The Daniel Call

In late September or early October as I was praying for Africa I saw a blue suitcase. As I was seeing this I sensed the Lord was asking me to take a second suitcase to give to Pastor Emmanuel. I had no idea what it was to be used for but I quickly got online to see if I could even take a second one on my Northwest flight. It was allowable so I sent an email to Dawn requesting that I take a second suitcase. I had been given 100 ties, 36 cosmetic bags with gifts for the women and some ladies scarves to take as gifts for the people in Kenya. Yes, the suitcase would come in handy for that but that was not the primary reason. At first I was told no but then after some prayer I was told that would be okay if I was willing to leave it in Kenya as the rooms and vehicles were very small. That was what I felt the Lord was directing me to do anyhow, so I was fine with that.

My husband encouraged me to go to the store and find a suitcase to take. I prayed and asked the Lord for favor. I went to WalMart and found a 24-inch, three piece set of luggage. The carry-on and toiletries bag folded flat so that was not a problem. You will never guess the color of the luggage - BLUE! It was on clearance as well. God is so good! I just had this sense that Pastor Emmanuel would need this luggage for some future travel.

One of the days Pastor Ian (http://www.citylightsministries.org/Home.html) gave a teaching and then there was an opportunity for people to respond. During the response time the Lord had a message for Pastor Emmanuel. Part of the word had to do with travel to the nations - plural. Yes, he will need the blue suitcase. God is a God of Provision. Whatever He asks us to do, He provides the necessary equipment!

Two Day Village Conference

October 27 - Today we went to a village just on the other side of Namaingo. When we first arrived there were only a few people in the church. The church had a hardened clay floor with poles sticking out of it and a metal roof. There were no walls, just tarps. This turned out to be a blessing as the wind could come through and refresh us from time to time.

As the music started more people showed up, eventually filling the church. There were even times when people were standing outside and looking in. The people were filled with expectation and excitement. Barbara started the conference with a teaching on trials. Jan followed with a teaching on prayer and worship. We then broke for lunch and ate in a mud hut home of a church member. After lunch I taught about how God sees the heart. Dawn finished the day with a teaching called "The Breakthrough Annointing." It was about how God breaks through for us. It was followed by a time of prayer for people who needed a breakthrough.

During Barbara's teaching I was thinking of Peter. I sensed that the Lord was asking me to tell the children (God's people) about Peter. So I worked into my teaching that we cannot just take a snapshot of our failure and get stuck there anymore than we can look at one point in another's life and make a decision about their entire life. God sees the full picture and doesn't want us to put others in a category nor does he want us to be stuck in a certain place in our lives. God's call on our lives is God's call and we should not sell ourselves or others short.

October 28 - the warfare at the conference was awful. Barbara started out with a teaching on leadership. When she was finished she looked totally spent. Jan taught next on the walls. From my perspective things seemed to be going well. She was addressing the house of character when all of a sudden the children started to get restless. Never had the children been so restless. Normally they were as attentive as the adults. This was unusual. Then all of a sudden a little boy has a seizure. His mother brought him forward to the Bishop for prayer. Jan felt like she had lost the attention of the people. She came back to the platform seats also spent. We then went to lunch at the nearest fast-food hut. Barbara was hoping for Culver's custard but to no avail!

After lunch we went back to fight! I spoke first about the Holy Spirit and Fire. I talked about how we all want the power of the Holy Spirit but don't necessarily want to be purified by the Fire of God and be holy. During the re-cap however, I felt like the part about being holy and refined was lost. But I know that the Lord can recall that for people. So I just prayed that the people heard it and will respond. Dawn taught from I Kings 13, about the prophet who did what God wanted yet got distracted on his way back home. In his distraction he was led into sin. He lost his life. (Lessons I learned from this: Be on guard for distraction AND Hear from God for yourself and DO WHAT HE SAYS!)

