Update From Soroti team (Rodney)

We've finished 2 conferences and crusades in 2 different villages and a Sunday service.  God is moving powerfully!  A few highlights:

1. The team prayed for a blind man and we asked him to test his eyesight after the prayers. After the first time praying, he began to see more light, so we kept on praying.  Then we asked him to test it again and he began to see outline of things, then just the ground but not the sky.  Finally, after breaking the curse of witchcraft, he began to see everything.  God is good!
2. There was a pastor who had a brother who was a witch doctor.  The witch doctor wanted to kill him.  We prayed for protection over him and for the plans that God has in store for the pastor.  The pastor felt uplifted and encouraged that someone would walk alongside them.
3. In Ugandan culture, people are not affectionate with their children or spouses, even within their own homes.  They don't really play with their children and the relationship between spouses and with children are very functional and not relational. On this trip, we saw one of the pastors openly hugging his children and we can tell that the children feel loved.  This is a big breakthrough as we continue to teach how to practically demonstrate the Father's love.  The teams from the past paved the way for this to occur.

This week, we have a 2-day regional conference where more than 100 church leaders from around the region are expected to attend.  We will be preaching what is the Kingdom of God and how to practically live it out in the church and outside the church, including how the church can enable Kingdom living outside the church.  

Thank you for your prayers.  We know they are fueling our work here. 

Kumi update (JTY)

Kumi is about a 2 hour drive from Soroti and very different from the other village we visited called Amuria. It was the real African experience because it was in the village and not a lot of modern civilization was around. Adrian has been to this village previously. This village was never hit by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) so it was different ministering there.  As we arrived, we talked about the Father's heart and forgiveness. At first, there was difficulty ministering due to a lot of bitterness. As Pastor Job reached out for forgiveness from a father perspective, more people responded. 

At the crusade, Moses and Jonathan spoke about dreams with Moses performing one his rap songs. The people loved his song. After speaking, we called for prayer/healing. We saw many healings - toothaches, backpains, stomaches, headaches, salvations. Day 2 was much of the same. Ada talked about blessings/curses and Rosanna talked about relationships in the family. The people loved Rosanna's message as she talked about the difficult areas of intimacy and being vulnerable with their spouse. At the crusade, Tim and Moses talked about water and soil. Moses performed another rap song and worship song. There was a few more healings/salvations at night.

Update from Soroti team (Rodney)

We've had two days of conferences and crusades in Amuria. We spoke on forgiveness and saw God healing people from all the hurts and wounds of the past. We shared about the father's heart in the family and began to break down cultural barriers that were preventing  the love of the Father to be manifested in the family.  At the crusade, we witnessed healings, including the blind beginning to see. God is amazing!

Uganda 2012 Team Video

Trip Recap part 3 - Amecet

Since the last team visit to Soroti, we've been hearing a lot about Amecet, the home that offers short-term care for children infected and affected by HIV. The last time the team went there, Adrian was ruined (see previous post).

Going there I was mentally prepared for a solemn afternoon. When we sat down with Els, the lady who started and continues to run the home, she tells of horrific stories of how she found these children, some of them abandoned in a garbage dumps, some of them rescued from the altars of witchcraft, their small bodies full of cuts and burns. She remembers all the children that have come and gone. Her eyes still tear up when she talks about them.

Adrian asked her about the little girl that broke his heart last year. Sadly, she didn't make it. She died shortly after the last visit.

We got a tour of the house. Even though they care for very sick children, the place felt more of a home than a hospital.  They have three shifts of staff providing 24/7 care to the children.  It seemed like the children were really loved and nurtured here. They are taught stories about Jesus, how to pray, and how to take their anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), among other things.

Then we got to play with the children. Adrian brought out the box of toys we brought from Canada--singing Elmos, hot wheels, dinosaurs, dolls...

Adrian unpacking the box of toys for Amecet

Here we are having fun with the children.

Ryan, Theresa and baby

Japheth with Helen

Robert and Buzz Lightyear

It occurred to us that Japheth and Robert themselves probably have never had a chance to play with nice, battery-powered toys like this. It was a pleasure to watch Robert so captivated with a talking Buzz Lightyear.

David holding baby Moses

Denise and baby

Sherene playing with a young girl

The whole scene

We're so glad to have had this chance to spend a light-hearted, fun-filled afternoon with these children who have already endured so much in their young lives. Adrian said that the experience this day brought a lot of healing to him. We all had a good day!

