Uganda
quick reference QUICK REFERENCE
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Area: slightly smaller than Oregon
Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Natural Resources: copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Population: copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Religions: Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other 3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census)
Many in Uganda are turning to Christ. It has been a land of upheaval and death. There are constant challenges by Muslims and animist (similar to what Haiti experiences). Margaret Nelson lives and works in a rural area. A school and church have been established but recently the Ugandan Army established a facility adjacent to the school/church. The authorities told them they would pay the church for the land but corruption and political unrest have kept the promises from becoming reality. God is all-powerful. They need prayer to help the local Christians become self-sufficient. When I asked a small group of “prayer warriors” to pray for a university group in Malaysia they got very excited. They know how to reach the heart of God.
luweero (mARGARET NELSON)
soroti (ANNA TRAVIS)A little background: When I first began a fellowship here at my home in 2002, it just grew to the point that I knew that I would soon have to think about registering it. I never even knew what an “NGO” was, but I found out very soon about what it was going to take to register as an NGO. I never understood what a church has to do with being an NGO, but that is how Uganda has it set up. I didn't know where to begin or the “ins and outs” of it all. All I could do was pray reminding the Lord that this was His and He needs to show me what to do next. He always did. Always. The Lord would send people I didn’t even know to come to my door to give me advice on just what was needed to file. I heard people say that if I wanted this church registered I’d better be prepared to bribe each step of the way and it still would take 2 or 3 years before it "might" be approve. Others suggested that I should attain a lawyer to handle it for something like $1000! Well, I refuse to bribe anyone and I did not want to waste $1000 on a lawyer either. To make a long story short, from the day I dropped off the folder with all the necessary information at the NGO Board in Kampala, it took all of 11 days to be approved! Of course, in between all of that time was prayer. And so, God has begun the work here and has handled each and every step of the way. Prayer was without ceasing to say the least. From the very beginning I had not received so much as an email from my home church, maybe a Christmas card that arrived sometime in early spring. I always was told that "we meant to write, but were so busy here." Many people were receiving Christ and along with that came an onslaught of opposition. Even some of my "Brothers in Christ" began spreading vicious lies that I go under water to get money and power. I didn't even know what that meant until I finally asked. We are now 9 churches having our headquarters here in Soroti. When I first came to Soroti, my first ministry was at the prison. After the first 6 months, they told me that I needed to get a letter from the prison headquarters before I could come back inside again as “Pentecostals” was not a religion that was recognized by the Uganda Government. All the other ministries other that Catholic, Anglican and Muslim were chased also. That very week I boarded a bus to Kampala and headed for the Commissioner of Prisons. When I got there, God opened a big door for me and I got to see the Commissioner of Prisons himself without even asking to see him! Seconds later, he called for his secretary and told her to type up a letter for me immediately as I just sat there with my mouth wide open whispering, Wow Lord! When I went back to Soroti Prison with that paper, the Officer in Charge just shook his head in disbelief, saying that no ministry other than the “Main Line Religions." Therefore, this ministry has been God’s all the way! You offer yourself and He does the rest. Over 600 prisoners and guards have received Christ in the past 6 years. The prison only holds about 450 men and so we are there to get the new ones when they arrive. A mission board once told me that I was just not qualified! So, being as “unqualified” as I am, all I could do is offer myself and God does the rest.. All for His Glory. Because He Lives, Ann Travis
|
