Uganda Evangelism Trip

Reentry

2009-10-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, I can say we are all stateside and accounted for. Carl Bosteels made it home shortly after the rest of the team Wednesday, and Matt Mitchell arrived Sunday night after a grueling trek around the planet.

Adjusting to life at home is to be expected, but is always more difficult than we plan. In addition to jet-lag, residual illness and fatigue, there is the metamorphosis of spirit that has occurred.

If you've been reading this blog (I encourage you to read through it again), you may find it incredulous that so much could have happened in so short a time. We're right there with you. This trip was of biblical proportions. How often do you run away from home, introduce 8,000 people to the Lord Jesus, speak to more than twice that number, encounter the depths of poverty and the height of joy several times over in a two-week period, only to be sent back home empty-handed and full-hearted? I don't know how the apostles did it.

As overwhelming of an experience it may have been for you, 23 people are carrying a flood of facts and emotions that are quite out of place in the U.S.

Be patient with us when we can't give you an answer to: "So, how was your trip?" Give us a little time to collect ourselves if we begin to weep mid-sentence.

Above all, give glory to God for using the likes of us to do His work, reflect His majesty, and bring freedom to His people.

Right now, God gives us rest. But something tells me, like a child playing hard with a parent, we will soon hear "Let's do it again!"

When you hear that call, go.

Orbiting the Globe

2009-10-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry to leave you hanging. The last 3 days have been a complete blur. A little r & r after the church plant (ok...a lot of r & r), some shopping and sightseeing around Mt. Elgon (a.k.a. Eden!), complete with waterfalls, hiking, and high adventure, we packed up, had a final devotional on "What do you think God wants to do next?" based on Philippians 1:6, which says "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

The resolutions and revelations were amazing to hear...watch out! We've seen firsthand what wonders
come when God is on the move.

Next, it was into the vans to begin our 36 hour journey back home. A 4-hour ride to Kampala, a great exotic restaurant serving the likes of Naan, Wildebeast, Kudoo, Springbuck, Crocodile, and more. There, we met up with James Wald, a missionary from Mustang, Oklahoma. Oklahomans are everywhere!

A little shopping at the market up the street and on to the airport. Here, we bid farewell to Morris, Aidah, and Matt. (Please stay in prayer for Matt! He has a board meeting in Malawi (a few countries south), so his journey takes him to Kenya and Malawi, before coming back a tortuous route: Malawi, Nairobi, Entebbe/Kampala, Amsterdam, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Lubbock!)

Thank you for praying and encouraging us all. We have been fed and blessed over and over because our connection to you through the Lord Jesus Christ.

More to come...

3...2...1...LAUNCH!

2009-10-11T11:18:00.001-07:00

The anticipation has been building all week. When we arrived 30 minutes late for Sunday School, it was already standing room only! We “prepared the site” by worshiping about 30 minutes with powerful songs and prayers.

Then we broke up into groups. The children (at least 250) met outside on mats under a tent. There, Rhonda, Sharon, Jayne, Ali taught them the 10 commandments on their fingers (write me if you want to know it…it’s easy!). They also taught them a “hand” prayer, where they associate each finger with a group of people to pray for.

We also passed out about 1500 crayons (several colors) to the children. They were ecstatic and went right to coloring the papers we handed out. Not only crayons, but paper is also a premium here for schoolchildren.

The women stayed inside the church while Judy Langdon taught them on what it means to be church, how to pray, and the benefit of covenant groups. The small group idea fit very well within their culture. Judy delineated a true faithful sharing covenant group from a group of women who just get together to gossip. They all nodded with complete understanding.

The church was fairly full with just the women, an indication of the spiritual strength of Ugandan women. Of course, you could also read that as the men abdicating spiritual headship and responsibility in the family.

The men met outside the church on the porch, led by Matt Mitchell. Several hundred men studied the “marks of the church” from Acts 2: teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayers, giving, signs and wonders, evangelism, and community. It was a whirlwind crash course in Christianity but so many things that were needed for a good foundation.

When asked if there were any testimonies or encouragements, one man stood up and gave all glory to God in describing how his daughter lost her eyesight. After a month of prayers by family and friends, she was able to see again. He then told the men about how this same daughter some time later fell ill for a few days. After much prayer she died after sundown. His response was “all we could do was praise God for her life.” They continued praying all night and into the morning. He gave testimony that after 12 hours, she gasped and was alive again. She was in church this morning. Signs and wonders still abound.

After an hour, we tried to gather back into the sanctuary, but there was not enough room. People kept coming! There were around 1000 people there! It was standing room only on the inside, with a few hundred looking in the windows and doors on the outside.

With the help of the generator that YOU purchased, the worship service was led with a public address system that pumped the sound inside and out. We also provided a keyboard, speakers, amp and microphones.

