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CCR
40th Anniversary Mission Uganda Pentecost
2007
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Perth
evangelists, Eddie Russell and
David Harp of Flame Ministries
International returned to Perth
on June 12 from a Gospel mission
in Uganda that began on May
21.
Invited by Fred Mawanda on behalf
Joseph Alumansi national
coordinator of the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal of Uganda and
welcomed by the bishops, Eddie
and David were the only speakers
at conferences in Kampala, Masaka
and Kasese dioceses to celebrate
the 40th Anniversary of the
Catholic Charismatic Renewal
where 1000's were in attendance
at each conference.
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On
the theme, "No eye has seen,
no ear has heard, no mind has
conceived what God has prepared
for those who love him, but God
has revealed it to us by his
Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:9)
the subjects also spoke of
the Blood Covenants and the seven
stanzas of The Lord's Prayer as
well as David Harp's healing from
HIV/AIDS, homosexuality and drug
addiction.
The conferences had a profound
impact on the priests as well as
the people who responded with
faith. "I cannot tell you how
much my faith has increased with
David's testimony of healing; the
theme of this conference 1
Corinthians 2:9 has become a
reality." Teddy Muhumuza
said.
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Eddie preaches to around 2000
people on a mountain top at the
conference in Kabulassoke, Masaka
on Pentecost Sunday. In Perth WA
the CCR conference prayed for
their success.
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Cotilda
in Masaka wrote; "I arrived at
Kabulassoke on Friday evening since I
could not get away from work any earlier.
The following day on the eve of Pentecost,
I was translating for you, but that did
not prevent the Lord from speaking to my
life. I was especially blessed by your
sharing about the second last part of the
Lord's prayer; Lead us not into
temptation. You shared with us about the
anatomy of temptation and how to avoid
it.
What keeps ringing back into my mind is;
Stop trying to stop sinning. The statement
was strange at first but as you shared
your testimony, it became more clear to
me. I was further set free to know that
I'm not a sinner, perfecting the trade,
but I'm the righteousness of God! I must
say, that there are areas in my life where
I had constantly failed to realize victory
over temptation. Armed with these truths,
since then I have seen success every time
I stopped trying to stop sinning in the
face of temptation.
My prayer is that God gives me the grace
to apply my new found truths without
tiring until it becomes part of me.
Thanks Eddie for sharing so openly with
us. May The Lord bless you in multiples. -
Greetings to all the brethren who
generously gave to enable the two of you
to come." Cotilda. Masaka, Uganda.
(Interpreting
for Eddie above)
People
traveled great distances to be at each
conference, many by
foot.
"The amazing thing is that people with
children carrying belongings on their
heads walked great distances and slept in
the open air for the five day conferences.
Even the sick and lame walked there, some
carrying AIDS victims on stretchers who
also slept in the open, even in the rain,
and yet there were no complaints. In fact
there was great joy throughout." Eddie
said.
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A
view from the mountain top where
the
40th anniversary CCR conference
was
held over the Pentecost weekend
at Kabulassoke, Masaka.
David shares his story at
Kabulassoke, Masaka.
Registration Desk at the Kasese
Conference.
Cooking
Food Ugandan Conference
style.
Teaching on the Blood Covenants
Eddie makes a point to an
enthralled congregation in
Kasese.
David and Julius demonstrate the
ancient covenant ritual as Eddie
explains from the podium.
A
woman in the crowd weeps at the
description of the
crucifixion.
David preaches the final session
at the conference in Kasese.
AIDS sufferers were carried to
the conferences on stretchers.
Here a husband prays for his AIDS
suffering wife during a prayer
session.
The faith of the children was
inspiring.
Here little boys pray for each
other during
a healing session
A little boy prays over his sick
mother
at the conference in Kasese.
People at the conference in
Kampala kneel in repentance. Many
accepted Christ for the first
time including those of other
faiths.
Aloysius kneels as he is
instituted as the new diocesan
coordinator for the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal, Masaka
diocese,
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There
were several reports of blind
people seeing. A case in point
was in Masaka where Eddie and
David prayed for a 12 year old
blind
girl.
Eddie held her cheeks and looked
closely into her blind eyes that
were pointing in different
directions, "Do you believe
that Jesus can heal you?" he
asked. "Yes." she said in
reply. "Then look at me. Look
into my eyes!" he said
repeatedly, and when her pupils
finally came into line with his,
he declared, "You can see! You
can see me!" And then for the
first time in her life, she could
see.
