Dec. 25 - He came to prison just so Jesus could save him.

 

Ministry Partners,

Happy Birthday Jesus

Today I woke very early to a cool morning and after having breakfast, we headed out to our first prison of the day, which was only 15 minutes away.

The prison held 550 and they were quickly assembled under a tree but the tree only covered some of them so the rest were in the sun. We could see prisoners polishing the shoes of the officers and at some prisons as we wait to start the crusade we watch new inmates being brought in, in handcuffs.

There was a huge rock in the center of the inmates and two prisoners were seated on it. However, they were blocking the prisoners behind them from seeing us so I asked them to get down which they quickly did. The prisoners behind them offered a smile and a nod indicating they could finally see the team well.

Sharing the Gospel, what a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of the Savior. And as we watch/hear then respond to the salvation invitation we feel privileged to be here. Alfred, Aaron and I talked at breakfast, about what an honor it is for us to be doing what we are doing. They appreciate, as do I how much you have sacrificed to send us here. May God richly bless each one of you.

Prisoners here have been told that they cannot make good choices but today these inmates, like those at other prisons, made three good choices, salvation, forgiveness and apologizing.

As we were leaving a woman guard, who had sat through the entire crusade, came and asked if she could talk to me. As we walked away from the team, she shared how her husband beat her that they had three children and although she put him through school, he left her and married one of the students. She shared how the lesson on forgiveness challenged her and after chatting a bit with her I prayed for her.

Then we were off on a short drive to our last prison and I had a hard time knowing that this really was my last prison crusade for this trip. I really do not have adequate words to tell you what a love God has given me for these, the least of them, men and women prisoners.

‘When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matt. 25:39-40 NIV

The O.C. greeted us and quickly assembled the 102 men prisoners in the open under a partial overcast sky in front of me and 8 women were a bit separated and to my right. But interpreting was going to be a real challenge for both Alfred and Aaron. Alfred would translate first and then Aaron would translate in Swahili. And I would have to be careful and wait for Aaron to finish. I usually start to speak as the interpreter is just finishing but now I had to wait for the second interpreter to finish. At one point, the guys got confused and started laughing and I was trying to figure out who then I was to follow. Even the O.C. started laughing. But the inmates followed right along with the message as they responded to every invitation.

At testimony time, one inmate said he came to prison just so Jesus could save him.

Then we were finished and I was thankful that I did not cry in front of the prisoners.

Our drive back to Kampala took three hours but along the way we stopped so Alfred could purchase some mangos, bananas and pineapples to take back to our hotel.

We have stayed in some not so nice places so I am doubly grateful for a nice firm bed and hot water to bathe.

WE have lots to do to finalize the trip so please continue to pray for us.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

Dec. 24 - Jesus did the “Loaves and Fishes” thing

Ministry Partners,

Today although I had planned to get up at 6:30, I woke at 4:30 to a cool morning here in Masindi, Uganda. Thank you so much for praying for Alfred and me. Alfred is feeling better and the awful cough I had is gone, praise Jesus! I am not sure if I had a fight with myself night before last during the night but I am now sporting a partial right black eye.

Breakfast was at 8am so I had plenty of time to get some computer work done. I have given up on finding good internet where we stay but our Mobil Hot Spot, MTN, works great when I also use a VPN.

This refugee woman is 80 years young just like me

Today we drove to Kiryandongo to the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement where I was scheduled to hold a crusade at St. Mark Anglican Church. The Settlement is a refugee camp for refugees from Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Kenya and South Sudan.

Alfred is Rwandan but grew up in a different refugee camp here in Uganda so he knew firsthand what I would face today. Many years ago, the IRM team visited a refugee camp in Rwanda but I do not remember much about it except for the poverty. Last night Alfred and Aaron went into town to purchase some cases of soap and T.P. to take with us, after all, it is Christmas and we did not want to go empty handed.

Goodness the poverty was so evident today and yet in the beginning about twenty women in their beautiful African dresses welcomed me with singing as soon as we arrived at the open area next to the church.  One woman gave me her 8” wooden cross to hold and then they had me join them as they sang and we marched around the church.

