave a short greeting and word from the Lord. We were asked if we would mind going out to the children's church and visit with the children. This was a first for me, and I wasn't quite prepared for it. I know I should have been, but nevertheless I wasn't. We introduced ourselves to the children and then sang some songs with them. It's amazing how your mind draws a complete blank when you're in a position to think quick. The kids sang a song for us, and then we were escorted back into the church.
Once inside the church Pastor Steven asked who would give the message today. I thought Cassandra said that Sean was prepared to give a message. I asked him if he was ready, he was not. In fact, he was quite surprised by the thought, and so was Cassandra. I'm not sure why I was sure she told me that, but at any rate Sean accepted the request and stood before the congregation. Cassandra and I were praying as he began, and it was as if the Holy Spirit fell on Sean. He gave a powerful message out of Romans. Pastor Steven was taking notes and the congregation hung on every word! I could see Cassandra was overcome with emotion at her husband giving such a powerful message. It was fantastic!
Pastor Steven thanked Sean for his message and told us and the congregation that he was taking notes and planned on giving an entire days sermon on the message. Praise God!
The choir came up and performed songs and danced for us. Let me tell you, these people ( a new term for Ugandans, since they call us "you people") know how to praise, sing and dance at church! The energy, and the Spirit is all over the place! Even the walls seem to breathe in and out with praise!
There was tithe and offering during the service. It's not like our typical American tithe. The people in the village bring what little money they have, and place it in the tithe basket. Those that don't have money bring an offering to the Lord in the form of crops and/or livestock. Today a woman brought a chicken in. The legs are bound with string and the chicken placed on the floor (alive) near the offering basket.
More songs of worship and praise were sung, and suddenly the strings came loose on the chicken and we had a chicken on the loose inside the church. It's pretty funny and cool at the same time. I wondered if I brought a chicken to our church on Sundays and placed it in the offering plate if it would be as honored as it is here. Sadly, I doubt it.
We had a time limit (oh sure!) for our time at service today and so were told that when they offer to feed you, politely decline to keep on time. In Africa we move on a different time schedule. African Standard Time. "We are never late, only delayed."- Pastor Steven.
As we waited for the other van to come back and pick us up, we toured the school and ministry. We also tried to find some of the students that our HGEA Kids Club sponsored this year. The kids club has children in America do different forms of fundraising to sponsor a child a school. They raise $60 and a child is sponsored for an entire year at Royal Palace School. We had seven children receiving certificates and tshirts today! We were able to find two. The others would be in the school on Monday. We would have to return another day to visit the others.
Andrew and Alfred holding their certificates and tshirts
The boys father is extremely grateful for the support!
We walked down towards the land that Pastor Steven was able to purchase from an offering given to him three years ago when we visited. He shared his vision of building a church and school on the land. The land the church is currently on does not belong to the church. We stood on the ground and prayed over the vision that God has for it. That everything according to Gods will would be done!
The Land that God provided for Royal Palace Ministries
We went back inside the church to wait for the other van to arrive. It's now according to our watches (American Standard Time) about fifteen minutes late. Our concern was over two baptisms that would be happening today at another church. Sommer and Emily are scheduled to be baptized.
As we waited we were surprised by women bringing in plates and bowls of food to our table. OH NO! Remember, we were to decline politely...no chance of that now! LOL I told Roselyn that we had baptisms today and that we would only have time to eat something small. She told me that in Africa when someone serves you food, it's rude to not eat all that is served. OH MY! The table was loaded! There were only four of us! So, we proceeded to fill our plates and eat. Roselyn also told me that Americans don't know how to eat, only taking this and that. We should take some of everything. It was by far the BEST meal we had eaten since we were in Uganda. We ate and ate, and waited and waited. We were somewhat relieved to hear the van pull up!
Roselyn and pastor Steven commented that it would be rude the leave the food, and that it would be best to invite the others in to finish eating. OH MY!
So, the other team came in to eat. The look on their faces was priceless! They had just eaten!! LOL So, now. as not to be rude would eat again.
We have to remember that Ugandans don't have the luxury of leaving food when they're not hungry anymore. They eat everything as not to be wasteful. Something Americans have the terrible habit of doing everyday!
