CHRISTMAS IN UGANDA

WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY GOD TO BE ABLE TO SERVE HIM IN UGANDA. OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, WE WERE BLESSED WITH A TRIP TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK IN NORTHERN UGANDA. THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S CREATION IS BREATHTAKING, THE LANDSCAPE IS CLASSICAL AFRICAN BEAUTY, AND THE ANIMALS ARE JUST A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. ON CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON, WE TOOK A BOAT RIDE UP THE NILE RIVER TO VIEW THE FALLS, WE SAW HIPPOS, ELEPHANTS, CAPE BUFFALO, AND A BUNCH OF NILE CROCODILES. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WE HIRED A RANGER TO RIDE WITH US ON A GAME DRIVE. IT WAS AMAZING, WE TOLD HIM THAT WE DIDN'T CARE WHAT WE SAW, THAT WE WERE JUST EXCITED TO BE THERE. WELL, WE SAW GIRAFFE, UGANDAN KOB, WATERBUCK, ORIBI, CAPE BUFFALO, JACKSON HARTEBEAST, WARTHOG, A PLETHORA OF EXOTIC BIRDS, AND 4 MAGNIFICENT LIONS, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. AS THE NEW YEAR BEGINS, AND WE MINISTER IN PLACES THAT ARE NOT AT ALL BEAUTIFUL, COMPARED TO THIS PLACE, PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN, AND THAT HIS NAME WOULD BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND THAT HIS NAME WILL BE PRAISED, AMEN!!

ENCOURAGING THE HOPELESS

I SPENT THE DAY WITH MY UGANDAN BROTHER, DOUGLAS ALIRO, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF NATEETE. WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME WALKING ALL OVER THE PLACE, MEETING, GREETING, AND TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN A PHYSICALLY HOPELESS ENVIRONMENT. THIS AREA FLOODS ALL OF THE TIME, AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, THE WATER LEVEL WAS UP PAST THE WINDOWS. THE WATER HAS RECEDED, BUT THE MUD IS STILL THICK AND MASSIVE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE. HOWEVER, ON THIS DAY, WE BROUGHT WATER TO THEM THAT WE HOPE WILL FLOOD THIS AREA, THE LIVING WATER OF JESUS CHRIST. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDED THE FUNDS FOR THE TENT AND CHAIRS, THAT ALLOWS US TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO THE PEOPLE, OUT OF THE RAIN, AND THE HOT AFRICAN SUN.

HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS FEST

DECEMBER 14TH, 85 DEGREES, AND WE'RE AT A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL!! I LOVE UGANDA!! THE KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME MAKING CRAFTS, AND OF COURSE, WALKER FOUND A BALL TO KICK AROUND. THE FIRST SEMESTER IS NOW OVER AND THE KIDS ARE DOING GREAT. THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL ON JANUARY 3RD.

GULU AND FT. PORTAL

A TEAM CONSISTING OF MYSELF, DANNY HOOD, JIMMY BARRY, CHUCK WATSON, EARNEST BUYONDO, AND PASTOR DEO BAMANYA TRAVELED AROUND UGANDA VISITING AND ENCOURAGING MISSIONARIES AND LOCAL PASTORS. WE FIRST DROVE NORTH TO THE WAR RAVAGED AREA OF GULU. WE STOPPED AND VISITED AN IDP(INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE)CAMP. I WAS HEART BROKEN TO SEE THESE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE OF EVER HAVING A BETTER LIFE. THE PHYSICAL NEEDS ARE HUGE, BUT THE SPIRTUAL NEEDS ARE EVEN GREATER. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE OF GULU. AFTER WE LEFT GULU AND MOVED SOUTH AND WEST, WE CROSSED THE NILE RIVER AND WERE SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HIKE DOWN THROUGH THE BUSH TO VIEW AND PHOTOGRAPH THE RIVER AND THE FALLS. THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S CREATION IS BREATH TAKING. WE THEN MOVED WEST TO THE TOWN OF FT. PORTAL. FT. PORTAL IS AT THE FOOT OF THE RWENZORI MOUNTAINS ON THE CONGOLESE BORDER, THE LANDSCAPE THERE IS BEAUTIFUL. WE VISITED WITH OUR MISSIONARY, LEW JOHNSON, AND ENCOURAGED AND LOVED ON THE PEOPLE OF THE LOCAL HOUSE CHURCH THAT OUR PASTORS IN OUR NETWORK STARTED. THERE HAS BEEN A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF RAIN AND FLOODING, AND AS THE PICTURE SHOWS, WE CROSSED A RIVER WHERE THE BRIDGE WAS UNDER WATER. THERE CONTINUES TO BE ALOT OF SUFFERING FROM THE FLOODING AND WE PRAY THAT THINGS WILL SOON IMPROVE. PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR THE ONE'S THAT ARE SUFFERING PHYSICALLY AND SPIRTUALLY IN UGANDA.

