DAY TWO AT MBALE - MORE RAIN BUT GREATER RESPONSE

We have had a great day again today. In terms of battles it was greater today but in terms of results they were also greater.

Here are the guys preparing food for the people who have travelled to the conference

Jaemin preached to the early group at the conference (between 8:00 and 9:00 am) and I followed along at about 10:30 am to do my session. Jaemin has been doing a great job and his teaching is very well received.

I had no voice at all. In conversation I could hardly make myself understood. I had determined in prayer this morning that I would simply trust God to give me a voice. That was literally what happened. In fact when I was invited to speak I opened my mouth and could not make more than a very soft sound. The interpreter was really in trouble of course. But I determined that the God of heaven and earth would be glorified and even though it seemed foolish I began by whispering into the microphone: “Today my voice is weak. But I have read this in the Bible. That God’s strength is made effective in the midst of human weakness. I asked them to stay with me for a few minutes and see how God’s grace would be seen. As I kept on talking my voice literally became strong. Every knew that God was doing a very wonderful work. I preached and taught for two and a half hours. I am amazed and somewhat relieved that I can connect with these people in a way that is natural to me and that gets the message through. It is SO connected that I can only think it is a result of the special anointing of God and nothing less. Its different to what happens with me when I am in Australia and yet just as connected. The Bishop was not expecting me to preach for that length of time (even though he had encourage me to take as long as that and more). I know that many of you who read this may think how long two and a half hours is for preaching, but here it is like 45 minutes. I taught on repentance and when I called for a response at the end there was a move of real heart repentance that went on for quite a while.

This is the house where Bishop Patrick and his wife Christine live. They have six children. Three are away at school. They had rooms done up just in time for us.

When a came back to the house I was once again almost incommunicado. No voice. I spent the afternoon leading up to the crusade resting and in prayer. When the Bishop came to pick me up I was still with no voice. I just squeaked. So I had to go through the same thing again. You might think that this time I would be full of faith but the second time was just as hard as the first. I sat there and it was beginning to sprinkle with rain. By the time I got up to preach it was heavier rain. Once again God came to visit and I was given a voice to preach. The crowd was smaller because of the rain and it became even heavier. Some people began to leave and others went for cover under some trees. I wondered what would happen. I was going to cut it short because of the rain but the Holy Spirit challenged me not to be distracted. So I kept on firing with every barrel available to me. I couldn’t believe the response. Some came and then more and then more and then more. By the time the Bishop had come and finished the appeal there were more people seeking Jesus than yesterday. Maybe up near two hundred. After that we prayed for the sick and the presence of God to touch people was once again very profound and tangible.

By the time I got home my whole body ached. Once again my voice went back to its mouse box and I squeaked my way around the house until we went to bed.

In addition to all of that the team went to two schools, High Schools today. They had a much better time than yesterday and about a dozen high school kids gave their lives to Christ. High School kids here are a bit the same as in Australia. They don’t get manipulated into anything. These commitments were fair dinkum and the pastors who went with the team were diligent getting names and details to follow them up. We have been building all week for a great baptism service on Sunday morning. I am really looking forward to this.

We are grateful to God for what he has done in us and to us as well as through us. We are also conscious beyond debate of the sense of being carried by your wonderful prayers. Tomorrow will be another day following basically the same schedule (which changes delightfully in African style) and we are becoming aware that serving God here is good practice for serving him anywhere. We need to be ready to do anything at anytime anywhere with anyone.

The team have once again been just top draw. Amy gave a talk at the High School today. She is a more quiet kind of girl and was fearing the presentation stuff. Everyone including herself knew that as she started with some hesitation it wasn’t long before she was flowing truth by the power of the Spirit. A great step up.

Keep on praying for us. We need desperately and we are seeing it bearing fruit more and more each day. The pastor from Soroti who is coordinating the meetings there came to spend the day with us today. He was really excited about what was happening and told us some great stories about the town and how the saints of God had gathered together when the LRA came to take it over. They were turned back with a Joshua army on the ground and miracles driven by the prevailing united prayer of the believers. We are looking forward to being there next week.

Folks, excuse this personal bit:
Nola, I have been getting your emails through the Ozemail web page, and have sent three or maybe four emails to you. One was sent from Dubai and the others in response to your email. Thank you for sending them and please keep at it. I can't tell you how great it is to get them. I will have to try and figure out why my replies are not getting through. I love you