Not only were we served an extravagant meal, but they also loaded up our vehicle with fruit and produce. They knew we would be heading to Mbale today, and wanted to make sure we had food. Food they needed for themselves! It just nearly brings me to tears thinking about it as I write this.
There literally was NO room for us in the van because of all the food. The other team had brought food as well. The Ugandans are so giving, even though they really don't have it to give. What a sweet blessing!
Royal Palace Ministries
We loaded the two teams back in the van and headed back to the Prime Hotel.
The others arrived from their churches and we loaded the vans with our luggage. We would head to pastor Ruth's church for the baptism. Scott was going to perform the baptisms for Emily and Sommer.
Scott was there all morning. He went by himself to the church and gave a message to the congregation. He then had lunch with the pastors while he waited for the rest of the team.
Getting ready to load up for Mbale
This is NO easy task. One Van specifically for luggage!
We are now loaded and ready to head to the church for a special service! Sommer and Emily would be baptized at Tororo Pentecostal Church, led by Pastor John. It's a large church, probably the largest in the area. Pastor John gave a message about Baptism, and songs of praise and worship were sang. Because water is not easily provided for this type of service, there were many Ugandans that were told during the Sunday service to come back if they felt led to be baptized. There were over twenty!
Praise, Worship and Baptism
The baptismal is a large pit in the floor of the stage area behind the pulpit.
Baptistery
Due to the depth of the baptistery and the amount of water we could find. The water level was only enough to have them sit and lay back. It was enough for total submersion. Scott and an associate pastor of the church would perform the baptisms. Scott barely made it back from lunch...surprise! "TIA" This is Africa! ;)
Emily prepares for her baptism
Sommer and Emily embrace with happiness!
Sommer is baptized
Over twenty Ugandans lined up for baptism! This woman is baptized and happy!
Emily, Scott and Sommer
It's no secret that today was a day to glorify the Most High God! As we load back in the vans and head to Mbale, we are all praising God and just taking in all that He has allowed us to experience so far. The trip is exceeding and abundantly full of Gods goodness, God's mercy and grace! We praise Your Name that we have a permanent abode and residence in You.
If you've not found this secret place and your heart is desiring to know and find it. Contact me so I can share with you how to find it! I'm praying for you right now <3
Temptation. The word alone sounds tempting, doesn't it. Temptation. It's something we all face daily. No one on earth is above it. There is however, One that can help us to overcome it.
"The Father...shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." John 14:16
Today we are headed to the Youth Center in Tororo to hold our Youth Rally. Funny thing about our American language used in East Africa. They don't always have the same definition. When you hold a rally in Uganda, in their translation it means a protest or uprising. So, today we have changed our schedule to include a Youth Conference. The theme for the conference is "Tough Times, Strong Savior".
We arrive slightly delayed, "TIA". The youth are all inside, singing and dancing upon our arrival.
The team heads in straight for the stage. There are about a hundred youth inside.
We all introduce ourselves, then toss out twelve beach balls and crank up the music. The kids are jumping and yelling, swatting balls around the room. The energy is going!
This would be a day of stretching and growth for some of our team members. When we share our testimony we are sometimes tempted to keep quiet. This would be true for many Christians. The enemy wants nothing more than to condemn us of our past and keep us from giving God glory for setting us free. Today, we are setting free the bondage of condemnation!
Keegan shared a message of going through tough times with a relationship he was in. He has found victory through this trial and his message was a blessing to many. The amazing thing about sharing a message or testimony is that it makes you real. It makes others see that they aren't the only ones going through difficult times.
We played games of Cookie Face, jump rope contests, and Fix the Banana. Cookie Face was a race to see who could get the cookie that is placed on their forehead moved down to their mouth, without using their hands, the fastest. It's not as easy as it looks!
Fix the Banana was a game that had a message to it. Two teams came up front and were instructed to wait for the go, then peel the banana and cut it into pieces. Go! And they're off! The teams were peeling and cutting the banana as fast as they could. Ok, now what?
Bryan then asked them to take the banana's and put them back together just as they were before they started. What? They looked at him very confused. "Go ahead, take the banana pieces and place them back in the peel and put it back together again." he said.
