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Journal of African Mission Trip
June 17- July 23, 2008
Uganda & Mozambique
Africa Mission Trip: Update 1 - Thursday Morning - June 19, 2008
Dear Prayer Partners,
Thank you for your prayers for Nan and the team's safe travel to Uganda. I am forwarding her first email, without editing, so you can capture her experience with me. Thanks for your continued prayers for the entire team...for safety, good health, energy, opportunities to heal and show God's love and mercy. Last, but not least, the opportunity to win souls for the Kingdom.
Also, thank you so much for your support for the "Well of Hope". I can't wait to get a progress report.
FYI, the "well fund" is up to $8,000 of the $10,000 needed....GOD IS GOOD!!!!!
In His Love,
Tony
QUOTE (From Dr. Nancy):
I am here in Kampala safe with no problems.
I wanted to email you as soon as I got in last night but the business
center was closed.
After starting out at 6am on Tuesday we arrived at the Hotel on Thursday at 2am. It was a long, long flight but I managed to make the most of it. The hotel by African standards is nice. The people are nice etc... Last night we had to carry all 5 of those bags up to the 4th floor. The elevator is broken.... But we have a bed, tub, warm water, air conditioning and all the bottled water we need. And most importantly access to email so we can keep in touch!!!!
Mike let us sleep in today until 7am (5 hours) yea!!! At 10am we will have our first meeting and find out the agenda for the day. So, I suppose it will be evening before I can send my first report for the day.
It is still early here 9am and the weather is not to hot yet. We will see how the day goes. Of course as soon as I walked out of the airport last night I got 5 mosquito bites. They just love me!!
The ride from the Entebbe airport was 45 minutes with no traffic. When I was walking through the airport in Nashville with my backpack and flip-flops I felt like I was 19 again going off on another adventure. It took me by surprise. Only this time it is an adventure for the Kingdom..... I sure am glad I spent all that time at the gym!! It is paying off already.
I was slinging those heavy bags off the luggage belt at the airport and even the guys made a comment about being impressed. So, I will show these young kids that I can keep up with them. Thanks to Sherri. (My personal trainer at the gym).
My time is up on the computer. I love you with all my heart and thanks again for letting me have this experience. It means more to me than words can express!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God is so good and today will be day one with Him at the lead...will write tonight.
Love and hugs, Nan
Day three in Africa June 21, 2008
This has been the most glorious of days. Where do I begin?
Today as we came up the road toward Hope Orphanage the children could hear the van and their voices yelling and cheering as they came running out to the van to greet us was like music from heaven. I wished so much that you could hear it. (I will have the video turned on my camera so I can record it for all of you) They surrounded the van and again we were met with cheers and hugs from all 100 plus. Fewer today because it is Saturday and the school children that don't live at the Orphanage were not there. Of course Aaron (my 11 year old friend would wants to be a surgeon) was there waiting for me as I exited the van. He grabbed my hand and together we walked across the dirt and into the main room of the Home. His first words were "And how was your night Miss Nan? Did you sleep well"? OH I could have cried because I did, and in such luxury compared to his. But I said "it was very good. And how was your night". "Good", he replied. Then he gave me another big hug.
The team was assigned to different task today. I got to go into the village and that is where the most amazing experience began. Simon is a young pastor who lives in the village and works with the church located at Hope Orphanage. His heart is evangelism. He has the most peaceful loving presence. God radiates from him.
(He speaks very good English). My team was composed of Larry, Simon (to interpret), and myself. We walked down to the "slum" area of Ganda Village. Simon knows almost everyone and they all like him so we were safe and he knew which houses that we should go to.
We tracked through mud, dirty, charcoal, and more mud and dirty, and lots of smells you might not choose to expose yourself to. However, for me none of that mattered. I had the most incredible peace in my heart and a feeling of being born for this moment in time. I wanted to savor every second, every sight, every smell, even the bad ones smelled wonderful to me because they were all a part of God's precious children who lived in this village.
All I could think about was the excitement of watching people be physically healed and salvations. God promises us that if we step out and believe Him for big things then He will come through. So why not start today in the middle of Africa! I knew He would come through. That was the word I got before I left. He would begin in Africa to work through me to heal as I walked out in faith.
We would introduce ourselves and tell them that we were from Show Mercy and that we had traveled two days by plane to tell them that we loved them and that God loved them very much. We would ask them if they knew Jesus and then we ask if there is anything they would like us to pray about for them. We prayed for everyone we visited today.
The second lady asks us to pray for two of her children who were being tormented by demons. Of course we did. Even those who were not interested in becoming a Christian we prayed for the needs they shared with us.
We were invited into one home. It was made of dried mud, with a mud floor, and dark (no electricity). The home was about 8 feet by 6 feet. There was a couple of very old and tattered rattan looking mats that they sat on and sleep on. In one corner was a small fire with a yam roasting on the fire, so smoke filled the room. The door of the house was a single piece of old torn cloth. The only furniture so to speak, was a very small stool with legs about 8 inches high with no arms or back. The stool was offered to me.
The way they greet you is they go down on to the floor with their legs under them, kind of a bow just not on your knees. The mom greets me this way and then her little baby (looks like maybe 18months-2years old) enters and falls down to its knees to greet me. I was overwhelmed. It was a priceless moment. If only you could have experienced it with me.