John Bosco of the Holy Trinity
Community in Masaka said later,
"God spoke in my life when
Eddie explained the Kingdom of
God, that it is God's desire for
me to live and experience his
kingdom in this life. I took that
word and made it my prayer every
day.
I testify that I had some
spiritual battles that weighed me
down, but since I heard that word
and called on the Kingdom to come
there has been a great change.
Plus the wonders I saw with eyes,
the lame that walked, the girl
that was blind and cured and
other healings and I really felt
that the Kingdom of God has come
on earth."
The
conference in Masaka was held
atop a mountain in a makeshift
open air structure,
"It
was like being at the Sermon on
the Mount" David said. "I
could just imagine what it was
like in Jesus' day; people camped
out for days in the open air just
waiting for the Kingdom to be
announced; it was a great
privilege to be there." He
said.
Throughout the conferences news
of lame people walking, blind
people seeing, dumb children
speaking, the demon possessed set
free and many other cures were,
and are still being reported.
Witchcraft
is a serious problem in Uganda
and witch doctors wield great
power over the
people.
This was evident by the number of
contorted demonized people that
manifest during the preaching. As
in Jesus' time, demons howled and
screamed as if in torment as the
preaching began. Undeterred by
the disturbances, Eddie and David
continued with their messages and
the demons departed as they
preached.
On one occasion as Eddie prayed
with a crowd of people that had
suddenly surrounded him, a man
sitting upright on the ground
behind him began screaming at him
with eyes bulging and tongue
flickering. Eddie turned around,
waved his hand and quietly said,
"Leave" which the demon
did immediately leaving the man
calm and at peace. This
encouraged the people present and
many repented from consulting
witch doctors and their curses
were broken.
Not using the tourist routines in
Uganda revealed a different
picture of its life and people.
Eddie and David witnessed this
first hand as they often went
without showers and certainly hot
water. Most often, the best was a
bowl of cold water to bath in at
the cold crack of dawn.
Without
electric power they also preached
at night using only a kerosene
lamp to read their
Bibles.
Sadly, Uganda sells off its
electric power to Kenya and other
neighbors at a lower cost than in
Uganda making life difficult for
everyone as businesses often
close unless having a
generator.
In Kasese, 6 Km from the Congo
border, there was no mains power
at all and the extremely sick
that could not walk were housed
in a building near the conference
area to shelter them. The room
was pitch black at night and
Eddie and David moved around the
room praying for the people with
only a kerosene lamp in their
hands.
"When I entered the hall I was
stunned at how many people were
lying on the dusty concrete
floor, some on straw mats, but
most on bits of rag. There were
so many people in despair and
pain, but we only had a short
time to minister to them and I
felt completely inadequate."
Eddie said.
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However,
the people in the hall
could hear the messages
preached outside and
when Eddie conducted an
impromptu healing
service on request later
that night, many
responded to what they
heard and several
reported a healing.
The next day, an elderly
woman came forward to
say that she was blind,
but during that ministry
time the previous night
her sight returned. As
she stood before the
crowds at the end of
Mass on the final day of
the five-day conference
she said, "So these
are the men that have
spoken to us all week.
So this is what they
look like!" And upon
hearing this, the 1000
plus crowd stood,
cheered and sang with
joy.
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"So these are
the men that have spoken
to us all week. So this
is
what they look like!" -
She came
blind and left with
perfect eyesight.
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One
of the most moving moments was
when Eddie and David were asked
to pray with some orphans.
To
their surprise, around 300 young
children packed the
church.
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Eddie
spoke to them about
their heavenly Father
and how, in spite of
their losses, they could
achieve excellence if
they believed in what
God had to say about
them.
During this time Eddie
and David realized that
some of these children
would not see
adolescence due to
HIV/AIDS that many
suffered, and so Eddie
led them in a prayer for
healing and life.
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Between a conference
session in Kasese around
300 orphans packed the
church so that Eddie and
David could pray for
them.
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As the children sang a song to
David and Eddie they were moved
to tears and found it impossible
to speak further. Instead, they
went to the back of the church
and prayed for every child as
they left to go back to the
Sister that looked after them.
"You just cannot forget a
thing like this. It will stay
with me forever." David
said.
