30th September 2009, it started a good day for me but ended in a narrow escape.
It was at 07:30 P.m. when I left public market and rushed to the stage just next to the bus-park main-gate, ready to board and get to Heritage Hotel as early as possible. I went to Der-es-laam in Tanzania for official work. Taxis were scarce, as that was the school visiting day.

Standing with other three ladies, a Toyota corona car stopped besides us and the woman asked whether there was anybody going to the same route. Four of us boarded and the lady started explaining how it was difficult to get taxis given the fact that it was a school visiting day.

As we approached the main traffic lights, she branched off to the road leading to another direction and explained that she was avoiding the heavy traffic jam on the high way and that she was going to use the by-pass. That sounded logical because people use that route whenever there's heavy jam on the main high way.

The three ladies said it wasn't their destination and thought she would leave them near the stadium where they can easily get transport. The lady packed and complained as to why these ladies boarded even when she had told them her final destination.

After these ladies come out I realized I was alone in the car with this stranger. My conscience was not clear on the fact that I was alone with the stranger. I looked scared and quickly this woman responded and said she was only avoiding traffic jam using the by-pass.

When we reached past a business school she introduced herself. “I am Christine working with Tanzania Revenue Authority, a student at Dar-es-laam University and married with one kid.

I also introduced myself as Joseph, founder and Executive Director of an Organization.

Here we go:-

Stranger: Something strange happened to my account last week, Tsh.700,000/- from my account was withdrawn by unknown person, has it ever occurred to you? [Establishing whether I have an account with the bank].

Myself: Well, it has never happened to me but I think it must have been an error in the bank. I advise you to see the customer care service manager/ Bank manager immediately and lodge in your complaint.

Stranger: Excuse me, "you said you are married with how many kids?"

Myself: One kid I replied.

Stranger: How old is the kid?

Myself: Kindergarten going.

Stranger: [Kept quiet for about five minutes and then asked,] If someone gave you advise, would you take it or not?

Myself: If it's good advice why not?
[We are now moving towards a smelly valley where they do some car washing].

Stranger: " I pity you gentleman, I pity you and more so a father".
Well I'm not Christine and I don't work with Tanzania Revenue Authority as earlier introduced, neither a student at University. I am a serial killer and that is my job.

Myself: I looked at the lady in disbelief and then exclaimed. The question in my heart was what next?

Stranger: And you laugh?

Myself: I'm not laughing, I'm wondering and scared (I answered in a low tone)
[I could not believe this humble lady change all of a sudden].

Stranger: You seem not to believe me, have you ever heard of serial killers in Tanzania?

Myself: Yes, I have ever heard of them.

Stranger: I trained to kill and my job is to kill.
"Here are my gadgets to prove to you that I'm a killer. I kill Albinos and other people."
[Pulled out one long sharp knife, short sharp double-edged knife, a pistol, rope with a knot, and bludgeon].
"Have you seen these" asked the stranger.

Myself: I answered, Yes Madam.
[Inside my heart I was like, what should I do now?].

Stranger:
I'm going to forgive you on the grounds that you are a father, but never ever board these small cars. These cars are for our own secretive business but not for taking people to their homes. Ok?
Never ever, Ok? X3 [Stressing and shouting, her hands shaking and her lips quivering as if possessed by demons].

Myself: I'm sorry Madam and I will never do it again.
[My heartbeat was so fast; my throat became dry and my feet very cold}
{Now nearing the petrol station on the road that joins the highway}.Excuse me Madam, 'I’m requesting to stop here and I will get to my hotel'.
Stranger: "I don't work on your orders, "Shut up" and I can kill you, I can kill you, I can kill you gentleman".
[Interchanging the knife and a pistol in her hands, remember she did not stop at any one moment. She continued driving towards the valley].

Myself : I kept quiet and I was very calm and in my heart I knew it was all over and then I said my last prayer.
[God my hour has come, forgive me my past mistakes while on earth and accept my soul, God take care of my little child I'm leaving behind on earth, Amen]. Chances to survive where so minimal that instead I requested God to pardon me and accept my soul.

Stranger: Do you have any money in your bag?

Myself: Yes, I have shs.500.000/- worth USD $250.

Stranger: Only? Who is going to pay for my fuel? Put all the money here, give me your phone and ATM card.

Myself : Here is the money and the phone but I don't have an ATM Card with me here. When I get to Hotel I will pick my Uncle and pay you.
[I had two phones, Erickson and Nokia. Nokia was on the side bag and could not be seen easily. I also had UG.sh.100.000/- worthy USD $50 in an envelope in the side bag.
I gave her the Erickson. Meanwhile she demanded that I open all my bags which I did and only to find scholastic materials for my child. I think this one made her more annoyed.

Stranger: You think I'm a fool, to go around the city, I'm the most wanted woman around if you didn't know." I said bring your ATM Card"
[As she points her pistol on my head, ready to shot at me, her eyes became red, her hands started shaking again as she withdrew her pistol and jeered].
[She removed the sim pack from the phone and threw it at me and retained the phone. "You man, you have your God and when you get to your home kneel and give thanks to your God. I will neither rape you nor kill you; you will reach your destination unhurt but give thanks to your God. [Trembling and shouting].