We visited one old widow lady who was a member of the church and loved God. I ask how I could pray for her. She told me that she was very weak, she had problems with her legs, ankles, back and that she could not walk anymore. We laid hands on her and I prayed for healing in her legs, feet, and back and that God would restore her to full health and bless her etc….. I ask her how she felt and told her to stand up. I took her hand and raised her to her feet. She was better but still weak so we continued to pray for God to complete what He had started in her. I believed Him for complete healing for this widow. Then I ask her how she felt. She said she could feel the burden move out of her legs. I ask her to walk and she did! I ask her to bend over and she touched her toes!!!!!! God is sooooo Good……
Well, I could end with that story and still think I had died and gone to heaven but that was just the beginning. It gets even better. The Lord gave me some words of knowledge for several women. One Christian lady was a single mom and the Lord had me tell her that He had sent me a two day journey by plane to give her a message. It was about encouragement and that He had not forgotten her. That He had heard the cries of her heart. That He had not forsaken her. Then I shared Isaiah 43: 1-3 etc.. with her about walking through the waters and not drowning and walking through the fires and that she would not be burnt because He loved her and that she was precious to Him. She began to weep and we all joined in.
Another lady, a friend of Simons, who he had visited many times yet never would accept Jesus, let us talk with her. Larry led her to the Lord. It was so easy. Larry was amazed because Simon had not been able to get her there. I told him that it was because Simon had been God's pump and he got to see the living water flow. This was your blessing and Simon was in tears.
I prayed with three other ladies and they all accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. After awhile in all the excitement I lost count (4 or 5 women accepted Christ). It was surreal. It was so easy and natural. I was not scared or worried if it would happen I just knew it would and God honored our faith and obedience.
All I can say was it is addictive. Larry and I did not want to quit. We wanted to keep on until the whole village came to Christ. But Simon said we had better head back to Hope. So we did with lightness in our steps and joy flowing from our hearts.
We arrived back just in time to eat lunch with the team. I put the beans, rice and pineapple on my plate and sat down next to Lori. I could not eat I was so full of gratitude in my heart. I told Lori thank you so much for arranging this moment in time and we both cried.
We spent the rest of the afternoon filling sacks with toys, candy (they call sweeties) and small note pads. We will have a party next Saturday for the children so we needed to prepare all 100 in advance. Then we took some of the suitcases that we had just emptied and filled one up with the stuff for girls and one with the boy's bags. We had enough left over that we will be able to take it out to the other kids living in the village. Then we completed our day at the home by playing with the children.
On the way home we stopped at the store to get supplies. It was at a mall and we only had 45 minutes! Oh! I found a cold diet coke in a bottle and I bought 4 of them. I opened two and gave one to my roommate Linda and we drank that cold coke like it was the most wonderful thing we had ever tasted. But halfway through we had had enough so we shared it with some others.
Dinner is served each evening in an open court dining room at the hotel. During and after dinner we had great conversations about our day and God's faithfulness. What a wonderful day.
PS
God has taken care of me again. I was not sure how I would get around after the team left on Sunday the 29th because I am to speak at Pastor Fred's church on Monday the 30th from 5:30 - 7:00pm. And then get to the airport in Entebbe on July 1st which is 45 minutes from where I am in Kampala. But God provided once again. Tara is a Ugandan Christian who works with Show Mercy. When he found out that I was going out to speak in some of the local churches he offered to take me. I will come with my car and if you will pay for the gas I will take care of everything for you so you will not have to worry. He was excited to be able to attend the church services also. So I think it will be a blessing for both of us. He is so filled with love for the Lord.
Day Four in Africa- June 24, 2008
As this the Lord's day began we arrived at Hope to hear the sounds of the children running to greet us. They looked beautiful! They were all freshly cleaned with their Sunday clothes on. They looked like God's little angels. We dropped off the first team at the church located at Hope and picked up some of the children to take them with us. I looked everywhere for Aaron but could not find him. I had hoped to take him with me. We had children everywhere in that van.
We divided into 4 groups and went to speak at different churches in the village. I was at the Divine Word Church. The congregation was about 50. The church had a dirt floor with a tin makeshift roof over it. There were about 10 ladies up front dressed in black and white singing the praise music as they were accompanied by a keyboard. Three of our team spoke. I had decided that I would not speak. I would have many opportunities later and this needed to be their time to shine. I recorded some of the music and what the two young girls had to say. The pastor said "Momma you cannot leave without giving us a word so come on up". I just shared some scripture and words of encouragement. It was a good time.
We returned to Hope for lunch. As I got off the bus there was Aaron to take my hand. He looked so handsome in his Sunday clothes. I told him that I had wanted to take him to church with me but I couldn't find him. He said he was still bathing when the bus arrived and that is why he was not waiting for me. We walked hand in hand across the yard and then sat together for a while. I gave him the Bible that I had bought for him. I wrote a special message inside for him and when he read it his face lit up with the biggest smile. I told him to NEVER give up on his dreams no matter how hard it got. God has a plan for your life, don't every forget that. It was a true heart moment as he hugged me and we sat together just enjoying the moment. In that moment He knew that he was loved by me and God. I plan to pray words of life over him. I know that God will honor his heart and mine. I am going to share with him the same word the Lord gave me. "Nancy posses in your life what you see in your heart." He is so smart and just needs love and someone to pour into his life and he will soar to the top. I see it in him. I can't wait for you to see his picture and all the pictures of the beautiful children at Hope.
Simon (the pastor who took me through the village yesterday) has a ministry at the prison. So after lunch we drove up in the beautiful countryside to where the prison was. On the way we stopped at a small roadside store and brought rolls and soap for the prisoners.
