Worldwide Crusades Travel Blog
Judy' Africa Journal Kenya Dec. 25, 2009
5 January, 10:41 AM by John Butterworth
We leave in the am for Kenya. Everything is going well. I have been very tired as we put in very long hard days. The video work is a huge project for me, but I am getting it done. Peter is going to Kenya to help me there, too. He will be good help. There was an extra cord in the speakers mic sack that I don’t know what it is for.??? The co-ordination of getting the speaker’s mic turned on on Bill hasn’t worked real well, but there’s always the ambient… hopefully!
We went to the orphanage out in Lake Victoria yesterday. That was an adventure! I wouldn’t have gone when I got to the boat and saw the situation, but I was reminded by Drake all the way to the launch that he had made special arrangements for me to get there in a car, rather than a bike. He thought that the motor on the old wooden boat was what made everything ok for the boat ride. Getting in the boat was difficult. I’m sure that the locals standing around were enjoying it way too much. Getting out was even scarier. They insisted on carrying me out and up the steep rough bank and I insisted that it wasn’t going to happen. I found it too difficult to trust them. They carry the women out at this place all the time, but they wouldn’t ever be the same if they carried me!!! Finally they jockied the boats around and helped me transfer to another rocking boat and then they held my hands while I stepped up the cliff myself. We really enjoyed visiting the children. One little girl was so sad when I left. She will always remain with me. The kids sang and danced their traditional dances for us. Billy was like the Pied Piper with those kids. He had a ball!
Well time has slipped by and we are now in Mombasa, Kenya. We’ve tried several times to send email but it wouldn’t go.
The crusades here in Mombasa have been interesting. We are set up in a very poor area that is mostly muslim. Not very many people come out, but we know they are listening in the dark of their houses or out in the dark streets selling or buying at the little crude stands & shops, because our speakers are very loud. One young girl was delivered from demon possession the first night. She claimed she had been married to the devil. She was very happy afterward. It takes a lot of courage for these people to take a public stand for Christ.
Well here it is, Christmas Day. Something doesn’t feel right when it is so hot and sweltery humid. A few times we have caught ourselves wondering why they are playing Christmas carols “this time of year” because it seems like a very hot summer day! We especially miss you today.
We have had much difficulty with being able to send email. It has happened several times that we were able to obtain internet service but when we went to send the email it wouldn’t go and sometimes also just disappeared. For one thing, Mozilla doesn’t seem as reliable as at home. You techy guys will have to figure this out. People here say to use Internet Explorer instead.
Bill has been sick the last 2 days. He was finally able to eat a little this morning. It is hard to be sick so far away from home. The electricity went off as we arrived back at our hotel last night. It is difficult to sleep when there is no fan or AC after we had been spoiled with both here at this hotel in Mombasa. It sure makes you re-appreciate the cool room. This is the first fan or AC we have had this trip. The lights finally came back on late this morning. This hotel is clean and comfortable and we are resting well here.
Yesterday Billy and I were taken to a local game park that was developed in a reclaimation project by planting trees in a large area where cement had been mined. Many of the animals are loose and you can walk pretty close to them, others are in pens, ponds or fenced areas. It was a very long walk through the place, and we only had time to see half of it. I thought I was going to pass out from the heat and from getting too tired from all that walking. There wasn’t time to return to the hotel and clean up so they quickly picked up Bill and we hurried to the crusade. I was terribly tired by the time we finished taping the crusade and could sit in the car. I am still tired today, so we stayed in our room until the crusade tonight to rest. It is too much to do other things in the day on crusade days. Traffic is awful and the fumes are strong and it all adds to the difficulty.
Two more nights and we begin the journey home. We will leave Sunday and get home on Tuesday. It sounds like we will have to sit out the night in one airport before we can catch the next leg.
It will be good to see you all again when we get home. We think of you and hope that your Christmas time is blessed.
Love,
Judy & Bill, and Billy
Judy's Africa journal 2009 part 2
22 December, 01:15 PM by John Butterworth
Uganda
Friday, December 18th, 2009
Today has been quiet here in Mayuge. My malaria prevention pill made me quite sick so I have been resting. Later, after things quieted down I spent the rest of the morning loading pictures on the computer and checking our video work. We lost the electricity for a few minutes during the crusade last night so part of the video was ruined. Today I have been looking for two video tapes that have been lost somehow. One was from the camcorder I operated. I changed tapes in the darkness near the end of the service and when we returned to our house the electricity went down before we ate and nothing could be done with the equipment or batteries or tape labeling, etc. The other was the tape of the parade. I am trying to trust that they will turn up. Opening night of the crusade was wonderful. As the Word was brought forth God’s power was working in hearts. Many came forward for salvation and healing, and many demon possessed were delivered. It is new and brand new wonderful to see the joy and the transforming power of Christ each night of the crusades.