More information on Amecet can be found here: http://amecet-soroti.blogspot.com/

Jan 8-13 Update

Jan 8th - Ryan covered for Adrian to speak at a conference in Soroti as Adrian wasn't feeling well. Adrian recovered later and stayed in Soroti with Noah as planned. The rest of the team traveled north to Gulu.

Jan 9th - Rodney and Adrian preached in different Sunday services. The team of 6 connected with the local pastor, named Jacob. This was the first time a Lifespring team has met pastor Jacob. In previous trips, it was pastor Bruce's Vancouver team who was in Gulu. Sherene fell sick and recovered quickly.

Jan 9th - Adrian and Noah spoke at the Conference in Soroti. The other team traveled to an IDP camp (internal displacement camp) in Pabo within the Gulu region. There were approx. 20,000 people at the refugee camp, as opposed to 60,000 just a few years back. Rodney, Denise and Ryan spoke on intimacy, forgiveness and identity. David and Sherene shared their testimonies. The conference went really well.

Jan 11th, 12th - Adrian and Noah met the other 6 in Gulu and met with the pastors. The full team traveled to and enjoyed a 2 day Safari at Murchison Fall. The team saw giraffes, elephants and lions at a close distance as they crossed before their vehicle. The elephants yelled (rather, trumpeted) at the team because the vehicle was too close to the animals. A dozen of giraffe stood by the gate to say their farewells as the team departed from the safari lodge.

Jan 13th - 5 hrs of travel back to Kampala. Theresa was sick but recovering now. The team visited THE Chinese restaurant near Kampala for some Ugandas Chinese food.

Tentatively on Jan 14th & 15 th- Adrian to speak at Kajansi. Denise, David and Theresa to visit and speak a rehab centre. Rodney, Ryan, Sherene and Noah to speak at the Mpigi conference where they will work with leaders and youths. The youths at Mpigi are having a revival meeting and joining the adults for part of the day.

Tentatively on Jan 16th- The team to break up into 3 teams for Sunday services. Denise, Sherene and Rodney will be preaching. David and Sherene will be catching their flights afterward.

Jan 5-7 Update

Jan 5th - Visited Amacet Orphanage and played with the children there. At night, the team connected and ate dinner with the Regional pastor Job and hi assistant, Japheth.

Jan 6th - The team visited Ajaku, a village in the Soroti region (not a displacement camp as stated in the earlier email :S). David and Denise spoke on Identity and the two messages flowed together beautifully. Adrian also preached afterwards.

Jan 7th - The entire team traveled to Kumi village within Soroti. According to Rodney, "Sherene and Ryan were awesome" when they preached. During the day, they also played with 270 Compassion International children.

Tentative Plans for Jan 8th - Adrian and Noah to stay behind in Soroti for 3 days to do a Leaders conference. The rest of the team will travel to the Gulu region (2 - 3 hrs drive north). There might be a change in the teams depending on Adrian's condition. Ryan might stay behind in Soroti if needed.

** Pray Items** - Pls pray for Adrian as he is sick. Also Rodney is still recovering from his cough.

Jan 6th

So far for Jan 6th:
The team is heading to Ajuku,to visit a internally displacement camp in Soroti region. David and Denise will be speaking. Theresa and Sherene will be playing with the kids. To be continued....

Soroti Video

Adrian - The Girl that broke my heart (Report on Uganda)

Dear Friends

This trip round, as I reflect, I feel that the Father was trying showing me something that is deep in His heart. Yes indeed…the Holy Spirit demonstrated Himself to the people. Yes…there were many awesome moments (as you have read from the previous reports). The anointing reached levels where I’ve never seen or tasted before. The goodness and nature of God passed before over very eyes. All we could do was to stand, watch, pray and cry with the people. In fact till today, I am still in wonder, overjoyed and grateful with the mighty move of the Holy Spirit. But on the last day in Soroti, Uganda, it felt like to me that Heaven was silent. It was as though the Father wanted to reveal something that is bigger than all I have seen or heard. What happened? I was taken to an orphanage. It wasn’t quite what I had expected. Here I was going in, prepared for ministry to the kids, when all of the sudden what hit me next I must say ‘ruined me for life’.