The landscape was beautiful. Very lush and green with banana trees everywhere. You could see one rolling green hill after another as they faded into the skyline. One odd sight were the huge termite hills, some were as high at 8 feet. They were scattered amidst all the beautiful green foliage. The prison had hedges all around but no wire fence only guards with machine guns everywhere.
As we rounded the corner into the front yard we saw 126 men all lined up sitting on the big long porch. They must have been about 6 deep. They were young teenagers to old men. As I looked at their faces all I could see was hopelessness, pain, and despair.
Our group consisted of 24 team members with 10 pastors and helpers. We stood on the green lawn and several people had words for them. Our message was not one of condemnation but of God's incredible love for them and hopes for a future. The plan of salvation was explained to them. Then Simon offered the invitation. It was a sight to behold. Forty-two dark dirty faced prisoners raised their hands and ask Jesus to be the Lord of their life!!!
Then we ask if anyone was sick and wanted prayer. We all lined up about 4 feet from them. I took the hands of two men and began praying for their healing, and then I spoke words of life and hope into them. I ask God to fill them with joy overflowing etc… They had tears in their eyes. One spoke English and he just keep thanking me for coming and sharing Jesus with him. They were overwhelmed that we would come all the way from America to tell them we loved them and that Jesus loved them. We poured God's love out to those men and the power of the Lord was everywhere. It was an awesome experience.
Simon had told me yesterday about his trips to the prison and that sometimes a few men would accept Christ and sometimes no one. After we were back in the bus Linda asks Simon if that many salvations were normal. I looked at his face as he said "no" and big tears filled his eyes as he was overwhelmed by how God had answered his prayers.
In the past 24 hours I have been a part of seeing 47 people accept Christ. My heart is filled with joy and expectation for tomorrow. Thanks again for your prayers and love.
Hugs from Uganda, Nancy
Day Five in Africa- Monday June 23, 2008
This morning our first stop was Kaliti Village to check on the progress of the well. (The Well of Hope) This village is about 30-40 minutes from Hope and about the same from Kampala. As we drove out into the countryside it was beautiful. It was everything you would imagine Africa to look like. The vegetation was abundant, banana trees, fruit trees, it was so lush and so green, quite a contrast from the red dirt of Ganda Village (location of the Hope Orphanage). Rolling hills everywhere and the road up to the property was dirt and had many huge ruts running through it. It was amazing we made it.
Kaliti is 92% Moslem. I believe it must be because the Moslems built a primary school there. However, Mike said that many of the village people expressed wanting to send their children to the new school once it is completed on the Field of Dreams. Once we are established there it is just a matter of time before the village becomes Christian.
The villagers are very excited about the well and many were coming up to me and thanking me for it. I am sure at this point you are wondering is the well started.
The bus finally came to a stop beside a one room mud house complete with a grass roof. There was a small fire burning under a grass roof that had 4 poles holding it up. I am not sure what was cooking. An African woman was squatted down in front of the fire with a small maybe 1 yr. -18month old little girl beside her in the dirt. This was where we exited the bus. Then we all put on lots of insect repellent and started hiking down the hill through the thick growth. You could not see or tell what you were walking through. But I did not care. I was not even concerned about snakes (a miracle, thanks for the prayers) all I wanted to do was see that well. I was so excited I think I could have commanded the snake to get out of my way! (That is if I saw one but praise the Lord I didn't). It was a good hike down and when you looked straight across you could see rolling green hills. It is a beautiful piece of property. (25 acres) About a third of the way down my left foot stepped right into a hole about a foot deep. (Sherri thank you for helping me work on my core). If I had not worked so much on my balance at the gym I would have broken my ankle for sure. But instead I immediately balanced myself and bent down on both knees. So now I have two sore knees but no broken bones. I was right up and headed forward. I was on a mission and nothing was going to stop me!! Then I heard the noise! And there in the most beautiful spot I saw a BIG truck, about 6 workers, an engineer, and a drill hard at work drilling and muddy water was running out around the area.
The boss from the drilling company had on a shirt which had written on the back "Living Water Wells". He of course is a Christian. He told us that they expected to hit the water by 4pm. Mike introduced me and told him that I represented the people who donated the money for the well. He was so gracious and thanked me. Mike asked questions about when it would be ready so I could come back to see it before I felt Uganda. The concrete and bricks have to set for many days before they can let the water out. So it might be tight to get it running by the 30th but he said he would do everything he could to make it happen for me. I told him not to rush that it was important that it be done right. And that I would be coming back through Uganda on my way home from Mozambique on July 23rd so I could see it then. The man said he wants me to be able to drink water from that well before I leave Africa. So, Mike is arranging for his driver Simon and assistant Tara to bring me back out to the well on the 23rd of July. I am going to ask Simon (Peter) my evangelist Pastor I spoke of yesterday to go with us. We will have a dedication and pray over the well and all the people of the village who will drink the clean water but will also be given living water. That is going to be a glorious moment.
I stood there just taking in the beauty of that location and wept!! My mind and heart was so full to think of how God had blessed us all with the resources to be able to have the honor of blessing the poor. Wow! You all helped to make this dream come true!!!
Then Mike took me and showed me the dirty mosquito infested hole where the village had been getting water. Not to worry, I have pictures of everything.
