Our mission trip to Kampala Uganda Africa is by far the best one we have ever taken. I am writing this years later and I have nice rich fruit for our labor there to testify about. Many of the people we took on this trip entered into full-time ministry right afterwards and in the years soon following. Tim and Cathy Delehanty returned from this trip and decided to move to another state (Ohio) to plant a new foursquare church that is still going strong today. Rob Schellert decided to join Youth With A Mission after this trip and later attended Kensington Bible Gollege in England and is now the Pastor of an Alternative Hardcore Church called The Glorious Undead. Kelly Delehanty went to college and is in the hopes of becoming a youth pastor. Nick Walsh went on to major in Mission in college. Freeshia Price decided to go to Life East bible college upon return. Sarah Biron was inspired by the missionary nurse in Uganda and returned to the USA to study nursing which is what she is now practicing in hopes of returning to Uganda one day to help with her new found skills.
I can not thank enough our host David Adams and his wonderful wife Sarah. They planned a wonderful trip for us and were so wonderful to be with. They set us up in a beautiful Bed and Breakfast with fruit trees and a view of a mountain and the city. David also took us on our day off River rafting on the Nile river. We never ever ever thought it would be as wild as it was. We rode on some of the largest rideable rapids in the world. WILD! Sarah set us up to do a school assembly in a muslim school! There were about 800 children in the auidence where Tracy taught a drama workshop to all of them with participation from them and the teachers and our mime team performed "modified" chrisitan mimes in bite sizes that they could swallow and would not get us kicked out of the school! It was huge and amazing. Another day we parked the van and skiped and danced with tamborines like the pied piper down red dusty lanes past shacks singing for everyone to come follow us to church. We set up outside and did music to start and people gathered on the side of the hill by the hundreds. While inside we preached to lantern light and people stood in the smelly sewage on the side of the building to listen in at the windows to hear Juan preach. It was hot but amazing as it turned into a full out healing service. We also were taken out into the bush where we rode on a bus down what seemed like a trail in the woods for hours passing huts and people walking with sticks on their heads and water containers. We got out to a remote church and were able to perform and minister to a wonderful bunch or people and hold a healing service at the end. They were so happy we came all the way out to see them. There are so many other adventures and places we ministered, schools, churches, etc. Just give me a call any time or come for a visit and I could keep you up all night with wonderful stories!
We would also like to thank Greg Fisher and his lovely wife Margrate who hosted us as well. Ministering at Kampala Foursquare Church was such a blessing after Cathy had been praying for you and your church for so many years.
NEWS ON THE 1999 MISSION TRIP TO ETHIOPIA, AFRICA
I, Juan had an opportunity to serve God in the country of Ethiopia from July 30th - August 15th. I traveled with my father Richard who was recently featured in the Promise Keepers Magizine and Gebre Beyene, who pastors an Ethiopian church in New York City. We led several Leadership Training Seminars for full time ministers, elders and leaders of churches and para-church groups. These ministers were not able to afford the travel and food to attend, so we (and our supporters) payed for 300 pastors and leaders to come and be trained in practical areas such as evangelism, worship and prayer.
We also worked with local leadership to establish a Resource and Training Center there. We supplied them with training materials and tracts, as well as Bibles and refrence books.
I have never had the opportunity to reach out to people who are so much in need and are so committed to serving Christ. This country was devastated by a bloody civil war for over 20 years. In addition, it was hit hard by frequent droughts. Being in the 10/40 window, it is one of the least evangelized areas in the world. The few believers there were helped to mature and catch the burden and the vision to reach out to those around them who don't know Christ. We trained leaders to be rooted in the Word so that they become equippers, disciplers and visionaries for the Kingdom of God.
Along with the seminars, we traveled to various churches and encouraged the local belivers.
We helped an amazing ministry to prostitutes that discipled, loved and trained women in the bible, sewing and pattern making so that they could start a new life.
We here in America are so rich compared to most of the world. Rich in material things, but also rich in teaching, preaching and other spiritual resources. I went to Ethiopia not as a sacrifice, but out of the abundant blessings God has given me. I was also simply trying to follow the golden rule, "do unto others, as you would have them do unto you". We may take what we have for granted sometimes, but rest assured that these people do not. They are hungry for more of God and committed to serving Him with whatever they have, however they can.
2 Corinthians 9:8-9 says "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, "He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever."
I am not called to be a suffering missionary and perhaps you are not either. But we are called to give to the poor where there is need. The muddy streets of Africa are crying for the love of Jesus and are in grave need. Thank you to those of you who supported me and allowed me to me to bring Jesus, Music, Love, Prayer and Salvation to many adults and children in this hurting country. Please pray for peace in this country as they are now in a bloody war that began in Feb. 1999.