Blank stares and confusion were all he got. He looked at one of the girls and said, "you can't do it, can you?" and then he proceeded to eat a piece of the cut banana! The kids laughed hysterically. Then he said, "wow that banana is really good, you want some?" roars of laughter filled the room as he ate some of the other teams banana as they were trying desperately to put it back together.
Finally, he brought it home for them. Sometimes in life we do things that can cause everything to change, and things can't go back to the way they were. When we're tempted in life (and we will be) we need to really think about the consequences. When temptation is too great, we need to pray and ask Jesus to help us!
We had a message that followed this on purity by Andrea. Sexual temptation is a tough subject but one that needs to be proclaimed boldly! She did an amazing job! Then she followed it up with a poem.
Sharlyn and John did a skit on a young couple starting to date. Sharlyn and John have two married sons and grandchildren. They had the kids (I should say John had the kids) in stitches. It was really cute!
After the messages we invited the youth who felt led to come up front and pray a purity prayer in front of their friends and teachers. Anyone that came also got a small ring to wear. They all charged the stage! I pray that if even one had a pure thought of being obedient, that it was worth the rush!
I found out a couple days later that Andrea almost backed out of doing her message. She didn't feel like she would be an effective teacher. The enemy was again tempting her to disobedience! Thank you Jesus for overcoming this obstacle for her!
Abriana and Cassandra sang a song called "This Little Light of Mine".
We had testimonies shared by Julie, Kaleb, Sommer, Abriana and Bobby. Most of them were difficult to share. They were messages of tough times! Times of temptation, hardship, and sin. The types of messages that God loves to get the glory from! And He did!
Abriana shared how she was diagnosed at three years old with cancer. She was in the hospital having treatments. She remembered many visitors and her family close by and praying constantly for her. She said she remembered her grandmother being in the room with her praying. She said, "grandma do you feel it?" Her grandmother asked, "feel what?" "The rain" she said, "the rain". Her grandmother didn't feel any rain, but Abriana felt something on her like rain. The next day the doctors told her parents that they couldn't find any signs of cancer in her body! She was instantly healed and has been cancer free ever since! She graduated high school this year!
The team did a skit that we thought might be too much for the youth in East Africa. They might not understand fully what's going on. Sylvia and Christy held signs on both sides of the stage that gave brief descriptions of what was happening. By the end of the skit, the kids were screaming, yelling and praising God! Pastor Ruth was in tears. She said it was the most powerful skit she'd ever seen. She said, "these children know, these children know" and couldn't utter another word...I sat with tears in my eyes with her!
We dove right back in with fun and energetic songs! Had to bring it back up and so it was!! Let the fun begin. Had a jump rope contest and loud music...yes it was on!
We broke for lunch. It was time to learn to eat Ugandan style for some team members. Oh, its not easy and yes, it's messy!
After lunch the Ugandan youth ministered to our team. It's an great way to experience East Africa culture through dance, skits and testimonies. Can I tell you, "kids are kids no matter where you live". I will say they have us beat on the dance skills! These guys and girls can move!!
The girls below are actually in a competition for best national school dance team. I say we get this the to US and start an exercise video. Makes my shoulders ache just watching it! LOL
This team was from Royal Palace ministries. Watch these two guys! They know how to move!!
We ended the program with a salvation message by Scott. There were probably about twelve kids that came up on stage to accept Christ! He kept asking, "is there anyone else?" probably about three times he repeated this, until he was sure and then they all prayed together. This is why we do this. God calls us here to be vessels and tools to help others that they might know him. That they might see that temptation is everywhere, all over the world. That even so, Jesus can help them over come temptation and live a life that's pleasing and glorifying to him! Praise your name!!
We ended the day feeling God all over us! What a great day!
We got to the hotel early and were able to shower and get cleaned up before dinner! That was a treat!
Sommer was crying at the youth rally towards the end. I asked her what was wrong and she wouldn't tell me. When we got to the hotel she told me. She said when Scott as asking if there was anyone else that wanted to recieve Christ, she felt like she should go up. She didn't and was feeling guilty. She had always thought she was saved and a Christian until today, until she'd experienced all that God had allowed her to see up to this day. She asked me, "what should I do mom? Is it too late?" I grabbed her hands and she prayed for Jesus to come into to heart right then! Oh, it's never too late!!!
Lot's of highs tonight at dinner! Thank you God for this wonderful ministry of yours!!
