Coming Home

This is the night before we leave and it's been a wonderful time all coming together(the Eastwood team and the MTW team), sharing our hearts and prayers for one another as we head back to the U.S. For everyone on our trip, this has been a life changing experience. Spending last week in a remote village called Kagadi and this week in the city of Kampala, our lives have been stretched to the nth degree. All of us have a fresh vision of what it means to be spent for Christ and to live our lives for His glory the remaining days He has given us. We have seen that the Kingdom of God is more expansive than our little world of Montgomery, Alabama. The believers of Uganda have melted our hearts with their love for Christ and their zeal to serve Him. These believers are without the comforts we have, and yet they are fulfilled in their devotion to Christ. We have met several pastors of churches, two in particular who are church planters: Lazarus and John who were left to care for and shepherd the new believers in Kagadi. It was in this town that our team particularly fell in love with the people. Going from door to door sharing the gospel and preaching the nightly crusades, God's Spirit was mightily at work. Our team has never been exposed to such a receptivity of the gospel of Christ. The gospel we preached was preached in its fullness emphasizing God's law and grace, and the Ugandan people responded with great conviction and faith! Leaving Kagadi for our team was very difficult because our hearts were bound with theirs.

This week we have been in Kampala and it's been a different week but nonetheless very heart-wrenching for us. From visiting the University campuses where we pray we can place a reformed ministry, to visiting the slums of the city, again we see God at work in spreading His Kingdom. Two pastors that we have come to love are Pastor Eby and Pastor Gerald who are deeply committed to seeing this city reached with the gospel. Personally, I was able to spend time with these men and what a blessing it was for me! One of these churches is working in inner city Kampala with the poorest of the poor and it has been such an eye opener for us to witness this endeavor. I know that it will model for us working with the poor of our city in Montgomery.

Last but not least, we have been blessed with our host missionary couple, Dave and Darlene Eby. For the last week, they have housed us, fed us, and loved us in such a sacrificial way. This trip would not have been possible without their leadership in directing us. They truly are a couple committed to building Christ's Kingdom in the country of Uganda.

From this trip, I know that every team member from Eastwood is considering where God would have them serve in the future. For right now, Montgomery is our Jerusalem, but we are trusting Him to make His will known to us as our lives are laid bare before Him. Pray with us, that what we have learned these two weeks, will burn with great conviction in our hearts. We are ready to come home and further the cause of seeing our city reached with the gospel.

We arrive back in Montgomery Sunday afternoon. Please pray for safe travel. God bless you.



Until He Comes,

Aaron

Pastor Frances

So I know the rule is only 1 blog per person, per day, but this guy is worth it. I wanted to share with everyone the story of Pastor Frances, a Rwandan, and a good friend to our team after going out on the streets together in Kagadi. Most people in America aren't aware of the turmoil that existed in Rwanda, known as the Rwandan genocide, but it's incredible to see God's hand even in something like this.

There are two main tribes in Rwanda: the Hutu, and the Tutsi. Pastor Frances is a Tutsi, and grew up in a small Rwandan village with his family. But in 1994, Hutu militia groups declared war on the Tutsis. Everyone in Pastor Frances's village was murdered, including his parents, brothers and sisters. In fact, there were at least 500,000 Tutsis killed over the course of 100 days. At this time, Frances was in a Catholic seminary to become a priest. He said that normally Rwandans have an i.d. on them that declares their race, but seminary students would only keep their institution's card on them. So when the militia groups came through the seminary with their guns, they took a good look at Frances and decided he didn't look like a Tutsi. "We're usually taller with longer noses," according to him.

He said he knew that God had a plan with keeping him alive that day. And I'd have to agree. Frances dropped his pursuits of becoming a priest, and after a long period of depression and anger, came to Christ and has since graduated from a Presbyterian seminary here. He's currently pastoring a Ugandan church here in Kampala, but hopes that someone will take it over one day so he can return to Rwanda with his wife and child where he hopes to train pastors and plant churches, even among the Hutu tribe.

People have many times asked me why God allows bad things to happen to good people. I don't really have the best answer, but I think that Frances's story sheds some light: two tribes that have rejected God and the Gospel engage in Civil War. Many people die, but one man lives that will later bring hope to the entire nation...... the hope of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb.

Frances asks for your prayers-- for his current church, and for Rwanda.
Jeremy

3 out of 5

Today our team took a tour of two college campuses here in Kampala. Some members of our team have backgrounds in college ministry, so it was encouraging to hear the incredible things God is doing at these schools. Kampala International University has a college ministry that started only 4 years ago, but now has over 600 students involved according to the leader of it, a Kenyan named Kennedy. He said that about half of them came to Christ in college! And these are students mostly from African countries outside of Uganda who will, for the majority, return to their home countries (and take the Gospel with them).

