Dec. 31 - Meet Fortunate, Rita and Elizabeth

 Ministry Partners,

Well, leaving Uganda ended on a very high note for sure.

We stopped just before getting to the airport for dinner, Alfred's treat, and to just rest and visit before actually entering the airport.

I stopped at a stall selling souvenirs just as I entered the airport to purchase one of those neck pillows for me to sit on. I have an orthopedic seat but figured some extra foam to sit on would help. As I was browsing Alfred stopped to "bargain" for my pillow with the two shopkeepers , Fortunate & Rita, that were there. He called me over and said they wanted to hear about Jesus. I then had the wonderful opportunity to share Christ with them and hear them ask Jesus to be their Savior.   

 

Fortunate, Arlene, Rita

 

      Elizabeth & Arlene

 Aaron was waiting for us just outside the shop so when we went to sit with him, I sat next to a darling young woman, Elizabeth, who told me she would like to know more about Jesus which I was so glad to tell her and hear her respond to the free gift of salvation Jesus offered her. So, in the space of 30 minutes three more souls were added to the Lamb's Book of Life.

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END MY TIME IN UGANDA!

 I arrived safely in Amsterdam with no cold symptoms and am settled in the "handicap lounge. I have about a 2 hour wait until they come to take me to my gate. Could not rest much on the plane as my hip is cranky. the lady who sat next to me on the plane with 2 children did not speak English and made it clear she did not want to try any conversation. Maybe on this next leg I will have someone to chat with. I am finally ready to be home and Lord willing  will be there by 1am today. 

Thanks for the continuing prayers.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

Dec. 30 - Today I leave Uganda

Ministry Partners,

Now, I begin seeking God's face for 2025 and what he would have me do. I know what I want to do, come back to the Great Lakes Region for my 21st time and continue to share the love of Christ with prisoners and villagers. But I know it is a dangerous thing to tell God what you are going to do and then ask Him to meet you there. Wisdom tells me to ask God to open doors and show Alfred and I what He would have us to do and then with your prayer and financial help  ........  DO IT!

The IRM team will be praying and appreciates your prayers concerning this.  

 

It was a bit of a sad day for me as I fly out of Uganda this evening and say goodby to my son, Alfred. But he surprised me this morning by taking me into town for a special breakfast of Yogurt, Muesli, Pineapple, Banana, Mango, another fruit (?) and honey. It was yummy but just spending the morning with my son is what made it so special. Goodness, I am going to miss him.

When we arrived back at the hotel Alfred helped me get signed in for my flight and I put the gifts for the three women and one man staff here out on the table for them to find after I am gone. Then I laid down for a few minutes.

Shortly we head to the airport, please pray that I have a safe and uneventful trip and that my bad back and hip travels well.

By for now,

That none would be lost,

Arlene 

 
 

Dec. 29 - Commissioner of Prisons Jacob said, "Please come back."

 
Ministry Partners,

Today is my last full day in Uganda although tomorrow my flight is not until 11:55 pm Monday arriving home at 11:25am on Tuesday. Looking at the schedule one has to remember to different time zones. The flight from Entebbe to Amsterdam is 9-10 hours and the flight from Amsterdam to home is 10 with a 3 ½ hr. layover in Amsterdam. It leaves lots of time to reflect on my time here and read my journal, a copy and paste every day of my blog posts.

 

The IRM team with the Ugandan Senior  Commissioner of Prisons & Prison Spokesperson and his wife

My Rwandan friend Pelly, who is the Rwanda Prison Services Spokesperson, connected us with Frank, the Senior Commissioner of Prisons / Prison Spokesperson, here in Uganda who invited us to his home for a meeting this morning. It was short 40 drive that found us at his private home/hotel at the edge of Lake Victoria and an adjacent beautiful golf course resort.

He and his wife were so gracious to us giving us not only tea but also breakfast. He is also quite a business man owning the hotel, two farms and an array of animals including cows, ducks, turkeys ect., and he sells milk. We were there about two hours and after viewing the picture report of this trip, he commented that he appreciated the big work we have been doing.

We returned home about noon and Alfred and Aaron went about getting things ready for our dinner while I made some final preparations and wrote on this blog as much as possible so that there is not much for me to write after the dinner is over. I would like to get to bed at a decent hour since I am still taking cold medications.

Our IRM dinner tonight was wonderful with 35 including former Commissioner of Prisons, Elizabeth. Current Commissioner of Prisoners Jacob and the Deputy Commissioner was also there with his wife. Our guests also included many pastors and wives. 

As the food was being bought out I showed the 30 min. power point that I show at home as I wanted the commissioners and other guests to see and hear what we do in the prisons.

Alfred did an amazing job with ordering the catered buffet that included a huge variety for here: Matoki, Brown and white rice, ground nut paste, peas with ground nuts, potato wedges, Beef stew, Goat meat, Fish, Chicken, Squash, greens, Chapatis and for dessert: Watermelon and Pineapple. In all the years I have been here the beef and other meats are so tough but tonight the beef was the best I have had here, tender and nice.

After dinner we took communion followed by me presenting Commissioner Jacob with a photo report of the 44 prison crusades we held. The I gave the women a shawl, bracelets and tissue package while the men got the traditional two ties. Then 'Thank You" cards were handed out followed by me giving Alfred, Aaron and Peace special Certificates of Appreciation and a gift bag of "goodies". One Woman pastor presented me with a darling woven hat and I can't wait to wear it!

We ended with Commissioner Jacob speaking about the good work IRM has been doing and appreciating us and our partners, that send us here, for the impact through our forgiveness message that we are having in the prisons. He ended by saying, "Please come back."

