Friday, July 13, 2007

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

2 comments:

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jjgbajohn@aol.com said...

We are all praying for you guys! and are thinking of Elijah on his birthday! Hope you have a amazing Ugandian birthday! We love you Elijah Bear! Happy 15!
Spencer, Emily, Papa,Grandma, Alexis, Devin and Brandon