We have an ongoing Ugandan Ministry. You can read all the details about it here.
A recent blessing:
After my Ray went home to be with the Lord last summer, I got an email that our friend, Justine, from Uganda, had named her new little baby “Ray” after my Ray! (Ray would have loved that) Here is his picture:
Here is a report from our last trip in November, 2010:
Words and pictures are not adequate to describe Uganda’s Kabaale village (an hour from the Masaka district by dirt road) – the smells, sounds, heat, dust, and culture. TTF has joined with other churches and individuals to help build 2 schools, a medical clinic, and a drilled water well for the village. Also, a vocational school is being planned. Ugandan villagers are beautiful, sensitive, soft-spoken, gentle, inquisitive. Most are hungry, thirsty, wanting something, anything, everything. They live close to the ground – not on chairs and tables and beds as we do, but on straw mats and blankets on the dirt. They are born on the ground, live their lives on the ground, and die on the ground. HIVAids has taken a huge toll. There are thousands of orphaned children. They are well acquainted with death, so they really know how to celebrate life with all their hearts. They are resourceful, take things literally, live simply, work hard, move to the beat of a drum, and die young.
TTF spends a lot of time in many villages not even on the map – Kabaale Kibisi, Lukaya, Kiraga, Lusango. We wake early to the sounds of a symphony of crowing roosters, mooing cows, birds tweeting, and school children assembled, singing and dancing to drums, to celebrate another day of life, and school. We were privileged to be part of a Bible College graduation celebration, where 7 of our Ugandan students graduated. It was singing, dancing, rejoicing, and drumming for almost 3 hours! Families, children, friends – and a graduate who was in her wedding dress – she was getting married right after the service! They were rejoicing for life!
TTF spent several days with Pastor Bob Emrich and some friends from Maine, teaching the Ugandan pastors of the ‘Pastors’ Alliance’, and their wives and children. Fay got to take part in a ladies Bible study with the pastor’s wives – answering questions, helping with their problems, hearing their needs, meeting with them, eating with them, singing with them, praying with them – getting to know them. We gave out over 200 Ugandan Bibles, as well as banners and gifts to the pastors and their wives for their churches.
At night in the darkness, we visited many surrounding villages to show the Jesus film in the Ugandan language. Traveling on roads that are washed out goat paths, projecting the movie with a sheet and a generator, we would watch and see the reactions of these men, women and children who had never heard of Jesus, or known the Gospel message before. (None had ever seen a movie, and many had never seen white people before!) As they watched the movie, their shouts of joy and grief moved my heart to tears. Jesus feeding the multitudes, Jesus healing, Jesus weeping, Jesus giving communion, Jesus’ trial, Jesus on the cross, Jesus out of the tomb – may we never get so calloused that we take this incredible message of hope and joy as just a common thing. The crowds didn’t. After the movie, we got to pray with them and for them. Hundreds of people – young girls, young men, old drunks, pregnant women – all thirsting for the hope of Jesus and His salvation. And Jesus never disappoints. We saw the amazing power of the Word of God alone, that gives salvation. It was beyond description. Beyond joy!
Fay launched a new foot-and-Gospel ministry, ‘Sole Salvation’, visiting many different mud huts in different villages on the motorcycle boda-boda’s. Three people to a bike! Careening down dirt roads turned into cow paths, cow paths turned into foot paths, then no paths. Men and women so astounded that a white person from America would come visit them, and want to wash and give medical attention, moisturize, and massage their feet – giving them the Gospel message the whole time! God used a bottle of nail polish to bring one woman to Christ – and opened another amazing door of ministry for the Gospel message to reach the lost.
We were privileged to be part of Paul Mwesigwa’s pastoral ordination service, and we also took part in a baptism service by a bridge, at a river in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by miles of papyrus rushes and water lilies. 27 new Christians got baptized – a great day of singing, praising God, eating, and celebration!
TTF visited 3 prisons, and gave the Gospel message to the prisoners. They all prayed to receive Christ. We also arranged a special dinner for them. We gave out gifts of soap, sugar, salt, and Gospel tracts. We visited 4 schools in several different villages, to talk about America, and share the Gospel. Many children prayed to receive Christ. They sang and danced for us – a great celebration of life, despite the language barriers and cultural differences. We were all one in Christ.
On a trip to the capital city of Kampala for an overnight, Pastor Bob and Fay were on Ugandan Christian radio – 2 shows. Singing, and giving our testimonies, and preaching the Word of God to virtually millions of people. We were also able to preach, give testimonies, and sing at 2 services at Pastor Paul’s church in Kampala the next day. Later we headed back to Kabaale village.
In the village, we also did many other home visits to the mud huts, children and families, giving out candy, supplies and gifts. We made lots of friends, the Gospel was shared, and glory given to God. Our Ugandan friends, Justine, Ruth, Patrick and David did a great job translating for us. Mama, Jean, Justine and the others cooked, cleaned, and fed us great meals. In the evening, after a long day, we would all pray together, and flop into bed for the night. So dark, so quiet, and millions of stars sparkling in the equatorial sky.
Some photos from our Uganda Ministry:
Sharing the Gospel with school children near Masaka
Fay playing her music for Ugandan radio. Ugandan Christian radio reaches millions of people!
Salvation’ foot ministry, visiting hut-to-hut in remote villages for medical treatment, and bringing the Gospel message into their homes
Ray praying with villagers
Ugandan prisoners with supplies, and the Gospel
Showing the Jesus Film in remote villages in the Lugandan language (using a portable generator, a laptop, and a sheet