Gulu, Kabale, and so much more!

It's been a little while now since I last posted (big surprise, I know!) and unfortunately, this is only going to be a quick update. But here it is!

Two weeks ago we traveled to the north in Uganda and went to Gulu. You might have heard of the area thanks to the non-profit group, Invisible Children. For more than twenty years, Gulu and the north were victims of civil war and only a few years ago did it show signs of ending. Today, Gulu is a pretty safe area and children are finally able to play there again. There are MANY Inter-Displaced People's camps (IDP Camps) with hundereds of people still unable to go home because it's been destroyed, taken away, or they simply don't even know where their homes were anymore because it's been so long since they were there.
We were there to help the Baptist Church in Gulu and offer encouragement. I preached at a church in an IDP camp and told them the story of Joseph and how God allowed and even WANTED Joseph to suffer for a short time so that his faith would be proved, he would come out a stronger person, to show how mighty God is, and because, ultimately, God has a greater plan for us than we can ever imagine. The talk was an encouragement to them and I think they could identify very much with what God did with Joseph and how in the end, Joseph was blessed. It seems that Gulu is finally coming around after all these years of war. But they need your prayers that God would make them stronger and more faithful in the end and they would know that, despite hardship, God loves them so much. Pray, also, for the IDP Camps and that people would finally find themselves a place they can call home. And also pray for the government. There is so much corruption that it gets in the way of the rebuilding of Gulu and helping the people there.

Finally, this last weekend were in Kabale in the Southwest part of the country. We preached at about 10 high schools in 3 1/2 days. We were so busy and we were so tired, but so many people came to know Jesus or recomitted their lives to Him. God was so glorified. Samson, one of the guys living with me, got malaria and was actually in the hospital for those three days, but he is now recovering and doing well. After all the praise and worship was finished, I had the job of ministering to the new believers and telling them what it means to be a Christian. I tried to focus on three things (but no more because I didn't want to overload them): 1. That when you are saved it means you ARE saved and that you ARE going to heaven. John 3:16 tells us we will NOT perish, but HAVE eternal life, and Romans 10:9 says we are saved if we profess it with our words and BELIEVE in our hearts. 2. That we were put on this earth for the purpose of glorifying God. When the Fall happened, we were separated from God but when we are saved, we are making a decision to come back to Him and once again glorify Him through the way we live. Romans 12:1 says we should be living sacrifices to God. We must praise him through the way we live out our faith and love Him and others with all our hearts, mind, and strength. 3. Finally, Matthew 28:16-end tells us we should be sharing our faith and love for God and Jesus with other people and SHOW our faith by the way we live. Jesus also makes us a promise when we says "I will be with you to the very end of the age." We are never alone or abondoned by God anymore when we are a believer, but rather, even if we lose family and friends, Jesus promises to be there with us and love us. AMEN!

So that's what I've been doing. The whole point of ABIDE is to Disciple and Evangelise, and that's what we've been doing. Our relationship with God, as well, has been growing by leaps and bounds and I'm proud of all of us and the work we do...and we do it all for the glory of God, not ourselves. I am doing well...feeling great and not getting sick (another thing to be thankful for). I love being here but am also extremely ready to come home. That said, I will be coming home August 12, which is rapidly approaching! I love you all and miss you dearly. Thanks for the support and reading and most importantly, praying for me. Email me if you want to say hello!

-matt