Nov. 23 - The Holy Spirit poured out His power today

 Nov. 23

Ministry Partners

Today is Sunday here and I am still waiting for my luggage (3 suitcases) to arrive but my Air Tags say that they remain in Amsterdam as of this morning. Everything I need for the 3 object lessons is in one of the bags as well as other ministry supplies.

My friend Kathy sent me this encouraging scripture this morning:

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 ESV  

        

Truck driver, Alfred, Arlene, Aaron, Peace

Pastor Peace is now gone with the truck filled with Bibles and supplies for each prison we will visit, so we will not see her for at least seven days

A mistake was made by one team member who contacted all the 49 (a new number) prisons and gave them the wrong date we would be at their prison for ministry so they will had to contact them again today to give the correct date the team will arrive for ministry according to our printed itinerary. I was originally told that today I would be visiting two prisons but the correct schedule is for those prisons to be tomorrow, so today we went to a village church for an unscheduled crusade. I found, in the stored supplies, a scarf to use in the salvation object lesson and we stopped and bought a small rope to do the “Forgiveness” object lesson. I decided to leave out the Discipleship lesson, as without the gold robe, crown and black (sin) and red (Jesus blood) felt pieces it is a hard lesson to convey. But what a wonderful time it was today despite all Satan’s antics, with my luggage and miss-scheduled days, today the Holy Spirit worked as we watched/heard 60 villagers pray the sinners prayer and the forgiveness prayer.

We left the church with a few bibles for the pastor to distribute but I gave one village woman her own copy as she was celebrating her birthday. The pastor confessed and said that he realized that he had a man he needed to forgive and he did so. But before we left for the airport he said he would be contacting Alfred later with an offering he wanted to take for IRM.

Alfred, Aaron and I all agree that Satan has been/is fighting really hard against us which tells us that this is going to be an amazing trip and today was a good start.

After posting this on the blog, I need to try to get one of my other dresses hemmed.

Please continue to pray for open hearts for the Gospel.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

Nov. 22 - My meeting with the Commissioner of Uganda Prison Services

 Nov. 22

Ministry Partners,

What a beautiful morning to wake up at 7:15 in Kampala, Uganda. I took my “travel” meds so I slept well getting over 8 hours of good sleep. Alfred said he was taking me for breakfast/lunch so only had some fruit for breakfast along with some tea.

Pastor Peace spent the night as she left this morning to begin Bible, booklet and supply distribution to the prisons where we have approval to do ministry. Pastor Aaron went to the K-3 school he heads, on Alfred’s property since it is Kindergarten Graduation Day. Alfred and I were invited to attend and present the caps to the 12 graduating children but because I have no cloths, my 3 bags of luggage have still not arrived, I needed to go to town and buy a couple of dresses so I have something to preach in tomorrow and the next day. We tried to make it but the traffic was bad and there was just no time to get back to the hotel, change cloths and make it on time. 

Commissioner Jacob & Arlene

The Commissioner of Prisons, Jacob Kivumbi came to visit me although it was his day off, and we were able to have a wonderful visit. I am glad that the one outfit I brought in my carry-on was a professional one, as Alfred called it, just to have my meeting with him. The Commissioner said, “Uganda Prison Services do not allow anyone in the prisons from Dec. 15 through Jan. 15, no family, no pastors, no one, only IRM has been given the opportunity to enter the prisons during that time. We allow you to enter because we have seen the positive impact that your visits have on the prison population. You not only give them the opportunity to receive Christ as Savior but your teaching on “Forgiveness” are so valuable and the prisons and communities run better.” He said he appreciated the booklets that we give with the bibles because then the prisoners can get help from the 3 pastors listed on the back after they are released. I had time to pray for him before he left, and yes, we have found great favor with him. Thanks for praying.

It made me laugh as Alfred complained about the traffic as we drove to town to try to find me a dress or two in case my luggage fails to get here tomorrow as promised. I was able to find a few dresses but all but one, to wear at the hotel, have to be hemmed so I got one done for tomorrow. 

