Monday, January 2nd – Saturday, January 14th, 2012
AFRICA WINTER MISSION TRIP
January 2, Monday, 2012:
Today was a travel day with six of the team members reaching Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Pastor Ray, Putri Gunawan, Hendra Susanto, Sherly Anggreini, and Ray Hayashida from Los Angeles and Adri Krisnadi from San Francisco. The flights were about 15 hour’s non-stop to Dubai. After arriving at about 7:30pm Dubai time, the partial team was able to eat dinner together at the Millennium Hotel, and then take a 2 hour tour coach around the beautiful city.
There was plenty of time for the team to get to know each other and here is some information on these six:
Pastor Ray (IFGF Los Angeles) – a veteran of multiple Africa missions. He has heard God’s call to evangelize to the African nations and that is what brings him here.
Putri Gunawan (IFGF Los Angeles)– a veteran of 2011 Summer Mission. Up to a couple months before this trip, she had been unsure if her parents would agree to allow her to come to Africa. For some reason, her father was in a serious auto accident two months ago, but by God’s grace was saved from his exploding vehicle. Such an experience for her father has strengthened him and his family’s faith in the Lord, and the family agreed to let her go to see what God has to show her in Africa.
Hendra Susanto (IFGF Los Angeles) – a first time missionary. He had made a promise to God that he would go on a mission trip if God delivered to him his U.S. passport. Although he had thought that Summer Mission would be more appropriate, he heard God’s calling to go to Africa, not Indonesia, and he took a step of faith a couple months ago in deciding to go even though he wasn’t sure if his finances would allow it. Thursday before the start of today’s mission trip, God miraculously provided him a new job, and he see’s God’s hand in providing for his financial needs to go on this trip.
Sherly Anggreini (IFGF Los Angeles) – a first time missionary. She had wanted to go last year, but work constraints did not allow her to go. This year, with her planning to move back to Indonesia in February 2012, God has opened up an opportunity for her to go, and she is excited.
Adri Krisnadi (IFGF San Francisco) – a first time missionary. Adri heard God’s call when at the 2011 Thanksgiving Retreat in Bakersfield; he purchased some “Support Somalia” bands for himself and some friends – the proceeds of which would go to the Africa Mission 2012. However, after the purchase, God spoke to him three times that He wanted him not just to spend money on the bands, but to spend his own time to take part in the Africa Mission. An obedient servant, Adri decided to take part in the trip.
Ray Hayashida (IFGF Los Angeles) – a first time missionary. At the 2011 Thanksgiving Retreat, Pastor Rajan prophesied to him that he should take a risk. Also wanting to know why God had placed him in an IFGF church that has a heart for mission, and wanting to take a risk, Ray took a leap of faith for God and decided to go on the Africa Mission. Fear has been a big part of his life, and he is looking to change that with God’s help.
January 3, 2012 Tuesday
Today, the group left Dubai around 8:30am on Emirates Airlines to travel to Entebbe, Uganda. A stopover for refueling was needed in Addis Abbaba Ethiopia. It was interesting to see Addis Abbaba from the air – the barrenness and dryness, with triangles of green fertile land sprinkled about along with groups of shanty hut towns interspersed. From the air, it was a stark comparison to Entebbe with its lush greenery all around, and the many sparkles of aluminum roofs reflecting the morning sunlight. Arrival in Entebbe was around 3:00pm, early enough before Pastor Danny’s and Pak John’s expected arrival at 10:30pm.
We were met by Kenneth Edward and Pastor Ndjoli Iyanga, who took us around town to buy some water and snacks, and was gracious enough to allow us to stay in his lovely home in Kampala until Pastor Danny’ arrival. After an excellent Indian food dinner which included live music, the team went to pick up Pastor Danny, but unfortunately, his arrival at the Entebbe terminal was 2 hours late, since all his luggage was not delivered with him; Pak John never showed up. Also while we were waiting, Adri Krisnadi was accosted by a Ugandan soldier with a rifle — accusing him of being a terrorist, since he had thought Adri had taken a picture of him inside the terminal. With God’s help, Pastor Ndjoli and his friend were able to intervene and keep the soldier from taking away Adri’s camera. It seems that there is much distrust and insecurity about terrorist attacks in Uganda caused by Somalian terrorists who are upset at Uganda for supporting African nations, placing soldiers in Somalia to try to foster peace.
