Upcoming Mission Orientation Weekend

          This upcoming weekend I'll be speaking at a Mission Orientation Weekend at Swartbergsvlei 4x4 grounds. Located "in the bush," the aim is to give people interested in missions a brief field experience and training ground. I'll be speaking on humanism tomorrow evening; then Saturday, following a presentation on the ideology and threat of Islam, I'll be talking about the love of Christ to ALL people groups and therefore the importance of our obedience in going to all nations with the Gospel of Salvation (On that note, if you haven't already seen the film More than Dreams, I would highly recommend it to you. Containing 5 testimonies of how God convicted and transformed people's lives into repentance through dreams, It is a great reminder of Christ's power and love).
          Please lift this weekend to the Lord in prayer for (1) a strong conviction of sin, (2) further insight into the understanding of God's character, and (3) a strong desire to go out as fishers of men in answer and obedience to His commission.

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD" ~Isaiah 2:3

Views from the Helderberg

A Glimpse of Jonah
          Last weekend, I hiked to the top of the Helderberg, one of the well known mountains of Somerset West. The sweat was running down as the heat of the day became more intense. No clouds in sight; no shade to walk by. However as I approached the top of the mountain, a thin canopy of cloud spread over the peak. I could suddenly feel the coolness of the breeze wafting by, and my mind suddenly began dwelling on the story of Jonah; the shade God provided him while on the hill; the shade which He took away. And I was much grateful for the cover above. However, I thought, surely the shade couldn't have been the lesson to Jonah; what was God teaching him?... Suddenly a cry echoed out over the rocks, and in the distance I could see two figures now at the top; a shout of victory! After a few minutes, I too hit the peak and was introduced to the men, Jeff and Carl. A very brief chat later, they were headed down the mountain. Opening then to Jonah, I began reading the fourth and last chapter to find what i failed to remember. And the portion which stuck with me, the same portion which I before had missed the significance of was this:

Then God said to Jonah, “Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to death.” Then the LORD said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” (vs 9-11)

Prioritized Focus

          The prideful, grudging desires of and responses to the flesh will lead to hardened heart against all who are lost and dead, an unwillingness to carry out the Lord's work in ministry, even a distaste for the result of that work once carried out. So it was one thing to have been thanking God for shade that day, yet I hadn't lifted a finger to pray for and talk to the lost.

Daniel?… I know him!

The cross I made at the
peak from a plant

          I started down the mountain and before long had caught up with Jeff and Carl. While finding our way down the rocky portion, it came upon Carl to ask me to remind him of my name. He was quite mused that his brother was also named Daniel, and carried on to say that Daniel was indeed a great man. In complete agreement I concurred, adding also that he gave us may great examples. However Carl had in fact meant his brother and was skeptical that I actually knew him and this, how did I have this knowledge of him? When I proceeded to tell him I was referring to the Biblical character, his reply was, "Oh! No, I've moved beyond that stuff"... BAM!!! a completely open door into discussing God, discussing the Bible, discussing all sorts of things. Isn't it wonderful how God uses our pitiful mistakes and misconceptions in a conversation to carry out His precious work!

Fruitful Discussion
          From that moment for about an hour, as we hiked downward, there was such fruitful discussion about nature, physics throughout, nominal hypocritical Christians, various other religions, the existence of only one God amoung the millions which man has created, the destructiveness of following God for religion's sake, and other such topics. My heart was filled with such incredible joy in the Master's workings. Is their salvation not infinitely more precious than a mere patch of shade!

          Now I ask you to pray for these men, as Elijah once prayed for his servant: “O LORD, I pray, open [their] eyes that [they] may see." May God reveal Himself to them that they might clearly see Him through all that surrounds them

Jeff (left) and Carl (right)

South Sudan Mission Report

Shall We in Fact Go?