 

Arlene & Alfred 

Its 8:30 and time for me to bath in the new tub they installed just for me so I could get a hot soak on my back. The woman who owns this hotel received Jesus as her Savior when I visited her a few years ago and consistently does nice things for me. She also obtained a photo of Alfred and me, taken when I went to Australia for his doctorate graduation, and had a large portrait painting done from it for me. It is so large I will need to take it off the frame and roll it up to fit in my suitcase.

I appreciate you continuing prayers for:

•        An fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit tomorrow
•        That many would receive Jesus as Savior
•        A powerful anointing from the Holy Spirit on the team

That none would be lost,

Arlene

Nov. 21 - I Met Millicent

Ministry Partners,

Well today was more than interesting. I finally departed Nairobi at 4am and arrived in Entebbe at 5am. This small leg of my flight was not with KLM but with Kenya Air. Although the first class seats were a little larger than regular seats, I would not have known I was in first class. 

 

Millicent & Arlene 

As I prepared to leave Nairobi I decided to  try and freshen up and found 3 gals cleaning the lounge restroom. As I shared why I was in Kenya one of the gals, Millicent, said she did not believe in God and started to become argumentative. I told her that there was a time in my life that I also did not believe in God, then, I shared a bit of my testimony ending with John 3:16 and Eph. 2:8&9. The response from the other two gals told me that they already knew Jesus as Savior so I continued to focus on her. We had quite a discussion as I kept telling her how much Jesus loved her. As we chatted, she began to soften and at one point, I asked her if she would like to receive Jesus as her Savior and she said yes so I put my arm around her as she repeated my words asking Jesus to forgive her and be her Savior. How special that He gave me that opportunity to share His love.

I was thankful that there was no issue with my visa like last year but the very young girl in charge of my wheelchair assistance did not know where to take me and did not know how to push the wheelchair while also
pulling my carry-on behind. When we got to the luggage carousel we waited, and waited and waited. None of my bags came through and it was clear to me that my luggage had not been transferred over from KLM in Nairobi even though they had 5 hours to do so. There were a number of others who never got their luggage and  I stayed until almost every person had left, watching lots of luggage still going around the carousel, which made it appear that perhaps the owners of that luggage had come in on an earlier flight and did not get their luggage either.

Those who did not get their luggage and I were all taken to an office to fill out paperwork. After finishing that paperwork, I proceeded through security screening so I could leave. The young girl acted as if she was lost so I was really relieved to finally see Alfred and Aaron. After our hugs, Alfred presented me with a beautiful bouquet of red roses and white mums. It was 6am when we left the airport and the trip that should have taken 1 hour took 3hrs due to busy Ugandans trying to get to work. The situation caused Aaron to repeat the African saying, “Sometimes footing it is quicker than driving.” which brought laughter from all of us.

We stopped for a few minutes to purchase lunch supplies for the upcoming week as well as lunch supplies for Pastor Peace who will be going with the truck to deliver Bibles and required supplies to the prisons.

It was so good to finally arrive at our hotel but Alfred decided a short time later to run an errand and then go back to the airport to see what he could find out about my luggage leaving me to get this blog written and posted. I am speaking at a church on Sunday and need one of my dresses. At one point I realized I had taken a short unintended nap so time to get this posted so I can prepare to go to bed early.

 Please pray concerning my back/hip pain and my suitcases.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

Nov. 20 My flight from Amsterdam to Kenya, Uganda will have to wait until tomorrow

 Ministry Partners

 Oh my, being able to lay down and rest has been such a blessing. I doze some when flying but I never really sleep but before arriving in Amsterdam, I actually slept for 3 hours. Because we were delayed by 2½ hours leaving Portland it was “iffy” that I would make the connecting flight to Nairobi but God had such a fun surprise. The man that helped with wheelchair assistance rushed to get me to the gate, which had changed, and then proceeded to take me to the plane followed by carrying my carry-on to my seat, stowing it away. Goodness, was I ever treated like royalty! 

