Women's Conference

February 14, 2005

Bill and I arrived at the airport with excitement in our hearts. We were going back to the nation that was as dear to us as our own. We boarded American Airlines on February 7, 2005. After a long a tedious flight we arrived at our destination, Uganda , the Pearl of Africa, the Land of Dance ! Our dear and brave friends, Bob and Debby Spruill have chosen to accompany us on this African adventure. Debby is the prayer and intercession coordinator for Prepare the Way Ministry and she faithfully writes the prayer shield letters. She obediently gets up in the night to pray and pushes back the darkness against our lives. She has led a team to cover us as we have been on African missions in the past. They are wonderful people and have a deep burden for God's precious people of Africa . They have a vision to plant “Joseph Houses” which are children's homes across the continent of Africa .

Our first service was held in the rental house. This house was originally planned to be the location of Faith Children's Home. God used men in the body of Christ to purchase a permanent home for the children. The children would stay in the rental home until Faith Children's Home was ready. Bill shared the word in the Friday night meeting. We prayed over every one in the room after the message. Several headaches were healed in malaria victims. A young man was carried into the meeting who had a wasting disease. He was very thin. His face was without expression. His eyes showed that he had given up hope. As we prayed over him, we attempted to stand him. Hope began to return and he slowly straightened out his legs and tried to walk. Pastor Joel and Hudson led him to the Lord. He began to clap and smile. He was a changed young man. We were able to meet some of our children who would be living in Faith Children's Home. Debby was teaching them to pray for each other. They were laughing in delight.

We awoke to the loud speaker just outside of our window announcing, “The Women's Conference to be held at Lugazi Miracle Center .” The women of Lugazi began gathering together for the Saturday conference. They were dressed in their brightly colored, traditional Ugandan dresses. They looked beautiful. We heard lovely music specials, saw a skit about how Jesus saves a life from the witch doctor, heard wonderful testimonies, and worshipped together to bring in the presence of the Lord. In the morning session, I spoke on the life of Esther and how she prepared to meet the king . Preparing to be in the presence of the King captures the heart of the King! His eyes become fixed upon you and He grants favor. You were born for such a time as this , not by accident by divine plan. God imparted into these women that they were born for destiny!

The afternoon continued with teaching by Debby on waiting on God. We had testimonies. Women testified that they now knew they were chosen by God, and that they were born for Such a Time as This! They were going to boldly fulfill their destinies and Soak in His Presence in Worship!

During the afternoon session, a young woman fell off the bench. Her teeth were clenched, and she was foaming at the mouth. The African way was to lift her by the arms and legs and carry her outside. I had seen this before, and I knew it was demonic. While the meeting was going on, we took her to a back room. I had her pastor stay with me as an interpreter. Deep wounds in her heart from abuse were uncovered. She had been raped by a motorcycle driver on her way home. She had also been forced to go to a witch doctor by her parents. Although it was very difficult, she forgave both the man and her parents. She renounced all witchcraft. After the forgiveness occured , the demon was easily cast out. A mother brought her six year old daughter to me. The mom had her to the witch doctor before she became a Christian. Since that time, the child had spells where she was thrown to the ground and foamed at the mouth. That demon was cast out, and she was free. There is a spirit called Pythom. It is a snake god used in witch craft. This snake spirit squeezes life out of people by making it difficult for them to breathe and causes chest pain. Several young women were brought to me for prayer. I discerned that they were being tormented by this spirit of Python. God instantly freed them. Another lady had severe pain in her right hip. I laid my hand on her hip and prayed. She told me that she felt something move inside her hip and the pain moved to the left side. I immediately knew that it was a spirit and put my hands on both her hips and prayed again. God loves his people so much. She was instantly healed of her pain and delivered from the tormentor!

We had the privilege of dedicating Pastor Hudson and Mercy Suubi's twin boys to God. The team spoke the words of God over their lives. Gift , one of the twins, has a soft spirit. It was prophesized that he would be a worshipper and move in the prophetic. Emanual was restless and louder. The prophetic word over his life was that he would be an evangelist. He was not satisfied now and he would not be satisfied later. He would go out and change the world for Jesus Christ . Last year at this church, the Lord put on my heart to tell the congregation not to despise the days of small beginnings. God was building a strong and pure foundation. The church had grown four times in number. We had a brick floor put in the church. It has a tent type roof and bamboo sides. The pastor now has an office where he is able to counsel people. The church is reaching out into the community and praying for the sick in the hospitals. They meet each morning at 5 am to pray together for Africa and Prepare the Way Ministry. This trip they will accompany PTWM into a bush village to spread the gospel.

Tears came to my eyes as I looked over the congregation that morning. I saw the most beautiful faces of the children who are waiting to move into Faith Children's Home. They were not the hopeless ones you see on television. Their eyes were shining with the joy of Jesus. Some of the children were waving colorful banners and others were clapping their hands. Several of them were beating the African drums. They were all jumping, dancing, and singing!

The church is trusting God for the sponsorship of each of these children. They have put action to their faith . They have gathered the children from their various remote villages. The believers of Lugazi Miracle Center have taken up to as many as five extra children into their own small homes. This is a great difficulty for them but their love for God is greater. They have committed to sacrifice until God moves on hearts to sponsor these children. They are using their own money to try to send some of them to school. I wish all of you could see this beautiful example of Christian love and these adorable children. We helped the children understand that they are no longer orphans. They have each been specially chosen by God. They have a huge church family here in Lugazi, and will each have a sponsor that will pray for them everyday. The children went wild with cheers! We told them that we brought clothes from America that other children wanted to give to them. We said that we were going to have a party to celebrate our new family, the family of God. They were laughing and cheering again. As I am getting more information on each of them, it looks like most of the parents died of AIDS. Some of the children have been chased out of their villages. The heavenly Father sees these helpless little children at risk and gathers them like a hen gathers her chicks. He is positioning them for destiny! They are already serving in the church. God is exceeding our expectations of what we dreamed a children's home could be. Faith Children's Home was in God's heart. He planted the dream into our hearts and has faithfully watered that dream. It is now becoming a reality. Forty-two children are about to move into a home that is to be an equipping center for young pastors, and church leaders. Who ever thought of the name orphanage? It is a word that is not in our vocabulary!