Uganda On My Mind . . .

I'm thinking back to March. Three weeks of training pastors and evangelists for evangelism and church planting, in partnership with Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Uganda. Week one: School of Evangelism at Missions Transforming Centre in Migadde, just north of Kampala. Week two: workshops and evangelism with the "week one" students in their home districts of Kibale, Mubendi, and Mityana. Week three: School of Evangelism in Kasese, western Uganda. Some pastors walked two days through the mountains to attend! HIGHLIGHTS: Teams that went out to share the gospel house to house returning with great excitement: "People were so open when we used what we have learned." "I never imagined that so many Muslims would want to know Jesus -- they are looking for peace." The very drunk young man who received Christ at an outdoor service, and was back the next night sober and praising God. The young mom (baby in arms) who received Christ, then asked us to pray that God would set her free from spiritual torment. He did. She disappeared into the darkness, only to return 10 minutes later with a friend, who also received Christ. The elderly man passing by on the street who stopped when he heard us telling the Bible story of a paralytic who received forgiveness and healing from Jesus. He was the first to respond to the invitation to receive Christ. He explained later that his leg was partially paralyzed. "I thought that story was about me, so I also wanted to know Jesus!" The privilege of hearing and sharing the dreams of trainees and district and national leaders who long to reach communities and people groups where Jesus is little known or not known at all.

I did some dreaming of my own. I dreamt of African missionaries being trained at Migadde and then being sent out to take the love and power of Jesus to places like North Korea and India . . . and to some of our First Nations peoples here in North America. And I dreamt that one day God would give me the privilege of being a part of it.

Will you dream with me?

To view more photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/joy.johnst/UgandaMarch2009