Saturday, December 19th
We woke up bright and early this morning but the power was still very low. The city seems to have issues of some kind with their power plant, of which I know nothing. The last few nights we’ve been here the power either is off or running on brownout. It is not yet corrected. I would like to charge batteries on everything I’m working with, but I am concerned about damaging equipment. The camcorder batteries can be charged on the separate charger but the net book is about out of gas and I will need to figure something out there. I think my camera helpers are doing a pretty good job. They are pleased to be included and are trying hard to do their jobs well. I am glad to have them help me.
Later: The electricity is corrected again. Those all-important batteries are feasting at the one plug-in. When we leave for the crusade this late afternoon we must be packed and ready to leave town. We must drive back to Kampala in the dark, tonight, immediately afterwards. That is something we usually try to avoid for safety reasons.
Tonight is the last crusade here in Mayuge. They have been going very well. Last night the President of Uganda sent his personal representative to the crusade to bring a message to us to thank us for coming and bringing the blessing of the crusade to this place. He also wanted to warn the people that they are expecting major trouble here anytime. The problem is about people who they say have moved into a forest reserve here illegally and are refusing to leave, so the military is coming to forcefully remove them. They expect it to be very violent. There are several villages and towns involved. He gave safety instructions and said that the Christian people are their highest priority for protection. Please pray for these people. The vision of all those children that have been coming each night facing such horrors is unimaginable. We are told that families here average ten children. Their wonderful little lives are so full of promise. It is hard to think about what could happen to them in the near future. Many kids came to the alter tonight to be saved. Please pray for these people as this is being resolved. Hopefully without war.
Well, the electricity is off again. The batteries only partially charged. So I will sign off until we get back to Kampala.
Judy & Bill
I will catch you up hopefully tomorrow about Sunday. I am too tired to get all the addresses up again tonight.
Judy's Africa journal 2009 part 1
16 December, 02:39 PM by John Butterworth
Uganda
Thursday, December 17, 2009
After many days of travel we finally made it to Kampala, Uganda and after a short night’s sleep our shoes hit the ground running. We visited the two orphanages in that area and enjoyed seeing the children there. It is so nice to see such happy, well behaved
children. They rushed to our car in a throng and took our hands and cried “Welcome! Welcome!” with genuine feeling in their little voices and love shining through their beaming faces.
We traveled to Mayuge, about 100 miles from Kampala in the late
afternoon. We will begin the first crusade tonight. It is raining
lightly this morning and we are praying for it to stop. The parade
last night was awesome! People here are very excited. The emotions were electrified!
Breakfast is being served as I finish this. Our morning entertainment has been a tame chicken that is determined to be in the house with us. It has been quite hilarious! We are headquartered in a house here in this city. There are no hotels. Our food is prepared and brought to us by a woman who has been hired to do this. There is no kitchen in this house. There is one plug-in. With cell phone chargers, lap tops,
battery chargers for camcorders & cameras, etc it looks like a big
spider web of wires coming off the center hub of one plug in. If the old TV or a fan gets turned on, the web would surely be reduced!
We have very simple rooms with tile floors, a single hanging light bulb, a bathroom with a crude shower in the middle of the room that comes from the ceiling. There is a tiny sink and a toilet with a seat. I said, a toilet with a seat! That makes up for the fact that there is no light in the bathroom and a night time trip to the lu becomes an adventure of its own kind! This is up-town for most of the people of this area. In 2009 it is hard to accept the conditions of so many peoples’ real life situations here in deep Africa.
One thing is for sure. The local committee has been doing their job of preparing the way for the crusade. What we saw last night as we entered the city was amazing. The tears streamed down my face as dark skinned hands reached to greet us as we drove along the rutted streets. You could feel the great hunger for the Gospel. None of the sparse accomodations matter. It is wonderful to feel the Lord’s Spirit working and preparing hearts to receive Him. Nothing can kill that anticipation. Not even the fact that due to a mix up at Joshua’s orphanage our suitcases were taken out of the rig and left there as things for the kids! We have been in the same clothes for several days and are waiting for our bags to arrive soon. Also, a time mix-up occurred concerning our plane arrival and no one was there to meet us. After a couple of hours we took a taxi from Entebbe to Kampala to the guest house we were to stay at. It all got sorted out and even in the anxious moments we were confident that God was really in control.
