July 24

Ministry Partners,

As I waited for breakfast to be served in the garden  this morning I noticed the sky was overcast as it was yesterday. There was such a downpour of rain early yesterday afternoon that it was the Lord's faithfulness that it did not interfere with the crusade for that last prison that we went to, Kitala Prison.

Kitata Prison

With everyone out in the open it was God's provision for sure that the rain had stopped a bit before we arrived.

On our travels yesterday we went past a portion of Lake Victoria where they get the huge Nile Perch that I see them selling alongside the road.

A small piece of Lake Victoria

The team spent some time after breakfast today looking at our schedule for the remaining days and how our ministry might be the most effective. With the rearranging that was necessary to do yesterday it created an open day on July 31 so it was decided I would do a Women's Conference that day.

My room is on floor level with the entry courtyard right out side so I hear lots of people coming and going as well as their conversations which of course I do not understand but there is always much laughter which is universal. 

Our plan for the day was to go to Butuntumura Prison but we are ever aware that the Lord's plan might be very different. It is a distance away so we will load the van at 10:30 and pull out at 11. Pastor Geoffrey is preparing for the village crusade tomorrow so he was not with us today.

Hysterical laughter filled our van as Alfred drove us the long drive to the prison and part way there we were involved in a traffic jam more than usual and imaging our surprise when we discovered that we were part of a parade through the countryside for the Democratic Party of Uganda. People along the sides of the road and the filled vans of celebrators that we passed were cheering and waving at us and we were laughing so hard as Alfred kept passing cars and vans to get us away from the demonstration. Then all of a sudden there were the police stopping all lanes of traffic demonstrators BUT us as they did not even seem to see us as our van proceeded.

100+ buses, vans & cars in the Democratic Party parade

We arrived at Butuntumura Prison with 150 inmates (5 women) pretty much on time and were graciously welcomed by the OC (Officer in Charge) whose name was Charles, who told me that he had only been there two months. They originally had us in a cramped covered area but Alfred asked if we could be outside where we could get some air to which the OC agreed. At the end officer Charles had some kind words about our ministry time there and firm words of instruction for the prisoners. In the van on the way back to home base Aaron commented on how the inmates in the front row had made comments as I shared my personal story and how some of the women were crying. It never ceases to amaze me how the Holy Spirit takes our "ashes" and creates something beautiful to touch the hearts of others.

I so appreciate our portable battery operated sound system and the prisoners singing a couple of songs for us as we packed.
 
We had a very late lunch of salami sandwiches and the drive home was exceptionally quick, 1 hr & 30 min., for a Friday evening and it seemed strange getting back at 5:30 before dark and traffic thickened. And we even stopped for Alfred to purchase 3 more pineapples for us to have following our evening meals.

It was another amazing day of watching God work.

Thanks again for your much needed faithful prayer covering.

That none would be lost,

Arlene