On Thursday, at the center, we had Orientation for the new intake in the Leadership Academy. At the end of the session, an invitation was given for a few of the students to share why they had come to the academy.  One young man, smartly dressed and exuberantly shared, “My friend used to wear bangles up his arm, but now he even cut his hair! He was worldly, but now he is so different! I had to come today tosee who had impacted his life so much to inspire such a drastic change in his life.”

It is thrilling for us see God impacting these young people and changing their lives through our program to the point that their friends what to come and join!

Raising up Next Generation Leaders in Uganda

Saturday, we barbecued Ugandan style with roasted beef on a stick, roasted matooke (green banana) and boiled cassava. Ugandans like to eat and meat is a special treat. So, this BBQ was a way to say thanks to our leaders who have been faithfully serving alongside of us this year in teaching in the schools, organizing the youth fest and helping with the camp. We had a fun time together, eating, laughing, sharing and playing volleyball. Certificates were also awarded to leaders for things like Best Attitude, Most Dedicated, Best Smile, etc.Thanks, leaders, we appreciate you!

This was the theme of a conference Matt powerfully taught in last week. People from different nations, even as far as Kenya, gathered together to hear a timely message from God’s Word. The Spirit led him to speak on 12 things he has learned through a season of trial. After Matthew spoke, people came up to him to share how the word was timely and spoke directly to their hearts. We thank the Lord for using us to minister to his people.

On a road trip last weekend, we stopped at a town trading center to get directions and I was amused by two young guys walking by us with a skinned cow on a stick and the head in the hand. I didn’t get a photo of the head, but I did get a photo of the body.

It reminded me of an old commercial whose tagline was: Beef, it’s what’s for dinner.

9:00 Leaders arriving, registering their names, getting their name tags and assigned stations as well as changing into their youth fest 2010 t-shirt. Everyone is giddy with excitement, anticipating the day’s events. About half of the leaders took part with us in this event last year and the other half are new to it; they have no idea what is going to happen and no idea that they are going to be blown away!  

10:00 Leaders gather together to pray and dedicate the day to the Lord.

10:30 Balloons are being blown up, flags are being hung across the stage, students’ paintings being set up for display; people scurrying about organizing their stations, waiting for the youth to come, the anticipation is high….

11:00 Leaders in position ready to receive the youth! Bashir on popcorn machine, Erasto on sound, Joannie & Robert on promotion, Tevin & Francis on registration, Nicholas and crew on security, Agnes on hospitality, Alex on volunteers…just to name a few.

11:15 Hospitality team blowing bubbles, passing out candy, and welcoming our first group of students as they arrive

11:25 Guest Presenters perform songs and dances to an enthusiastic crowd.

11:50 Announcements – Toilet location, no swimming allowed, Promotion Tent location, Leaders pointed out, etc.

12:00 Program Officially Begins – Singing of national anthem, an opening prayer and a welcome to everyone for coming

12:20 Musical Chairs Competition – this one is especially fun to watch because they add flair to it as they dance around the chairs

12:45 Guest Musician - Hawa from Kansanga Miracle Center sings a number

12:55 Limbo Competition – All schools present send a representative to compete

1:30 Dance Team - Christian Focus Center dance team rocks us with their skills.

1:45 Dance Competition – The schools battle it out on the stage. Each student is given 30 seconds to show their best moves. Youth in the crowd determine the best dancer.

2:10 Guest Music Artist - JB Katende performs a couple of songs, and as he did last year, he’s inviting a couple of our leaders to join him in dancing along.

2:20 Bubble Gum Blowing Competition - Students are chewing a wad of gum, struggling to blow a bubble. Matt, thinking he’ll show them how to do it, joins in the competition only to find that it’s not as easy as it seems. Finally, someone manages to blow a bubble to win the competition.