January 4, 2012 Wednesday
The whole team started out from Kampala at 2:30 and arrived in Adjumani, Uganda at about noontime, and everyone is tired. However, the first Pastor’s conference had been scheduled between 9:00am to 4:00pm. The team ate lunch and then participated in the conference at 2:30pm. At 6:00pm, the first of two crusades in Adjumani began with wonderful, festive, and lively African devotional music, danced to by locals of a Christian church; the team also got involved in this dancing. Dancing was so joyous, that one of the young worshippers on stage broke through a plank of the wooden stage! By 7:00, about 800 locals had gathered at the BOMA ground site, as Pastor Danny began his sermon. About 170 people came forward to proclaim that they had accepted Jesus into their lives, and 50 claimed to have been saved.
January 5, 2012 Thursday
The day began with breakfast and a meeting at 7:00 am. Pastor Danny reminded us that we need to be aware of the Holy Spirit in what we say and do, and also be aware of Satan’s attacks especially on those trying to do God’s work. As far as being aware of the Holy Spirit, he mentioned that he did not know what to say to the many African pastors at his first meeting several years ago. He said God’s words came to him, and the result was that the next day, over 40 church pastors decided that they wanted their churches to come under the umbrella of IFGF. As far as Satan’s attacks, he mentioned that at Wednesday’s crusade, a guy started playing aimlessly on the keyboard, and this was distracting him at a critical point in his message to the crowd.
The Pastor’s convention training continued at 9:00am. Over 80 people with about a dozen pastors showed up to hear Pastor Danny. Ken also shared about his family, and how the Ugandans should feel empowered to make changes for themselves and others. While Pastor Danny was teaching in the morning, the rest of the team went into the Adjumani area to speak with some residents. They split up into three groups and here’s a summary of what happened:
1) Pastor Ray, Adri, and Putri met with 5 different families at their homes, and three people decided to give their lives to Jesus, then and there.
2) Hendra and Sherly also talked to about 5 different families and of the people they met, many were Catholics, 1 was Muslim, and 2 were Christians. Only the Muslim did not want to be prayed for. They prayed for healing, peace, and deliverance from evil spirits – the latter of which they found is fairly common among the people.
The crusade at the BOMA grounds started again at 6:30pm, beginning with praise led by the local church. They set the festive atmosphere with vibrant dancing and singing. About 900 people showed up for the event. Adri gave his testimony about obedience to God’s word, while Sherly gave hers about having the best 2012 by being guided by the Lord. Afterwards, the team presented a short skit directed mainly to the children about a just ruler taking his own proclaimed punishment for thievery in place of his mother who had been caught stealing – a representation of Jesus’s taking God’s punishment for us.
Pastor Ray gave a very pertinent sermon on hidden sin, especially that of adultery and parents leaving their children and families. After talking with several families in the village, it seemed that a good number of parents, especially fathers, leave their families forcing the moms to have to raise the children – and with no western child support.
After he finished, Pastor Ray gave an alter call, and a good number of people came up to the stage to testify to their healings from praying for themselves at the crusade. Of the nine people who came up, here are some of the physical problems that they claimed to have been healed:
1) Knee was healed.
One boy showed several times on stage how he could now kick;
the audience seemed to enjoy that.
2) Side, back, and heart pains
3) A dislocated shoulder
4) Right hand healed so lady could now lift up young son.
January 6, 2012 Friday
At the morning devotion, Pastor Danny reminded us that we want to let the Holy Spirit guide our actions, and that solutions for all our problems are already in heaven, and we need to be able to connect to that spiritual realm to solve our problems. Also, everyone had a good laugh about Hendra falling asleep on stage when Pastor Danny had him lie down on the stage during the Crusade on Thursday.
The team left Adjumani, Uganda at 9:30 and drove on bumpy dirt roads to Nimule, South Sudan, where the temperature felt about 90 deg F. The Harvest Festival for pastor teaching started at 3:30pm, six and one half hours after it had been slated to begin – resulting in many people waiting around the church. About 90 people attended the teaching, with 16 of those being pastors. Pastor Danny noted that we must accumulate our treasures in heaven, and the way we can do this is by being a blessing to those around us now, so that we can give a full account of our saved life to God.
The crusade at the Motoyo Grounds at about 5:30pm was attended by about 350 people. Putri went on stage and gave her powerful encouragement to the crowd, mentioning that God had a plan for each of their lives and wanted to bless them abundantly. After Putri, Sherly, Adri, Hendra, Kenneth, and Ray belted out “How Wonderful, How Beautiful”. Then Pastor Danny told the crowd the importance of receiving God fully into your heart, that you would die for Jesus’ sake, and he asked all who had done so, to raise their hands. Ninety people responded by raising a hand.
