A longing for Africa

This morning as I write this I am sitting outside enjoying the coolness of the beginning of fall.  As I sit here I have just finished reading a blog from some of my most dear friends who are in the very place I was only 4 weeks earlier.  They are in the heart of Uganda sharing the gospel encouraging those around them to persevere.

One of the testimonies was about a women that my friends had prayed for a year ago for heart issues and pain.  Enough health issues were present that it was uncertain if she would survive and yet this morning I am encouraged by a picture of Virgil standing with the women he prayed for in 2010 completely healed and delivered.  God is amazing and faithful.

Faithful, interesting word that has been hard on my mind as of late.  What does this really mean? How do we actually accomplish such a feat? I know there is faithfulness to your family, your spouse, your job, your obligations, but do these even measure to the faithfulness that God is asking of us towards him? You see faithfulness is full time.  It is constant exploration into the heart of God.  And yes, just like in a marriage it is also about making mistakes and taking risk in the name of what is good.

Going to Africa was a risk. Going by myself was a risk, no one to help guide me except God.  Total dependence. It was tough at times, but yet I always new that as long as I kept God in the for front of my mind and expectation that He would give me the correct direction for the journey through the Holy Spirit.  But you see faith requires risk! Are you taking risk or playing it safe?  The adventure is in the risk! More later.  Check out www.sayyesintl@blogspot.com for updates from my friends in Africa.

A Harvest of Souls

Last night was an amazing time.  The enemy did everything he could to stop the crusade.  We had rain that came out of no where and poured on the keyboards.  but even after that they still worked.  The Generator blew a sprocket through the side of the engine and it looked as if this would end the crusade. by a miracle of God we got the parts and the mechanic from over an hour away who came and fixed it.  Since this was a very remote area and we started after 8pm and where supposed to be done by 8pm we figured no one would stay since many journeyed hours by foot into the remote villages we visited the previous day.  But the enemy was to be defeated.  In the midst of the darkness the generator started and light began to penetrate the darkness. As the lights came up and the music played and the dancers danced it revealed about 500 people anxious to see what was happening.  God showed up big time. The rain was held back the the darkness was penetrated. When I got on stage I could feel the presence of the Lord defeating the enemy. Now the enemy would not give up easily as a snake decided to move through the grounds disturbing the crowd.  But even a snake would not stop the move of God.  When I gave the alter call all of heaven rejoiced as 47 people gave there lives to Jesus, many of which I am sure were Muslim. But God did not even stop there.  Then we called for the sick in body and they came and I prayed for them and 17  of them gave testimony to there healing.  Praise God!  The Devil is a liar and was defeated last night.  Please pray for today my last day here at the crusade. I will speak 3  times again but the enemy is trying to stop my voice.  Please pray for the healing of my voice and the cough to leave me.  I will need a miracle to be able accomplish the work set  before me today.  Please pray that the rain stays back and darkness is defeated.. I am sorry I do not have pictures to post, but maybe we will get some tonight. There is mighty work of God here and I am very anxious to share with you all the things God has done.  Many blessings to each of you and I will talk to you soon when I arrive home.

What a great day to serve the Lord

A great choir performing in Pastor Jonahs church in the
middle of the slums.

What a great day to serve the Lord.  We had an amazing day with the Lord.  This morning I preached at Pastor Jonah’s church in the slums and God showed up.  So many wanted prayers for healing and God began to meet each of them.  I am amazed that a church of this size exists and is so beautiful right in the middle of the slums.  As I was sitting enjoying the choir I could smell the smells of the slum that was a subtle reminder of where I was.  The Slum is mostly Muslim and Pastor Jonah’s heart is to win them for Jesus.  He has found that the only way to reach them is through the school he is building.  As he educates the Muslims in a Christian school they will learn how to become born again and bring it to their homes.  And slowly this Pastor by the power of Jesus will transform this slum into a Christian environment by showing them hope and Gods love. 

Ice Cream!!!

After service I was taken to Jonah’s home for lunch, but on the way I had him stop and I bought ice-cream for everyone.  Wow were the kids excited.  I think even the adults were excited to have ice cream.  Jonah’s 50 kids and all the adults present were sure appreciative of the treat.  After some fellowship and eating of lunch I was taken to Pastor Richards’s church for the evening. 

