African Mission Post 9
Posted on May 27th, 2010 by Pastor Craig HoustonTonight I write at about 11:00PM after a great day of ministering again in the village of Kayhi which is about 15 minutes out of town and yet in a totally different environment. We arrived at the Independent Baptist Church of Kayhi where Anna and Katherine would be helping in the school classroom again today. Katherine took the lesson today and I know did a wonderful job though I was not there to hear it. I was able to observe them with the children during their recess sining the new song that they had learned the day before and it thrilled me to think of my daughter having had a part in teaching these children about the love of Jesus.
When Brother Tom and I arrived we went directly into the church and were introduced to Raymond who had just been led to Christ. We sat with him, the Pastor, and one other man rejoicing in the goodness of God and the redemption that He gives to those who would receive Him. This meeting included a breakfast of porridge which is made everyday for the children in the school. It was actually quite good tasting a lot like cream of wheat which I enjoy. This was made with the clean water supply that our church family had a part in bringing to this village through our labors with the Tracht family. I have been shown a bottle of the water that the villagers once used and it looks like a really dirty fish tank water that has not been cleaned in a long time. It is no wonder that the new water which is collected from rainfall in clean, secure tanks is called by the villagers “WATER FROM HEAVEN”. The next time you go to one of the many faucets in your house and pour out clean, pure water please remember that many people around the globe don’t even have water that is fit to drink. Do you think Jesus cares about that? I do! In fact the Scripture says in Matthew 10:42; Matthew 25:31-46 that in so doing you will not lose your reward because you are doing it unto the Lord.
Well after a time of food, fellowship and rejoicing we took a box of John/Romans and headed into the village and beyond to go house to house handing out the Scriptures in this area. (Did I mention Raymond the new convert came along on his first day as a believer.) We are also inviting people to Sundays church service which I have the privilege of preaching at as well as at two other preaching points further up the valley from the church building where there are ,amy people leaving betwixt the banana plantations in mostly mud houses. We met many kind people who were also very thankful for the Scripture portions that they received as we visited often following the pastor through a trial that seemed to just lead into the bushes but ended up at a house. We also delivered several gallons of water to a very elderly couple which invited us in to sit. The wife appeared from the back, and it became obvious that she was blind, yet upon hearing that she had company her leathered face radiated with a huge smile and her almost blue eyes sparkled.
The last stop to be made was several miles by Land Cruiser into an area that does not see many vehicles to the home of a widow named Annette. Before we arrived there though I saw a women outside of her home and asked for Brother Tom to stop the truck so that I could give her a John/Romans. Going behind her house by the cooking shed the women was very surprised and gladly received the Scripture portion in her native tongue. What was different about this women is that she began immediately to read the Bible aloud and I could even pick out words about Christ. I went back to the truck and asked the pastor to come and invite this dear women and her children to church. Thankfully the next house up the road was that of Annette whom she new so there was a Christian to connect her with.
As I said our last stop was to be at a widow ladies home is faithful to the Lord and His church in the village. I was surprised to see how young she was when we arrived. She is the mother of five children and is currently caring for another child whom either just lost its parents or they are very sick. Annette had a smile you could drive a truck through and was truly an Elect Lady of great hospitality greeting us by getting on her knee to shake our hand showing us great honor to which Tom and I responded with the same honor (this is not given to ladies in Uganda) because we were humbled by her Spirit. How does she make it? With Jesus, working as a hairdresser, tending a garden, maintaining a banana plantation and being faithful to church serving faithfully weekly even though she lives a few miles from the church house. Sometimes I feel like our Christianity in the States is so wimpy. We get a hang nail or a sunny day and its questionable whether we will be in church and if anything difficult happens in our life we certainly cant be joyful through it, yet when I meet people like Annette I am reminded again that when you have JESUS you truly have everything the you will ever need and much more than you deserve. Please pray for our sister in Christ to witness to her neighbor as she requested more Scripture portions from the pastor because she had given all that she had out. Please pray that these past days of tilling the soil in this village will prove of great profit this Lords Day.