Afterwards there was general prayer for whoever wanted it. Then the Bishop told the people there was an anointing prayer for worship for anyone who wanted it. Several came forward. Pastor Edwin began to lead worship and as this was happening some people who had come forward began to manifest demons. I had a sense that the Lord was weeding people out. In fact, one girl was thrown almost out of the building. Two others fell face down like dominoes. Things that make a person go hmmm....

So now, back at the hotel. No electricity - again. We will have to get up early and pray for power so we can pack for our return home. What an amazing time in Africa.

SURPRISE!!!!

Dawn celebrated her 70th birthday with us in Uganda. Enjoy the pictures.

Village People

Sunday, October 26 - Originally we were scheduled to preach at 4 separate churches. Jan and I did not feel comfortable with this. We believed our husbands wanted us to stay together so we spoke with Dawn. It was decided that we would go to the same church and then on the way back to town we would stop at another village and preach.

Barb stayed and preached in Bugiri Town. Dawn, Jan and me took a taxi about an 1 1/2 hour away to some remote villages. The Bishop was with us. We passed the church we would preach at in the afternoon on the way to the places we would go. We dropped Dawn at one village and continued on even further into the bush. At several places the road was only a cow path. We would turn out to be the first white people to visit this village. We arrived in Matumba, where the Bishop had started his pastorate many years ago. I preached on the Holy Spirit and Fire. I really felt that the Lord wants a holy people. The Bishop interpreted for me. Jan concluded our service with a song on holiness. We then spent some time praying for the needs of people who had come.

We then had lunch in one of the local homes. On the way back to pick up Dawn the Bishop bought a fish that was caught earlier that day in Lake Victoria. He threw it in the trunk of the car where it would sit for the entire afternoon. It had to be about 100 degrees fahrenheit that day! We picked up Dawn and headed to Namaingo to preach. Dawn preached on Stephen. After the service we went to Pastor Edwin's house for a Coke.

After the coke we checked out another guesthouse to stay at the following night when we would be having a conference in the village. I was the last one to walk in and on my way past a table a chicken squawked and lunged at me through the table legs. I screamed and jumped. For the rest of the trip I would be teased about the "Guard Chicken." We decided to not stay at that guesthouse, rather pay the taxi driver extra to take us back to the Beverly Hills Hotel in Bugiri Town.

Pastor's Thanks

October 25 - last day of meetings in Bugiri Town. Barbara started the day off with a teaching on the Blood of Jesus. Jan then followed with a teaching on Hearts of Stone, Sinful Self-Protection, Forgiveness and Our House of Character - all in one lesson. It was great! People really responded to what God was doing on this day. The people who were not pastors were then dismissed in order to go out and get some lunch. The pastors stayed in order to speak with us. We gathered in a small circle and they shared what was on their hearts about the week. It was so touching. We had offers of land and homes if we would move there to minister on a regular basis. A few spoke on the impact of having four women preachers come all the way to Africa to teach them. Bishop Tomas made the comment that he was so glad that we came and actually taught from the Bible. He said that some had come in the past and only given their testimonies - no Bible teaching. His people felt it was a waste of their time. He felt ripped off. But this time the Lord brought people who could teach and there was depth that they needed. What a compliment to us and what an honor for the Lord! Dawn then had a word for the pastors about working together and staying linked so that none would fall away.

That session had taken longer than anticipated so we had just a short time before the people would be dismissed. With that in mind, the decision for me to not teach was made. Dawn taught a very short conclusion about the seed. She spoke on how God sees the finished product not just the seed. He knows what each person will become.

We then had prayer and worship. It was very sweet. Dawn told me later that she has sensed a mist around the people as though it was the fragrance of the Lord. The way a perfume bottle leaves a mist of fragrance, the Lord had left a mist of his fragrance. I had sensed the Lord was very pleased and then I felt a fire in my wrists so as Dawn prayed blessings on the people, I reached out and agreed. Jan was next to me praying in tongues in agreement and Barb was doing the same. It was a wonderful conclusion to our week.