This second mission to Uganda was
a great success and now the
bishops and priests want Flame
Ministries to conduct the Set My
People on Fire seminars in their
dioceses as does the Charismatic
Renewal who want to take it
around Uganda.
The teachings given and the
results of the Word of God have
begun a hunger to know more about
the Bible and its divine
promises. "Wherever we have
preached in the world, a growing
hunger for the Word of God has
followed, and demand for Set My
People on Fire is increasing in
the UK as well as the USA, so we
really need to seek the Lord's
wisdom on this as the USA have
asked us to consider setting up
FMI in Florida too." Eddie
said.
As Eddie and David ponder their
future in Uganda, they are now
preparing for David to speak at
the joint COURAGE and CCR
Conference on AIDS and Same Sex
Attractions in Brisbane from July
5th to 7th.
Later in July, Eddie Russell,
David Harp and Patrick Carre go
to St. Louis Catholic Church in
Miami FL to conduct Flame's the
3rd Annual 5 Nights of Fire where
they will also speak at the
Florida Maximum Security State
Prison by popular demand of the
inmates and on to the 2nd Annual
5 Nights of Fire at the St. John
the Baptist Ukrainian Rite Church
in Pittsburgh PA.
From there they will speak at the
Walsingham New Dawn National
Conference in England along with
FMI's UK evangelist Derek
Williams.
Finally arriving home in Perth
towards the middle of August they
will begin their Set My People on
Fire seminars for St. Anthony's
parish in Greenmount from August
21 to December 2nd and then
prepare for their 18th Annual
Perth Congress in January 2008.
"I hope many will come to St.
Anthony's. It will be a great
seminar series to end a fantastic
year with." Eddie said.
On the weekend of October 5th to
7th, Eddie will speak at the
Committee for Family and Life
Archdiocesan Conference Perth WA
on the Motivational Gifts within
the Family.
To find out what missions and
programs are coming up go to
our
Missions
Update
Page.
PENTECOST
SUNDAY 2007; MASAKA, UGANDA.
New
Diocesan Coordinator for the CCR
- Masaka Diocese,
Uganda.
Mukasa M.K.Aloysius was
instituted as they new diocesan
coordinator for the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal, Masaka,
Uganda on Pentecost Sunday 2007
at the 40th anniversary CCR
conference.
Outgoing Fred Mawanda handed over
the reigns at the conference
after many years of service to
concentrate fully on his full
time appointment as the National
Chairman of the CCR for
Uganda.
Flame Ministries International
extend our congratulations and
prayers for both men in their
service to the Church in Uganda.
We also solicit the prayers and
support of our readers.
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In
an email received on June 5, 2007,
Aloysious
said,
"I'm very glad to have this time to
thank you for the great work done to my
diocese Masaka. We want also thank Fred
for all links to see it that you come to
Masaka. I might say that Masaka Diocese we
are yet to see heavens to come, because we
have started to see what our ears have
never heard, our eye have never seen, and
our heart, mind and thoughts have never
thought of.
We are very delighted for the mission you
are doing in the whole world. Many people
in the conference were attached and some
points have been raised that this has to
continue.
1) we are requesting to organize more
programs with you next year.
2) we request to organize some formation
training in Masaka Diocese.
3) we request to be part of your partner
countries in Flame Ministries
International.
I very much know that these are very big
requests because they need money which is
not in place. but I have that the moment
you accept them God will power out His
blessings to us.
On my behalf, I want to thank God for the
time I was in the conference, I have never
thought that the Prayer OUR FATHER has
such a wonderful message and I want to
testify that now I have a deep
understanding of this prayer. When I
mention any phrase and deeply in heart
think of it, I really feel the presence of
God.
In the meanwhile, we continue to thank you
and your sponsors in this wonderful
ministry. May the God Lord bless you in
everything.
Mukasa
M.K.Aloysius.
Masaka
Coordinator."
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OUR
IMAGES OF UGANDA - Sadly all our
photographs of amazing sunsets
and sunrises, crocks, eagles and
beautiful rare birds were lost,
but our memories of Uganda were
not. Here are a few photos I
managed to retrieve. I hope you
enjoy looking at them as much as
I did taking
them.
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Turning down a bush track at the
Queen Elizabeth National Park
near Kasese a huge Bull Elephant
eating a tree threatened to
kill
our car...
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...This blurred photo was taken
as we made a careful but hasty
retreat in reverse gear along a
very pot-holed mud track. We got
away safely to tell the
story.
