This month we were in Lira, Uganda, working with Pastor Johnson and Victory Outreach Ministries (VOM). We stayed at Alpha Resort Hotel (Pastor Johnson’s hotel) and became friends with the wonderful Alpha staff: Jennifer, Dorcas, Jonathan, Patrick, Miriam, Susan. At VOM, we worked with the wonderful church staff: Pastor Alex, Pastor Peter, Pastor Charles, Pastor James, Richard, Millie, Juliet, and Erique (who I worked with on the computers).
There were many ministry opportunities we could do: Door-to-door evangelism in nearby villages, HIV clinics on Fridays, Compassion International Children’s school on Saturdays, hospital visits, prison ministry, lead prayer hour at church, radio ministry, technology ministry, participate in the church choir, agriculture ministry, interpretive dance ministry, “water well digging” ministry, and the list will keep growing as God continues to lead Pastor Johnson and his staff in amazing vision.
There was plenty of work for me to do this past month, and I am so grateful for a busy month. I felt a great sense of accomplishment. The giftings, talents, and skills the Lord endowed me with were being put to work. The feeling could be described as similar to the feeling you get after you exercise: you know your muscles are getting shaped; you get a sudden boost of energy from a fresh breath of new air; and you are ready to take on the world! I participated in three days of radio ministry, covering three chapters of Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life”. Since the church was going through the 40 Days of Purpose using “The Purpose Driven Life” book, it was a quick read and easy outline to follow for preparing for the 15-minute radio spot every morning. The challenging part about it was waking up at 5:00am every morning to get to the station by 6:20am. I led one day of prayer hour at church which were scheduled Monday through Fridays, from 12pm to 1pm. The prayer hour targeted stay home mothers, college students, and young career professionals. I also participated in the Sunday church choir. There were two services: one at 6:00am and the other at 8:00am. It was a challenge to get out of bed so early Sunday morning’s, but I had to get used to it quickly. 🙂 My main ministry, however, was the technology ministry, where I worked with and mentored Erique, a first-year college student, and we fixed computers at two schools, at the church, and a few personal computers that staff members brought in. We also setup a wireless network at church using peer-to-peer networking. The church staff were using the Internet more and were sharing files more efficiently as a result of the newly installed network.
It was both a blessing and fun working with Erique. We rode his motorcycle (which was my first time riding a motorcycle) daily to get to our support sites. Then one day, he decides to show me how to drive a motorcycle. Oh how fun! We rode to an open area by a school, near to Alpha Resort Hotel, and he instructed me on how to start the motorcycle, switch gears, and brake. I took off on the motorcycle like a bandit out of jail! Wheeee!!! 🙂 Erique, if you are reading this now, thank you, Boss, for the crazy fun times! 🙂
I love you all and miss you all greatly. Please continue to keep my team and the “J” squad in prayer as there have been several people on our squad get malaria and typhoid fever. Pray for continued protection in our health and continued vision for helping the church grow in Tanzania.