This orphanage is run by YWAM. It is not an ordinary one. It is a place where orphans who are left for dead in their village because of HIV and diseases. They go from as young as a few days old, to teenage years. As I walked through the venue, I see a 5 weeks old orphan with HIV, struggling to live on a machine. His twin brother and mother died upon child birth. The day before, a few days old orphan died as he was born into the world without an arm and his mother died 40hrs after giving birth. These children because they are orphans are left to the next of kin in the village but because of food shortage, they get the leftover if there is even any. Hence the children who are healthy get the first dips in the food. Out of 320 kids that have come by the orphanage, about 60 have died in there. Then a little girl caught my eye. She is 1yr 7mths old. She had hardly any flesh. She was mostly all bones wrapped in skin. As I bent over, because she had no strength or muscle to move her lower body, she dragged herself to me. Put her little fingers on my finger and that’s all she could muster. As I picked her fragile body up and held her, the Father broke me hard. Here I was all ready for storytelling to the children, songs, games and what I could only do at that moment was to hold her tight. I felt that I was stripped of everything that I could do to help her. I was leveled to the ground. What can I say? Nothing! What I can I do? Nothing! I was speechless. No amount of words or wisdom could help her. It felt like the Father knocked the wind out of me. I was heart broken. After feeling that way for a while, the Father began to show me what this girl needs. What she needs most is not another story, games, song, gospel, church or even an outbreak of revival (please don’t misunderstand what I am saying, I believe in these things strongly and am a strong supporter of them, but the Father was really trying to have me grasp something in His heart). She wanted to be held by someone who loves her. She wanted to be touched. She wanted to feel what it is like for a father to hold her in his arms and have the most loving pair of eyes staring down at her. She wanted to feel secure in a time of uncertainty. Hands that won’t hurt her but comfort her. As I held her, I could feel the pain on my Father’s heart as well as an overwhelming love for her. It is one thing to see pictures and videos of kids in such a situation. But it is another to hold them in your arms. Even till today, this experience is still impacting me. As I allow the Father to work in me, I realized I am ruined more and more.

I really appreciate what the Father did for me. I believe this is a great gift from Him. I do appreciate the mighty move of the Holy Spirit and I do want more of that. In fact I am excited about it. But this was a moment for me as the Father showed me another revelation into the depths of what breaks His heart.

Deuteronomy 10:18 “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.”

James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Blessings

Adrian

Adrian #6 - Cry for Forgiveness

Hi Team

On the 2nd last day of the conference, the Holy Spirit moved the hearts of the pastors in the region of Soroti (16 in all) to call for a repentance for the violence that has taken place in their land. From the invasion of LRA, to the Cattle Raiders, to the tribal wars, to the time of Idi Amin. As people cried in repentance to the Lord, many fell to their knees weeping bitterly. We could feel the heart of the Father moving among the 400 people. Then, in a surprising move, the delegates began to release forgiveness to the ones who did violence against them (as mentioned above). You can see that as they did, a lot of them were crying in deep pain and sorrow. Then to top it of, the people began blessing their former enemies. They stretched their hands in the direction of where their enemies came from and they declared blessings over them. Remember the lady whose huband was murdered by 4 men 1.5 mths ago? She too wept, forgave and blessed his murderers.

Right after, the line for testimonies was extremely long. One by one came and talked about how the LRA has killed their familiy members. How the Cattle Raider poisoned one lady's sister in front of her and she witnessed her death. Then each of them said that for many years they couldn't forgive. In fact it was difficult and even impossible. But as the Spirit of God moved them, they could forgive but not just that, bless them too. The Lord brought closure to many people that day.

The presence of God was the thickest that we have ever seen. Even the pastors were blown away by what the Father did that day. For us, we just stood by the side, not saying a word, watching, praying and crying with the people as we felt their pain and sorrows.

Blessings

Adrian

Adrian #5 - Testimonies

Hi Team

Amazing Testimonies:

1. HIV. There was a lady that was dignosed with HIV 2 weeks ago. She attended the conference last week and was ministered to. She went back to get tested last Saturday and the report has came back with no HIV.

2. Paralytic. There was a lady who was semi paralytic whereby she can't move her left arm. When the translator lifted her arm, it was like soft rubber or jello. Then literally during ministry, she started moving her arm, twisting it whatever way the translator was instructing her to twisting. Her arm firmed up and was restored to her.

3. When we held the conference in Soroti in 2008, there was a lady that was barren for 11yrs. Her husband treated her real bad as he wanted to have children. So in 2008, the team broke the generational curses off her. She return to this conference (14mths later) with twins. Her husband dotes on her.

4. Before we even spoke in the slums at the crusade yesterday, the Lord impressed on our hearts to call out for healing. As people gathered to testify, 2 people experience healing (1 with the issue of blood, the other with spinal cord problems) and they gave their life to Jesus Christ. Its amazing because we didn't even do anything. God demonstrated himself to them.