We then spent the rest of the afternoon with the children at Hope. Aaron met me at the bus and we walked hand in hand again. He took me and showed me his room and some of his pictures he has drawn. He is very good. There is one little 6 year old girl who has attached herself to me. She is just adorable. She wanted me to meet her mother who must work at the Hope washing clothes I think. Her name is Clair and she goes to the Alpha Omega School at the home. I brought her a pretty girly book-bag and she was overjoyed.
The kids loved getting their pictures made so we would do that and then I would show it to them and they would laugh. Several turned into little hams. We sat on the steps and I was surrounded by 8-9 on the sides, kneeled down in front facing me and we had the best time. Reading Bible stories and letting them experience potato chips for the first time. They didn't know what to do with them. They would break off a piece and eat it. So I showed them how to just bit into it. With the exception of one little girl they were a hit. She didn't like them. But when I passed around the second one she could not resist eating it. J
The team went out tonight to (in Mike's opinion) the best Chinese restaurant in the whole world called Fang Fang's. There were four of us who were too tried so we stayed at the hotel.
Hugs, Nan
PS. I got an email from Greg after he read my journal about going with Simon into the village and healing people and leading 10+ people to the Lord. He said when he read it he jumped in delight. Then he reminded me of our Small Group meeting on Wednesday before I left. For those of you who were not there. He anointed me with oil and everyone laid hands on me and prayed over me. Then Greg had a prophetic word that I would have a divine encounter with a man named Simon! I had totally forgotten that until his email. And then I remembered he had indeed said that. Wow! God continues to blow my socks off. I can't wait to tell Simon about it.
Day Six in Africa June 24, 2008
Today was our only scheduled tourist day.
At 9am all 27 of us piled in the now all too familiar white bus and headed out for a day of sightseeing. It was a treat after the week of long days and long bumpy rides in the bus. I think my back will never be the same after this trip. We were all laughing today thinking we could have lost 10 pounds already from just the jolting. J
Today I did not sit by the window because I am trying to get all the red dirt out of my ears. I wash and wash them and then I use a q-tip and they are still red. Even brushing our teeth doesn't get the red dirt completely out of our mouths. Linda said every time she eats something it taste gritty. Tonight I washed my hair 4 times. It squeaked like it was clean by my scalp still feels gritty. But I wouldn't trade a moment of this experience for all the hot baths in the world.
Anyway, back to my adventure update. We had a beautiful drive out into the country about 80km from Kampala. First we crossed a beautiful dam with huge crock's basking in the sun below. (We couldn't take any pictures of the Dam. It is against the law. And there were armed guards to make sure we didn't.) A short distance on the other side was Bujagali Falls. We got out there and watched rafters coming down the river. It is class 5 in some places. There were the unique African trees that provide wonderful shade, scattered across the landscape of green grass. There were several African families sitting under the shade trees with their families. It was a peaceful place. I found a way to climb down the rocks to the water and get my feet wet. The water felt wonderful. The weather today is simply delightful. Warm but not too hot with a breeze and in the shade it is perfect.
We then headed to Jinja the second largest city in Uganda. But we were in the outskirts so it was not too bad. The bus let us off at 12:30 and we had until 2:30 to shop and eat lunch. We leisurely strolled the streets wandering into the shops looking at souvenirs. I didn't buy anything. I sat at a sidewalk café and ate a grilled cheese sandwich and chips (French Fries). It was a treat after living on rice, beans, bread, pineapple and protein drinks. (Sorry Sherri)
Back in the bus and we headed to the place on Lake Victoria where the Nile River begins. We took a boat ride out to the exact place where it starts. You could see the water bubbling up. I have picture and video. Tony I have a rock for you from the Nile River. It takes 90 days for the water to travel 4,000 miles to reach the Mediterranean Sea. There was tall swaying glass growing out into the river. I could just imagine that little Moses was placed in a similar looking place at the other end of the Nile.
We arrived back at the hotel after two hours of bouncing down the road. Tomorrow we will be back at ministry. Until then sleep well my friends.
Hugs, Nancy
Day 8 & 9 in Africa June 25-26, 2008
Today we began by visiting the hospital. There were about five one story building dingy concrete buildings. They were connected by covered breezeways. The inside was very barren and not clean. The beds were beyond what you could ever imagine putting your own body into much less a child. The children's beds were metal and looked to be at least 50 years old. It would have broken your heart to see the conditions of the room and the children! Several team members had to go outside and dry their tears. On a positive note we had one healing and about 10 salvations.
We went to lunch at Pastor Hudson's house. He is an incredibly sweet man. He took us up on top of the hill to the Dumis radio station. It has an outreach of 2 million Christians. Two of the women on our team spoke and one sang a song. It was beautiful up on top of the hill. You could see for miles. We sat around on the grass outside listening to what was being said through a windup portable radio. I am still trying to figure out how the bus got up to the top given the ruts and narrow dirt road.
I spent the evening preparing my messages for the Pastor's conference. I was to speak twice and did not know if it would be the same or different people. That was a bit stressful. Needless to say I did not get a lot of sleep. But Friday morning did finally arrive and I was happy. Pastor Johnson picked me up at the hotel. The traffic was very bad and he ended up getting out of his car (he had a driver) and walking to the hotel. Then we walked several blocks until we found his car still sitting in traffic. It was already 30 minutes past the time I thought I was supposed to speak. Pastor Johnson wanted to take me to see the church's project. My new friend (Reid) in Chattanooga helped them buy chickens. Now they raise chickens and sell the eggs. This helps to support the church so they can be self suffient. This has allowed them to buy their land and build a church that is paid for. (People in Uganda do not believe in credit). They also have been able to buy some pigs for the widows to raise and sell to buy food with. They have 7 outreach churches and plan to open two more this year. Victory Living Church in Kampwali.
