Check out the YWAM Arua & Yei Promo 2011

Hi friends,

Here is the YWAM Arua and Yei promo video...many thanks to Ashley, Carl and Jared for all their hard work!

Let us know what you think!

Many blessings,

Vikki

Go Camp Outreach To Kajo Keji, Sudan

Hello!! This is Ashley again...so excited to share all that’s happened with the Go Camp! What an exciting, stretching, humbling, encouraging and fun experience. Thank you for all of your prayers while we were away on outreach in Kajo Keji! The Lord met with us, used us, and blessed us! I believe the most significant way God used our team was by challenging the local church. None of us were really aware of how much we were being watched in the community. As we shared, prayed and served, the church was watching and people were talking. It wasn’t until our last day of ministry that a pastor of one of the local churches shared with our team about how God had been speaking to him personally as a pastor and challenging him and his church to do more. We pray for Pastor Justin and the other churches in Kajo Keji. May they take advantage of the opportunities to love and serve in their community, that they may be a light that brings people into relationship with Jesus.

It was amazing to see how God blossomed each of the students on outreach! In one way or another, every one stepped out in a new way, doing something they thought they never could or never would do. God really did prove that HE IS OUR STRENGTH in our weakness and that all things truly are possible through Him! God wants willing people and I really believe that it was because of the willingness amongst the team that God used and blessed us in our ministry as He did. Everyday when there was an opportunity to preach, teach, sing...several hands would raise and the students would say “pick me! I’ll do it!”...willing hearts.

HUT TO HUT

We walked through the villages of huts making up Kajo

Keji sitting with the people, learning their names, hearing their stories, encouraging them with the truth of the gospel and God’s Word and supporting them with prayer. Each time we would return to visit the families, we were met with more and more joy, love, and hope because of how Jesus had touched their hearts.

PRISON MINISTRY

In the local prison, one of the students named Daniel preached on living in the light and living in the darkness. He spoke with so much love and passion, he cried as he prayed for the prisoners. After he was done, a crowd of men, feet shackled and broken came forward. One of the men fell to his knees as he silently prayed to his Jesus. Only the Lord knows our hearts but we can believe and pray for those men..their feet may be shackled within the walls of a prison but they are prisoners no more. They are free in Jesus. Amen.

SOMETHING LASTING...

While our team was in Kajo Keji, we met an elderly man named Joseph. We learned that God had recently healed him from an injury he suffered from many years earlier. The injury left him crippled and unable to even walk but, because of the Lord’s healing, Joseph could now walk again. It was still difficult and a struggle for him but he could walk. The family he was staying with decided he couldn’t stay with them anymore and that he needed to take care of himself. He was left with nowhere to live. Our team was excited to help build Joseph a home :) . We were able to make just under 2000 bricks for him and even though we needed to leave, the local church was challenged by our act of love and service to their neighbor and friend and promised to finish constructing Joseph’s new home.

We thank God for using us. All of the glory goes to God and we applaud Him for the work He has done. Many people’s lives were touched and changed by His love and we were honored to be a part of that.

God's hand in the Congo

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

~John 14:12

While the DTS team was in the Congo, they saw God's hand moving in many miraculous ways.

Here are some of the highlights:

One young girl was lying in the hospital after collapsing and becoming unconscious. The team prayed for her and she immediately regained her senses. They were then able to talk with her and discovered that she had been ridiculed at school by her teachers as well as by other students. As result she had allowed a root of bitterness to form in her heart, which was affecting her so much that she was becoming physically ill. The team talked with the girl about forgiveness and about how to not allow negative things from others impact her life. This girl received physical and emotional healing that day!

A woman who had been suffering from severe headaches since 1985 also received prayer from the team. After praying for some time, the team discovered that the woman believed that she had been cursed by the witchcraft of a neighbor. The team explained that even if this other woman had tried to hurt her, she must still walk in forgiveness and love. After explaining the importance of forgiving others in receiving forgiveness from God himself, the woman's headaches stopped at once. She was immediately healed and began praising God! The woman even decided to seek out the neighbor who she believed had cursed her to reconcile the relationship and share God's goodness.

