Breakfast Club

I took some pictures at Breakfast Club yesterday.  

The kids come and line up outside our gate.  Our night guard always helps to keep them orderly and quiet.

Eric and Timothy listen to their memory work and give them a stamp on their hand when they pass.

At 6:30, they file in, wash their hands and get food from our kids...a mandazi (a donut like thing), a boiled egg and a banana.

Then they go get a cup of tea from a mama in our church who comes very early to make the tea.

Then Eric does a Bible story and lesson with them.

The other guy pictured here is our translator.

As they leave, they wash their cups on the way out.

We love our Breakfast Club time.  It reaches a wide variety of kids, many of whom are unchurched.  Please praise God with us for this time and continue to pray for this important  ministry.

Baptism of Mohammed and his household...

Over a year ago, a Muslim man came to our church with twin baby girls who were very sick and quite possibly at death's door.  Eric listened to him as he told Eric that the reason the girls were sick was because he didn't sacrifice a goat and wash all of their things in the blood. He was requesting money to buy a goat.  He felt certain a curse had come upon them.  Eric told them of the one true sacrifice and told them to pray to Jesus and ask Jesus for healing.  He also put the word out on Facebook asking many of you to pray for both physical and spiritual salvation.  For many months Eric worked with Mohammed.  Mohammed lost his father at an early age.  His brother took to the streets of Mbale when he was about 12.  Mohammed grew up with no education and very little confidence in his ability to do anything.  When he wanted money, Eric would ask him to memorize things: Lord's Prayer, Apostle's creed, Scripture, etc... At first Mohammed didn't believe he could do it.  He fought and fought against it.  Eric continued to tell him the gospel and how Christ transforms lives...how Christ can make him into a man that can earn a living for his family.  Slowly, over many months, he began to change, taking very small steps forward.  He has been wanting to be baptized for a while and finally the time came.  It is so exciting to see what God is doing in his life and in the life of his family!  I don't think I have ever seen an entire household baptized like this.  It was really precious!

Isn't this a picture of grace?  Our Father brings many of us to the cross kicking and screaming.  We don't know what we need.  But God does...and he freely gives...

 Because all four girls were crying, Eric took one and Elder Tybitia took another and Mama took the twins while we sang our hymn of praise to our great God!  For many months Mohammed has been asking for a Bible.  The church presented him one after the baptism.  I wish I could have captured the look of surprise and joy on his face!  What a blessing!  Please pray for this family!  Satan does not like this kind of work and will seek to discourage them.  An entire formerly Muslim family baptized in the name of our triune God needs much prayer!!  We never waltz right into heaven...it is a straight and narrow path that they are trying to walk.  You may never meet them this side of eternity, but what an opportunity you have to uphold them on their journey there.

Stuck

So, yes...this would be my doing...

I was trying to drive to town this afternoon after a downpour.  I didn't realize that this particular road had gotten so bad.  I attempted. I failed.

Thankfully, I wasn't that far from home and a quick phone call and a few minutes later Eric and crew showed up to rescue me.  I was back out and on my way in no time.  

In the meantime, some Jehovah Witnesses had come along and had struck up a conversation with me.  I was able to share the gospel with them and warn them strongly about the reality of hell.  

The whole incident made me wonder if the "being stuck" was the excuse God used to put me in the right place at the right time to share the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ with these people.  Praying for them tonight.  It grieves me so much that the JWs and Mormans have set up shop here too and are deceiving so many.  I'm thankful that our God is greater!  

A Joyous Day!

Eric was recently blessed to be able baptize Abdallah...a former Muslim.  Abdallah was converted under the care of some friends who are missionaries with Engineering Ministry International.  What a blessing to be able to witness the symbol of Christ washing sin away, turning darkness to light and causing the blind to see.  After so much "not-fun" stuff this summer (no water, malaria, typhus, friends leaving, etc...) it is this kind of "amazing grace" stuff that puts a spring back in our step and encourages us to press on.  

May God always bless Abdallah with a simple sweet trust in Jesus.

School of Evangelism Day 2

Yesterday was day 2 of the School of Evangelism.  In the morning, the teachers presented more on how to evangelize and in the afternoon, the people went to the local village of Mooni (a lot of the kids that attend our church and play on our compound are from there) and evangelized.  It was a very exciting time!  

Today was also Eric and my 14th wedding anniversary!  What a blessing to be married and serving God together!  Eric said a lot of sweet things today and I love to hear it.  :)  But one of the best things he said to me today was when I talked to him on his phone on his way home from Mooni, "Dianna, I was talking to three men and I looked up and Katelyn [our 11 year old] was sharing the gospel with a whole circle of people.  She had the attention of everyone on the compound!"