Leaving the village we stopped by for the areas weekly market. This was Anna’s first experience in an open market and though it was not a huge market we found a couple of things including some fresh Avocado, potato’s, onions, and a few clothing articles. When we got home we snacked on avocado slices and fresh pineapple followed by a lunch of toasted, avocado, bacon, cheese and lettuce sandwiches. YUM!
Then we headed to the very first time of instruction at the Western College to teach about the Word of God. This school is a Muslim School and yet we have been given unrestricted access to teach on Thursday and to preach on Saturday. Tom taught today since it was the very first service and I get the joy of preaching on Saturday. Please pray as I believe this may be a huge producer of Spiritual fruit in future generations. Tom told them that they would all get a Bible of there own in English and the class erupted into applause.
After the College we headed back home where Brother Tom dropped Anna and I off before going to teach at the Bible institute at the church in Mbarara. I stayed home to work on the Curriculum that I am trying to put together for translation and production for next week. I also had the privilege of visiting Matt and Keila Stensaas house for about an hour before coming home for yet another wonderful dinner. Thank you Cheryl Tracht for the great cooking.
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Tags: Africa, Missions, Pastor
16 Responses to “African Mission Post 9”
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Daniel says:
Thanks for the Update Pastor. WOW. What a testimony that lady had for the Lord! So glad to hear of all the wonderful things happening in Africa. I pray that the Lord blesses your time, that you and Anna will be rested for your days to come. I know you have a lot on your plate and I pray that the Lord gives you rest. Love ya guys!!!
Daniel Simpson
Gilead Rose says:
I wish I could be there!
I try and fail to always remember how amazingly good we have it here in America.
One of our hard workers could be considered lazy elsewhere.
Sounds like you are truly having a blessed time, and have been able to be a blessing to others.
Praying for you all!
Sheri Green says:
I confess I stayed home last night from Bible study. Walking was difficult for me yesterday and after reading your post, unless I am running a high fever or am considered contagious, I won’t be staying home. I feel I will have no excuse. Thank you for sharing this post. I needed to read it and to realize that we need to take our Lord and His redeeming grace much more seriously.
Emily says:
Hearing about the man who went out with you after receiving Christ, reminds me of the woman at the well. Oh how wonderful that a new believer was so excited he wanted to go and share his new gift!! I am so excited for you and Anna! What an absolute blessing! I am thrilled to hear of the many opportunities you both have been given! Wish the whole family could be there!!
Emily says:
Sam says: it’s awesome when you preach about something and then meet what you preached about! (referring to the elect lady)
Nat says: I love hearing your posts, they are very awesome. I can’t wait to hear you preach (live) again.
JuJu says: I wish I could see you now!
Lyd says: I love you dad! Hope you have a good time and that you like the place. I hope you are being good there!
Abby: I love you dad. I miss you. Preach the Word!!
Dan: I love you so much daddy! Can’t wait to see you again! 2 weeks left!! Great post, I like them all.
Mike: I am excited about the man’s salvation! Say hi to the Trachts for me! I love you!
Naomi: hearing the many stories and testimonies makes my desire to be a missionary even stronger! And my desire to have an orphanage and to serve alongside a godly husband who has the same desire!! Love you guys!!
Zeke: smile…..da da da!
Jason McD says:
Souns like you’re having an amazing time. The more I read your posts, the more I feel I am being called to the missions field. God is really opening my eyes and my heart these days. Thank you so much for all of you love and support! I am praying for you and Anna daily. I can’t wait to see and hear all of your pictures and stories of all of the people you wittnessed to! Have you had any really exotic or weird things to eat? Love In Christ…JPMcD
Bro. Russell Smith says:
Preacher! ~
My minds eye fails to paint a complete picture of your amazing experience, however, my heart does not fail to feel the emotion and tenderness that you speak with as you share your journey. I can just see you sitting there the day before with those children gathered around just wanting to touch you and I’m reminded when our Lord said, suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. They are precious in His sight…
May the power of God rest upon you as you minister there. Praying that your’s and Anna’s ministering will produce fruit in abundance for Christ! Your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Amen and Amen!!
