“When Jesus say YES, Nobody Can Say no”

SUNDAY APRIL 23, 2023 It is so hard to believe that this amazing journey is more than half way through... Today, after a rolex or omlet breakfast in Jinja, we loaded the vans for our trip back to Kikondo for Sunday service. I have to admit that I have been very curious about the church service here as every day has been met with joyous celebration by our Ugandan family. What will the Lord's Day bring? The roads are full of people, some shopping and others walking in beautiful, colorful clothing as they are headed to various churches. Vendors with their wares line the sides of the road dotted with chickens, cows and goats. A herd of cattle cross in front of the van and the cries of children "How are you?" lift in the air as we drive pass the paths and driveways that stem from the main drive. Roadwork signs warn of "deep digging" as rock and cement drainpipes await their placement in the vast ditches along the orangish-brown clay that is the foundation of our road. It is speckled with potholes, sometimes so deep we have to come to a complete stop before we venture through. Filled with rain water, which is a blessing to the people who are working their gardens, the potholes bathe the side of the van in rich orange mud. The vibrant colors in the vegitation, flowers and African cloth...orange, violet, fushia, bright yellow... becomes a feast for the eyes as we get closer to the school and church. I am told that there are several different crops on this farmland...casava, coffee, maize, mango, jack fruit, rice, and eucalyptus (a plant that is not indigenous to this area). Families working together turning the soil, weeding and inspecting their crops. Successful crops determine these peoples' food source, income and trading power but are at the mercy of the heat and rain. Seeing the sign "Fancy Resort Beach Hotel" sandwiched between two large termite mounds seems a bit contradictory to me and I wonder where that "resort" might be found. Just then, Lake Victoria comes into view in its vast beauty. Crested Cranes, the national bird, spread their wings and pose for us as we turn toward the village closer to the church. Stick and mud huts, clay brick homes with thatched or metal roofs line the barely 2 lane road. Men and women with short twig brooms sweep their dirt roads and paths...and chickens, chickens, chickens everywhere! The road narrows and branches from the bushes and trees whip the sides of the van as the air takes on the smell of fresh split leaves and blossoms. Then the sign, "KIKONDO CHURCH OF GOD OF EAST AFRICA Nursery & Primary School" We have arrived at our home since Thursday. So many of the friends we have made, our brothers and sisters in Christ, run to greet us, hug us and love on us...ready to celebrate and praise GOD with us. We embrace them and feel the excitement from deep in their souls as they await the great celebration of God's word. They sing the words: "Touch my body, Touch my soul, Touch my spirit Lord and make me whole!" "When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no." "Move and possess the land that flows with milk and honey." They are joyful with singing, dancing, hopping, waving and smiling. Every cell in their bodies is alive and ecstatic with their love for Jesus Christ, so much so that it is contagious. We clap, sing and move along with them, caught up in the love that flows through the room. Love and appreciation for eachother, for the beauty in the day, for the abundant love of God that He pours out on us through the sacrifice of His son whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of JESUS, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 Blessings, Dina Marchincin