Interpreters

We had some great interpreters. Edwin, Joseph, David, William Moses, Charles and several others interpreted for us. Each interpreter had a specific gifting for the time needed. For instance, Charles was great in interpreting for Dawn at the crusades. Watch the video to see what I mean. He did all the actions she did, gave the same voice inflections, etc. It was an amazing thing to watch!

When whomever was interpreting for that session got stuck on a word or concept, the others in attendance would help out. We did specifically pray for Jan and her interpreter on one occassion. She would be taking some of the concepts from Elijah House Counseling and combining them into a lesson. She really needed someone who would be able to convey the whole concept in an accurate way. She started out with one interpreter who could not understand what to interpret. A pastor in the front, William Moses, helped the interpreter a few times and then offered to interpret the rest of the teaching. He was really in tune with the teaching. In fact, at one point in the teaching a woman jumped up out of her seat and hit the floor with a thud. A pastor went over to help as this woman had just experienced a spontaneous deliverance from an evil spirit. It was a powerful teaching!

Nothing New Under the Sun!

Same environment, different day. It's October 24 and today I hit a wall with the food. I think Barb hit it days ago. It was hot and I found it extremely hard to even have an appetite. AND the mosquitos were bad. Even with repellant I was being bit a lot. The bites are swelling. I am so grateful Rick insisted on me getting the yellow fever shot even though I had an official exemption.

The teachings at the conference were really good. They all fit together and built upon each other. I don't know how God does that. We had not met ahead of this trip to discuss teachings or topics. None of us knew ahead of time, not even at the beginning of each day, what the others were teaching. Yet God, in his amazing way, put all the teachings together. I am in awe of the Lord!

We left the conference and went back and napped. We were all exhausted. As it turns out, the naps were the Lord's provision for us. That night the church on the property which borders our hotel compound was holding an all night prayer vigil. It was loud! It was loud all night! We had our windows closed, ear plugs in and it was loud! I wondered how the neighbors handled this as the church does this every Friday night. Incredible!

Product of My Environment

Evening, October 22 - Today we all taught again. I am definitely a product of the American church system. Yesterday my teaching was about 35-40 minutes with an interpreter. Today I taught for about 45 minutes. We are supposed to teach for an hour. Now I am supposed to be working on a teaching for tomorrow. We just found out that we would have two hours to teach a woman's conference but none of my teachings I brought are specific to women. So I need to ask the Lord what to teach. I don't do so well teaching without preparation - another thing I need the Lord to help me with.

Again during our conference it rained - downpoured. It rained steady most of the afternoon. The crusade was still to be held despite the rain. In the afternoon I asked the Lord what I should speak on. I felt that I was to talk about God and how throughout history he has made provision for people to come to him. I was to speak of sin and how we all have sin but as people we think some sin, like gossip and arguing and backstabbing or white lies, is more acceptable than others. But God views sin all the same - separating us from him. So I then introduced Jesus and how he lived a sinless life. I spoke of his sacrifice on the cross and how when we believe in him and ask him to be our Savior we can be right again with God. It was very short - again, a product of my surroundings. I am asking the Lord to help me develop a better style for crusades. It may come in handy on another day....

A few responded to the invitation for salvation but later that night the Bishop told Dawn he expected her to preach in the remaining crusades. She really does know how to preach a crusade and teach in conferences. The Lord has gifted her.

Getting to the crusade that night and the next was quite a surprise for me. At about six a motorbike pulled up to our building. Pastor David came in and told Dawn he was there to get her. Dawn told him that I would be speaking that night. She looked at me and I must have looked scared out of my gourd - which I was! I did not want to go alone, it was enough of a stretch that I would be speaking at the crusade! She asked if I could do it. I said yes. She told me to put pants under my skirt so that I would be decent on the back of the motorbike. She told the driver of the bike to come back and get her once he had dropped me off. So Jan and Barb stayed at the compound and prayed while Dawn and I went to the crusade.

