One would think it was a presidential entourage. Pathfinders, wearing military-like uniforms, but with the Word of God as their sword! They have lined up very well on both sides of the road. The leader came and saluted us. The church pastor and elders greeted us and asked us to follow them as we walked in between the two lines of the army of God. We were overwhelmed with the zeal that this youth demonstrates, as they waited in the sun as we were arriving from the Uganda side. We walked on dusty roads, reminding me when Jesus was here on earth and walked on dusty paths. At 12:45 pm, Joy and I touched the soil of the DRC. We crossed the river that separates Uganda and DRC. We start climbing the hill as we passed the DRC immigration offices. All the checkpoints were open wide as we approached, and everyone stood on the street to watch what was going on with the SDA youth.
At this moment, Joy does not yet know that she is crossing the border by faith, because we were not able to get her DRC visa in Uganda. This is because she had arrived in Uganda late. We asked special permission from the immigration officers to let us in for divine worship, before we process her visa. We arrived church at about 1pm and sawfound all the Congolese brethren and sisters waiting patiently for the delegation from the U.S.A. I preached again, and then I went back to the immigration office to process Joy's visa. I knew that's almost impossible, because everyone is required to get the visa before entering the DRC. But at this moment, I believed in a miracle. For the first time in the history of the C4C, a visa was given at the border. We rejoiced for the rest of the afternoon.
In the evening, I crossed back to Uganda to get Novem. He joined us and we spent our first night in DRC. All was quiet, except one or two mosquitoes that might be heard in the room. At 10pm, the electricity went off, and everyone slept. My mind was not at ease, knowing that I still have to face the Uganda immigration for Novem's daily border-crossing. The Uganda immigration has strictly denied him a multiple-entry visa. Which means that as he crossed the border to Uganda everyday to preach in one of the sites there, the immigration officer will require us to buy a new visa ($50). He insisted that Novem needs to stay in Uganda or face paying the visa every day. We contacted several authorities in vain. Novem spent two nights in Uganda while we try to get permission for him, but in vain. The meetings have begun in three sites (two in Uganda and one in DRC). Novem's site is in Uganda, because they speak English in Uganda and French in DRC.
A few days later, on Tuesday (July 14) , God revealed to us a different solution. Since there are dozens and dozens of patients attending our free medical services, we were impresssed that Novem begins a new site there. As soon as he began on Tuesday, he casts demon from a child, praise the Lord! We quickly realized that, just as God did with Pharaoh, He had hardened this immigration officer's heart so that Novem can stay in the DRC and share God's word with the patients there. His ministry there has flourished tremendously since he began. Patients now receive both physical and spiritual treatment.
Our work is going very well. We have now 4 evangelistic sites, one clinic for free medical services, one church construction, distribution of Christian literature including Bibles, and very soon, some feeding and clothing for the children. Thank you very much for all your prayers and your support. The Lord is tremendously blessing His work here. In Him and for Him, we believe in a successful ending. God bless you.
By SAFARY
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Safe Journey!
I am happy to be able to share our experiences so far in the Uganda-DR Congo border. There is no internet connection where we are, that is the reason why we were out of touch of the outside world temporarily.
The last Sabbath before we left for our mission trip, the Orlando Filipino SDA church had a special prayer session for us, led by Pr. King, and supported by the church members. It was such a moving and powerful moment to be surrounded by praying members. We felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to take on this trip with the theme "Crossing the Border". That Sabbath, many more donations poured in. In fact, even up to the last hour before I head to the airport, donations were still coming in. Praise the Lord indeed!
The three of us traveled on different vehicles to the airport. Joy and Rose arrived at the airport first and they decided to wait for me. When I got to the airport 10 minutes later, Joy and I decided to check in. Unfortunately, a very important document was missing. She contacted someone to bring that document to the airport. Our flight was at 2:00 pm, and at 1:30pm we were still waiting. Finally, Novem and I were asked to go ahead without Joy. As we go through security, we kept on looking back hoping for a miracle that Joy can still come with us. But, God had other plans. Our plane left and Joy was left behind.
Novem and I traveled from Orlando to Newark, then on to Brussels and then finally, after 26 hours, arrived Entebbe, Uganda. Back in the States, people were trying to find a way for Joy to continue her trip. At last, after so many phone calls, Joy was on her way via Dubai. Three days later, the three of us were happily reunited. Joy arrived Uganda at 3:00 pm Friday. We immediately boarded a van for a long night trip to the border because we had some speaking engagements for the Sabbath. We slept in a town near the border in some cottages (bahay kubo). As Novem described it, sleeping under the "kulambo"(mosquito net) with mosquitoes having a concert outside. Before we slept, we ate dinner at 1:30 in the morning, composed of fried tilapia.
The next morning, Sabbath, we continued to the border where I preached at Mpondwe SDA church. Immediately after that, we crossed the border to the Congo side to a town called Kasindi. There were a little bit of problem on Novem's visa so he was not able to go with us. At the border, we were met by a big group of Pathfinder welcoming us. It was a grand, colorful, 15 minute walk.
Thank God, for a safe trip so far!
The last Sabbath before we left for our mission trip, the Orlando Filipino SDA church had a special prayer session for us, led by Pr. King, and supported by the church members. It was such a moving and powerful moment to be surrounded by praying members. We felt empowered by the Holy Spirit to take on this trip with the theme "Crossing the Border". That Sabbath, many more donations poured in. In fact, even up to the last hour before I head to the airport, donations were still coming in. Praise the Lord indeed!
The three of us traveled on different vehicles to the airport. Joy and Rose arrived at the airport first and they decided to wait for me. When I got to the airport 10 minutes later, Joy and I decided to check in. Unfortunately, a very important document was missing. She contacted someone to bring that document to the airport. Our flight was at 2:00 pm, and at 1:30pm we were still waiting. Finally, Novem and I were asked to go ahead without Joy. As we go through security, we kept on looking back hoping for a miracle that Joy can still come with us. But, God had other plans. Our plane left and Joy was left behind.
Novem and I traveled from Orlando to Newark, then on to Brussels and then finally, after 26 hours, arrived Entebbe, Uganda. Back in the States, people were trying to find a way for Joy to continue her trip. At last, after so many phone calls, Joy was on her way via Dubai. Three days later, the three of us were happily reunited. Joy arrived Uganda at 3:00 pm Friday. We immediately boarded a van for a long night trip to the border because we had some speaking engagements for the Sabbath. We slept in a town near the border in some cottages (bahay kubo). As Novem described it, sleeping under the "kulambo"(mosquito net) with mosquitoes having a concert outside. Before we slept, we ate dinner at 1:30 in the morning, composed of fried tilapia.
The next morning, Sabbath, we continued to the border where I preached at Mpondwe SDA church. Immediately after that, we crossed the border to the Congo side to a town called Kasindi. There were a little bit of problem on Novem's visa so he was not able to go with us. At the border, we were met by a big group of Pathfinder welcoming us. It was a grand, colorful, 15 minute walk.
Thank God, for a safe trip so far!
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