Once again, thank you for journeying with us. Please continue to contend with us.

Blessings

Adrian

Audrey #2

[...editted...]

The following day we saw a lot of women coming up for ministry during the Sunday services and a lot of them broke down. We had a chance to speak the Father's love and acceptance into them.

Yesterday's Sunday service was amazing. There were 400 people who attended. What touched our hearts was that some of these people do not have mattresses to sleep on b/c there are just not enough mattresses to rent. But yet the people are so hungry for God that they don't mind sleeping on concrete floors!! Yesterday's testimonies were mind blowing. One woman who had HIV received prayer earlier in the conference and she got tested again and the results show that she is HIV free!!!

Adrian #4 - The Mighty Holy Spirit

Dear Friends

The conference has begun. There's a total of 400 people, the biggest the town of Soroti has ever seen. The crowd is huge and there's only 8 of us on the Soroti team. Our crusades, as the Ugandians call it, are held in the slums. About 350 people from the slums would come. We wondered how that was going to work because it would be quite impossible to lay hands on all of them. Then, the Lord put something on our hearts. I remembered in 2002, a spiritual father of mine did a ministry in Toronto. Instead of laying hands on people, he asked them to stretch out their hands to the Lord and he just prayed a prayer to cover the masses. The Holy Spirit fell on the people without anyone touching them. It was brilliant. So we decided to give it a try it.

This is what had happened in the conference and the crusades thus far... Within a few minutes, people lined up to testify of their healings. Eye sights were opened up. A woman whose doctor told her the solution to their eye problem was to remove them, had her eyes healed. Her visibility restored completely. Children with high fever became normal in temperature. People wept and fell under the anointing. They were dropping fast to the point that we couldn't catch them in time. There's a lot more stories that we can't even begin to tell you as we can't keep up. This is GOD at work! His goodness and kindess. What we cannot do, He does it in literally a few minutes. Its amazing to step aside and watch what the Holy Spirit does.

But probably one of the highlights is a woman that was tormented by evil spirits. She came to the crusade. For years she persecuted people who told her the gospel. She rejected everything about our faith. Then at the crusade, she came to the front, her body became so weak that she fell to her knees, started weeping, felt her heart almost explode as she gave her life to Jesus Christ. God demonstrated Himself to her. She testified the next day in the crusade. Man, this is so supernatural. Beyond us. God is good.

Anyways, please pray for us. Thanks for journeying with us.

Blessings

Adrian

Adrian #3 - Break My Heart For What Breaks Yours

Hi Team

As we move around, we witness the Spirit of God moving mightily. But at the same time, we also witness things that shouldn't be happening. Things that breaks our heart. I love what I do because these precious people keep me real and not get lost in the "haves" of our lives. My prayer is always for the Lord to keep breaking my heart for what breaks His.

Over the course of several days now:

1. We have seen children with open wounds and flies (plural) literally eating the flesh of that open wounds.

2. A woman, with a 3 mth old baby, her husband was just murdered by 4 men 1.5 months ago.

3. Church buildings that have been burnt by the LRA. Yet the village people persist to put it together again.

4. Church buildings blown down by natural disaster. People meeting in buildings that are about to crumble. Walls made out of scattered straws.

5. Literally no harvest because of climate change. Famine as people struggle for food. Food prices in the local markets increased because of scarcity. The poor can't afford to buy them because they don't have any money.

6. Man aducted and abused by the LRA. Tormented in spirit, soul and body.

7. A young girl, 7yrs old, who has HIV.

8. A young girl who has to support her family, wants to go to school, but can't afford even to buy a pair of shoes.

...


Please continue journeying with us as the Lord reveals what is precious to His heart.

Blessings

Adrian

Audrey #1 - Day 2

Anyway, yesterday was AMAZING! It took us a long time to get to the village. We started off on a normal road, then a bumpy road, then a bumpier road, then a very bumpy road, and to a very very bumby road, and finally to just grass to get to the remote village. Right about 500 meters before the village, we saw these pretty pink fusia flowers tied on the tall grass along the road right into the village. And we found out that the village people put those flowers there just to welcome us into their village. When we were pretty close we heard the village people screaming for joy, dancing, waving flags and singing us a welcome song. I just couldn't contain my tears b/c I was so touched. We are nobodys but yet the village welcomed us like Kings and Queens. When we got into the village mudhut church, they were worshipping just with simple wooden instruments and voices and I could immediately feel God's overwhelming love and presence in that place. God chooses to dwell in the middle of remote Africa b/c thats how much He loves His people. His heart is definitely in the village. Lots of other stories which I have to journal and share with you when I get back.