There were many other people in a Catholic mission hospital in one town who were very ill. As the team moved around from one person to the next, God began working. Patient after patient took up their mats and left the hospital at once. Bingi relates that she was even nervous that the workers there would be upset from loosing so many patients. God's faithfulness still prevailed, and instead of becoming angry, the staff wanted to know more about the power of God and his healing touch!

Although there were many great experiences on this trip, there were also many challenges and the people of Congo still need to see God move in their lives. Stay tuned for the next post about these things!

Remain in me...

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

-John 15:7, NIV

It was not an easy trip for the members of DR Congo outreach team, but then again nothing worth giving up safety and comfort for ever really is. After a few months of training at the YWAM Arua base, Dorothy Bingi and her team of DTS students and staff embarked on a journey across the Democratic Republic of the Congo to reach God's people there.

The trip itself was quite perilous. The roads in Congo are tumultuous; sometimes it took the team several hours to travel only a few kilometers. They often found themselves in parasite infested waters trying to make a way for the vehicle to pass. At times, they were forced to sleep in the Congolese jungle with no tent to protect them from the rains, wild animals, venomous snakes, and armed government and militiamen. It would have been easy to say that it was too difficult and too dangerous. Most people wouldn't have tried at all, and those who did would have probably turned back. However, Bingi and her team knew that God had called them to reach his Congolese bride and that He would give them the strength they needed to fulfill his will.

"Generally, I would say because we persisted, even when things became harder and harder, we saw the hand of the Lord. If we had given up we would not have seen Him do anything." ~Dorothy Bingi

The team chose to remain in the presence of God and to trust in Him to renew their strength. No matter how difficult the night was or how challenging the journey had been, they were always filled with new joy and strength upon reaching each village that God had sent them to. God was always faithful to his word, and wherever the gospel was preached signs and wonders followed those who believed. The team saw God's hand perform many miracles throughout their time in the Congo.

There was a man who had been paralyzed for some time. He was unable to walk and at times he could barely speak. His body and his mind were both struggling to function as their Maker intended. The DTS team was told about this man, and they decided they needed to pray for him. After spending about twenty minute in prayer the man began to speak to the team. He confessed to them that he had wanted to become a skilled hunter, so he visited a local witchdoctor in hopes of receiving a potion or a ritual that would help him to develop this skill. Rather than being able to find food with ease after his visit, he was unable to hunt at all. Eventually he began to hear strange voices in addition to losing his ability to walk. The team new that God is a God of deliverance and that he brings freedom to the captives. So with faith in the word, the team began to pray and declare God’s truth over this man’s life. Within a matter of minutes he was completely healed. The next day the man followed the team for 6 kilometers, singing and dancing all the way; he was filled with joy for what God had done for him.

God moved in many miraculous ways and taught the members of the team many valuable lessons on this outreach.

Check back to read more about God’s miraculous works and the needs of the people in Congo in the coming posts!

King's Kids January 2011

(Written by J.S.)

King's Kids

~An Aroma to God~

The 25 children smiled with glee as they sat in a circle and learned for the first time their very own "sign" name. It was the first day of the week-long King's Kids programme, and it was combined deaf and hearing children. The facilitators included sign language in every activity.

Some hearing children who had never even known a deaf child were now interacting and smiling with them. It seemed that each hearing child was on the edge of his/her chair readily trying to grasp this new language. During the worship times, the children were trying so hard to do the signs that some of them even forgot to sing. The mixture of deaf and hearing children brought some new dynamics in the King's Kids programme and challenged them all to learn to work together.

One of the leaders, Netty, was very impacted by this and said, “I have a disability myself, so it really encouraged me to see deaf children working with normal (hearing) children. I think it's a new thing in Africa and so you want it to change them. You want their perspectives to change; you want every one to feel valued and important like God sees them...”

On a typical day during the King's Kids programme, the children divided into groups and put together a daily verse from the Bible. Next they spent time in worship and then did a craft. After the craft, someone shared a short devotional from the Bible.

