WE BEGIN
with thanking God who gave her a compassionate heart, her vision for Africa,
and the journey mercies she received to come to Uganda. She reached here on 30th
June 2013. We kindly welcomed her with great pleasure.
We also
thank all of you who are standing behind this noble cause, the church pastor
(Pastor Gary), the leaders, and all church members for the great work you have
done in training Momma to grow in knowing God. You have made her to realize her
hidden potential, have helped her to discover her abilities, and have caused
her to see her assignment from God, which in this case, is being a voice for Africans.
God bless you so much.
One thing
that was interesting to us is that when she reached here, she told us that she
has smelled our air daily in America and her heart has been here with us in
Africa. She later said that Uganda is her second home and we were more loved by
her as she associated with everyone whom she met. There is something that I
noted during her stay. Women were telling us that we have never seen a white
woman who is free to associate with us like this one.
Our market
places are dirty and very crowded, but we thank God who gave Momma a heart of withstanding
all this. She moved into these market places buying clothes, etc. for the
children. Momma, thank you for being humble and for allowing God to use you in
all circumstances.
From the
time she came, she was staying in the children home. She spent much time interacting
with the children and they liked her as their grandmother. They could play and
sing for her. She even looked after them
when they were sick, mostly Comfort and Ronald.
LET ME QUOTE WORDS FROM COMFORT. She says,
“Jaja omuzungu njagala kubela naye
bulikasela” meaning “Our white grandmother,
I want always to be with her playing, singing, and sleeping with her.”
Until now the children still share
their experiences about Momma Mary and four times since she has returned to
America, they have refused to go to sleep, wanting to see her and to talk to her.
SHE IS A BIG BLESSING TO THEM AND YOU WHO SUPPORT THESE CHILDREN ARE A BIG
BLESSING ALSO. GOD BLESS YOU MIGHTILY!!!
She was accepted
by my African parents and relatives. She associated with them and worked hard
with them during my introduction and wedding. Due to African culture, weddings
and introduction ceremonies here in Africa are very demanding and busy, as they
take much time and preparation. Momma
Mary stood all these pressures and challenges, moving up and down, rode boda bodas
(African motorcycles), and carrying on with things to make sure that the
wedding was a success. Indeed, it was a wonderful wedding. GOD BLESS YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THIS.
Masindi:
Apart from
having time with children we did a number of other activities. The first week
we went to MASIINDI, a remote district in Uganda, to number of churches I
oversee which has many people staying on this land. This land is fertile, but
they only have one water source which is a small well, so these people suffer a
lot when it’s the dry season. One time I went there and we didn’t have water
for bathing. It took them 5 hours to move to the well and come back, because
they found a big line of people fetching water. We keep praying and believing
with them for more water wells.
I was
touched by the way they welcomed Momma Mary. When we reached near the compound
of the church, many women and some men came carrying tree branches, along with some
of their local musical instruments. They came to greet us with singing and rejoicing.
(You need also to come and we can go there together. That’s when you can
understand it very well.)
I preached
in two powerful crusades in which about five hundred people attended with the
evidence of miracles, cures, wonders, and deliverances. Also, we held two days of conferences with 10
to 20 pastors, along with many people who attended each day. We taught about
biblical family planning, budgeting and finances, giving and tithing,
nutrition, and marriage and relationships. People had a number of questions and
by God’s grace and guidance, we were able to help them understand and grow in
God.
We also had a
session on gardening where Momma Mary gave the farmers a number of seeds for
growing crops they could sell and also to improve their diet. She taught them
how to plant, grow, and harvest the crops they would be producing.
Recent News:
Recently, I
had another great meeting in West Nile place called Paidha, in the western part
of northern Uganda. Five pastors from Masindi found us in this place for two
reasons: to appreciate and give a report
of the conference and crusade we held in their land and to also attend and be
blessed more in the meetings I was conducting in this place.