["Never ever do this silly mistake again" Have you heard? I'm an AIDS victim and you are forgiven on the grounds that you are a father and probably you have your God. [Now nearing the football stadium. I will show you where we throw dead bodies because it seems up to now you cannot believe what I'm saying. By the way what is your tribe?].

Myself: "Muganda from Uganda" I replied.

Stranger: Are you sure?

Myself: Yes Madam; I'm a Ugandan.

Stranger: Go and thank God, You are not the tribe that we want to kill nor an Albino.
[She shouts and her hands start shaking, her eyes turn red again as she gets her knife ready to stub].
Do you understand our language, Kiswahili?

Myself: Yes Madam, I do.

Stranger: "shukuruh bwana yesu!" Meaning, thank Mr. Jesus. You found when the spirit of killing had not descended upon me" Thank your God. [Repeated it three times as she placed her knife down].(Now near the Stadium, look down there {bushy dark valley} and then when you go back ask what they found there last week. The previous week a dead body of a young woman was found in that place.
[She drives around the field as she claimed was looking for safe parking, She tried to stop but saw a security guard and drove off very fast and joined Jako's Hotel road to the high way.
Myself: I again said my last prayer and my understanding capacity deteriorated and felt like my soul was ready to part with the body. My body was helpless and then mentioned one word OH MY GOD!

Stranger: What are you saying?

Myself : Kept quiet. [Enough of psychological torture and was like let her do what she wants].

Stranger: I'm talking to you [Shouting at me].
Well, this is what I have for you and it’s for your own consumption.
She starts to reveal.
Never ever accept lifts from strangers, [These small cars for example are used for operations of killing]. We take advantage of the situations, for example when it's raining or drizzling, and when there is scarcity of cars like now. It's the time most people are desperate.
Never trust people.
You can never tell by outside appearance what one is. For example, I'm smart, looked a lady claiming to work with Revenue Authority. I convinced you how difficult it is to get taxis as its school visiting day. Our lies are always based on simple logic.
Never board a taxi of less than three people.
One will pretend to be the driver another conductor, another passenger. We even use special hire cars on self-drive, go execute the mission and hand back to the owner.
We use so many tricks like also requesting for a lift.
We are many in town and our mission is to kill. Gentleman never ever,

You are lucky because you were not even the target group, thank your God. [Nearing the road to Seventh Day Adventist Church]. The ladies you boarded with were my target group and I know I will get them again. (After she mentioned these words she behaved as if she was coming from sleep and stopped her car suddenly. I'm going to leave you hear. [Next to where they wash cars - another dangerous zone]. Do you have transport?

Myself : No Madam, I don't have.

Stranger: How are you moving?

Myself : "I will walk" I replied.

Stranger: Ok, get out of my car and walk up to that house without looking behind and when you reach there, only come back when I have driven off. No making any noise and should you, then I will shoot. [As she points her pistol at me].

Myself : Got out of the car, one of shoes got off as I was trembling.
Stranger: Put on your shoes properly and quickly walk. [Shouting and very rude].

Myself : I was already psychologically dead and I knew she was going to shoot. My wobbling feet could not support me enough and life was a mile away. I Walked about five meters away and heard this stranger take off at neck speed. Continued because my fear was she could come back and harm me. I could not hold my tears, started crying and suddenly saw a man with gun coming towards me. {Security guard to the home I was ordered to move to].
Security Guard: Sorry, I saw you at gun point from a distance and I wanted to shoot but unfortunately you were at close range and my fear was I would end up shooting you. That one must be among the killer group. You are lucky. Has she injured you?

Myself : Basically psychological torture and took some money but no physical harm. [About three minutes later my Uncle called on the hidden phone that was on the side of the bag. That watchman was helpful as he helped me to cross the road to board taxi to the Heritage Hotel. I have been under fear but thanks be to God I'm coming out of it though the memories are still very fresh.
This was a nasty experience that I wouldn't like anybody to go through and this is what I have to say.

The world we are in is full of evil and please don't make the same mistake!

Watch out! You may not be as lucky as I was to come out of that quagmire.

Please don't give lifts to strangers for those with cars!

Those without cars don’t ask for lifts from strangers!

Be cautious on what you talk and where you talking!

Be close to your God at all times and commit each day to him before any activity [Could be one thing that shielded me when I met the enemy]

Remember the story of Daniel, Aberdeen and Shadrach, Rescued without a scratch.

God was also on my side! Please take care!

Thank you for sparing your time to read through my story.




Joseph:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


MAY GOD HELP US!

Teaching on Life

04 April 2016

Most of us have learned that the Bible teaches us mainly about two things....

1. The first is our relationship with God.

2. The second is our relationship with one another.

Every book in the bible deals with these two relationships.

Almost everything that I talk about from this pulpit concerns our relationship with God. That is a good thing to talk about!

Tonight though, I want to begin a new series concerning our relationship ourselves and with others.

We are going to address relationships that deal with the husband, the wife, friends, and family, communication...but I want to begin this series tonight by talking about understanding yourself!

The first key to understanding yourself is to understand...

• Who you are.
• Where you come from.
• Where you are going.
• What is your purpose.

...before you can be successful in any relationship...you must be able to understand yourself!

Before you can be successful in your relationship with God you must be able to understand yourself!

Tell the person next to you..."I am about to find out who I am."

The bible says....
James 1:17-18
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James, Jesus half brother, wrote this.