Finally there were “parachute games” with a very large and colorful parachute that illicited many squeals of laughter.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good” was the theme for the King's Kids. On the second day there was a craft to make a mask, which represented our need to repent before God.

After the craft was finished the children then somberly stepped outside and had a quiet time with God. Some of the children went under trees, others sat on the log bridge, but all were very quiet and fully focused on God. Netty commented on this day by saying, it “was good... It challenged me, and some of the things the children said about how it helped them... it encouraged me. Adults have issues and have to deal with them daily...so do children. I think it's acknowledging your weaknesses and dealing with them, so God can deal with you further... it makes you a better person.” At the end of this day they took off their masks before God as if saying, “We are ready to repent to you God.”

The life of one of the deaf leaders in the King's Kids programme really touched the heart of Netty. “Wilfred," Netty said, "encouraged me so much. He comes from a good home. He's a Christian, and his brother looks after him because his Father died. Beautifully enough, he has that passion to want to learn and want to do better, and help others who are deaf to do the same. He's trying to learn to lip read and he's just lovely. He's full of integrity and wants to do things for others.”

On one of the days the kids and leaders walked for an hour and a half to a swimming pool, stopping along the way to see different aspects of God's creation. Then they swam and had a picnic before making the return journey.

At the end of the week we had seen growth in the children's lives and even their signing had improved. They tried hard to communicate with the deaf and were proud of what they had learned. The parents were so appreciative and excited to see what this programme had done for their children. It was the deaf and the hearing working together to taste and see that the LORD is good.

GO Camp goes to Southern Sudan

Hi! My name is Ashley and I have been helping staff the youth GO CAMP 2011 here at YWAM ARUA...3 days teaching and discipleship training followed by a 2 week outreach. After being stretched and challenged over the past 3 days, the students are all very excited to leave for Kajo Keji, Sudan tomorrow to reach out to the people there over the next couple of weeks :)

PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF KAJO KEJI!

It is a significant time to be in Sudan! The people of south Sudan are voting in a referendum to determine whether Sudan remains one nation or separates between the Arab-Islamic north and the predominantly Christian south.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS HISTORY MAKING SEASON FOR SUDAN.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12141082

The students are preparing a drama for the outreach to Southern Sudan, and are excited to share the love the Jesus. We are looking forward to seeing how God leads us as we minister there. Please pray for us and for the people of Kajo Keji!

We built an 'Assault Course' on the base to use as a team building exercise...the students had to work together to get over, under and through different obstacles. It was fun to watch all 10 students struggling through the water and mud, learning to be a team and working through difficult obstacles together. We hope this will begin to unite them together as they prepare for their outreach.

CLICK TO WATCH A VIDEO CLIP OF THE ASSAULT COURSE

Please stand with us in prayer for a few things:

1. for safety and unity on the team as they minister in Southern Sudan

2. for the people of Southern Sudan as they wait for the results of the Referendum vote...the outcome will affect all of their lives

3. for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done in the nation of Sudan

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!!

DTS Outreach to Lobone Part 3

DEAF MINISTRY

We were lucky this year to have 4 deaf students on the DTS, 3 of these students joined the team to Sudan.

On a daily basis these students taught local deaf and their families how to communicate with sign language using pictures, demonstration and fun games. It was lovely to see all the people come, anxious to learn, with a new hope of communicating to their loved ones and friends. It was also so encouraging for the hearing students to see the patience and willingness of our friends as they taught.

PASTORS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS SEMINAR

We had 2 sessions with local pastors and government officials. Using what we learned during lecture phase on Leadership and Team Dynamics, we were able to instill some useful ideas and tools to develop the community of Lobone. After the sessions we felt that God really used us to teach these men and women, and we got a sense that what they learned will not be forgotten.

DTS outreach Part 2...more stories from Lobone, Southern Sudan

LUNCH.....

We were all a little bit worried about the potential of being served bush rat for a meal, but as it turns out, it tastes pretty good and we all digested it quite well.

Bush rat restaurant

We went to eat with the local pastors and government officials that we had been teaching about Leadership and Team Dynamics that morning. It was a nice way of getting to know them better, to hear their hearts and to find out what they had learned from us.

