Our Prayers have been Answered...

Right before I flew home, I received an email from Pastor Paul concerning the situation with Julius. My father has been praying Psalm 35 over Pastor as he has been persecuted for his lovingkindness, and the Lord has heard our prayers! So read below and see how God truly is our Protector!
(Acton Faith Bible Church- you are small, yet powerful! THANK YOU for your prayers and your faith!)

"Hai Namugombe,
How is your morning? Iam just imagining how you are getting prepared for tomorrow back home!!!!!! Greetings from your mum, she says hello to you,I have been very busy moving in different police offices,with alot of spending, But i thank God that some thing has come out!!!!!!!The Court has given me a letter saying that i have no case to answer, It is Ikoza (Julius' father) who has the case to answer. With Tresspassing and Assault.Now it is Uganda verses the father of Julius and those he came with in my home. So for me i will act as a prosecution witness.

Thank you for your prayers and the financial support.
I wish you a safe journey and send my greetings to all my friends.above all to mr COWBOY. (That's you dad!)

Your African father,Pastor paul."

Sooo...who wants to come with me next summer to work on the clinic, minister with the widows and oprhans, and encourage Pastor??? Anyone, Anyone? :)

That's a wrap!

From the depths of Uganda,

to the mountains of Rwanda,

down to the cities of South Africa,

To the Karaoke hot spots of Kenya, we have had quite an adventure!

I've been domesticated... (I know, this is truly a miracle!) and yes, I picked out her apron...

Serenaded...

Educated....

Saturated (Walking home in the pouring rain, wearing the bus driver's sweater he so kindly let me borrow)...

Impersonated (fine fine, it's me. Yes that's my leg in the air. And you're shocked??) :)

World Vision-ated.......

And openly accepted....into the Mlay Family (Vice President of World Vision Wilfred, his wife Faith, and youngest son Josh)

As I was walking onto my plane Friday evening, I just stopped and soaked in my last minutes on African soil. As the sun pierced through the clouds, the Lord overwhelmed me as I began to count every blessing I received on this trip. I know that each relationship, experience, and memory fits into His perfect plan for what is ahead. So I walked on the plane smiling as I realized this summer is just the beginning of a life full of rich experiences such as these.




"Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, Covering yourself with Light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind..The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works." psalm 104

Nurses, Anyone???

JUST got this from Pastor.... Isn't this AMAZING?? Everyone told me working with the government in Uganda will take FOREVER, but PRAISE THE LORD the He works in amazing ways:

"Hai daughter,
Hope you are doing fine,busy preparing to go back.Greetings from your mum, Thank you for your prayers,God is caring for us.

Today i was in the office of the District Health Officer. in our discussion he has agreed to give us the Nurses because he is the person responsible to recruit nurses in the District. So he has told me to write to him requesting for the nurses. He has also given me some one to come and inspect the building. I thank God for this!! God bless."

This is a GREAT first step! Pray with us as they begin to inspect the building. I know the road may still be long, but the District Officer's friendly assistance is a Praise!!

No word on anything from Pastor concerning the Julius situation. Let's keep praying about that as you never know what can happen-

To Acton Faith Bible: (and any others) I just got the HUGE bag of necklaces the widows made, and they are beautiful! Get the Christmas Boutique ready!

Kels

On the Up-Side...

Another project we are working on in the Pastor's village is getting the clinic up and running. Missionaries came a few years back and built this beautiful building, and yet it has been standing desolate ever since. This summer when Jessi and I were there, the Lord put it on our hearts to research how we can get this clinic functioning.

While I have been in Africa, we have already had one of our widows die of simple causes, mainly due to the fact that she had to ride a bicycle for 17 kilometers to the nearest clinic. Pastor said, "Kelsey, my people are dying!" Something has to be done.

Seeing how I have NO clue about how to get government staff in the clinic, I just looked up the Ministry of Health in Uganda online and told Pastor to make an appointment. The meeting there went really well, and they said we need to start at the regional level.