Very quickly in his writings, he begins to talk about who we are....

• He begins by stating, "Every perfect gift is from above, from God the one who created light, and from the one who can never change."

James is setting up his next statement in this verse.

In the very next verse, James says, "God brought us to life by His word, and we became His most precious possession."

In two verses, James tells you who you are, and where you came from!

• God brought you into this world.
o It doesn't matter what the earthly circumstances of your birth were.
o You were not a mistake.
o You were not an accident.
o God put you right where you are for a purpose.
o God brought you into this world.

That's where you came from!

• The bible says that you are a perfect gift from above.
o That cannot change.
o There is no variableness or shadow of turning about that!
o You are the most prized possession of God.
o You are the apple of His eye.

That is who you are today!

Somebody say, "I know who I am!"

Then James goes on to say that it is not good enough to hear who we are, but we must become who we were born to be!

James 1:22-25
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

There is a lot to swallow in those four verses!

James makes it easy for us to understand though...he compares it to looking in the mirror.

How many of you like to look in the mirror? Don't raise your hand.

o The mirror doesn't lie...it tells the truth every time.

o I liked the mirror a lot more when I was 25 than I do today.

I looked in the mirror a lot in those days...

o I did my hair.
o Shaved.
o Brushed my teeth.
o Tied my tie.

And then I stepped back to admire the beautiful sight...just kidding.

Then I walked away and came back five minutes later to make sure everything was just right...like the mirror was lying to me or something.
Don't laugh at me, you know exactly what I am talking about! Some of you go back to the mirror seven, eight, nine and ten times before you leave the house.

It is like you forgot what you looked like ten minutes earlier.

That is exactly James point...

James 1:23-24
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

The reason that some of us struggle so much in our relationships is because we forget who we are...

o I can preach to you about being the prize of God's possession till I am blue in the face.
o You can hear me and agree with me all night long.
o But if you forget who you are between now and Sunday when the enemy starts messing with you...it is not going to do you any good.

James says, some of us are like that person who constantly has to look in the mirror to make sure they are good enough.

You know what your problem is tonight?

o Some you have forgotten what you look like!
o Some of you have forgotten who your father is!
o Some of you don't remember where you came from!

It is time for somebody to go beyond the hearing, and start believing.
It is time for somebody to start becoming who you are.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James said, don't look in the mirror, look in the word...the word is your mirror!

Take it to the next level...don't just hear the preacher, but believe him and put it into action!

o You are the apple of God's eye.
o You the crown of His creation.
o You are not an accident.
o God didn't make any mistakes.
o You are a perfect gift from God.

o Satan has no power over you.
o The enemy can't mess with you...Unless you let him.

Can I get a witness in the house tonight?

Since you are a perfect gift from God, it is important to understand that you are unique!

There ain't nobody else like you in this entire world!

David said...

Ps 139:14-16
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

o You were fearfully and wonderfully made.
o God knows every part of you...everything about you was recorded while you were in the womb.

Not only are you unique in creation, you are unique in purpose.

God has a unique purpose for your life!

o Nobody can take your place...You are unique.
o Nobody can talk like you...you are unique.
o Nobody can sing like you...you are unique.

Isaiah 43:6-7
6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

We were created for the glory of God!

o God's glory is the beauty and power of His Spirit.

o We were created then to show God's glory...his beauty and his power...to all of the earth.

That is our purpose!

We are earthly vessels that contain His Glory!

We reveal His Glory to this world through our unique abilities...through our unique characteristics that were given from God.

o In other words...I can't sing like my wife...she reveals Gods glory through song...the beauty of music. She is unique in that way.

o I try to reveal God's glory through the spoken word.

There are many ways that each one of us can show God's glory to this world.

o Love for one another.
o Compassion.
o Humility.
o Servant hood.
Another way that we can all show God's glory is by our testimony! Our witness!

o Your personality is unique.
o So your testimony is unique!

You don't have to do it like Bro. Church, or Bro. Smith, or Bro. Matt Maddix.

But you do have to do it! You are called to be a witness!

1 Peter 2:9
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We are called to show people how He called us out of darkness! We cannot hide our light!

Nobody else can reach the people that you are called to reach...you are unique.

There are a lot of people that will listen to your testimony, but they won't listen to my testimony, and they won't listen to Bro. Smith's testimony.

o Nobody else goes where you go.
o Nobody else works where you work.
o Nobody else has the friends that you have.

Listen now...and nobody else can witness like you can witness.

God had given you the unique ability to reach the people in your life!

If you don't reach those people...who will reach them... You are the only one who can reach them...you are unique!

God placed you where you are for a purpose.

I can't take your place, and you can't take my place...you are unique.

When I look at my own children...same father...same mother...yet so different...unique.

o As much as they look like me, my image, my wife's image...God has also made them in His Image!
o As much as Barrett wants to be like Davis, he can never be because God has already made him perfectly unique.

He has in own personality.
He has his own smile.
He has his own frown.

And it is the same way for each of us!

God made us that way and He understands our differences!

Matthew 25:15
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Don't be jealous of the talents that somebody else has...God made them that way.

And if you will use what God has given you...He will bless you with more.

Remember what out text said...

James 1:25
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If you start doing what God has created you to do you will be blessed!

