It is now late Sunday afternoon and it's been a great day. We got water from the well last night and this morning, which has made the little things like dishes much easier.
Last week we began reading a book every night after dinner. We read the Bible after breakfast, so this book is just for entertainment. Floyd has been reading one of his Louis L'Amour books. Last night, we had dinner a little early and the boarding kids were already inside, so we read 3 chapters.
This morning we had church in one of the classrooms. Almost all of the kids gathered at the front to lead the music as a choir. They danced and clapped and sang their little hearts out. We copied the dances and motions and sang along as best we could. We've got many of the words down. Since we sing them in English and Luganda, it's nice because we know what the words mean.
After church, Floyd and I went into Kapeeka. Remember, it's about 5-6 miles on dirt roads, so it takes about 15-20 minutes to get there and it's the nearest town. So far we've had to drive to the capital, about 1.5 hours away, to get our groceries and whatever we need. It is our desire to support the local small businesses, make connections in the nearest community, and save the gas and time of driving to the city by learning to live in the area surrounding our home. So, today we set out with the intention to explore the small town. We parked on one end of town and got out to walk.
We walked down one side of the road, stopping to greet and visit with various shop owners. We stopped at a few places inquiring about specific things we needed, but hadn't bought anything. When we had gone to the end of town and half way back down the other side, we stopped at a larger shop to inquire again. One thing we were looking for was bread. Everyone was sold out, but this man pointed us to a solution. As we visited with him, a bread truck was parked on the side of the road just across the way. He told us to go there and buy bread. Sure enough, we were able to get 2 loaves of bread, some rolls, and we splurged for a package of sweet rolls (mind you, many people here think that saltine crackers are sweet like cake). Also. When I say splurged, I mean that it just wasn't necessary. It was about $0.75 for a package of 6 rolls. ;)
After buying the bread we went back to the shop to inquire about eggs. We purchased 30 eggs from him and a few other small things. As we were requesting the last things, we got a surprise from behind. Pastor Tony, the pastor of Victory Living Word Kapeeka, had seen our car at the edge of town and was looking to greet us. (VLW Kapeeka was one of the very first church plants that Christ Fellowship participated in back in 2010 and Floyd was there. Pastor Tony comes to the property to visit us and check on the children. He also helps with the crops.).
We bought Pastor Tony a cold Ugandan soda - Fruiti Mirinda (a special treat around here) and he joined us in our exploration. Since he's from Kapeeka he could take us to places to purchase specific things. He introduced us to a general shop owner where we can get almost anything we need. Then we met a woman from whom we can purchase tomatoes, onions, potatoes, etc. And, finally, he introduced us to a butcher where we can purchase fresh meat. All of these folks are born agains who attend the church in Kapeeka.
We decided to splurge for some meat and chapati (flat bread) for Sunday supper. It was a fabulous supper! Also, I couldn't believe the cost. I bought a kilogram (2.2 lbs) of grass fed beef, boneless, cut straight off the carcass and paid only 10,000/= (that is $3.49).
We really enjoyed walking through town and meeting people, but we also had an opportunity to minister. As muzungus, we always have a lot of people calling out to us. Some just saying hi, some just wanting to speak a little English, some are children excited to see us, etc. I always try to acknowledge each person because I don't want to seem standoffish or that I think I'm superior or annoyed or anything else.
As we walked through town, I saw an older woman calling out to us but I could not understand what she was saying. I tried to acknowledge her but could not do any more. As we continued our adventure, I noticed that the woman was following us. Once Pastor Tony joined us, I tried to ask him what she wanted, but he and Floyd were focused on the tasks at hand. Finally, as we stood at the butcher, we were in one place long enough that the woman came right up to me. She grabbed my hand and was telling me something. I got a little more persistent and interrupted Floyd and Pastor Tony, saying, "Tony, I cannot understand what this woman is trying to tell me." They could tell by my raised tone that I felt it was important to know, so they stopped in the middle of their task and Tony turned to translate.
She told us that some men had taken her to a graveyard and gave her to the demons as a sacrifice. She felt that the demons were inside her. She was asking us to pray for her to remove the demons. We asked her if she knew Jesus and explained that if he demons were expelled, they would try to return to her and the situation would be worse. So, in order to prevent their return, she would need to receive Christ as her savior, be filled with the Holy Spirit, attend church avoid sin, and draw near to The Lord. She said, "please, I want to pray to be born again and have these demons leave me." So, right there on the street we prayed with her, led her into salvation, and prayed in the name of Christ that any darkness and evil would be removed from her and bound.
*if I've lost you, or you think we've lost our minds, I encourage you to look through the New Testament. You'll see that in every town the sick were healed, people were saved AND demons were cast out. Jesus said himself that an unclean spirit cast out would go about searching and try to return to the vessel it left (Matthew 12:43-45, he is speaking literally but using it as an example for something figurative). I know it is rarely spoken of in most of the western world, but in a country run rampant with witch craft, sorcery, and other darkness, one cannot deny the spiritual warfare that is so visible. It happens in America as well, we just explain it away with other science or logic.
We asked her to please come to church on Sunday. She said that she doesn't have a Bible and she lives in another village a short distance away. We told her that if she made it to church on Sunday, we'd have a Bible for her. Please join us in praying that she will come (also pray that we're able to get a Bible in the city this week).