Crossing the Nile River in Uganda

          How were we to make it to South Sudan with the funding consistently falling short of our needed amount. The calling had been so strong to help the South Sudanese in their newly found need of discipleship--a newly established country, a new constitution, with great threats from the Islamic invasion of Sudan. In Joshua, when Israel was commanded to cross the Jordan, it was not until they had walked right into the water that the river was parted, that they were able to proceed in how God had led them. God required obedience before revealing His methods. 

Where the Lord Leads, He too Provides

          On September 27, a team of four of us set out from Capetown to train up and disciple the South Sudanese. A mere four hours into our journey, the phone rang. All the finances to enable us to reach South Sudan had been received. Praise to the omniscient Provider who knows our needs before us!

Unsurpassed Artwork

View from a mountain gorge of
one of Tanzania's vast expanses

The Great Rift Valley
as seen in Kenya

Victoria Falls
the smoke that thunders

          We continued through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda up into South Sudan. Throughout each country the beauty continually staggered me into an awe of the complexity and creativity of our creator. Passing through both the tropic of Capricorn of Northern South Africa and the equator in Uganda. From the sunrises, to the thundering splendour of the vast clouds, each new flower’s intricate design, the mighty expanses, and rugged mountains all declared the glory of God!

God Amoungst the Muslims

          While in Tanzania, Hunter and I met a man named Yakuti, a Muslim mechanic who helped with one of our trailer repairs. As we were having our quiet times while waiting for one of the men to finish welding, Yakuti, curious that we were reading the Bible, asked us if we were familiar with the Quran of his religion. What a perfect opportunity to share our faith with him. Although he believed both the Bible and the Quran he was unaware that the Bible explicitly stated that Jesus was THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life, and that no one came to the Father but through Him. once we showed Him directly from Scripture that one cannot be saved through Islam, but only through the way of the Master, he prayed for repentance then and there, tears of conviction rolling down his face. Now, Yakuti’s life is a proclamation of Christ’s immense power.

Pride before the Fall

One of the men who joined our

teacher training seminar

          God had many an opportunity for drilling me throughout our time in South Sudan, to reiterate His strength in my weakness; to tear down my high walls of pride, greatly hindering my relationship with God. Our ministry started out with a five day course to college students in the diocese of Kajo-Keji, giving lectures and devotions each day, showing films in the evenings, and going on outreaches to schools, chaplains, and local villages. After my first few lectures, I became very comfortable with presenting the talks, quite liking the positive and encouraging feedback of how I did, not realizing Satan’s decoys from the purpose of our mission: to minister, not entertain. Again and again I had to ask forgiveness for my prideful behaviour, and in response Christ didn’t just forgive me and move on. No, I was given more opportunities to lecture, each time seeking more to keep central focus on God, not merely on my presentation of Him. And the thing that encouraged me the most, that confirmed the power of His message, was this. As I was presenting, there were often times when participants didn’t seem to be listening or taking notes; but as soon as I mentioned a passage from Scripture, immediately the ink began to roll from their pens, as they were eagerly attentive to that of the Bible. What a blessing to see the hunger for God’s Word, for the message that changes life and converts the soul. We were able to do several various seminars and outreaches throughout the region, speaking at different churches and meetings, and again and again, the Lord was confirming His message through the people. Praise God for the work of His Holy Spirit!

Telling the story of Gideon
to chaplains

Participants in Kajo Keji

One of our best translators over-
joyed at receiving a study Bible

Turning Family against Family

Hymnbooks that survived the war

          We carried on our ministry northward throughout several other diocese and, as opposed to those in Kajo Keji, who having fled south to Uganda for the war had nearly no knowledge of the happenings thereof; plainly saw the heavy toll the war had taken on them. Bullet holes in the thatch, tombstones cracked, overgrown churches and schools which were the victims of air raids, and many other sights. However the effect of the war never really struck me until I was talking with one of the doctors we met, who described how in Khartoum where he had gone for schooling, he was forced by the Arabs to join the army and on threat of death forced to kill those from his hometown, including his own brother. I can’t imagine being put through that, the thought today still terrorizing him. Yet we know that Christ works ALL things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. With him and another friend, I had the priviledge of attending a time of hymns and worship held under a large mango tree, where we sang both English and Arabic songs. What a blessed time of fellowship!