The next night Jan also joined us at the crusade as Dawn preached. We all three went on the motorbike at separate times. Barb stayed back and prayed. She also put the finishing touches on a surprise birthday party for Dawn who would turn 70 while we were there.

Conference and Crusade in Bugiri

October 21 - Day 1 is over. We all taught today. Jan and I taught kind of short lessons. We were told that tomorrow we have to teach longer. "Okay Holy Spirit, you have to lead me. Help me to follow you. Help me to represent you well here in Uganda."

I just found out I am the crusade speaker tomorrow night. I have never spoken at a crusade before. I am a little - okay, a lot - out of my comfort zone. I will not be able to even think about a message until after I teach tomorrow at the conference. "Help Lord!"

It's hot in Uganda, really hot! The sweat from my mid-back is running down my legs and puddling in my shoes. ICK!

Uganda is a place of diverse spiritual awakening. People are really hungry for spiritual things....

Today we walked through the town to the conference. People would take double-takes upon seeing four white women walking through the streets. I decided that there were going to stare so I would put a smile on my face and greet people as we walked down the road. Apparently Jan and Dawn and Barb felt the same. So here we were, four white women, walking down the dirt roads of Bugiri Town waving and smiling and greeting the citizens. This would be a pattern we would follow every day that we were able to walk. People became used to this and would watch for us and sometimes even greet us first. The children especially would run down the road waving and shouting "Jambo!"

After the first night at the crusade we were escorted back to our compound on foot. It was very dark. As we walked from the crusade grounds we had quite the large entourage following us. Many were children but some adults as well. I decided that if they were there I would sing about how much Jesus loves them. So as we walked down the dirt road, I sang to whomever was near enough to hear. I was totally in my element, believing that what I sang could and would make a difference in their lives. What a good walk! I was so at ease.

Arrival in Uganda

Monday, October 20 we arrived in Entebbe in the evening. We were warmly greeted by 9 members of Bishop Tomas' team. We had what seemed to be mounds of luggage and 13 people to fit into a van for the 5 hour trip to Bugiri. Most of the ride was nice road. But there was a point in which we turned off the two-lane highway and onto dirt roads which were under construction. I was exhausted and even slept some in the cramped van on the bumpy roads.

We arrived at the Beverly Hills hotel late at night. Our room was very small but we had our own bathroom. YEAH! It consisted of a shower head and a porcelain squatty. There were two twin beds in our room with mosquito netting on each bed. We pushed the beds together to keep them away from the walls. We did not want any of the geckos to accidentally climb into our beds with us. Here are a few pictures of our accomodations.

We were taken good care of at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Samuel ran the hotel, Mark was our houseboy, Christopher took care of the grounds and Carol, Cathy, Justine and one other gal did all of the cooking and serving at the compound. We had an armed guard who kept us safe during the night.

More Crusade and Conference info - Kenya

The worship in Kenya is quite enthusiastic. What joy the people have and what abandonment to their own selves....

During the worship service on the last Sunday we were in Kenya, Dawn presented Bibles to the new converts. Living Water Church in Walker, MN purchased Bibles to give to new believers. Here this man is receiving the Bible as well as a word from the Lord.

The children loved trying to see themselves in my viewing screen as I took pictures of them. This little girl was hiding behind my chair during a scary part of a drama. In order to alleviate the fear I began taking pictures of the two of us.

This little boy came up and just gently laid his hand in Dawn's.

He was content just to stand there holding onto her.

Dawn and Barbara discussing what Dawn would preach at the crusade.

She has an ability from the Lord to put a lesson together as she gives it.

Many came to faith in Christ, many were healed through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we left the crusade I sat in the back seat next to Dawn and wept silently much of the way back to the guesthouse. I was so grateful to the Lord for bringing me to Kenya. I was so grateful to know the people I had come with and the people we worked with in Kenya. I was so grateful to be affirmed and to grow in my understanding of how God has made me. I was so grateful to the Lord for who He is. I felt so full.

