Uganda Mission
Winter 2010
Graham and Sue Derrig and Hazel Dykins, spent three weeks based at Bweyogerere, Kampala with Pastor Emmanuel and Florence Sunday. They also spent several days with a Merseyside team involved in an international pastors’ conference in Wakiso with NDE network headed by their friend Arnold Muwonge. Graham ran a workshop to train and encourage evangelism.
“Although we have done several missions with Connections/New Hope, we went to Western Uganda for the first time – two days hard travel for two days there. We had a warm welcome from Bishop Azaria and Deacon Boss (yes, that’s his name!) who oversee the pastors in the Ibanda region. They had arranged for us to spend time with two groups of churches with worship, Graham teaching, prophecy and prayer. Hazel’s home church, St Stephen’s, Gateacre, Liverpool, had funded 20 Bibles in the local language, which were given out and received with such joy. We are not medics but set up a simple clinic a bit like ‘pharmacy direct’ with basic home medication.
The second day is remembered as the day of three breakfasts. Boss and his wife fed us, as did the sister of the Hon. Guma MP in whose house we stayed. Emmanuel warned us that pastor Ephraim would want us to eat on arrival, so we commissioned him to say no. “But you haven’t eaten my breakfast,” was the reply. The rest of the day was great. From the moment the worship started the Holy Spirit was at work. We were all inspired by His ministry. We came back having received much from people who have little – not just the produce and two live chickens that made the long journey home!
We did five days medical mission with, at varying times, Ugandan Drs Frank and James; nurses Grace and Lydia; clinical officer Stephen and medical assistant Alysha. She will be playing an increasing role in organising medical outreaches. This ministry has a deep anointing, fruitful for the Gospel and, as we hear from previous visits, growth and building up the local churches and networks.
The picture “View from the pharmacy table” was taken in Kajanda, Masaka. It was a pioneer outreach, potentially a church plant. Here not only did people respond to the Good News, but we saw the miraculous - two deaf young people received healing, a mute spoke and a child with a stammer spoke clearly. Praise the Lord!
Graham visited the prison at Lugazi with David who leads prison ministry from the church. All prisoners and staff were present and gifts of soap, salt, sugar and Bibles were taken. The gift of repentance was there as over 100 prisoners and staff responded to the message and were prayed for with hands laid on to receive the Holy Spirit.
The final picture is of the church school. Some of the money we were given paid for two tricycles for the younger children – they are proving a real encouragement for children to start school and pay attention in lessons! Hazel and Sue spent two days painting the nursery classes before term started. We later spoke to the boarders who have benefited from the dormitory improvements funded by a Wirral charity.
In the places we visited, we were inspired to see examples not only of the gospel preached, but also a vision for Kingdom transformation through education, health and care of orphans.”
Six pastors from Western Uganda receiving Bibles in
Ishongororo.
View from
Mission Work