We finally arrived to sounds of African praise music. I did not speak until 12:30. T.I.A. (this is Africa). It was an awesome experience. I spoke to about 100 pastors in the first session. And then we prayed over the people. When I finished Pastor Johnson made the statement "Sister you have opened my eyes to the Bible. I never saw it that way before. Thank you so much. I will never again tell believers to focus on their joy. I will allow them to be human." Another pastor came up to me with tears in his eyes and sat down next to me. He put his hand over his heart and said "You spoke straight into my heart. I will never be the same. As long as I live I will never forget you. You have changed my life forever." And of course that statement made the whole trip worth it, even if none of the other wonderful things had happened.
Pastor Johnson is so intent on me training their leadership. It was a wonderful confirmation that these skills are needed and indeed God has a plan for what he wants me to do in Africa.
Pastor Johnson wanted to send out for something for me to eat. He thought I could not eat African food. I ask him if he had beans and rice and of course he did so I said that will be great. I didn't need fish and chips.
Many of the youth performed and were quite talented. Then I delivered my last message. It was incredible. As I stood there looking out over the church and all the pastors and leaders gathered there (about 250 for the afternoon session) I knew that I was born for that moment in time. I had to pinch myself to make sure this was really real! Praise God. He doesn't give up on us even when we give up on Him. And I knew in that moment that God truly could use little people to do big things. I knew in that moment that changing the continent of Africa no longer seems like a dream but more of just a matter of time as we put together a strategic plan.
Mukama Mulungi Ekiseera Kyona (God is good all the time)
Hugs, Nan
PS. Things are winding down here for the team and it is starting to get sad that I will not see my wonderful new friends again. But such is life. I forgot to talk about the children that were up in the front dancing to the music. There were 5-6 of them who would spontaneously get up in front and dance. They were adorable. And very good. I wish I could dance like they did. I thought of you when they were dancing. I know it would have blessed you a lot. Please add the children to the email you send out.
Oh, I forgot to tell about the fried grasshoppers can you add that also? Joshua (27) has been talking the whole trip about wanting to eat grasshoppers. So tonight Mike brought him a container full of pan fried grasshoppers. We sat around the table after dinner and had a contest to see who would eat the grasshoppers. I know that none of you will believe this but I put one in my mouth and chewed it up. (I have pictures to prove it). It was disgusting. It crunched when you bit into it and had a greasy taste. Joshua had been the instigator of all this but when he put a big juicy one into his mouth and tried to swallow it the long tail got hung on his back inside check and it made him gag. So he spit it out. The only ones who swallowed them were some of the girls. Imagine that!!! It was a real bonding experience eating grasshoppers together. And just think tomorrow is a new day. Could be even more miracles from Africa.
Mukama Mulungi Ekiseera Kyona
Africa Day 11, June 28, 2008 Saturday
We had a great day spending time with the children, playing, laughing, and getting dirtier that I have ever been in my entire life. Then in the afternoon we had our party. Remember that last week we had made bags filled with gifts, and candy (they call it sweeties) and put their names on them. We gathered in the church and the Hope Children's Choir sang and danced for us. One boy had two brain teasers that he would only let the Show Mercy Team try to answer. The first one a team member got but the second one we couldn't figure out so the kids thought it was so funny that we didn't get it.
During the performance a cute little girl about two years old just came up to me and crawled into my lap. She was precious and so hungry for love. After a little while I realized that my legs felt strange and then I realized that she had no panties on and had just peed on me. Oh well, all for the sake of love. :) Then we gave out all the gifts to the teachers and then each child.
In the late afternoon we went out into the village to pray for people. I took Aaron with me, Jessica took Clara, and Heather took Stephen. The children were 11-12 years old. I ask Aaron to pick out the houses of the people he wanted to pray for and he did. The first two places no one was home but then we hit pay dirt. We would first ask if they wanted to accept Jesus as their Lord and if they did we would lead them through the plan of salvation and then ask if they had any other needs we could pray about. It they were already a believer or didn't want to accept Christ we would still pray for them. It was wonderful to see the children how they just naturally went up and laid hands on the people and would begin praying for them. We had 4 conversions. It is amazing, one old man just walked up to us and ask if HE could be born again!! It is so different here than in the states. The people here know they need Jesus. It is so refreshing to see.
We piled on the bus and headed back to the hotel for our final meal together as a team. The bus ride was memorable. Tim had a guitar and Tara has an incredible voice. So they got crazy and started making up songs. They made up a song and we sang it all the way home clapping and rocking out on the bus. The neat thing about the song was it told the story of our journey together in Uganda. Verses like we are not the Muzungus (that is what they call us white people) we are the Show Mercy Team, we hunt monkeys (we did), we eat bananas every day, we eat beans every day, we eat grasshoppers, we love the kids, we will miss the kids, we will never forget the kids, Yes we are the Show Mercy Team showing mercy and love all day. It was a perfect ending to our bonding experiences. It put everything into perspective. Because when we started out we were just Muzungus traveling on a bus together but we had developed into a true team showing mercy and love to the poor. What an honor it has been!!
