Friday, September 4, 2009

The Whole Earth is Filled With His Glory

Our day began with the entire team setting out on the long, tedious, three-hour drive to Kimuli, the first ministry event that we've all done together this week. Apparently, it's a pretty big deal that I/we visit these places like Kimuli and Bewenge, because, from what I hear, a lot of American ministers come to Uganda to preach, but refuse to leave the big city of Kampala, and go out to such remote areas. The people in these villages are honored and amazed that we are willing to come...

I preached in Kimuli last year, but today we went there because we were on a mission. We heard Jesus say, "I was an orphan who had no school supplies, and you visited Me, and gave Me my own bookbag filled with pencils and pens and paper and crayons and math sets"...we drove all the way to Kimuli just to visit the 75 beautiful little ebony-faced "Jesuses" who live at Good Shepherd's Touch Children's Home...the least of these...and it was totally worth it.

Once we got there we were welcomed by the children, and then we toured the grounds to see the improvements they have made since last year. In the dormitories, all the little bunk beds were neatly made up (by the children)...the farm where they learn agricultural skills was productive...we saw the brick "piggery" that they just built with funds from Kids In The Now, and also the improvements made with that money to the little chapel. We visited the young women, many of them pregnant and HIV positive, in the sewing class of the vocational school that they built on the grounds there since we were here last year. The building where the young men will learn carpentry skills is still under construction...

Then we sat down and the children sang for us...little angels, every one of them. After that we lined them up and handed out the bookbags, personally putting them on their little backs (I know I'm over-using the word "little"...but there's just not a more appropriately descriptive word for them)...then we had to leave to get back for the service...beautiful children running after the vehicle, wanting to shake your hand one more time before you go...thanking you in their broken English...dozens of little hands and faces in the car window...leaves a lump in your throat...

Lunch in Jinja on the way back...wonderful...

Then we went by the hotel to change for the evening service.

The traffic in Kampala was insane, which caused us to be quite late for church. Good Shepherd's is currently located in a bustling and very crowded hillside ghetto, with winding, narrow, rocky dirt roads that would be impossible to navigate without four-wheel drive. After you park, you have to balance your way through some rather treacherous terrain to get inside the new building (built mostly with funds from CITN).

When we walked in (to shouts and a standing ovation), the place was packed, and the service had already been in progress for a couple of hours. The dust rising up from the dirt floor had created a sort of haze that took a minute for our eyes and lungs to adjust to...

But the praise and worship was beautiful. Pastor Ben brought many of the songs we do at CITN back to Uganda, and as they began to sing "To Worship You I Live" (using the keyboard that Karen Long donated to them), he motioned for me to come take the mic. So I did, and as I began to sing with them, the haze from the dust turned into the cloud of the glory of God.

When we finished singing, I ministered briefly about the 'Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil' paradigm vs. the 'Tree of Life' reality. They definitely responded well to the revelation. Then I called for the Pastors so that I could lay hands on them (many of them will be going back to their villages tomorrow), and as I prayed for several hundred of them, I experienced a connection with them that is hard to describe...

While I was laying hands on their heads, the choir was singing "How Great is Our God", but as I prayed for the last 50 or so, they began to sing "You Said"...

Well, let me tell you...you know I love that song...and as the last of the Pastors returned to their seats, I once again took the mic and sang with them (about a hundred times, I think)..."Ask, and I'll give the nations to you...O Lord...that's the cry of my heart...distant shores and the islands will see Your light, as it rises on us"...

It was an unforgettable experience...

This year has been different from last year...the schedule, believe it or not, hasn't been quite as full...as I said, the AIDS clinic didn't work out, nor did the prison camp to minister to the condemned men...

But this week has been all about building relationships...the second trip means something special to them (and us)...

That's all I can say right now, other than it's all good...

Peace...

10 comments:

Donald said...

It's been good hearing about the trip from you and Erik, but this post really seemed to have put me right there in the middle of the action with you guys the way you described everything.

Erik said...