(However, David still does not
want to talk about it - I wonder
why?)
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So, this is why the papa elephant
was so upset. We could see why he
wanted to kill our little car so
we couldn't blame him for that.
But boy, it was a close
shave...
... David's beard nearly fell
out.
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This wild Hippo popped over for a
feed and blocked our doorway when
we arrived home one night. -
Needless to say we got to bed
late that night, and
carefully.
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This is where the Hippo's are
supposed to eat, but obviously,
someone didn't tell them that we
had moved into the area.
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Not to be outdone by the Hippo,
we found wild Boars grazing and
sleeping outside our back door
the next morning - We were also
late for breakfast that day.
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These little guys popped in for
breakfast each day In fact, as
soon as you finished a meal all
his mates would come and polish
off the left overs. I think this
was the little birdie that told
the Hippo
and the Boars.
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Driving back to Masaka this guy
decided to jump on the bonnet of
our car. We did not open the
window; he looked cute, but was
very aggressive and looking for
food and we did not want to be
it. We Muzungu's don't taste too
nice. But I don't think he cared
too much about that - Boy, you
just can't reason with
Baboons!
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This fine specimen of Lionhood
just stopped on the road so I
could take a photo and then
calmly strolled off. That was
very considerate of him I thought
to myself before I realised I was
not in a Zoo. I am just glad he
didn't pop in for breakfast too,
and was very glad that little
birdie kept his beak shut on this
one!
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Well, this was a pleasant change.
I don't think she wanted to eat
us or trample our car to death
though.
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Water Buffalo doing what they do
best - But, do Water Buffalo
really eat Pelicans? - "Don't
worry darling, just grab him -
I'll keep a look out for the
Muzungu with
the camera."
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A very brave lone traveler on the
road to Kasese. The Congo is just
over those hills.
Photos
(C) Eddie
Russell
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We
wish to take this opportunity the thank
all those generous people that donated
around AUD$17,000.00 to make this mission
possible. Fred Mawanda, the Ugandan CCR,
the people, bishops and priests send their
thanks to you all. - You are all Partners
in Grace with us and you equally share in
the rewards of this mission. May the Lord
bless you abundantly for your selfless
generosity.
Some
personal comments and some not so pleasant
observations.
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Col.
Gaddafi and his evangelisation of
Africa
Uganda
is a Christian country, mostly
Catholic, and although
economically poor, unlike much of
Northern Africa, it is rich in
vegetation. It was therefore
disturbing to see that Colonel
Gaddafi, now that sanctions have
lifted has become a kind of
evangelist for Islam and at his
own expense, built an enormous
Mosque in the center of Kampala
that dominates the skyline.
We
were told that Gaddafi tours
Africa preaching Islam, attacking
Christianity and offering poor
youth money to convert.
Apparently this is very
successful and many accept his
offers. However, many Muslims
attended the conferences and
received healing and accepted
Jesus Christ.
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The
Gaddafi/Mugabe United States of
Africa
Plot.
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libyan leader
Muammar Gaddafi and visiting
Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe want African leaders to
agree next month to unite Africa
under one government to help it
solve its own problems, state
media said on Thursday.
The two men, both among the
world's longest serving leaders,
agreed in talks in Tripoli on
Wednesday that the 53-nation
African Union (AU) should be
turned into an embryonic federal
government at an AU heads of
state summit in Ghana on July
1-2.
"They consulted on the upcoming
African Union summit due to be
held in Ghana, and in relation to
this they emphasized the
establishment of the African
Union government," Libya's
official Jana news agency
said.
"This plan embodies the hopes and
ambitions of the continent's
people, and the only means for
the continent's independence,
political and economic freedom
and progress and development," it
added.
Gaddafi has long favored the
establishment of a United States
of Africa as a means of ridding
the continent of 800 million
people of what he calls Western
colonialism. - June 4 2007 (C)
Reuters.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL143127320070614?feedType=RSS)
Muammar
Gaddafi - A
quote.
"We have four million Muslims in
Albania. There are signs that
Allah will grant Islam victory in
Europe – without swords,
without guns, without conquests.
The fifty million Muslims of
Europe will turn it into a Muslim
continent within a few decades.
