Kapala Baptist Church

On our first visit to this village in interior Uganda, we did nightly Crusades for 3 nights. As a result of the many people who trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior, a church was planted there the net Sunday. The people rented a space which was immediately too small! The men sat inside on benches provided for the occasion, the women and children sat outside on a pile of rocks! And this young man listened (joining in the singing and prayer time) at an air hole in the side of the building where the sound also came out. I thought of the wailing wall in Jerusalem where the people write their prayer requests to the Lord and place it in a slot in the bricks. The people love to worship and their musical instruments are often their hands.

A chair can serve as the platform for the preacher, so all can see and hear the message, as well as a "table" to hold the offering box as the people give (out of their poverty) obediently.

6 years later a permanent church still has not been built and the church struggles to reach the people of the community. Meanwhile other religions (NOT denominations) come in and build beautiful buildings to encourage the people to deny the Christian faith. Please pray for the people of Uganda, especially the pastors, that they would not become discouraged by the hardships.

Latvia

This picture of Russian Christian women reminds me of my first trip to Latvia with my friend, Ann.  My daughter-in-law had gone to NY with me to meet Ann for a couple of days in NY before departing for the Baltic States (ministering to Russian speaking people).  Ann was supposed to arrive in NY a little before us so we had arranged a meeting place and expected her to be waiting for us.  In preparation for the trip, we both had been instructed that Christian women in Latvia wore no make-up and kept their heads covered with headscarves. So Ann had told us to just look for a woman with no make-up and a scarf on her head.  As we arrived at her terminal, we spotted her, patiently waiting, headscarf and all.  (She's a real jokster!)  So we decided to sneak up on her.  We tiptoed around behind her, eased up quietly and surprised a total stranger! - to our surprise (and embarrassment)!  Ann's flight had been delayed ,and she appeared later - fully made up and no scarf! And we NEVER donned the scarves we had dutifully carried with us.  We also couldn't resist and "snuck" on just a little make-up each day.  By the end of the trip, we had "corrupted" the women, and the younger Christian women had brought their make-up out of hiding!  This picture reminds me of those dear Russian women in Latvia! I left part of my heart there with my dear friend, Vadim, and other Latvian brothers and sisters.  I look forward to Heaven where I can see these faithful Followers of Christ again.  And, as we reflect the beauty of Christ there, we can leave off all the "make-up" with which we try to hide all our imperfections.

Dedicated Praise Team

Evangelistic Rallies would be "dead" without the dedicated Praise Team. Pastors & workers have already set up platforms of wooden planks in the location of the Gospel Meetings. After a hard day of clinics, the Praise Team loads the equipment and themselves in to the back of a small pick-up truck for the dusty ride along roads full of pot holes and gullies. At the Rally, they lead worship with dancing, singing, clapping and praise for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours. The people gather and sing and dance with the Team - all energetic, enthusiastic, and smiling!! If the generator goes off, they just supplement with LOUD energetic clapping. They can make music!! After the last exuberant song (which usually lasts 15 minutes minimum), the Gospel is proclaimed and many respond to the Holy Spirit's work in their hearts. Hearts have been prepared by Children's sermons (which all ages understand), testimonies, special music, and the leadership of the Praise Team. The Lord is at work in a mighty way. After the decisions for Christ are recorded, the Praise Team again takes the stage for a time of celebration! All dance and praise God in this beautiful worship time. As many ladies started dancing facing me, I asked the interpreter the meaning. She said, "O Madam, she is saying to you, 'Though you are white and I am black, we worship Jesus Christ together ' ". I LOVE it! Free in Christ to worship and no complaints of tiredness or hardships. (No wonder they are skinny as a rail!)

The Poor You'll Always Have With You!

These pictures are reversed in relation to the story. I apologize.