Every aspect of worship was full, rich and amazing! People truly gave themselves to the Lord as they sang, waved, danced, prayed and shouted.

After a great aerobic warm-up (worship here is like a workout!), Carl preached on Acts 8 (Ethiopian coming to Christ on the road). Instead of “Ethiopian” he used the word “African” which spoke volumes to those in attendance. He explained how one man who wanted to know about Jesus came to faith, was baptized and then took the gospel to Africa. They cheered and cheered when Carl said, “YOU can help spread this message as this African did. You will change the world for Jesus Christ.”

When he asked if any in the room had not yet trusted Jesus, 10 came forward! More came forward later in the afternoon!

Then the Presbytery moderator addressed the pastor and the church, and the Presbytery installed the pastor. All the pastors (Mzungu and African) laid hands on Pastor Julius, Leo prayed the commissioning prayer, and there was great rejoicing!

Pastor Julius addressed his new flock for the first time and gave an invitation to the Wednesday Bible Study. He said at that meeting, the congregation would establish what each day would bring. (Traditional pattern is Monday - visitation, Tuesday – Choir, Wednesday – Bible Study, Thursday – Women’s Bible Study, Saturday – rest, Sunday – worship)

The whole congregation had lunch on site, and we continued to give thanks to God for all the many blessings for this week of work.

Right before we left, the team walked over to the school where we drilled our water well. Being the third attempt, seeing the pump bring water brought more water to our eyes!

The van ride home was tough. Knowing we weren’t coming back to Mukongoro the next day was sad. Our prayer is that we will come back next year to disciple this burgeoning family in the faith. With your continued prayer and support, they will grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. Seriously, only through prayer will this church be sustained.

In fact, we have been covered in prayer 24 hours a day since we got on the plane. When was the last time we held vigil for 2 weeks. They began praying when we took off…they haven’t stopped and won’t until we land Wednesday.

With prayer coverage like this, how could we NOT succeed for the Lord? To God be all the glory!

Unbelieveable.

2009-10-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

After being floored by Delilah's sudden acceptance of Christ after hearing us sing unto the Lord, Jesus did it again (somebody must be praying over there!)

While poolside, enjoying the end of the day with the Westminster gang, I was paying for a pizza we'd ordered from the bar. A man from India was also there, settling his tab and we said hello. I asked him why he was there (you don't see too many Indians in Uganda). He was on vacation, but living in Jinja (Chinese Restaurant from day 1) selling industrial hardware. Said he was there for the money. He asked why we were there. I told him we were sharing the grace of Jesus Christ.

I asked him what he believed about death and the afterlife. I expected him to say something about reincarnation or Brahmin religious practices, but instead he said, "I'll go to heaven." I said, "On what basis? If there is a gate there, and they ask you why you should get in, what will you say?"

Tough question, he said. Uncomfortable silence. I asked if he thought it was based on his good deeds outweighing his bad deeds. He nodded. I shared the fact that none of us is righteous enough to enter the presence of God. (Romans 3:23) All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. He agreed.

Then we talked about the penalty of sin being spiritual death/separation from God (Romans 6:23). He agreed.

Then we talked about God coming to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, living a sinless life, dying for our sin (Romans 5:8), rising from the grave. His eyes opened wider. He kept nodding.

His friends were calling him away. He stayed a bit more.

I said, "You know, God loves you very much and has made a way for you to come to him. You can't get there on your own. We all need Jesus."

He smiled. Left quietly, and glanced over his shoulder as he left.

God only knows what will happen next. All I know is I'm convinced that it doesn't matter if you're in a bar, at the store, digging a ditch or on vacation: every day is a good day to talk about Jesus.

But Wait...There's MORE!

2009-10-10T14:16:00.001-07:00

God just humbled and blessed us again. I’m nearly speechless.

Last night, we were in the hotel’s watering hole celebrating Uganda Independence Day. There we got to learn the Ugandan national anthem from some very inebriated guests. I video-taped them and we all had a good laugh.

Tonight, after our team meeting, we practice our choir song, “There is Power in the Blood” for services tomorrow. After our “practice” was over, a young woman popped her head into our conference room and wanted to talk with me. It was none other than the woman from the bar the night before. Her name is Delilah Nawino.

She said she was supposed to meet a friend at a party at the hotel, but was stood up. As she was leaving to go home, she passed by our banquet room and heard the “power in the blood of the Lord” song. When she peeked in, she saw me and asked Tom and Henry to fetch me. We greeted and exchanged a laugh once again. Then she said she was a Muslim, had no support from her friends, and thought about trusting Jesus once long ago, but thought it would be more convenient and easier to remain a Muslim.

I said, “Why?” She couldn’t give a definitive answer, so I finally asked, “How do you get to Heaven?” She gave the right answer: “By trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior.”