Anyway on a more personal note...I broke down this morning crying. I'm frustrated b/c I have to give my testimony tomorrow at Village 3 and I feel like I don't have anything that I can share that can relate to the people or that will touch the peoples lives. So I tried soaking at 5am and at about 6am I started to CRY b/c I was getting nothing and was getting frustrated. Then I had thoughts like "why am I here if I have nothing to testify or share with the people" I felt useless....and then I can hear your voice telling me "..hear the truth". So Elaine prayed for me as I was crying (felt like the Alaska moment when I broke down). So I think I'm going to share about the time in Alaska when the enemy tries to tear me down and make me feel small. And how the team was attacked in Alaska. And how we all gathered to pray together and fight back. And how the next morning I woke up with a holy anger in my spirit and stop the enemy from punching me like a punching bag. And when I spoke to the church in Alaska, I spoke with fire and authority. Though I am small and the enemy comes against me ... but I have God with me. God is with me. Greater is He who is in me than who is of this world! And I come against the enemy with the Almighty God.

Adrian #2 - Ministry Farming & More

Hi Team

I'm really excited about a particular project that is on its way. The village churches (7 in all) have been hit with massive drought and famine. They are located in remote areas of the Soroti district in Uganda. It is estimated that each church gets sometimes 1 visit a year from the outside, sometimes once in 2 years. As we ministered to the churches we brought along groundnut seeds which is their staple food. Anyways, a project was proposed by the district leader 2 days ago that if each church adopts a project of farming the seeds (4 bags per church), they could farm up to at least 4 acres. Each bag of seed is 1 acre. If the weather holds up, 1 acre or 1 bag will multiply up to 10 bags during harvesting. Then they can take the profits and sow it into their church and people for income. Anyways, the district leaders have undertaken this project to monitor and assist in the farming project.

Visiting Ajuku Village

Yesterday we ministered in Ajuku village. As we entered, we felt the presence of God strongly. The church felt like family. Anyways, as our team together with the Soroti pastors preached on the freedom and abundant life found in the presence of God, we experienced the power of God move in the place. Testimonies of people just walking into the mud hut church instantly getting healed. We didn't even have to touch them. Deaf ears opened up. Back pain gone. Some others testified that as soon as the team touched them, they were healed. We didn't even have to say anything. Such a awesome blessing to witness our Father move in that place.

There was a lady that came to the service though she was feeling ill. As she sat in the service, the pain in her stomach increased that as soon as she stepped out, she collapsed outside the church. Our team along with the Soroti pastors began ministering to her. As they focussed on speaking the presence of God into her, to fill her up, she began to feel alleviated. Then she broke down as the presence of God filled her. She later testified of her healing.

Please continue to contend with us as we realize that it is definitely not by might, nor by power, but only by the Spirit of God.

Blessings

Adrian

Adrian #1 - Update from Soroti

Hi Team

We completed our first day in the village called 'Otubet'. The team was overwhelemed by the honor that they gave us. They have little but yet have everything. Poor yet rich in the Spirit.

We are so favored by the people here. They gave us a 4x4 pickup truck, free internet, cheap lodging for a nice place. They love on us like family. In fact, they called us 'family'. Pastor Job said that as family, we are released to do whatever we feel God is leading us to do.

The presence of God was so powerful in Otubet yesterday. We preached on Isaiah 61, declared it over this village church. Then together with the pastors from Soroti that we equipped in 2008, we ministered to the people. Those pastors were awesome. They prayed powerfully, as led by the Spirit. We had many testimonies that were caught on video on healings and deliverance. We will tell you more in the near future.

One story from yesterday:
There was a young man that was aducted and abused by the LRA. When they aducted him, they beat him up real bad. Then they anointed him with oil to claim possession over him (witchcraft). He still feels the sting of the oil over the areas where they oiled him. He was tormented by the spiritual and physical effects of his aduction. When we ministered to him, we led him to forgive the LRA and the events of the aduction. As soon as we cut the soul ties, he fell to the ground under the anointing and the Spirit of God ministered to him. As the team soaked him in the presence of God, he felt a lifting from opression. He was immersed in the Holy Spirit for a while on the dirt. Then he got up and had a smile on his face. We asked him how he felt and he said he felt he has been set free. He kept saying 'Praise Jesus'.

Please continue to contend with us as we walk in Isaiah 61.

Love and Blessings

Adrian