Thank you God for a wonderful day!
I received this message today from Christine Birt. Christine came to Uganda at the age of 49. She felt God calling her to prison ministry and has lived there ever since. I believe she said its been about 16 years now serving God!
As I mentioned, she ministers inside a men's prison in Mbale. She's seen God move in powerful ways. Just last week she sat with a man who was very ill. He didn't make it through the night, but was able to pray with him before he went to be with the Lord.
Sharlyn and I were able to meet with Christine on the last week of our trip. She brought items that the men had made for us to look at. The men make baskets, jewelry and other wares in an effort to help support themselves. They're quite good at it.
Below is the recent email I received from Christine. I hope you are blessed by it!
Dear Denise,
Praise God, at last I have managed to upload these pictures. It has taken about 6 hours. Internet is slow, twice it has cut off completely. The joys of the mission field.....
The pictures are of me handing over the beads to the OC Mbale Government prison for craft work, and to help the prisoners gain skills that will help to support themselves on release. I am taking carrots weekly for one prisoner whose eyes are needing these vitamins, and minerals. I took a large bottle of orange squash for one who has been in sick bay for months with a mental problem which manifests itself with loss of memory. I prayed for him on Wednesday. Another one in sick bay was ready to be saved - give God the Glory. Another received Jesus as his Saviour at the end of the Discipleship teaching on the same day.I have bought coloured manila papers, and silver papers, and clear varnish to help with the craft work. I usually buy some sugar and soap every time I go. I have had a request for a vacuum flask. Also I buy any medicine that is not available in the prison. Sometimes I pay for Xrays. The are still hungry for Bibles.
Thank you for praying for me. I feel that something oppressive has lifted off me, I found that I was laughing yesterday and realised that I had not laughed properly for many months.
My radio discipleship hour went exceptionally well this week. We could feel the anointing on us. So many people are listening, and many send messages of appreciation.
I have been given the money for an air ticket to go to the UK for October. Pray that my dual citizenship papers will be through before then, and that I will have my Ugandan passport, as well as the British one.
You are a blessing to us in Uganda. Much love in Jesus, Christine.
Craft Supplies
Christine handing supplies to the O.C. of the Prison
Today we have several different ministries going on. The men will hold their second men's conference, and the rest of the team will visit the karamojong orphans of Smile Africa Ministries.
I had some excitement today at the Prime hotel. It came in the form of electricity! My expectations were quickly shot to the ground as I plugged in my hair dryer only to find that it barely blew air. I have no idea what God is doing, well that's not true, I know exactly what he's doing. Did I have to like it, no.
I resigned myself to the fact that I just wasn't going to do my hair on this trip, and that was it. Yes, I know it sounds vain. It is.Plain and simple, and that's the condition of my hair the past few days..plain and simple.
Sommer was on the balcony and I could hear her talking. When I came out of the bathroom I saw her talking over the balcony with Bryan and Kermit who were down on the lower level driveway outside. They had asked how my hair dryer was since we now had electricity. Her response, "it isn't. It's not working for her". Bryan asked her to give him the dryer. She grabbed it and hung it down two stories, over the balcony for him to look at.
He told her he was coming up. Within just a few minutes he flipped some switches, exchanged some of my electrical adaptors and had the dryer working! Kermit grabbed the dryer and began drying my hair. It was hysterical. He is not a hair dresser, nor does he know how to use a dryer. My hair was flying in the front of my face, around the back and sideways! It actually was on super turbo mode! Almost too powerful. LOL It was a Kodak moment to be sure!
I was now able to do something with the mess that was called hair on my head for the past 4 days. I was to say the least, thankful to Bryan and to God for the favor shown me today.
We met in the dining area for breakfast, devotional and numbers this morning. Cassandra gave a great devotional. Our numbers were all still pretty high, nothing under a six today. Mine, I will say was a ten simply due to the fact that I had a working hair dryer.
For some this was the day they had looked forward to from the beginning of the trip. The day they would minister to the children of Smile Africa. A day to show those despised in their own culture that someone loved and cared about them.
The vans came to pick up the women and take them to Smile Africa. They would return to pick up the men.