“Do you trust in Jesus, Delilah?” She said she did not. She didn’t know what Jesus had to do with it, but she’d heard that Jesus was somehow important. We went through the gospel message. Before I could even ask, she said, “I want to give my life to Jesus right now!” We prayed, and she jumped up praising God, shouting “Hallelujah!”

I invited her to the church dedication tomorrow. She was ecstatic. “You mean you launch the first day tomorrow?” What a privilege. Thank you Lord. And we thought we were done for the week!

Pomp & Circumstance

2009-10-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

The team was moving a little slower today. Some caught up on sleep, some celebrated Independence Day late into the night. After a late breakfast we gathered to attend the Grand Biennial Graduation Ceremonies of Covenant Bible Institute of Theology (CBIT).

Again the providence of God was made manifest. Turns out, they only celebrate graduation every other year, and on the second week in October. We did not plan our trip around this event – we didn’t even know about it until Tuesday!

Coincidence does not exist here. I have just begun to serve on the provisional USA board of CBIT and attended some of the classes Tuesday to evaluate the caliber of professors and the curriculum. While there, I was asked to represent the board by being the commencement speaker on Saturday. An honor too great for me, but I was persuaded after they explained how God worked it out for a greater purpose.

They kept referring to us as the “guests of honor.” Truly we were humbled and felt unworthy of the title, yet over the course of explaining the history of CBIT, Pastor Vincent said, God again has provided for this institution through the generous giving of the brothers and sisters from America.

All four pastors plus elder Tom Langdon wore academic regalia.

I gave the address, encouraging these new pastors to have confidence in their education, to continue learning the Word, and to be a humble servant of God’s people, transparent, so that they can see through the pastor as they gaze upon Jesus Christ.

Tom gave the charge to the graduates stressing the need to be storytellers, telling the story of Jesus in the church, and out in the field.

Morris Ogenga, chairman of the CBIT Uganda board, gave perhaps the best advice: “In the church, there are no tribes, no favoritism, no partiality. We are all God’s children. We are one.”

My favorite line from the ceremony was when the graduates move their cap tassels from the right to the left: “We are changing history forever.” It’s true.

The Bible College is the heartbeat of the evangelism program, for without pastors who know the Word of God, how can you plant churches?

The Mukongoro church will provide at least one pastoral candidate by next year, and he will study at CBIT, only to graduate and be ordained/installed at a church planted 3 years from now! This symbiotic relationship feeds the evangelism mission of the PCU.

The pastor we are installing at Mukongoro is Pastor Julius. He graduated today, and received the leadership award – a good sign for this new church!

It was a very long ceremony, complete with traditional African dancing, full processional, a brass marching band, choirs from the school and orphanage, poetry readings, professional portrait studio (printed and framed on the spot), and a large lunch for everyone in attendance (300-400 people!)

It was great to see the parental support for these young men who graduated. The program of study is very difficult, and the curriculum and caliber of professors rivaled my own seminary education!

Finally, the teams made it back to the hotel and rested, shopped, or strolled for the rest of the day. Although it must come, today served as a reminder that our work is finished here, and that the plane ride home is looming on the African horizon.

We are very excited to see our families, to be sure. Yet this is mixed with a tinge of sadness over leaving this beautiful place and even more beautiful people.

All this week we’ve been using Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together.” Very intense discussions of Community, Time Alone, Daily Routine, Ministry, Confession and Communion. This set the tone and the spirit of each day.

I am so proud of this team. They have been community - they've loved well, studied hard, worked even harder and have epitomized the word flexible. No longer average men and women, these have been changed into evangelists, apostles, preachers, teachers, healers, prophets and leaders.

God be praised, in work and in rest.

A Challenge for You

2009-10-09T15:55:00.001-07:00

Since today (Saturday) is a day of rest from the Lord's labor, let's see some questions! You have been great with encouraging comments, and we'd like also to be able to respond to questions you may have. It can't be any harder than the questions we've had on the trail!

Just for the Kids

2009-10-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

We took a "Daddy" picture today, just for our kids. Turns out the only folks with small children at home are the guys. We love you, kids! We miss you, and can't wait to see you. XOXOXOXOXO

The Dads

Finishing Strong!

2009-10-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Today is Uganda’s independence day from England. (we have that in common!) The theme of freedom was woven throughout the day. Freedom from sin! Freedom from death! Freedom from judgment! Freedom IN Jesus Christ! We are so privileged to be here at this time.

At schools, although it was Independence Day, 300 kids showed up to hear the Word of God. As Dustin described, “it is something so amazing to see 50-70 young men and women come forward boldly, in front of their peers, filled with the Spirit and truly responding to the gift of Jesus Christ. It was the most beautiful moment I’ve experienced here.”