I need to sign off so I can send this. Drake has a 3G sattilite modem for his laptop and will help me send this. Miss you all, and pray that all is going well in your lives at this time. Please pray for us… and with us for what God is doing here.Love,
Judy and Bill
Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 5
27 January, 08:51 PM by John Butterworth
TANZANIA
January 23, 2008
We arrived safely here in Morogoro, Tanzania, and are very happy to see that internet is available here in our hotel, though with short hours. We had a good flight from Entebbe, Uganda to Dar Es Salaam and were blessed by a good road from there to Morogoro. Our Worldwide Crusades director for Tanzania, Daniel Mwangungulu, met us at the airport, and after a lunch meeting with several pastors and leaders, we had a pleasant drive with Bill and him catching up on the plans and arrangements for the week. We arrived there in the dark, but could see the outlines of rugged high mountains in the moonlight.
January 25, 2008
I was not able to write yesterday due to time conflicts while the email office was open for it’s short hours. The crusades are having good responses, but there are not as many people coming as the Tanzanian WWC organizers hoped for. The pastors here are struggling with unity and we understand that some decided to hold their own crusade at another location in town to thwart the WWC one. We have no clue why, but it seems it is a local problem. We are hoping that the messages being preached by Bill in the crusade, and by Cap in the seminars during the day will bring unity to the pastors and people as there is way too much oppression here for them to have success winning the lost if they fight the spiritual battles alone, let alone oppose each other. On a per capita basis, we are seeing more demon possessed people here than anywhere we’ve ever been. Many have been delivered the first two nights. Many people have asked the Lord to come into their hearts and lives as their Savior. Many have had prayer for healing, and we expect to hear testimonies coming forth of the results. There are only two more evenings here so we hope to see the Lord move on this place to bring the Christians together in a wonderful way. I have been very busy with the video project. I miss Derick! One of our beloved Kenyan pastors came all the way here to assist me with the cameras. That is a true blessing.
January 27, 2008
The computer room was closed for a few days, so we were glad to see the office open this morning. After my laptop died early in the trip it has been frustrating to only have access to a hotel computer when their hours dictated, and generally not on weekends. I think the poor computer room guy heard the whine in my voice and relented for a short time today.
The crusade finished here last night. We heard that the other competing crusade was cancelled. All the pastors finally got together the third night and it was wonderful to see all those brothers working together in one accord, especially the last night. The crowds were pretty big, I haven’t heard anyone estimate how many. This is the witchcraft center of Tanzania and we’re amazed at how many demon possessed people were there and were delivered. There was a continual stream of thrashing people being carried to a corral out behind the platform here at this place. There’s a lot I don’t understand about all this. We aren’t used to seeing this back home. All I know is that afterwards, once they are delivered, they have so much joy. Many people came for salvation, many for healing. Testimonies are coming in. Many we may never hear, but the locals will. Just having the pastors coming together in a spirit of oneness after there was so much division between them in this city was something that will continue to reap a harvest. We have ministered in other places with problems of denominations and pastors not getting along before, for various reasons, and the blessing of them working together afterwards has continued, so we pray it also will here.
The mountains that loom above this city are traditional places of blood sacrifice, both animal and human, from what locals are telling us. We have been involved in getting a radio station launched from here. The tower that broadcasts this new station is on top of one of these peaks. The equipment is to be flown into place by helicopter on top of the mountain some time in March. After that is installed and the station is operating the broadcast range will be eastern Tanzania and part of Kenya, the only protestant Christian radio station in this large area.
This last few weeks in these three countries of Africa has been an amazing experience, seeing so many thousands of people commit their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. I am in awe of His power to change hearts and change lives, to heal bodies and emotions, and to deliver from demonic possession. It is wonderful to share in the deep joy of seeing God at work! We are going home blessed!
Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 4
22 January, 08:46 PM by John Butterworth
UGANDA – again
January 21, 2008
We left early Eldoret this morning to return to Kampala, Uganda. This trip was easier on us because a different route was taken than before and it was a much better road, though longer. We stopped and took an hour to rest and enjoy the beautiful and powerful Bujagali Falls on the Nile River. After negotiating a price with two fearless young Kayakers, we watched and cheered as they battled their way down the tumbling white water torrents and actually lived to tell about it. Afterwards, they rested a bit and then began negotiating with new tourist arrivals to do it all over again. All in a day’s work.
