Saturday, July 7, 2012

Ndolwa

Greetings from Ndolwa. We have been here for 2 1/2 days. We are staying at the Pentagon Guest House in Kamuli. We have done a lot of outreach. We have driven on roads that are actually trails and gone far out in the bush to be able to deliver food to needy families. Most people we bless are the elderly men and women that have no means to support themselves. One of the mud huts we stopped at there lived an older couple. An elderly woman came out of the hut when we drove up and I thought it was the woman that lived there. It was not...a few minutes later a very frail looking woman that had only one eye and was almost naked crawled out and then her paralyzed husband drug himself to the opening of the hut. They both were so frail and thin...you could see all their ribs. We gave them double the food and soap. I also thought they could use some water and Sarah S. told them that they needed to drink the water. The old woman said...but won't it make me urinate? It is so hard to get out of the hut that they don't drink liquid. I am afraid they could die soon. It broke my heart. I know Jesus sees them and knows their struggles. He sends Sarah S. to help them...she delivered a mattress to them before. Jesus sent us to bless them with food. The woman that had come out of the hut first was a widow who looks in on them. We blessed her with food also. We also had clothing this time and gave at each stop. Everywhere we go the children multiply. It's like they have mzungu radar. We have fun giving out sweeties and toy cars and balls...it's like christmas, the way they smile. We also introduced balloons and bubbles to them too. At one home of an older gentleman, we blessed him with food and he wanted to give his life to Christ. Sarah S. said...we don't want you to say that because we just gave you food, we want to do it because you love Him and want Him as your personal Saviour. He still said I want to be Born Again. Another man watching wanted the same thing and still another woman wanted us to pray with her as well. Pastor Godfrey... the Pastor at True Worship Center, Ndolwa prayed with them all. We also have been part of the Crusade and Conference. There is much dancing and singing and Pastor Robert preached. Pastor Ken preached as well. At the end of the Crusade on the first day about 10-15 people gave their lives to Christ. Their church is growing so quickly. I was here last year and we had about 50 kids for the sunday school class. Now there is 250 and they have almost out grown the church building. God is so good!! It is about an hour drive to and from Kamuli to Ndolwa. We drive on bumpy roads. I think I have hit my head on the top of the car twice. Our driver, Jawale, is a good driver and tries to miss the big potholes. We eat lunch in Ndolwa at Pastor Godfrey's house. They serve beans, chapati, pineapple, salad, spaghetti noodles and soda or water. We are well taken care of. They are all so happy that we are here and supporting their ministry. We have breakfast and dinner at the guest house. I think I will close for now. 
Tomorrow is Sunday and we will head out to Ndolwa for the last time. We will have worship service with them and do a children's talk too. We then head back to Jinja.

Weeraba...or Goodbye

Beth

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Outreach and The Dove Voice Band

Sorry it has been a few days since our last blog!! Beth and I had writer's block! We have had many opportunities to do outreach over the past few days and also time to enjoy fellowship with each other and with new friends in Uganda. We were able to bless several families in and around Bukeeka and Wabiyinja, many who were elderly woman and or single mothers. The living conditions are very poor for these families. One of the families we shared a gift with was one of the pastors from the church in Wabiyinja. He and his family live in a mud house (no electricity or running water). He is also a fisherman because the pastors here do not have any income. He makes, on average, 4 to 5 dollars a day. We gifted them with rice, beans, sugar, maize flour, soap and a mattress. Martha had also put together gifts for the pastor's wives, so that was also included.
 After a long day of outreach, on the evening of July 3rd, we had the pleasure of going to home of Pastor Paul and his wife, Pam, to meet the team from Newport, WA and to hear the Dove Voice Band perform. The evening was filled with good food, amazing music and worship, and dancing (which included much laughter). The team, from Newport, is in Uganda helping to build a kitchen for Sera's Place, which is supported by Next Generation Ministries. The night ended with a special cake, baked in honor of Todd Newman's birthday!
Todd will be leaving this morning to head back to the USA and the rest of us will be making a journey to Ndolwa. We will be staying at a guest house in a town called Kamuli and driving into Ndolwa to do outreach. Pastor Robert informed us that the people we have gifted so far will look rich compared to the families we will meet over the next few days. Please pray for safe travel for Todd and the rest of the team! I am not sure if we will have internet where we are headed, but we will try and blog if we do! Thanks for all your support. We miss home, but are so grateful for all the opportunities we are having to share God's love with our friends in Uganda!

Sarah