One of the bombed churches

Eagerly reading their new literature

Bombed cathedral wall - rebuilt
since Frontline's last visit 

Redemption in Lui

          Also in Lui, stood Laro, the Slave Tree today known as the Salvation Tree; which is a truly a remarkable depiction of redemption. Used just less than 100 yeas ago by the slave trader Adilla to chain slaves where they were then sold to other traders and merchants passing through, this tree was the very location of the first prayer meeting held by Doctor Kenneth Fraizer upon his discovering of Lui in 1920. It also provided shade for many church services and times of worship, leaving a perfect illustration and reminder of God’s own redemption for us sinners. “I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see,” quoted slave trader John Newton after his conversion.

          I couldn’t help but be drawn to the immensity of God when looking at this tree. For under the same branches at which i stared, nearly a hundred years ago, slavery ran rampant under the rule of fierce Arab slave traders. To put myself in their position, I would be overwhelmed with this terrible atrocity, not knowing God’s sovereign plan for redemption in that very spot they were chained. How can we become so confused in God’s purpose when things seem to us to be out of place. Oh that we would find truly how to rest in His palm with faith enough not to question the trials we face.

Blessed with Malaria

Talking on the Ten Commadments (while with malaria)

          After a few weeks inside South Sudan, my health began failing, and to my initial dismay, a small mosquito had presented me with the gift of Malaria. However, this was indeed a blessing! For throughout its duration, not only was my prayer life was significantly strengthened as well as my trust in Christ’s supernatural strength, but He used in ways I hadn’t thought. My continual prayer was that through this God would be glorified in our ministry. I wasn’t sure exactly how this would work now, not being able to function well at all. But as soon as I stood up to talk and began with the material, Christ filled me with such a strength to talk and share with them. Then after we were finished with that discussion and i sat back down, the symptoms returned, until the next lecture...and so on. I felt better much talking in those times than in other lectures and am reminded now of Livingstone’s quote, “I am immortal till my work is accomplished.” Now I cannot say whether those listening gained more from those lectures than they would have otherwise, but I do know this. That through them, God was working boldly. For when we are weak, Christ is strong. If only we could more consistently and continually be not only weak in ourselves, but dead to all earthly pleas of the flesh.

Tongues of Fire!

          On our return trip through Uganda and Kenya, I was exposed to several Pentecostal churches; and although it was very interesting to see their heavy focus on the power of the Holy Spirit, it seemed in many instances they were using His power for their own gain, preaching a name it and claim it gospel. There was a huge vibe and response when preachers would tell the congregation that they would go in the power of God, and that with His Spirit in us that “we are living, breathing gods on earth” as said by a more extreme preacher. True, we cannot but rejoice in the tremendous power of the Holy Spirit, but when men use His blessed Name for personal gain, creating “a form of godliness,” we must be weary of their counsil, “tak[ing] every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Living to Die

          It says in the Good Book, “He that honours Me, I will honour.” May we not continue with contentment in our own deeds, which in all their esteem amount to no more than wood, hay, and stubble; but rather a desire for His work, His kingdom on earth. May we seek in everything, with everything, to live a life fully comprised of service to God. What a privilege to be commanded to serve the Servant King.

"When God wants to drill a man...

                                                                       ...and thrill a man and skill a man;

When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man,

That all the world might be amazed, watch His methods; watch His ways.

How he ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects.

How He hammers and hurts him, and with mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay that only God understands,

While his tortured heart is crying, and he lifts beseeching hands.

How He bends but never breaks when His good He undertakes.

