Today is a bit of a rest for me. You see, last night we traveled to the airport in Entebbe with a team from Mt. Zion Baptist Church returning to their homes and lives in Northern Alabama. They were and are a great team - they did a great job even when it wasn’t easy. They worked hard and we pray that God was glorified. I would love to share some of their experiences with you:
- They enrolled over 900 people into our BibleWay Discipleship program; before they left this great country over 85 believers had already completed their first Bible study book and were ready to begin their second book.
- The team worked in the slums where they taught women how to make reusable menstrual pads from materials that are readily available. It is our prayer and desire that this will allow these women the opportunity to provide for the needs of their families.
- They also ministered to more that 75 mothers-to-be, by distributing “mamma kits”. A “mamma kit” contains all the sterile materials needed to give birth; the mother will use this kit in the hospital, with a midwife, or in a clinic when she delivers her baby. Without these materials, the mother-to-be would be turned away and receive no help as she gives birth. It is possible that the gift of these kits may save the lives of mothers and babies.k
- They traveled many kilometers on dusty, bumpy roads to reach a refugee camp along the Northern border of Uganda. They cried and held people’s hands as they listened to horror story after horror story, and then they shared the hope that only comes from the salvation found in Jesus. They played with the "war children” of the Sudan, and wondered what would become of their newest little friends.
- They slept in huts alongside the Nile River and watched traditional African dances. They saw elephants, giraffes, hippos, a lion napping in a tree, and another lion keeping watch over her cub.
- They traveled by boat to Murchison’s Falls, where ALL of the water of the massive Nile River flows through a gap of just 23 feet. At the top of the falls they held hands a lifted up prayers for the people of this great nation.
- After returning to Kampala, they had the blessing of worshipping with 65-75 new believers in a three-week old house-church located in the slums. As they left, their hearts remained in that alleyway with those precious brothers and sisters-in-Christ. One wonderful lady was crying as we left; it affected her greatly because she could leave, while these believers had to stay. I reminder her that because her team had come, they had offered them hope and a relationship with the Lord. For this reason, their lives would be better than they had been before.
- They were able to minister to the Uganda Women’s Maximum Security Prison. It was the first time that we had been able to share with them. Many of the 465 women who call that prison their home will be there for life. Some will eventually transition out. Some are condemned to die, and are awaiting a presidential signature to carry out their sentence. One of the ranking prison officers asked us to pray that the president never signs those papers. There were babies throughout the prison - some were born there and others came with their mothers. Each one of those women needs the freedom that only Jesus can bring. We praise the Lord that 35 of them prayed to receive Jesus’ free gift of eternal life, and over 100 committed to enroll in our discipleship program. Jesus changes and transforms lives.
- We also enjoyed great fellowship that involved lots of laughter and ice cream from Nairobi.
As I reflect on the experiences I have shared with you, I am reminded of what I Tweeted yesterday, “Oh God, the world’s needs are too much, and we are so few. Please Lord, send the workers; that’s all I ask you to do.”
Pray and consider joining God in the amazing work that He is doing here in Uganda. You don’t want to miss out on this blessing - let’s watch God change the world!
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Matthew 9:37-38
Blessings,
Steve DuVall
