Merry Christmas!

Hello friends and family,

Another year has passed and Christmas is upon us once again. We hope this last year has been a great blessing to you and your family.

As for the Woodson’s, it has been a year of reflection and refueling as we have taken the last three months of 2009 and spent them in the States. Although we still have a few weeks left, the time has gone by very quickly and we will soon be headed back to Uganda.

We have traveled over 5000 miles starting out in California – traveling up the west coast to Vancouver then over to Montana, then down to Colorado Springs, up to Minnesota, back down Kansas City and then back to California. We visited the Redwood Forest, Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon as well as seeing many of our friends and family scattered throughout the many States we visited. All in all we have built many precious memories and have a lot to be thankful for. We thank all of you who put us up your homes and extended your hospitality to us, may the Lord bless you in return.

Although, there were many reasons why we took these three months leave from the field – one of the priorities was to spend some time at International House of Prayer in Kansas City. We took the month of November and spent that time really seeking the Lord for His purposes in our lives, concerning our future. We felt that after being in Uganda for over ten years now that we needed to take a step back and wait upon the Lord. Although we came with some preconceived ideas (you know us humans), God made it very clear from the onset - that this time would not be so much a time of impartation for “vision and plans for the future” but this would be a time for getting ministered to by the Lord - spending time in His presence and being refueled and refreshed. I would have to say that this has in fact happened and the Lord has been able to work in our hearts for His purposes.

During this time I have been doing a personal study on the life of Jacob and have learned some valuable lessons from his life that have spoken much to me during this season. One lesson I have been pondering over is found in Chapter 28. God shows up in Jacob’s life in a profound way and reveals himself to him with an “open heaven” – Jacob is so overwhelmed by the experience that he calls the place Beth-el meaning “the house of God”(Genesis 28:19). Yet not much change takes place in His personal life. This demonstrates clearly that one can have a genuinely electrifying emotional spiritual encounter without the effect of one’s character being changed. You see, it would not be for another 20 years that Jacob would wrestle with an angel and his name would be changed from Jacob to Israel (Genesis 32:28). At that point he would never walk the same again – he would walk with a limp, he would lean on God instead of his own strength. After wrestling with this angel, a short time later Jacob would return to that same place he called Beth-el, but now Jacob would call it El-Beth-el meaning “the God of the house” (Genesis 35:6,7) . The lesson for me is this: You can’t always know what God is doing in your life – but you can know who God is. You can learn His ways in every season you find yourself in. Instead of seeking God for direction – the Lord has beckoned me to simply seek Him. As I have done this – the Lord had been faithful to reveal His purposes to us.

As we return to Uganda in two weeks – there is a firing burning in our hearts to continue to serve Him in this great nation. We are ready to see all of God’s will fulfilled in our lives for such a time as this. We covet your prayers and know how much we need Him to do His work through us – we are vessels of His purposes.

God Bless all of you who have prayed for us. We thank God for all you have been able to do for us as He has enabled you. Merry Christmas and May next year be a fruitful year for you, your family and your church.

Josh shoots a gun and Breanna rides a horse in Montana

We visited our friends the Gregory's in Montana and they converted us into cowboys.

Some shots from our recent road trip up the West Coast. California to Canada

Kampala Riots

Late last week (Sept 10,11th) Kampala was turned into a war zone as the police shut down the city due to riots. Business, schools and government offices were closed and the police arrested more than 550 people and 14 are have been confirmed dead. The violence erupted on Thursday and continued into Friday when the police clashed with supporters of the King of Banganda (which the largest tribe here in Uganda). The President was preventing the King from attending a youth festival in a certain district for fear of unrest. The King was not welcomed by the people living in that area and the government foreseen a problem. When the President told the King he could not visit the district where the youth event was being held – the king’s supporter’s started rioting.

The nation is becoming more and more discontent and the smallest thing can set it off. This should not have caused riots - it was just an excuse. Pray for us as we labor in this city - we covet them.