As we left Eldoret, we passed once again the many rock road blocks and burned buildings and cars where violence had occurred earlier. What a blessing God had brought to this place to stop the fighting while we were there! God was answering prayers. Many were calling it a miracle. The police commissioner called Kenya Worldwide Crusades chairman Johnson Mauta to let us know that he felt our being there had made a difference and to thank us for coming under these perilous circumstances. The church was gathered together in one accord, regardless of the name over the door, and many people had accepted Christ as their Savior. It was satisfying to know that it made a difference. When we got back to Kampala, the Uganda WWC team rejoiced that we made the trip safely. There was concern we might get into difficulty, but God was with us.It is a very comfortable, wonderful 75 degrees (though steamy). We hear that there is way too much snow back home this month. The encouraging, newsy emails are wonderful to get. Especially when folks tell us they are praying for us. We can’t do this on our own. It takes a team from here and from home.
January 22, 2008
I finally got my revenge for Drake feeding us monkey in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year. I took a black rubber snake with me from an Oregon Walmart and the last morning in Kampala I laid it on the top step of our hotel cabin with the head going under the door into the room. We were out in the dining area eating our breakfast when Drake and our other brothers arrived to see us off to Tanzania. He went up to the door, saw that terrible snake heading under the door into our room, thought I was in there dead already and about had a heart attack. Bill and Cap headed up there when they heard the loud commotion and our African guys had that deadly snake pinned down with a stick and were trying to beat it to death. Bill walked up and wrestled the stick away from them and grabbed the snake by the tail. They tried to prevent him, but he prevailed and threw that snake right out into the middle of the screaming, scattering crowd, which even included Cap. After their courage returned a bit, one guy came up and started poking the snake with a stick and then the laughter began. Oh my!! I let LaVerne in on it as we sat drinking our coffee, but Cap had no clue. Only Bill. As bad as he hates snakes, I wish I could have pulled it off to get him, too! The problem was that he was there with me when I laid the snake. I’m afraid Drake is already scheming now for next time I come, but hopefully he will have some fun of his own with the snake he conquered and took home and will get revenge out of his system before I return again!
Derick flew home, as scheduled. The video work in Tanzania falls into my lap.
Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 3
21 January, 09:27 PM by John Butterworth
KENYA
January 19, 2008
It has been cold here. I have been longing for my Oregon winter clothes. The sun comes out part of the day and is very pleasant, but in the evening it has been shivery windy cold. Things were still peaceful here today. There are other places in Kenya that are still very violent, but God is answering prayer for Eldoret.
Derick and I were taken to the site where fifty-some people that had taken refuge in the Kiambaa Assembly of God church were burned alive. As we approached the church property, a police personnel carrier was ahead of us. They stopped at a house just before the church and the police all jumped out. Some ran into the building and some behind it, brandishing their guns and firing. We didn’t have the story on what this was all about, but their leader told us to go on so we most certainly did. Upon arriving at the ruins next to this place, we could see the police shooting at something just beyond the church property. It was surreal. Pastor and founder of this church, Reverend Stephen Mburu, told his story to us while Derick video taped it. We walked among the burnt tin roofing and ashes of everything that was there to bless the people and imagined the horror of what they went through. There were around twenty-five bicycles inside the building parameters which was now a heap of rubble. These had been put inside for safe keeping by the people in the community that had sought sanctuary in the safety of a church. There were enamel cups and plates, tea kettles and other kitchen items scattered throughout, testimonies to the fellowship the church people had shared. Sacks of maize were spilled on the floor. The church had been feeding orphans, we were told. We stood in the tiny room that had been the pastors office and heard the pastor tell how ten kids had died in there, screaming for help. He had tried to save them, but was attacked and savagely beaten up by the attackers and left for dead. There was a burnt wheelchair in the midst of the ruins that a crippled lady had been burned alive in. Some managed to escape, but we were told how three kids that were rescued were torn from the clutches of their rescuers and thrown back in to die. One man survived by immersing himself in the latrine pit until all was quiet and dark.
After we left the burned church, we went to a field by the crusade grounds where hundreds of people were killed over a three day span in a savage massacre. Armed with bow and arrows and machetes, tribes fought against each other, fueled by the political situation. Injured people, including children, were thrown in piles with tires and burned alive. The pastor that took us there picked charred remains of human bones out of the ashes in burn piles scattered throughout this field of blood while Derick video taped an interview with him. My emotions were bruised and I bounced in and out of tears all day. I felt drained to the core after walking where I had walked and listening to the recounts of eyewitnesses and survivors of these recent horrors.