2:35 Guest Speaker Introduction – Pastor Matthew Catinella, holding up a t-shirt, tells the youth that the t-shirt is a free prize for whoever wants it. He repeats it several times until it finally clicks and a couple of youth run toward him to take the t-shirt; he used this an illustration to introduce the guest speaker, explaining that he has come with a free message for them, all they have to do is receive it and it’s theirs.

2:45 Guest speaker – Pastor Fred Wantaate, of Makerere Full Gospel Church delivers a powerful message titled Are you growing older or growing up? He actively engages the youth, teaching them that growing up means making responsible decisions, including saving sex until marriage.

3:30 Altar Call - Pastor Wantaate gives an altar call and more than 10 youth respond to the invitation to accept Jesus as their Savior!

3:40 Commitment Cards – Leaders pass out commitment cards to the youth as Pastor Wantaate explains what it is and gives the challenge to the youth. Thousands accept the challenge to walk pure and sign the commitment card.

3:45 Dance Team – Jericho Breakers, dressed in their matching Detroit Pistons jerseys, break out some unbelievable break-dancing moves.

3:55 Dance Team – This team of youth from Sharing Youth Center present a unique dance combination, apparently with a Brazilian touch.

4:10 Raffle – a youth wins a calculator

4:15 Raffle – a youth wins a nice handbag!

4:20 Music Artist – Zack 40, a guest music artist in touch with today’s culture presents a couple of Christian rap songs in Luganda. He does a great job connecting with the youth and getting them involved.

4:35 Music Artist – Isaac Morgan, this guy is dressed for style. Even though it’s 80 degrees out, he’s rocking his chic black leather jacket as he sings a couple hits from his album.

4:50 Tug of War Competition – Youth enjoy this competition in the battle of the brawns. Even some of the Revolution leaders, including Pastor Matthew, compete in this game.

5:20 Dance Team – Once again Jericho Breakers show their talent.

5:40 Rookie Time – Youth rapper shows what he’s got.

5:50 Eating Competition – By now, it is well into the day and you can imagine how big the youths’ appetite must be. They are ready to scarf down the bag of popcorn, boiled egg, piece of bread and mountain dew. 

6:15 Walk Pure Quiz – a student from each of the different schools, where we are teaching Walk Pure, participate in answering questions from the book. This is where we find out how much they really learned. J

6:30 Song & Dance Presentation – Smartly dressed, G-Way group presents a couple of songs accompanied by choreographed dances. They bring a modern flair to traditional Ugandan music and dance.

6:40 Guest Presenter – Well known music artist and Pastor Wilson Bugembe draws a loud cheer as he enters the stage. The people are so excited that the leaders have to man the stage area to keep the people from rushing the stage.

6:50 Guest Music Artist – Inner Man presents a couple of songs as we wind down the day.

7:00 Drama Team – Mirodix, led by one of our very own leaders, Cathy, presents a message about a lady who got AIDS, and the devastating repercussions, because she chose to have sex outside of marriage.

7:30 Grand Prize Presentation – The grand prize goat, trophy and certificate is awarded to Old Kampala Secondary School for creating the best painting depicting the walk pure message and for being the best participants in the Walk Pure program and competitions of the day. They were first ones to arrive and the last ones to leave.

7:45 Tear Down, Pack Up & Clean Up - Wow, what a successful day: lives touched, commitments made, prizes won, and memories made. Looking forward to doing it all again next year! Good job Revolution team!

MORE PHOTOS TO COME!

Blowing vuvuzelas (horns used in the World Cup matches), our leaders are making noise in the schools, getting youth excited for the upcoming youth fest, Saturday, July 31st. We talked to the principals, passed out event posters, made announcements and made more noise. We are expecting thousands of youth to join us this day for Christian music artists and entertainment, games, competitions, prizes, and purity message. A majority of the youth are ones who have gone through our 10 weeks purity teaching, so this day will build on the message planted in their hearts. We are praying for the youth to respond as we invite them to commit to walking pure and saving sex until marriage. Please pray for a successful day.

The theme of this year’s youth fest is I walk pure. Do you?

Thanks to all those who are making this day possible!

