Dear Friends in Christ,
I want to share a brief summary of the most recent trip to East Africa, a trip lasting less than four weeks. I started in Kenya, went to Uganda for about a week, and then returned to Kenya. This required four days of travel and eight flights, beginning on Feb. 13th and ending on my arrival home on March 9th. During this time I was able to work with around 12 different ministries in conferences, church services, small groups, and street ministry. There were various forms of ministry including evangelistic teams, teaching, a showing of the Jesus Film, and moments where new believers and even children in the villages would pray for the sick.
The trip was not without its challenges. Two of the pastors with whom I was supposed to meet contracted malaria symptoms before the trip (they were healed before I arrived), and I was sick twice before and up to the beginning of the trip. Two of our vehicles broke down (one for several hours), and one van was detained by the police. I became sick with dysentery from possible food poisoning at a time when the doctors in Kenya had been on strike for two months. When we were leaving Uganda we had to change modes of transportation, requiring me to get more money, and I had to go to five different banks to find an ATM that would accept my debit card, resulting in a delay of five hours. Yet the Lord was faithful, getting us to each place, and allowing me to get the medical treatment I needed.
The trip was very fruitful, with up to a possible 100 people saved, Several people were healed (pain reduced, cross eyes straightened, malaria symptoms reduced), Words of knowledge and prophetic words were shared, especially during evangelism, people were encouraged and equipped, Bibles were purchased, and memory (SD) cards containing the audio New Testament and Jesus Film in different languages were distributed at each stop.
There were too many stories to share, but a few stories may illustrate the types of situations where we were privileged to see God move. Three churches had the members who received Bibles from us stand or show me their Bibles, a sight that almost brought tears to my eyes. During a conference in Uganda, the pastors hooked up one of the SD cards to a television and showed the Jesus Film in Luganda, resulting in three people accepting Christ.
Spiritual gifts were often used to help people come to know Christ. In one village we presented the gospel to about a dozen men who were gambling. To show them God was not a white man’s God I had them bring forth people who had pain in their bodies, and I had the children of the village pray in Jesus’ name. When the pain went away and one man’s hearing improved, people decided to receive Christ.
Once when we riding motorcycles, I felt drawn in my spirit to a man approaching from a field. I asked the pastor riding behind me if he knew the man and he said he did, but that the man was not saved. I told him this might be the man’s day (for salvation). I had the driver turn the motorcycle around and go back toward the man. We presented the gospel, and while the man listened politely he did not budge. The Holy Spirit showed me there was some issue in the family background that caused shame. He said this was true but still was not ready. I had a word about his being in debt, and he shared that he had a large debt he could not pay. We convinced him that if God would have me turn the motorcycle around and then show me these things that God must love him and desired a relationship with him, at which point he accepted Christ.
In one service I asked if there was anyone who had never seen anyone healed, and a woman responded. I asked her to help me and I asked who had pain in their bodies. A few women stood up and I had the volunteer pray for them, and they were healed. The lady then shared that she had come to the meeting to get prayed for healing, and when she prayed for the others she was healed.
Perhaps one of the most touching stories for me was a follow-up visit to a village where I ministered in 2015. I entered that village then after seeing many miracles previously during the day. I introduced myself to the crowd and told them I was there to tell people about Jesus. They said they knew about Jesus but were not Christians. When I asked if they wanted to know Jesus they said they were not ready, so I asked who had pain in their bodies. Three people came forward, the first of whom was a woman with several cuts on her leg. I prayed and the pain reduced by 50%, but people were still not ready to receive Christ. I prayed three times for the next person who had a headache, and nothing happened. The Lord told me to have someone else pray, and I declared that God was going to heal them when someone else prayed so they would know it was not my power. I had the first lady pray in Jesus’ name and the headache went away. I then had the two ladies pray for a third person, with the result of a woman stating that she wanted to know Jesus.
I left that village and was burdened since that time because I never returned. A few weeks ago I entered that village and most of the people are now saved. When I was praying for a man I sensed a lack of power, so I asked for one of them to help pray. A woman stepped forward and began to earnestly pray for this person’s healing. Later one of the pastors told me that the woman who was praying was that first woman I prayed for in 2015 who prayed for the other person’s headache to go away!
Every ministry I encountered had tremendous needs. They are wonderful people who love God and live by faith. They often told me they were surprised that I would live among them and eat what they ate. I always tell them I am humbled to be chosen and I don’t deserve to see what God is doing there.
The biggest need is I encounter is Bibles. Most churches and schools need Bibles, and people are coming to Christ, but they don’t have Bibles. Food is another large need. Manna Ministries (as well as some individual schools) feed school children what might be the only meal they receive all day. Other needs include transportation for the pastors, school buildings and school fees for children, wells, and malaria prevention.
I want to end with a challenge. I tell people to just say “yes” to Jesus, to whatever He asks. Saying “yes” may look different from person to person, but you can trust God to do amazing things as you yield to Him. Jesus told a parable of two men who built houses, one on a rock, and the other on sand. Both men heard the words of Jesus, but only one acted on them. I have not always been the best at doing them, but I hope to do better, and I encourage you to do the same as well.
Thanks, and may God richly bless you all.