Prison visits today was a mountaintop experience…literally. On the top of Mount Elgon, Kapchoro Prison received the team graciously (73 men, 3 women, 1 baby).

Many were unfairly imprisoned. Many weren’t. But the whole prison was set free today. The WHOLE prison received Christ today…even the cooks and the guards!

On the trail, it was a great and glorious day. We were relatively close to Mukongoro today, as we covered the final sector of the county.

Most of the people we spoke with were believers already, having been to the church and clinic and crusade. Today was a wonderful day to encourage believers. In one case, the family prayed for the pair that came to visit them! They laid hands on US and prayed for the gospel ministry to be successful. How humbling!

Tom experienced a three-generation conversion: A man with his 2 wives, daughter in law, 3 daughters, and 3 granddaughters! He said they have been waiting for us to come. Leo “just happened” to capture it and several other encounters on video…see them here !

The clinic was bursting at the seams today, as it was the last day of medical mission. I don’t know how the doctors, nurses, and pharmacists did it, but thousands were served, and the medicine lasted to the end!

After two dry holes, a lot of prayer and hope…the well came in! The water well is the capstone of our physical mission to Mukongoro. Clean water will change the life of this community. Before today, they were dependent on ditch water or hand-digging for drinking/cooking/bathing. Terrible sickness and death abound because of the water problems. The water was tested, and it was clean and pure. All glory to God! (The next miracle will be paying for it…it cost 5 times the normal amount…but “by God,” we got water!)

At the crusade, the true colors came out today! The wind of the Holy Spirit blew strong! Speakers were knocked over, swirling winds threw up the dust, and the dancing went on. One man came up to Jayne saying, “I want to accept Jesus NOW!” With tears, he prayed with Jayne. With tears, Jayne prayed with him, and another soul tumbled into the Kingdom.

Carl got up to preach and the rains began. Most of the Africans ran to the shops and porches, but Carl preached on. Treb, Matt, Chad and Leo stayed out in the rain and got soaked.

“We never leave a man in the field!” they exclaimed. At the earliest possible moment, Carl yelled, “Thank you and good night!” like he was on the Jay Leno show. It was the best preaching ‘dismount’ we’d ever seen. (we thought there should have been an altar call like, “Anyone who wants to trust Jesus, stay under the porch!”)

The rain coming down, the well pumping the water up, was a great end to a week of glory to God. Dan put it well: “We planted the seeds. God just watered them.”

On the way home we were nearly blinded with a FULL double rainbow, as bright as you have ever seen. The covenant of God was renewed. True colors came out. Hallelujah! As one of your comments reads: “If you just show up, God will show off!” Amen.

It was an amazing week of hard exhausting work. Work dedicated and all for the glory of Jesus Christ. He is Lord and Master. He is Protector and Provider. He is Father to the fatherless. He is Husband to the widow. He is Savior to all imprisoned. He is Alpha and Omega.

Our God reigns.

The Communion of Saints

2009-10-08T12:21:00.001-07:00

The saints evangelized about 10 miles away today. Mukongoro is saturated with the gospel. The towns we visited today were largely believers, but the great thing about today, was their willingness to work together as a community of churches. The “communion of saints” we profess each time we say the Apostle’s Creed was seen tangibly in Pentecostal, Church of Uganda, and the Presbyterian Church working together to share the love of Christ. Each home we went to that had believers we prayed for and encouraged. They were so thankful. Each home that came to Christ today we directed to other churches nearby to fellowship. (When was the last time you invited someone to a neighboring church instead of your own? Today it was natural. Why? We’re all THE body of Christ…not bodies of Christ)

One woman the team saw today was very sick. She had delivered a stillborn child 3 months earlier, and was septic with internal injuries. She couldn’t come to the clinic, so when we got back to the church we sent our “ambulances” to get her. The clinic gave her some first aid and some initial antibiotics, but she is being sent to Soroti Hospital tomorrow. She is being saved body and soul. Were it not for the saints, both here and in the USA, this would not be possible. Thank you.

Many of us played doctor today at the clinic. More than 1,000 people were at the clinic today. Surprisingly, order and patience prevailed. Lots of healing. Lots of ministry.

Here's a video of yesterday's clinic (sorry so small!)

At prisons, the saints delivering the gospel were encouraged by today’s prisons’ condition. Working men, they were physically fit, had good food, and adequate clothes. The saints witnessed a heavy-duty vehicle side-swipe the prison wall. Like the prisoners in the book of Acts, they did not run away or try to escape. Instead, they sang spiritual songs, danced and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. By the time the saints left, there were 70 more saints.

Four schools. 3,218 children. Lots of Jesus.

