Invisible Children

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=invisible+children&hl=en&sitesearch=#

Videos from our trip to Barlonyo

Videos from the camp that was attacked by the LRA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FupcMYfGyoc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTVUyDz0Z0M&feature=related

John

pat's perspective in photos

pastor johnson and pat, brothers in Christ

avocado tree (one of gibson's favorite foods)

alice, pat, johnson, and two-year-old princess delight enamu

bus shot

ugandan hospitality

Jesus loves the little children...

leven, sharing the testimony of God's grace in his life

amanda, doing the same

 all are precious in His sight...

a village in northern uganda

worship - with whistles!

anna ruth worshipping with pastor johnson at the crusade in lira town

a beautiful country

the nile

posing pat

baptized

our good friend, frank, with a new t shirt

Widow's Ministry in Slums of Kampala

This is a video of the widows in the Slums of Kampala who through the ministry of another widow named Jeninah (who is actually on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and a native Ugandan) are able to come together for Bible study. Because of their new-found profession of making necklaces from homemade paper beads, many of the widows who previously crushed rocks all day long for pennies a day, are able to at least live a life that isn't so stringent. One of the widows told a story of how rocks would fall and crush their children where the used to work. Many of them are HIV positive and still face many obstacles to say the least. They made a special point to meet us here the day the video was made. They gave us beads and sang this song for us (a completely humbling experience). All they asked was that we be marketers for their beads. So if anyone knows anyone who would like some beautiful bead necklaces or bracelets, feel free to write a request here, or talk to someone who went on the trip. They really are fashionable, but unfortunately I don't have a photo. If someone has a photo, please post it.

friday and saturday

on friday morning, craig preached his last sermon at the pastors' conference.  he focused on Philippians 3:7-11, in which paul shares his desire to KNOW Christ.  he talked to the pastors about the different names of Jesus given in scripture.  

afterwards, the team gave out ties and scarves to the pastors and their wives.  then, in typical ugandan fashion, the people said goodbye to the team for about an hour and a half.  each member of the team received special individual gifts and had a chance to say a few words to the pastors.  

in the afternoon the team went back to the "crusade" or "revival" in lira town.  craig was preaching on the prodigal son when a big storm developed.  pastor johnson led them while they sang through the storm.  pat remembers singing "blessed assurance."  

after they ate dinner, they were surprised by a visit from the governor of lira (i think that's what her title is...).  she came to say goodbye and thank you.  she said the people of uganda are intent on pursuing recovery and development after the war, and she is excited about the unity of the church.  she is a Christian and said that she knows that God is the only One who can truly bring recovery and development to her people.

saturday

after breakfast, the team left lira and began the 6 hour drive back to kampala.  on this drive they crossed the nile river.  we haven't had very good experiences at this crossing.  you might recall that in 2006 we got arrested for stopping and going down to the water.  the same thing happened to the team this year on the way north to lira.  well, this time, they called their new friend, the governor of lira,  and got a military escort to a special, beautiful scenic overlook and were able to walk down to the river and stay as long as they wanted.  it pays to know people!  

the team is utterly exhausted and ready to come home.  i'm sure they are overwhelmed and it will take a while to process all that they've seen and experienced on this trip.  i hope they took good pictures!

thursday

ok, so the update from yesterday first - i asked pat about the reaction of the people in the village when they received the Bibles, footballs, and clothes.  pat gave me an extremely detailed response.  he said, "it was awesome..."  oh well, i'm doing well to get the reports i'm getting!  

when they stopped at the school by the village, artistic leven presented the gospel using a story board, and JOHN ECKLEY led the altar call.  i tell you what, these presbyterians are stepping outside their comfort zones this week!

there were about 300 people present at the pastors' conference today, so the attendance has been steadily increasing each day.  2 women have prayed to receive Christ during the conference - that's the beauty of it being open to the public.  and this is so great - one of the women who attended the first couple of days was pregnant.  she had her baby (today, i think) and guess what she named her little girl???  CHARLESTON!  i love it. 

pat, jessica, john and barb hildreth, and the aleles traveled to jimmy's village today.  this is a very remote area.  we went there two years ago and we were the first white people who had ever been there!!  they visited with jimmy's dad and received an incredible welcome from the church there.  since we were there they have been able to put a roof on the church, thanks, in part, to some help from RPC.  the team members took wine and bread to give pastor aaron so that the congregation could partake in the Lord's supper.  oh, the things we take for granted! 

the rest of the team went to one school today - the school pastor johnson attended when he was young.  lori gave her testimony and over 100 kids came forward to pray to receive Christ.  praise the Lord!  

this evening the team participated in a "revival" of sorts in the open market in lira town.  i'm sure this was quite an experience.  i didn't get details here.  

one last thing - today was pastor johnson's birthday.  this will highlight what an amazing job todd christian has done planning this trip -  not only did they have gifts for johnson (a journal, a devotional book, and a signed picture of the team), they also had a cake AND candles!  unbelievable.  apparently they don't have a tradition of celebrating birthdays in uganda.  johnson said it was the first birthday present he had ever gotten.  wow!

the team said goodbye to joseph today.  he is getting married in two weeks!  they hope to see him sunday in kampala. 

that's all i've got for you.  does anyone else have any more details?  if so, please share! 

wednesday

i got a VERY brief update from pat and craig this afternoon: 

pat said they took the Bibles and footballs and some clothes to the village they visited Sunday.  i didn't hear what the reaction was.  they passed a school on the way to the village and stopped and spoke to the kids there on the way back.  they visited THREE schools today.  pat said they're like a traveling carnival.  haha.  pat had to leave the phone with craig so that's all i got from that part of the team.  

craig said the pastors' conference is going well.  he's getting tired - i think they all are - so pray that they would get some rest.  he said there were over 250 people at the conference and that yesterday and today it lasted until 6:00 pm!  (he also told me he heard that at one school 45 kids came forward and at another school over 100 kids came forward - i'll get details tomorrow.)  

here's one story for you:  a lady came up to craig and said that while he was preaching she went into a trance and fell into a sweet sleep - then she saw peanut plants growing up around craig as he preached the Word.  she said that means that the Word he is bringing will bear great fruit.  craig said that's the best excuse he has ever heard for someone just falling asleep during his sermon.  :)  

i hope i have more for you tomorrow.  thanks for all of your prayers!