When I arrived I knew God had a great plan ahead.  When I preached God totally changed everything. It was a small gathering but man did God show up. As I was finishing up it was dark and we lost the electricity, but I was not going to let that stop what God had planned.  I just kept preaching in the dark till candles arrived. Then it was time to pray. I had not seen anything like this in all of Uganda as of yet. We were all pushing into the Lord when a hush came over the alter.  After a period of time God gave me a word that he was going to heal many and heal an ankle.  I called the word out but no one came for an ankle and I thought maybe I had it wrong. So I began to pray for the line of people and God healed every one of them instantly with the exception of one.  I was amazed and what God was doing.  We had eyes healed, Head pain healed, Knees fixed, Stomachs healed and the list goes on.  The last person to arrive was women as she came up I asked her how can I pray for her. She said it was her ankle that needed healed.  After some teaching to her about being obedient to Gods calling I prayed for her and the pain left and she was able to dance with no pain. I am sorry that I do not have more pictures of this great event, but the electricity was out and it was very dark.  But God provided the light.

Pastor Jonahs biological son on the left Jeremiah and one of
his 55 adopted children enjoying ice cream.

Some of the dancers performing at pastor Richards church.
Notice the floor is dirt and the building is nothing more than
a barn. And this is a good church. At least the floor is not
cow dung like many that is used to keep the dust down.

We so serve an amazing God.  In the midst of his Glory though, I still could see the pain of so many for their lack of provision.  During the morning service I prayed with a single woman living on her own to find a job.  It is very hard for a woman to live on her own in this country.  As I prayed God prompted me to ask her about food. She would not really tell me the truth immediately. She just said she has to fast sometimes.  I came to find out that she had not eaten for a while.  So I gave the women some money to buy food.  She was so overwhelmed by how God would take care of her through a stranger. God is so good.  Well I must not retire as morning will soon come and I will be gone all day ministering to pastors and then preaching to pastors in the evening.  Then on Tuesday begins the crusade where I will be speaking both morning and evening. Then a repeat on Wednesday and then off to the airport I go.  I am uncertain if I will get a chance to post again before I leave. However when I return home I will put all the closing remarks together along with more pictures.  Thank you for all your prayers and support on this journey.  You have no idea how many you have helped because of your prayers and generosity.  Blessings to each of you and may the Power of God meet you today as you worship together our King.

Pastor Bret

A Great Day in the Country

One of the classes performing for the dedication service

Wow what a great couple of days.  God is amazing.  I am so excited at what God is doing here in Uganda. Yesterday morning I was picked up and taken to Pastor Jonah’s school for the dedication service.  It was amazing how the kids had worked to prepare.  Over 200 showed up including many Muslims.  Even a government official came to show his support.  This school started as a vision in a swamp and is soon to become one of the best schools in the area all because of vision and faith. 

The women preparing food for the many visitors and children
They fed well over 350 and worked so hard.  The food was
wonderful african food.

Pastor David finishing up the service where many again were
Touched by Gods word.

After the service which lasted about 6 hours I was whisked away to pastor David’s church.  It was a small gathering for the evening service, but the people came Hungry as usual. I am amazed when the time for prayer comes and no one even hesitates they all came wanting to receive whatever God would send their way.  This pastor is working so hard.  He had a home but Pastor David felt like the Lord told him to sell it so he could purchase the church and fix it up.  Now he lives at the church.  He currently has a school he has started and has about 150 students.  But as with most school started by the church it is to reach the poor Muslim children to change a future generation.  However in the process most do not pay their school fees and the church and school suffer as a result.  But they believe that God will provide.  There is so much faith here.  People really believe God for the Impossible.

Today being Saturday I was picked up by Daniel Male early to go to his church in Kicusa in the up country.(sorry about the spelling not sure how to spell it) It was really good to get out of the city and smell fresh air once again.  The ride was beautiful into some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen and yet in the mix of it are some of the poorest people I have ever seen.  We first arrived at Daniel’s home where I saw his children and was able to pray for his wife.  A few days earlier Prossie was thrown from the back of a Boda Boda and injured.  She is a bit banged up but God is healing her. 

