Tumatende, Tumatende, Tumatende nga bukkede Tumatende, nga muntundu Tumatende, Tumatende, Tumatende, nga buungeda!

Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him, in the morning, Praise Him, in the noon time Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him when the sun goes down!

We met for devotions at the Nile Eden Guest House and Eli led us in a deep discussion about the removal of God from American school curriculum in contrast to the open acknowledgment of God in all the schools of Uganda. Our text was from John 3:19, Light has come into the world but men love darkness because their deeds are evil.

Now we had intended to be on the road by 9:00 AM in order to reach the all believers conference at the True Worship Center Kafundikire as early as possible. But in Africa, when you are late, everyone just waits for you. It was nearly 11:00 AM before our little bush taxi caravan pulled out of the gate from Pastor Robert’s residence. You see there was much work to do, we had food to pack (15 bags of rice, beans, flour, sugar and soap). Then there were the hygiene kits for the women’s conferences and all the items needed for the children’s ministry. We had a sound system and keyboard and generator. Juwali stuffed things in every possible nook and cranny on that van until it was over stuffed and listing to one side. Our little troop consists of Pastor Robert and Sarah, Pastor Mike, Pastor Peter and Pastor Cedric from Kenya; our keyboard player Philip, singers Abby and Joy, Juwali our driver and the seven Mazungus.   The three hour drive to the tiny pole church in Kafundikire took a harrowing three hours and I couldn’t help but be concern of the odd sound of un-lubricated bearings coming from the undercarriage.

The little church was packed with people and the joyful music could be heard from a great distance away. It was 16’X30’ and constructed from poles that were barely 2”in diameter with a papaya mat roof and tarps for walls. There must have been more than a hundred people seated close and facing forward. The roof was so low that I bumped my head as we stepped inside. I was introduced to Pastor Wylcliffe an elder gentleman wearing a worn suit coat who happens to be the father of Pastor Herbert from neighboring Nawaikoke. The Mayor of the village was introduced and he assured us there were no security risks and we were safe in his town which gave me pause, why did he need to say that. The format was very familiar, there was singing and worship and introductions. The children stepped out with Martha and the kids for Sunday school and then I preached a message concerning spiritual warfare. John gave a motivational spirit led talk uniquely tailored for this congregation and then we moved under a large banyan tree for lunch. I was impressed with John’s speech about Pastor Robert. He oversees pastors throughout Uganda including his own seven affiliated churches and he does not even own a car. He rents a house and he never complains; John went on to say that the ministry of GGI is completely donor funded and every dollar given goes directly into the ministry, there are no high paid salaries and administrative costs. This is one of the main reasons I got involved with GGI, it is a true ministry and people’s lives are being impacted.

It was our intention to go into the community and share gifts of blessing with five needy families and then make the 45 mile drive to Kamuli where we had reservations at the Keymba Sande Garden Hotel for the night, dinner was to be served at 6:00 PM. But the Rural Africa roads were not kind. We were in a very rural area, way off the paved roads and some of the little homes we visited were at least a quarter mile walk away from the vehicles. We trudged our way down the narrow overgrown paths with the thought in mind that we would take an hour or so and then get on our way. God had other plans; The first place we visited was to speak to a widow Ruth in her late 70’s, quite a character and she mimicked our English not knowing what she was saying, she about talked our ears off about what an honor it was for her to entertain visitors in her modest little one room mud where she lived with her infant granddaughter. We asked her if she was a Christian and she confessed that she had backslidden so we knelt with her there in the dirt and she renewed her relationship with Christ. We introduced her to Pastor Wycliffe and he made arrangements to follow up and look in on her. Time was of the essence because we did not want to be caught in the rural dirt roads of Uganda after dark (they are dangerous enough in the day light. We drove for what seemed a very long time down the narrow path’s to a little compound with three small buildings and a very old lady seated before hut. Her mane was Ephrance and she looked to be at least 80. I asked her if she was a Christian and if anyone had ever explained the gospel to her. We took our time and Pastor Peter painstakingly helped her understand every nuance. At the same time Pastor Herbert was praying with a nine year old little boy asking salvation and Pastor Robert was ministering to a small family just a few feet away under a tree. I prayed with Ephrance and she asked God to save her and forgive her of her sins. Then she pointed to an old man seated 20’ away, Jonathan looked older than her and he needed prayer for healing. As we spoke with him he indicated that he too wanted to be saved just like Ephrance so we took the time and explained all again. Pastor Peter had stepped it into high gear and no sooner had I finished congratulating Jonathan and he informed me that this young lady was also Ephrance, their daughter and she wanted to receive Christ as well. Again we patiently and lovingly explained the gospel to her and then prayed with her also. It was a glorious day in heaven as the angels rejoiced at this whole family coming to salvation. Pastor Wycliffe would have his work cut out for him.

By now we were all saying there would be no way to make Kamuli in time for supper but maybe we could get there before dark. Our next stop was extremely far off the beaten path and Pastor Wycliffe directed us to another tiny hut where a pretty Muslim girl sat in the dirt with her four sons all under the age of 4. We presented our gifts and Pastor Robert asked her some very probing questions about her faith, He told her all these Americans had come half way around the world and God had directed them to her out of all the people in the area. She confessed that she wanted to receive Christ but John cautioned her, reminding that she would be ostracized by her family and life may become very difficult. He pointed out the charm that she had around the waist of the smallest child and told her she would have to forsake that kind of spiritual help. She insisted that she was sincere so we began the process again and she asked Christ to forgive her and save her.

Meanwhile Pastor Peter had primed the pump so to speak and John began consulting with three young mothers who wanted to know more and I spoke to five teenage girls. Naomi, Joyce, Joanne, Irene and Helen also wanted salvation so With Pastor Mike Translating we went through the gospel again and they asked God to add their names to the book of life. John spent some valuable time with the young mothers explaining the gospel and exposing the spirit behind their traditional beliefs about spirits and charms obtained from witchcraft. They said they were not ready so Pastor Wycliffe will have his work cut out. Never the less the kingdom of God has grown amidst the grasslands and the ubiquitous red dust of the African planes.

Blessings to you!

Miles

Photo: Pastor Herbert Fred speaking to Kafundikire church.