To God be the glory

I spoke at Prime Time@The Pool on Saturday, Sept the 12th. This is the outreach I have spoken about in a previous blog. They have this event every week that reaches over two thousand students in a single meeting. They gave me the topic of pornography - which I was not to excited about - because this event is outside with a lot of distractions - including a lot heckling and shouting (while your preaching). In fact by the time the preacher stands up usually about 20% of the crowd leaves even before you get a word out. I thank the Lord for what He did this time. First, I brought our drama team with me from the church and they did a skit on "Samson". I had them come on first and this seem to keep the crowd around (very few left). I spoke about how our eyes lead us to sin many times and how pornography "eats" the soul. I ended with talking about how only a right view of God's love for us could give us the strength we need to overcome any addiction including pornography. In the end, over a thousand students stood up to commit themselves to ask God for His help with their addictions (I emphasized any sexual addiction). In addition about 7 or 8 people were saved. May God receive the glory

A Humble Request

We are coming to States for an extended time this year. We are arriving on Sept 22nd and will be around until Dec 27th. We are in need of a vehicle - we will be doing a lot of traveling, including driving up the west coast and then down to Kansas City. If you have an extra vehicle you can loan us or know how we might be able to rent one for a reasonable price - can you please let us know. E-mail us at darrylwoodson@yahoo.com. Thanks.

Anything can work - as long as it runs!!

Kidos

We have a freind who does some nice touch up on photoshop, this is her work of our kids. Enjoy!

Update

Gosh time is just flying these days and I am way over due to get something out on our blog.

Let me just summarize the last month or so. Lorraine and I had to go to Singapore to meet up with our Church in Singapore last month. It was a good time for her to see her family and for me to work (they kept me busy). I think they call it a workshop - I worked, she shops. It was a very short trip, we actually left our kids in Uganda at some missionary friends - they seem to enjoy themselves. I think they missed us............................of course they did!

Upon arriving back I went up to our Bible School to teach "Principles of preaching" which I normally do every semester for ATCEM (Africa Theological Center For Evangelism and Missions). It's not easy to teach expository preaching methods to those who are from the village and don't have a good grasp of the English Language. I have to go slow and repeat myself many times - but in the end my goal to help make preachers out of them all and somehow God helps them and it's always amazing the see the results.

Then last week we had our Annual National Conference for Uganda Assemblies of God - This year we have had a miracle take place and have been able to plant over 1300 churches. We have some incredible testimonies that I hope to upload soon to this blog with more details. But in at least two villages we had similar testimonies - where our church planters went into situations where demon possessed mad men had been bound for tens of years and no one could do anything for them. Our Pastors went in and cast the devil out of these men and churches began right then and there because of God's miracle. It has really been an exciting year and it was an exciting conference to hear about all the testimonies that God has been doing. It has truly been a revival in church planting.

Couples' Dinner - Fireproofing Uganda

Hello Lorraine here, Darryl asked me to step in this time and blog it up. So here we go!

On 14 June Sunday, we organised a couples' dinner at our church. Only those who were married could attend the dinner. The dinner was held in the smaller building. We gave the building a fresh coat of paint. It looked good. We set tables and chairs with table cloths and candles. We made announcements promoting this event for many Sundays in our services. The participants were encouraged to put on formal attires. Many women dressed up for the occassion. A few young women put on their wedding evening gowns. I actually wore my wedding gown.We started with African dinner. We had many single adults who volunteered to be waiters/ waitresses on that night. They ushered the participants to their seats and served them food and drinks. After dinner, we showed the movie "Fireproof". Many people were so blessed by the movie. The highlight of the event was reserved at the very end. We had all the husbands stand facing their wives. Holding their wives' hands, they repeated the "wedding vows" after my husband. Then, the wives repeated the wedding vow after me. To some women it was like they were getting married all over again. There was romance in the air. The participants left the dinner with smiles and a twinkle in their eyes.

Josh and Breanna passing out cookies

Watch Josh as he's quick to know who got the cookies as he looks for those who have not yet received any. He seems to know what he's doing. For complete details follow this blog onto the next one.

Village Ministry

We just got back from the village doing some ministry in a place called Kassese. Both Lorraine and I spoke in their conference and then I spoke in the evenings at the crusade that they held. We brought the kids and they ministered to the children by bringing them cookies, toys and clothes. Our children had baked cakes (well....Lorraine baked cakes) and they sold them at our church and then they took the proceeds brought cookies to take to the village.

