Ministry Partners,
I could have slept until 7:00 but woke at 5:00 and I finally got up at 5:45. Before starting this trip, the number of crusades, 50, in Uganda, looked daunting but as of today, we have completed 40 and only have 10 to go. I am having difficulty facing the fact that before I know it we will finish what God has called us to do in Uganda. Alfred, Aaron and I all work hard but watching the Holy Spirit work in the lives of the prisoners is something so powerful that I really do not have words to adequately explain how it influences and blesses us. I also do not have words to fully convey how thankful I am for each of you who pray and financially give to this ministry so we can accomplish what God has called us together to do here. I do not take lightly the sacrifices many of you make to partner with us. THANK YOU
MERRY CHRISTMAS from Gulu, Uganda
After another wonderful breakfast it was off for the hour drive to Nwoya Farm Prison where there were 275 men and 15 women prisoners, plus 1 child. As we got close to the prison we saw fields of corn, sunflowers and cotton. We were greeted by an officer who quickly got the prisoners ready for us but one officer in street clothes came up to us and informed us that he had an electric guitar and expected to use our battery operated equipment. It is an interesting thing the number of people I meet who are absolutely lovely, delightful people and then there are those who just want to use me and IRM to promote themselves. Those individuals make me extremely sad but I am aware of it and it is good to know that Jesus sees and eventually reveals everything and the judgement is His.
I shook hands with a few prisoners when I entered but the women were seated behind a fence so I could not get to them until the end after I finished. The team was under the narrow roof overhang of a long building while the prisoners were in the direct hot sun. A few were under a tiny tree and the women were under a tree. The interpreter translated into Acholi and he did the best he could but stopped me a number of times. There are just those time I trust the Holy Spirit that the inmates will hear what the Holy Spirit wants them to hear just like in the book of Acts. The inmates stood and boldly proclaimed Christ as Savior and prayed the Forgiveness Prayer.
They actually ended up having fun as they apologized to each other. One prisoner handed me his new bible so I could see it and I told the inmates that the gifts of famine hygiene products, soap and Bibles with booklets that had been delivered to them was a gift from my partners and me. Then four inmates gave a testimony as to what God had done in their lives during our time together.
It was then the officer, with the guitar, who had no interest in listening to our program, appeared. Alfred was gracious and said he could do one song as he and I left to go to the women’s side where I handed each woman a donated, colorful shopping bag and gave the baby a crochet cap. The little one did not cry but he never took his eyes off me. I am sure I am the first white person he had ever seen.
Then, it was it was time to drive back to our hotel where the guys let me off to pack up my room and they returned to town to get bread for our lunch box and water because we leave this area tomorrow. We have no idea where the prison is for sure or the type of roads we will drive on. It will be another adventure and we will built more precious memories. This is the last night in this hotel. It has been a very nice thing to have good food, have hot water to bathe in and a regular toilet with a seat not a pit toilet.
Have a WONDERFUL Christmas Eve and a HAPPY JESUS BIRTHDAY tomorrow.
That none would be lost,
Arlene
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