It was a great evening but hard to say good-bye.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

Dec. 28 – Correction, we did 55 crusades not 56

Ministry Partners,

Well, today was a very late morning for me as I struggle with being exhausted. I did not get up until 7:30 just in time for Alfred to come to my room to check on me before he and Aaron left for town.

I spent my day working on paperwork and found as I went over some daily paperwork that I made a mistake. I am sorry, we did not do 56 crusades but we did do 55. I not sure how Alfred and I both miss-counted. 

 

Aaron, Arlene & Alfred did 55 crusades

The cook from the hotel restaurant appeared with a hot “croissant” of sorts.. We talked about making bread so I asked him if he had ever made cinnamon rolls and explained how to make them. He said he would give then a try before I leave on Monday morning.

I have almost finished packing 5 suitcases, three to be stored at Alfred’s and two to return home with me, as well as my carry-on. I also prepared a small gift for each of the three women who keep our place so clean every day as well something for the cook. Fixing gift bags for Alfred, Aaron and Peace with items I brought from home was fun.

Tomorrow will be a busy day as in the morning we will travel an hour, one way, for a meeting and then return to host a dinner for prison officials and Ugandan friends of IRM.

I took some cold medicine this afternoon as I feel like I have picked up whatever both Aaron and Alfred had. I really appreciate your prayers as I do not feel like traveling home sick.

The wedding party of 400 is going strong next door in the hotel venue, at least that is what the music tells me.

I will call it a day for now.

That none would be lost.

Arlene

Dec. 27 - I had not seen her in nine years

 Ministry Partners,

Arlene and her Rwandan friend, Pelly

Last night we had the front door open as we ate dinner, it was still early enough that the mosquitos were not out in full force yet and we wanted to cool the rooms down. A mouse seeing the open door decided to join us, Alfred was the one to spot him first. At one point, he lifted a huge box that was sitting here and as the mouse scurried to the opposite side of the room under a chair. Alfred jumped and moved faster that I have ever seen him move. I could not help but burst into laughter. After I went to bed, Alfred was able to get the mouse back out the door.

I was up early but I stayed in my room, as I did not know yet that the mouse was gone and I needed to go over our report for the Commissioner of Prisons that Alfred has been working on. Alfred does all the written work including photos of every prison and the prisoner results the Holy Spirit brought at each prison. I then just do a bit tweaking.

Alfred is taking the report to be printed and then he and Aaron are taking the van to the shop to get a final check done before we turn it in. They tried to get it done yesterday but forgot it was “Boxing Day” so most shops were closed so people could be home with family to open gifts and celebrate.

This afternoon we went to the airport to meet with Pelly to have a meeting with her and take her to dinner. I had no seen her since 2015 but I first met her in Rwanda in 2007/8 when she was the O.C. at Nsinda prison. I met her again at other prisons as she was transferred and promoted finally meeting her at the Prison headquarters, where she had been promoted. She now is the Rwanda Prison Services Spokesperson.   

It was wonderful seeing her again and our fish dinner at the edge of Lake Victoria was very nice. She is only in town overnight so we gave her a lift to her hotel before returning to Kampala.

Only four day until I fly out.

For seven weeks, you have followed the work God has called IRM to do here. Would you consider becoming an IRM finical partner? We need you.  

Thank you for your continuing prayers.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

Dec. 26 - We did 56 crusades on this trip

Ministry Partners,

 I'm was marching around the church with my welcoming committee from the Refugee Camp while singing praises to Jesus.

I woke early this morning being thankful for a good mattress and the hot bath I had last night. I never realize how much I miss something until I do not have it. When we are traveling through any country here in Africa, we just have to take the place we can find and many times, we have already checked with 3-4 hotels/guest houses before we can find anything partially acceptable. By then the day is so late and we are so tired that we end up settling for a place that definitely would not be our first choice but it has a toilet and a seat……..sometimes! One place had metal doors with a slide bolt to lock the door to our rooms, I think they got the doors from the nearby prison and I am not exaggerating. The shocking thing is how much we have to pay for those less than comfy/fancy rooms.

Then there are times when we order from their menu like BBQ beef or pork and what comes is unrecognizable. Whatever it is, it is so tough with a large portion of gristle that we just leave half of it uneaten. Or we look at the “menu” and make a choice only to be told, “We don’t have that. Then we make a 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th choice only to be told the same thing.  Finally, we ask, “What do you have?” and end up choosing the only thing they have. There are times I choose to just eat a PP&J sandwich, which we carry in our lunch box. But, I do wonder why they have a menu at all.” Between the rooms and the food, those times bring such humor for all three of us and we do laugh a lot.

It is those times that I remind myself of why I am here, and that is not to stay in a fancy hotel or always eat the foods I like that are familiar to me. I am here to share the love of Christ everywhere I go, teach them about taking responsibility for your choices, forgiveness and ending with having them apologizing to each other to start the reconciliation process.

This trip we did 53 prison crusades, 2 church crusades, 1 Refugee Camp crusade and watched the Holy Spirit bring 1.000’s to salvation. That is why I am not ready to come home. The fact is that I will not be able to share my days with Alfred, my son, and Arron, who says he is son #2. We have been living and working as the family we are. God really knew what he was doing when he put us together back in 2005. These two godly men are something special and they sacrifice a lot to be with me for almost 8 weeks to do ministry and they enjoy sharing the Gospel just like I do

Today, they ran errands and I packed up the suitcases to be stored at Alfred’s house plus getting my two suitcases ready to bring home. Our remaining days here filled with finalizing this trip.

Your continuing prayers are appreciated.

That none would be lost,

Arlene