Ministering in Pastor Annet’s Home Village of Kiige

It was bright and early on a beautiful Saturday morning in Uganda; we were traveling with Pastors Josiah and Annet Ndifuna to Annet’s home village of Kiige, Uganda where we would hold a pastor’s and believer’s conference. We had their three children, Maureen (Annet’s sister) Pastor Susan and Isaac. Pastor Josiah is the spiritual father of Susan and Susan’s brother, Isaac is being raised up to minister in music publicly. 

After hours on the road, we reached the village church at mid-day. We unloaded and greeted the people who had gathered for the conference. Next, we were ushered back into the van to travel a few more kilometers to Annet’s family home.  Having a meal at the father’s house is the Ugandan way of showing respect and honor to him in the sight of the community. Everyone knows about the arrival of white visitors and where they go.

The van pulled into a large area which was the family land. The property consisted of a main house and several smaller huts. The huts were the homes of the father’s three co-wives. It was presented to me that the relationship between the wives was a very close one. They nurtured each other’s children as their own, and the children considered them all to be their mothers. The single adult son also lived in one of the huts. In Uganda, the families stay close together and the adult children live on the father’s property. When they marry, the wife and children often become part of the ever increasing father’s household.

We were served a fine feast in the home prior to returning to the church. We visited with the father for 1 ½ hours while the meal was prepared. Culturally this is the correct thing to do; but my mind always wonders at the patience of the people waiting at the church. Before leaving, the family gave us many gifts.

The father who had recently become a Christian accompanied us back to the church. As we entered the building, the people were excited and ready to worship the Lord. Pastor Susan led the group in song while Isaac and some of the young men played the keyboard and drums.

Annet, being a pastor returning to her local village with visitors, was the guest of honor. She spoke and introduced us to the local pastors and believers. Through the messages, Pastor Bill and I challenged and instructed the people to enter God’s presence. Pastor Josiah interpreted and added what was needed to bring clarity in the local language. There was a strong hunger level for the living God. Everyone responded to the call to press into knowing God deeper. Pastor Bill, Josiah, Annet, and I prayed for everyone in the place. There were new salvations, many healings, and deliverances.

There was a young girl that particularly touched my heart. When Pastor Josiah started to pray for her, she started manifesting a demonic spirit. He and Annet continued to pray for her, while Bill and I prayed for many others. As we were praying, I saw her slip out of the church. After everyone was prayed for, I also left the church to see if I could find her. I did find her. She was seated on the ground. There was a pastor praying over her. I sensed that God wanted to minister “healing of a broken spirit” to her. I sat in the dirt next to her, and wrapped my arms around her. I continued to pray until I knew that she was free from all demonic power. I then ministered out of the love of God toward His precious daughter. It took her some time until she was free enough to respond back. She had been through a lot of abuse in her life. In Uganda it is very common for children to experience both physical and sexual abuse. Culturally this is never talked about. Children live their lives with secret shame and deep pain which is kept hidden in darkness. I love to partner with the Holy Spirit to destroy the works of Satan and set God’s children free.

While we were ministering to the little girl, the women of the church were busy preparing lunch for the people who had attended the conference. It had now reached about 6:30 PM. We were about to leave to go home while the villagers were about to have their lunch. When we minister in the villages, it is customary to provide lunch for the people who were under our care for the day, and it is our joy and privilege to do so. We find that it increases our ability to speak into the lives of the villagers. Some people come to the meetings expecting a free lunch, but after opening up their hearts; they receive the “bread of life.” Jesus becomes their Lord, and they become a part of the local church family.

We met a very special little boy who was both deaf and mute. He was sitting in the van with Aloysious. He wasn’t afraid when we started the van. We think that he intended to stow away and come home with us.  He rode in the van with us throughout the village as we were taken to different family member’s homes to pray for them. We prayed for a senile, debilitated little grandmother, and she received Jesus as her Savior. When it came time to leave the village, we gave the boy all the little treats and toys that could be found in the van. We prayed for his healing and set a blessing upon his little life before watching him run off into the night. This ended another day in “God’s harvest field.”

In Service of the King,

Bill and Linda Campbell