Taking A Break

I finally got a chance to travel down to Kampala. I did plan to travel down at the end of February, but it did not work out because my co-worker was on his annual leave so I had to stick around and attend meetings that he would usually attend. Of course, being around is not always a bad thing because I sometimes get to spend some good quality time with close friends of mine in Arua, having a cup of tea/coffee along with some bananas and bread.
Now when I mention in the title of this blog entry "Taking A Break" I do intend to mention about my time in Kampala, but please do not be deceived that it is my only intention. The picture posted above is what you can also call as the African Tea Time, but again, anytime is Tea Time in Africa. The picture was taken after Sunday Service and this is where I can tell you that many people here would take breaks between morning and midday/noon.

It was certainly refreshing to get down to Kampala. I'm not so much of a city person but right now, I believe that sometimes getting away for a few days to get to the city is fine as long as I do not stay there for too long. The reason why I enjoy is not because of the city full of people nor the various restaurants there, but the amount of AIM members I can relate to and share with. Sometimes it can get repetitive to see the same people but unable to share on a personal basis on the struggles/challenges you are facing because they cannot relate to your situation. It was definitely worth it having to take a break in Kampala after the intensive training.

Can't Nobody Hold Me Down

I'm not sure about you but I use to enjoy Hip Hop/R&B a lot when I was young, or at least I would say 7-10 years ago. Doesn't the title sound a little familiar to you? If you've guessed P.Diddy, you're wrong, but if you guessed Puff Daddy, you're right! This entry isn't so much about the song, not P.Diddy/Puff Daddy himself, but it's what has nearly discouraged me that I would like to share about.

Just last weekend, I got a chance to attend a service at one of the urban churches (since I am still seeking a local community church to call 'home') in Arua. Since my last post about my first speaking engagement and hearing of how well it went, I suddenly had the Holy Spirit prompting me to speak to Ugandans about the topic of Lukewarm. After attending the service at the local church, I spoke with the pastor about possibly getting the opportunity to speak in one of their services in the coming weeks. As I spoke to him about what God has placed in my heart, another pastor questioned my desire to preach on Lukewarm because I mentioned John 3:16 and the Gospel in Africa being 'a mile wide and an inch deep'. It was the way the pastor spoke that discouraged me, but after giving it a few minutes of thought, I had to move on because I knew it would be unhealthy for myself. As the title of this blog states, Can't Nobody Hold Me Down.

I would like to ask you for your prayers, that the Holy Spirit would continue to speak to me about the upcoming speaking engagements. Pray that He will enable and strengthen me as I go to the local churches to speak about Lukewarm and for receptive ears. Pray that the words coming out of my mouth are not of my own, but from Him.
As I preach, let me remind you of the two passages that I am speaking on:
- Revelation 3:14-22
- Matthew 25:14-30

First Preaching Engagement: Lukewarm

After a long week of doing Discipleship Training, I had another major task, and that was to get ready and preach the next day after I finished the training. Something that troubled me a bit was that the youth that invited me told me only a few days in advance about this speaking engagement. I had to ask the individual of the age group that I will be speaking to. I first thought about speaking on relationships, but the Holy Spirit "nudged" me to speak on the topic of Lukewarm. I was thinking if it would be wise and that it might be too strong to speak on Lukewarm, but that was a thing that Satan wanted to assure of me and that was to not speak on something that is piercing to the heart.
Funny to know that as I preached, I remember how tired I was to begin with but later on as the time came for me to preach, I was not tired at all. Instead I was quite pumped and felt refreshed.
After preaching, I got a chance to reflect whether or not it would be a good idea to also reach out to the local churches. I really felt that preaching on Lukewarm is very important and that every one that is in the Church should hear this message. It definitely is not an easy message and I can even say that those who were in the service did not enjoy the message because it pierced their hearts. May we continue to pray that God will soften their hearts. The hardest thing about hearing this sermon is that it questions the congregation, whether they are going to say that John 3:16 is their ticket to Heaven, or maybe something else may happen in the end.

- Revelation 3:14-22
- Matthew 25:14-30

Pray With Me

I would like to first apologize for not updating my blog as often as I thought I would. Who ever knew that I would be as busy as this. For the past two weeks, I've been busy putting together a workshop on discipleship/leadership for the youth.
It was an 8-day intensive training where the youths attending would begin in the mornings doing door-to-door evangelism in specific areas. Once the afternoon came around, I then held the discipleship/leadership training for a couple of hours until evening hours where they now go back into the areas and display the Jesus Film Show.
There were times where I felt discouraged but it was a matter of frustration and things not going as planned. There would be some days where only 7-8 youths would show up for the training. There would be some days where the photocopy machine to get the handouts would not be working. Even though it was amazing to know that the projector is available to be used, throughout the 8 days, there was 7 days without power. You can just imagine how things were not going as planned. I was discouraged, but a few things encouraged me when I was told of the result for door-to-door evangelism.
A teenager was expressing interest to attend Sunday service and get involved with the activities. One of the youths told me that he is interested in using what he has learned from the training and to lead this individual. After the long training with many discouragements, this one encouragement lifted me up. I was beginning to worry a lot and doubt that the training was getting anywhere, but God reassured me that it is Him that determines whether He makes things happen, not me.
Please continue to pray with me and for me that the devil may not snatch this teenager away and that God will continue to be most glorified in the things that I do and trust Him to be the one who does great wonders.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Message To Missionaries

Missions is not about sending missionaries. Missions is about sending truth--God's Truth, the Truth of the Gospel-through missionaries. Missions is not about you giving your life away. Ministry is not about you just going out helping people. Missions is about a proclamation of who God is. It is a proclamation of who man is. It is a proclamation of what God has done for men in Jesus Christ. It's about proclaiming what men must do to be saved.--Paul Washer

Instead of updating you in this blog entry about what I've been doing, I felt a burden on my heart to spread this message to my fellow missionary partners in Christ. Please remember that God called us out to the field, not so that our supporters back at home can see that we're doing a great job and should "feel" for us, but so that He can get the glory and that His Name is proclaimed, not yours. Proclaim His Name, not yours.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.