People are still too traumatized to come out to the crusades in any great numbers. The ones who do come seem to enjoy the wonderful music and preaching and many respond. Many people leave as soon as it begins to get dark as they are afraid to be out after dark. They introduced local pastors tonight and the line was very long. No one thought to count how many. It is always wonderful to see all the different denominations come together in the crusades and pray and worship together in one accord. This is a tremendous blessing and encouragement to the pastors and believers as time goes on, no matter what denomination name is over their doors. No matter what city or what country. Or even which continent. We prayed that these people would reach a spirit of celebration. They desperately needed the emotional healing that the joy of the Lord would bring.
January 20, 2008
Tonight was the last night of the Eldoret, Kenya crusade and the crowd was quite a bit larger. Not the 80,000 the Kenya organizers had hoped for before the trouble ignited, but very satisfying in the situation. The people finally broke through the fear that had clouded the crusade so far. Tonight they broke into joy! They danced and celebrated, their faces beaming! They hugged across the political boundaries that had separated even the Christians, and even many of the pastors. This was very remarkable because when the crusade began there was a discernible stiffness that permeated the fellowship. We know now what a miracle the crusade is at all. It seems that the pastors and Christian believers were on opposing sides of this political election conflict. That was hard to accept. I haven’t heard that any of them were in the confrontations, but at first, it was very divisive in the crusade, because some weren’t going to sit together, pray together or even talk to each other. Not yet aware of this, tonight Bill preached on the commandment to love one another. It was perfect timing, and when he was done the people began to celebrate God’s love for them and love for each other. Now to see them worshiping together and loving each other has a whole new meaning. Praise God for the beginning of healing! They finally had to be told they needed to go home as it was getting very dark and safety was still an issue. There are still conflicts going on in other cities here, but right now Eldoret is happy. The crusade leaders (yes our Kenyan brothers are well) truly feel that the crusade is working to help bring peace here. In order for God to truly bring peace, those who have been affected by the killing must forgive the killers. We felt that a lot of this was going on tonight.
Cap Marks is doing a great job with the Leadership teaching sessions in the afternoons. He and his wife, LaVerne are enjoying being involved in this. Our son, Derick is doing a good job with the video project. He has some guys from here helping him. It has been good to have him with us. We’ve had good fellowship and hope we can do this together again another time. Lots of stories and memories have been fondly recalled, often punctuated by great rounds of laughter.
Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 2
21 January, 09:12 PM by John Butterworth
KENYA
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
We traveled the long, difficult road to Eldoret, Kenya today. A group of young men and boys approached us at the Uganda-Kenya border, some asking for Bibles, some boldly asking to be saved. One man got off a bus that was coming out of Kenya, and said, “I am a Muslim, but I need Jesus. Will you pray for me?” Bill gladly led him to the Lord. When several orphaned teenage boys that were selling water and cookies and passport covers saw the large crusade posters stuck on the sides of the van they gathered around our vehicle, imploring that the next time we came would we please bring them Bibles. We didn’t have any extras with us and felt really bad that something so urgent to these young believers had been overlooked. We take the possession of Bibles for granted, and to look into the eyes of this group that had so much desire reflected on their faces made us squirm. It felt like the future Christian leaders of this area were standing before us and our hands were full of treats and posters to placate them, but were blatantly empty of copies of God’s Word, which they had deep desire to obtain. They begged us to consider bringing a crusade to the area spanning the border in the near future and that is actually on the table now as a possibility for the next few years. They also were hoping to get sponsors to pay their tuition to finish high school so they could go on to become pastors. Not having parents had placed them in hardship and they were working as young businessmen to survive. People at the border were amazed that we were still going to Eldoret and a surprised customs officer said, “We will pray for you.” As we approached Eldoret, our driver pulled over to the side of the road and broke off some wild blooming lantana branches and fastened them to the front of our van as a cultural statement of our coming in peace. We noticed that most trucks and many other vehicles were bearing branches also. As we drove into town we passed many burned out cars, buildings and fields, etc. Groups of men stood around and stared with cold eyes. Large rocks had been put across roads and streets to stop traffic and give the fighters a stage, but had now been thrown over to the edge of the road, leaving a line of small rubble across the pavement. We wondered what the week would bring. No one spoke, but lips were moving as all eyes surveyed the carnage. We prayed that God would give us His protection and the opportunity to carry out the reason we were riding into danger. We were also keenly aware that our Ugandan brother who was traveling with us to deliver us to the Kenyan crusade team was in extreme personal danger as an Ugandan coming into Kenya in this political climate. If we had come upon a roadblock, he could have been dragged out of the vehicle and hacked to death with a machete. God was faithful and prepared the way through the opened roadblocks, and throughout our stay, no one asked for his passport.January 17, 2008