All the men would head to the men's conference. The whole men's team including the youth would go. Those not speaking would come back to Smile Africa to minister to the kids. The exception would be John, as he was heading up a CPR class at Smile Africa.
As we head to Smile Africa, there's a lot of anticipation about which children would still be there from last year, and which might not. The karamojong orphans arrive each day on foot at 8:00am. The age range is one year, to eighteen years. The majority walk a minimum of three miles and carry siblings on their backs. Many are street children, some are cared for by relatives but those numbers are few, and some considered extremely high risk, now reside at Smile Africa.
Children carry siblings to get food each day
I'm reminded of this verse, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Matthew 8:20
When Christ had his ministry on earth He had no home, but His home in heaven will last forever. These children suffer in many ways, the same way Christ did. They are despised among their own people. They, for the most part, have no place to lay their heads, no place to call home. This makes our ministry to them of even greater importance. Some how they MUST know that God has a special place for them, a place they can eagerly anticipate, and an assurance of a permanent never-ending home that lasts throughout eternity!
Sharlyn and John held a CPR course for the teachers that work at Smile Africa. John is a licensed EMT. They were so eager to learn a skill that would enhance their job skills and knowledge of how to take care of someone in distress. With over four hundred and twenty children at the compound each day, you can understand the importance of a class like this! They spent all day in training and were each given a certificate of completion. What a blessing!
CPR training
Jan and I took a tour with Pastor Ruth around the compound. God is blessing her efforts in supporting the children. There is a baby room, a girls room and boys room. These are children considered high risk and are allowed to stay at the compound over-night. Aside from the babies, the older kids go off to school and return at the end of the day.
Pastor Ruth's mother also resides on the compound. She is happy and healthy now!
Babies asleep in their cribs..yes these are cribs
Jan and I are asked if we could minister to a young woman who has come to see Pastor Ruth. Pastor Ruth ministers to the local women and widows of Tororo. This woman had a vision and wanted to discuss it. Pastor Ruth filled us in on her dilemma. Her baby had died. She had a vision while walking that God had told her he was going to resurrect her baby. She was convinced it was going to happen. Her baby died three years ago. We sat with her for over an hour. We shared scripture and Jan had great compassion with stories of having lost babies too. We can only hope that seeds of faith were planted, and that Truth would fill her mind.
Jan, Rachel the woman who lost her baby and Ruth
The men and youth arrived at the compound around lunch time. The team helped to serve the children. Rice and a banana was on the menu today. In fact, it's the menu everyday, minus the banana. Pastor Ruth works with a group called Feed my Starving Children. They provide a rice supplement. It's a rice type food with added nutrients. It's not the most appetizing food, but it's food provided by God. Pastor Ruth told me of a man that came to Smile Africa and as he watched the children be fed, he began to put down the food she was feeding the children. She was in tears. She said, "my brother, this food may not be suitable by your standards, but it's provided to all these children by God. If it weren't for Gods provision through this supplement program most of them would starve to death. To tell me you despise what God has provided, is not acceptable to me." It's no surprise I was in tears at the end of this story.
A great lesson to us. Don't condemn what God provides, it could be a matter of life or death to the recipient. It shed a new light on my view of what they were eating. A meal sent by the King.
Morning Porridge (rice milk)
After lunch, the kids were separated into groups. In one group they would hear a story called "The parable of the King", a story about being the son or daughter of the King. Another group would make crowns of paper, stickers and jewels. The third group would sing songs, and the fourth group would play a game of prince, prince, King. ( a revised version of duck duck goose).
You would say that the idea was grand! The execution, not so grand. The children had a hard time understanding the story, and once the rest of the group saw those beautiful crowns, it was over! LOL
Suddenly, all they wanted was a crown! And why not, they are after all sons and daughters of the King of Kings!
They LOVED the crowns. From the youngest to the oldest! So, each group re-grouped into crown making. It's quite overwhelming to have four hundred small children, and large children clamouring around you to make a crown. Some coming back as crowns disassemble and want them put back together again. If you've not had the experience of this type of "organized chaos" before, you could lose your cool quite easily.
We are not here to lose our cool. We take a deep breath and pray for Gods direction, wisdom and eagerly anticipate the end of the line of children waiting for crowns. LOL
Loving their crowns!
Pastor Ruth sits and admires all the sons & daughters of the King!
