Dec. 16 – Todays events only God could orchestrate.

 

Ministry Partners,

It was a bright morning in Uganda this morning.

I must report on our dinner last night. I think the best comments I can make are the guys could not eat some of the “local” foods like they usually eat and because my fillet of fish was actually some deep fried fish bones and skin I could only eat a few fries. I retrieved and a couple of cookies from our van and topped them with our peanut butter. Somehow, our loaf of bread had disappeared. This morning the PP&J saved the breakfast as the omelet and chapatti were not good but Aaron, Alfred and I used peanut butter on a chapatti to get protein. We will pick up a loaf of bread today!

At breakfast we went over the events of yesterday and the events that only God could orchestrate.  We did not have government approval to enter there but God had gone before us and the group that was scheduled to do the Sunday service had canceled so the O.C. approved us to enter to provide a religious service. Even the prisoners who were working right outside the prison were brought in to hear us as well as ALL denominations were gathered for our crusade.

We had some officers that were also with us and at one point, another officer appeared to tell the attending officer that we need to end our service. But the attending officer put his arm up and told him to go away. When the Holy Spirit has so spoken into the guards hearts that they want us to continue our program we realize that God really is the one in control.

Because I am pretty tired after doing 3 crusades today, standing and preaching for 5-6 hours in the Ugandan heat, so Alfred is going to finish today's blog for me.

Arlene

 Yesterday, the IRM team was introduced to a new prison by the Officer in Charge of social affairs at Masafu prison and this morning we met with the deputy officer in charged at the new prison Mr. Opio who had prepared the inmates ahead of our arrival. The prison had 250 men and 13 women.

Arlene delivered the message and afterwards we had three testimonies from three inmates. The first inmate said, “I have held a grudge to my elder brother who brought me here with my other brother, and I was planning revenge after I am released. But after today’s message, I am so blessed that I can confidently say that I have forgiven him”.

The second inmate also reiterated the same by saying “Today we have learned four things, how to overcome fear, our identity in Christ, how to forgive those who have offended us and how to reconcile ourselves when we have experienced fights and disagreement”

The third was Mr. Opio, the assistant Officer in charge, concluded that, “I have always heard people here who have told us theory about God but today was a blessed day that we had object lessons that spoke to us more than anything. I for one I am so touched and I feel so blessed. Please come again because we need this message so very much.”

It was not long until the Deputy Office In Charge (Deputy O.C.) took us to say hi to the Officer in Charge (O.C.), she was very receptive and so kind to us but she also made a request to the IRM team. She requested that as we go to the next prison, we could in transport four inmates who were being transferred to the prison where we were going. Unfortunately, our van did not have room for more than two people in addition to the IRM team. We eventually were told to take only one inmate and one officer. We waited outside in our car while the deputy processed the papers for the inmate and finally the inmate, in hand cuffs, and the officer entered the car and we took off to Bugiri Prison. We drove for 20 minutes and then turned onto a dirt road. Then it took us more than 50 minutes over a rutted, not so good road, to arrive at the prison.

The Holy Spirit revealed to the IRM team that since we are not scheduled for these prisons, we had to take the officer from one prison, who has followed the message that Arlene is teaching, to speak on our behalf to the Officer in Charge at the next prison. This is how we ended up having officers drive with us from one prison to another.

As we drove to the next prison the officer with us explained that the people we were seeing alongside the road working in the dirt were actually digging and sifting for GOLD!!!!

Prison number two: Bugiri Prison

At this prison, the O.C. was not well, so she gave her deputy the responsibility of hosting us. Since we had not purchased supplies to this prison, Alfred and the deputy officer together with the deputy officer from the other prison, left to go and purchase the supplies as Aaron and Arlene remained behind to get started with the 300 prisoners. Upon coming back, Alfred called for the 13 women prisoners who had not been included and they arrived when the message was half way over.

Prison three: Busesa Prison

At this prison we were accompanied by the Bugiri Prison deputy officer who introduced us to the O.C. at Busesa. Alfred and the In-charge Officer of Social affairs went to purchase supplies as Aaron and Arlene started ministering to the 230 prisoners. After the message, one officer gave a testimony and quoted Romans 8 for Arlene. He was touched by her message on forgiveness and recited the Lord’s prayer. The Officer in Charge was so excited to announce that he has had many preachers visit but Arlene’s way of teaching is exceptional. He was so thankful for the message and the supplies.

Alfred

We were all weary missionaries by the time we arrived at a nearby town and found lodging. Tomorrow we will be traveling to Kampala so we can sleep in, at least until 7.

Today really has been one designed by the Savior as He opened doors to three prisons and the Holy Spirit gave a fresh anointing to the team for each one.

Please continue to pray for us.

That none would be lost,

Arlene