Things got pretty tense here today with a political demonstration in the streets outside the hotel. We stayed in the hotel compound most of the day. Bill and Derick went out for a while as they had a meeting with the pastors and crusade officials. I was supposed to go, but was dealing with a little tummy upset that could have just been jitters. I was a little tense about going out after listening to the shooting all day. Shots from tear gas launchers and AK47s were fired close to the hotel all afternoon. It was a little nerve wracking, so I was hoping that people back home were actually praying, not just saying they would. We were pretty safe in the hotel, with its thick cement walls and guarded gates, but you never knew with things like this. The police had been ordered to shoot to kill, but I was feeling uncertain about how they were choosing who to shoot at. We had not heard yet the news about it. We knew it was over the disputed election results, but news was presented hours later and often differed from first person accounts of people who were there. We didn’t leave for the crusade until it was over for the day. It was awful listening to the shots, knowing they were aimed at people. I was very glad we went ahead with the first Eldoret crusade tonight. Things were a little tight, but gradually loosened up. After Bill preached and the service was nearing the end, people ended up singing and swaying in tentative togetherness. It was a pretty small crowd of about 3,000, far short of the 80,000 that was anticipated before the fighting began. People were in need of a lot of reassurance that there would be no shooting or tribal rioting, and that the police wouldn’t break up our meeting, which they had given the permit for. We were the only group allowed to have a gathering permit in all of Kenya, but the local people weren’t feeling entirely secure that the police would honor their word to provide security. We anticipated that more would brave it as the week progressed, when they saw that things went safely. It was definitely a step of faith to go on with the plans for this crusade in this difficult environment. We felt God wanted to do something special for these people. The Kenyan crusade team had urged us to go ahead, they were confident that no one, including the local people, would be harmed. And no one was.January 18, 2008
Today all demonstrations and protests were canceled here in Eldoret. There was another demonstration planned near the hotel again, but it was called off. There was no shooting or tear gas. No machetes. Not so in other Kenyan cities. There was much burning and killing elsewhere. Everyone here was very relieved as they were expecting the worst. The reports vary a lot about the numbers of deaths and injuries in this whole thing. We want to interview eyewitnesses to get their stories. People have been terribly frightened. Many homes and businesses and seven churches were burned here earlier. Our crusade is being held near the field where hundreds of people died in a brutal tribal and political massacre. We could still see the blood on the grass. It was an amazing thing to see answered prayer with the crusade proceeding peacefully, and this was the only city in Kenya that the fighting had ceased in. We felt very thankful. Many people have come to Christ. We expect more out this weekend as more people are coming out of their homes and taxis are once again running. We believe we did the right thing by not canceling the crusade. We are held in high esteem by the people here for bringing God’s Word to them, especially under the perilous circumstances. The pastors were amazed that we were still willing to come. It is very humbling to be treated with such respect. We pray that the Word will go out that is right for these people, in this place, at this time.Judy’s Africa Journal 2008
15 January, 08:15 PM by John Butterworth
UGANDA
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
William Smith (known fondly by his family and friends as “Bill”) and I, (Judy, his wife) our son, Derick, and Cap and LaVerne Marks from Salem, Oregon, arrived in Entebbe, Uganda, Wednesday night after several long airline flights from our Oregon and Washington homes. We were greeted warmly by our good friend and Christian brother, Drake Kanaabo, from Kampala, who is our Ugandan Worldwide Crusades director, and several other pastors and special friends, including Uganda Member of Parliament, Dr./Hon. Sam Lyomoki, who was traveling with us to Arua, in the northern part of the country where our first WWC crusade was to be held. After traveling from the airport to our hotel in Kampala, we spent the night getting some much needed rest.
Thursday , January 10, 2008
We loaded up the rigs and headed for Arua, in Northern Uganda. It was a very long, beaten up road and we were all very relieved to finally get there. One of us was sick from the car weaving around pot holes and badly broken pavement at high speeds and then hitting deep holes anyway. We were all shaken up and very tired from the pounding. My eyes flashed bright lights in the total darkness of our hotel room that night, as a result of the difficult road.
