In the last week I’ve received a couple of emails from people that have been directly personal friends internationally on the Race and wanted to share them with you. Also, the next couple of blogs that I do will be very interesting to read about….so please get ready for interesting stuff!!
Recalling back to Ukraine is Misha (or Michael in English), the man that came to Christ the first few nights our team was there in Krasnoarmyesk. I wrote out a detailed description of our time of sharing the gospel. Sometimes we wonder after leaving what God is doing with those who come to faith and follow up. Check out his email; it made me smile.
Hello, John! I would like to share with you my unusual observation..
Each
of us has a lot of long-familiar friends. We all know each other very
well. Our circle of friends as a rule corresponds to some common traits,
the points of view, the understanding of life. Talking with my friends,
discussing friend-friend clear themes, we always could easily find
common ground. But since that moment when God has touched my
heart, I have suddenly noticed that most of my friends become like
strangers. No, we have not split, we still remain friends.
But
now with the big surprise I have noticed that I can’t support their
reasoning, I do not understand their philosophical statements,
citations. And
my friends have ceased to understand me also.
But I know the
reason why so is – My point of view on everything in the world including
myself, is directed from Christ. But the point of view of my friends
and other people who do not believe, is located inside of himself, in
the center of own ego. They are prisoners of sin which does not give
them possibility to look on the world differently including himself.
I
am happy and infinitely grateful to the Christ He has acquainted
me with you, with Vica and her friends, He has shown me right way.
He has given me ability to see itself. It is especially surprising and
even symbolical the fact that till the moment of our joint prayer, has
passed exactly day-in-day two years of acquaintance Vica and me.
And also Vica signed and handed me the big Bible more recently. I’m happy.
Each
of us has a lot of long-familiar friends. We all know each other very
well. Our circle of friends as a rule corresponds to some common traits,
the points of view, the understanding of life. Talking with my friends,
discussing friend-friend clear themes, we always could easily find
common ground. But since that moment when God has touched my
heart, I have suddenly noticed that most of my friends become like
strangers. No, we have not split, we still remain friends.
But
now with the big surprise I have noticed that I can’t support their
reasoning, I do not understand their philosophical statements,
citations. And
my friends have ceased to understand me also.
But I know the
reason why so is – My point of view on everything in the world including
myself, is directed from Christ. But the point of view of my friends
and other people who do not believe, is located inside of himself, in
the center of own ego. They are prisoners of sin which does not give
them possibility to look on the world differently including himself.
I
am happy and infinitely grateful to the Christ He has acquainted
me with you, with Vica and her friends, He has shown me right way.
He has given me ability to see itself. It is especially surprising and
even symbolical the fact that till the moment of our joint prayer, has
passed exactly day-in-day two years of acquaintance Vica and me.
And also Vica signed and handed me the big Bible more recently. I’m happy.
One, is Yusuph from Tanzania, he was one of our fellow ministry workers who is an incredible man of God who is currently in Uganda in the same areas we did ministry. His email will really speak to you and part of what we saw and dealt with is now. Please be praying for him:
I’m not sure words can fully express the work going
on here in Northern Uganda. God is in the business of reconciling
people to himself .I am very confident God will continue to do this
work. I have had a very hard time working in a very remote
village“Amilobo� in Pader District very close to the border of Uganda
and Sudan. (No purified water, new food-several stomachaches , having
shower in a bush, people don’t speak your language…..bla, bla, bla…the
list goes on) but the work of the gospel was fruitful.
The
village was attacked by the LRA rebels, almost everything was
completely destroyed…Many people died, many men and women were raped
and as a result almost 5 of every 10 people you meet are likely to be
HIV positive. So our main work in this village was to construct a Health
Center and toilets….we would work all day but no matter how tired I was
at the end of every day, I used my evenings time to share the Gospel to
the people I encountered. …. Many people prayed to accept Jesus and I
would have several people come to me and spend a couple of hrs in the
night for a Bible study…that Can tell you how exhausted I was by the
time I get to bed everyday…. Well I would love to share a story that has
really moved my heart…..