It was really a great trip (except for the bought with food poisoning, see the blog below) that had some real impact. Upon our arrival in one of the sessions a young evangelist spoke before me. His gospel was corrupted by the “spirit of the age” in this nation (something like the prosperity gospel they have in States) claiming that if people would simply praise God they would receive cars and visas to foreign countries. The chairs were set around the place in way that contradicted the James 2. Pastors sat on cushioned couches while the poor sat on hard benches in the back. I was grieved. I prayed and ask the Lord for His grace so I could “set in order” the discrepancies. When I stood up the anointing was present, God was gracious and I was able to communicate what I felt was God’s heart. The word was strong and it came with power and conviction. I moved some of the poor people from their seats and had them trade with me and family and let them sit on the couches while we sat on the wooden benches. In the end the Pastors and the leaders got the message. The end result was joy. People were glad - as one Pastor put it “it was good to hear the real gospel”. Later Lorraine spoke on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the impact was also equally impacting upon their hearts. We humbly thank God for all he did.

Sick as a Dog

Thanks for our prayers - our family has recovered from the whopping cough. Please keep us constant prayer in this area of divine protection from sickness. Last week we traveled to the village for some ministry and I got a serious dose of food poisoning. I have had this many times - it usually passes in about 12 hrs but this time it went on strong for over 24 hrs - it was horrendous - by far one the worst times of sickness in my life, not sure what I ate - but whatever it was - it was serious. On top of being sick I had to drive back to Kampala . Lorraine and the kids were with me, but being as sick as I was I would have got even sicker (nauseated) had I not driven. The amazing thing was that I just went by faith and drove and I got a lot better as I drove and then after a 5 hour drive - almost the moment I got home "Bam" it hit me again. Four days later and I am still weak. So we covet you prayers in this area!

Whooping Cough

Please pray for our family, we have been hit with a virus called Whooping Cough. First Josh had it first and then he passed it on to his sister and now Lorraine has it. Josh is over the hard part - but please pray for our little girl - she at the hardest stage - where she chokes on her phlegm and finds it hard to breathe. It's hard on us especially Lorraine (as she is with her most of the time), every time Breanna gets an attack your heart sinks as she literally chokes and gasps (whooping) for air for about one minute. Lorraine has not had any sort of major whooping, just a continuous cough - please pray she doesn't get to that stage. And pray it doesn't get passed to yours truly. Otherwise things are OK for now. I will give an update soon on things around here.

Preaching to the chicken's

The other Sunday, I went to one our churches to preach. I got lost for over an hour trying to find the place. But when I finally found it I thought I might still be lost. I am glad to say that 5 chickens got saved......saved from the knife that is....

The week that was.

Well I not am sure what a normal week is for anyone one, but since I don't have any major news I thought I could just recap our week.

The picture above is something we often come up against while traveling down the road. It slows down your journey to say the least.

We have been at the hospital checking up on a church member who contracted tetanus. He got cut by something that was rusty and since he had not had the vaccination he contracted the disease. Normally a person dies with in about 24 hrs, but God had mercy on him and he survived. He swelled up like balloon all over his entire body and could not really talk for about two weeks. For over ten days he had very little sleep because something that would resemble a person being shocked with electricity kept disturbing him - but in reality it was something that was giving him a stabbing feeling in his heart. In such a state you could wonder if he could make it, but he did. If you don't have your tetanus shot - go get it today! No one should got through such an experience when a vaccination is available. I can not adequately describe the pain this young man went through and the way he looked - all I can tell you is that it was not good at all.

I had loaned my small iPod to a pastor at our church. He walked out his office for a short time and when he came back someone had stolen it. The thing that always gets me about these things is that it seems like most of the theft we experience is at the church. Of course we spend a lot time there, but it always makes my head spin. In our men's breakfast this morning we had a discussion about the corruption here in our nation and in the church at large. The conclusion was, since most children do not grow up with a sense of right and wrong in the home it's very hard for them to make the right decision later on in life. If that's true (and I believe it is) make sure your children grow up in home where right and wrong is discerned....otherwise your nation may someday end in the state we are in - where your own church becomes a "den of thieves".