Today was a breakthrough day for me. I spoke to a 17-year old girl with who was already a believer and, as usual, I asked how I could pray or encourage her. She said she was sick (malaria), so we prayed together for God’s healing touch and gave thanks for the clinic being here so she could receive treatment. After a brief silent moment, she began to cry and cover her face. Information came slowly, reluctantly. My grandmother just died, and I thought, “Awww. She must have been very close to her.” My dad just died. “Whoa. That must be it – her dad.” My mom just died. “Oh my God. What pain!” My husband just died.” Silence. We just looked at each other for a long time. What do you say to that. Enter the communion of saints. I am convinced we will never appreciate the communion of saints as long as we consider it “seeing our friends at church.” My experience of pain is nothing. I’m not an orphan. I’m not a single parent. I’m not a widow. I’m not poor.

We prayed and prayed and prayed. I can only write about it, because I haven’t been able to talk about it yet. I took her picture (see photo above) so that I could pray for her each time I saw it. I told her, “Rely on the church. They are your new family now. We take care of each other.”

Here's a brief video with my translator from last year, Joseph Otieno. It's why I keep coming on this trip. All about relationships.

Why I'm here (video)

Need is the only condition for faith. Your faith sustains you when you need a meal, need the crop to come in, need medicine, need money to live, need a shoulder to cry on, need someone to love you. Trouble is, we in the States don’t think we need anything. We have everything we need. Perhaps that’s why our faith is so small.

Here, I see joy in the midst of poverty. In the U.S., I see depression amidst riches. We say we don’t need anything, but the thing we need is need itself. We need the Lord. We need each other. We just don’t know it.

Over the Hump

2009-10-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

We’re down to 1 of us still feeling bad (a new one). The prayers are working! Keep it up. You are standing in the gap for us. We can’t do this without you

Thank you so much for all the comments on the blog! We read them every morning and evening. The tears come more easily the longer we’re here and share this amazing experience. The team is really doing well; their confidence is increasing daily, and it’s my prayer that the “infection” spreads beyond these 2 weeks. The need to share the gospel at home is becoming more clear.

The house-to-house teams have been so efficient, we have begun to move beyond Mukongoro. We’re getting tired, so tonight it’s just the high points. (realize that for every story we blog, there are 50 more behind it.)

A man with stomach cancer said to his wife this morning that the Mzungu (white man) was going to come today and talk about God. He doesn’t have long to live, but was overjoyed when Steve Costello fulfilled the prophecy. He and his whole family came into the Kingdom today.

When whole families receive Jesus as Lord, they are so overjoyed, they want to give a gift. Today we got bananas, magoes, and oranges. Often the pregnant mothers name their children after us. Ferrelyn’s and Matt’s namesakes will be born very soon!

The Pentecostal church in strong in today’s area and are doing wonderful things. There is truly a spirit of community and mutual edification in doing ministry together on behalf of the Kingdom. (If only the walls came down so easily back home) . As a result, many people came to Christ today.

The new believers are invited to discipleship classes each afternoon to shore up their new faith with a better knowledge of sin, repentance, the Holy Spirit, Bible study and prayer. It’s a crash course in theology to give them some root and encouragement.

The Medical Clinic ministry started today and saw hundreds of patients. The word really got out today, so we’re expecting thousands in the next two days.

The pain is sometimes too much when the clinic comes to town. Seeing the crutches, makeshift wheelchairs, the babies dying of malaria, the mothers trying to give us their babies and take them home, the old, the sick, they dying.

Dan was the de facto “hospital administrator” today as he set up the triage area, ingress, egress, 4 exam waiting areas, and then took blood pressures for 4 straight hours. Several other members of the team stayed at the clinic to preach the gospel and encourage those waiting for treatment.

500 treated mosquito nets were purchased (THANK YOU HONDO FBC!) and distributed today to help prevent malaria.

Today’s “It’s a God Thing” story: a rabid dog was in the community. It bit a woman who had moments before trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It was as if the devil was trying to steal her joy (and life). The locals “took care of the dog” in short order and the evangelists immediately provided first aid and then took her directly to the clinic. Had the clinic not started today, she probably would have died by tomorrow. It was a good day to be bitten by a rabid dog!

At prisons, we encountered an “Andy Griffith” style (minimum security) arrangement, where prisoners could come and go. Normally, we just bring staple items for their basic need (mats, blankets, soap, food). Today we delivered more Bibles and they immediately began to read them.

Today, after most of the prisoners turned their lives over to Jesus Christ, the prison team leader addressed them with this charge: “Your lives change today. I’ve heard rumors of homosexual activity in this prison. As new believers this behavior stops now. You have a responsibility to be an example to the people now. Don’t be like the world. Be like God’s people. Different. Set apart.”

3,003 children enjoyed the school ministry team today. 9 teachers were saved!