FAMILY OUTING

WE SPENT A REALLY FUN DAY TODAY AT THE UGANDA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTER AT ENTEBBE. IT'S NOT LIKE A ZOO, THE ANIMALS ARE IN THEIR NATURAL HABITATS AND THERE ARE FEW FENCES. WE ALL LOVED IT, THE CENTER SITS ON THE BANKS OF LAKE VICTORIA AND IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOURIST LOCATION FOR UGANDA. WE DID NOT KNOW IT, BUT TODAY WAS WORLD TOURISM DAY, SO THERE WERE SPECIAL ACTIVITIES GOING ON AT THE CENTER AS WELL

ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, WALKER AND DELANEY HAD THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY IN AFRICA. WALKER TURNED 9 AND DELANEY TURNED 7. OUR KAMPALA FAMILY CAME OVER TO CELEBRATE WITH US AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. WALKER SAID THAT THIS WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER, WE PRAISE THE LORD THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE ADJUSTED SO WELL TO LIFE IN UGANDA, HE IS SO GOOD TO US!!

11TH ANNIVERSARY

I'VE NOW BEEN MARRIED TO CHRISTINA FOR ELEVEN FANTASTIC YEARS. SHE IS THE GREATEST BLESSING THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME. I LOVE HER AND I THANK GOD FOR HER.

BAPTISM AT LAKE VICTORIA

WE HAD A GREAT DAY TODAY, AS MORE NEW BELIEVERS WERE BAPTIZED IN LAKE VICTORIA. MORE PEOPLE HAVE COME FORWARD, SO, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BAPTISM NEXT SUNDAY. GOD IS DOING MIGHTY THINGS HERE. IT IS SUCH A BLESSING FOR US TO BE A PART OF WHAT GOD IS DOING HERE. PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE NEW BROTHERS AND SISTERS AS THEY BEGIN THEIR WALK WITH THE FATHER.

NATEETE (NA-TAAY-TAY)

TODAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, OUR TEAM ALONG WITH THE MANNA MINISTRY TEAM CONDUCTED A CHURCH SERVICE AND CRISIS FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN THE COMMUNITY OF NATEETE. THIS WAS ONE OF THE SADDEST AREAS THAT I HAVE BEEN TOO. WE ARE IN THE RAINY SEASON AND THIS AREA FLOODS, ALOT. THE DAY BEFORE WE CAME, THE WATER LEVEL WAS THREE TO FOUR FEET HIGHER THAN IT WAS TODAY, BUT THERE WAS STILL 6-8 INCHES OF WATER AND MUD INSIDE ALMOST ALL OF THE HUTS. I WAS ASKED TO GO WITH DOUGLAS AND SURVEY THE AREA AND PRAY. WE WENT TO THE MUD HUT OF A MAN THAT WAS VERY SICK AND DYING WITH AIDS. HIS HUT WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND HE COULD BARELY MOVE, BUT WE WENT INSIDE AND GREETED HIM, AND I HELD HIS HAND AND PRAYED WITH HIM. THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WITH TB, HIV, AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE AREA MAKE IT RIPE FOR CHOLERA AND MALARIA. DOUGLAS TOLD ME THAT WHEN I GREET PEOPLE, TO LOOK INTO THEIR EYES BECAUSE I MAY NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN, IT IS SO SAD. HOWEVER, THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TODAY AND THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD WHERE REAL HOPE COMES FROM AND WE ALL KNOW THAT GOD CAN CHANGE THIS AREA IF HE WANTS, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH HIM. WE JUST ASK THAT EVERYONE THAT READS THIS REPORT TO PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE PEOPLE AND ASK GOD TO HAVE MERCY ON THIS AREA, THEY WILL RECEIVE NO HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT, IT WILL TAKE DIVINE INTERVENTION, SO PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE SUFFERING IN NATEETE.

