My Journey

This is an unexpected pleasure to be able to write a post today!  Mondays are our day off from ministry, so a few of us ventured into the Kyenjojo town center to see what we could find.  We soon stumbled upon this little hidden treasure that is this internet cafe!

The last week has been nothing less than amazing.  Our ministry has been received well, we’ve been having an amazing time together as a team, and God is proving Himself so faithful as He continues to work in and through us.

We’ve been doing various types of ministry in the mornings; door to door evangelism, school ministry, and mornings of prayer and fasting.  We hold a crusade on the local church grounds every night beginning at 4:30, and ending at 9:00.

Our crusade programme begins with a time of praise and worship, in which some members of the church are involved in helping us lead.  We then perform a skit and a dance as a DTS team, followed by the preacher.  The preacher and the MC are chosen by me and Grace, as we were appointed the Administrators of the outreach before we left.  Each of us are responsible for preaching at a crusade whenever we are called upon.  I had the opportunity to deliver the message on Saturday evening’s crusade.  I spoke about trusting the Lord; what it means to trust the Lord, and how the Lord will reward and honor you for putting your trust in Him.  The message usually concludes in an altar call, offering a prayer of salvation for whoever has heard the message and wants to dedicate their life to the Lord.  We have had an amazing number  of people step forward in faith and accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.  After the message, we project a movie each night on a white bedsheet that we tie in the trees.  Movies such as the Story of Solomon, the Passion of the Christ, and many African productions.  The crowds that come out at night to watch the movies are astonishing in number, so when the film has finished we take the opportunity to allow people to come up to the front again, and have hands laid on them as they accept Jesus into their heart.

We have one more week in the village of Katoma, until we move into Kyenjojo town for our third week of Outreach.  When that week has concluded, we will be traveling to Mityana district to minister for our last three weeks of Outreach. This first week has gone by unbelievably fast.  It’s kind of bitter sweet. 

We have been facing some serious demonic and spiritual opposition since being here.  Some of our team have experienced tormenting dreams that are carbon copies of a dream that someone else had during that same night, and others have spent sleepless nights fighting spiritual battles.  There has also been some physical opposition to our presence as well.  So please, keep us in your prayers because it’s scriptural that each prayer contributes to the battle that is taking place in the heavenly realms. 

As for me, the Lord has been doing amazing things in my heart since being here. I’m discovering new things in His word every day, and He is answering my prayers in ways that I couldn’t even imagine.  The Holy Spirit has been arousing my heart in the most incredible ways, and has even brought me to physical tears.  I’m experiencing God in such intimate ways, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

I love and miss you all!

In love like Christ,

Alexander

This is a very close friend of mine, Becca, who is working in Soroti, Uganda.  She’s a part of the Year for God program through YWAM, and the Lord has been working and doing amazing things in and through her during this year.  

whereyougandago:

I seriously cannot believe that I’m writing a blog post saying that I have 2 months left. Seriously the Bible doesn’t lie when it says that life is but a vapor.

Since May 1st, I’ve been working at Amecet. Reminder: Amecet is a HIV+ children’s home located in Soroti (Northern Uganda). I have never…

chelseycronan asked: I am so incredibly encouraged by your stories. I'm the niece of someone who grew up in Africa. Beautiful people. Incredible culture. Such gratitude and love. Praying for you through this blessed time in your life!

Thank you so much for your encouragement and prayers! May God richly bless you!

In love like Christ,

Alexander

viewfoundfilms:

Today I had the opportunity to take photos for these two beautiful people.  I met Chastity and Nixon a few months ago, and they recently got engaged.  They have a wedding planned in November in the beautiful province of Manitoba, Canada.  We went out to the Source of the Nile River and had a blast goofing off together all afternoon.  Here’s a few photos from the session!

The Lord has been clearly speaking to me, and telling me to be still, and wait patiently for Him to act. Essentially, He needs me to trust Him, and well, that’s hard.  But He’s teaching, and I’m learning! I’m so thankful that when I’m learning to be patient and trust in Him, He is also patient with me, and He’s just waiting to fulfill His promises for me. We serve a faithful God!

It was kind of wierd not being home for my 19th birthday, but thank you to Miss Becca LeBoeuf for treating me to a very special day :)

After the workers harvest the sugar cane fields that surround our base, they light them on fire.  This was the scene a few weeks ago!

holymoleyitsfoley asked: ALEX!!!!!! Hope you're getting by in Africa alright w out any syrup.