FUN TIMES WITH LOCALS.....

We played volleybal atleast 3 times per week with the local youth.

Our kids played and coloured pictures with their kids.

SCHOOL MINISTRY

School ministry team walked 30 minutes, 3 times per week to spend time teaching and having fun with the children. During the morning we taught Bible stories and verses using different methods like drama. After the teaching time, we played games outside with the children. They loved having us there and enjoyed getting their pictures taken.

Stay tuned for more stories and pics in Part 3!

2010 DTS Outreach Stories and Testimonies Part 1

SUDAN

I will begin by saying God is so good.

It never ceases to amaze me how God will use us if we allow Him, if we stand back and let Him work through us, if we give up control and let Him lead the way. I have many stories that I could share about our Discipleship Training School outreach in Lobone, Southern Sudan, I will highlight a few over the next couple of weeks to give you just a taste.



BOSCO


20 Years old, former LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) captive, addicted to alcohol, rejected by family and friends. This boy was found by members of our team sitting alone, looking tired, malnourished and sick. This boy's feet were the home of many worms, called Jiggers. His home was infested, and his feet so badly eaten that he could no longer feel any pain.

I met Bosco one morning and knew right away that we did not have the amount of medicine to help him. The hospital authorities were reluctant to admit him becuase his case was so bad, but we advocated for him, and they finally admitted him to hospital for treatment. Over the next 2 weeks, his feet, although scarred, were free of Jiggers, and his face shone like that of someone who was finally loved...he had hope that life could be different.

We spoke to Bosco about Jesus, and told him that he was loved not only by us but by a great big Father God. He never gave his life to Christ while we were there, but I know that Bosco's
life was changed. I know that God will continue to work in the life of this boy, He will continue to transform him, He will continue with the work that we could not. Bosco knows that now he is not alone.

Theft on our base

This article has just been published on YWAM's international website about the recent theft on our YWAM base:

A YWAM base crippled by theft

My heart's desire is to write a follow-up article reporting that the thief came forward on his own accord to confess, repent and return the money...now THAT would be a story! God is a great big God and quite capable of making that dream come true.

Thank you for your continued prayers!
Vikki Wright
YWAM Arua leadership team

Hospital Ministry

As an RN back home in Canada I was naturally drawn to the hospital ministry that has just begun here at YWAM Arua. This coming Friday will be the third week, and as much as there are some hurdles to cross, I believe that God wants us to be there and that He will do some amazing things through the team for both the patients and the staff.

Last Friday when we arrived, the staff were busy and did not have a lot of time to spend with us. Now, for a type A North American girl, you would likely not be surprised if I told you that this annoyed me a little bit. Surprisingly enough, even to me, I was not annoyed. I sensed God's presence and His words to my heart saying "Trust me Cheryl, you are all meant to be here because I sent you here".

We were able to spend time with some of the staff, we prayed with them and spoke truth to them from the word. This is amazing to me, because at home you would not be allowed to preach the gospel like that, and even if you were, people would not be open to hearing it. They were open and seemed touched by our willingness to share and pray with them.

After our time with the staff we walked through the ward, laying hands on and praying for patients and family members, it was awesome, the Holy Spirit was doing something BIG. We were all feeling it. I am excited to see what God will do in that ward. I should tell you that we will primarily be working on the TB ward as this is where the Arua leadership team felt this ministry needed to begin. This can be a daunting place as patients are very sick and infectious, but it is where God wants us and so with grateful hearts and masks we will enter those rooms knowing that the Holy Spirit is there doing His work through us.

Another aspect of this ministry is handing out food for patients. We have done some research and know what TB patients require the most and will do our best to provide these foods. I believe God in this area also, He knows, He will provide, He is in control.

I will be sure to keep you updated on all of the exciting things that God will do.

Blessings,
Cheryl Cook

Introducing......