Neighborhoods here are very different from the neighborhoods in the US. Our road is very uneven, with rocks embedded in the dirt and crevices everywhere. Along the roadside are local shops, mostly selling fruits and veggies, homes adjacent to the shops and often times even connected. Babies, toddlers and preschool aged children are roaming about and playing along the roadside, a lady is putting a weave in a friend’s hair, a few men are playing a dice game, baby chicks are chirping and scampering about, looking for scraps of food. It’s so lively; an opportune time to meet others.

A young girl, on her way back to school, from eating lunch at home, started walking alongside me. I asked her name, where she attends school and what grade she is in. Her name is Faith, she attends Steps Primary School and she is in P3 (3^rd grade). Faith asked me to push the stroller and I allowed her to, knowing how it would delight her. Realizing that she probably had not ever pushed a stroller, and maybe not even seen one before, I closely guided her. It wasn’t long and my suspicion was confirmed. We walked together a ways till we reached the side road leading up to her school; she went on to school while I continued down the road.

A little further ahead, I decided I should turn around. On our way back, the children seemed to be bolder. Some still just waved from a distance, but others ran up to the stroller, waving their hands and saying, “bye-bye.” A group of 5 boys, all under the age of 5, playing at the edge of the road, approached the stroller and began poking at the wheels. I never knew wheels could be so intriguing! They soon surrounded Alexis and started waving at her and getting close to her face. She looked at them somewhat stunned, but also amused.

After a few minutes, I decided I needed to get back home. The boys decided to walk with us. Each one grabbed on to the stroller, a couple at each side and one at the back with me. I carefully maneuvered the stroller, trying not to roll the wheels over the boys’ feet plus trying not to step on the child in front of me; not to mention trying not to tip the stroller as I rolled it over the unlevel, jagged bumpy road. We had to stop a couple of times and pull over to the side to let a car and a semi-truck pass by.

Finally, I made it to our gate. The children helped me push the stroller inside the gate, curious to see where the bazungu (white people/foreigners) live. Within seconds, they were running around the outside of the house, climbing the steps to the garden and jumping down. With a little prodding, we eventually got them to leave, thanking them for their help with pushing the stroller, and letting them know we would see them again soon. Alexis seemed energized, after the social interaction with the neighbors and children, and I felt a sense of satisfaction. Just a reminder of why I am here.

Are you hungry for God, that is? Yesterday, I ministered at Elim Church, teaching on the Holy Spirit to a crowd that is predominantly high school youth, about 300 or so. I spent time in prayer leading up to this service and was not disappointed by the Holy Spirit’s tangible presence in the service. The youth were charged up through the Scriptures and motiviated to be led by God’s Spirit. It’s always satisfying to see young people, hungry for God, flood the altar. I, along with a couple of our ministry staff and leaders in the church, prayed for these youth to be filled with God’s Spirit and empowered to be a witness for Him.

…was my gift from the village church I ministered in Sunday. A relatively poor (financially) church, yet so giving. I was especially moved by a lady, who gave me what seemed like all she had ($1.50), asking for a prayer of blessing. I was touched by her faith…truly a modern day version of the widow’s mite.

I spoke about God is the potter and we are the clay, focusing on Him refining us to become what He desires us to be…more like Him. Everyday, we face character challenges, things that test our patience, our love walk, etc. When these tests come, we should look at them as opportunities to be more like our heavenly Father.

Can you imagine us driving up to a high school, in a van with Walk Pure painted on the side, music booming and leaders ready to enter. Unlike most American schools, the schools in Uganda are open to our purity program. A large part of our ministry is reaching out to youth in high schools, teaching life lessons such as purity (Walk Pure). In order to accomplish this, we send trained leaders who teach the curriculum and mentor the youth. The cost for transporting the growing number of leaders has become quite high and keeps increasing. So, as a way to MINIMIZE COST but MAXIMIZE REACH, we would like to purchase a van.

Believe God with us to get a van like this one.