We later travelled to Muyenga, a wealthier part of Kampala, to share the Gospel with the residents of this gated community and hand out Bibles. It felt a little "Jehovah's Witness" to me, but the results were worth it. All of the houses have a guard that stands right inside the gate, and many residents weren't home, so there were a lot of guards that heard the Gospel today! A guard named Edward told me, after hearing the Gospel for what was probably the first time, that he would go home tonight and pray for salvation! And me and Steph Jones spoke with a mechanic walking by about the Gospel, and at the end we asked if he thought he needed Jesus. "But.... I am Muslim," he replied. I asked how a Muslim gets to Heaven, and he said by their 5 pillars, but he was only able to name 3. I asked if he upheld those 3 and he said no. We then talked about sin and grace for a little longer and gave him a Bible. We later passed him on the street, but he barely noticed us because he was reading the Bible while he was walking! These people are so thirsty for Truth, it's amazing. The false religions here don't seem to have a very tight grip on the Ugandans-- most have a nominal faith at best--so the depth and weight of the Gospel has a powerful way of captivating its listeners. Please be in prayer for our team as we head to the opposite end of the spectrum tomorrow--the slums of Kampala, where I hear we'll encounter many homeless AIDS victims. Thanks for praying! Jeremy

Moses and the Modern Day

"The woman conceived a child and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she coul hide him no longer, she got him a basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children'...And she named him Moses, and said,
Because I drew him out of the water.' " Exodus 2:2-6;10b

You may be wondering what this passage has to do with our time here in Uganda. Well, I have an answer for you! Today six out of our eight team members had the opportunity to go white water rafting down the Nile River. That's right! The Nile River...and it was an amazing experience! Not only because we got to have a great adventure here - or a Gue (pronounced gooey) "Great Ugandan Experience" as we like to call them, but also because we got to experience God's creation again today. Personally it was an indescribable experience to raft down the Nile River - a part of my history as a Christian. I could only think "wow I get to actually see one of the places mentioned in the bible" the words to describe it are hard to find. Romans 1:19 & 20 is called to mind though, which says "because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, and His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." For those who don't know, the Nile Rive is about 50 feet deep and the white water is created by such a massive force of water flowing through a small expanse of space - not by rocks like most cases. It is a marvelous thing for the eye to behold! "Bless the Lord O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; ou are clothed with splendor and majesty,....He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter, forever and ever You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled, At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away." (Psalm 104: 1, 5-7) This is our God - He is the author of creation and at His command it obeys.

Rafting down the Nile was not only an indescribable experience, but it was FUN!! We had a great guide named Jeffrey who is native to Uganda. We started out slow...swimming through the first very small rapids...but after that - WHEW!! What a day! The total trip consisted of about 10 white water rapid areas, most being level 3 rapids, with several level 5's scattered in there. We had a picnic lunch on an island in the middle of the Nile, then headed on for the BIG one! Well...they actually call it the BAD one...and it is the final rapid of the trip. Five of us decided to raft it and let me just say it is not for the faint hearted! We actually had to move the raft around the first part of the final rapids because it is a level six...and way to advanced for us - or most people at that. So we reboarded...got into position and headed into the rapids. We made about 20 seconds and then over we went! I can now say I have experienced being plunged into the rapids of the Nile River and then shortly spit back out! When I finally surfaced I was suprised to find that the storm that had been threatening itself had finally begun and it was pouring down rain. By the time everyone got back into the boat from the flip, the rain had subsided and the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen was stretching across the Nile from end to end. So not only did we get to experience one of the biblical locations, we also got to see one of the first signs of God's covenant with His people! What a day!

I know that you must think that rafting the Nile was the highlight of my day...but it isn't. On the ride to the Nile, Adam and I had the pleasure of sitting next to a guy named Bjorn from Norway on the bus and sharing the truth of God's word with Him. Bjorn is 26 year old guy vacationing in Uganda - he has investigated religion somewhat and come to the conclusion that he believes the Big Bang theory and that we are all on earth by chance and that our death will the final for us - not heaven or hell or afterlife. It was very challenging and convicting to share with him. My eyes were opened in a very real way that the battle we are fighting against the enemy is changing daily and that his lies are great and many. Our world is quickly changing into one where we aren't merely sharing Jesus Christ as saviour of our sins - we are rapidly facing a culture of people who don't even believe in sin. Our battle is great and daily.