Tonight we are experiencing mixed feelings; sad because the rest of the team will be leaving tomorrow, excited about going home, and very sad to say goodbye to all the precious children and friends we have made at Hope. In addition to the community feelings going on I add the thought of sadness that everyone is going home and I am not. The days have been very full, long and tiring which has helped not thinking about how much I miss my family and friends but watching everyone pack up makes it hard to swallow down those feelings. Two weeks in Africa is like two months in the states. But yet I would not trade this experience for anything. It is overwhelming to see how much God loves me to bless me with all these awesome experiences.
One thing I forgot:: This afternoon I walked up on the porch at Hope to give Simon Peter some sweeties. He was talking to a man whom I did not know. The man looked at me and said "Oh you must be Dr. Nancy." "My brother heard you speak yesterday at the conference and called me to tell me how you had touched his heart." He wants to talk with you about it. Can he come by the hotel Monday morning?"
Good night from Uganda and thanks again for all your love, support, and prayers.
Mukama Mulungi Ekiseera Kyona (Swahili for "God Is Good, All The Time")
Nancy
Day 12 in Africa June 29, 2008
Wow! Today has been an emotionally exhausting day. But it has been awesome too. I have never seen so much love poured out in one place.
Today when we arrived at Hope, the children looked beautiful. They were all sparkling clean in theirnew clothes ready for the Church service. Today we all worshiped together at Hope. Then had tea together and we said our good-byes.
Carla and Aaron had both written me notes. Aaron did not want me to read my note until later so I saved it for a time when he wasn't around. It was precious. He looked so smart today as he came across the yard with his new Bible in one hand and took my hand and lead me into church. My heart was so full. I just wondered what was going through his mind. Even though he is smart he is quiet. I wondered how it was for him to be so loved for two weeks and then I leave and his world goes back to the same existence that many of the other orphans have. Both his parents are dead and he has no idea what happened to his sister. He doesn't even know when his birthday is!
When you are in a place with 100+ children you don't get the opportunity to receive much hands on love and mentoring. You are just one in a mass of children.
Often it is the older children who get lost. Because everyone that visits wants the cute little kids. I saw that first hand when my mom put me and my two younger sisters in an orphanage for 10 months. I knew I would be leaving and that I had a mother but I watched the sadness in the other old children who for the most part were left out because everyone wanted the little children. I saw the sadness in their faces and even though I was only 13 at the time I have never forgotten that. I suppose that is why I made myself look for the older children in spite of my own pull to attach to the cute little babies and toddlers.
You could tell that he was trying to be brave. Occasionally he would slip off for a few minutes and then return. I wonder if he went off to cry.
I had talked with the team earlier about the importance of not being brave but to let the children see them cry because it shows our hearts and also makes it OK for them to cry. They did a wonderful job. There was not a team member that didn't cry. It so impacted the children and staff that before we left they were wiping tears away. (Not something that is normal for Ugandans)
I had written Aaron a note and gave it to him as he walked me to the bus. He had one hand and little 6 year old Carla had the other hand (she is so tiny and delicate). We hugged and hugged and I cried and cried it was so hard. I was in a seat by the window and they both came around and reached up their little hands to get that last touch. I had to turn away. I thought my heart was going to burst.
Once I had the courage to turn around and look back one more time I saw Aaron standing over from the bus reading his letter and wiping tears from his eyes. He wouldn't let me see him cry but when he thought I was not looking he cried. He was showing an older boy what I had written. The older boy looked up and saw me taking a picture of Aaron reading his note. He let Aaron know that I was waving at him and he gave me that last eye contact that said more than words could ever say. It was in that moment that I knew love can conquer anything.
Injustice is wrong and God's heart is for the poor and widows and single moms. Those children to the world may look like dirty, smelly urchins but to God they are absolutely beautiful. They taught me so much about love and faith. You see they believe God to literally supply their daily bread. They pray for their needs and the needs of others, expecting God to come through. It is such a simple faith. I am sure that is why Jesus said we must have faith as a little child. Such innocent, loving faith, is what I saw and experienced for these past two weeks.
After returning to the hotel and packing the bus we stood in the front saying our goodbyes. The team laid hands on me and prayed over me and then climbed into the bus. Mike, Lori, Tara, and I stood waving goodbye as the bus was lost in the traffic. My new friends were heading home and I was getting ready for a totally different adventure.
Tomorrow will be a big day. Mike is taking me out to the well for the dedication and he said he will video it and put it on youtube for all of you to see. I will also be speaking at a church from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Goodnight my friends from Uganda. Nancy
Extremely Limited Internet availability in Mozambique (3 weeks) One powerful journal entry:
(The location has been removed for security reasons)
Day 23 in Africa -July 11, 2008 - Mozmbique
Today we awoke to another sunny day. Friday 10am the Medical and Outreach teams were to meet at the front gate area. We had one open flatbed white truck which is called a cameo in Portuguese and a white Landrover (closed in) medical vehicle. It contained all the medical supplies and medical tent. Dr. Angela and Dr. Erick are both physicians from Belgium doing a tour here in Pemba (they are not sure how long they will stay). Angela heads the medical outreach team and is a pediatrician while Erick is a general practitioner.
Our medical team consisted of 10; the two doctors, Nancy a nurse from Florida, Christiana from Germany, Alisha a Harvest School Ministry student (HMS). HMS is a 3 month training school required by Iris to do any long term mission work at their bases. It is held here at Pemba. Rosie a vicar (pastor) from England, Caroline from Dunlap, TN. She and her husband are here to run the summer HMS, and me a nurse practitioner.
