|
|
|
Bill’s Last Week In Uganda - The Last Day Of The Conference Was Amazing
October 26, 2005
Bill’s last week in Uganda - The last day of the conference was amazing
Please read and enjoy the delightful things that God is doing in His African bride.
Summary of Week 7
Today was the last time I would preach in Uganda. I am not saying this is my last time to minister. I believe we must be watching every moment with our eyes open. We have the gifts of heaven to give to all who need a touch from Jesus.
The last day of the pastor’s and leader’s conference was amazing. We started with worshiping Jesus, and this time it was as if the He was there waiting in anticipation for us. Can the glory of God even soak into the earth? There was no struggle, we just called and the wind of His presence came in. As we worshiped, I felt a whisper from the Lord. He told me to bring up the two men who spoke Swahili to lead the final song to God. I have not seen such powerful praise in my life. I have seen many types of “praise”. But this praise had the intimacy of deep worship. How do I explain a moment like this? The joy was all consuming. The sounds coming out of one of the worshippers were deep sounds that of a wind instrument made of wood or reeds. Harmonies from heaven were coming out of others. The praise was with noises and sounds other than just words. It sounded like the war cries, then shouts and whooshing noises. Then this special type of dancing started. It wasn’t the shaking hip dance. It was like spinning, jumping, rhythmic waves of movement. My words are limited in my description of the beauty. The dancing increased the glory of God that was already in this place. I almost cried. I have heard people talk about crying at a ballet because their emotions were so touched by the beauty of opera and dance. This was more powerful than emotion and beauty because God’s glory was all around. It was not a performance, but a release of heart, and soul, and strength to the One who had brought us life this week. My words are gone. I stand in awe of God. I love this people. My heart has been deeply knit to them.
I asked for testimonies. Until today, there were only two or three each day. But something had happened. Person after person told how God had met them. Some told how it had been years since they felt His presence. Others told how they now had something to bring to the world. It was not just the teaching received; it was the glory of God come into the heart in a new and powerful way. Now I could not help but weep quietly as glory, honor and praise was given to Jesus. Life had come to this place. Let us now pray that not one seed will be lost.
After lunch we took the final. I spot checked a lots of the tests. They did great. Many had 100%. I must be honest; this was not a test of individuals for many could not even read English. This was a test for a “community of pastors”. They helped each other. We made sure each one understood the questions. I also allowed them to look at the notes they had taken. Our natural way of thinking is to receive individual accomplishments. I made sure that they understood that the weakest among them would determine their strength. So we took the exam as a body of believers. Individual scores will be given to the college, but I think they passed with flying colors as a community of believers.
Now I want to tell you about today. It was the farewell service at Lugazi Miracle Center. I spoke on 2 Cor. 3 and 4. At the end of the message I asked Pastor Hudson to dismiss his people. I told them I would pray for any who wanted prayer after dismissal. I thought only a few would come because this service had already lasted almost 4 hours. How people can sit on wooden benches for hours on end, I don’t know. After dismissal, people rushed forward for prayer. I prayed for over 50 of them. A strong and renewed hunger was stirred up in them. I am thankful to God for Lugazi Miracle Center, Pastor Hudson, and Mercy. God had put such dissatisfaction for life as usual in this body of believers. I asked God for almost every kind of need imaginable, transformed minds, healings, increase of His presence, deliverance from demonic dreams, and provision in every way. The elders came forward to receive. Finally after everyone else, Pastor Hudson, Mercy, and Pastor Joel came with sincere hearts asking for a fresh touch from God. There was a powerful impartation.
This ministry trip has made a deeper impact upon my life than any I have been on up to this time. I believe that I have found men and women who will literally lay down their lives for the gospel of Jesus. I pray that these precious ones will let me join them to bring God’s presence to the dry and thirsty land of Africa.
Summary of Week 8
I thought if I could just impart a hunger for God's presence to the larger churches in Uganda, they could carry the gospel to the villages and into the rest of Africa. It is so strange. Every time I preached, I received nice compliments, appreciation for the message, the miracles, and signs that were given. When I returned to the churches again on this trip, I realized that things had returned back to the comfortable. Those whom I had spent time with had gone back to their nets and to the familiar. My heart was full of love for them; but I knew I was called to more, to see change, because I have been so dramatically changed by the Lord myself.
There were only three weeks left until I would be holding the first pastor’s and leader’s training school. I still did not have a venue! Invitations were still not given to those who would attend! God had released the vision but not the peace to proceed. As I pondered and waited God spoke to my spirit, “Have the training in a bush or village church”. That immediately brought a lot of logistical questions to my mind. Who would come? How would the get there? Would any one be able to find the location? I remembered a time in which I was driving down a little dirt road going to a meeting. We had arrived a few minutes early, so when I saw a few children by the side of the road, I told the driver to stop. I reached into my bag and pulled out three small stuffed animals to give to the children. When I looked up again, the number had suddenly increased to twenty children jumping and screaming around my car. That is what happened at the training. Out of no where, over 45 pastors and leaders came with a hunger and desire to meet with God and be trained to become someone who would be used to impact a nation.
During the week each time God nudged me, I did my best to listen and obey. God came down and the pastor’s lives were changed! It would be easy to think that I did something great, but it was really as simple as obeying. I have only done what my precious Jesus asked me to do. Before I could say goodbye to these wonderful new friends, strategies were being formed to bring the message of God's love and change to Uganda and beyond.
Many tears have been sown into this trip and much joy has been given. Could these simple pastors be the ones who will treasure the glory and presence of God? The Bible says this:
Hosea 2:16 NIV "In that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master’”.
Those who were invited have not come so I am simply going into the hedges (the bush) looking to fill the table of God with guests. I am trying to radically change my life to hasten the return of my Savior, Jesus. Will you join me? The celebration has begun.
Please pray for Bill. We still need to get our nongovernmental organization papers for foreigners. Bill has driven the long 2 hours each way into Kampala to the United States Embassy on three separate occasions until he was finally able to get his papers stamped. On the fourth trip in, he arrived with all the required information at the official’s office to get the NGO papers. Oh course, the official was gone and his cell phone was turned off. The receptionist had no idea when he would return. Bill asked if he could make an appointment. She looked at him like he was a man of limited understanding. She told him; no, he could not make an appointment. He would have to return again. If the official was there, Bill could see him. If he wasn’t there, Bill would just have to come back again. This entire process has taken all of the eight weeks that he has been in Uganda. Please pray for favor and grace that everything we need to accomplish will be done ON THIS TRIP into Kampala! Bill leaves Uganda on Friday (Uganda time) or Thursday night (our time). Please pray for safety. Please pray the fruit will remain and that not a single seed be stolen. We so cherish your prayers. It is so wonderful to have a team so dedicated to the Lord.
Bill and Linda Campbell
ptwm@preparethewayministry.com
www.preparethewayministry.com
Location: ------, Uganda
Website: http://www.preparethewayministry.com
|
|
|