Please continue praying for us!
Much love,
Jenna

Schools and Monkeys

I don't even know where to begin---this has been an amazing 10 days. Today has been such a busy day!! We have been sight-seeing around Kampala. This morning Dave and Darlene Eby took us to the Zana Presbyterian property, where a grammar school, church and seminary school were located. It's incredible to think about how many Africans are coming to the reformed faith through this ministry. We met many teachers, children and refugees today that have been transformed by the Gospel. It was such an encouragement to meet two refugees from the Congo, Emma and Cliff, who fled their villages and families being burned, crossed the border to Uganda and then put in jail for a week (they were mistaken as soldiers). After leaving jail, they saw the Zana Presbyterian Seminary sign and walked into the office where they met Darlene Eby, telling her they had nothing but wanted to get an education. Darlene got them scholarships and now they're both in their first year of seminary, where school is only $500 a year, which gives me a burden to support students who desire to study sound doctrine.
I'd say my favorite part of the day was seeing how schools are different here as compared to America. I got to observe a first grade class room, which is what I teach back home. The children were so teachable and well-behaved!
This afternoon a group of us went to the zoo, where we played with monkeys and petted a rhinoceros. It was a fun time of fellowship!
Tomorrow we will be facing THE NILE RIVER on a white water rafting trip! Pretty cool that this is the same river that's throughout a lot of the Old Testament. Please be praying for our safety, and that we would be prepared to go into the slums of Kampala the following days. ALSO, please pray for Chris--he's been sick for the last 2 days, but has seen a doctor (Dr. Ed, from the Oak Mountain team) and is starting to feel better.

By His Grace,
Sarah Autrey

Our First Day in Kampala

Monday was a great day for our team! We were able to sleep in a little bit and awake to eat breakfast together. The goal of our day was to rest some after a long hard week in Kagadi. We drove into Kampala and went to a mall there because of the promise of an American hamburger at a restaurant there(yummie!) and to exchange our American money for Ugandan. While there, we did some shopping in some of their stores and one of their supermarkets(closest thing we have seen to an American marketplace). Driving through Kampala was an experience, to say the least. The city was bustling with life and industry and we saw lots of people walking to and from business, mopeds(or boda-boda's as they are called) scooting in between car lanes, and several more Western faces than we had seen in Kagadi. As I looked at the city, I could see it's poverty and the way it is still in need of Jesus's Kingdom, but at the same time, I could see Christ's presence in the city already and could faintly make out the dream of what this city COULD be! We also went to a station of market vendors and bought some authentic African articles and got to experience bargaining down the vendors. We came back to the Eby's after that and experienced a little downer for the evening....our teamate Chris Goodman got sick with a fever and Dave and Aaron ended up taking him to the hospital - the good news is that he is fine...a little weak though. Some of us sang songs by candle while they were gone because electricity was on a shortage. It was a good restful day overall and we are thankful to be here and are loving Uganda, Kagadi, and now Kampala. Please continue to pray for us that God would work in and through us to impact this nation and city for Jesus and His Kingdom. His Church is here already and we are excited to be apart of it! --Adam Shields