Can I get a witness of that in the house tonight?

So God made each of us unique, and God loves us that way.
His love is unconditional...

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God's love for you is unconditional...we are the object of His affection.

I didn't say that God loves it when you mess up and sin...but His love for you is unconditional.

I know you have heard that before.

The important thing tonight is to remember what I am telling you....that is what it really means to understand yourself.

Remember where you came from.

Don't forget who you are when you leave this house tonight!

o Our problem is that we forget who we are.
o We forget where we came from.
o We forget what our purpose is.

Do you know who you are tonight?

The reason people backslide is because they forget who they really are!

The prodigal son took his inheritance and left his family and home behind.

He erased the memory of his past.

o He became somebody that he was not.
o Instead of staying true to who he was, the bible actually says that he joined himself to a citizen of another country.
o He forgot who he was...and became another person, living a life he did not know.
After a time of living like that, and when his money was all gone, the bible says...

Luke 15:17
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

When he came to himself...one day he woke up!

One morning....

o He remembered who he used to be...
o He remembered where he came from...
o He remembered who his father was...

Oh does anybody remember who your daddy is tonight.

Do you know who you are ?

It dawned on the prodigal that he needed to go back home...even if it had to be as a servant.

So he heads back home to his father...

Luke 15:20-24
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

You might not think you are worthy to be called a child of God tonight...but if you will just give God a chance...

o He will bring out the best robe.
o He will bring out the fatted calf.
o He will throw a grand celebration.

...because you are one of His...a child of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! He loves you more than anything.

o Do you remember who you are tonight?
o Do you remember when God baptized you with the Holy Ghost and fire.
o Do you remember when you took on His name at baptism.

You have been purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, and you are not your own....he is Abba Father to you!

It is time for somebody to start being who God called you to be tonight!

Teaching on Life

04 April 2016

David Church

Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 4:12
12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Earlier this summer, I was following the Olympics very closely...I have always been drawn to those events that pit one country against another!

As a child, it was the Canada Cup, which had Canada playing hockey against all of the great hockey nations of the world...it only happened once every four years, and it seemed like all of Canada stopped its daily routine to follow this great spectacle of hockey!

It is the same kind of drama that draws me to follow the Olympics...I even put the Olympic web site on my favorites list.

This year though, I was blown away by the dominance of China over the rest of the world...it seems to me like they have suddenly awakened into this unstoppable force.

It is not just in sports though...they are now one of the greatest, if the not the greatest industrial nation on earth.

Their army is by far, the largest in the world! Their economic growth is now stronger than even the United States of America.
Napoleon once pointed to a map of China and said, "There lies a sleeping giant. If it ever wakes up, it will be unstoppable."
We are seeing that come to pass right before our eyes!

My point tonight is this...I believe that the church of the living God is a sleeping giant, and if she ever wakes up, she will be an unstoppable force in the world in these last days!

As your pastor, I intend to awaken you all to your potential and your calling in the Lord!
It is not God's will for us to just come to church two times a week, pay our tithes, and say a few prayers. God has far greater expectations for each of us than that!

God expects each of us to use our gifts and talents in the ministry! And I believe that if we ever awaken and unleash the massive amounts of talent, creativity, and enthusiasm that is laying dormant right now, this church would explode at an unbelievable rate of growth, the likes of which have never been seen!

Does anyone in the house believe that tonight?
Life Church is not going to be a church where you will be able to come and hide in the crowd, or fall in between the cracks! That is not biblical in any aspect...I intend to plug you into the plan of God for your life!
In the coming weeks, I want to equip you to have a clear and precise understanding of your ministry!

Yes, that is right...I said, "Your ministry!"

Every believer is not a pastor, every believer is not a preacher, but every believer is called into the ministry!
I want to read my text again right now...

Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God has created us for the purpose of good works, and we are instructed to walk in them...that is how we are to live our lives!

Eph 4:12
12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

As a leader, I am instructed to prepare people for works of service so that the Church of God can be built up!
Service in the body of Christ is not an option, it is not voluntary...but we have all been drafted or called into His service!
Jesus said in....

Matthew 20:26-28
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus came into this world not to be served, but to serve....Since Jesus was a servant...then we must also be servants....service is the defining characteristic of our Christian walk!

We Apostolics have a wonderful heritage of truth and holiness that we must never forsake...yet at the same time, we can never reduce our Christianity to a set of beliefs and rules...there is a great danger in doing that!

When we start living according to a set of rules and judging according to
those rules, we are not ministering to anybody, nor will we win anybody to Christ...in fact, Jesus called this Pharisaical practice just a bunch of filthy rags!

We experience our salvation by believing and obeying the Gospel; we experience our life and ministry in Jesus Christ by serving Him...service is the defining characteristic!

Luke 9:23-25
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Notice that it says any man...
Each and every one of us has different talents, abilities and gifts...yet, we are all
called to follow the Lord and serve Him.
Our responsibility to the Lord is to be faithful to our calling and gifts...
1 Corinthians 4:2
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
One of the things we are facing today is that we don't have a clear understanding
of our calling and gifts as individuals!
As we go through this series, I will be helping each and every one of you to find
your ministry...and your calling!

The Bible says...
2 Timothy 1:9
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, The message translation puts it this way...

