Kagadi, June 8

Yesterday, Saturday, was a good day of wrapping up the week. In the morning we visited a small prison. Driving out a small dirt road into the bush - grasses higher then the land rover on each side - a clearing opened before s with a small complex of red concrete building and mud huts (for the staff) off to the side. The cells for the inmates were about 20x20 ft - absolutely no furnishings and bare cement floors. 15 men are in each cell, and the stench is not particularly pleasant. 25 prisoners were available to hear our presentation. They listened intently. Many responded to the call of salvation. Good questions were asked: "How do you discern between different teachings? -Some people teach different things, and work miracles." Dave answered this by basically saying, "you know a tree by its fruit. There are false teachers and false miracle workers. Look for lives showing evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in accordance with Scripture - which is the final authority."
Probably the man who asked this question had the cult leader Bisaka in mind, who is able to maintain power over many people. The way that he does this is probably through his miracles - It certainly is not by his charisma or intelligence. The members of our team who met him reported that he was an unintelligent overweight man, missing a few front teeth, unable to respond intelligently to the questions they asked (i.e. what will happen to you when you die?). And yet he has thousands of followers who have built a massive worship center to him and bow down before him. Frankly, it is hard to believe that such a massive dark deception could occur - but I do believe there is a dark power behind it. Praise the Lord that Jesus is King, to whom "every knee will bow and every tongue confess."
...
The Afternoon was spent at a wedding in the nearby town of Mbali. What a cultural experience! - Traditional dancing - traditional instruments - the pavillion outside the church was a simple yet beautiful construction made of bamboo poles that were chopped for this occasion and held tarps to shade the guests, the whole area decorated with palms and bananna trees. The bride's processional was the slowest processional I have ever seen. The wedding "started" at 11:00 am, and we left at 6:00 pm, while the festivities continued on.
The church where the wedding was held was the parish of a pastor who was working with us all week, by the name of Francis. Francis is a kind, softspoken man (as are almost all Ugandans), who dresses neatly in a coat and tie every day (also common to many Ugandans) and faithfully led the effort in Kagati. We were able to see his home which is adjacent to the church. It is a nice home by Ugandan standards - but I am always surprised by the mud floors, absence of furnshings and screens on windows, and the tight space which houses many children. And yet Francis, like many Ugandans, is a joyful man with a wonderful family and a happy household, serving the Lord with all his strength! Keeps things in perspective...