Ah, there is no greater joy than to hear how my children are being filled with the Holy Spirit and serving him!  She had a glowing countenance while she folded her laundry last night and recounted for me about all the conversations she had with the people.  We pray that God will continue the good work that he has begun in her heart!

One of the more serious things Eric said to me last night, as we were falling asleep was, "Great things are happening today and this week.  We need to be prayerfully prepared for the attacks of Satan now."  Yes...experience tells me that that is all too true...we would humbly ask that you join us in prayer!  We are in such desperate need of God's grace!

School of Evangelism

Today we were blessed to host day one of a 3-day school of evangelism, sponsored by Africa Christian Training Institute and organized by the OPCU.  There were more than 200 Christians, many of them pastors and church leaders, who attended.  We were blessed by the teaching of Dr. Henry Krabbendam, who was our professor many years ago at Covenant College.  He has been coming to Uganda for 30 years.  We are so thankful for this opportunity to grow in our passion for evangelism as well as a solid foundation in the gospel.  By nature we have a "cobra heart", a "pit-latrine past", and a "poison life", but God provides a new heart (regeneration), a clean record (justification), and a new life (sanctification).  These blessings are organized by God the Father, paid for by Jesus Christ, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.  This is the message that we have the great privilege and duty to tell everyone.  Please pray for the evangelism that will be taking place over the next two days in connection with this conference.

Go and Tell! A Proper Response to the Resurrection...

From Matthew 28...

6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

May God bless you today and everyday with more zeal, more comfort, more strength, more faith, more love...all made possible because of his death and resurrection!

Neighborhood Outreach

Over this past school break (our Christmas break and the Ugandan school year break) we had many kids coming and going on our compound.  We got to know the group quite well and made great efforts to get to know their parents, if possible.  We were also able to often include them in our family devotions.  It made for a busy couple months, but a good couple months.  Once the school year started, though, it became clear that we needed more structure to the time.  First kids began bringing their school friends so that we couldn't keep up with getting to know them and then a few began to try to skip school trying to use our compound as a place to hang out...not good!

So our friends gave us a great idea of hanging a red sign and a green sign on our gate.  When it's red, the kids can't come in.  When it's green, they are welcome.  It has worked beautifully.

Now, the kids and I pick a couple hours a week to open our gate and let our little friends come play.  We also decided to become much more intentional about the time.  Each of our kids pick an activity to take outside and do with some kids.  We bring out crayons and coloring sheets, the football (soccer ball), a jump rope, and books to read.  We also work on literacy.  Many of our coloring sheets are geared towards practicing phonics and I also try to sit down with any kids who want help learning to read.  I was amazed the first day we did this how many fourth grade kids could neither identify the name nor tell me the sound of the letter A.  And on some days we are still able to do devotions with all the group.  We usually have between 20 and 30 kids come.

This ministry is hard.  I'm not going to lie.  I've already seen that Satan hates it.  The first school day we decided to be very intentional about our time with the kids, was the worst school day we have had all year.  The kids can be rough...especially when they first start coming.  We've already seen that after a few times of coming and being accepted and loved on, some of the worst (some of the kids that when you meet them on their first day and say in your un-sanctified state, "I don't like that kid.") have become so sweet and respectful.  Here is one of them...

His name is Junior and he is one of the poorest of the poor.  He was so stubborn the first few times!  But wow has he changed!  He's the sweetest little guy now!  And some of the kids...well they are still stubborn...but for those, we've had a chance now to sit and listen about what their home life is like...and well...as much as my flesh is annoyed by stubborn kids...the Spirit continues to remind me of the need to love the un-lovable and to love them as I love myself.  

We also had one afternoon where we were sitting around coloring and chatting and some heads poked into the gate...having obviously never been here before.  Immediately, all of the kids at the table said, "oh mama Dianna...please don't let those ones in...they steal our pencils at school and beat us."  I started to head to the gate to talk to them...completely unsure of what to say, when more kids from the other side of the yard came running with all their might to tell me the same thing and beg me not to let them in.  Now, having heard it from two separate groups, I felt confident that the report was true.  So I greeted them and said, "These ones tell me that you have been stealing their pencils and beating them."  The kids, who were quite a bit bigger, hung their heads...not offering excuses.  "So...if you give back their pencils and greet them at school tomorrow nicely (a common gesture here of reconciliation), then you may come in and play next time."  The next time came around and when I walked out I saw them sitting at the table coloring.  I inquired to all of the kids, if the terms had been met and they all readily agreed that they had and they played nicely together the rest of the time.  We all found it quite humorous as we gathered around the supper table that night.