I JUST received a text message from Pastor this morning saying that his meeting with the District Health Officer went GREAT- He is going to be Very helpful in this process. The officer even tried to call me to thank me for ???? not sure! BUT he is going to help! And I praise God for that.

In the midst of the difficulties Pastor is facing, he continues to serve his people and focus on issues like this. If any of you have any contacts with the Ministry of Health in Uganda (hey, you never know!) or have any advice.... let me know! :)

Have a GREAT Friday......

Update from Pastor Paul

"Hai Daughter,
Thanks for your concern, Faith works best in Crisis, and God prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. Trials come and go they are not permanent but they are painful however His Grace is surfiecent for us.

Thanks for the good news about Molly,Praise the lord!!!! thank you for having good friends who cares.

Daughter the situation here with Julius's is just funny, Julius and his father they no long greet us, They went and influenced the Police, gave them the money and changed the file, I was to be arrested two weeks back. A friend of mine leant their plan and informed me, So i went and faced the State Atony but all was in vain.Kelsey Uganda has fought coruption but it is still too much in police. It is God who is protecting me. I am planing to go to higher offices and all this movement means means money. The money needed Elaina has already sent through David. Surelly God cares. Thankuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..

Of course the family can not be safe.Continue praying for your mum as she remains home alone with the children as i move here and there. But i trust in My God he will protect us by 2nd corith4'.8. We miss you as afamily. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED WHATEVER WILL BE TAKING PLACE.
Thank you for caring and praying with us. Ilove you with 30Vs Your father paul."

His son, Elijah emailed me after I received this email saying that Pastor has been called to report to the police. Elijah (is 25) is on his way home to the village now to take care of mom in case anything happens.

As you pray, please read Psalm 35 and pray those words over Pastor and his family today. Thanks...

Kels

Forgivness Part II

Good morning. If you have not had a chance to read one of my first blogs in Uganda on forgiveness, this will not make sense to you. Please take a second and read it so you understand the context of this prayer request.

I just received this email this morning from Pastor Paul from Mawanga, Uganda.

"Hai daughter i need your prayers. the father of julius is planning seriosly to take me back to prison. i discovered on friday that i was by this time to be in prison,but praise God!!! Iam planning to go to higher office but idonot have money,so i humbly request you to support me financially.Things are not good with me.
i will write to you soon.
Paul"

One thing you must know about Pastor Paul is this: He Never outright asks for money. Ever. Our relationship has never been focused on financial benefits- he is truly my African Father and I have been blessed to be a true daughter in his family.

To get this email this morning has been a test of faith. JUST YESTERDAY I heard an entire sermon on forgiveness (seems to be a progressive spiritual lesson for me on this trip!) To be honest, I was sitting there as if I have conquered this topic back in June with the Julius situation. I thought, "Lord, nice sermon, but I already passed my test of Forgiveness!"

...but this test is far from over. And now comes the test of faith in prayer.

As I sit here in the World Vision office, I think of what the Pastor is going through. But if I have learned anything on this trip and living with Faith Mlay, I have learned that the strongest weapon we have as believers is prayer. So fellow soldiers, it is time to draw our swords and stand with him during this time. Let us Praise the Lord that he is not currently in prison, and pray in faith that he will never enter that place. And you know, if he does enter that place, let us have Faith that God is protecting him just as God was when Paul (of the New Testament) was in prison.

What I haven't mentioned is that late last week, Molly (a young woman I brought to the village with me last summer) emailed me Randomly. I had not heard from her in ages, and she wanted to let me know that there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't think and pray for the village. She was supposed to be in Ghana all summer, but after she raised her support she didn't feel right about going. She said she knew she was supposed to give all of her financial support to....the village! The Lord was summoning her heart to give, not knowing the situation at ALL. THIS is how our God works!

Therefore, if finances are an issue, the Lord has already provided before our prayers left our lips. The root issue, however, is not finances. They can still throw pastor in prison; they can still continue to harass his family; they can still aim to distract pastor from serving the Lord. That is why I am summoning you to prayer.

I will keep you posted as I hear how your prayers are being answered.
Blessings,
kels