Sean had some soccer balls for the kids. All I can say is WOW! They love new balls. They love to play!
Soccer Time!
As our time grew shorter, we still had clothes to pass out to the children. Verda Reeves has a dear friend that donated over four hundred dresses and shirts to give to the children. They were so excited to get their new clothes. It looked like a sea of rainbow colors!
A rainbow of colors and new clothes!
The men's conference is going well, and just about over. In fact, David was one of the invited men. He came from Nairobi Kenya to attend. He had emailed me prior that he was going to deliver a gift to me. I was surprised to see that he had. He brought Kenyan Tea. We talked about his ministry in Kenya. We are praying where God will lead. He has invited us to visit his village!
David, myself and Sommer accepting the tea
Our last event on the agenda today was to visit the widows shop of Smile Africa.
This is where we can purchase hand made items from the widows. It can take quite a bit of time. There are so many things to look at!
decisions, decisions!
We finally start to head back to the hotel. Because we now had the entire group at Smile Africa it would take two trips. The men had all joined us from the conference.
It did take a while for everyone to arrive back at the hotel. The driver that dropped the first group off took a detour before picking up the rest of the group. LOL It was late and not too funny by the time they arrived.
We all headed to dinner and debriefing of the day. Bryan and Scott spoke about the men's conference. It was successful. About one hundred men attended. They listened to the messages and ended in question and answer sessions. The men have deep legitimate questions. Many are family related. They all received a copy of John Pipers book "God is the Gospel"
The video below are the men at conference eating without utensils (something common in Uganda). David from Kenya sits and fellowships with them.
Shari and John shared about the CPR class. They were still pretty excited about how enthusiastic the teachers were to learn and how appreciative they were to get their certificates.
As we shared our High/Low moments, it got pretty intense. Some of our team members had difficulty with what they experienced at Smile Africa. It's with good reason. These kids are in a sad state. Even though you see their smiles in the pictures, they live in pretty horrific conditions. Most of them, no all of them are filthy. Many of them have AIDS/HIV and take ARV's. Some can't get the medicine and don't make it. They get one meal a day, and as stated above, to our standards it's not acceptable. We have to remember though, that as Pastor Ruth said, God has provided for these children. We can't condemn what He's provided. We can however be called into action to add to the blessing. Now the children receive fruit once a week. With prayerful consideration we can do more. We just have to be obedient to what God asks of us. If he cares for the sparrow, the bird considered to be the lowest of all the birds, he cares for the karamojong more!
To God be the Glory!!
This morning we would leave Entebbe and head to Tororo. The drive is about four to five hours, depending on traffic, stops, etc.
We've had some great experiences while in Entebbe. The relationships that have already been built from past trips, and the new ones that we made always make it difficult to leave. You build a spiritual bond, and that bond is great.
Sommer and Alex pose with hats and purses. Alex was hysterical!
Michael and Sean at the men's conference
Some of the team being goofy in the gardens..what did they see? Heaven?
This bond makes leaving comparable to leaving a "home" and moving to another. Saphan, our director of prison ministries puts it this way, "when you go, you leave a big gap for us". The "gap" is felt in the heart by our team, those that we've all grown to love, and by experiencing the work of God together. When you come together for Gods mission, his purpose, and you all experience the intensity of God in relationship together, you can't help but love one another in a new way! The family of God.
This sparks another thought in my mind, to the scripture that says, "In my Father's house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2
When we travel in and throughout East Africa spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, he is always ahead of us preparing the hearts of those he has called to himself. It also makes me think of the quote by Bishop Ryle who said, "Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people, and they that enter shall find that they are neither unknown nor unexpected."
I don't know about you, but that really stirs my heart. Not just for me, but for those that we meet along the way, those hearts that are called by Jesus. He's already prepared a place for them, for us. We aren't even aware that when we accept Christ for the first time, we are not strangers to him and we're not unexpected! Our mansions have already been prepared. Those we minister to in East Africa, already have a room prepared in the Father's house. So, no matter where we are, which "home" we visit, He has already gone before us, he knows us intimately and has prepared a home. Amazing!
Pastor Steven from Royal Palace Ministries and George's brother arrive to pick us up. Again, we would need an extra vehicle for our luggage. We load up and head out.
