Visitors Come to Gulu (part 2)

by Linda Campbell

March 31, 2007

Greetings from Uganda,

Tuesday morning the Living Word Team (Pastor Kent, Von, Shawn, and Marlene), Irene, Heather (an American), Pastor Joel, Pastor Josiah, Anet, baby Deborah, Kennedy, Aloysious (our wonderful friend and driver), Bill, and I headed to Gulu, Uganda. Gulu is located in North Central Uganda and has been heavily attacked by the Lord's Resistant Army (LRA) over the past seventeen years.

Many large refugee camps encircle the city. These camps are overcrowded with small circular huts. They are packed with devastated internally displaced people who have been forced to leave their homes in their villages and flee for their lives to the safety of these camps.

Over the past year, many smaller satellite camps have cropped up. The government is slowly moving the people closer to their home villages. These satellite camps are guarded by soldiers at night. The people in these camps are filled with fear and hopelessness. They have seen horrendous acts performed by the LRA against their loved ones. Their lives consist of just surviving in the camp.

Some of the people are being allowed to dig in their villages during the day and return to the camp at night. The fear of the LRA is keeping the people emotionally paralyzed. Many carry wounds in their bodies and deep within their hearts. Some are locked into bitterness and hatred. In the late hours of the night, they must cry out to God "Is there an answer?"

IRENE'S DREAM

After breakfast, we gathered as a group to strategize and pray together. Irene had a dream. In her dream, Pastor Joel was driving the ministry van. He came to a three way fork in the road. One road went into the deep water. Another followed a smooth and easy highway. The third was very bumpy and rough. He chose this difficult bumpy road. After traveling on this road for some time, they got out of the van. They returned on foot, but each one was carrying babies. The Lord revealed that they chose the difficult road that few would be willing to take, but because of their choice and willingness to sacrifice they would be blessed with spiritual babies.

Wednesday morning we arrived at one of the churches that Pastor Bosco (our Gulu leader) planted outside of Pabo IDP Camp. We greeted the people and entered into worship together, At first, the people were more like spectators. It took some effort to draw them in. There was a strong call from the Lord for the Acholi people to forgive the LRA. God is calling His children to live in a higher place than justice. It is a wonderful place called mercy. James 2:13 "Mercy triumphs over judgment." Mercy is a place where the love of God within us forgives those that we are not able to forgive on our own. These people were born for such a time as this. This is a special time in history where they can impact the camps. They have a window of opportunity to minister the love of God in the camps while the people are still there. It will not be long before the people are sent back to their distant villages. There was a powerful time of prayer where God was putting His heart of love and forgiveness into the people in the church.

PABO

The team prepared their hearts to enter into Pabo. Pabo is the largest IDP camp in Gulu. One of our team members was Kennedy. We went to the hut of his parents who are still displaced. While we were talking to the parents about Jesus, two of his relatives entered and asked to be born again. Marlene (from the Living Word Team) led them into a relationship with Jesus. Later, the team broke down into smaller groups. Each team was equipped with an interpreter as they started out on their mission. They went hut to hut ministering the love of God. Many people came to Christ. Others were set free from deep heartache and hopelessness. Some just needed to be hugged and feel like someone cared.

Some of the children were very afraid of our white skin. We were called "Mazungu" and they either laughed at us or they ran off crying. Gently and lovingly we won their hearts. It was not long until they were walking hand in hand with some of the team members. They were so love starved. Each one was so precious. God has created so many beautiful children. You could almost hear the cry of their hearts, "Someone please love me!"

GULU BIBLE TRAINING CENTER

Pastor Bill wanted the team to see the Gulu Bible Training Center which was located in one of the satellite camps. We entered a small mud building with a grass roof. It was difficult to see until our eyes acclimated to the darkness. Kennedy and another young boy began to play the Adungus (stringed harp like instruments) while others joined in on the drums. We all began to worship the Lord. We found that even when we did not understand the language, the presence of God drew our hearts close together. The music got louder and faster. Our eyes were riveted on the Acholi people. We started to copy their movements and totally cut loose. We began to dance our best imitation of the native Acholi tribal dance. It was so freeing and fun. We danced until we could hardly breathe due to the cloud of dust in the room. Everyone left laughing with their hearts full of joy and a new love and appreciation for their brothers and sisters in Christ in another land. The land is Uganda, the pearl of Africa, the land of dance.

Have a blessed day.