In 2007, our second trip to Uganda, we did our first medical clinic. When we arrived the first day, there weren't a huge number of people. Pastor Agnatius said, "The people don't believe me when I say people are coming to help them and bring free medical supplies". (In Pallisa, there is an old hospital, but very few medicines (which have to be bought, when available, by the patient). The next day, the crowd was larger, and even more came the next day. We began to have to give out a "yellow slip" with the ability to return the next day and get in first. The second to the last day, the crowd was so large, we had to give out about 200 slips. I thought, "That will be most of our patient load for tomorrow." As we arrived the next day, there were bicycles everywhere (the main method of transportation besides walking). We were informed people had walked for hours to get there. We immediately set to work, but by noon it was obvious that we would run out of medicines that day and have none for the next (and last) scheduled day of clinics. As I walked outside, I tried to explain to the people that we were so sorry that we were running out of medicines (hoping that we would at least get through that day). As I looked to the right, a huge number of people began to show me their "yellow return slip". I had assumed they had been first in line! Yikes! I had forgotten to tell the "crowd control/line handlers" to let them in BEFORE new people there for the first time. I prayed and, expectantly, told all the people (apologizing again) that we would only be able to see people with yellow slips (explaining the reason), and that they should just go ahead and return home. They just sat! And looked at me! And motioned to me of all their aches and pains and illnesses and hurting children. We continued to hurriedly see patients, but it seemed impossible as those without slips pushed to the front, no longer patiently waiting in line. Finally, I decided that we would take those with slips to the church building and only allow those in. So those with slips, accompanied by everyone else (of course), walked to the church, and we only allowed the many with slips in. We had very limited medicines left. We separated those who needed treatment for malaria and the doctor helped them. I stood in the middle of the others who were lined along the walls. I asked who needed pain meds, raise your hand. After explaining the usage, we started at the middle, working both ways to the outside and every person with their hand raised received medicine and there was none left. I went to the middle again and asked about general weakness (vitamins), did the same thing. All with their hands raised received medicine and there was none left. I did the same with coughs - same results! Over & over, we had just the right amount of medicines. Each time, every need was met (but not 12 basketfuls of leftovers!) Mike, outside, had decided to mix up some vitamin mix we had with water and later reported that everyone waiting OUTSIDE had reeived a cup of vitamin drink. To the last drop of our supply! God is good!! People began to come to the door and say they just wanted to hear the Gospel. As the numbers increased, I asked Hugh to just go outside and present the Gospel. He did, and between them, the conseling, and preaching that day, HUNDREDS of people were added to the Kingdom! Praise the Lord for His bountiful goodness!

I was hungry and you fed me, naked and you clothed me.

Basic needs of clothing and food are obvious throughout interior Uganda. The children often receive only the evening meal and that is just a bowl of rice. They mention hunger pains and "grumblings" in the stomach. I grumble, too, when I am empty. Would you sponsor a child, providing food, clothes, school, a place to live? Just $35 a month takes a child like the ones pictured above and provides basic needs, plus the opportunity to know that someone cares about them? What about you? Will you show your care? Jesus said, "When I was hungry you fed ME. . . when you did it to the least of these".

FBC Mabank builds church in Uganda

Last January, FBC of Mabank, TX began a building program, not to build another building at their location, but to build a church in Uganda. As the church got excited about the project, it didn't take them long to raise the $4500 necessary to build a beautiful church in the village of Oboliso. The local people were excited to dedicate the church and worship there for the first time while members of the Mabank church were in Uganda in June, 2011 for medical clinics and church planting. The church was overflowing with excited worshippers who would no longer have to worship (rain or shine) under the tree or in a grass hut which is often blown away during storms, eaten down by termites, or just a temporary structure constantly having to be replaced. Thank you, FBC Mabank!

"Once I was blind, now I see"

As Hugh fitted glasses, he would double check the Rx by having them look at the form (with info about help given and then various choices on decisions made in counseling). One man, so excited that he could read, began to read the form! After a moment, he asked, dumbfoundedly, "What kind of person would NOT pray to receive Christ?"

It was very rewarding to fit glasses in a country where many people speak English. They would get so excited, "I can see! I can see!" And the you'd get a big hug or a big grin!