2 Tim 1:9
5
9 who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it.
God has had a higher purpose for your life, long before you knew anything about it...in fact, before this world even began, God had a calling on your life!
How many of you want to know what that calling is?
And God wants you to know!
Whatever area you are called to minister in is important!
There are no big I's and little u's in the body of Christ! There are no insignificant ministries...every ministry is important!

The Bible says in...
1 Corinthians 12:18-22
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

1 Corinthians 12:27
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
God places us where it pleases Him...we are not all the same, God knows that, He
made us!

• The eye doesn't do the same thing as the toe.
• The hand doesn't do the same thing as the foot.

...but each is necessary for the body to function properly!
6 Then it says those members which seem to be more feeble...the parts that don't seem all that great are really more necessary than what you can imagine...just try doing without them for a while!

Sunday night, Davis was running around the basement and stubbed his big
toe into the bottom step of the stairway. He screamed and howled like
nothing I have heard in a long time...it was just a stubbed toe!
I tried to console him, and then I warned him to be careful not to stub it
again because it would be much worse the next time! As he was walking out of my office, sure enough he stubbed the same toe on my desk!
He cried the rest of the night...it was painful...we thought it would be fine
the next morning.
Monday morning came and the toe was swollen up and discolored, he was
limping around on the toe like it was broken...so that night we took him to
urgent care for x-rays, sure enough he had broken his toe!
The doctor informed him that he would not be able to do any sports or
prolonged activity on that foot for two weeks!
Davis was devastated by the news...his reply was, but mom it is only my
toe!
We don't understand how important some of these smaller parts are until we have to go without!
In the church, we need every member of the body to do their part so that the
whole body functions as God intended it to!
Each one of you is important as the next person!

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about lights...I have been dealing with an
electrician who installs lights, I have been working in a basement where there is no light, and it seems like every light in my house has gone out for one reason or another.
So lighting has been on my mind a little more than usual lately!
I want and need a lot of light in my life!

Light is a necessary thing...

• Can you imagine how life would be without light?
• My boys would cease to exist without light...they are terrified of the dark.
• They don't need a lot of light...just one little light to put them to sleep...but it makes all the difference in the world.
• The lights on my trailer are not working properly right now.
• The interior light is broken, and I can't see all of the tools! It is just a small light, but if it is not working I have to wait till daylight to get the right tool for the job.

Just a couple of weeks ago, one of the smallest, most insignificant lights in
our house burnt out...it was the refrigerator light.
I don't know if you have ever tried to get a midnight snack without turning
on the house lights...it is impossible without that little light inside the
fridge. I have noticed some things in our fridge lately that are scaring me all
because that little light bulb is burnt out!

There are things accumulating in our fridge that ought not to be
there.
The milk I was pouring last night was a week and a half past the
expired date!
Some yogurt that should have been thrown out weeks ago reached
out and grabbed hold of my arm the other night.
We badly need the fridge light bulb replaced, but it is one of those
bulbs that is special order and we just don't have one around!
It is just a small thing that is becoming a huge deal.
...I'm talking about little things that make a big difference in life!

8 Don't ever think that your ministry is too small or insignificant to be meaningful to the church...your ministry is important, and without it the whole body would suffer!
Can I get a witness of that tonight!
Not only is every ministry important, but each ministry is interdependent upon another!
I preached a sermon about this a few months ago...we need each other!
It is for your sake as well as mine...

• Elijah needed the widow woman to bring him food...and the widow woman needed Elijah to bring her family hope!
• We are in this together!

I want each of you to know that beyond the importance of you knowing your
ministry, beyond the importance of you knowing your calling....you need to know that your ministry involves others...if is for your sake as well as theirs!

• No ministry is independent of the others.
• There is no single ministry in God's church that can accomplish everything that God has called the church to do...so we must depend and cooperate with one another.

• That is why we have just spent ten weeks talking about relationships.

• The church is like a jigsaw puzzle, each piece is intertwined with the

next, and we need each piece to complete the picture.

• And so our ministries and callings have to be fulfilled with the right attitudes and spirits.

Peter let us know what the spirit was...
1 Peter 2:9
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

9 ....it all has to point to Christ, it all has to give God glory!
It all has to work in a greater fashion for the purpose of the Kingdom!
Let's be open minded to what God has in store for each of us in this hour...like Bro. Smith said on Sunday...let's take the blinders off...there is a higher purpose for each of us!
And God wants you to know what that purpose is!
When God created animals, he gave each of them a specific area of expertise.

• Birds fly.
• Fish swim.
• Deer run.
• Kangaroo's hop.
• Snakes slither.
• Moles burrow under the ground.

Some animal's are designed to hunt and kill, others are designed to gather and store!
Each and every animal has a distinctive role to play based on the way they were created by God.
I believe the same is true with humans...each of us was uniquely designed and shaped by God to accomplish certain things for the kingdom!

Acts 15:18
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
God has a specific plan for you and has designed you just the way you are so that
you can fulfill that plan!

• You may think that you are not good enough.
• You may think that you are not talented enough.
• You may think that your personality doesn't fit the work of the ministry

But I believe that God designed you just the way you are so that you can fulfill a specific role in His kingdom!

In the coming weeks, we are going to be sharing some things with you that will help you to better understand how God is going to use each of you in a specific fashion. Next week in particular, Bro Smith will be providing us with access to an internet site that he has designed to help churches and their members discover their areas of ministry!

