Greetings Fellow Mzungus!
(Posted by Rob Hartland, Beta Beta PC, Spring 2011)
What a wonderful day it has been! There is nothing like waking up at 7 to a beautiful sunrise over Lake Victoria and some scrumptious Ugandan breakfast foods. The Arise Africa staff has been very generous and hospitable at every meal, giving us the needed energy for very busy days!

Following breakfast, we all made the journey to Arise Africa Secondary school. We walked into the previously sanded and primed school room and got to work. With a good amount of effort and a healthy dose of patience (especially for those meticulous windows…), we completed the room to a point where all we have left is some trim tomorrow! How exciting! Price has been exhibiting great leadership in ensuring that all tasks are being worked on and done efficiently. His strategic painting mind has been invaluable in making the team a formidable painting force!

After our manual labor was done for the day, we returned to the guest house for lunch. Needless to say, it was once again delicious. Upon eating our last bites, many of the team members listened to music, journaled, and fellowshipped. It was then time to head toward a new school to deliver the Gospel.

After about a 30 minute drive, we arrived at St. Henry’s College. We were escorted to a small lobby area where the school had us all sign the guest book. After signing in, we went to a school assembly room where we gave our presentation. Christopher led a hip version of “Jesus Loves Me” followed by a skit representing the story of the Good Samaritan. Cameron then led the group on guitar in singing “How Great Is Our God.” Then, Wesley and Christopher did a wonderful job of leading a skit we call the “Everything” skit. Through representations of greed (Anderson), drunkenness (Kyle), gambling (Andrews), Jesus (Thompson), and a wayward soul (Wesley), the teenagers of the school were able to see and understand an important message about the saving grace of Christ and God’s omnipotent nature. These guys have done an amazing job putting together these skits and performing them well.

Ryan Anderson then delivered yet another well put message about the worth of salvation in comparison to the world. He presented a wonderful analogy about a girl who gave up fake, worthless earrings for precious, costly earrings that her father paid a high price to get for her. This drove the message home that there are many things in life we may hold on to, but they are all worthless compared to the gift our Father in Heaven has offered us. Pastor Christopher then made an alter call and ten students came forward, in front of their student body, to profess publicly that they had decided to commit their lives to Christ. Now that is God working!

Once we had concluded the program, we headed to Bukaleba Village and continued our Church Plant/ Crusade (as many of our African friends call it). We jumped around with the kids, sang, clapped, and shouted praises to the Lord. We then redid our secondary school program for the villagers who were in attendance. Craig then gave a gospel message to the community and explained the importance of accepting Christ. Twenty-four people signed up to be members of the church! Incredible! We then proceeded to have another time of worship. However, after a few minutes, we noticed a mass of kids taking off into one of the fields. They had stolen our soccer ball! Of course, we took off after them and proceeded to play football with the children. Imagine 60 Ugandan kids vs. 9 Mzungus… pretty epic. After that, we loaded up the van and returned to the guest house for dinner and fellowship.

As I sit here typing this message, I am thoroughly amazed at God’s power and provision. His work has been more than apparent throughout the duration of this trip, and I cannot wait to see what He has planned for tomorrow. Please continue to pray for the Phi Chi team, our Arise Africa and associated friends, and the people that God has planned for us to encounter. Pray that hearts will be open for molding, that we would have the confidence of servants covered by the blood of Christ, and that it would be God’s words that are spoken, not our own.

“Erinya lya Yesu lirina amanyi…Haleluya” These are the words to a Lugandan Worship song. They translate to say “The name of Jesus is powerful.” My good friend Jackson taught me how to sing these words and my other good friend Dennis helped me spell them for you here. How true these words are! The power of the name of Jesus has been very apparent here in Uganda!

Well. It is around 10:15 here in Bukaleba. Well past my bed time! Goodnight (good afternoon) America!!


-Rob Hartland
Beta Beta Pledge Class (Spring 2011)