On a more positive note, we had a great testimony in our Sunday service the week before last. Human sacrifice has been on the rise here in the last few months as witchdoctors have been targeting not just children (as they usually do) but older children and adults also. Human sacrifice is not something that went away in the stone age - it is still practice here. People do not give themselves willing they are tricked and or kidnapped and then brought to a witchdoctor to be beheaded and whatever else they do. This church member got up and told this story about how he had been targeted as human sacrifice. They had tricked him into believing a story that was false to get him to the shrine where the killing was going to take place. He openly admitted he was not "prayed up" for the whole experience - but said that in surprise to him when they brought him to the witchdoctor a mysterious wind followed him into the shrine. In the shrine they had a fire that was burning and the wind he brought in with him blew the fire out. The witchdoctor began to feel very uncomfortable with this wind that followed this young man into the shrine. They began to investigate and found out found that they had the wrong guy. So they sent him away. His point was "God is with us -even when we are not prayed up". I will leave you with that thought, and recommend you still pray but remember that even if you don't - God is still with you!

Jailed!

Being a muzungu (white person) in Uganda I have encountered all types of corruption from different sources at different levels. I have never paid a bribe and never will. Many times I have been pulled over by the police with the threat of taking me to the court (as a way of getting bribe from me). I would let the police into my car and offer to drive to court together with them. After a few hundred metres driving down the road (by this time the police would have figured out I am not giving him any bribe), he would give me a warning and get out of my car. This has happened more times than I can count. But this recent incident has to be at the top of the list.

On February 13th, I was travelling back from our Bible School in a town called Jinja when I reached some sugar fields at a place called Lugazi. Ahead of me I could see many cars stopped along with the police. The police man flagged me down and flashed a speed gun that showed that I was travelling 85 kph (about 53 mph). I thought I was going slower, because I spotted the cars and police at the side of road in far distance and I had slowed down along ways back to see what was happening as I approached the police. In any case when the police stopped me – he simply told me I was going to court. I followed him to the Lugazi Police station where I was written a court order. When I asked what was happening I was told I was speeding and I was going to court. I then asked the officer if it was not customary procedure for me to get a written citation for speeding. He told me that it was for the offender to request for such a citation. When I asked for a citation he told me it was not possible because I was going 85 kph (about 53 mph) and the speed limit was 50 kph (about 31 mph)keep in mind this is a highway. I was then taken to the Lugazi court and thrown into Jail. At this point I have not been explained by anyone what is happening or been told my rights. When I asked one police woman what the procedure was she responded “We too are big people – you just do as we say” as if I was a big person because I wanted to know what was happening to me. There were two others with me who were also being charged for speeding, one for 85 kph also (interesting huh, makes me wonder if their gun was stuck) the other for going 61 khp. While in the jail, fellow prisoners welcomed me by searching my pockets to see if I had any money or anything that might interest them. By now I am feeling like a common criminal. After about 1½ to 2 hours I appeared in court. We were told by the police to plead guilty or we would stay in prison until our court date. When I appeared in court I was mocked and shamed – the judge seemed to be happy humiliating me. For what? Because I was a criminal that needed to be treated like one. I was fined 450,000 shillings (about $225.00 USD, which for this country is outrageous). The other two that were with me were fined 300,000 and 400,000 (the man who was also doing 85 kph paid 50,000 less than me). By the time I was released at about 4:45 PM (almost four hours later) there were three others who were also being charged for speeding - all had to pay 400,000. There was one other person who had no driving permit/licence and was having to pay 600,000. When I left all but one person had paid, in total that was 2,950,000 million shillings (about $1500.00 USD). This was collected from the drivers pulled in by the police in the afternoon session. Who knows how much money they collected from other drivers in the morning session? Who was the money paid to? To the makeshift court collection office next to the jail. In Uganda because of the corruption, all such monies are to be paid at the bank, and then you take the receipts to the court or police. But not this time. From the moment I was pulled over till the moment I left the jail, I was barely given a chance to say anything or even ask questions, I was to pay or I was to stay in prison. Since my fine was paid at 4:45 PM and it had to be paid before 5:00 PM the word was going around that the muzungu is going to dig the next morning and they were all having a good laugh. I have no problem paying for a speeding citation; in fact I would gladly pay under the due process of the law. One man in jail told me he was embarrassed for the treatment I was being subjected to and said that maybe they should make considerations for foreigners. I don’t agree, everyone should be treated the same, they should be treated with respect and be given the proper due process of the law. Unfortunately this time justice would not prevail. Pray for us and our protection in such situations. Trust me it’s no joke.