• He will be asking you to log on to the internet and take about fifteen to twenty minutes to fill out a questionnaire.

• If you don't have access to the internet...then he will provide access at church next Wed night.

Bible Teachings

04 April 2016

Genesis

Genesis 1 (8-14; 26-31)

Genesis 1:11,12 (26-56)

Genesis 1:26,27 (8-33; 23-11; 26-57)

Genesis 2:7 (26-57)

Genesis 2:21-23 (26-59)

Genesis 3:15 (4-13, 5-12,27)

Genesis 3:22-24 (4-18; 5-57; 11-16; 23-18)

Genesis 6:5-7 (4-19)

Genesis 6-8 (26-64)

Genesis 37 (4-27)

Exodus

Exodus 20:9-11 (26-48)

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (27-90)

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (18-11)

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 28 (18-23)

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 7 (3-89; 9-63)

2 Samuel 23:1,2 (14-60)

2 Kings

2 Kings 20 (11-76)

2 Kings 20:1-4 (17-94)

2 Kings 22 (17-153)

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 29:11,12 (3-17)

Nehemiah

Nehemiah (31-27)

Nehemiah 8 (6-16)

Nehemiah 9:13,14 (6-17)

Psalms

Psalm 51:5 (11-39)

Psalm 58:3 (11-41)

Psalm 68 (18-93)

Psalm 110 (3-94)

Isaiah

Isaiah 2:2,3 (9-113)

Isaiah 2:1-5 (3-67,77; 5-77)

Isaiah 9 (3-93)

Isaiah 22 (3-92)

Isaiah 59:1,2 (23-14)

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 23:5,6 (3-96)

Jeremiah 23:29 (14-59)

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (3-27,34,83;

6-15; 7-53; 17-45)

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36:24-28 (15-16)

Daniel

Daniel 2:44 (3-28)

Daniel 2:44,45 (3-70,81; 5-75)

Daniel 2:26-45 (9-31,111)

Daniel 7 (9-34,112)

Daniel 7:13,14 (3-28,62,70,81;

5-75)

Joel

Joel 2:28-32 (3-71,82; 9-118;

15-12; 16-21)

Micah

Micah 4:1-3 (3-67,77; 5-77)

Zechariah

Zechariah 6:12,13 (3-95; 9-57)

Matthew

Matthew 3:10-12 (15-19)

Matthew 5:16 (31-39)

Matthew 5:17 (5-42)

Matthew 5:17,18 (6-77)

Matthew 5:19,20 (3-25)

Matthew 7:11 (15-21)

Matthew 7:17-20 (31-47)

Matthew 9:32-34 (18-77)

Matthew 10:2 (30-39)

Matthew 12:31 (17-137)

Matthew 12:41 (7-40)

Matthew 13:3-8 (11-118)

Matthew 13:24-43 (3-38)

Matthew 15:1-9 (29-50,90)

Matthew 16,18,19 (3-51; 8-67; 9-116; 30-34)

Matthew 18:10 (17-199)

Matthew 18:15-18 (20-139,157)

Matthew 18:23-35 (11-120)

Matthew 19:12 (30-53)

Matthew 20:25-27 (30-30)

Matthew 22:30 (30-57)

Matthew 23 (19-71)

Matthew 24 (10-6)

Matthew 24:1-13 (11-120)

Matthew 24:35 (27-77)

Matthew 24:45-51 (11-119)

Matthew 25:1-13 (31-50)

Matthew 25:14-30 (11-119; 31-

54)

Matthew 25:31-46 (31-58)

Matthew 25:41 (8-147)

SCRIPTURES

There are extended discussions of the following scriptures.

The explanations can be used for brief expository lessons.

Bible Teachings

04 April 2016

Healing and behavioral change occurs when the Spirit of Truth, Jesus brings truth into the heart and mind
Theophostic Prayer

Lie Category Possible lies producing the painful emotions.

1. Abandonment “I am all alone. I have been overlooked. I will always be alone. They do not need me. I
don’t matter. No one even cares. They are not coming back. There is not one to protect me. God has forsaken me too. No one will believe me. I cannot trust anyone. I am afraid they won’t come back.”

2. Shame “I am so stupid, ignorant, an idiot. I should have done something to have stopped it from happening. I allowed it. I was a participant. I should have known better. It was my fault. I should have told someone. I knew what was going to happen yet I stayed anyway. I felt pleasure so I must have wanted it. It happened because of my looks, my gender, my body, etc. I should have stopped them. I did not try to run away. I deserved it. I am cheap like a slut. I was paid for service rendered. I kept going back. I did it to him/her first. I’m bad, dirty, shameful, sick nasty.”

3. Fear “I’m going to die, he/she is going to hurt me. I do not know what to do. If I tell they will come back and hurt me. If I trust I will die. He/she/they are coming back. It is just a matter of time before it happens again. If I let him/her/them into my life they will hurt me too. Something bad will happen if I tell, stop it, confront it. They are going to get me. Doom is just around the corner.”

4. Powerlessness “I cannot stop this. He/she/they are too strong to resist. There is no way out. I am too weak to resist. The pain is too great to bear. I cannot get away. I am going to die and I cannot do anything about it. I cannot get loose. I am overwhelmed. I don’t know what to do. Everything is out of control. I am pulled from every direction. Not even God can help me. I am too small to do anything.”

