30 Days of Walking in Prayer

Uganda MissionBooks Are The Beginning

July 2014“The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”James 5:16b

Day I, May 30, 2014

Psalm 25:4-5 “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

The Path, May 30, 2014

The pavement ends and we turn into a small road little more than a path with tread marks crossing a rough ditch with a rock surface worn smooth by the feet of the walking people. We follow that path to Lulwanda, but as we go let us ask God to make known his way alone. Let us be open to the teaching He has for our own hearts as we travel this road. Pray for those who live and work along this path. Pray for the day laborers who sit waiting for a job. Some have to wait many days. Pray for the children of the surrounding area who wave, smile, and sometimes chase after the vans. Pray for the women who often times labor alone. Pray for our own patience at waiting on God for he has a lesson contained in the waiting. He has a plan for this day and he has provided a path toward that plan.

Day 2, May 31, 2014

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Many structures have fences and gates. There is a gate into the grounds which watches over the folks at Lulwanda. The gate is guardian of the children, the staff, and the teams who come to minister here. Pray for their safety throughout the year. Pray for the millions of orphans who do not have this gate, this way to a better life. The gate is indeed narrow for so many. Pray that the children will one day realize the incredible blessing of God that brought them here. This gate stands as a reminder for us as well. We are reminded that life is hard here. We are reminded that few of us have the eternal opportunity to minister in this place. The gate is narrow just as the laborers are few, but we are here! Pray that each of us opens the gate of our heart and let Jesus’ love work in and through us.

The Gate, May 31, 2014Many structures have fences and gates. There are gentlemen who watch over the gate at Lulwanda, guardians of the children, the staff, and the teams who come to minister here. Pray for their safety throughout the year. Pray for the millions of orphans who do not have this gate, this way to a better life. The gate is indeed narrow for so many. Pray that the children will one day realize the incredible blessing of God that brought them here. This gate stands as a reminder for us as well. We are reminded that life is hard here. We are reminded that few will ever have the opportunity to minister in this place. Thank God for the privilege of this trip. The gate is narrow just as the laborers are few, but we are here! Pray that each of us opens the gate of our heart and lets Jesus’ love work in and through us.

Day 3, June 1, 2014

The Grounds-Psalm 100:4-5 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

The Grounds, June 1, 2014As we enter the gate, cross its threshold we are now in the

blessing of God called Lulwanda. Thank God for the blessing of being here where the love of God is so apparent and the people of God are so joyful. Pray to soak it all in. Pray as we stand still upon the ground. It is alive all around us with students and staff. Pray that this ground will steadfastly be the stronghold of God’s will for each of these children. Pray that all decisions made about this ground be made in accordance with the will of God for this place. Pray that the hands who toil here and the feet who walk here will be blessed by the grass, the trees, the valley, and the sunshine. Thank God for the privilege of being able to stand and bless His Holy Name.

Day 4, June 2, 2014

The Courtyard- Psalm 84:10 “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor.”

The Courtyard, June 2, 2014When we pull up in the vans we actually step into what I refer to as the “courtyard.” It is a space of ground where meals are prepared, laundry is done, fellowship is celebrated, and children run about, some working and some just hanging out. Pray for this space. Pray that it will continue to be a place of peace, smiles, and laughter. Pray that God’s shadow alone darkens it, and that God’s sun shines on it. Pray for the discussions that take place here which have an effect on the children and staff. Pray that only harmony descends on this space. Pray that we learn the lesson of working together, fellowshipping as we proceed. Pray that we slow our pace and really come to grasp the significance of learning to treasure relationships rather than things. Pray for the safety of the ladies who work in this courtyard. It is a hard job, pots weight a significant amount and food preparation is always from scratch. Pray for these blessing of God.

Day 5, June 3, 2014

The Servants’ Heart John 12:26 “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

The Servants’ Heart, June 3, 2014Many in the village around the grounds of the home and school are widowed, raising children, and poor. There are not enough bodies to work or enough jobs for pay. The needs exceed the resources. Ask God to bless every heart at Lulwanda as we gather for Buckets of Hope. This ministry was begun to give the children the opportunity to serve alongside the team in ministering to the village widows and poor. God has equipped each of us with tools to share with the children and adults of Lulwanda, and if we are listening to Him, observing His ways, and focusing on relationships we will find that our hearts are servants’ hearts. Ask God today to give you a servant’s heart that is broken for the hungry, the poor, the lame, and the dying. Ask for contentment, peace, and satisfaction with the job assigned. Ask God to bless the hearts of those we serve. Ask God more to show us the job we need to accomplish with a servant’s heart.