The guys and I sat outside in the shade with some of the ladies still singing since the rest of the ladies were setting up the church. Aaron started trying to sing along with one of the women who was teaching him.

We had about 120 women and a few men who came to hear me share. They speak their own local language there, not Arabic like I had been told. But neither Alfred nor Aaron could speak it so they were unable to translate for me. A very nice young man did translate for me but he had a hard time keeping up so I slowed down my speaking and I had to keep repeating what I just said. I was so disappointed that they would not let the children come into the church to hear me. They said the children had a separate church but my translator asked Aaron if I could come back another day and speak to the children.

At one point, a dog entered through the open door and the translator started talking about the dog.

Regardless of the chaos, the Holy Spirit did a powerful work today as everyone received Christ as Savior, even the woman pastor. They also prayed the Forgiveness prayer and apologized to each other.

Then Jesus did the “Loaves and Fishes” thing. There was just enough packages of soap for each woman who came to get her own large package. When we finished we went outside to take photos. What a very special day.

When we finished we headed out to find somewhere to stay but places were all filled so we traveled to two more towns before we succeeded in finding rooms. The two separate prisons where we will be tomorrow are close so that is a good thing. When we finish the last prison tomorrow, we will drive back to Kampala.

A part of me is dreading tomorrow, the last day for doing prison ministry. Although I am a bit tired, I am not ready for this trip to be over and I am not ready to return to Oregon.

Please continue to pray for the prisoners, the guards, for a fresh anointing for the IRM team and for our safe travels.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

Dec. 23 - I praise Jesus for allowing us to be a part of what the Holy Spirit did today

 

 Ministry Partners,

Today we woke to rain and after a 7 o’clock breakfast we were off to the first of two prison crusades. The drive would take over an hour and it rained most of the way while I asked Jesus to please hold back the rain at the prisons where we were going, and He did Alfred slept a lot of the way to the prison as he is still not feeling that great.

 

   The flowers at our hotel are beautiful

When we arrived at the men’s prison, we had to wait for a bit as the very nice Deputy O.C. was getting the inmates together. It was quite a walk to where the inmates were but as I walked around the last corner into the open area where they were assembled, my heart filled with joy at the sight. There is just nothing like seeing 1,800 inmates sitting in front of you, waiting to hear the message the Holy Spirit has sent you to deliver!

I just had to praise God as I heard them responding to the salvation prayer and the forgiveness prayer. Alfred and Aaron both said they noticed that men were crying from the salvation prayer clear to the forgiveness prayer.

After watching them apologizing to each other, as they sat down, I asked them, “What does your heart feel like now?” The responses were, “Peaceful, happy.” Smiles covered their faces and their eyes reflected just how their hearts felt.

One inmate after the salvation prayer said, “Right now my body is in prison but my spirit is free, even if I die I will go to heaven.” After each inmate shared a testimony, I gave them a hug and blessed them and that brings applause and laughter from the other inmates. Since I am 80 years young and mama to everyone, I can get away with that.

As we were walking out to leave, on a path that they created for us through the seated inmates, many still wanted to shake my hand and verbally thanked me in English for coming and asking us to return. Even the guards were expressing their thankfulness for our coming, saying they needed us and asking us come again.

Then we walked the short distance to the women’s prison accompanied by two inmates that carried our things. Again, we had to wait for them to gather the 120 women while two additional inmates brought the sound system from the men’s side to the women’s area.

As soon as I start to share my testimony, I have the women’s attention as well as the attention of the very   Deputy O.C. who stayed with us. They quickly know that I am not there to preach AT them but rather to share how God rescued me from a sinful life and gave me hope and a future.

Just like the men today, they responded to the salvation invitation. But when Alfred, acting as my abuser, and I were doing the forgiveness object lesson, where he looks really mean at me, I couldn’t help myself and burst into laughter. After explaining to the women, I composed myself and we continued the object lesson. It was wonderful to see/hear them choosing to pray and forgive someone else of themselves. They also had a fun time reconciling with each other for an argument they had had. Waves and smiles followed us as we left.

It was a most WONDERFUL day. I praise Jesus for allowing us to be a part of what the Holy Spirit did today in the hearts of the prisoners and guards.