One evening as I was walking
down the road, very tired after a hard working day..i met this young boy
named Ocaya, In my heart I felt that something was really wrong in this
boys life, though I was very tired I went and sat down and talked with
this boy for some time….honestly I was in tears after I heard his
story….The LRA rebels raped his father and mother while he was watching,
his father died a few days ago after the incident and his mother left
him and moved to another far village because of what happened. So He is
living with his very pooooooooor uncle-I asked Ocaya to take me and meet
his uncle and I was able to share the Gospel of Jesus to them, hope,
peace that can be found in Jesus and in tears they both prayed to accept
Jesus…the next day I was able to take Ocaya to school (His Uncle cant
afford to take the boy to school), I got him School Uniform, text books
and paid a year School fees. I was so happy to see Him back to school.
Yesterday morning while I was packing my stuff to leave Ocaya came to me
and this is what He said…�Brother, I will love Jesus forever and I hope
to serve Him one day as you are, thank you for coming and making a
difference in my lifeâ€�……………I have no words to say, other than
LET ALL GLORY AND HONOR BE TO OUR LORD JESUS.
There are
so many other stories… Honestly I don’t really know how to put many of
the things I’ve seen into words yet. My heart is still searching for
words to describe some of the things that I’ve seen in the last few days
of my stay in Pader District…am now back in Lira town for a week of
rest before we move again to another remote village that was completely
destroyed by the rebels. I want to thank you for your prayers and also
for sending me here, you and I have brought hope, peace and showed
love-Gods love to the people of “Amilobo� village. I still have like
50days of being here, serving in different communities..please continue
to keep me in Your Prayers- more Updates will follow soon.
Much Love,
Yusuph Emmanuel
on here in Northern Uganda. God is in the business of reconciling
people to himself .I am very confident God will continue to do this
work. I have had a very hard time working in a very remote
village“Amilobo� in Pader District very close to the border of Uganda
and Sudan. (No purified water, new food-several stomachaches , having
shower in a bush, people don’t speak your language…..bla, bla, bla…the
list goes on) but the work of the gospel was fruitful.
The
village was attacked by the LRA rebels, almost everything was
completely destroyed…Many people died, many men and women were raped
and as a result almost 5 of every 10 people you meet are likely to be
HIV positive. So our main work in this village was to construct a Health
Center and toilets….we would work all day but no matter how tired I was
at the end of every day, I used my evenings time to share the Gospel to
the people I encountered. …. Many people prayed to accept Jesus and I
would have several people come to me and spend a couple of hrs in the
night for a Bible study…that Can tell you how exhausted I was by the
time I get to bed everyday…. Well I would love to share a story that has
really moved my heart…..
One evening as I was walking
down the road, very tired after a hard working day..i met this young boy
named Ocaya, In my heart I felt that something was really wrong in this
boys life, though I was very tired I went and sat down and talked with
this boy for some time….honestly I was in tears after I heard his
story….The LRA rebels raped his father and mother while he was watching,
his father died a few days ago after the incident and his mother left
him and moved to another far village because of what happened. So He is
living with his very pooooooooor uncle-I asked Ocaya to take me and meet
his uncle and I was able to share the Gospel of Jesus to them, hope,
peace that can be found in Jesus and in tears they both prayed to accept
Jesus…the next day I was able to take Ocaya to school (His Uncle cant
afford to take the boy to school), I got him School Uniform, text books
and paid a year School fees. I was so happy to see Him back to school.
Yesterday morning while I was packing my stuff to leave Ocaya came to me
and this is what He said…�Brother, I will love Jesus forever and I hope
to serve Him one day as you are, thank you for coming and making a
difference in my lifeâ€�……………I have no words to say, other than
LET ALL GLORY AND HONOR BE TO OUR LORD JESUS.
There are
so many other stories… Honestly I don’t really know how to put many of
the things I’ve seen into words yet. My heart is still searching for
words to describe some of the things that I’ve seen in the last few days
of my stay in Pader District…am now back in Lira town for a week of
rest before we move again to another remote village that was completely
destroyed by the rebels. I want to thank you for your prayers and also
for sending me here, you and I have brought hope, peace and showed
love-Gods love to the people of “Amilobo� village. I still have like
50days of being here, serving in different communities..please continue
to keep me in Your Prayers- more Updates will follow soon.
Much Love,
Yusuph Emmanuel