BONUS: Randy hooked up with his sponsored “Compassion International” child in Soroti (2 hours away). It was an extra-curricular activity to be sure - no roads up to the home site. Instead, they had to hike through the bush for several hundred yards. He was greeted by 20 Africans at the home. Got to hug and high-five “Daniel” (5 years old), and give him some gifts. Daniel then ran away to get Randy his gift…a live chicken! It was a wonderful blessing.

Good News and Bad News

2009-10-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

The good news? The 3 that were sick have turned the corner, praise God! (and thank you for praying). The bad news? You’ve got 2 new ones to pray for!

Actually, there was A LOT of good news and bad news today. (If you have clicked the “gospel we share” link to the right, you’ll know that’s all we talk about!) Today was like a spring day in Oklahoma…ominous skies and thunderstorms. But the good news was Carl and Ali spoke to 3,000 school children (plus people off the street) before the rains came down!

Same story for the trail work and the crusade! God gave us dry passage while going from house to house, then rain at break, then a break in the rain for the singing, dancing, testimonies (way to go Dan and Jayne!) and preaching (God used Treb’s gifts in a mighty way). We are truly in awe of how many doors have opened against all odds.

Doors are still closed, however, as the rumors continue to fly. The enemy must be afraid and desperate of losing ground, because he has done a good job spreading lies about the church and the gospel. Today, we were asked if we worshiped demons. Of course, the same thing happened in Jesus’ day, and when the truth comes out, it only serves to glorify God.

One woman heard the gospel today, and a very tall man came up to the team and said, “Thank you so much for sharing Jesus with her. I have been trying to tell her God loves her, but she won’t hear me.” Turns out, she just lost a child and was ashamed to come to church. Her extreme pain was met by a well of compassion drawn only from the suffering servant, Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, she now has hope.

The bad news at the prison never changes: the government doesn’t take care of them. All the government funding goes to pay the guards. No food, no clothes, no care for the prisoner. The convicted (and accused waiting trial) only survive if they have someone on the “outside” to take care of their needs. If their family is too far away, or they have no friends willing, they starve and deteriorate rapidly. Only 20 of the 95 men in the prison today had shirts, and the rags they wore around their waist barely passed for shorts. The words of Jesus take on a whole new meaning: “when I was in prison, you visited me.”

The good news: The prison ministry team brought 25 Bibles, 15 pounds of soap, a bolt of fabric, and staple food items…and they shared the gospel using words, too.

The bad news is so many people we visit are sick. Basic hygiene and clean water would prevent most of the problems (we have drilled two dry holes for a water well), however, the good news is the medical clinic ministry begins tomorrow. We’ve purchased enough medicine for 3 days of a free (government subsidized) clinic. Health care is a premium in “the sticks.” The Presbytery of Eastern Uganda is to be commended for its holistic gospel. Faith and works…together. Always. All for the glory of God.

The bad news? Just one picture today. It should drive (!) you to prayer. It’s representative of so many things. The team is moving fast and working hard, giving 100% for Jesus. The Spirit compels us to do as much as we can with the time given to us. Bodies, health, and sleep are suffering for the gospel. Of course, you could also pray for safe travel to and from the church site. It’s a miracle our drivers haven’t swapped paint with anyone as fast as they drive around here! The roads are narrow, bicycles and pedestrians crowd the shoulders, there are no seat belts, and people cut in front of you (on foot) in many near-miss situations. The good news? The picture is in Kilometers Per Hour.

Bad news: The internet is soooooooooooooo slow; our first crack at uploading a video took 4 hours and 5 tries to send about 3 minutes. The good news: it is a heartfelt thank-you from one of the pastors in the Presbytery. Enjoy the brief statement from Pastor Steven Kalistas as he thanks YOU for your generosity, and explains how he shares this gift with the people of Mukongoro. God be praised.

Uganda Interview 1

Uganda Interview 2

Surprises!

2009-10-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today was a day of surprises, to be sure.

First, we were surprised by some of our team members getting sick so early. Many accidentally ingested some butter that was in contact with tap water. We have at least 3 that are sick, and a few hoping they don’t get sick. Imodium, water, and Tylenol have helped, but nothing will help as much as the prayers of the saints.

Secondly, we were surprised by how many people in the village of Mukongoro spoke or understood English (even Oklahoman/Texan!)

Thirdly, we were surprised at the work of the enemy before our arrival. The reputation of the Presbyterian Church in Uganda has put fear in several of the “false religions” in the area. Before our arrival several men went to the areas we traveled telling the people that we “pay people to go to the Presbyterian Church.” (if only it were that easy!) We think we met the man who started these rumors. The devil is at work, but the contrast of the truth against the lie only serves to enhance the message. We explain that we don’t give money…we give something much better: the grace of Jesus Christ.

Many in the area are believers in the Lord Jesus already, yet they wanted us to tell them the gospel message again. They are hungry for encouragement and affirmation. Many were taking notes and/or looking up verses in their own Bibles to confirm what we were saying. Want to know the gist of what we say? Go to this link.

