African Mission Post 15

Posted on June 5th, 2010 by Pastor Craig Houston

It almost 2AM here in Uganda on Sunday morning and we have just finished our fourth or fifth power outage since arriving in Africa. The longest being all day and this one probably the second longest going out at about 6:30 during an amazing electrical storm.

Today was a great day that started out with attending Independent Baptist Church for the Saturday Outreach. Upon arriving I was honored to be asked by Brother Edgar to preach one last farewell sermon which I most gladly did preaching on the Power of the Word of God. Edgar is the evangelism director, interpreter, and treasurer at the church. He is also the man who along with his wife will be running the new orphanage that is nearing completion her in Mbarara.

After the sermon people divided up between discipleship, visitation, and John/Roman distribution. I was privileged to go out on visitation with Brother Matthew Stensaas to make several visits including one Indian store manager named Anjith. He has lived in Uganda for 20 years and is a friend of Matthews. Please pray for this dear man and his family as they have both visited church on a few occasions and gone through a Bible study with Matt. They have not yet been converted but God is working in the heart of this man. Tonight Tom, Matt, Anjith and I all went out to Indian food for dinner which was very good, but the main purpose was to continue planting seeds of the gospel. God opened the doors of conversation wide and I hope that this man will soon be saved!

After Matthew and I finished our visits I was dropped of at the large international trade market where Brother Tom, several Tracht children, a young lady named Cassidy from Wisconsin, Robert, Precious and Anna were handing out John/Romans to all who were attending this large event. All told we handed out over 800 Scriptures and it was amazing to watch as large trucks, motorcycles, cars and people waling on the other side of the road would stop and desire us to give them a copy. Many would sit down and start reading and even later in the day we spotted young men on the road carrying the Scripture portions. What a rewarding day of labor as I know that many people who have never received any of the Bible in their own tongue today took them home and began to read the wonderful Words of Life.

Later in the day we were able to attend this trade market where I we were able to find some nice and affordable goods to bring back, but not without first a hearty bargaining season for each item. It is just the way it is and I don’t mind.

Now jumping back to Friday as I have not yet reported on the blessings of that day. We began with attending the Farming God’s Way demonstration out at Ruti Independent Baptist Church where Brother Grace serves as Pastor. He is a man of God and has become my friend during the past two weeks here in Uganda. Brother Bryan Stensaas led the practicum which was really neat to watch and a great hands on experience for all the men who attended. You would be amazed with the corn that the missionaries have produced with the technique of farming God’s way. They had stocks of corn 13ft high it really amazing. I did not get to see the completion as I had yet another preaching opportunity at Ruti Corp Technical College with Brother Tom. Pastor Grace is the interpreter for this ministry with strategic purpose as it is a very short distance from the church that he pastors and we really desire these students to get connected with a good local church during there time at the college. I preached to a great group of students, faculty, the principal Onesimus and Patrick whom I told you about earlier who was converted this past Sunday. I asked him what happened and he beamed as he told me about trusting Christ as his Lord and Savior. What a joy to welcome this new Christian brother into the family. The principal is also a very gracious man who we are praying will be come a Christian soon. Even now he sees what Christ is doing to change the lives of some of his students and he likes what he is seeing.

There are many more little stories of what God is doing but it is very late or early however you look at it and I need to get a couple of hours rest before preaching tomorrow. PLEASE PRAY AS I WILL BE PREACHING 3-4 TIMES AT THE REFUGEE CAMPS! There will be Congolese, Sudanese, Rwandan, and Somalian refugees in these camps with a few other countries that I cant remember. Brother Jeff Bassett will be taking me as this is his ministry and Anna and I are extremely excited to minister amongst these different people groups who are currently exiled from there country. Please pray that I can adequately proclaim to them the truth that God desires to give them a permanent eternal home that no one can ever take away!

Well it is now almost 3AM and I need to get some sleep. May the Lord bless and keep each and everyone of you!

Pastor Craig

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8 Responses to “African Mission Post 15”

  1. Gilead Rose says:

    Praise God for how he is using you there in Uganda!
    I pray you continue to persevere through the hard work, and that you get some needed rest during this time!

    On June 5, 2010 at 8:07 pm

  2. Garth & Becky says:

    So good to read the updates and hear of God’s working through you and Anna. We’re praying for you as you enter the refugee camps. May the Lord prepare their hearts and keep you safe.

    On June 5, 2010 at 9:05 pm

  3. Jason McD says:

    Pastor,
    Most of us could never imagine what it meens to be a refugee. But I know that when we repent and chhose to follow Christ, we become exactly that. We are not of thist world. Your posts continue to open my eyes and my heart. May God continue to bless and encourage you especially w/ your packed preaching schedule in the day ahead ! Thanks again for beeing such an awesome example to you flock. We miss you…
    Your Bro In Christ, JasonMcD

    On June 5, 2010 at 9:22 pm

  4. Brian & Teresa says:

    It is 1105pm, tomorrow is Sunday and we look forward to that and Wednesday but have to confess that the prospect of your soon return is getting us excited. May God richly bless your last days there and bring you home safe.

    Blessings! B&T

    On June 5, 2010 at 10:07 pm

  5. sheri green says:

    It was a joy to hear your voice. I do thank the Lord for the technology we have. We are praying for you.

    On June 6, 2010 at 10:11 pm

  6. Jennie Warring says:

    What a blessing and an oppurtunity to preach to all those refugees who have no hope or peace in Christ! I will pray for these prayer requests you have given. My family and I are praying for you and Anna everyday. So filled with joy that God was working through Anna and the others at the supermarket. TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER! I enjoy your posts VERY much, and Celeste and Jesse have also begun reading and enjoying your posts. They have become excited about your posts as much as I have. We(Jesse, Celeste, and I)will be waiting for your next post.

    On June 8, 2010 at 10:46 pm

  7. Pastor Robert and Annet, Mbarara says:

    WE HERE IN MBARARA HAS BEEN BLESSED BY THE MINISTRY OVER THERE AND WE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU RICHLY

    On June 10, 2010 at 2:28 am

  8. Ricky says:

    I have really enjoyed reading your posts and have been praying for both of you while you’re gone. Can’t wait ’til you get back!

    On June 10, 2010 at 8:09 pm

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