Hi there! I would like to introduce myself to you, my name is Cheryl Cook and I have come to Arua from Brockville, Ontario, Canada for the CDTS. The young girl in the picture (yes, we are both young, but one is much younger than the other!!)is my daughter, Mackenzie. Mackenzie has joined me here and will do her studies through homeschooling curriculum which I will be needing much prayer for....just putting that out there for anyone who may feel led. I won't bore you with my life story, but I will tell you that since I was a young child, I have had a heart for Africa. My heart for Africa, and my love of Christ is what led me here to Arua to take the CDTS. I have been asked to update the Arua blog once weekly as part of my community responsibility here, and I have cheerfully accepted the challenge. I hope that these posts will give you a glimpse into our world, and perhaps inspire some of you to take this journey of discovery with God as I have.

I feel that it is an important thing to mention, especially to those who are perhaps deciding whether or not to embark on a journey such as this, that all of the staff are so welcoming and supportive. Not once since I arrived here, have I felt alone or without someone to talk to. As you can imagine, life in Arua is a little bit different from my life in Canada, and I feel that I can be open about the challenges that I have faced and will certainly continue to face as the 6 months go on. For this support and encouragement, I am truly thankful.

Now about the school. In total there are 15 of us here as CDTS students, we are all different, and all have something God given to offer. Of the 15, there are 4 deaf students, it is a real blessing for all of us hearing to learn some sign language and they have all been very gracious.

Last week was our first week going out and serving in our chosen ministry. I have naturally gravitated to the hospital ministry as I am an RN at home but I hope also to be involved with the prison ministry if time allows. I will post more detailed info about each ministry on another post.

For now I will end. Please know that again, I will do my very best to convey important information as well as allowing you all to experience a little bit of what we are experiencing here in Arua.

Blessings,

Cheryl Cook

YWAM’s 50th Anniversary: Eastern Africa 27 – 29 May 2010

Painted faces and oiled skin glowed in the late afternoon sunlight as feet stomped and drums beat to welcome Loren and Darlene Cunningham to Jinja, Uganda, for YWAM's 50^th Anniversary celebrations. Africans consider it a great privilege to welcome honoured guests, and our brothers and sisters from all over Eastern Africa danced, sang and clapped with all of their hearts in welcome.

<---- The Busoga from Uganda swirled their hips in dizzying circles;

the Kenyans stomped their feet and clapped their hands; ---->

<---- and the Masai from Tanzania jumped straight up and down.

<------- Several young girls balanced stacks of clay pots on their heads, and led the Cunningham procession into the conference hall.

On stage, our team from YWAM Arua base opened the celebrations by dancing and singing about the unity in diversity that characterizes YWAM. Coming from the nations of Congo, Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, America, England and Australia, the Arua team built a bridge together to demonstrate their vision to be a bridge of healing to the nations. Then they crossed the bridge with flags of Sudan, Congo and Central African Republic, and called others to join them in reaching these nations for Jesus. A Masai brother crossed the bridge to the whoops and cheers of the audience. ------->

Over the next 2 days, Loren and Darlene shared many encouraging testimonies of God’s faithfulness right from the days of their childhood to the present moment. They encouraged us to be God-loyal: that no matter what happens around us, we should not give in to self-pity but should keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and be loyal to Him, no matter what the cost. They challenged us to say “Yes!” to Jesus with radical obedience…even when we don’t know the extent of that commitment. And never to give up, no matter how hard things get…we should not negotiate in our commitment to hear and obey the King of kings.

<----- Darlene encouraged us to hang out with people who celebrate us, and commit to walk in unity. She also challenged us to be humble servant leaders…there is no other way to lead like Jesus than to submit ourselves to the will of the Father and seek His kingdom, not our own.

Loren updated us on the state of world missions and declared, “Jesus is winning!” We saw the growth of YWAM and the spread of Christianity. We also heard the heart cry of the Father for Africans to “Arise and Shine, for our time has come!” God has a place and a purpose for Africans in the Great Commission, and it is time to take up that calling and GO! ------->

<---- With that exhortation, we lined up to light our candles from the torches held by Loren (on the left) and Methode Kamanzi (Eastern Africa Regional Director, on the right in the white shirt).