Deanna!! I’m doing just fine, I brought syrup from home ;) tell me about your life! Message me on Facebook long lost friend

April 5, 2012

It was Thursday, the first week of our two week outreach in Bugili. We were sent out to do some spiritual mapping around the village in groups of 4. Our spiritual mapping consists of walking around a designated area, staying in tune to the Spirit, and letting Him lead. Lead you in ways to pray, lead you to places you need to pray for, etc. As we left the church and began wandering throughout the village, I felt the Lord telling me not to stay in a group, but to walk up the hill that over looks our church, the cluster of mud huts, and the horizon over Lake Victoria.

I walked up just far enough to see everything, including the distant Islands of Kenyan territory, and the entire village that was our temporary home. I sat in the presence of the Lord for twenty or thirty minutes, talking, waiting, and listening.

I intended to come down from my perch and continue praying as I began to spiritual map, but I was quickly greeted by a woman who had greeted me countless times each day since we had arrived. She spoke no English, but I believe she understood. She didn’t have to say much; her firm handshake and radiant smile said enough. She held my hand as I walked and attempted to focus on where the Spirit was leading me. Although she couldn’t tell me, I could feel that this woman wanted something. She wanted to redirect my path, so I submitted to her guidance and let her lead me. We ended up arriving at the entrance to the church where half of our team was staying, and I knew she wanted prayer.

I communicated to her to wait outside, as I went in and grabbed my Bible, because there were leaders in the church meditating and praying. She remained outside, and I went in to retrieve my Bible, in hopes that the Lord would speak to me through His Word. I sat beside her, and didn’t speak for a few moments. Rather, I spoke to Jesus, and asked Him to lead me and show me how to pray for this woman.

I opened my Bible, and the Lord gave me this scripture from Matthew 4: “Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed - he healed them all. Large crowds followed him wherever he went - people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.”

This passage instantly gripped me. This woman had been following me everyday, just as the crowds followed Jesus. I heard the Lord, and I felt Him say, “I want to heal her.”

So I told this woman that I wanted to pray for her, and as she bowed at my feet, I layed my hands firmly upon her head and began to pray.

The Lord told his disciples in the book of Mark that those who believe “will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” (Mark 16:18) Jesus also said “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask for anything in my name and I will do it!” (John 14:12-14)

So I asked, calling upon the mighty name of Jesus Christ, in which resides all the power to heal and all the authority to save, for this woman to be healed. Healed in the name of Jesus, from whatever it was that was ailing her, so that her life and her healing can be a testimony to Christ and his faithfulness. And ultimately, so that glory can be given to the Father and the Son.

I concluded my prayer and the woman arose. She shook my hand, and left. Nothing miraculous to be seen, no visible deliverance, just a simple prayer for my sister in the Lord. As she went disappeared amongst the mud huts, I returned back into the church to thank my Lord for bringing this woman to me, and allowing me the opportunity to pray for her. I thanked Him for speaking to me, and I thanked Him for His healing power.

I then turned around to see an unexpected sight. This woman had returned, and silently entered the church. She was seated at the back, patiently awaiting for my attention. As soon as we caught eyes, she quickly approached the front of the sanctuary where I was standing, and bowed to greet me. She quickly stood, and reached up into her dress to retrieve something. She pulled out a coin, the only coin that she had, and bowed to give it to me. The Ugandan currency was equal to about twenty Canadian cents. I closed her hand, and insisted that she keep her coin. She resisted for a few moments, but ended up keeping her money. She then returned back to her feet, and was desperately trying to tell me something. I couldn’t understand a word she was saying, so I asked one of my nearby leaders if they could translate. With the assistance of a translator, I came to know that this woman came to seeking prayer for her stomache. It had been paining her for quite some time, and restricting her from living a comfortable life. She continued to explain that as I was praying for her, she literally felt her pain being lifted, and her sickness being healed.

What a testimony right? All the glory belongs to God, for the power that healed this woman is only availible in the name of Jesus, and in the innocent blood that was shed for not only me, and not only you, but for this woman. God truly showed His power, His love, and His faithfulness through a simple act of obedience on my part. This experience has encouraged me so much, to know that God wants to use me as a vessel to continue the work that He began when He came down as flesh. And not only me, but you as well. God has called all of us, to surrender ourselves to Him and His power, and let Him work.

I never learned this woman’s name, but I did witness her dedicate her life to Christ on Easter weekend. I will never forget her smile.