Baptism at Lake Victoria - Jan. 23

This past week we have had a team here from Mt. Zion BC, Alabama.  What a blessing!

Friday we had  a food distribution and the opportunity to visit in the homes of those receiving food.  Each of the bags handed out contains 15 lbs of posho,  15 lbs of rice, and 15 lbs. of beans.  That usually lasts a month for an average family.  Many tell that the food gives them the opportunity to save a little for rent or school fees or other things.

Saturday the team went into two different new areas where we will be working for at least the next six months.

Sunday we had a baptism of new believers at Lake Victoria.  Forty people were baptized.  One thing that always happens at a baptism is that there are friends who come along to watch.  Pastor Barry asked if there were any there who had heard and understood the Gospel and were ready to make the commitment to become a born-again Christian. Six or seven responded.

While they are in line waiting their turn to be baptized, everyone loves to sing praises to the Lord.

After the baptism we did also had the Lord’s Supper.

We broke bread and dipped it into the juice.

Coincidence? I Think Not

This is the story of a young lady named Daleela as she crossed my life.  She is from Vancouver, British Columbia.  Went to a university in NY to get her degree in finance.  Her friend started an NGO (non-governmental org.) in Kenya called Caring for Kenya and asked her to be on the board of directors.  She has been traveling to Nairobi during January for the last few years.  She flew to Kampala last week to check on some development projects here in Uganda and on the flight over she met Misti Shelton who is a missionary in Jinja.  

When Daleela got to Kampala she felt very uncomfortable with the situation so she called to ask Misti’s advice.  Misti told her to come to Jinja and they would talk about it.  The Sivages (also missionaries from Jinja) were in Kampala that day and just about to return, so they took Daleela  to Misti’s house in Jinja.

Misti told her about a food distribution project that we do here in Kampala among the poorest people in the slums.  So in a couple of days she came to Kampala to go with us. When I met Daleela I just assumed she was a Christian.  Part of the project is to visit in the homes of those who receive food.  The same people get food once a month for six months and this was the 6th month.  Daleela was very interested to go into their homes but she made a couple of comments that made me wonder if she was a Christian.

I finally realized the truth as I was telling her about the faith of the lady who works for me.  Madinah used to be a Muslim until she became a Christian.  After that her husband, also Muslim, kicked her and the three children out of the house.  No money, no job, relatives shunning her so no where to go and three children to take care of.    Her life from then to now is a true testimony of walking by faith and dependence upon God to provide.  Daleela didn’t understand why the husband would do that.  “Aren’t we all worshipping the same God, with just different names?”

I was able to share the Gospel with her and to tell her that to be a Christian means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one goes to the Father except by him.  Her heart was ready even though she did not realize that she wasn’t a Christian.  It wasn’t an easy decision for her because she is so independent that it didn’t seem right to her to depend on God.  “Wouldn’t He be insulted?”  No,  God takes delight in us, as a Father delights in his child.

Daleela had never met people who talked about God.  The Sivages did, the Sheltons did, and everyone at the food distribution did.  All those people helped her to see what she was missing in her life.

Well I am thankful that I have a new sister in Christ.  Some people say that it was a series of coincidences, but I say, that “all things work together to the good of them who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose”.   PTL

Sunset at Mikumi National Park

Going on safari was so much more than seeing all of the animals.  As the sun was going down we saw the beauty of God's creation.  It was truly awesome!  Here are some of the photos that I took.

                       "Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth
              and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God."  Ps. 90:2

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

 and they expanse is declaring the work of His hands." Ps.19:1

 "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, 

And by the breath of His mouth all their host." Ps 33

 "The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord."  Ps 89:5

                              "The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours, The world 
                              and all it contains,   You have founded them."  Ps.  89:11

                         "The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.

                                Who is like the Lord our God  Who is enthroned on high." 

                                                                        Ps. 113:4-5

                  "O Lord, how many are Your works!  In wisdom You have made them all;
                           The earth is full of Your possessions.  Let the glory of he Lord       
                             endure forever.  Let the Lord be glad in His works."  Ps.104

           "From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised." 
                                                                      Ps 113:3

                            

          "Be exalted above the heavens, O God:   Let Your glory be above all the earth."  Ps. 57:5

Mikumi National Park

 When we started on our journey to Tanzania I wasn't sure what extra sites we might see, but after visiting with our friends in Dar es Salaam, we decided to go to Mikumi Game Preserve. We drove about 4and 1/2 hours from Dar to get there. I wanted to start with a picture of Lynn and I together. Before Christmas I realized that we had NO current pictures of us together. I am in a lot of pictures, Lynn is in a lot of pictures, but none with us together.

These are a few of the many pictures we took.  It was so awesome.   There are no rivers running through the park so the animals left when the watering holes dried up.  The rains had just started that previous week and the animals were just then making their way back to the park.

Zebras were everywhere but mostly you see them from behind.

Notice that the warthog eats from a kneeling position.  I guess they don't really have a neck to bend.  They can run quite fast and run with their tail sticking straight up.

 Lots of baboons.  I see them more frequently walking on the ground.

This elephant was totally unconcerned about us as he slowly made his way across the road.

 I kept thinking --this just looks like a herd of cows.  But cape buffalo can be quite dangerous.  They are always aware of who is around.

 Giraffes in the shade.  They are graceful creatures.

Impalas were everywhere.

Thought I would end with one more picture of us together.