Hi Everyone,

I meant to be asleep hours ago. I got caught up on emails and then Pastor Ernie and Joel came back (we have adjoining rooms) and we could not help to talk about the day. So now it is 330 AM Sat morning local time ( 930 PM Fri EST) and I really !!! got to sleep . So I have needed little sleep until tonight, time change, experience, revelation, writing – whatever I end up being up wa too late, bit refreshed in the AM, maybe too refreshed as I cannot stop being a chatterbox on the drives to everyone else’s chagrin.

Anyway, Bishop so expressed what can be expressed at this moment. So, I will sleep, and say that as Bishop so eloquently said, this year has been about expanding relationships.

Northern Light said...

Yep, I agree with Donald (I said it, yes, Donald I did) ha

Man, oh man, Maybe it's the wanting to feel it so or be there, but I read and re-read every word, just to make sure I got it and took it all in. The going there to bring & show them Jesus so much more comes back to you, it's so awesome.

HOW GREAT IS OR GOD! SING WITH ME...

Peace,
Northern Light

PattiL007 said...

This began long ago. The pangs of labor have come and gone and come again...last Sunday the only word (English) that I could find to describe such an event was
BEYOND...

Bish & Team U-2...I cannot hear your words without being taken away on the crest of a wave of Spirit...the effect upon me is so much...More...this is exciting and new and...yes, even terrifying in a way. I know now why He spoke the same words over and over...FEAR NOT!

I thought I had no fear over anything...but this? This is like standing on the precipice of the mountain...the very edge of the world. This is the tip of the earth and I stand with one foot firmly upon it while the other one hovers...somewhere...

This is the moment of moments...the beginning of beginnings...the place where the horizon is no longer visible because we stand on the edge of eternity...it's time to step off into the Before...into the Future...into the NOW and into the BEYOND...

My heart fills until it overflows and then I realize that tears are running unchecked down my face, my breath is in ragged gasps while my Spirit sings a song that I cannot yet understand completely...

Born of expectancy and desire, the NEW thing is no longer coming...the NEW thing is HERE...my God, my God...What Is It?!

Anonymous said...

Rebecca Cardinal said...

Awesome......

Northern Light said...

Mystic,
I love seeing you here, missing you and everyone on Twitter is a real bummer for me. YOU have been on a "mountain top experience" of your own since last Sunday's service and it's so cool. I look forward to reading and hearing more from everyone, and Mystic, your impressions and commentaries taste like fresh fruit on a sunny morning. ( I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM, BUT I DARE NOT DELETE IT!) anyone ?

Peace,
Northern Light

Son of Zadok said...

God is smiling. He's playing songs on His own set of keys.

Great reports from Uganda everyone!

Everything the last few days sounds so holy and on fire. I feel the rich goodness of the Lord in your words. We know the whole world will be blessed in Him. You all are changing the whole picture of creation when you ignite one heart to see God in a new/now light. God bless and multiply you all as you establish Christ.

Big Love to Uganda !

Sunday is going to fuel the fire in a very real way, here, there, everywhere. Let our minds and hearts reach towards our brothers and sisters through Spirit as they minister unto God.

Son of Zadok said...

Oh and Mystic,

That post was just flat all over it.

What's Up!

Son of Zadok said...

Interesting...

Many things to be discovered the days ahead.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/09/04/israel.wall.discovered/index.html

PattiL007 said...

SOZ, All I can say is that I have been overshadowed by the Most High! Halal to Jah!

This has been dancing in my heart for a while now...but I have no idea of the specifics...like most of us, I only know that it's real and it's here and I want it!

I think the reason many of us stated "there are no words" is because God has put us all in the place of Zachariah for awhile...we will speak only what is given to us to speak so that we will not abort our part of this great miracle...ONLY BELIEVE...my friends...ONLY BELIEVE! Even though we do not know what, we do not know why, we do not know the specifics for which we are believing...still...ONLY BELIEVE...and let's keep our eyes open for miraculous manifestations...they'll keep showing up...everywhere in everyone and everything...just keep looking for them...and ONLY BELIEVE!

This new day ROCKS!