Last week we began reading a book every night after dinner. We read the Bible after breakfast, so this book is just for entertainment. Floyd has been reading one of his Louis L'Amour books. Last night, we had dinner a little early and the boarding kids were already inside, so we read 3 chapters.
This morning we had church in one of the classrooms. Almost all of the kids gathered at the front to lead the music as a choir. They danced and clapped and sang their little hearts out. We copied the dances and motions and sang along as best we could. We've got many of the words down. Since we sing them in English and Luganda, it's nice because we know what the words mean.
After church, Floyd and I went into Kapeeka. Remember, it's about 5-6 miles on dirt roads, so it takes about 15-20 minutes to get there and it's the nearest town. So far we've had to drive to the capital, about 1.5 hours away, to get our groceries and whatever we need. It is our desire to support the local small businesses, make connections in the nearest community, and save the gas and time of driving to the city by learning to live in the area surrounding our home. So, today we set out with the intention to explore the small town. We parked on one end of town and got out to walk.
We walked down one side of the road, stopping to greet and visit with various shop owners. We stopped at a few places inquiring about specific things we needed, but hadn't bought anything. When we had gone to the end of town and half way back down the other side, we stopped at a larger shop to inquire again. One thing we were looking for was bread. Everyone was sold out, but this man pointed us to a solution. As we visited with him, a bread truck was parked on the side of the road just across the way. He told us to go there and buy bread. Sure enough, we were able to get 2 loaves of bread, some rolls, and we splurged for a package of sweet rolls (mind you, many people here think that saltine crackers are sweet like cake). Also. When I say splurged, I mean that it just wasn't necessary. It was about $0.75 for a package of 6 rolls. ;)
After buying the bread we went back to the shop to inquire about eggs. We purchased 30 eggs from him and a few other small things. As we were requesting the last things, we got a surprise from behind. Pastor Tony, the pastor of Victory Living Word Kapeeka, had seen our car at the edge of town and was looking to greet us. (VLW Kapeeka was one of the very first church plants that Christ Fellowship participated in back in 2010 and Floyd was there. Pastor Tony comes to the property to visit us and check on the children. He also helps with the crops.).
We bought Pastor Tony a cold Ugandan soda - Fruiti Mirinda (a special treat around here) and he joined us in our exploration. Since he's from Kapeeka he could take us to places to purchase specific things. He introduced us to a general shop owner where we can get almost anything we need. Then we met a woman from whom we can purchase tomatoes, onions, potatoes, etc. And, finally, he introduced us to a butcher where we can purchase fresh meat. All of these folks are born agains who attend the church in Kapeeka.
We decided to splurge for some meat and chapati (flat bread) for Sunday supper. It was a fabulous supper! Also, I couldn't believe the cost. I bought a kilogram (2.2 lbs) of grass fed beef, boneless, cut straight off the carcass and paid only 10,000/= (that is $3.49).
We really enjoyed walking through town and meeting people, but we also had an opportunity to minister. As muzungus, we always have a lot of people calling out to us. Some just saying hi, some just wanting to speak a little English, some are children excited to see us, etc. I always try to acknowledge each person because I don't want to seem standoffish or that I think I'm superior or annoyed or anything else.
As we walked through town, I saw an older woman calling out to us but I could not understand what she was saying. I tried to acknowledge her but could not do any more. As we continued our adventure, I noticed that the woman was following us. Once Pastor Tony joined us, I tried to ask him what she wanted, but he and Floyd were focused on the tasks at hand. Finally, as we stood at the butcher, we were in one place long enough that the woman came right up to me. She grabbed my hand and was telling me something. I got a little more persistent and interrupted Floyd and Pastor Tony, saying, "Tony, I cannot understand what this woman is trying to tell me." They could tell by my raised tone that I felt it was important to know, so they stopped in the middle of their task and Tony turned to translate.
She told us that some men had taken her to a graveyard and gave her to the demons as a sacrifice. She felt that the demons were inside her. She was asking us to pray for her to remove the demons. We asked her if she knew Jesus and explained that if he demons were expelled, they would try to return to her and the situation would be worse. So, in order to prevent their return, she would need to receive Christ as her savior, be filled with the Holy Spirit, attend church avoid sin, and draw near to The Lord. She said, "please, I want to pray to be born again and have these demons leave me." So, right there on the street we prayed with her, led her into salvation, and prayed in the name of Christ that any darkness and evil would be removed from her and bound.
*if I've lost you, or you think we've lost our minds, I encourage you to look through the New Testament. You'll see that in every town the sick were healed, people were saved AND demons were cast out. Jesus said himself that an unclean spirit cast out would go about searching and try to return to the vessel it left (Matthew 12:43-45, he is speaking literally but using it as an example for something figurative). I know it is rarely spoken of in most of the western world, but in a country run rampant with witch craft, sorcery, and other darkness, one cannot deny the spiritual warfare that is so visible. It happens in America as well, we just explain it away with other science or logic.
We asked her to please come to church on Sunday. She said that she doesn't have a Bible and she lives in another village a short distance away. We told her that if she made it to church on Sunday, we'd have a Bible for her. Please join us in praying that she will come (also pray that we're able to get a Bible in the city this week).
Lifting this woman up in prayer! And praying that God will continue using you in ministering to those in need of Jesus!
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