How He uses whom He chooses, and with mighty acts induces him

To try His splendor out; God knows what He’s about!”

A Sacrifice to Cover our Greatest Need

"If out greatest need had been information God would have sent an educator. If technology, a scientist. If money, an economist. If pleasure, an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour, Jesus."

          May this Christmas season be a vivid reminder of the immense love Christ had for us, even while we were stubbornly continuing in sin, that He would die in our place so those who accept His gift might see Him in Glory!

Update from the Field

The following report, by Mike, one of our team, explains some of the ministry opportunities God has provided here in Sudan. He has been working in terrific and numerous ways; what a privilege to see His plans unfold!

Kajo Keji

After an epic 8000km overland journey across eight countries, we were warmly welcomed to Kajo Keji by the very friendly and down-to-earth Bishop Anthony and his staff. We had a very effective and appreciated time of ministry in Kajo Keji Diocese.

Evangelism Workshop

We had a week of Evangelism Workshops everyday from 08h30 to 16h30 from Tuesday to Saturday focusing on Evangelism and Discipleship. Some of the topics that we dealt with were: A Biblical Vision of Victory, Abiding in Christ, The Greatness of the Great Commission, Principles for Soul Winning, The Greatest Book, The Ten Commandments, Evangelism Explosion, The Way of the Master, The Challenge of Islam, Comparing the Bible with the Quran, Gold Nuggets for Evangelizing Muslims, The Uniqueness of Jesus in the Quran, The Lordship of Christ in All Areas of Life, Missions 9 Ways, The Power of Prayer, Understanding Humanism and The Heart of the Gospel.

Libraries for Pastors

Each day we distributed specific books to the participants according to the topic we were dealing with. The book, Faith Under Fire in Sudan was particularly well received with expressions of honour and gratitude.

Film Ministry

Every evening we showed a film for the participants. Some of the films we showed included: True and False Conversions, The Biggest Question, More than Dreams, Sudan: The Hidden Holocaust, 3 Days in Sudan, and The Way of the Master: London. It was truly a great experience to watch the participants watch the DVD, Sudan: The Hidden Holocaust. There was a constant hum of excited chatter and comments throughout the film as participants were recognizing faces and places, and at times in horror remembering the suffering of the past. This was undoubtedly the most appreciated film.

Sunday Services

On Sunday each of our team members had an opportunity to minister at a different congregation for Sunday morning Worship services.

Personal Evangelism

During the week, after each day of lectures, the participants had the opportunity to go into the local area amongst the villages and do personal evangelism. They returned with joyous reports of villagers who had trusted in Christ.

Prison Ministry

During the week we had opportunities to minister at the local prison and police station where we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with the prisoners and saw many trust in Christ.

School Ministry

We also ministered at the local Primary and Secondary School where all the students took refuge from the blazing heat of the sun under the shade of a large tree and we had the opportunity to clearly share the Gospel with these enthusiastic kids.

Bible College

We had the privilege ministering to students of a Bible College. We shared with them about Evangelizing Muslims.

Military Mission

We had the privilege of going to the SPLA barracks to share the Gospel with the soldiers. After seeing the taking down of the flag by a military officer, I was able to show the soldiers, and their wives and children, how their flag has the Gospel in it. The black on top speaks of how our hearts were dark with sin; the red in the middle shows how the Blood of Christ cleanses us and purifies us of sin; the white lines speak of how our hearts can be white as snow; the green shows us that we must grow in Grace, reading our Bibles, fellowshipping with other believers and praying; the royal blue shows us that we are now sons of the King; and the gold star shows us that we will be in Heaven one day forever.

Gratitude

As we left Kajo Kaji many participants reported how they had been extremely blessed by our coming and that they had learned much from the lectures and pleaded with us to come again. They thanked Frontline Fellowship deeply for the literature and books that we had distributed among them.

Lui

In Lui we were warmly welcomed by the friendly and down-to-earth Bishop Stephen and his pastors. We were hosted at the old Samaritans Purse doctors' compound.