LET ME QUOTE THESE WORDS. “BISHOP, WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A MINSTRY LIKE
MOMMA MARY’S, WHICH CARES FOR OUR SPRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS. PASTOR ISAAC
SAID PEOPLE WERE SAYING “GOD HAS REMEMBERED MASINDI. YOUR COMING TOOK US TO
ANOTHER LEVEL AND OUR MINDS WERE OPEN TO LEARN. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER MOMMA
MARY WILL COME BACK, BUT IT’S OUR PRAYER AND REQUEST THAT SHE COMES BACK TO
MASINDI.”
ANOTHER OVERSEER SAID, “GOD HAS GIVEN
YOU TO US AS A GO BETWEEN TO STAND FOR US. THE TWO DAYS WE HAD WERE NOT ENOUGH.
CAN IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO COME BACK AND TO COME FOR MORE DAYS?”
PASTOR MICHAEL FROM MASINDI SAID, “IN
OUR AREA MANY WOMEN WERE SUFFERING LIKE SLAVES, BUT MOMMA MARY’S TEACHINGS HAS
NOW CAUSED MEN TO RESPECT THEIR WOMEN, TO INCLUDE THEM IN DECISION MAKING, AND
PLANNING FOR THE FAMILIES. WE HAVE MADE GROUPS TO GO ON TEACHING THE SAME
THINGS IN DIFFERENT CHURCHES. ALSO, WE ARE WORKING HARD ON IMPROVING OUR DIET,
SO THAT WE HAVE A GOOD NUTRITION. BECAUSE OF THE TEACHING ON BUDGETING, SOME OF
US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY SOME SMALL PLOTS OF LAND FOR OURSELVES.”
The local
government and the police in this area recommended the work we are doing there.
I came know that they came around within the congregation and they sent a massage
through Pastor Isaac that what we doing there is what their people are lacking
and as a government they could not afford to do it.
Others also spoke, but these two
testimonies touched me so much. I came to realize that God HAS ORDAINED THIS WORK
that we are doing. It is not in vain!!! I have an encouragement to you who have
been supporting the work “For the Love of Africa Ministries” is doing. You are investing
in a fertile ground, there is fruit, and if you have not seen it, begin to look
for it. For those of you who have been supporting “For the Love of Africa
Ministries,” God is about to bless and reward you. I encourage you to do
more!!!
Kibale:
Another
interesting report came from Kibale, Denavensi’s village, where we conducted a crusade,
a conference, and also held a medical mission in which 383 patients were seen.
Pastor Rosemary of this village tells us that our program, preaching, and information
about the medical mission were put on the radio. She says people traveled over
35 kilometers to come and many people started coming two days before we arrived.
They thank God and appreciate the work we did in this place, as the people were
blessed so much.
Kampala:
We held a
conference and a medical mission in Kampala at the church where I pastor. I had
not seen Momma Mary preaching like how she preached this time in our church, because
the Spirit of God used her mightily. She gave us words of wisdom and
encouragement. Our church members like this!
We had an
afternoon session in which Momma Mary taught on budgeting and finances. She
also talked about budgeting our time. I can also testify that this teaching has
helped members of the church to grow. It has also blessed me personally in
implementing many other activities and even the vision of “For the Love of
Africa Ministries” here on the ground. Having our main church in Kampala and
still renting, the bills and expenses are very, very high on a monthly basis,
so it was hard for the church to manage. But because we were challenged by Momma
Mary’s teaching, we have since that time seen a big improvement in handling our
expenses and bills.
We have a
big slum surrounding the church and during the trip time we visited the slum
and found a big need to transform this land through improving their water
system, health, hygiene, etc. Please pray for this area, that God would use
Momma Mary to help bring change here.
Any kind of
support you give is a big blessing and impacts Africa immensely.
As I finish
this experience, I want us to stay focused on one thing at a time and one day
at time. Our God reigns!!! To Him be all
glory, honor, and power.
Yours in
Christ service
Dr. Gilbert
Birungi