Europe is in a predicament, and
so is America. They should agree
to become Islamic in the course
of time, or else declare war on
the Muslims."[23] -
Muammar al-Gaddafi
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No
one can doubt that Zimbabwe's
Mugabe is a power-mad despot who
lives on the fat of the land
while his people starve to death
at his expense. What then we
wonder would the face of Africa
look like if Gaddafi and Mugabe
get what they want - Who would be
the first president of the United
States of Africa that would never
get un-elected? - Well, I shudder
to think.
On
Sept. 1, 1969, 27-year-old Col.
Muammar al-Qaddafi deposed the
king and revolutionized the
country, making it a pro-Arabic,
anti-Western, Islamic republic
with socialist leanings. It was
also rabidly anti-Israeli. A
notorious firebrand, Gaddafi
aligned himself with dictators,
such as Uganda's Idi Amin,
and fostered anti-Western
terrorism.
(http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107722.html)
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Looking back at the verdant
land and prolific wildlife one
can see why Col. Gaddafi wants
Uganda - All he has at home is
oil and sand - I guess this part
of Africa makes a nice veggie
patch for him.
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Uganda
- Is it a dumping ground for 1st world
trash.
Petrol
in Uganda costs US $1.75+ per litre and
not one car, bike or truck does not spew
thick black smoke, often causing
visibility and breathing problems.
Talking
to a Petroleum Engineer Eddie was told
that it was not the bad cars that caused
the pollution as he had thought but the
low grade petrol. - Just think about that
for a moment - If we paid that much even
for top grade petrol we would be up in
arms complaining about the cost.
Showing
concern for the people, Eddie said it
seemed the same with
DDT.
While there two years ago the Ugandan
health department refuted findings that
DDT was dangerous and encouraged its use
as harmless. Recently the same department
announced plans for its use in all homes
and buildings. Commenting that this was
irresponsible Eddie said, "It seems
that Uganda is being used as a dumping
ground for many things that endangered the
health of the people and this really needs
to be addressed."
It
was always hard to see how most Ugandans
lived and when hearing of such things just
made it worse, but it made Eddie and David
more determined to share the good news and
offer
hope.
It did however raise the question that if
the (Christian) west dumped trash
it would be easy for poor Ugandans to
accept good cash and deals from the likes
of Gaddafi and the wealthy Chinese
investors; investors that want to build
multimillion dollar golf courses in the
thick of the Queen Elizabeth National
Park.
It
seems that everyone except Christians
(The West) see great value
in
Uganda.
In a news report on Ugandan television
recently it mentioned that the Pakistan
government has poured in aid and
investment saying that its purpose was to
also give Uganda a spiritual gift. Of
course I have no objection to such aid or
even investment, but did listen with
concern regarding the 'spiritual gift'
clause and wondered if this would include
its infamous blasphemy laws.
Investment
in Uganda - Where are
you?
AllAfrica.com - The biggest number
of investors in the country are Ugandans
followed by those from the United Arab
Emirates, India, Kenya, UK, Pakistan,
Malaysia, China, Canada and Mauritius.
"China, the Middle East, Iran, Israel and
Pakistan are among the promising new
sources of foreign direct investments,"
Kigozi said. (http://allafrica.com/stories/200704200213.html)
It seemed to me, that rather than sell off
land that would no doubt increase in value
once developed leaving it out of reach for
all but wealthy Ugandans, it might be
better to sell on a 99 Year Lease. At
least that way Ugandans would still own
the land as well as whatever was built on
it if the leases were not renewed. -
Foreign Investment seems to be the
new-style colonization. -
United
Arab Emirates: Muslim. India: Hindu.
Kenya: Secular? UK: Secular. Pakistan:
Muslim. Malaysia: Muslim. China:
Communist. Canada: Secular Humanist.
Mauritius: Secular? Iran: Muslim. Israel:
Judaism. The Middle East: Muslim.
We
were told that land sells at around US
$800.00 per acre. If we had the money we
would certainly invest. Maybe in a 10+
acre plot with a live-in Bible Retreat
Center.
VATICAN
CITY, JUNE 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).-
Evangelization is the best service that
Christians can offer to heal the wounds of
society, says Benedict XVI. - "To
establish a fully reconciled society it is
necessary to begin with Christ, the only
one able to definitively offer this grace
to human beings," said the Holy Father.
For this reason, the Pontiff added, "the
work of evangelization is an urgent
necessity." To achieve this goal, Benedict
XVI underlined the importance of
catechists and priests to "proclaim the
word of God to their brothers and
sisters."
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