Three People

In June, while praying for the team that would go, I asked the Lord how I could pray specifically for the people in Africa. I was shown three people: A woman who was having eye problems which was causing her to need help to get around, I saw a baby near death whom the mother wanted prayer for, and I saw a man who could not walk because of a mangled foot or leg. As I prayed for them I sensed how the Lord would have me pray for their spirits as well as their physical need. I prayed that the woman with eye problems would have spiritual insight and healing. I prayed for the mother of the child near death; that she would understand and receive the love the Lord wanted to give her thereby being able to extend that love to her child. I understood that the child would survive. I then prayed for the man who could not walk that he would be healed and walk in the salvation and assurance of Christ. As I prayed I sensed that I would recognize these situations as they came up. (Even though I had not yet accepted the offer to go, I had faith that I would be going, it was just a matter of time.)

When we were in Kenya there was a word from the Lord for a lady in attendance. A neighbor had brought her because she was blind. I began to pray as the Lord led that she would have spiritual insight and healing. At lunch I told Dawn that I thought she was the woman I had been praying for since June.

Later that week a mother brought her sick child for prayer. As I was interceding in the background I sensed in the spirit that I was lifting this child up to Jesus for a touch. Right then I heard so tenderly in my spirit, "This is the one." I was so excited that I ran to Barb and Jan and told them that this is the child I had been praying for. Barb took me over to Dawn and told me I needed to share what I had been praying and sensing. (I am working on obedience so I did.) I prayed for the mother and stepped out in faith and said that I believed the child would recover. That is when the thoughts of doubt started to fill me. "What if I was wrong?" "But the Lord told me that I would recognize the situation - which I did." "But that child looked so close to death." So I got to learn a quick lesson on praying and releasing back to the Lord. I had learned that a long time ago but this was in a much different way. I did what was required so I must let the results rest with the Lord.

The rest of the time in Kenya I was open to hearing about the lame man but never recognized the situation so sort of forgot about it. However, while in Uganda we made a visit to a hospital. There was a member of the church or a family member of a church member - not quite sure - who was in the hospital being treated for typhoid. So the bishop took us to pray for him. When we were done praying for him we prayed for his family who was there with him. Then we moved over to the roommate. The roommate was a young man with a cast on his leg. One part of the cast was cut open in order for a wound to heal. Barb asked the man if he had ever asked Jesus to be his Savior. He replied he had when he was about 10 years old. So we prayed for him. As we were praying I knew this was the man who could not walk. We prayed for his healing but then I was led to pray that he would remember the committment of his youth to the Lord. That he would once again walk on a stable path WITH the Lord leading. I prayed that as the leg healed that he would walk in spiritual strength as well.

WOW! GOD IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! It is His love that draws us to himself. It is His love which delivers and heals. It is His love which compels us to pray for others. It is NOTHING we do but it is EVERYTHING HE DOES. FOR JESUS CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!

"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling." Ex. 15:13

Conference and Crusade in Kenya

October 14 was the first day of the conference and crusade. I was to teach second in the conference. However, we arrived late to the conference and they wanted to keep the schedule so I was to teach first. I guess that way I had no time to be nervous! I taught about running the race to win. I began with an illustration from the olympic games and used 1 Cor. 9:24-27 as my jumping off point. It went well, although probably not as long as desired. Dawn taught after me about the Kingdom of God. Afterwards there was an altar call and ministry. What a great time!

It was warm there but not as warm as Uganda would turn out to be.

That night at the crusade Dawn (http://dawnlundgreninspirations.com/) introduced the team and then Barbara spoke. There were so many children there. They loved to touch us and look at us. As the week progressed they became more brave and would reach out and touch us. One girl even reached up and touched the nape of my neck to see what my hair felt like.