Dr. Angela strongly believes in the power of God's healing and the power of prayer. Thursday evening the medical team met at her home for a time of prayer for the outreach and unity for the medical team. We prayed together for 2 hours, it was an awesome time. She and Dr. Erick then went around and prayed for each of us and shared what she saw in the Spirit. Wow!
It was a sight to behold, the 10 medical folks, evangelistic team made up of pastors in the training school here, short term mission visitors, HMS students, 46 sleeping bags, tents, backpacks etc.. and 138 bottles of water.
Seven traveled in the Landrover and the rest of us unfortunate 39 were left to figure out how to get on the flat bed truck along with all the "stuff". Oh yes, plus the big screen, projector, 2 large speakers, keyboard, generator, cooking supplies, and food. By American standards we would have thought the truck couldn't hold anything more than all the above mentioned necessities and yet here all 39 (the driver and one got in the front so that left 37) of us looking at each other wondering where are we to sit! The sun was blazing hot and we all crammed in like sardines, knees at our chins not believing this. We sat there crammed together with the sun beating down on us for 30 minutes wondering why we didn't leave. Then they came and said we all have to have two copies of our passports. Of course over half the team didn't have but one so they took all our papers and went to copy them. After another 30 minutes we all couldn't stand the heat so we got off of the truck. Another 30 minutes passed and we got back on the truck again. Our thought was at least now we would get on the road and the wind would cool us off. Much to our dismay the truck drove across the field and parked under a big banderol tree. We had to wait while they went to find money for gas. Now at this point you might be wondering why they didn't get gas the night before , why we didn't have check list etc… but you must remember that this is Africa (TIA) and that is life here. You either adjust to the way they do things in this culture or you stay stressed out and miss the blessing God has for you. I have opted to go with the flow which allows room for the Holy Spirit to work in my life.
At this point we were just thankful for being in the shade. At 12 noon we finally pulled out of the gate and headed on our journey to the bush-bush. After 2 hours we stopped on the side of the road to get something to eat from the street vendors. Just thankful for a chance to get out and stretch.
In Mozambican culture it is rude to not share what you have with others. So we would take a piece of what we purchased and then pass the rest around. So lunch was a hodgepodge of crackers, cookies, oranges, peanuts, chicken legs, little round pancake looking things made out of bean paste, and hard rolls. We also shared our drinks.
Up until this point we had been on paved roads. But soon we had the pleasure of discovering the joy of another 4 ½ hours on red dirt roads that gave a completely new meaning to the word bumpy.
By the time we arrived after our 6 ½ hour drive it was pitch dark. The sun sets here at 5:30pm. In the confusion of trying to get my stuff and climb out of the truck in the dark the box broke that I had my 3 one liter bottles of water in. I scurried to pick them up but the village kids could see better in the dark than me and were a lot faster. I was dragging a tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, a back pack loaded to the brim in the dark and at that moment I didn't really care that they took all my water and that I was left for the next three days without a drop because I couldn't carry anything else.
We started to take out the tents and set them up in the dark and then Dr. Angela said no she didn't like the place so we gathered everything up and drug it to another spot where we were inside a bamboo fence.
I got the tent out feeling confident that I could put it together, after all, Delon made me do it out in our drive way before I left for Africa. But when I saw the one black pole I couldn't remember what to do with it. Fortunately one of the young guys came over and reminded me. It didn't take long then and I got our stuff all inside the tent and now had a home for the night. Good thing it was big enough for two because my friend Jennie didn't have a tent so she shared with me.
The rest of the team set up the Jesus film and did evangelism while the medical team stayed behind to pray. We ask God to show us the strongholds that needed to be prayed into and broken before we entered the village on Saturday morning. We prayed for about 2 hours. It was powerful. God showed us just what the strongholds were!
At that point I was ready for bed. I didn't want to eat @ 11pm so I crawled into my sleeping bag. I had a light sweater on but by midnight it started getting cold. It was truly an experience - being cold sleeping on the ground. Thanks John for the sleeping pad without it I think I would have been over the top.
The "roosters serenade" began at 4am. The sun was up by 5am and the village was in movement. I unzipped the tent and there squatting in front of me were two beautiful children with big smiles on their faces.
 I gave one a pink shirt and the other a pink dress. There were thrilled and the next day at church they had their new clothes on. Breakfast consisted of a roll and hot tea as usual.
We left our tent camp in place and we piled back into the truck for another 1 ½ hour trip through grass that looked like straw and was higher than the truck. Just red dirt paths in the middle of nowhere. It was a beautiful drive (minus the discomfort). You could see for miles and in the distance were mountain ranges with shapes that I had never seen before. Then in the middle of nowhere an African man would appear riding an old bike piled with stuff on it. Occasionally you would see a clump of mud huts with thatched roofs.
And finally there appeared a big village of mud huts. Before we could set up the medical tent Dr. Angela had to go and talk with the village chief to get their permission. We saw the results of the prayers the night before because the leader welcomed us! He called the entire village together and told them that we had come to help them and that they should trust us. It is usually not that easy. So we set up the medical tent with their full blessings. Praise God.
The tent was an old army type about 12x12. We hung the Red Cross medical sign on the outside and then hung a sheet across the middle to divide the men from the women. Dr. Eric saw the men as they entered from one side and Dr. Angela saw the women and children as they entered from the opposite side. Africans don't understand what standing in lines mean. They all crowd and begin pressing into you till there is no space to breathe. It is impossible to get them to form a line. It is just not in their brain box. So we would unzip the tent just enough for one person to slip in and then zip it right back up. We worked solid with only 30 minutes to eat until after 5pm.