Evangelism Workshop

We had an effective and appreciated week of ministry at the Lui Diocese beginning with taking the morning devotions at the Lui Hospital for the staff and patients. We held an Evangelism Workshop in the Frazer Cathederal having 22 pastors, leaders, and evangelists attend the workshops. Some of the topics we dealt with included The Greatness of the Great Commission, The Heart of the Gospel, The Greatest Book, The Way of the Master, Evangelism Explosion, The Ten Commandments, The Lordship of Christ in All Areas, Patterns for Soul Winning, Principles of Soul Winning, One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven, Missions in the Bible, The Power of Prayer, Africa's Greatest Need: Discipleship, The Challenge of Islam, and Comparing the Bible with the Quran.

Market Place Evangelism

We also gave the participants the opportunity to put into practice what they had been learning by going out into the market place to do personal evangelism.

Logistics

We were able to help the Diocese practically by driving to a remote village to collect food items that were a donation for the Synod meeting in Juba. The Diocese does not have a working vehicle. The Land Rover is dilapidated and irrestorable and the truck is heading for a similar condition, but there is still hope for it. They are struggling to get spares for their vehicles. Although the vehicle may have been parked off for a minor problem, because of the delay in repairing it, other deterioration sets in and eventually it is a total wreck.

Hospital Ministry

We spent a long time discussing with one of the doctors at the Lui Hospital about some of the challenges they are facing. The hospital is desperately short of staff. Since Samaritan's Purse left in 2007 the hospital has taken a serious turn for the worse. The nursing school which Samaritan's Purse left behind is vacant and 'crying out' for someone to use it. The hospital is 'crying out' for nurses and doctors. The patients are unable to be sufficiently assisted due to a shortage of nurses. Some critical operations have to be postponed because there are no nurses to assist the doctor in theatre. The X-ray machine is in a steel shipping container which is unsafe. The list goes on. Lui Hospital is in desperate need of help.

Film Ministry

We also had the opportunity to show certain films at night in the Frazer Cathederal which included Sudan: The Hidden Holocaust, The Biggest Question, and The Jesus Film in Arabic. Each night hundreds gathered to watch these films.

Mundri

We arrived in Mundri and muddy road. It had been raining the whole day so the road was very slippery and somewhat difficult to navigate around the huge potholes especially with the trailer which is still quite full of books and literature. I had to drive extra carefully with the trailer because the suspension needed repair having broken last week on our way to Lui. The folk at Lui assured us that we will be able to find a welding machine in Mundri.

Warm Welcome

We were well-received by Bishop Bismark and by the Director of the Teacher Training College. We were hosted at the Bishop's compound. The following morning we met a very bright, happy, and intelligent man, Canon Kenneth Baringwa. He had spent much time with Dr. Peter Hammond during the war. He fondly recounted many stories of how Frontline Fellowship had helped the Moru people. He also took us to the ECS guesthouse where we have been hosted in traditional African style 'tukuls' (grass huts).

Training at the Bible College

We have been able to do an intensive Evangelism Training Workshop at the Bishop Ngalama Bible College (which is in the same premises that Frontline renovated for the Christian Liberty High School). The topics that we were able to cover included The Greatness of the Great Commission, Patterns for Soul Winning, Principles of Soul Winning, Evangelism Explosion Gospel presentation, Missions in the Bible, The Way of the Master, The Ten Commandments, Excuses for not Witnessing, The Lordship of Christ in all Areas of Life, The Power of Prayer, Rediscovering the Christian Work Ethic. Both Hunter and Daniel have certainly been carrying a fair share of the ministry responsibilities.