Pastor Bill and Linda Campbell




Visitors Come to Gulu (part 2) by Linda Campbell March 31, 2007 Greetings from Uganda, Tuesday morning the Living Word Team (Pastor Kent, Von, Shawn, and Marlene), Irene, Heather (an American), Pastor Joel, Pastor Josiah, Anet, baby Deborah, Kennedy, Aloysious (our wonderful friend and driver), Bill, and I headed to Gulu, Uganda. Gulu is located in North Central Uganda and has been heavily attacked by the Lord's Resistant Army (LRA) over the past seventeen years. Many large refugee camps encircle the city. These camps are overcrowded with small circular huts. They are packed with devastated internally displaced people who have been forced to leave their homes in their villages and flee for their lives to the safety of these camps. Over the past year, many smaller satellite camps have cropped up. The government is slowly moving the people closer to their home villages. These satellite camps are guarded by soldiers at night. The people in these camps are filled with fear and hopelessness. They have seen horrendous acts performed by the LRA against their loved ones. Their lives consist of just surviving in the camp. Some of the people are being allowed to dig in their villages during the day and return to the camp at night. The fear of the LRA is keeping the people emotionally paralyzed. Many carry wounds in their bodies and deep within their hearts. Some are locked into bitterness and hatred. In the late hours of the night, they must cry out to God "Is there an answer?" IRENE'S DREAM After breakfast, we gathered as a group to strategize and pray together. Irene had a dream. In her dream, Pastor Joel was driving the ministry van. He came to a three way fork in the road. One road went into the deep water. Another followed a smooth and easy highway. The third was very bumpy and rough. He chose this difficult bumpy road. After traveling on this road for some time, they got out of the van. They returned on foot, but each one was carrying babies. The Lord revealed that they chose the difficult road that few would be willing to take, but because of their choice and willingness to sacrifice they would be blessed with spiritual babies. Wednesday morning we arrived at one of the churches that Pastor Bosco (our Gulu leader) planted outside of Pabo IDP Camp. We greeted the people and entered into worship together, At first, the people were more like spectators. It took some effort to draw them in. There was a strong call from the Lord for the Acholi people to forgive the LRA. God is calling His children to live in a higher place than justice. It is a wonderful place called mercy. James 2:13 "Mercy triumphs over judgment." Mercy is a place where the love of God within us forgives those that we are not able to forgive on our own. These people were born for such a time as this. This is a special time in history where they can impact the camps. They have a window of opportunity to minister the love of God in the camps while the people are still there. It will not be long before the people are sent back to their distant villages. There was a powerful time of prayer where God was putting His heart of love and forgiveness into the people in the church. PABO The team prepared their hearts to enter into Pabo. Pabo is the largest IDP camp in Gulu. One of our team members was Kennedy. We went to the hut of his parents who are still displaced. While we were talking to the parents about Jesus, two of his relatives entered and asked to be born again. Marlene (from the Living Word Team) led them into a relationship with Jesus. Later, the team broke down into smaller groups. Each team was equipped with an interpreter as they started out on their mission. They went hut to hut ministering the love of God. Many people came to Christ. Others were set free from deep heartache and hopelessness. Some just needed to be hugged and feel like someone cared. Some of the children were very afraid of our white skin. We were called "Mazungu" and they either laughed at us or they ran off crying. Gently and lovingly we won their hearts. It was not long until they were walking hand in hand with some of the team members. They were so love starved. Each one was so precious. God has created so many beautiful children. You could almost hear the cry of their hearts, "Someone please love me!" GULU BIBLE TRAINING CENTER Pastor Bill wanted the team to see the Gulu Bible Training Center which was located in one of the satellite camps. We entered a small mud building with a grass roof. It was difficult to see until our eyes acclimated to the darkness. Kennedy and another young boy began to play the Adungus (stringed harp like instruments) while others joined in on the drums. We all began to worship the Lord. We found that even when we did not understand the language, the presence of God drew our hearts close together. The music got louder and faster. Our eyes were riveted on the Acholi people. We started to copy their movements and totally cut loose. We began to dance our best imitation of the native Acholi tribal dance. It was so freeing and fun. We danced until we could hardly breathe due to the cloud of dust in the room. Everyone left laughing with their hearts full of joy and a new love and appreciation for their brothers and sisters in Christ in another land. The land is Uganda, the pearl of Africa, the land of dance. Have a blessed day. Pastor Bill and Linda Campbell
Login \| Blogs \| Donate \| Terms of Service \| Privacy Statement \| Home