African Mission Post 12

Posted on June 1st, 2010 by Pastor Craig Houston

It is morning here in Uganda and I woke up to a beautiful sunrise and a hot cup of coffee, which is always a magnificent way to start the day. As memorial day comes to a close back home in the United States of America I would like to say a heart felt thank you to all of those who have served in our armed forces through the many years of American History as well as the thousands of families who have paid the ultimate price as there sons and daughters gave their lives. I am serving here in Uganda with at least two veterans first Brother Tom Tracht who retired from the Air Force and Brother Bryan Stensaas who served in the US Navy for 8 years during the Vietnam era and was saved while stationed in Spain. Thank you men!

Today I would like to recap the end of last week as I did not do so as promised in post #10. On Sunday night I was so overwhelmed with the events of the day that I just couldn’t think of anything else. That being said Thursday, Friday and Saturday where amazing days of ministry. Friday Brother Tom and I headed out to Ruti Technical School for there weekly preaching and teaching service. We were greeted by a man named Patrick who is one of the instructors at, but on this day was taking the place of the Principal and was charged with caring for the guest. Since it was the first day back in school for the year Brother Tom taught a tremendous message on Why we can trust the Word of God. The students at this school were very receptive and it was a blessing to hear them sing praises unto the Lord as there are several Christians that attend. Ruti Tech has students from many different countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Congo so there is a great opportunity to influence future leaders from many African countries with the Gospel of Christ. We returned home and spent the rest of the day getting some much needed rest and I some much needed study.

SPECIAL BULLETIN – Monday we learned that Patrick from Ruti Tech attended church at Mbarara Independent Baptist Church and came to faith in Jesus Christ. What a tremendous blessing to hear that this man that Brother Tom had been planting seeds of grace and he went to church and another Brother watered and God gave increase.

Today is Wednesday morning just after 7AM and I am starting again to finish this post as last night after teaching for over four hours followed by a two hour Q&A with Pastor Bryan with the pastors we had a very special Birthday party to attend. Matthew and Kiela Stensaas daughter Kurstin turned four years old. She is a precious little girl and even gave me a big hug and a little kiss on the cheek. O how I miss my precious little girls back home after last night. On a sentimental note Emily do you remember the Strawberry dress from Naomi and Anna that you always wished you had never sold at the garage sale in St.Helens? Well all is well a precious little missionary girl is wearing it know and it certainly brought me back to when our older girls were bouncing around the house. (I must stop now as I cant se the screen)! Thank you to all the missionaries who have treated us like family. We don’t know all of you well YET, but we love you and thank God for what you are doing here in Uganda. Anyway when I returned home from the Tracht’s, after chatting with me sweet daughter Naomi, my wife Emily and having devotions with Anna (we are going through the amazing Gospel of Mark) I totally crashed with work still on the bed next to me when I awoke. So for those who may have been waiting for a new post, SORRY!
Saturday was an amazing day which began with the privilege of preach the soul winning challenge before a going out into the streets of Mbarara. This is not a short 10 min challenge like we have in the States but a full 45 minute sermon which I brought from the Book of Titus 2:11-15 on the work of Grace in our life. This text reveals that God’s grace not only brings eternal salvation, but also sanctification to the believers life here on earth and it also is what empowers and emboldens us to preach the Gospel in the midst of a World that hates God. Following the challenge we as shared before spent a few hours handing out John and Romans in the local language and a few English copies as well. What a joy to do our best witnessing pointing people to John 3:16 and a few other key verses so they might read them.

