I was sooooo very blessed by the respect, love, care, and
concern that my African brothers and sisters in Christ had for my well-being
and safety!! A few of my sons were VERY
protective of their Momma!!! (Dr.
Gilbert, Alex, Sam, and Elia should know all about that!!!) I teased them that even my own children are
not THAT protective of me!!!
We saw over 200 patients at a medical mission we held
at Devine Mercy Medical Clinic in Kampala.
This is the same medical clinic we built from the ground up. It has
been of great service to the community and has seen 971 patients, since it
opened its doors this past February.
Thank you, Jesus!!!
Momma Mary & Dr. Gilbert outside Devine Mercy Medical Clinic
Speaking to patients at Devine Mercy Clinic medical mission
I was so very excited to have the privilege to visit Mercy Junior School that we started several months ago!! It was really neat to meet the children in person and to see how much they are progressing!! Pastor Michael is doing a fabulous job of acting as administrator over the school and the teachers are doing a super job of helping to give the children a good education. Because God provided the finances, we were able to purchase children's tables and chairs and also a badly needed computer printer, so it was really neat to see it all first hand.
Momma Mary passing out candy at Mercy Junior School!
Children during quiet time at Mercy Junior School
While I was in Uganda, Dr. Gilbert and Isaac took me into
the village located behind Mercy House of God Church, where Dr. Gilbert pastors. What I saw was unbelievable!!! There
are about 10,000 people who live in this VERY POOR slum village. Besides the EXTREME poverty, the running
water there flows out of 2 PVC pipes into an open stream, causing it to be a
breeding ground for mosquitos, which become infected with malaria, typhoid and
other deadly diseases. This particular
village has had many deaths due to these dreadful diseases. God has burdened my heart for this area!!! We are checking into what can be done to
rectify the water contamination problem and are
praying and believing God that we will be able to make a difference in
this village.
Walkways are very tight and narrow in this village of 10,000 people!!
Living conditions here are very poor!!!!
This is a normal scene in this area!!! This area needs our help!!!
Momma Mary & Dr. Gilbert outside slum area!!
Momma Mary sharing on importance of Nutrition!
Dr. Gilbert sharing on Family Planning
Dr. Gilbert & Momma Mary answering questions during Budgeting/Finance
Momma Mary giving instruction on growing fruits and vegetables
Africans using musical instruments they made for praise & worship
Parade held in Macindi where I was gifted with a live chicken
Also, Dr. Gilbert preached 2 very powerful crusades in Macindi, where there were over 500 people were in attendance. Much
transformation took place and there were multiple testimonies of people who were
healed, delivered, and set free!!! Two
ladies, in particular, were delivered from demons. It was during these crusades that I came to
more of a realization that my son is a fiery young preacher!!!!
During the 2nd week, we went to back to Denavensi’s
(the girl whose life we saved in 2012 and the first child we took into our
Mercy House Children’s Home) village in Kyakabadiima, in the district of Kibale,
to hold a medical mission and to teach and preach the gospel. There were over 200 people who had come from the area surrounding Kyakabadiima, who had waited overnight for us to begin the medical mission the next morning. During the medical mission we saw 383
patients, of which 70 were dental patients. There were a great number of patients we were not able to see because of the time restraint and budget.
Momma Mary preaching at Kyakabadiima
Patients waiting to be seen at medical mission at Kyakabadiima
Patients picking up their prescriptions at medical mission
Man seen at dental clinic at Kyakabadiima
Another of my fiery preacher sons, Elia, preached the
evening crusade in that same village, with people getting saved, healed and
delivered. One woman who had come to the teaching during the day had a severe eye
problem as she would constantly have her hand covering her one eye, as if in a
lot of pain. Elia laid hands on her, her
eye opened, and she stated that she could now see out of that eye. We give God all the glory, honor, and
praise!!!
Elia preaching at the crusade in Kyakadabiima
Also, while I was in Kyakabadiima, I met Denavensi’s
grandmother and their family. Because of
our saving Denavensi’s life, they blessed me with the gift of a live goat,
millet flour, Irish potatoes, and cassava.
I was very honored by their
generosity, acceptance, and kindness shown towards me!!! They are very poor,
yet blessed me beyond measure!!! I KNOW
that God honored it and will bless them back in multiple ways, as no one can
ever out-give God!!!
I spent some very good time bonding with the children at the
children’s home we started in October 2012!!!
I was sooooo blessed by how well
they are progressing, as Dr. Gilbert has done a very excellent job with
them!!! They are very kind, polite,
respectful, not demanding, and the best thing is that they love Jesus!!! I feel that God has so blessed me with getting to build a friendship with them and I look forward to it growing!!! Grandma Mary loves you Denavensi, Comfort,
Doreen, and Ronald!!!!
Momma Mary blessing the children with gifts!!!
Momma Mary with Doreen, Denavensi, Comfort, and Ronald
Also, I was very impressed by Nora, the very hardworking
caretaker at the children’s home!! She
works tirelessly to make sure all ends are running smoothly!!! She and I worked well together doing dishes!!! Hats
off to you, Nora!!! You are a God-send and a blessing to the
children’s home!!! Dorovico, one of
our sponsored young men, also worked soooo very hard to help out on all ends
and has such a servant’s heart!!! I have
seen such progress in him since I came to know him. It was soooo very good to get to meet him in
person and work on building a friendship with him!!!
You will have to ask Dr. Gilbert and Alex about my boda boda
(African motorcycle) rides!!! Too bad we
do not have pictures!!! LOL!!! It was
quite something else and I am ready to go again!!!!
One of the greatest highlights of the trip was seeing and
being part of Dr. Gilbert & Dr. Cissy’s introduction ceremony and
wedding!!! This was my first African
introduction ceremony and wedding and it was surely something to remember!!! I even got to wear African attire to the
introduction ceremony!! Dr. Gilbert (and his family) & Dr. Cissy
did an excellent job of making me feel like family and a part of their very special
day!!! Congrats Dr. Gilbert & Dr. Cissy!!! I love you both!!! May you always be as happy as you are
today!!!
My leaving to come back to America was a real "tear jerker"!! I had
to make Alex, Sam, & Elia promise we would sing praise and worship songs
all the way back to the airport, so I could re-focus and gather my composure
and wit!!! We did and it has become a very special memory for me!!! I can
so see that the love Christ puts in us for each other, NO MATTER THE DISTANCE,
is real, viable, and alive!!!
Each time I go, I go to be a blessing, but I feel that I am truly the one who comes home so very blessed, as EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM have enriched my life in sooooo very many ways!!!
Each time I go, I go to be a blessing, but I feel that I am truly the one who comes home so very blessed, as EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM have enriched my life in sooooo very many ways!!!
Until we meet again, I love and miss
you, Africa!!!
His servant,
Mary