Our translators have so much evangelism experience, and are very well trained. They really complement our testimonies, they are our guides, protectors, and the presence of Jesus walking alongside us.

The PUBLIC SCHOOL ministry was very successful today. Susan and Dan were greeted by 1150 children from grades 1-7 and this was a school holiday! The kids came to school on their day off just to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ! Even the principal danced and praised the Lord in the midst of the children (see photo).

The PRISON ministry was a humbling experience for Henry and Sharon. For 3 hours they spent time with the prisoners and they all sang songs of joy and praise. 76 men and 1 woman were given gifts of staple items and a heavy dose of God’s grace. Sharon ministered one-on-one with the woman who was in prison awaiting trial for adultery. She learned of God’s forgiveness and it made all the difference in her life today.

The best phrase I heard today was “hundreds of people were rescued today.” It’s true, and so much more descriptive than the overused “saved.” People were rescued from despair, hopelessness, ignorance, death and sin. We’re NOT in this for the numbers, but we easily reached 600 adults on the trail, hundreds more at the crusade, 250 kids at the VBS program, and more than 1100 public school children.

We wrote the name down of each person who trusted Jesus Christ today for the first time, so that the pastor could follow up with them after we leave him in charge of the congregation. The total came to 436. I cry just thinking about how the angels in heaven are rejoicing today. It’s what John Becker preached on at the crusade. It was evident in Dustin and Linda’s testimonies. It was written on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

Let Us Worship the Lord

2009-10-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

Worship permeates our whole experience, here. Today was different for most people on the trip. There were no complaints about the lack of air conditioning, no talk of capital campaigns, no whining about the music, or how long the preacher preached. Here is what the team said tonight at debrief:

“I wish the folks back home could experience this worship. The whole church worships here…body and soul. No one is here to be entertained. The community prayer (everyone prays out loud at one time) was like a hum…like a musical instrument. God must be lovin’ this. Literally music to his ears.” We must have talked for 40 minutes after dinner about the purity and sincerity of their worship.

The preachers and the teachers did an amazing job today at all eleven churches. What impressed us most is how well they know the Scriptures and how personal and candid the questions we received. Below are just some of the questions we received today.

“Can you explain to me the unforgivable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?”

From a young boy: “My father sends me to fetch his mistress when my mother is away. How can I honor my father when he uses me to commit adultery?”

“Is it still a sin if you were married and committed adultery because your husband is beating you?”

“Can you explain the difference between killing and murder as it relates to the sixth commandment?”

“The witch doctor said if I trusted Jesus Christ and burned my idols, then my children would die by the hands of demons. Is this true?”

“What is the Presbyterian’s view on baptism? (asked of a Baptist!)

Overall, we experienced great joy in the midst of great pain and suffering. Typhoid, malaria, persecutions abound, yet the churches are proclaiming the Word and worshiping with all they have. An example for us all.

Don’t be shy-drop us a line. We read all the comments at dinner. The feeling knowing that we are making an impact at home is priceless.

Home Sweet Home-Away-From-Home

2009-10-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

After a 3 hour trip to the Nile River's headwaters, we stopped in the town of Jinja to eat at Ling-Ling's Chinese restaurant. (It may seem odd that we'd have Chinese in Africa, but if you think about it, we're a lot closer to China than the States!) What was funny was seeing Americans eat at a Chinese restaurant in Africa while listening to "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" on the restaurant's radio. For a brief meal, we were global!

Back in the vans for 2 more hours to our home base, the Mount Elgon Hotel. Some R&R, an evening meal and then our first team meeting.

Our devotional tonight was on receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1 & 2). Leo reminded the group with this commission: "No matter what you were before coming here, now you are evangelists, pastors, teachers, apostles. You have all the responsibilities and privileges that the apostles of the Scriptures have. You're different now. If you are asked to heal, heal. If asked to preach, then preach. If you're called upon to exorcise demons, exorcise. You are God's chosen to speak His Word. "

Laying hands on each other we prayed. He's right. We are different.

Tomorrow we visit 11 different churches to teach Sunday School and preach. Pray for us! Some of us are doing this for the first time!

All present and accounted for!

2009-10-02T12:22:00.001-07:00

We arrived at Entebbe, Uganda with all our luggage and finally have a complete team. Carl Bosteels and our gracious hosts were waiting for us. Now it's off to dinner and bed at a local hotel. We are praising God for His grace and your support.

2 Legs Complete

2009-10-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

After our miracle ride to Minneapolis (Thank you, Jesus!), the extended layover allowed some to chill, and others to take a train to the Mall of America. Simply amazing....and everything antithetical to this trip. We're not going on vacation, or being entertained, or purchasing anything. Instead this is all about preaching good news to the poor, and giving away everything we are, know and have.