We met some Christian fellows at a gas station on the way that were hauling a truckload of heavy-horned Watusi cattle to the Sudan. One man knew Drake, so they begged us to bring the gospel through a large crusade to their people in the Sudan. Their hunger to share the Gospel with their countrymen was compelling and amazing.
As we drove by village after village and passed hundreds of people walking beside the busy road, we learned more about what the local believers and preachers need to reach their own people in the thousands of villages that have never heard the Gospel. Most do not have a road to them, just a well worn foot trail. If they were supplied with a bicycle costing about $100.00 US, a battery powered megaphone costing about $50.00 US, and a Bible in their language, with teaching helps that costs around $70.00 US, a pastor can get to and reach effectively the villages near his own. These pastors are eager and passionate about winning souls to Christ, in places that no one else can effectively go. The pastors that we gave megaphones to last year have been very busy using them and have won many to the Lord with this tool. There are many more begging for them, but money was not budgeted for it this time. There are too many villages that still wait for the Word.We tossed gospel tracts and handbills to people walking by the road, many with heavy and cumbersome loads balanced on their head. Without fail, they always ran to pick them up and we never saw any thrown back on the ground as we watched in the rear view mirror. Kids raced along side to get their own. There was never enough to fill every hand that sought one. Drake told us that these would be treasured and saved. Many would end up hung on the wall. All would be read and reread, and that by many eyes.
We were greeted at the city’s edge by a throng of people who led us up and around the city, through the market area, and then on to the crusade grounds. With music blaring from a very loud speaker system on a truck, they danced in the street while we slowly made our way through town. Local leaders preached and invited all to come to the crusade. Many Muslims were in the crowds that smiled and waved as we passed slowly by. Thousands of posters were plastered everywhere, huge banners were strung, and billboards announced the coming crusade, so this was not a surprise. The Uganda crusade team, led by Drake Kanaabo, had been working hard to promote this event. Folks from Paidha, Uganda, and Aru and Mahagi, Democratic Republic of Congo, where we held crusades a year ago were arriving, also. Our eyes searched for familiar faces, hoping to see our friends once more.
Friday, January 11, 2008
We are staying in a quiet hotel outside of town that seems to have pretty good security. It has some nice landscaping with lots of flowers and even some water features. They are struggling with a low water situation, so we haven’t been able to have showers yet. It is abnormally dry here, and many people are struggling with the water shortage. We have also been without power most of the day. I guess it is on for a couple of hours in the morning and again for a few hours in the evening. The hotel runs a diesel generator and fuel is extremely high. We had to buy black market fuel to get here at $10.00 per gallon because of the bad situation in Kenya. Not many trucks (including those carrying fuel) are willing to pass through Kenya to get here at this time because of the killing going on there. A decision will be made tomorrow about whether we go to Kenya or not. As bad as we want to carry through with the plans, it is unthinkable to risk the lives of so many people if the authorities decide it is unsafe.We had a great time at the crusade tonight. We haven’t heard an estimate yet on how many came, but it was a lot of people! We will probably hear testimonies tomorrow of people that were saved, healed, and delivered from demon possession. There were many demon possessed people that were hauled up on the platform and prayed for. I watched several girls writhing in agony as the spirits were cast from them and watched as their countenance switched from ugly contortions to bliss as they were released. The local pastors are so happy to have the encouragement and blessing of seeing their people touched by the Lord in such awesome, meaningful ways.
Derick had his hands full trying to manage four video cameras, but he was in his element, doing what he does so well. He has some local guys giving him some help getting all the shots he needs. Some even on roof tops! It is so wonderful to have him along on this trip.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Cap taught his first Pastor’s Seminar today. As recently retired District Superintendent of the Oregon Ministry Network (Assemblies of God), he has had many years of experience in working with pastors and their wives, overseeing the churches and district functions. We are confident he will do a great job here. We are looking forward to spending this month with him and his wife, LaVerne, as we minister together in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Already the stories and jokes we swap as the team members gather for meals each day are bringing both blessing and laughter to our days. We are enjoying the fellowship with everyone on the team, American, and African. It is awesome to come from such widely differing cultural backgrounds and yet be so “on the same page” in our life purpose, and commitment to winning the African people to the Lord and seeing the transformation to people’s hearts that He brings.