Kotobi

We have also been able to visit the Kotobi Institute for Teachers' Education (KITE). The principal at KITE is a very ambitious and well organized man. I believe the College is in good hands. We had a lengthy and profitable conversation with him. We were given an in-depth overview of the history, objectives, and challenges of KITE which included how Dr. Peter Hammond had visited them during the war years under the shade of mango trees bringing Training, textbooks and other materials for their teachers and encouraging them. We were also taken on a tour of the College and were shown the newly built KITE Community Library which is well taken care of and in desperate need of more books. We were able to add to their shelves.

Teaching Teachers

We had a great opportunity to share the Gospel clearly and effectively with 91 teachers and education officials from the South Sudan Department of Education who were at a closing Ceremony of a Teachers Seminar that the state department had been running at KITE. I was given about 30 minutes to address them and the message of the Gospel was cheerfully and well received. We also gave each one The Doctor Comes to Lui book which they received with much gladness and many of them went immediately to the shade of a nearby mango tree to start reading their new book.

We were also able to donate 70 copies of Christian Teachers' Training Manuel and many useful and helpful DVDs and MP3 discs which were received with much gratitude and appreciation.

Books for Libraries

We have had the privilege of stocking three community libraries and also enriching many personal libraries with many valuable Gospel books and Christian literature. We have donated more than 150 books to Mundri Community Library which is in the town Centre, we have also donated many books to Canon Ezra Lawairi Library at Bishop Ngalama Bible College, and also the KITE Community Library. Some 44 book titles that have been able to be donated include Faith Under Fire in Sudan, Practical Discipleship, Discipleship Handbook, Biblical Principles for Africa, The Ten Commandments, Slavery, Terrorism and Islam, The Doctor Comes to Lui, Putting Feet to Your Faith, The Battle for Truth, and many more.

Meeting the Leaders

Canon Kenneth Baringwa took us to meet the Commissioner of Mundri at his office. We were warmly welcomed and he insisted that Dr. Peter Hammond and any Frontline Fellowship Mission team is always welcome in Mundri. When we met the ex-commissioner who is now the Chairperson of the SPLM, he said "Peter Hammond is our blood brother; he was here with us while our blood was flowing", another person said, "Peter Hammond is a true friend; someone who is a friend during the hard times is truly a friend."

I had a great opportunity to talk to these leaders of Mundri and to encourage them to build this new country on Biblical principles. Praise God these leaders already have a strong desire to see this county established and founded on the Bible through prayer and action.

I was able to pray for the Commissioner in his office, committing his leadership to the Lord and asking for God's wisdom to lead this office and it's staff.

Sunday Worship Services

Our team split up for worship on Sunday. I preached at the Cathedral at the English service, Daniel preached at a very rural church which was accessed by some serious bundu-bashing, and Hunter preached at Milakalaga Parish.

Film Evangelism

We have been amazed at the turnout of people to the film shows each night. Some nights there are as many as 1000 people gathered to watch. We have shown the Jesus film in some locations and also the Sudan: The Hidden Holocaust. I'm not sure which was most favourite of the two, but there has been such excitement about both films and our team has diligently taken advantage of the opportunity to share the Gospel message to the many who gather around our film equipment.

Celebrating Jesus

I have been encouraged by the way the Moru people have responded to the Jesus film. They shout with joy and the ladies jubilate in the traditional African way when the see the Risen Lord Jesus appear to His disciples for the first time after His death and burial. Each time we've shown this film at different locations, we get the same shout of praise and spontaneous applause when it comes to this point in the film. 

Tonight we are showing the film Pilgrim's Progress for the first time. The people seem to be watching in an excited sense of intrigue at this classic presentation of the adventure of discipleship.

The Team

The team morale is still good and we are now working together as a well-oiled, fine-tuned machine. Our overall health is still relatively good. Daniel, however, is showing the first signs and symptoms of malaria. I have started him on a course of Coartem, so please pray for his recovery.

Thank you for all your prayers and support which makes it possible for us to serve the people of the newly liberated South Sudan.

Status on Sudan Trip

“Africa, oh Africa, the Lord your God has risen upon thee!”