The second leg was uneventful...and quick! Made it to Amsterdam in record time, thanks to a 100 mph tailwind. We said a prayer of thanksgiving, and will be en route to Uganda in a few hours. Be prepared for a long silence, as we may not have internet access until we get to Mbale on Saturday night. Thanks for the comments! I'll be sharing them with the team everyday.

God Met Us At The Airport

2009-10-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

22 of us showed up to the airport this morning at 5AM (yawn) and started
checking in. At 5:30, Sid and Linda realized they left a bag at home. The
flight was scheduled for a 6AM departure. Lynn Lee (God's angel!) drove
back to Edmond to at least try to retrieve the bag and get back to the
airport before we left.

Linda and I went through security (25 minute line) and Sid waited in the
airport lobby waiting for Lynn to return. I was getting concerned that Sid
would miss the flight and so with NO minutes to spare, Sid got in the
security line. As the final boarding call was being made, I casually said
to Linda, "We need a miracle." Of course, I was referring to Sid getting on
the plane! God had something different in mind.

Sid finally got through security and was sitting on the plane. Turns out,
the plane was overloaded and it took the ground crew just long enough to
sort things out to enable Lynn to get to the airport. David gets a call
from Lynn saying, "I'm here! Where are you?" Sid gets permission to get
OFF the plane, go thru security again to pick up the bag and get back on the
plane. I have NEVER seen a plane held in this way before. All the
passengers were talking about it (some not so nice about it). When they
found out about the evangelism trip, the whole attitude onboard changed.
Not only did God show up, gave us grace (and gave Lynn speed!), but also set
up an opportunity to share Jesus from the get-go.

The Journey Begins...

2009-10-01T06:20:00.000-07:00

For Carl Bosteels, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of OKC, the journey
began yesterday. He left a day early to Uganda and should almost be there
by now. He's very brave and full of faith! Of course, God's got his back.
The rest of us left this morning. Thank you for praying with us and joining
us on this journey. Here's a list of your missionaries.

John Becker (FPC OKC)
Henry Boecking (FPC Edmond)
Sharon Boecking (FPC Edmond)
Carl Bosteels (FPC OKC)
Linda Brown (FPC Edmond)
Sid Brown (FPC Edmond)
Dustin Cornell (Westminster OKC)
Steve Costello (FPC Edmond)
Rhonda Hefton (Westminster OKC)
Ali Justus (Westminster OKC)
Susan Kinney (FPC Edmond)
Steve Kinney (FPC Edmond)
Judy Langdon (FPC Edmond)
Tom Langdon (FPC Edmond)
David Lee (FPC Edmond)
Matt Mitchell (Westminster Lubbock)
Chad Montgomery (Westminster Lubbock)
Ferrelyn Oakes (Westminster OKC)
Dan Orza (FPC OKC)
Treb Praytor (Westminster OKC)
Jayne Underwood (FPC Edmond)
Leo Wideman (FPC Edmond)
Randy Willis (FBC Hondo, TX)

As I write this, I'm having a great conversation with "Paula" on the flight
to Minneapolis. She's a woman with a great heart, and a sacrificing spirit.
We are talking about whether good works are sufficient for salvation. I
explained that if we are saved by good works, then Jesus died for nothing.
<<Long pause>> "Now, I'm going to have to think about that."
Thank you, Paula. We all need to think about that. It's all because of
Jesus that we are saved, praise the Lord! Our work is merely a response to
His grace. Live into your calling as a child of God.

News from Uganda: The Americans are coming!

2009-08-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

Every now and then you get an email that really lifts your spirits. I got one today, and wanted the world to know not only the power of true community and friendship, but the encouraging work that prayer accomplishes. The following is the text from my former translator and one of the first people I met in Uganda 5 years ago, Pastor Apollo Namisi. Oh yeah, and we now know the name of the community in which we are planting a church: Mukongoro.

Dear Pastor Leo Wideman,
Praise God, how are you and the rest of your members of the family. I pray you are all doing great. I send you greetings from my wife, my children and my Church. I wish to inform you that on 09/08/09, we are having special prayers dedicating you members on your mission team to Uganda (Mukongoro) and the whole mission in Mukongoro, to God to make it a success. I therefore inform you to join us in spirit for the same as Paul and Silas did while in prison with the rest of the brothers out side prison. I long to see you and talk much with you face to face on mission. I have you and I continue to pray for your success in the vine yard. God bless you. Pastor Apollo Namisi Kodimokoli P.C.U

WELCOME!

2009-06-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you for joining the conversation! As I write this, 23 people are training for the best work in the world: Sharing the Love of Jesus Christ. This blog will give you information on what happens each day in Uganda, and the opportunity to "follow your missionary" on the trail.

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