Then we were off to find somewhere to stay and we found a nice Catholic place. I like to stay in their guesthouses/hotel as they are always clean.

I told you yesterday that God had opened a new opportunity that I would share with you when it had been confirmed. Well, it has been, tomorrow we are going to speak at a church in a refugee camp. I understand that it is a very diverse camp with refugees from many countries including Arabs. It is going to be a very interesting day!

Please pray that the Holy Spirit will do a great work in the hearts of the refugees, that the IRM team would have a fresh anointing and Alfred would feel better. He purchased some medication from the pharmacy here this afternoon.

Thank you partners for your continuing prayers.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

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Dec. 22 - Dec. 26th is "Box Day" the day for opening gifts, not the 25th

 

Ministry Partners,

It is a beautiful Sunday here in Uganda and I am excited to see what God has planned for the prisoners, the guards and us. It is important for us to make plans but the team marvels at the new design for our day that God brings. This morning He opened a new opportunity that I will share with you when it has been confirmed.

Today is a special day for Pastor Peace, who we spoke to on the phone, and Pastor Aaron as both of them have birthdays today. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” Pastor Aaron and Pastor Peace.

The electricity stayed on last night so I was able to have a warm shower and a fan that kept the heat down. Thank you Jesus!

 

There actually was a Christmas tree in the reception area of our hotel. But, banners in Kampala signaled “Box Day Celebrations” which Alfred explained that “Box Day”  Dec. 26th. is the day Ugandans open all the boxes/gifts that have been given for Christmas, they do not open them on Christmas Eve or day. Actually, I think that is a very good thing because then on Christmas they can focus on the true meaning of Christmas …… a remembrance day for the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world.

Today we held two prison crusades, a man’s prison of 1,560 and in the afternoon a women’s prison of 145. At the man’s prison, they wanted me to be under a tent with only a few inmates but I chose to be in the open, as it was very overcast, so all the men surrounding the area could also hear the messages and see the object lessons. However, they did use the tent for some of the inmates to sit under. It went very well until I finished leading them in the prayer of forgiveness as it started to rain and the inmates were told to go back to their cell rooms. The Holy Spirit did a powerful work in the inmate’s hearts for salvation and forgiveness. We were unable to get testimonies due to the rain.

It was still drizzling when we arrived at the women’s prison but they had a tent set up and  an Anglican pastor and two Pentecostal pastors, were having a service. They moved all of us into a hall to be out of the rain. Because it was Sunday, a few of the inmate leaders were dressed in white and purple outfits and the O.C. appeared in a fancy party dress after we started our crusade.

I really prefer that other pastors do not use my object lessons or video me as I share my testimony and the object lessons I use are personal. If they are copied and used in the prisons by others then when we arrive the impact of the object lessons is diminished. The two Pentecostal pastors stayed through the whole crusade and actually responded to the salvation and forgiveness prayers along with the women.  I was happy we were able to present our complete program but when we finished, the O.C. got up and gave a lengthy sermon-ette using the “points” in my message. It was interesting that when the inmates were apologizing to each other she refused to accept some inmate’s apologies. Perhaps she did not really listen when I said that the person who gives an apology is blessed by God for being obedient and taking responsibility for their actions and the person who refuses an apology answers to God. But she did admit the forgiveness message had impacted her. I was able to give crochet caps to the children there.

On the way to the hotel, I saw a woman with three little girls so I had Aaron stop so I could also give them each a cap. The girls and mother had huge smiles when we drove away.

When we arrived back at the hotel, once again there was no electricity. I am using the computer battery to get this written in a Word doc., which I will copy, and paste onto the blog whenever I do get electricity.

Dinner was a 6pm and I must say the potato wedges were the best I have ever had but the rest of the meal, not so much.

The hotel receptionist agreed to start the generator at 6:30 instead of 7 so we could have lights and I could get this blog out and have a warm shower. YEA!

Tomorrow we have two prison crusades to do so breakfast will be at 7am.

Please continue to pray for the prisoners, guards and us. Pray also especially for Alfred, he has picked up whatever Aaron had and is not feeling well.

Thank you. 

That none would be lost,

Arlene