The Serious Side of Life

Godfrey is still standing strong despite losing both his wife and baby in less than three weeks.

Hello friends,

I just returned from visiting the family of a young boy from our Sunday school who died yesterday . He was only about 12 yrs old. He drowned in a small lake by the side of the road that had formed by rain water. Apparently he thought he would go swimming in the pond. Because the water was quite cold, his legs cramped up and he drowned. His friends had motioned to some grown-ups to come and rescue him, but apparently they didn't take the children seriously - God knows if they would have been able to save the boy. Even now as I write this blog, I am reminded of another church member who recently lost both his wife and young baby in a span of less than three weeks. They had been married less than two years, when tragedy struck. The wife was having problems in her pregnancy and eventually the child died. After the pre-mature delivery the wife remained at the hospital under the Dr.'s care. She seemed to be getting better and then a day later she was pronounced dead.

One of the things that constantly goes through my head while living in Uganda is how often people die of things that are rarely taken serious. Many of these deaths could be avoided, if their was a sense of seriousness that surrounded them (Bystanders, Dr's, Policemen). Many of the schools that transport children to and fro or on field trips are just flat bed trucks with a bar around the back end. They pile them in and make them stand up and hold on to one another to balance. I have literally seen small pick-ups with what looks to be about 25 or so students. But here is the ironic thing, the driver drives like he is in race (with no regard for those in the back). But the real ironic thing is this - the students are happily singing and caring on with no regard for the danger. What are they singing?....well.....something like this (I am not making this up) "Driver, Driver keep driving faster and if we crash, at least we will be in the hospital together". Huh............. hard to figure out isn't it.

I am in no way saying that in the two cases above that (both the young boy and the wife and her baby) the people around them did not care enough or do enough to avoid the tragedy before it took place. But, I often get this underling feeling that seems to be within the culture, that says "Life is tough and you never know when your going to die - so don't take life too serious because if you do, you will be disappointed". And so we end up with a sense hopelessness here - that most people in the first world never live with. Sometimes it hard.....Pray for us as we pray for you.

Hold on to today and live it as if it was your last and when you make it through, thank Him for another one!

Happy New Year from the Woodson's

We pray that this blog finds you blessed and ready for a New Year. As a church we are going through the book of Joshua - from the first Sunday of the year. Our theme is "Step over the line in the year Two Zero Zero Nine". I am sure their are some things that we all need to step over this year to get to where we are going. Whatever that is for you; be it a difficulty at home, at work or school we hope you cross over (from your own strength) into His grace to get you through it. We pray that His Spirit is strong and steady throughout this coming year. The Year of our Lord! God Bless you and your family in 2009!

Read on as this blog continues below..........

A December of pictures.

Hope you had a great Christmas. As I has mentioned in my last blog, my mother was here from the States, we had great time with her. In the three weeks she was here she took over 1000 pictures!!! Here are a few of shots of what our December looked like here in Uganda. Be blessed!
We had a Christmas Production at the church entitled "Miracle Child". It was a story about three mothers (Hannah, Elizabeth and Mary) and the birth of their children. In the audience was a manager of a Local TV station, who so impressed with the production that he offered to broadcast it for free on his station.



We also had something called "Talent Time" were we had all our G12 groups (cell groups) perform some skits. Lorraine brought her girls out dressed as "Kung Foo" artists and show that they were not to be "messed with"

Our annual Christmas Carnival drew well over a 1000 people, probably closer to 2000. In an event that we get our members to bring in donations of food and clothing to give away to those who are very poor (living on less than a $1.00 a day). The people come and receive free; haircuts, shoe shine, eye bow cutting, nail polishing plus the food and clothes. We also have games where they win prizes such as gift certificates to local super markets and much more. People came as early as 8:30 AM to line up (we do not begin until 2 PM).

This girl had her face painted at the children's carnival that runs simultaneously about a 50 yards from the church at another location.

This picture was taken on Christmas day. The choir worked extremely hard to present some incredible items that blessed the congregation immensely.

Lastly we took my mother up to see the animals in one of the Game Parks. We were blessed to have found this lion who had just killed a African buffalo. We were able to get quite close and no one became dessert!