Being able to choose my dinner and breakfast from an actual menu was a new adventure for sure, they provide way too much food, all on glass and porcelain plates with cloth napkins and real silverware. The salt and pepper packets were delivered in a tiny blue and white envelope and choosing a tea packet from the interesting names was an experience, I choose Gunpowder Green Tea and Cederberg.

On the flight to Nairobi I was able to take a quick doze and although being able to lay down to even watch the video screen allowed me to stretch out I had to turn my tens unit on for the first time during the trip. I usually have difficulty finding anything I would like to watch I was able to find a good TV show (8 shows) called “The Gilded Age” and elegant show about Lords and Ladies. I enjoy the gorgeous cloths and hats.

In Nairobi, I have a 5hr. layover so I keep reminding myself of how close I am to getting to Uganda while I spend time in the lounge. I was to arrive in Uganda at 3am but now I will arrive at 4:30am, which means by the time I clear immigration and we get to the hotel it will be between 6:30 -7am. Of course, that is compute time for people going to work and from experience; I can tell you there will be LOTS of traffic. I have a meeting  with prison authorities scheduled so I hope I have time to clean-up before the meeting.

Sometimes it is a good thing to be short as the long (room for 2-3) seating chair/bench in the lounge allowed me to lay down and keep pressure off of my hips and back so with the large bed-size pillow they brought I was very comfy.

Trip # 21 is quite different from the previous 20, and I feel a bit like a first time flyer.

I tried to post to the blog but the internet in the airport was not that great and it would not let me open my VPN or my emails. People working on their phones did not seem to have the same issue I had with my computer.  I will keep trying to post tonight.

Thank you for your continuing prayers. 

That none would be lost,

Arlene

 

Today, Wednesday, Nov. 19th is flight day

Ministry Partners, 

Today, Wednesday, Nov. 19th is flight day ..... YEA!  

I got up at 6:30am because I was originally scheduled for transport at 9 am. I would not have hurried getting ready if I had known that KLM was delaying my flight by 2 ½ hours. When I received their alert at about 8am, I rescheduled my transport for 12:30pm arriving at Portland, PDX, around 1:30 for my 3:55pm flight to Amsterdam, the first leg of my trip. 

 

 My airport transport ride was with John & Linda who have faithfully taken me to the airport the last number of trips. I appreciate them so much. Instead of dropping me outside they help wrangle my large 1- 50# and 2- 65# suitcases of supplies inside and see that I get to the right counter to check in. It was an added bonus to find out that because I am flying first class, thank you generous partners, my bags could weigh up to 70#. The flight to Amsterdam is about 10hrs. with a 3hr transfer time to get to my next flight to Nairobi, Kenya, followed by a 3 hr. transfer for the final leg, arriving in Entebbe, Uganda at 3am.  

I prefer to go direct from Portland to Amsterdam to Entebbe but God provided a new travel route for me this year so I will be watching for any new opportunities He might provide for me to share His love.

A couple of important things:

• I created this blog for the benefit of IRM ministry partners and friends.
• Because of our rigorous schedule with 62 crusades and internet issues, I might not be able to post on this blog as much as I have in past years. I would appreciate some "grace" with misspelled words or sentences that do not seem to make sense except in my mind, as I will be coming in from some very long days, preaching from 1 1/2 to 4 hours.
• Please leave a comment on the blog or FB page if you have a minute. It's such an encouragement to us after a long day ....... longer day ..... and even longer day!

 Please pray for:

• That the Holy Spirit would pour out His power like never before and hearts would be turned to the Lord and His salvation.
• Again this year, that the fire of God would fall as it did in 1 Kings 18: 36 – 39
• That God would rest His Spirit on us, the IRM team, and all he has called us to do in Africa from November 19^th through January 14^th.
• That we would find favor with everyone we meet.      
• That the team would have safe air and land travels and stay healthy

Thank you to each of you for partnering with us, this trip is only possible because of God's leading and your prayers and financial giving. 

That none would be lost

Arlene