After lunch we then headed to Western College of Mbarara the private Muslim college out in Kyahi area where I had preached on Sunday. This college like Ruti Tech has students from several different African Nations and so the possibility to influence is great. We arrived at 2 as planned and there was only one young man in the room waiting for us. (This is the same school that Tom teaches Bible in on Thursday but Saturday is not required an is a preaching time.) None of us were discouraged or at least none showed any disappointment. We started talking to some students around the college and realized that most were still eating lunch. A few more people came to the meeting room and Brother Tom began to talk about a few things. Students all of the sudden began pouring in the room and Tom started teaching them a memory verse by writing it on the chalk board and then removing a word or two at a time until the board was blank and the verse has been put to memory. Now the class room was totally filled as people kept leaving and coming back with even more friends. I am guessing that there was at least 50-60 students by the time we started the preaching and each one was there on their own accord. They listened with great interest as I had the privilege to open the Word of God and preach the inaugural Saturday sermon. I took my text from Psalm 19 and spoke of God’s revelation to mankind through both His creation and His Word. They were locked on two what was being said and unlike the people at our church back home they even laughed at my humor :) (Did you hear that Jeremy)!
Toward the end of the sermon the Principal who is a very sharp and articulate young man had slipped into the room without me noticing. To close the service by quoting the memory verse which was Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Upon hearing the students quote from memory this verse the Principal radiated with a huge smile and exclaimed that it was wonderful and that this will now be on the front of the School sign as the number one guiding principle of the college. You see beloved saints that are all wise Sovereign God had gone before and blazed the trail in this strong hold of the enemy by allowing Brother Tom to have them memorize the verse that they already had on the back of there school sign which we did not see until we were leaving. Only God knows all that He has in store through this ministry at a Muslim college, but I have a feeling that He has great plans. Please pray for the Tracht family as Tom and his family serve in this school.

Please pray for me as the last two days I have taught almost Ten Hours on the Family to a wonderful group of pastors and pastors in training at the Mobile Bible Institute where the men spend all morning learning Farming God’s Way and in the afternoon and early evening Fathering God’s Way but really it is Family God’s Way. Tonight I will finish with the men an hour early and then I have the privilege to preach again at Independent Baptist Church of Mbarara.

I love you all and thank each one of you for keeping us in your prayers and writing such encouraging comments on the blog.

MAY THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN RECEIVE ALL GLORY AND HONOR FOR IT IS DUE HIM AND HIM ALONE!

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7 Responses to “African Mission Post 12”

  1. Garth & Becky says:

    We sure enjoy reading your updates and look for them several times each day! It’s awesome what the Lord is doing there in Uganda and that you and Anna can have a part.

    On June 1, 2010 at 10:17 pm

  2. Mark Howe says:

    Thank you again for sharing! It is so moving and humbling to see God working through you and Anna in Uganda. We love hearing all about it! I love hearing about the nostalgic little things such as the strawberry dress. God knew that even this little thing would mean much to your family. He is omniscient! You must have felt a bit like a sparrow in that circumstance. We are praying for you and look forward to hearing more about the work of the hand of God.
    We love you!

    Mark and Pauli

    On June 2, 2010 at 6:36 am

  3. Brian & Teresa says:

    Being able to read these posts makes the trip seem like we’re there. God Bless and we look forward to your return! B&T

    On June 2, 2010 at 6:40 am

  4. Sheri Green says:

    I love that there is no happenstance with the Lord. He prepares the hearts of the lost to hear His call and he sends the saved out to preach the Word. We see this in your visit to Africa. Thank you for making it all come alive in your words. We are there with you. You are loved and prayed for.

    On June 2, 2010 at 8:22 am

  5. Patricia Venturo says:

    Being informed is a blessing and helps aid in more specific prayers. Please tell Anna hi and that she is heavy on my heart.

    On June 2, 2010 at 10:00 am

  6. Jennie Warring says:

    AMEN!PRAISE GOD that we have another new brother in the family!!!!If you get to see Patrick again, tell him I am praying for him to grow in the Lord mightly.Oh,my heart is filled full with joy that God is working TREMENDOUSLY in Africa!GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!It is difficult to put my feelings for the work in Africa in writing.All I can say is PRAISE GOD!ALL GLORY GOES TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!Will pray for you and the Trachts.Praying for you everyday.Waiting patiently but am excited for your next post.Love you all very much.TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER!Amen.

    On June 2, 2010 at 1:02 pm

  7. Gilead Rose says:

    That is so AWESOME! A feat possible only by the AWESOME God we serve!
    Sounds like this tech school is a real blessing from God for us to reach the lost through our missionaries.
    Praying for you guys!

    On June 5, 2010 at 7:40 pm

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