Burundi 2007 Team Blogs

Team Name: Prison Ministry Team Members: Dezroy S. Elizabeth A. Evelyn H. Genet G. Hector V. Lisha T. Ray C. Thelma F. William C. His ways are so much higher than our ways! 11-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry Today was a day of travel for us. We left Gitega and headed to Bujumbura. I kept thinking about Genesis., the details that speak about our Creator, the one who fashioned the world in its entirty. The ride down was breathtaking. The beauty of the land is undescripable. A land of milk and hone. The team was just trying to fatom why the Lord would pick such foolish vessels to Glorify His name! His ways are so much higher than our ways! The Lord is moving throughout the land 10-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry Our team helped out in the Gitega medical clinic. The line was very large and we had our work cut out for us! Genet was helping in the pharmacy, Bill, Evelyn, and Elizabeth were ministering to those who got into the medical center. Lisha, Dezray, Hector, Ray, and Thelma were outside ministering to the outside crowds and wherever help was needed. We sang childrens songs, Kinundi songs, preached, and played games including a version of Simon says called "Lisha says". Many gave thier hearts to the Lord. We are praying fo healing for those who were unable to see the doctor! We do serve an awesome God! He is a healer! Ray ministed Christ's love to the elderly women while Hector shared the gospel with the elderly men, while Thelma was rejoicing with a mixed crowd without even a translator! During dinner we had a time of praise and worship and testimony. It was a blessing to hear drivers, interpretors, and hotel staff get up to testify of the good things the Lord has done! He is moving throughout the land. Be Holy and separate for God 09-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry In the afternoon, we visited the Twa. When we arrived, we found them worshipping. It was a blessing to see the old and the young singing and dancing for the Lord. When Lisha gave her testimony they were listening with great interest. After the testimony, Hector brought the word of God, which challenged them to be Holy and separate for God - not to practice any witchcraft. A might deliverence 08-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry Today was an amazing day! The entire prison team woke up with a word on our heart...believe God for signs and wonders! He is the Great Healer! We helped out with the medical team today and all of us felt so inadequate but He uses the foolish to confound the wise. We helped out in the pharmacy, prayer room, registration, waiting area, crowd control, and just speaking to the crowds. At one point, we had a group of few girls that turned into a huge crowd. We began to sing Kirundi songs and the Glory of God just fell. We began to pray for individuals and we realized we were standing on Holy Ground. as we prayed, many were delivered from witchcraft and sickness. People were so overcome by the presence of God that they just fell to the ground and began to pray. There was a might deliverence that took place. There was hope in once vacant eyes 07-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry Today we went to our first prison in Ngozi. It was an all male prison. When the team was waiting outside of the doors while they set up, we could see the men just clamoring at the gate, eagerly waiting for us. The hunger was so evident in their eyes. Once we entered in, we had to walk through large crowds, as the courtyard was completely packed to the point that men had climbed walls to hold on to the bars of the window. Once the worship started, we began to see the hardened faces melt. They began to dance and clap with us. The word and testimonies were brought forth and many hands went up to accept Jesus Christ. The Burundian women were such a blessing to the team. While we were exiting, there was hope in once vacant eyes. In the evening, we went to a church. It was a small church that was visited by the Holy Ghost. Our team went up and sang a few songs in Kurundi. The church came alive. The Holy Spirit poured came down and the oil of gladness was upon the people. Ray, who has a powerful testimony but had just tearfully shared it with the team over lunch, shared at the church. The lights went out a few times, but His word still swept over the people. It was a great evening. It was the work of the Lord. 07-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry What a mighty God we serve! Lord, I know the angels were rejoicing today. The team started our day at the hotel. We began to worship and the spririt of the living God fell. It turned into a time of worship and breakthrough. We were singing and dancing with the joy of the Lord! Afterwards, we headed to the woman's prison. There are about 50 women in this facility. From the moment we got there, we felt His holy presence. The women and thier young children listened attentively while a testimony and exhortation was given. The word was brought forth and the women were set free. We saw lives changed before our very eyes. More than 1/2 of the women wanted to give thier lives to Jesus. There was a shout of glory that went up. Afterwards, Sister Teresa, Tom Larkin, and people from the team came and shared about prayer. Then they told the women that they were going to be provided with a month of food and clothing. They thanked the Lord, the children laughed and all were joyous. It was the work of the Lord. A prison in Burundi 05-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry Today our team went to our first prison in Burundi. For a few of us, it was the first time in any prison. It was an all-male facility. The men were clamoring on the gate and climbing on windows out of eagerness. When worship began, His presence fell into that courtyard. We brought forth the word and a testimony. We prayed for those who wanted to accept Jesus in thier lives...at least a hundred hands went up! We left the prison, but our glorious God is still there raising up an army for His namesake. "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" Psalms 62:5 04-Jul-2007 Team: Prison Ministry Well, it has been a very looong journey and we are about to land in Bujumbura! Though it took over 24 hours to get here, we met so many new faces amongs ourselves and it has united us together even more!! :). We are all waiting with great expecatin to land in Burundi. We know the God we hope in and when He moves - it is always in immeasurable ways!

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