5. Tainted “I am dirty, shameful, evil, perverted, etc. because of what happened to me. My life is ruined. I will never feel clean again. Everyone can see my shame, filth, dirtiness, etc. I will always be hurt/ damaged/ broken because of what has happened. I will never be happy. I will always be unclean, filthy, etc. God could never want me after what has happened to me. My body parts are dirty. No one will ever really be able to love me.”

6. Invalidation “I am not loved, needed, wanted, cared for, or important. They do not need me. I am worthless, have no value. I am unimportant. I was a mistake. I should have never been born. I am in the way. I am a burden. I was never liked by them because I was __________________. God could never love or accept me. I could never be as _________ as she/he. I could never jump high enough to please him/her.

7. Hopeless “It is never going to get any better. There is no way out. It will just happen again and again. There is not good thing for me. I have no reason to live. There are not options for me. I just want to die. Nothing good will ever come of this.”

8. Confusion “I don’t know what is happening to me. Everything is confusing. This does not make any sense. Why would they do this to me.” (In prayer sessions we need to discern whether confusion is a lie or is from demonic forces)

When lies are realized, the person needs to have the Spirit of Truth speak into them because it is the Truth that sets one free!

Sinful Vows or Covenants
Vows are also commonly developed in situations like the one Rev Joseph Kiyimba experienced. Unholy vows or covenants sound like this:

Here is a short teaching on vows by another one of my teachers, Dr. Karl Lehman:
Why are vows destructive, and how do they block the healing process?
Our understanding is that when we make a sinful vow, we are using our God-given free will to make a choice to take a certain position. When we make a sinful vow, we give psychological authority to the choice in the vow, we limit the Lord’s authority to work within the jurisdiction of the vow, and we give spiritual authority to the enemy within the jurisdiction of the vow. In one case, choices/vows such as “I will not feel, I will not remember, I will not tell” provide a good example. These choices/vows provided the psychological foundation for the corresponding behaviors of disconnection, denial, and deception (hiding certain memories from herself and others). These choices/vows limited the Lord’s authority to work in the clients traumatic memories and gave the enemy authority to demonically infect these memories to the extent that the chosen position was outside the Lord’s best plan for connection, light, and truth in the client’s life.

Sinful vows as idolatry
“...no matter what it takes,” is the final clause of every vow: All vows have this final clause, usually unspoken. The reason all vows have this “...no matter what it takes” clause is that this clause is inherent in the very nature of vows. Nobody makes vows like “I will be the best, as long as it isn’t too much work,” “I will never tell, unless I decide it would be appropriate to tell,” “I will get you back some day, unless I decide to forgive you,” or “I will never cry, unless this vow gets in the way of my healing.” “No matter what it takes” is a dangerous clause because it places the object of the vow above all other considerations, and eliminates the option of making judgment calls about priorities in each situation. For example, with the vow “I will make something of myself – I will succeed – I will not be a failure...(no matter what it takes),” the person does not feel the freedom to discern “I would like to succeed, but my church retreat is more important – I guess I will have to pass on this special project.” When there is conflict between a promotion and caring for his marriage, this vow will push him to prioritize “success” over his marriage. When there is conflict between spending time with his children and working overtime in order to be the team leader, this vow will push him to prioritize “success” over his children. “No matter what it takes” is inherently sinful (idolatrous) because it places the object
of the vow in front of the Lord’s will. “I will ______ (fill in the vow) no matter what it takes” is sitting on the throne that belongs to “I will ask the Lord for guidance, and do whatever He leads me to do.”

Sinful vows block current adult choices: An optimally healthy person has a large range of responses available to him or her, each appropriate in its respective situation. Vows pathologically restrict our ability to use the full range of options – they eliminate our freedom to make free will choices in each situation. For example, sometimes it is appropriate to say exactly what you really think at the time a conflict is occurring, while at other times it is appropriate to “hold your peace” in the middle of the argument, and wait until a more appropriate time to say certain things. The vow “I won’t say what I really think – it’s not safe” eliminates the freedom to make this decision in each situation – it declares that I will always “wait until later,” that I will never say what I really think. “No matter what it takes” eliminating the option to make judgment calls about priorities in each situation is another example.

Each vow is a rule/law that declares it must always be done one way: “I will always...,” “I will never....” When we confess and renounce vows, we take back the freedom to make present, adult choices in each situation. Fulfilling vows necessitates sin: While making a vow may seem like a necessity at the time it is made – an unavoidable, or at least very understandable choice for surviving a difficult situation – it is striking that fulfilling or keeping vows seems to necessitate sin (we have not yet seen any exceptions). When sinful vows were made, they need to be cancelled

Bible Teachings

04 April 2016

The majority of the girls we have helped and turned away from prostitution face social stigma, family rejection, shame, fear of retribution and loss of future economic prospects.

So far, our organization is rehabilitating a big number of these girls aged between 3 and 17. We pray to God to provide us with funds to build for them a rehabilitation home with vocational training for their future sustainability. It is a pity because most of them have contracted HIV. We make it our duty to visit those on antiretroviral drugs often, to ensure that they do not default on dosage. Pray for us that God will provide us with a motorcar to effect this God’s ordained work.