Busy in Kagadi

Well, we've had two busy days and have gotton behind on our updates. We just arrived safely in Kampla a few hours ago. It took about 7 hours again and longer because of the insane traffic in Kampala! There are no traffic lights and no rules for the road and the city is absolutely huge. A two lane becomes a four lane and we are literally inches from other cars! The first thing we did was have a hot meal of spaghetti and meat! God watched over us and answered the girl's prayers for a hot meal and showers when we got back! Let me update you on the last two days...there is so much so I'll try and put it in a nutshell! Thursday was another day of evangelism in the village going door to door. It has been so amazing to see how God prepared the people of Kagadi's hearts to hear the good news. Here are a few highlights from the day: Another Muslim became a believer. Pastor Aaron and Gerald(a Ugandan seminary student) shared the gospel with an entire school. Normally, you have to get written permission to go into a school, but Gerald walked in asked permission and they let them share. Chris, myself, and three Ugandans (Pastor Francis from Rwanda, Gideon, and Charles) got invited into a woman's home. Two other of her friends were there and we stayed for over an hour sharing with them. All three of them were married and had marital problems. It was so neat to see how God prepared their hearts. All three of them prayed to receive Christ and got to encourage them in how to love their husbands even when it is difficult. Thursday 10 of the believers (Ugandan pastors, Pastor Eby and Pastor Aaron, and the guys on our team) went to a cult leader's compound to talk to him. This man has over a 1000 followers and has a compond about 10 kilometers away from Kagadi. Their meeting was put on the Uganda radio so everyone could hear the believers challenge this cult leader with Truth. Please continue to pray that God would break down the deception that people are under and the power of the gospel will prevail. His Word does not return void! Thursday also, I (Stephanie) shared my testimony in front of the village of Kagadi and Adam preached at the crusade. Friday Jenna shared her testimony and Pastor Aaron preached. Friday our team helped the Oak Mountain medical team. That was definitely hard for some of us initially, just to see so much sickness and poverty. But we were reminded what our purpose was, which was to love these people and share the love of Christ through mercy and sharing of the gospel, and share that we are not promised physical healing in this life but to look forward to the eternal hope that Christ gives. Saturday we went to a real Ugandan wedding that lasted about 5 hours! It was amazing to see two believers joined together to labor in Kagadi to expand his kingdom together. What a privilege that we got to experience that! Finally, today was the very first church service for the church plant in Kagadi. We met in a small building in the middle of town. It was filled up with people and the excitement for the church God is birthing was so contagious! Please pray for Lazarus and his wife Prossy and John and his new bride Topista, who are the two couples pioneering this church in Kagadi. There has been so much God has done in the past few days that I'm sure we can all fill in the gaps with you when we get back! But until then, here are a few highlights we as individuals on the team have learned: God using us mightily in the midst of our inadequacy, the Ugandan's countenance and passion for Christ is so overwhelming, learning to love the unlovable, the pastor's and seminary student's vision to expand God's kingdom through evangelism, discipleship and planting churches throughout the nation of Uganda, the power of prayer, living simply, being purposeful in evangelism. Thank you so much for your prayers, we covet them!

In His Grace and Peace,
Steph Jones :)

Fourth of July in Uganda

About an hour and a half into the morning we realized that it was the 4th of July and we were a long way from home. This was our first day out sharing the Good News with the people of Uganda and the anticipation was exciting. Before entering the streets of Kagadi, we were able to meet our translators and fellow brothers and sisters, who accompanied us in evangelizing. The joy and passion in these wonderful people is tremendous. They often comment that they "love Jesus too much" and cannot stop from sharing the gospel. Their faith is contagious and the Lord has blessed this mission with racidal hearts for Jesus. During our first greeting we shook hands, sang praises to the Lord, and established a plan of action. We are the "army of God" said one of the local pastors from the Mabali Presbyterian Church. We set off on our battle for the Lord and it was indescribable to explain how the people of this town responded to hearing the gospel, but I will humbly try to share with you the Lord's work here. The Kagadi people are hungry for the gospel. They ask us to preach to them and many of them desire to know Jesus as the Savior. Last night at the Crusade a student from the Westminster Seminary in Philidelphia preached from Isaiah 6 and it was a moving message. It was apparent the Lord was upon him. Jeremy Short shared his testimony before 200 or more people. Tonight Jenna and Stephanie will share and Adam Shields will be preaching. You would be so proud of the Eastwood team, who are unashamed to proclaim Christ. The medical team from Oak Mountain team from Birmingham work endlessly and have such a joyful servant spirit. Pulling teeth, women's health issues, and treating all kinds of ailments while seeking to share Christ- they are amazing! Personally, the Lord has broken my heart here. I want to praise His holy name. Thank you for your prayers! Please pray the the Lord will continue to have His hand on this mission and will transform the town of Kagadi.

In His Name,

Abby

Arriving In Uganda

Being 8 hours ahead of central time, we should have gotten jet lag. There was no time for jet lag on the most challenging, eye opening, body taxing, and incredible adventure we have ever been on. As soon as we got to Uganda we travelled 7 hours on a bumpy dirt road in the rain. There was animals, people everywhere, dodging vehicles stuck in the mud, getting stuck in the mud, running out of gas, and getting to our destination in the bush of Uganda at 2 at night. The first day was evagelism door to door in the day and a meeting with song, testimonies, and preaching. Unlike America, the Ugandan's love to talk about God and receive the good news of Christ. We have seen many conversions. I was able to lead my first Muslim to Christ, Praise God for the power of the gospel. Pray for the gospel to transform the town of Kogadi. Not much time...the Lord has kept our health and answered our prayers. Aaron's back is great! All of our bags made it except mine(Chris). It is now recovered but I'll be without it for a week. This has been the greatest ministry experience of my life. Thank you for your prayers and support. For our King!!! Chris Goodman