The first several hours I spent standing under a tree giving the children de-worming medicine and praying over each one. There were two of us doing this with another person adding additional prayers and blessing for the kids. We de-wormed 200 children. So I got lots of practice praying. After they received their medicine they were given a sticker or a smiley face was written on their hand so that we could tell who we had given it to. It was funny because after a while we began to recognize some of the faces so we had to be extra careful checking their hands. Some of the children had tried to wash off the smiley so they could get the medicine again because they thought it was candy. Even though I couldn't speak the language we managed to communicate. I would see that mischievous look in their eye and tell them no, that they had already gotten their pill and then they would laugh. It was like a game to see if they could fool me. Children are the same everywhere. J The rest of the day was spent helping the doctors in the medical tent.
I have been on several medical mission teams over the years but this one was the ultimate. I got to see first hand how the power of deliverance from witchcraft, secondly salvation, third prayer for healing and finally if there was still a need medical treatment works. I would venture to say at least 80 percent of the people we saw using this model didn't need medical treatment by the time we finished. Amazing.
God is the true healer but in the west we seem to have it all backwards. We do medical first and when that doesn't work we resort to prayer and rarely consider the Satanic influence that brings about disease.
To see trained physicians that really believe and actually practice this model was incredible and to see how effectively it works was such an encouragement.
Some highlights from a few of our patients we saw:
1. A lady had no breast milk for several weeks so her infant was getting sick. She denounced the witchdoctor curse, accepted Jesus, and then we began praying and her milk started flowing out right there in the tent!
2. A lady came in because of difficulty seeing and stomach pain. Dr. Angela knew these were classic signs of witchcraft influence so she questioned her and discovered that she was a witchdoctor herself and that her uncle who had trained her in witchcraft had put a curse on her. Dr. Angela took her hand and with the most beautiful picture of Christ's love on her face (no condemnation) she explained that if she would denounce the curse then she could guarantee her that her vision would be restored and her pain would leave instantly. But because she was under the authority of her uncle she had to ask his permission. She never came back.
3. A Muslim lady had gone blind and her son, a Christian, had brought her to us. I was outside the tent when I saw her and a few of us began praying for her. She accepted Jesus and her eye sight was improved although not completely healed. I would love to know how much better it is this week. I suppose I can ask her that question when I see her in heaven.
4. The last patient of the day was the most tragic I have ever seen in my 40 years of medical experience. The boy was around 20 but could not walk. Dr. Erick carried him into the tent. At first it looked like he had leprosy. 40% of his body didn't have black skin on it. It was a pink/white color including his scalp. His leg had constrictions as a result of the damage to the muscles. He had open oozing sores etc.. His legs were the size of my wrist. It turns out that his mother was a witchdoctor and didn't want him when he was born so she put curses on him. It was not leprosy but burns as a result of his mother throwing him in the fire numerous times. At one point he lived 4 months in the cemetery, alone. The child had never been loved by anyone in his life and the community just made fun of him. He was the town's outcast.
He accepted the Lord. We prayed for him, and gave him antibiotics for the infection and then Dr. Erick picked him up and carried him over and sat him in front of a big tree so he would be able to see the Jesus film that we were going to show. After getting the tent packed up Dr. Erick went over, picked up this boy and held him in his lap and wrapped his arms around this boy for the entire 2 hours of the film. He said the child never moved and was convinced it was the first time he had been shown love. It was the most beautiful act of love that I have ever seen.
We set the screen up on the flat bed truck and showed the Jesus film. It was dark except for the light from both sides of the screen. There were at least 500 people watching that film. They stood for the full 2 hours. I saw one man with his son perched on his shoulders and the child never took his eyes off the film. After the film they preached and ask who wanted to receive Christ. Seventy five people came into the Kingdom that night!
Sunday morning we packed up our tents and had church there in the original village where we had set up camp on Friday night. It was a short service, only 3 hours. There was dancing, laughter, prayer, praise and a wonderful time celebrating God. We tried to copy the way the Africans were dancing and they would laugh at us but it was such fun. The church building was very small with only small benches with no backs. There were children gathered all around outside the building listening. I would gather some of the children and we would dance around in a circle. One little girl had CP and was very crippled I gave her a beautiful purple dress that I had bought in Pemba.
After church we headed back and arrived at the base after dark. We were covered with dirt from head to foot. No baths or clothes changed for three days! I never dreamed I could be so dirty. All the dirt from riding in that open truck took a toll on us. Usually we would go straight to the ocean upon returning and that would help to get us clean and also clean out the dirt that was in our sinuses. But because it was dark we didn't go into the water.
Dr. Angela wanted the medical team to meet for dinner and debrief the experience. I just wanted to go to bed but we went to the restaurant. It was a good experience talking about everything that had happened. I am glad now that I went.
So now we know that God is a God of miracles because I am alive and have survived that experience. I would go back in a heartbeat but I would make sure I had padding to sit on and warm clothes. I am still trying to figure out how we all got on that truck and no one complained or had a short temper. God's grace.
As long as I live I will never forget that experience and riding down the road trying to absorb every sight and sound. To think that God loved me enough to allow me to have this experience and that you all loved Him and me enough to help make this a reality. At this point I have no words. My heart is full to overflowing.
Good night from Pemba, Mozambique
Hugs,Nancy
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