Greenery and Scenery

          Our team has been gone now for just over two weeks, encountering such breathtaking beauty and gaining new exposures throughout the land of Africa. After heading up to Pretoria for a few days to attain visas and sort out our final preparation, we headed across the border of Zimbabwe where we encountered such amazing views; from electric storms each afternoon, to the rugged rock structures and wild cloud formations. The mixture of lush greenness, winding mountains, and rugged valleys was breathtaking! On our journey northward, as my dad well described in recent update, we had some really neat ministry opportunity, and Hunter (22 yrs) has made and printed tracts for us to hand out along the way, which has led to several fruitful discussions. In addition, just within the first few days out of the country, we saw a tremendous amount of wildlife such as buck, hippos, birds of all sorts, monkeys, long horned cattle competing with us for their road rights, and even a wild bore. We continued through Zambia, Tanzania, currently in Uganda.

On the Shores of Lake Victoria

          One of the nights in Tanzania, we had to sleep on the side of the road in a mountain pass, from which we had a view of the wide stretching Tanzania expanse and a beautiful sunset. Hiked down with a couple of the locals who were heading into the valley to fetch honey from a hive there. I hadn’t put much thought into views being more stunning than Zimbabwe’s rugged terrain, yet again found several of my breaths stolen away as the land changed a full set of colors into a new unique array as the sun found its rest beyond the horizon. We found that Tanzania had little desire of wasting paint, and thus, kept road lines to a minimum. While getting some fixes on the vehicle, Hunter and I had a great chat to a Muslim about the Bible compared to his preconception of it. He was very open to hearing, and we opened up the Bible to show him what its verses actually said. Then last night we camped on the shores of Lake Victoria, the eye of Africa, with front row seats to a dark golden moon rising from among the clouds and a developing thunderstorm across the lake. We woke up this morning amongst a raging storm and, after a quick swim in the lake, packed up gear and continued on.

Kampala!

          Then we said our farewells to Tanzania and headed into Uganda. As is the northern part of Tanzania, the scenery is unbelievably green and lush! We hit Kampala tonight and had a hysterical zigzag of chaos on the way in. Lanes weren't even a thought as motorbikes whizzed in and out of vehicles holding to the single law of the road: "Bigger bumper beats all." On several occasions we were cut off by a trucker coming the opposite direction, overtaking a biker or another truck in our presumed lane. And one of the bikers, trying to squeeze through two large trucks, actually breathed in and straightened his back as he made himself more worthy to fit through. And this is all normal and accepted; very rarely did we actually hear a horn. We suspected that the traffic lights would have been stoned to death within a few hours of construction, and for the couple we did see, the only rule was that if there was a red light in your direction, you merely had to honk before proceeding. All this was watched and approved by a single police, standing in the middle of the road...what a city!

Interests of Prayer

          We will be crossing into South Sudan shortly and starting our courses and camps with the folk there. God has been so evident throughout the duration of this mission and we pray that we will continue to follow His guidance as He shows us what we are to do and say. Praise God for His mighty work for allowing such harlots as ourselves to take part in this mission. Praise Him that we aren't the ones who can change a man, but rather God in us; for if it were left up to blind to lead the blind, we would be an entirety of a lost world. Praise Him for His sacrifice and salvation which can cover sin, with which is the only way to present ourselves holy sacrifices. Please pray for the soon approaching courses, for the final preparation and review of lecture notes and sermons. Pray that the Lord will speak His mighty Word through us vessels, and that in the experience we ourselves will become more broken and more chipped away; that God would make us merely windows through which He is seen. Pray that God will do a mighty work in South Sudan, that the people will grow in fear and reverence toward the Almighty; then being spurred on to a deeper relationship and love for Christ, will go into their surroundings and continue spreading the Word of Life, the Gospel of Salvation. May His Name dwell in the land!

          Col. 3:1-3 - Therefore since you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.