Kawempe

MANNA MINISTRY CONDUCTED A CRISIS FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN AN AREA NORTH OF KAMPALA CALLED KAWEMPE LAST FRIDAY, AUGUST 24. SEVERAL PEOPLE ASK IF SOME PASTORS WOULD COME OUT AND TEACH THEM ABOUT JESUS, SO TODAY, SEPTEMBER 1 MY TEAM LEADER DANNY HOOD AND I DROVE OUT THERE AND JOINED OUR GROUP OF UGANDAN PASTORS TO ENCOURAGE, TEACH, AND EVENGELIZE. THIS AREA OF THE CITY IS HEAVILY MUSLIM AND LOADED WITH PROSTITUTION, BUT WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. WE HAD AN EXCELLENT DAY, WITH AT LEAST 21 PEOPLE ASKING JESUS INTO THEIR HEARTS. DANNY, DOUGLAS, AND I WENT FOR A WALK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND WERE LED TO A HOUSE WHERE 5 MUSLIM MEN WERE STANDING, WE ALL GREETED THEM IN LUGANDA, AND WERE INVITED INTO THE HOUSE. UPON ENTERING, WE WERE GREETED BY AN OLDER MAN IN A TURBAN. WE WERE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LOCAL SHIEK!! THE FIVE MEN WERE HIS ENTOURAGE/BODYGUARDS. WE ALL GREETED ONE ANOTHER AND THEN THEY STARTED TO PRAY, SO, WE STARTED TO PRAY TO THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, THAT THE DARKNESS AND EVIL OF ISLAM WOULD FLEE FROM THESE MEN, THIS HOUSE, AND THIS COMMUNITY. AT THIS POINT, DANNY GAVE THEM A GOSPEL TRACT THAT EXPLAINS WHO JESUS IS ACCORDING TO THE KORAN, AND ASKED IF WE COULD COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND TALK ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS A DIVINE APPOINTMENT, WE WILL SOON FIND OUT IF A DOOR WAS OPENED OR IF IT HAS BEEN SHUT, BUT I THINK THAT IT WAS OPENED WIDE, AND A GREAT MOVEMENT WILL TAKE PLACE HERE IN KAWEMPE

ROAD TRIP

WE TOOK A RIDE DOWN TO THE EQUATOR ON SATURDAY. THE EQUATOR ITSELF IS NOT VERY FAR FROM OUR HOUSE, HOWEVER, TO DRIVE TO THE AREA WHERE IT CROSSES LAND AND IS NOT CROSSING OVER LAKE VICTORIA TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN AFRICA

WALKER AND DELANEY'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AT HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WAS GREAT, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH GREAT TEACHERS AND A WONDERFUL SCHOOL. THE KIDS HAVE ALREADY MADE NEW FRIENDS, AND ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME.

SUNDAY SERVICE AT KYEBANDO

PASTOR BENON HAS A GREAT CHURCH AND A GREAT CONGREGATION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY OF KYEBANDO.

THE KIDS GETTING IN THE GROOVE

WALKER AND DELANEY ARE GETTING ALONG JUST FAMOUSLY HERE IN UGANDA. HERE IS DELANEY HELPING OUR HOUSE HELPER ROSE MAKE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, AND WALKER IS PLAYING MANCALA WITH OUR OLD FRIEND BUYONDO. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE MAKING FRIENDS, YET ANOTHER BLESSING.

SUNDAY SERVICE AT BANDA

WE ENJOYED A VERY SPIRIT FILLED SERVICE WITH THE PEOPLE OF BANDA. PASTOR JOHN, WHO IS ALSO A BARBER, IS AN EXCELLENT LEADER FOR THIS COMMUNITY. IT IS JUST SO INCREDIBLE TO WORSHIP HERE. THE SERVICE USED ENGLISH, LUGANDA, LUO, AND SWAHILI IN ORDER TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL PRESENT, IT WAS PRETTY COOL TO SEE GOD SPEAK TO EVERYONE IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.