With our candles held high, we agreed before the Lord to be part of taking the flame forward into the nations, to reach the unreached and disciple the nations. ----->

Finally, after all the Cunninghams had imparted into us, we were able to bless and honour them. We dressed them in the traditional style of the Rwandese,

<------

and then the elders of YWAM East Africa presented them with traditional African gifts…a strong he-goat and a richly colored rooster. ----->

<----- Then the elders laid hands on this faithful couple, and prayed blessings over them.

We closed the event by committing ourselves to the Christian Magna Carta, and the Jubilee Covenant. Then we shared the Lord’s table together, and asked God to help us hear His voice, and follow Him with radical obedience wherever He leads.

It was a very special time, and we give thanks to the Lord for all He has done for us.

Our dining hall and kitchen need help!

The sad state of affairs:

Our dining hall and kitchen are crumbling once again.

These two temporal buildings have been serving our YWAM base since we moved on to the land 4 years ago. According to our master plan, we will have a nice, permanent kitchen and dining hall on the other side of the property in a few years time.

The dining hall -->

But in the meantime, we need somewhere to cook and eat.

Unfortunately, these temporal buildings made of papyrus mats covered with tarpaulins, and a few bricks here and there just don't hold up very long under the hot African sun.



<-- Pam Wright in dining hall with dog and chickens



So we are appealing to ours friends and supporters and asking if you would be interested in helping us rebuild these buildings with longer lasting materials. We would like to roof them with iron sheets and build up the walls a bit higher with bricks to provide more protection from the elements.

The cost of renovating these buildings is approximately $2,000 USD.

The kitchen -->

If you would like to donate towards this need, we would be very grateful!

Just click on this link: Donate towards rebuilding which will take you to a donate page on YWAM Colorado Springs' website. They are our homefront YWAM base in the USA and they handle our finances. On the donate page, at the button where it says "This donation is designated for:" select "Missionary Support" from the drop down menu. After a few seconds, a new box will pop up that says "Missionary name"...type in "YWAM Arua". We will be notified of the contribution and the money will be transferred to our account.

You will receive an acknowledgment of your donation with a tax deductible receipt.

Thank you all so much for your support. We appreciate you!

Be blessed!




<-- Milka, our cook, in the kitchen

GO Camp 2010

This year's 3rd annual GO Camp (Global Opportunities) got off to a great start with 9 students attending the 3-week camp.

The first week consisted of Discipleship training, team building and missions teaching.

The students had a lot of fun on the assault course where they had to work as a team to get through the various obstacles.

1st obstacle...crawling through culverts

2nd obstacle...crawling through tires

3rd...climbing

Finally...sliding down a slick, soapy tarp.










The students enjoyed worshipping together and bonding in those first few days before they headed off on their 2-week outreach to Southern Sudan.


YWAM Arua has an on-going ministry in Issore, Southern Sudan, working with the Lugot...the People of the Mountain.

Our GO Campers journeyed to Lobone, a town that is a 5 hour walk from Issore, where they stayed during their outreach.

The students took part in a variety of activities, including cleaning around bore holes, leading open air meetings, preaching in churches and even sorting out expired medicines from an abandoned hospital.

Eric all geared up for the hike to Issore --->

<--- Meeting with the youth


One of the GO Camp students, Innocent, who's father is Muslim and mother is Christian said this:

"I saw many changes in my life, especially in singing praise and worship and living in a spiritual community. In Lobone, it was my first time to stand in a church for worship, and my first time to preach. I thought I would be shaken, but I prayed and stood firm. May God remember my prayers, and let the words I spoke keep flowing in the minds and hearts of those people."

An abandoned hospital --->

<--- Inside the hospital

The GO Campers were asked to sort through
boxes of abandoned medicines in the hospital --->

<--- Sadly, nearly all of the medicines were long since expired.





Back in Arua, the team shared the stories of their time in Sudan, and rejoiced at God's faithfulness to keep them healthy and bring them back safely.

Many of the students told of their fears about sharing the Word or doing teachings, and how God gave them strength to stand firm and bring the message.

One student, Susan, said, "I don't think I'll ever fear again."

GO Camp Graduation

Congratulations, GO Campers! You did a great job, and we are proud of you!!