Uganda 2015: Days 8 and 9

Sorry for missing a day but the time change is starting to catch up to us! Yesterday we went white water rafting on class 4 and 5 rapids on the Nile river. My raft was excellent because Mark Acre and I quickly got Ms. Karly Buer in it (she basically has a degree in outdoor activities). Despite being scared on the first drop, I had an absolute blast! I found it a lot easier than I expected and I felt like I was in control the whole time. The team bonding was great last night and I believe that everyone on this trip is here for a reason. 

Today we went to Mitch Hauschildt's school (Bethel Junior School) to play with the kids.  It was so much fun playing hard with the kids even though I probably needed a shower by 10 a.m.. After talking to the Masese women (more on them in a later note), we made our way to the first day of men's conference in Jinja. Despite frustrations over the two and a half  hour delay in the sun, God continued to bless the team by showing us who really is in control. Today, eleven men (ages ranging over 30 years!) gave their lives to Christ after our first session. It was such a blessing to see these men wrestle with the thoughts in their minds but ultimately let Jesus have their hearts. 

We closed the session with prayer. During the partner prayer, I joined up with a Ugandan man named Moses. It was cool that two men from completely different parts of the world who spoke completely different languages, were bound together by Christ to pray for a generation of men. I keep having visions of Moses and I together in heaven, talking up a storm, with no cultural or language barriers.

Tomorrow we will have the final men's conference from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m, so we still have lots of opportunity to share the gospel. I am excited to try out a project I have been working on this week so prayers for God's will to be spoken through us would be much appreciated! God bless. -T

Uganda 2015: Day 7

We are beyond the halfway point now! Today was such a successful and fruitful day. The morning men's conference was very encouraging because we had 110 men come even though it was a work day. Our numbers dropped dramatically last year, so it was good to see that they thought our message was important enough to stick around for. Despite some team members feeling under the weather, I feel like we have started to hit our stride. 

The women led the school children in bible games and by their accounts the kids were quite receptive. Eric and I went to Victory Day School after lunch to preach a message to 110 young men and women. We were accompanied by a youth pastor, Dennis, who translated our (fast and heavily accented) English into more Ugandan English. Despite Eric being from the worst place in the world (Wichita, Kansas) we made a great team. After sharing testimonies and how Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies in the bible, we shared the Roman's road to salvation. Pastor Dennis invited anyone who wanted to devote their life to Christ to come forward for a prayer and about 90 kids came forward. Praise the Lord! Very few kids stayed in their seats. It made my heart soar that these kids were making a decision this early in life and it makes me believe that our mission of having more families and less orphans can some day be a reality.

Afterward we went to Kerith Children's Home where fellow man upper and longer term missionary, Katie McGinnis, had helped open up a health clinic. The kids were so fantastic and wore me out with their incredible dances. The living quarters were a lot nicer than other places we have seen, but it is very hard to provide for orphans on top of a ministry and school. Their rooms were very clean, but besides a sheet there weren't any pillows, clothesline, or suitable shoes and clothing for the kids. Only 4 out of 30 kids are sponsored and I know for a fact that I'm going to be adding to that number. I encourage anyone else who wants to help to contact me for more information.

Pastor Samuel has done such an incredible job and he really invests in the youth pastors as well. We met Bruhan through Sam last year and now he's starting his own ministry (and doing fantastic by the way). So it is encouraging to see yet another youth pastor (Dennis) speak with so much conviction and power that you know he's going to reach people. 

Palissa has a special place in my heart. The team this year is just so great! When we aren't planning and sharing the gospel, we are probably crying from laughing. In less than 24 hours new man upper, Brandon, has successfully taken down a bat and the largest beetle I have ever seen in my life! Tomorrow will be a team building touristy day when we travel to Jinja to go rafting on the Nile River! God bless! -T

Pastor Dennis and I at Victory Day School

Peter and I at Kerith Children's Ministry