|
|
|
What A Journey To Arusha And Jinja - Thanks Jesus!!
August 26, 2004
I have just returned from one of the most wonderful trips to East Africa, the cities of Arusha, Tanzania and Jinja, Uganda. As many of you know, I went there with my daughter, Jenna (15 years) and spent the past two weeks in ministry and pre conference planning. It was a most wonderful time.
Arusha, Tanzania
We stayed with John Mukolwe, the director of YWAM Arusha and spent many hours discussing the Word of God in ways that I am seldom able to do. What a delight, what a blessing. As might be expected I learned much about a culture that is far different than our American culture.
Even fundamental issues were discussed, one of the notable ones is our Western mindset of looking forward versus the African mindset of the future being a fullfillment of our past. In much of Africa, one hopes to struggle through this life in order to be accepted by the ancestors upon ones death.
Then, what we call the future life is one of sitting with the ancestors in the past and being served by the present generation. While I do cannot begin to fully understand this, it presents a fundamental problem in speaking of the future and having hope for that future. The fear, then, is to not be accepted by the ancestors and become a wandering spirit that never has a home in the after life. Keeps many from embracing the life God has ordained for them.
While the issue may seem strange to my American friends, it becomes critical to the African "seeing" what God desires them to become, planting a vision for a life that is far different than that which is known at the present time. Without a vision (for the future?), the people will perish. Or, they may be doomed to remain the same forever and the New Life that God brings may not be understood or received.
Here is a phrase not understood by our Western Culture. "I am because We are" I will speak on this phrase in a later posting. It concerns the inter-dependancy we have with each other and it is also that our identity is a result of our culture and our community and who we are as a people. No man is an island, no man stands alone. More later.
WE MINISTERED in several churches and made excellent plans for our Pastor/Leader Conference in November. God Spirit moved mightily on many people during the services with healings, deliverances and people being set free to embrace the rule and reign of the king. I believe our team will be kept very busy for the two weeks we will be in Arusha, Tanzania in November.
Jinja, Uganda
I was so blessed to team up with Pstr Bill Campbell and so many friends in Jinja. We had three days of prayer, seeking His face, resting in His Presence, and hearing His voice. Each of the days we spent over Four (4) hours in prayer, praise and worship. Then we ate and visited for another 2 hours or more each day. What a wonderful time of fellowship!!
The Presence of the Lord was so wonderful and so strong and so heavy that I began to wonder if this is what it felt like in the Upper Room in Acts chapter 2. I began to wonder what would happen to us if we spent 10 full days (24 hours each day) in such meetings. Would we begin to see tongues of fire? Would we hear the Holy Spirit come as a rushing wind? Or was that only for that day so long ago?
It was a wonderful time of worship, soaking and listening that was led by the Holy Spirit through Bill Campbell. I was so honored of God that Bill could be there to participate. Many of the pastors (there were approximately 20 of us each day) knew that God was in the room and they knew that He was touching them.
This time of worship brought new meaning to "Seek YE first the Kingdom of God" for that is exactly what we did. Many thought it seemed a little strange at first, but when many had visions from God and words from God, they knew that they had been introduced to God in a different way - a new way for them (and for me!)
During this time, God brought forth some special prophetic words, especially for Justus Okirya and for Alex Achuti. I believe God is going to bring Justus to that place where he can find the Secret Place and listen to God as a friend speaks to a friend He will show Justus who HE wants to be healed and He will increase the healing annointing that is already being developed within this wonderful man who has been a Christian since the 1960's, who suffered under Idi Amin, who is often misunderstood by the established church, but who has a servants heart such as is not normally seen.
Alex has been my friend for 4 years now, and God is also taking him up a big notch, for the word was given with undeniable reality that the gifting of discernment of spirits that has begun within him was going to be so true and so accurate that he (Alex) will be able to read the hearts of men and know exactly how to pray for oppression to be broken and bondage to be lifted. God showed Alex 1/2 hour before I prayed for him the exact prophetic action that I was going to do as I prayed, and when it happened, God began to speak deeply to his heart.
It would be unfair for me to record all what happened, but I would like to say that a death occurred that day in order that God's life would flow through him. Isn't that the problem with all of us??? That we do not want to die, so therefore, His life does not seem to flow through us?
In order to prepare a people for such a time as this, we all must become the people of God that He has commanded us to become. We cannot walk in the Holy things of God when we continue in such an Unholy Life. We have all received so-called "giftings" but they do not develop within us for there is a constant clash between our wants, hopes and dreams and His wants hopes and dreams. We must die so that He may live in us more fully and manifest Himself through us.
We are on the verge of trying times, of great world wide turmoil. WE must begin to walk as one with our God in order that the great works of God will be seen in the world. It is only in this way that the world will come to know Him as the Lord and their is no other. He will do it!!! Are we willing to be used? No matter what the cost?
Finally, we ministered in churches and for groups of people. We had such wonderful dinners with my friends Jackson and Jane Eyotia, George and Jeanine Solo Songa, and the wonderful family of Simon Toli.
I am filled with hope for the future of this ministry. We will be shortly travelling in teams to the villages and watching that which God birthed and brought forth begin to manifest itself in this current age. The Africans who have embraced this message will begin to speak and do as we go.
Each of us will learn much as we go, for He is forming a team, forming a people who are called unto Himself and prepared for such a time as this. It is very exciting. I do not know what the future holds, but our God continues to expand the details of how His vision is to be carried out.
I believe I am learning discipleship in ways that I personally have not seen or heard taught. I believe God is going to increase the fruit of those we are in relationship with in order that many more of the people of East Africa will come to know Him as the Lord and there is no other (1 Kgs 8:60).
How is it that I can be given such honor by our God. It is at times overwhelming and at times I struggle with the "Why me's". Yet, I strive to be as obedient as I can each and every day, and therefore, am seeing the hand of God work in the lives of others in ways that are amazing and cannot be done by man.
I am honored to be your servant my Lord, Jesus. I am thankful that you have such mercy for me in my times of disobedience and doubt and poor attitude. I am thankful that your empowering grace brings me the strength and power in order to do that which you ask. I sit here amazed at your awesome power and the ways in which you work. May it always be so, my God, for I desire to see your Kingdom established in this day wherever you might send me.
Well, that is all for today. I will write of our future trip in the next day or so. If any of you want to see the exciting things God has established for you to do become to reality in this day, you must contact me soon. We will be travelling the entire month of November, being used of God to do the works of God in our day. Will you join with me? One week, three weeks, five weeks? Come Come Come. Can you hear the Lord calling you?
Bye for now,
Cliff Pash
Advancing The Kingdom
cpash39843@aol.com
Location: Arusha - Jinja, Uganda
|
|
|