That night I saw in the crowd a gal that I prayed with that morning. She was troubled before I prayed with her. Jan joined us in prayer and the Lord gave her a word for this woman. At the crusade she was all smiles and it was as if light emanated from within her. She was definitely a different gal because of what Christ had done for her that day!

Wednesday, October 15 I was praying for "living words" to give to the people. I then began to read the account of Stephen in Acts 7. He is recounting the history of God working in and through people in order to draw people to himself. Acts 7:38 says, "He (meaning Moses) was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, and he received living words to pass on to us." I believe that was God's confirmation that I was praying in the right direction. To the request for living words I also asked for obedient hearts for the people to receive. That they would have a desire to embrace and walk with the Holy Spirit.

Jan and I loved standing in the crowd during the worship. However, the music was VERY loud. (Some things are the same all over the world.)

Africa Is Calling

Monday, June 9, 2008 I was invited to join Dawn Lundgren, Barb Mitchell and Jan Erickson on a trip to Kenya and Uganda. This was what I had been praying for during the past two years. I was not released to accept until August 1, 2008. During that time of waiting I continued to pray and fast for Africa and this team - whether I was to be a part of it or not.

Once I knew I was able to participate with this team I began to prepare lessons. I think we were asked to prepare a couple of lessons. The Lord kept giving me messages and I ended up taking seven along. I thought I was being silly and overpreparing but was determined to obey the Lord and take all of them. Boy am I glad I did!

On October 9, 2008 the four of us boarded a plane for Nairobi, Kenya. Immediately we melded as a team. We experienced instant unity in the Lord. It was as though we had always known each other. There is no explaining it other than it was the Lord.

We arrived on Friday October 10 in the evening. We were greeted at the Free Pentecostal Guesthouse, where we would live for the next 10 days, with bouquets of fresh flowers, lots of warm handshakes and smiles. I felt so loved. We were exhausted so we turned in for the evening. The next day we would hit the amazing bookstore right there at the guesthouse. Dawn and Barbara found books right away. Jan and I took a little longer to find the books we wanted. But we did settle on the book, "Why Not Women?" by Loren Cunningham and __________. It is a great book about what the Bible really says about women in ministry. Great read. Jan and I sat in bed and read and giggled and read and giggled. It was at times like a 21-day slumber party!

Sunday, October 12, Dawn preached the first service at the Free Pentecostal church in Kabiria. She preached on Luke 19, Zacchaeaus. What? That was the very first teaching the Lord gave me to take! Scratch that one off my list of teachings to give! At least I was hearing accurately! Barbara preached second service on the compelling love of God. We then we had a time of ministry. Watching Pastor Emmanuel with his church members was touching. He loves them deeply and encourages them to live their fullest.

After service the men of the church were given the 100 ties we had brought as gifts. You were all so generous. The men had such a great time choosing them and then showing the others what they had received. After that we had lunch at Pastor and Joyce's, then back to the compound. Tomorrow we were to go to the orphaned elephant park.

Monday, October 13 we went to see the baby elephants. Cute but stinky! As we were standing there we heard a noise behind us. Big baboons were out. After being in India and having a monkey try to get at me through the car window, I don't have a great fondness for monkeys! So I watched carefully. I wanted to know where they were at all times.

We stopped along the way back to the compound to take pictures of the slum where we would be teaching and holding the crusade. A van stopped while we where shooting film and the couple (Americans) stopped and invited us to take pictures from their place. The gal, Debra Wombe, said the Lord had told her to stop and she had never done anything like that before. Her husband, Jim, agreed. They have an orphange, school and feeding program for those in the slum. When we arrived, it was like an oasis overlooking the edge of hell. There is just not an easier way to put that. They have had this facility for 4 1/2 years but have actually been in Kenya for 13 years. They have a two websites http://www.kiberakidscenter.com/Home.html; one is still being constucted if you want to learn more about it http://stopthecrying.org/ We took a lot of pictures but here are just a few.