Isn't it supposed to be the dry season already?

Friday, December 11, 2009

First...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIL PUTZ!
Ok, had to do a shout out to the cuz.

I am learning a lot and am excited for the doors the LORD is opening. Wow.
Where to start? It is amazing how God provides when you are in His will. It just gives you such a thrill knowing that God’s plan will be taken care of Him regardless.

Our national director is still in town and boy are we giving him a tour of Gulu!! He shared with us Matthew 5:14 "You are a light to the world..." He challenged us to see our lives as a billboard that all can see
Staff meeting – Matthew 6 being a light to the world. Being a billboard for Christ so everyone can see.

Then we headed to Tegot...
We did two family visits. Alimocan Brenda and Alimocan Gloria. One thing that I have really gotten from Charles is presenting the Gospel or some sort of message for the famlies everytime we visit. He has been sharing and challenging family members to accept Christ. People are interested they just want to know more. So as a team we have committed to ministering heaviliy and following up with families on the Gospel. The second visit, though, Charles and Simon got stuck in the mud (then the caterpillar that came to save us got stuck!!!)



and not able to join us for Gloria's visit...and the LORD charged me to share the message.



As we first entered the house I felt the LORD telling me "I came for the brokenhearted....to turn beauty into ashes" everytime I would look at Mama Gloria...and it just intensified as she shared her story. She shared so honestly and beautifully her past. As I share with you, please read with absolute respect and reverance....I do not tell it to share a story so you can "feel bad" for her but I share so you may know how to pray and love her and just praise God that she is able to share...

When Monica (Mama Gloria) was 13 years old, she was abducted by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). She was given as a "wife" to one of the soldiers...what it really means is that she was stolen from her home to be a sex slave to a soldier. She would steal to get food in order to survive. She never killed anyone but in order to live she had to witness many beatings and killings. If she did not watch, with no tears or crying or screaming in distress, she would be killed. So as a cultural norm in the LRA she watched as many were brutally destroyed in spirit and in body. She was forced into sex all the time - no consent. She was a young girl who never grew into adulthood properly. After two years of this terror, the army attacked the LRA which caused mass confusion in the camp area. She was able to escape, however, she had no where to go. She couldn't go back to her home because they would think she was the LRA ready to attack therefore would kill her. She wandered for a long time....only to find out she was then pregnant with her daughter, Gloria. Her amily did not accept her because at 15 and no husband she was a disgrace to her family for being pregant. Monica has had to work hard to survive and bring up her child with no support. She is a small woman, but absolutely stunning. She wants to heal, has asked for counseling for herself. She wants to provide for her family and find peace.

We then asked her if she was a believer in Jesus Christ. She said no. I then proceeded to ask her if I could share some things with her...and she said yes. I shared Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

I then explained this verse and shared how Jesus heals, salvation and asked her what she wanted to do. She wanted to accept Christ in her heart but was just a little hesitant....she wanted more time. She wanted more direction.



This is another story of how the LORD is calling us to share the Gospel with parents and guide them to a full knowledge of Him...how we need to minister to them. Each has a story and each wants and desires redeemption. If we are to truly change the childrens' lives we MUST invest in the parents and guardians. They are desperately in need of healing....and only Jesus can provide that.

Please pray with Team Gulu on how to minister to the parents as well as open the doors and hearts of the people to the LORD. Pray for healing to just saturate their souls and for a fresh rain of peace and joy to rule their lives.