We then proceeded to the church. I was so excited as I was going to be the first person to preach in there new church building. This was the first day they had had services in it.  O what a day it was.  People came from far and near.  We had over 15 neighboring pastors even come.  And Jesus and the Holy Spirit showed up in full force. Many were encouraged and many where healed.  I remember praying for a man who had been in an accident and had some damaged ribs and was in very bad pain.  I prayed for him and God healed him completely.  Another women who was sick in her body from flue like symptoms and pain throughout her body, I was prayed for and she was healed. And still another her head pain left her.  These are only the ones I know of. The place was packed as God performed miraculously behind his Word. After the service we broke for lunch for about  2 hours. Before we arrived at the church I had Daniel stop so we could buy food.  The children had very little to eat and Pastor was feeding 350 orphans. Most days the children would only get one mealfor the whole day and even at that it was just flour and water.  So we stopped and used some of the money that so many of you gave out of your abundance to provide for the children.  For less than 200 dollars I was able to buy enough food for the children for 2 months which is about the time the crops will come in.  We also purchased some sweeties and biscuits for the children.  Wow were they excited to receive them at lunch with enough food to fill there stomach.  The children were so thankful and Daniel kept saying God has performed a miracle. Praise to each of you who gave to these children of God. After that we had our second service and once again God showed up.  What a glorious day to serve the King.  Before I Knew it, it was time to return. 

So many Hungry people at Daniel Male's church.
Many came and many were healed. Praise God

Now as I sit and reflect on the day’s events, I am reminded the Nothing is impossible for God.  This will be a great day to remember, as many were touched by the power of the King.  Tomorrow I will be preaching in the slums on Sunday and then Sunday evening I will be preaching at Pastor Richards’s church.  Please pray for Gods Mercy and Grace to abound. I am praying that God’s Blessings will be on each of you for making a difference in the lives of so many.  On a side note, to those who have been praying for my health God is healing me. Blessings to each of you, Pastor Bret

So Many ........

Good Afternoon today has been very busy as was yesterday. Many things have taken place since I last wrote.  I have had the opportunity to speak too many about the Lord and encourage many.  Tuesday Evening I had the opportunity to speak in Daniel A. church and on Wednesday Morning I had the opportunity to speak to Many Pastors at Pastor Jonah’s church.  These pastors are called by God but it is not easy for them. This morning I visited many of their churches.  I have to be honest it was very hard. Most of their churches were no better than our worst barns and many barely had a roof on the top of the church building. But these men of God push and try very hard to tell many about the power of Jesus and how he loves them.  In order to keep the dust down many of them use wet cow dung and spread it on the floors of their church like cement. I was especially moved by a couple of Pastors, Pastor Rose and Pastor Fred.

Pastor Rose is the pastor of a small church for many years but has a passion for orphans. She lives in a one bedroom home and has 3 generations of orphans she has taken care of.  The older generation of about 10 stay on the dirt floor in her church. Some do not even have mattresses to lie on, but at least they have a roof. The Younger ones stay in a very small space not much bigger than my bathroom. I am amazed at her compassion for them.  She so hungers to do so much more but as with much of the people here she has no money to move forward with the work of God, yet she continues to believe.

Pastor Fred has a very unique story. He was a bishop in a cult and realized what was happening and so the cult took all his belongings and through him out. He then learned about the greatness of God and was trained and started a church in Kampala which did really well over 250 present.  Then God told him to leave it to another pastor and start a church in one of the villages.  So he left the security of his church and began the one he is currently at.  However this season has been very hard.  He cares for some children that are not his own while barely putting food on his table. His church has virtually no roof; the floors are dirt with board benches. Yet he believes God is going to move on the people in this Muslim community. It is very hard for him yet he does not let it show.  Please pray for him.

There are so many stories I could tell you like a woman who is single and pastors a church while taking care of her 5 grandchildren in a 1 room house smaller than most of our bedrooms, probably less than 80 sq. ft. Her church has many poor members who tithe with avocados and other fruits and maybe a few coins worth less than 25 cents.

