For the Love of Africa Ministries
Mission Trip: June /July 2014
Special
Appreciation to You
Praise God
everyone! We have another great testimony about the amazing things For the Love
of Africa Ministries has done during their one month mission trip to Uganda,
Africa. Special thanks to those who
participated in prayer and financial giving and to Momma Mary, Bill, Wendi, and
Jena, who made up the FOLA mission trip team. I know it was not easy, but by
faith and because of your love for Uganda, you have allowed God to use you.
Surely our living God, who is faithful in all circumstances, was on our side
and I am so very proud to say, that by God’s grace, you did a great work and it
was a huge success.
Kampala Mission:
From the
time Momma Mary and the team arrived in Uganda, we saw God moving. We held a women’s conference in which they empowered
women in different areas. We did cervical cancer screening, awareness, and
treatment, as here in Africa it’s one of the leading causes of death in women. Wendi
Nelson taught them physical exercises to help strengthen different parts of their
bodies. Momma Mary empowered them on how to handle their families, taught about
work ethics, and helped the single mothers to know that they can make it in
life and shared her own experiences of God’s grace and mercy in her life.
Momma Mary preaching
We held a
2-day medical mission in Kampala, whereby 800
patients received free medical and dental care, as most of them are very
poor, live in slum areas, and had never seen a doctor or dentist before. We
also had very many complicated medical and dental issues, which needed referrals
to other facilities.
Among those
needing emergency care was a man from Congo who came to the medical mission. He
suffered with urethra strictures which he has had for 5 years. He had sold everything he had
to get treatment, but has been unable to do so. Later when he could no longer pass urine at all and was in so much pain, he went
to the hospital and they put in a supra pubic catheter (tube) to collect urine,
which he has now had for about two months. We prayed with him, counseled him, and
gave him strong antibiotics to help treat and prevent infections. AFRICA BILL
AND MOMMA MARY talked with him and found out he needs four to five surgeries to
correct the problem and each surgery costs around $1,400. Please keep him in
your prayers.
Momma Mary, Dr. Gilbert, patient, Africa Bill
Dr. Cissy and Africa Bill seeing patient
Kampala pharmacy
Wendi taking blood pressure
We visited our Mercy Junior School
which has 60 students. The children performed well for our
visitors, shared with them, and they had fun together. We also had children’s
ministry time with the children in Sunday school children’s church. The team
did an awesome job with them and presented them with cross necklaces and candy
and also passed out clothing to children in the Katanga slum area.
Presenting school supplies, etc. to Mercy Junior School
Passing out clothing to children in Katanga slum area
We also held a marrieds, leaders, and
pastors workshop at a Kampala hotel, where we shared about family planning, budgeting and finances,
family/marriage, and work ethics.
We celebrated the graduation of two
girls who have been sponsored
through FOLA’S sponsorship program. Shamiim
and Monica have just completed their studies in business administration and
nursing. They were thankful for what FOLA has done in shaping their future.
Celebrating FOLA sponsored college graduations
FOLA presented a wheelbarrow and tools to the local government leaders in the slum area of Katanga to help them clean out the water trenches that pass through this village of 70,000 to 80,000 very poor people. It is located directly behind our church, medical clinic, and school. We visited the places where we are planning our water projects that will provide clean water to the people in this community. Currently, many of them come to our medical clinic for medical assistance because of typhoid and malaria caused by infested mosquitoes that are breeding in the contaminated water.
Momma Mary presenting wheel barrow/tools
Katanga water project
Masindi Mission:
In Masindi, most
houses and churches are covered with grass, have no water source in the whole village, and walk about 5-6 miles to one dirty small source of running water which supplies the whole village. We held a 2-day medical mission in this area where 850 were treated, and also had crusades and
conferences with different teachings, garden seeds were distributed to pastors,
held children’s ministry, and ministered to government leaders. It was a huge
success and hundreds gave their lives to Christ.
Hardworking Masindi team
Patients waiting in line to be seen by doctor
Dr. Alex & Jena working in dental clinic
Dr. Gilbert preaching at crusade
Momma Mary passing out garden seeds to pastors
Kanungu Mission:
ANOTHER THING TO SHARE ON THIS TRIP
IS WHEN MOMMA MARY TOLD ME THAT GOD HAD PUT A BURDEN UPON HER HEART FOR THE
PEOPLE IN THE KANUNGU VILLAGE (DISTRICT) WHERE I GREW UP. THIS WAS NOT PLANNED
FOR IN THE BUDGET, BUT SHE KEPT ON SHARING HER HEART WITH ME. I also believed God and I was full of joy that
Momma Mary and all of you could think of such a thing to bless the people in my
village. Later she told me that someone gave money and she felt she was to keep
it for Kanungu. This made my day and I felt loved more than ever before. I am
so grateful and humbled.
We held a two-day medical mission in
this village of Kanungu with over 1,100 people receiving treatment, of which a
large number of patients traveled on foot for more than 25-30 miles to this
clinic. Many of them had never seen a doctor and a dentist in their whole life.
Many patients had emergencies and needed referrals. During this medical clinic 175 people gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
Kanungu pharmacy
Dr. Charles seeing patient
Dr. Derick working on dental patient
Momma Mary taking blood pressure
Pastor Michael sharing at spiritual clinic
We also held
conferences and taught pastors and leaders about principles of successful
ministry and also held crusades, preached the gospel, with many people
receiving salvation. This village was in bondage to poverty, witchcraft, and
other things which were torturing them, but God delivered them. We were
amazingly able to open church in one town called Katojo, which had no church at
all, as people would travel long distances of up to 25-30 miles looking for somewhere
to pray. The day we opened the church, we had more than 350 people in attendance.
Momma Mary & Dr. Gilbert teaching
Dr. Gilbert and Momma Mary sharing at crusade
Pastor Michael preaching at crusade
The team
visited my parent’s home, shared a meal, and ministered to many of them. We
also gave over 100 children and some adults clothing in that area also.
Giving clothing to the poor and needy
Sharing a meal at Dr. Gilbert's parents' home
Mbarara Mission:
The last
week we held a 3-day conference in another district called Mbarara and held a
1-day medical clinic there in which 300 patients were given free treatment. Many
people were saved, either in the medical clinic or in the crusades we held.
Conclusion:
·
In total, about 1,000 gave their lives
to Jesus and more than 3,000 people were given free medical treatment, many
were clothed, Uganda has been impacted, and we have seen a lot of spiritual
fruit.
·
Urgent need: we are praying and believing God
to provide finances to buy the building where the church, medical clinic, and
the Mercy Junior School are located in Kampala.
May the Almighty God bless you mightily
for supporting FOLA, Momma Mary, and Africa.
Yours in Christ service,
Dr. Gilbert Birungi
Uganda Africa