With great respect, admiration and love for you and your family, brother!
TJ says:
Pastor we have been keeping up with your posts while here in Mo.State. I have such emotion when I read them. I wish I could be there to help! I can only imagine how your heart must be touched and I pray that the hearts of the folks that are there never get used to the circumstances around them. Water is life from a rock, the Church is founded on a rock. I pray that Church stays a rock giving the water of life (eternal). We love and pray for you. God bless
Jennie Warring says:
TO GOD BE THE GLORY and AMEN that we have a new brother in Christ!If you get to see Raymond again,tell him I will be praying for him to grow in Christ our Lord.Will be praying for Annette to be given more oppurtunities to witness to her neighbor.Yes,we are very,very spoiled here in America,and I agree that Christianity here in America is wimpy.I would love to meet Annette.I already feel the Holy Spirit’s love working in me.If you see Annette again,tell her I love her and am praying for her.When reading about that delicious sandwhich, my mouth was watering,seriously.hahaha.God is working mightily in Africa.Amen,Amen,Amen,Amen,Amen!
Jennie Warring says:
Can’t wait till your next post.I too wish I could be on the mission field.Right now,I feel such a excitment from the Holy Spirit for you guys.Reading your updates gets me excited,and I can’t wait till you and Anna get back to tell us about your trip.
Brian & Teresa says:
We are amazed and awe struck to know that we had a part in this dear fellow’s salvation and in the dear sister’s joy by helping supply the word and the teachers. B&T
Aunt Bea says:
I am so excited about your blog. I feel as if I am on the mission trip with you. I knew Anna would be a great teacher, and she proved herself. But God gave her her own special talents, and she is using them to serve the Lord. Praise God for equipping her for His service.
AND Praise God for the teaching, preaching, and fellowship, Pastor, that you are doing, and the blessing you are to these wonderful Uganda people: some who know the Lord, those who have recently received the Lord and those who may be “almost persuaded’, and to those who are still lost.
Miss you both, and am looking forward to seeing the photos of the land which you have painted with wonderful words.
I continue to marvel at God’s wonderous creation!!!
Rick says:
Pastor,
I Praise the Lord costantly and daily that you and Anna have had this wonderful opportunity to minister in Africa. I’ve read all your posts and can tell the Lord is using both of you mightily. Thank the Lord that as you and Anna have been ministering to be an encouragement to the Tracht family and a help in Uganda that it has been a blessing for you and Anna as well. My family and I pray for you constantly. We are looking forward to seeing you again on the 13th of June.
In Christian Love,
Rick Potvin
Pr. 3:5-6
Mark Howe says:
We are so overwhelmed reading your blogs and thinking about the experiences God is allowing you to have. What a privilege for all of us to have a part in this mission trip. I am so glad you can update us from your Ipad! (a little jealous, but very happy for you). Looking forward to hearing more and seeing the wonderful pictures that you and Anna are taking.
We miss you both so much!
Mark and Pauli
Emily says:
Souns like you’re having an amazing time. The more I read your posts, the more I feel I am being called to the missions field. God is really opening my eyes and my heart these days. Thank you so much for all of you love and support! I am praying for you and Anna daily. I can’t wait to see and hear all of your pictures and stories of all of the people you wittnessed to! Have you had any really exotic or weird things to eat? Love In Christ…JPMcD
Amy says:
Souns like you’re having an amazing time. The more I read your posts, the more I feel I am being called to the missions field. God is really opening my eyes and my heart these days. Thank you so much for all of you love and support! I am praying for you and Anna daily. I can’t wait to see and hear all of your pictures and stories of all of the people you wittnessed to! Have you had any really exotic or weird things to eat? Love In Christ…JPMcD