Uganda & Kenya

[SandiF]

Re: Uganda & Kenya

anxiously waiting... while I'm enjoying the pictures and narratives.

any idea why the church is called &quot;<span style="font-weight: bold">Bride</span> of Christ Church Ministeries? Are they conventional christian church, such as pentecostal? I had to do a google search for Kalisizo... seem not too far from Tanzania.

Loving the pictures and waiting to hear more, especially about the impact later...

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

Hi SandiF, thanks for coming along. In the New Testament, the church (the body of believers) is referred to the Bride of Christ.

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

Kalisizo Pentecostal Church (KPC) is located right in the heart of Rakai District. The first recorded case of HIV in Uganda was in Rakai District and the majority of the folks in Rakai are infected with AIDS.

The following day before the services, the Bishop of KPC, took our team to the John Hopkins Research Centre a few blocks from the church. Very impressive state of the art facilities. They still haven't found a cure for AIDS...things that makes you go hmmmmmmmm. Interesting to note that while we were in Kenya, there was a program on the television about a gentleman who has found a cure. With one dose of his &quot;natural medicine&quot; they are seeing a 100% cure rate.

The Director of John Hopkins Research Centre telling us about the centre





Beautiful grounds and facilities



I loved this art work in the centre



Bishop of KPC and some of our team members

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

More pics at John Hopkins

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya



The freezer room. This is where they keep all specimen collected from AIDS victims



Drs. Benjamin &amp; Angela Rucker, the founders of Cradle of HOPE and Pastors of Bride of Christ Church Ministries along with the church admin, listening intently as the head of transportation tells us how they pick up specimen and samples in Rakai and surrounding districts.

[Peasie]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Compray</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's my last night in Kenya. It's almost 1:30 a.m.; I need sleep but the music in downtown Nairobi is so loud and it's definitely not my kind of music. Last night I was on the Masai Mala Safari where the lights went out at 10:00 p.m. leaving behind sounds that were not familiar to me but very soothing. In no time I was asleep. Tonight it's a different story. Dem Kenyan love dance-hall reggae music. </div></div>

This reminds me of a long time when ago I was in Nairobi for nearly three weeks. The night life in that city at the time the city was crawling with Japanese tourists.

I would go out dancing with some U.N. folks - one guy was a Trini - who took us (two Jamaican ladies) to clubs far away from the tourists. A local favorite at the time was an old church that was converted to a dance club. Dem Kenyan deh can dance all night! We left the joint at 4:00 AM and it was still jumping!

Compray. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

Welcome Peas. I'm still traumatized by being downtown Nairobi. More on that later.

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya



After leaving the beautiful grounds at John Hopkins Research Centre, it was time for church again. Quite a number of AIDS victims and church members were waiting to hear the &quot;visitors&quot; including Bishop Charles. I love him.



Bishop Charles is one of the most humble men I've ever met. He is not originally from Rakai but was sent there to pastor the church. Although others rejected the post because of the stigma and the fact that there are so many AIDS victim, Bishop Charles decided he wanted to make a difference in that community.

Worship before the speakers came forth.



Sister Michelle from Maryland brought down the roof with her praise dance rendition of &quot;I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes&quot;.



First Speaker of the day - Minister Henderson



Then my protector on the trip - Pastor Alston

[MsExced]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

I'm caught up now Compray nice pictures, the place looks so much like Jamaica

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ms Exced</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm caught up now Compray nice pictures, the place looks so much like Jamaica </div></div>

Thanks for reading Ms Exced. I am convinced that most Jamaicans were taken from Uganda. The place and the people reminded me so much of JA. They eat the same foods and have the same style of cooking. I would move there in a flash.

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

After Pastor Alston preached this lady walked up to the front of the church and they all stood applauding.



Turns out, she was crippled from a stroke. Her family decided to take her to the church and leave her there as they didn't want to take care of &quot;another child&quot;. Dr. Rucker prayed for her on Sunday and she was able to walk a few steps. On Monday she stood in the prayer line again with her crutch. I didn't know the story at that point but I told her that she didn't need the crutch.

The church rejoicing with her



Displaying the crutch over her head. Seeing was believing for these people. They knew she was crippled and now they're seeing her walk.

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

The widows ministering for the church



Due to AIDS and civil war, these women have lost their husbands and the church now cares for them.

The team looking on and enjoying



Then it was time for the crazy preacher:



I took the opportunity to bring the lady up and encouraged those in the congregation who had AIDS to believe that the same God who healed her, can heal them.

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

After service we were invited to Bishop Charles home for lunch where we were met with a beautiful and tasty banquet. I was too tired to remember to take pictures. The food was good. I'm convinced that Jamaicans were taken from Uganda.

After lunch, Bishop and his wife presented Dr. Rucker(s) with a prayer mat.



Time to head back to the church. School children playing in the school yard.



This usher was so nice. Each time we arrived at the church she was right there to greet us and hug us. Beautiful spirit.



Afternoon worship. This young man is going places. He can really sing. He records his own music and he's also a producer. This is how he puts himself through College. Very ambitious.



Dancing with one of our team member

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya

These are all pastors from various churches in Kalisizo.



Dr. Rucker addressing the women. A very awkward then enlightening session as the women clearly did not understand how important they were.



He was listening intently and he's not a female



Then I distracted him. Such a doll.





Busy taking notes

[Compry]

Re: Uganda &amp; Kenya - Namata

This pastor was something else. He kept on looking at me through the afternoon. Finally made his way close to me, told me he loved me and then later gave me the African name Namata. Note the ring on his finger.



I asked him what it meant and he said milk. I was a little perplexed as to why he would name me milk. I thought maybe it was because of my complexion. Curiosity got the better of me and I had to find out why. Namata (milk) means a nourishment. He said I brought them something very valuable, something that will nourish them and help them to grow, by the messages that I preached in the conference. I felt much better and accepted by new name with pride.