December 31st

Breakfast and off to GBCC for the morning devotion led by Pastor Ron (one of the pastors of GBCC and who leads the Congolese 3rd service). They spent some time in prayer and worship and were off to Gulu hospital where the teams were split into different groups to hand out "mercy bags" (soap, sugar, toothpaste, toothbrush) to the patients and their families. Most of the women spent time in the maternity ward where Naomi (now Gulu resident originally from Indiana), Sophie, and Stefanie were able to pray for many. One in particular was a defeated, broken woman, Nancy, that has had 6 previous miscarriages and was currently bleeding and in severe pain while in her 1st month of her 7th pregnancy. To add insult to injury, she was just told that she was now HIV+. The team prayed for her; that she'd be free of the physical pain she was currently having as well as joy and rest - not to mention salvation. She began to feel a break in the pain at which the team prayed all the more earnestly for the Lord to touch her. All glory to God as her pain had ceased but even more notable was the fact that she began to feel hope as well. Recognizing the work of the Hoy Spirit, she gave her life to Jesus and subsequently experienced the joy of the Lord with a beaming face to prove it.
Another team comprised of Patti, Tracy, Frankie, Marlene and Hope (Pastor Martin's wife) were at the right place and right time as two different babies were born. Connor shared his testimony with power and authority as well.
Debbie, Katie, Dakota and Haley moved with Holy Spirit as they ministered in the hospital as well. It was incredible as they walked in boldness and faith such as when praying for a woman that was paralyzed on her entire right side that she regain feeling and movement. God heals, we just ask for it, right? Before this group left over 17 people accepted Jesus as their savior and many more were encouraged and blessed. One of the 17 was a boy named Daniel that Dakota had been chatting with. Upon finding out his name, she shared about the story of Daniel in the LIon's den - his name sake. She simply shared how God cares and loves and that he could know this very same God that loved this Daniel of the bible. And he most certainly did, so Dakota was able to introduce this boy to Jesus.

The other RH guys were also ministering in other areas of the hospital. David Miller, Big Dave, Jake, Adam and Pete shared, also handed out mercy bags and prayed for the sick and injured. Big Dave commented on how it was so encouraging to see the development and transformation the Lord was doing in Jake even from the last time the two were ministering at the same hospital. To see the tenderness and boldness with which he was walking in was such a blessing to Dave. "He is totally ready to be here," Dave commented with pride. In a similar way he was moved with the way that Pete tenderly loved and truly cared for each person he encountered - loving each one of those he met with his whole heart.
While there, the boys met a momma that came there all the time to just love on the people in the different wards. They all, including the momma met a lady and her two children from Kampala whose 3rd baby had just died. Being heartbroken and dealing with the death of her baby, she was unable to afford to properly bury her child or to pay for transportation back home with her kids. Everyone left with a heavy heart and all separately felt that they needed to do something for this family. Little did they know that the leaders had decided to give a love offering to this woman and it was reported from the ministering momma that the joy upon her face was so bright and that she was utterly convinced that the Lord loved her to take care of her in this way. Again, say it with me. God is so good!!! And that's only what happened during the daytime!!!

New Year's Eve : After the hospital , the team ate and headed back to GBCC to celebrate the New Year Ugandan style. Words fall desperately short in trying to describe this. This is literally THE. BEST. WAY. to bring in the new year. The night was spent singing, dancing, praising Jesus, dancing, worshiping, dancing, praying, testifying, dancing, and also....umm....dancing. The team, drenched in sweat, were blessed as Whitney and Adam powerfully shared their testimonies. Also on behalf of RockHarbor, Pete and Patti gave words of encouragement to GBCC and Debbie read a blessing over the church as well.