Muddy Steps and Narrow Paths

Since coming to my beloved Uganda over five years ago, the natural beauty of the country never ceases to amaze me. God has indeed blessed this country with natural resources, the greenest vegetation, and I'd never fail to mention some of the most lovely people I've ever met. Time has truly flown since our arrival and this week will hit the halfway mark. However, the idea of my girls leaving this month is hard for me to think about. They have done such wonderful work in the field for the glory of the Lord!

Our Team in a cave at Kapchowra

 So many people have heard the proclamation of the Gospel, and prayerfully their hearts will be softened by the message they've heard. While there are many hard hearts - the Lord has allowed us to see a glimmer of hope in the eyes of many we've spoken to. We clearly present the Gospel to everyone, and we don't ask for them to make any decision, only to think about what we've told them. Responding to the Gospel is a very personal experience. If God is calling and leading someone to repent and trust in Him, it is not something we can do for them. They must cry out to the Lord and He promises to save them. Please continue to pray for open eyes, listening ears, and soft hearts.

Silly faces with these beauties

The past two weeks have been packed full of heartbreaking stories from people we spoke to, muddy footsteps, narrow paths, and high mountains. At the start of last week, we evangelized to two small villages within Tororo District. The first day was full of resistant people, packed full of self-righteousness. These can be the most difficult to talk to. Although they listened, they did not hear. The days that through the darkness and pain, those we spoke to still seemed to find encouragement and hope in the storms...only by God's grace.

The beauty of Kapchowra

followed were emotional, as we encountered broken marriages, abuse, and lonely widows. Our hearts were heavy, as we tried to minister to these hurting people. Praise God for his love and promises, even in the darkness.

Jim sharing pictures with the kids

Some of our narrow paths

Shining faces of some hearing the Gospel

We also finished painting the church with Stephen and some of the youth from Rock Baptist. It looks like a new building. The inside of the church is also getting some much-needed attention. New wiring and lights have been installed, as well as bars and shutters on the windows, to prevent thieves. More important than the outward appearance are the hearts of those who worship there. May her doors be ever darkened with those who desire to hear the truth of God's Word.

He who has ears let him hear...

Sharing the Good News

Last week we traveled to the mountain region of Kapchowra. We were over 6,000 feet above sea level. In my opinion, Kapchowra is one of the most visually stunning places in Uganda. The mountains are deep green with banana trees, coffee plants, and thick pine trees...just to name a few.  It was, however, the rainy season, which means it was colder and definitely wet. The people are wonderful, but they are very different from Tororo. They are colder (like the weather) and more difficult to reach, but when God touches their hearts, everything changes.

Our kids with Daniel (Pastor Peter's son)...what a joy!

We had to travel up steep mountains, through thick mud, over streams, and by waterfalls. We not only traveled hut to hut with the Gospel, but we got to speak at another prison, at two schools, and a women's conference. Overall we spoke to over 550 people directly. We pray those who heard the Word will continue to spread it to everyone they know.

Day 2 of Kapchowra's Ladies Seminar

Julie teaching about women's roles in the church

Sydney and Rhoda teaching on Proverbs 31

To culminate our visit, we took a journey up Sipi Falls. Sipi Falls has about 5 falls, which we visited two of the larger ones.

Climbing Sipi Falls

We climbed, what seemed at times, straight up for 45 minutes, stopping under the waterfalls to rest. Then we continued up the mountain to the very top and source of the falls. Our paths were rocky, wet, muddy, and narrow. We were covered with the misty splash of the waterfalls, as well as mud, sweat, but no tears.

Three best friends on high places of Kapchowra

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord

Rhoda looking like an African mama

The day before we left, we heard loud shouts and excitement outside our hotel gate. We went out to see many of the neighbors smiling and celebrating something...just to find out that a boy who was kidnapped five years ago had just returned home! He was now 14 years old, and while likely traumatized and changed, he was home. It was a glorious thing.

Jim preaching the Word in Kapchowra

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  ~ Acts 1:8

 The Great Commission is enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to be Christ's witnesses, fulfilling this command in our towns and cities (Jerusalem), within our state and country (Judea and Samaria), and anywhere God may send us (to the ends of the earth). For this moment in time we are called here to Uganda. We pray each of you will be reaching those around you with the same life-giving message of His Gospel.