Written 08/13/2010
It wasn’t what I expected to be doing in the mountains in Uganda– hitting up the local bars and sharing the gospel with people there.
In the last week, though, we’ve been to three.
The first time we went, I found myself standing beside the
front door looking to be the first person on my team out the door.
front door looking to be the first person on my team out the door.
You see, I have an issue with alcohol – of the smell making
me sick variety more so than the moral variety.
me sick variety more so than the moral variety.
I was much more concerned with praying protection over
myself and Nicole (who was
sharing with the men and women there) than hearing what was said-
myself and Nicole (who was
sharing with the men and women there) than hearing what was said-
Not to mention fighting off the urge to run out of the room
and throw up on the side of the road.
and throw up on the side of the road.
The second time we went, I didn’t even go inside.
It was in one of those circular buildings you see in
pictures of the Ugandan countryside, and there was barely room for Jonathan (who was speaking),
Megan (who also shared), and
Brutus (who was translating).
pictures of the Ugandan countryside, and there was barely room for Jonathan (who was speaking),
Megan (who also shared), and
Brutus (who was translating).
Again, I spent our time there praying – for protection, for
open ears, etc.
open ears, etc.
Again, I didn’t hear much of what was said.
The only difference was that I didn’t feel like I was going
to throw up (thank you, God).
to throw up (thank you, God).
So today, we went again.
God started speaking to me about sharing my struggles in the
past with suicide while Nicole
was sharing with a group of men fixing the tire on a truck.
past with suicide while Nicole
was sharing with a group of men fixing the tire on a truck.
I didn’t know if I was supposed to be sharing about it that
day or not, so as she spoke, and as we walked to our next destination I asked
God when.
day or not, so as she spoke, and as we walked to our next destination I asked
God when.
At the time, I didn’t know where we were going next, but
when we came to a stop in front of another drinking establishment, I knew.
when we came to a stop in front of another drinking establishment, I knew.
This was the place.
After praying protection over myself, being prayed for by
some of my teammates, and going through the introductions, I spoke – fighting
back tears the entire time.
some of my teammates, and going through the introductions, I spoke – fighting
back tears the entire time.
The weight of what God had given me to share had never been
so heavy, and I had never felt so urgent of a need to share as I did in that
moment.
so heavy, and I had never felt so urgent of a need to share as I did in that
moment.
I just knew that I had to, so I did.
I shared, David
shared, and the Lord moved.
shared, and the Lord moved.
He moved a woman named Esther to accept the Lord as her
savior, and as she raised her hand in that room, I did start to cry – silent
tears of joy.
savior, and as she raised her hand in that room, I did start to cry – silent
tears of joy.
It wasn’t just because of her decision.
No, it was also because God had decided to use the story
He’s given me to draw Esther to Himself.
He’s given me to draw Esther to Himself.
What could be more humbling, or more amazing than that?
It kind of makes me look forward to the possibility of doing
it again before we leave Uganda…
it again before we leave Uganda…