I am so sorry I have not posted for several days, but between loosing electricity, getting back late each night and running out of internet time it has been very difficult to post. With that said I hope the above information blesses you. I will post pictures hopefully tomorrow when I return from Daniel Male church. Blessings to each of you and please pray for me as the enemy has inflicted me with some type of pain in my stomach that I have had for several days.  It seems to be getting worse so I have begun to take an antibiotic and I am believing God for complete healing. Please pray and see if one of the pastors does not touch your heart to the point that you would be willing to support them in prayer of even with finances. 

No Time to Rest

Good evening to all my friends who are following this blog. I have much to tell since my Journey to my arrival here in Kampala this morning. As you know I left Torroro on Monday morning to go to Pastor Hudson’s church in Lugazie.  On the way we had the opportunity to stop and see Pastor Moses and Betty’s daughter at her school.  It was a great honor and blessing as they allowed me on to the property of an all-girls government school.  Lillian was so excited to see us and I had the opportunity to pray with since she has been sick a lot as of late.  She wanted some money to buy some little extras and Pastor did not have it so I asked if it would be alright if I gave her some. So I gave her 20000 shillings which is only 8 dollars however you would have thought I had just given her a million dollars. I was also given permission and walked around so I could take pictures. That was quite an honor and normally not allowed.

Orphanage receiving pillows

When I arrived in Lugazie we ate and then headed to the orphanage where I got to be a part of giving some new pillows to the children.  They were so excited.  Then we were whisked away to the church for an evening service on an off night since I was coming.  Pastor was only expecting 50 but over 200 showed up ready and very hungry. When I preached the anointing was very strong. I told them I wanted to pray for them and before I could even invite them to the stage all 200 rushed the stage. It scared me; I had never seen so many so hungry to receive what God had for them. Many were healed and the service lasted for over 3 hours and only ended because Pastor felt we needed to end so people could go home. I believe they would have stayed all night if given the opportunity. I then went to bed around midnight after going to a family’s home to visit.  Then at 4:40 the next morning I was up so we could journey to Kampala to meet up with Pastor Jonah.

I arrived in Kampala in time to take a quick shower and then off to Pastor Jonah’s church to speak to some very needy pastors of encouragement.  My heart was torn apart as we arrived at the slums and began to drive down the path to his church.  I did not realize his church was right in the middle of the slums. All the things you have heard about and seen pictures of about third world countries were here. Babies with no pants or diapers, crawling on garbage piles. Very ragged and dirty conditions existed everywhere.  While the whole way children waving and crying out Mazoomba which means white man.  When we arrived I spoke for several hours encouraging the pastors to stand strong.  I was over whelmed by how many gave me there names and asked me to pray for them. After the meeting I was quickly whisked away to Daniel A. church. 

Getting out of Car to go over to Pastor Jonahs church
in the middle of the slums

This was also tough as I saw the poverty as well as the poverty of spirit on so many.  The school now has about 100 students and most do not pay.  The offerings are only a couple of dollars each Sunday, not near enough for Pastor to survive. His business does help as well as Juliet’s business.  I was invited to dinner at their home and was humbled by the simpleness of their two room home, not much larger than my shed. In spite of it Daniel is a dreamer and I believe is making a difference in the lives of many. As I spoke again to a small group of about 30 I discovered there hunger also for more of God. Once again when the time for prayer came they came wanting more of Jesus as well healing. Many were touched and filled with the freshness of the Holy Spirit.

If you look carefully you will see the top of the church
in the center of the picture

Tomorrow is a big day a head as well. Please pray for me for strength to keep up this pace. Also please pray for strength for the revivals. I was informed I would be speaking at a crusade that they have posted big posters all over town as a feature speaker.  This will be a very big out door crusade the size of a small Billy Graham Crusade.  Please pray for a firm moving of Gods Spirit. I trust all are blessed and I am believing God for Even Greater Things than This. Praise the Lord.

 

Inside Daniel A. church preparing for the Word

Widows Day and "Good by"

Greetings again from Uganda.  I think I am in love with this place very much. I especially love it here in Torroro. It is so green and fresh and tropical.  Today the rains came, they tell me it is the beginning of the rainy season.  I find it odd that they consider it cold right now. It is about 75 and everyone is wearing jackets.  The rain came very fast and flooded everything and then as fast as it came it was gone.