We finally got real showers in our room today. The hotel manager also cooperated to leave their generator on most of the day so Derick could load his video tapes into the computer and charge all the camera batteries he required. He will do most of the editing when he gets back home to his office.
There is a large frog that lives in the hotel fountain. It makes a lot of loud noise a couple of times a day. We haven’t seen any snakes. There are many kinds of lizards and skinks here in the hotel gardens. Hundreds of them skitter around the grounds, up the trees, and on the walls. Some are quite colorful. All are fast! A wild colony of African bees live in the attic space of our cottage and their honey has bled through the ceiling. During the day I get nervous walking in and out of our door as the entrance to the hive is directly above it. The hum of this huge colony is very loud in the evening as they settle in for the night. Guinea hens wander in off the bush next to the hotel grounds and we hear the calls of birds, goats, cattle and other animals and critters that are off in the bush. Goats and cattle wander everywhere throughout the city and country. The goats are very colorful with a wide array of coat patterns and colors. In the twilight each evening as the towering racks of mammoth speakers pound out the music and the preaching, many thousands of large fruit bats wing their way through the darkening sky, all flowing the same direction, like a overhead river of bats.
Tonight in the crusade, Drake prayed for rain. It hasn’t rained for a long time. It is extremely dry. Before the equipment was all put away for the night it started to rain! The local people are really abuzz about it! We gave Drake a hard time about praying for rain in the middle of an outdoor crusade. All in fun, of course. We are thankful for rain if it blesses the people and points their hearts to the Rain-giver.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Tonight the crowds were even larger, with a local estimate of around 70,000 or more. After the preaching there were many people that had demons cast out of them. It isn’t a pretty sight. One lady had a small daughter with her and the poor child was terrified by what was happening to her mother. I had been seated on the platform for the evening, so when this little girl was removed from her mother and stood there sobbing and looking pretty shell shocked, I got up and walked over and picked her up. She clung to me like it was life itself while we waited for her mom. Eventually her mother came around and got up smiling. This is Africa. There is a lot of demon possession. When the pastors helping with the alter call ask for the spirits to call out, they do, often shrieking and screaming, and people bring/carry/drag those folks up to the platform to be delivered. Many are being thrown about very violently by the demons within them, just like it is written about in the Bible. Some even were tied up and held down to prevent them from hurting themselves or others, or fall off the high platform as they flop and flail from the force within them. The heartbreak of this is that many were children. Just like in the Bible, when the demons are told to leave, in Jesus Name, they have to. The peace that comes over those folks is beautiful. We are told that most of these grateful people become very powerful witnesses to the saving grace and authority of the Lord.
Two Sudanese pastors arrived today and we had a meeting with them. They shared their life stories which Derick video taped. Like the cattle haulers, these men were desperately wanting to have crusades in the Sudan. The country is in a state of peace right now after thirty-eight years of war. In the city of Wao, we were told there are over one million people and only about thirty Christians. The plans are now underway for the preliminary steps for crusades in Wao and Gubal.
Monday, January 14, 2008
We left Arua this morning and traveled back to Kampala. We all are tired and beaten up by the hundreds of miles we just reversed, hammering our way down the same broken highway, repeating the experience we had on the trip up. We hear that the road to Kenya is more of the same.Tuesday, January 15, 2008
After resting this morning, Drake took us to two orphanages here in the Kampala area. It was such a blessing to see these happy children, their faces beaming in spite of the circumstances of their meager existence. A meal was ready for the kids at one orphanage. Just removed from the small wood fire on the ground, was a simple pot of ground maize. I couldn’t help but think about the nice restaurant meal we had just enjoyed, with local foods prepared and served in abundance, (our second meal of the day), and an evening meal scheduled for later. I thought about many picky kids back home that would often refuse nutritious meals, demanding, and getting, certain favorite items instead. And the bountiful church pot lucks that we enjoy on a regular basis. At the next place, the children gathered to sing for us and then we walked down the hill to see the new well that WWC had arranged for them to have drilled, thanks to money donated for this purpose. It was evident that this abundant clean water was blessing them all. The other orphanage’s well had been turned off by the authorities because of bad water so they were buying water from the city, which was expensive and money to pay for it very hard to come by. Taking care of so many kids is a huge undertaking, but God has raised up loving Godly people to give these kids a home. We must figure out a way to help them with life’s basic needs. It must be very hard to work in these places when there isn’t enough money to take care of needs adequately.
We have the permits to hold the crusade in Eldoret! The police are promising to provide security for the crusade there. We are praying for God’s hand to cover the situation.