This is also a difficult ministry because on the days that we open our gate, our schedule feels like "go, go, go"  We have to be up in time in order to eat breakfast on time in order to start and therefore finish school on time, so that we can clean up in time to open the gate in time, so that the kids have a decent amount of time to play (1 to 1 and a half hours) before we have to send them home so that we can eat supper on time and still go to bed on time...whew! (Maybe that's why this blog has been so unusually silent these days? haha!)  But again...the Holy Spirit presses in and says, "Will you not give up a few afternoons to let me do some kingdom work?"

Please pray for these afternoons...that God would use them in mighty ways to breath life and Holy Spirit warmth into the dry dusty hearts of many and use these dear ones to make his kingdom a strong and mighty kingdom...it's worth the couple hours of my time...and worth a few minutes of your time on your knees.

Evangelism at the Borehole

Christi, our missionary associate, made this video about the work that went on at the borehole behind Knox Theological College this past summer.   We praise the Lord for the work that was done and pray that God will continue it with the planting of a new church.  Eric and 17 men spent 6 hours at KTC this past week in prayer and fasting for this opportunity.  Satan has already begun his work to destroy with great vigor.  God is greater still!  May God be glorified have his word proclaimed in this highly muslim area!  Please join us in prayer for it.

Good News at the Well

Over the past two weeks, two young men have been evangelizing at the well behind Knox Theological College.  They pump water, fill up many yellow jerry cans and tell people the good news of Christ: that though we are sinful people, Christ offers forgiveness and new life.  KTC is located in an area with a high Muslim population.  In fact the Mufti (head Muslim leader for Uganda) owns the Muslim School just across the dirt road from KTC.

The men have written out 4 prayer requests that I share with you now.  Please be in prayer for this time and these people.

They write...

1. Pray for Shakirah-- Muslim lady in her early 20s.  She says she really wants to know the truth.  We've talked to her two times and her response about Christ has changed.  We gave her a Bible and she has been reading it starting with the Gospel of John.  We also asked her to read Galatians after John.

2.  Pray for Shakirah's mom and little sister (Sofia)-- Their response to Christ being the way and the truth was not good.  We laboured to tell them that "Isa" (as the Muslims call Christ) was not only a prophet but God and Son of God.  They said they will give us Shakirah's soul but we will never convert them to Christianity.

3.  Pray for Victor--Victor is protestant but did not know the relationship between Christ and God and the Holy Spirit.  So for two days we have been teaching him and his response was not bad.  He has been asking for prayers for his family especially for him to recover because he lost one of his children a few weeks ago.  We have been praying together with him.  His response is not bad at all.

4.  Pray for Abbi (Abbishak is her full name)-- She did not know anything about Christianity and did not like Islam either.  So she was a pagan.  But she, with her mouth, told us she wanted to receive Christ as her personal Saviour after the previous day when she told us she wanted us to sweat before she gets converted.  She also wanted a Bible which we offered her.  We are trying to locate a good church where we can send her and be sure she will receive sound teaching and good care.  Pray that KTC opens a church soon so that such people can find a place to go that is safe.  Abbi is married and has a child that is 2 years.

Eric has also had some times of evangelism on KTC property recently.

He writes...

Next door to KTC is a muslim primary school. The children came to KTC to use the borehole (water pump). They asked me what KTC was all about. I told them it is a school to train men to preach from the Bible about Jesus. Right away a number of them said "the Bible is bad", and "Jesus is bad." It is so sad that they are being trained to think this way. But I was able to speak to them about hell, and my deserving to be there, and Jesus being my salvation. Some of them seemed to be listening with interest. I also played some fun games with them, while they were on break. Please pray for these children. Education of children is such a powerful spiritual weapon, either for or against Jesus Christ, and here in Uganda Muslims are actively using it to increase their followers (with money from Arab nations, often). If Christians were to set up good-quality free Christian schools, many Muslim parents would send their children. Pray for this to happen in many places!

Also I (Dianna) was able to have a great conversation with an employee of the grocery store that I frequent.  His name is Ali.  The store is owned and operated by Muslims.  Currently the season of Ramadan is finishing.  The store decided to thank Allah for his gifts by giving out food and money to poor Muslims.  As you can imagine...it was busy when I showed up!  I asked Ali if he thought he could earn his Salvation by doing good works.  The conversation quickly turned into asking "On what basis can I ask for forgiveness?"  and "How do I know I'm forgiven?"  I was able to tell him of my sure salvation based on Christ's work on the cross.

So pray for these efforts and these people!  Also pray for the young men...Paul and Stephen...as they go to the well.  Pray that Christ will win the battle and that the night shall end in day!