This month we’re in Uganda. I have to admit, Kenya’s going to be a hard country to beat in my “top countries of the Race” list. Our first taste of Uganda began five days ago when four teams from the squad boarded an African bus to a 14 hour journey from Nairobi to Kampala. Haile, Cody and I decided to sit in the very back of the bus. No problem? False…big problem. Due to the overwhelmingly excessive amount of pot holes and speed bumps along the way, we got the brunt end of all the bumps since there was no support under us. There were a few times we flew so high off our seats I felt like I was on a trampoline back home. By the grace of God and the magic of the drug, melatonin, however, we were all able to sleep somewhat on the way to Uganda.
Once we arrived I immediately noticed a drastic change between the country we were just in and the country we were entering into. Uganda was much more impoverished, dirtier, and had a darker spiritual climate than Kenya did. The people here look a lot different here too. Ugandans have wider noses and darker skin than Kenyans. It feels so different even though we’re still in East Africa. This month we are working with Pastor Joseph and Ambassadors for Life church in a rural area outside the capital of Kampala. The church consists of only three walls and half a ceiling and the size of the entire church is about as big as a three or four car garage. About a hundred people go to the Sunday service at the church and since an entire wall is missing, the congregation just spills out into a little jungle/forest area.
This is the most “stereotypical” African environment I’ve ever been in, and definitely the dirtest country we’ve been to so far (not including India, because India is just like Uganda in terms of trash). The children here are always found eating trash since they have no real food to eat and many children without parents have to parent their younger siblings. It all breaks my heart and in all honesty, I’ve found the situation with the Ugandan children to be the hardest thing to handle for me emotionally. It truly rips my heart right out, seeing these children covered in trash with no shoes everywhere we go. My prayer is that we can love these children and bring them Jesus as much as the Spirit allows and that I will have a peace about it, knowing that God is control and on His throne and is sovereign in all things.
Pastor Joseph exemplifies everything it means to give up a “worldly life” and follow Christ. He barely makes rent in his tiny house, and sometimes can’t even pay for his children to go to school but he has faith that God will provide for him and his family because he is so passionate about the calling to be a pastor the Lord has put on his heart. I want to be like Pastor Joseph when I grow up. This man has more joy, love, and trust than anyone I’ve ever met and he is truly a role model for me and the rest of the team. There is an additional or Associate Pastor at the church that spends every day with us. His name is Ronny and he’s 24. Ronny is already one of my favorite people and we all love and appreciate him dearly. Ronny has had an extremely hard life but his dedication to the Lord has never faltered, and is always steadfast and true. If you ever need a lesson about how to live for Jesus, just come to Ambassadors for Life church in Uganda. They are teaching us all so much just by living life with them and ministering alongside them.
Ministry this month will consist of a lot of door-to-door evangelism, prayer at the church and we have a church service or event every single night of the week. Friday nights are an overnight prayer service from 10pm to 4am, and many churches in the area meet during this time of night. God has already moved so much this month and it’s only be the first week! One of the first days of ministry Ronny and I went to do door-to-door and we ended up outside a witchdoctor’s hut. By the presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of God, I felt no fear and had no anxiety. I started preaching to people waiting to see the witchdoctor and Ronny translated for me.
One woman told me that her husband was cursed and killed by a witchdoctor in her village so now she was here at another witchdoctor to put a death curse on the witchdoctor that killed her husband. Confusing, right? I told her about Jesus, His love and the joy, peace and love that He brings to all who make Him the foundation of their life, and after a long talk, many Bible verses and some tears, she decided to give her life to Christ! After we prayed for her, three other woman waiting outside the witchdoctor asked for me to share my message of Jesus with them. In no time Christ had redeemed and save four women from darkness! I was so blown away by the power of the Holy Spirit that day and I was so happy to hear that all of the women were excited to come to church tomorrow.
There is a lot of witchcraft in the area we’re working in so we are constantly in the Word and in prayer fighting off attacks from the Enemy. This is one of the first months that we’ve all felt an immediate attack on us, just getting off the bus in Kampala. Three of our team members have been physically sick, one has been battling the spirit of frustration and anger and a few of us (myself included) have been battling the spirit of anxiety, depression and doubt. We are victorious in Christ and we are fighting on God’s winning team so the Devil has no power over us, but we need to be spiritual strong and smart this month, even more than previous months.
Please, please, PLEASE keep me and my team mates in your prayers for the next three weeks. We are in a dark place, friends…but in the darkest places, Christ’s light shines the brightest. Pray for safety here in Kampala, as this is the third month in a row of political riots in the area. We are safe however, we have contacts that are being smart about the situation and part of our budget this month is going to soldiers constantly guarding the place we are staying so NO FEAR, family and friends. Please also pray for our contact, Pastor Joseph and Pastor Ronny and for provision financially for their families and their church. Pray for us and the spiritual battle we are facing here every day and pray for endurance, passion and perserverance for me and my team to finish this Race out strong. LOVE YOU ALL!!!
the area we’re in this month
Pastor Ronny (left) and Pastor Joseph (right) at the church…this photo was taken by a September squader named Ashley who was with our contacts in March!
