Hungry for the Word; Committed to read it daily

 As I spoke at Ongilai Church, I told the story of the old Indian man who had 2 dogs, a black one and a white one, He often had them fight one another and those watching would place bets on which one would win. The old man generally won the bets. One day, someone asked him how he always seemed to know which one would win. He said, "It's easy. The one that I feed wins." I used this story to illustrate the importance of feeding our Spirit with the word of God. The people were moved by the story and its implication, but distraught that they had NO Bible to feed and strengthen themselves. So they asked for Bibles. Then I asked them for a commitment to read the Bible every day. These are the ones who made that commitment. We bought 10 Bibles in the Ateso language for $100.

Ongilai Church, Pallisa, Uganda

 I was privileged to speak at the newly built Ongilai Church on Sunday. I was warmly greeted by about 75 adults and as many youth and children. They danced and sang in worship, then sat quietly as I shared God's Word with them through my Interpreter, Simon. I talked to them about the importance of relationships, based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. I used Ephesians 4 and prompted them to "put off the old way of life" and "put on the new". They actively participated in THROWING OFF the anger, lies, bitterness, slander, etc and "pulling into their hearts" love, truth, forgiveness, kindness, encouragement, etc as they walked in Christ's love. We talked about the importance of the Holy Spirit's filling and how we get strength through being daily in the Word of God. As we finished, the Zonal Leader told me that they had a humble request: there was only ONE Bible in the church, the Pastor's. They said they would love to have a Bible where they could read it in their homes and promised to do that every day. At the end of the trip, I purchased 10 Bibles for them to share and read together. A blessed donor will reap the reward of that gift to these humble, hungry people.

Mountain Villages

 On Sunday night, we departed for the bus station at 8 pm, boarded a bus at 9:30; rode 7 1/2 hours in a local "coach" toward the north of the state. Arriving at 4 am (it was cold), we waited for our jeep to come to take us 4 1/2 more hours into the mountains. Arriving "ragged" at 10:30 a.m., we checked in to the hotel, "freshened up", and boarded the jeep again for another 1 1/2 hours over rough terrain. The only "public" transportation in to the village was a jeep which would carry ALL the people who could get in OR ON it!  Pastor Raju had always walked into this village. we decided after 2 days in the jeep, that might not be so bad to walk it!

Unprepared for the cold of the mountains.

 

Tribal Villages in Mountainous areas

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One of the mountainous tribal villages we visited had never had a missionary come there. There were only 5 families of Believers and no church in the village.

Pastor's home & clinic

 Touring the village, this lady was bathing her baby. She stopped to hold him up and proudly show him off. I pray that the family comes to know Jesus Christ as the One True God and chooses to follow Him.



I thought it was neat, how the Pastor’s wife, showing biblical hospitality, hosted the clinic at her home. We saw 91 people in the clinic, 27 accepted Christ.


Many people heard the Gospel. Pray that God's Word will not return void in this village.

Before we left, they entertained us with their traditional dance and escorted us happily to our vehicle, joyously waving good-bye! Quite a change from the first visit by the Pastor years ago!

 Sponsor a child from Immanuel School through Tom Cox World Ministries Sonshine Kids.

These are the beautiful, happy children standing in front of their home and school, and yard with geese in the background.

These are just a few of the 37 children in the Children's Home. 38 other local children in need attend the school on a daily basis. They are all grateful for their education and study hard. I was up early one morning watching the boys swim & bathe in the canal beside the compound while the girls washed their clothes. One boy was in the empty classroom studying hard at 7:30 in the morning. I was impressed! One boy was doing his chores cleaning up and would stop every little bit to practice his worship/dance routine. I loved just watching them with their joy for the little things in life. What a contrast with children & teens I know who have so much and are so unhappy and many time unaware of how blessed they are!

Mahima ("glory") and Bindu

Sam 11 years lived on street after father died

Teja 11 years (no father, mother remarried & left)

Kalyan age 7 (no father or mother)

Mahima - Her father died and her mother is not able to keep her.

True Religion: Care for the Orphans

As we entered the Children's Home in SE Asia, the children all came forward to greet us. I spoke to them in English and this young man, P, answered me in perfect English with the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. Over the next 8 days, every time I saw him, I was drawn to him, seeing the joy of the LORD in his smile.

On Sunday afternoon, I had the opportunity to sit with the children, sing songs and dance, and hear their stories. P came to the Immanuel Home in 2007 at 6 years of age. He said at home he had no clothes, no shelter, and no food. His father had died and his mother remarried. His step-father rejected him and sent him to the streets to live. (Remember, women and children have few rights in many countries). A local Pastor in the mountains brought him to the Home as a small child. He said he was so happy to be at school and to learn about Jesus. (He calls the Pastor at the home/school/church "Daddy", so thankful for all that Daddy does for him). He wants to be a Pastor when he grows up! He is already a "missionary" as he shares the love of Christ through his life and smile.

There are 37 children in this home, most abandoned by their family (or true orphans or the father or mother has died).  These children can be sponsored through TCWM Sonshine Kids for $30 a month.

RESPECT, LOVE and GRATITUDE!

 

Children all around the world need our love and care. Though many children around the world have few luxuries and many times not even enough food, I find more respect, love and gratitude exhibited by them as a result of just a touch, smile or hug of compassion. Here, I am in Uganda and have given this young albino child sunglasses so she might see in the bright light.  She is respectfully giving me thanks.

Children of India sit with arms crossed, hands in laps, patiently waiting on the program to begin!