Speaking on the Radio the Word of God

I would like to share with you about the last two days.  Saturday we got up early at 4:40am and we drove to Malamba which is right on the boarder of Kenya.  Pastor Betty dropped Pastor Moses and myself off while she returned to Torroro to go to the radio station there.  I then in Malamba spoke on a Christian radio station for about 1 hour preaching the word of God over the air waves.  Please pray once again that many will receive the Word of God in their lives.  We then returned home for breakfast where the house girls had prepared under Pastor Betty’s direction.  Meals are hard here to prepare they cook everything outside on an open fire just like you would do camping.  Preparing a meal can take hours since they do not have the modern conveniences of ovens and microwaves.

Women working hard cleaning for Widows day
 the shack in back  to the right is the cook shack

Widows prasing God in the best clothing as we
Honor them as Gods great children.

After breakfast we went to the church for widows day.  By the time we had arrived  the widows were already coming and the church members were hard at work preparing food over the fires to feed the widows.  This is a great thing that Pastor Betty and Pastor Moses are doing.  Women are treated as very low in Uganda and widows have no value.  But here they are made to be valued. I had the opportunity to speak to the widows with an interpreter. It was hard to speak with an interpreter and felt as if I did not do well, but Gods word never returns void and it is not me who speaks but the spirit through me.  In spite of my lack, nine widows were born again.  Praise the Lord, hallelujah…… God is so good. I was deeply humbled in the fact that we were only able to afford to give the widows soap as a gift to take home and how grateful they were for it.  I know Say Yes is taking a team in September to Torroro and they will be again having a widows day maybe you would consider donating to their team to help them buy bigger gifts for these wonderful women of God such as rice, sugar, eggs or even milk.  The lord says we are to take care of the widows yet only this church is doing so maybe we need to remember the instructions of our Lord.  The widows only had about two days’ notice so there was only about one hundred present whereas normally they would have close to three hundred. But in this small group I found that almost all of them were raising kids as well.  Praise God for the Widows because if the man had lived and the women had died the kids would have been abandoned or abused from the husband’s new wife since all men quickly remarry. Please pray for this ministry and consider helping were the Lord leads you.

Nine widows confessing Jesus as there Lord. Welcome
to the Kingdom Might Women of God. Praise the Lord.

Today was a great and sad day for me.  It was great because of church.  We started service at 9am and it went till 2:30pm.  Wow can they celebrate and dance.  We should pay attention to these wonderful people of God as we could learn a lot about commitment to serving and worshiping. We danced for over 1 hour had the word and danced for another hour.  And yes I danced as David would of Danced.  I know understand what it means when the word say David danced like a wild man.  We started at 9am with intercessory prayer. A 19 year old high school student named Samuel led us.  I was utterly amazed at his commitment to lead the church in prayer. I told Samuel he needed to come home with me and teach us. After that we welcomed visitors.  One visitor a young lady came up and said she was muslin and wanted to give her life to the lord.  Amazing how when the Holy Spirit is moving you don’t even have to have an alter time they just come under the power of God.  We then Celebrated the Lord some more and then I preached for over 1 hour.  I was told I would make a good African pastor because I could speak a long time about our great King our King Jesus. 

The sad part of today was knowing I was leaving in the morning to continue my journey. I wish I had had more time.  As I write I am weeping because I must leave my friends Samuel, Richard, Topster, Lydia, George, Vincent, James and……….. To many to list and Pastors Moses and Betty. I am already planning my return as part of my heart is left here in Torroro for the wonderful beautiful people of God. Please pray for them it is so very hard here and yet no one complains instead they greet you with “Praise the Lord” and say you are “Welcome” (which means you are welcome here) I look forward to my return home though to see my family and share with you all to hopefully encourage you to come or at the very least help support the ministry here in Torroro.  Blessings on all of you and now I will sleep to prepare for the next day as it is now close to 1am. There is so much more to tell but for now Good Night and “Praise the Lord”.