It wasn't long before we would pull over. The van in front of us has a flat tire. It was heard said from someone inside the vehicle, "thank God it's only a flat and not someone shooting at us!" Can you imagine? You're driving along and hear a BANG! Your first thought is that someone has shot at you! Oh, Lord. Praising Him that it's only a flat tire.
The team inside begins to exit the vehicle and move to the side of the road. This would entail climbing down a ditch and back up to the road side farthest away from the vehicle.
While waiting, those of us in the van behind hear tires squealing and horn honking. A semi-truck nearly missed the vehicle in front of us! Another God stop! How many times had he protected us from things we hadn't even seen. Preparing a way for us, and us so unaware!
Yes, God is AWESOME!
see the black skid marks? A near fatal accident!
We praise God for his mercy and safety over a near horrific accident! John is way down the street in the photo above. He is standing where the semi first laid on his brakes trying to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of us. You can also see how close to our vehicle those marks are! WOW!
We all decide to exit both vehicles and go the far side of the road. You can see in the photo also that it's not a real busy road. By our American standards of traffic anyway.
Our thoughts are that it's going to take some time to fix this flat. It was about ten or fifteen minutes and we're ready to roll again. These guys know what they're doing and get the job done!
We pass the Nile river and are now nearing chicken on a stick! It's a must stop for our team each year.
I can say that for those that have never experienced it, it's frightening. For those of us that have, we sit back and watch the faces of those that haven't and remember our first experience. LOL
It's quite an experience! But the chicken is worth the scare. Yes, it is scary. Tons of Ugandans surround your vehicle with chicken, meats, vegetables on sticks. They open your window and thrust their goods inside, all begging you to buy their items. Our new word of the day, "Saagala". This means, I do not like it, or No. It was quite funny watching the faces of Ugandan people when we would use this phrase. They would smile and say, "mzungu's say Saagala".
I can say from experience that each year the vendors get a a bit more bold in their techniques. One vendor harassed Emily by asking her why she wouldn't share her chicken with him. Eventually, you have to just shut the window and doors and go!
chicken on a stick vendors, with water and meat sticks
now THIS is chicken on a stick!
The Nile River
On the road again.. We're now closing in our destination! Tororo Uganda.
We also stop along the road to see the baboons. They weren't out and about too much this year.
These baboons are pretty accustom to humans around them. The Ugandans walk the road they inhabit.
Wild baboons on the road
These guys are pretty big!
Tororo Rock!
Finally we see it! Tororo Rock! We're almost there. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself that when I see this rock I feel as if I'm almost home. Tororo is home to me in Uganda. But as I stated prior, anywhere we are in Christ, we're home!
colorful dresses of Ugandan women
We reach the hotel and get ourselves all checked in. This is no quick process! We have a team of nineteen people in this group. Some of our team members are still in Mbale. Oh my gosh! They're still in Mbale.
Good grief, I forgot our men! How embarrassing!
I get a call from Mary asking me if I had arranged a ride for Bryan and Kermit to Tororo. I told her no, that they would be coming for the men's conference. She reminded me that the men's conference was in the morning. Oh my! Mary had arranged for her driver in Mbale to bring Bryan and Kermit to the hotel. The upside (if you could find one) is that Mbale is only about forty-five minutes to an hour away. They would arrive in time for dinner!
Oh, how I would have loved to leave this part out of my blog! LOL
Bryan and Kermit...how could I forget these guys!! LOL
Dinner is set up for us in a private room. A buffet fit for a king! As I sit and watch the team, I can't help but get a lump in my throat. No, it's not because I forgot the guys, although it could have been!
Despite some differences, and there are differences. This team is comprised of people from Ohio, Iowa, California and Texas. All different upbringing, backgrounds, like and dislikes, but all here for one purpose, His purpose.
We debrief the trip to Tororo. For most the lows are overall about the long drive, except for Kermit who said his low was because I forgot them, LOL, the highs are for what awaits the team in the coming days, as we set up "home" here in Tororo.
No matter where we live, where we "come" from, if we are in Christ our roots are the same! Heaven is a permanent home!
To end the night, some of the team set up camp in one of the rooms and begin the start of "Mafia" (a card game).
Tomorrow... another men's conference and a visit to Smile Africa!!
