UGANDA MISSION February 1st to March 1st 2016
We had planned to access several prisons in the north where we hadn't been before.However the President banned access to the prisons especially for foreign nationals for two weeks before the elections which took place on Feb. 18th. But we did get into three in Lira as the Pastor talked to the OC who relented and let us in.
SO overall we did ministry in 8 prisons with 198 responses to the Gospel appeal
- Namayingo 50 Responses .
- We gave out solar lights
(Luci light - specially developed for places like Africa. They travel flat and blow up. Are sturdy and waterproof and give 12 hours’ light for an 8-hour charge.) - Serere 5 Responses ( Many were Christians already)
- Mukuju 27 Responses
- Masafu 12 Responses
- Amuria 20 men and 1 woman responded
- 3 new prisons in Lira - 1st men’s prisons 50 Responses
- Women’s prison 22 Responses
- 2nd men’s prison 22 Responses
We took aid in various forms to the prisons – usually soap, razor blades, sugar. One prison asked for plastic plates and cups We even had to provide anti bed bug spray in one prison.
We supplied items for woman and in Lira noticed at least one baby with no clothes under the blanket it was wrapped in, so we sent in some baby clothes and nappies for the 8 babies we saw there.
In one prison Pastor Jimmy noticed the lack of electrical wires and asked to see the sleeping quarters -, where there was no lighting. So we presented the OC with some Luci lights for each sleeping area. He told us that this was a blessing as it had overcome a big problem. Previously when the men came into prison they were expected to give a small amount of money towards the fuel for the hurricane lamps. But often a man did not have the money and as a result the others would beat him up. SO to put a stop to this the OC had said that they could no longer have hurricane lamps - they would have to go to bed in the dark, which was not a popular ruling. So this unexpected gift had solved he problem., for which the OC was very grateful.
The prison ministry in Uganda is very fruitful and we pray that those who responded will be faithfully followed up by the Pastors and prison Chaplains and will grow in their knowledge of Christ, and that the change He brings about will be seen in their lives.
Another good opportunity to spread the Gospel occurred In LIRA when Janis was asked to preach over the radio (30-minute broadcast). A number of people phoned in afterwards and 3 were led to Christ over the phone. The Pastor visited one of them in her home and prayed with her over a number of issues including deliverance. She was in church on the following Sunday.
Teaching in Ebenezer School, Iganga.
Hazel Crossley was based in Iganga and was teaching in the Ebenezer Nursery and Primary school. She did a great job encouraging the teachers and teaching the children, and provided a lot of scholastic materials.
Due to the presidential election all schools were closed for the week beforehand. Some of the children went for lessons to the house where Hazel was staying. She also worked at the school during that week sorting out the educational materials and putting up posters and charts in the classrooms. During that time the inspectors visited the school and were impressed with the books and the displays that Hazel had provided, so the school got a good report. On the last day the children gathered outside the school and we had cake and Fanta to say ‘thank you Hazel’ for her work which was much appreciated.