Day 6, June 4, 2014

The Kitchen/Dining Hall-Psalm 23:5-6 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

The Kitchen/Dining Hall, June 4, 2014

Walk from the courtyard into the dining hall. We find a multipurpose room which serves as dining room, kitchen, stage, playroom, meeting room, fellowship hall, and music room. It is alive with songs, praise, and nourishment. It has its own voice for these who were once hungry, lost and silent now have a home and a family. Pray for God’s continuing blessing on each mouth fed and each voice singing. Pray for the ladies who prepare the food. Pray for the children and adults who lead in Friday fellowship. Pray for the music to ring out and the prayers to be answered. Faith is nurtured here. Faith grows just as these who were once lost but now are found have grown over the years here. When they first come, care is taken to see to the physical need for strength and building up the frail bodies. Pray for the food supply. Pray for the rain to fall so that the crops will be plentiful. Ask the Father to prepare our table because he knows just what we need to keep us sustained. As we work in this time together, pray for God’s song to be sounded through this hall. May we all dwell in this house forever-fed by the Word and kept by the Spirit.

Day 7, June 5, 2014

The Dorms-John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

The Dorms, June 5, 2014The dorms of Lulwanda provide more than physical shelter. Each bed, each wall, each door, and each window provide sustenance to the dreams of children who otherwise would have no dream. They now have a clean place with blankets, curtains, and desks. They have time to study the Bible and they use the Bibles well. So well in fact, that they wear them out. They have a mama who lovingly sees to their needs. They have running water and warm companionship. But, we need more space. Pray that God will provide for new dorm space to house more students. Pray that we will understand how this house comes alive, a house of prayer, a house on a rock, a shelter in the time of storm. Ask God to bless each little head that lies here and the women who see to each of them.

Day 8, June 6, 2014

The Clinic-Matthew 4:23-24 “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics and he healed them.”

The Clinic, June 6, 2014The clinic building itself is not in use currently except when visiting nurses come, but its original purpose brings to mind that Jesus was about the business of healing. He healed not just the physical, but the mental, the spiritual, and the heart. Pray that the business of healing every aspect of the lives of these children is met with all honor and glory to God. Pray that we realize that God does supernatural work. Thank God for our health and ask that we remain healthy during this trip. Pray for that hedgerow of protection about all of us. Give thanks to him and bless his name for the healing of Mike during this time of preparation. What greater miracle do we need? What a Great God we serve! Pray for the health of every student and adult at Lulwanda.

Day 9, June 7, 2014

The Farm-John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

The Farm, June 7, 2014

Somewhere in the valley is the Lulwanda farm and in the compound is a garden plot. The two pieces of ground yield corn, beans, squash, and other food stuffs. The school garden provides hands-on observation and working knowledge of farming. Agriculture is an economic staple of the country and each child is expected to learn about farming, animal husbandry, and plant production as a regular part of the tested curriculum. More than just hands-on farming occurs in Lulwanda. We grow children’s minds. We cultivate hope. We nourish the discipled-life. “We” is inclusive of every worker, teacher, administrator, and team member who comes to Lulwanda. Pray for the vine to be blessed and for the fruit of labor to be realized. Pray for the farms to produce and the people to be fed. Pray for the spiritual nourishment as well. Pray for each of us as we work to cultivate our own lives through the blessings of God we are learning in Lulwanda.

Day 10, June 8, 2014

The Playground-Zechariah 8:5-8 “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of Hosts? Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold I will save my people from the east country and from the west country,….and they shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

The Playground, June 8, 2014“Children at play,” what more can be said? The need of the child body is for growth in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Pray for these kids to grow and have fun. In a world where fun is often neglected by adults, children still know how to find it. When each child arrives it takes a little while, but they will eventually find joy in the life here. Pray that we also find joy in the lives we live and in the faces, hearts, and souls that will touch us. Pray that this playground is used to the fullest. Pray for the children who provided the funds for this playground to be blessed and to remember that they had a part in making life better for those less fortunate. Pray that we find our childlike self, continuing to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Suffer the little ones, for such is the kingdom. Pray for God’s kingdom!”