According to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund, issued recently, it was estimated that up to 35% of teenagers in some Ugandan urban areas are involved in casual sex for cash. The report said poverty was the main reason the trade was thriving among young girls. We really concur with this observation.

Another child prostitute, Barbara said that poverty drove her into the business. “Where else do you think I could get money for my bills, which include shs. 35,000/= ($15) for rent, then food, hair make up among others?. God has called us to reach the needy and hurting people but we cannot do this work alone. Ecc.4:9–12.

Could it be that child prostitution in Uganda is suffering from the “bystander effect”? In 1960s, a young woman on the streets of New York City, USA was stabbed to death over a period of 30 minutes while as many as 40 witnesses did nothing; despite her pleas for help.

Psychologists explain it as the “bystander effect”. In the face of an emergency, a person is less likely to intervene when others are present. It’s our nature to assume that the next person will act, thus relinquishing responsibility.

This description sounds a lot like the international community’s response or lack thereof surrounding this situation in Africa. They adopted a wait and see approach as events unfold, yet when everyone expects the others to take action, no one will.

The great British Politician Edmund Burke once said that the only thing necessary for evil to trump is for good men to do nothing!

Trials & Advice

04 April 2016

Dear Friends,

One purpose for building families that are morally healthy is to produce physically healthy citizens. Many people live in areas where many unhealthy conditions exist. As a result, thousands of people unnecessarily die every year because some very practical principles for good health are violated.

In many situations, we create our own unhealthy environments. This is particularly true in reference to Sexually Transmitted Diseases. The most common Sexually transmitted diseases are gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid, chlamydia, herpes, genital warts and HIV/AIDS. One becomes infected with a sexually transmitted disease through vaginal, anal, or oral sexual intercourse with an infected person. The human Sexual organs are the ideal environments for the transmission of germs that cause sexually transmitted diseases.

One of the greatest sexually transmitted diseases that have attacked the human race is HIV/AIDS. Thousands are dying every day because of AIDS. It is important that everyone take a very proactive stance to combat this against human society.

Many are saying that HIV/AIDS cannot affect them. They say they are too young, too healthy, or too cautious in their sexual relationships. The fact is; however, that AIDS shows no mercy, knows no race, no age, and no class. If you are sexually active outside the union of marriage, chances are; you will become HIV Positive, and subsequently develop AIDS. And if you have AIDS you will die. In sub-Saharan Africa, chances of becoming HIV positive are tremendously high if one is sexually active outside the union of marriage. Therefore, you must be very knowledgeable of this disease. Your life depends on it.

IDENTIFYING HIV/AIDS

The letters AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a medical diagnosis that results form a combination of illness that exists in the body because of the weakening of the body’s Immune system. HIV attacks the Immune system of the body. This makes it impossible for the body to adequately protect itself against the invasion of germs and viruses of other diseases.

HIV is a bad guy that causes AIDS. The letter HIV stands for Human Immune Deficiency Virus. HIV1 is more than one virus. HIV1 is found in most Countries of the World; whereas HIV2 is found primarily in West Africa.

HIV weakens our bodies’ ability to fight off foreign germs that invade the body. What normally happens when our bodies are invaded by germs is that the white blood cells attack the foreign invaders. However, HIV enters and destroys our white blood cells. Our Immune system is thus weakened and our body is not able to fight off invading germs. What happens next is fatal.

One’s body infected with any number of diseases. When symptom is manifested from one or more of these diseases, it is an indication that one has AIDS. One who has AIDS, therefore, dies from an invading disease.

According to research, one will not know if he or she is HIV positive without an ELISA or Western Blot blood Test. The following are some signs that show that HIV has progressed to AIDS.

PRIMARY SIGNS

i) Loss of weight that is greater than 10% of the normal body of weight.

ii) A prolonged fever is more than one month.

iii) On and off, or prolonged diarrhea for more than one month.

iv) Persistent Severe Fatigue.

MINOR SIGNS
a) Persistent cough for more than a month.

b) Itchy skin rashes.

c) Cold Sores over the body.

d) Shingle.

e) Thrush in the mouth or threat.

f) Swollen glands at two or more places throughout the body over a period of a month.

CONTRACTING HIV

HIV is passed from one person to another through body fluids – blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. HIV is primarily a Sexually transmitted disease. If you have sex with someone who is HIV Positive, chances are you will contract HIV/AIDS. In order not to become infected with HIV, you must protect yourself.

· Having unprotected sex with one who is HIV positive spreads HIV.

· Making contact with the blood of an infected person spreads HIV.

· An infected mother to her unborn or newborn baby some times spreads HIV.

Most people do not know that they are infected with HIV. You cannot tell if one is infected just by looking at them. If often takes many years before HIV progresses to AIDS, and thus manifested the symptoms of the disease with which one becomes infected.

PROTECTING YOUR SELF.

Since HIV can also be transmitted during any procedure that breaks the skin by the use of instruments that come into contact with the blood system, special care should be taken in procedures such as injections and blood transfusion. HIV can be contracted if a traditional healer makes cuts with an infected knife, or a nurse gives an injection with an un sterilized needle or syringe. Intravenous drugs users often infected themselves by sharing unsterilized needles and syringes.

There are two systems of testing for HIV. They are the ELISA and Western Blot blood test. Each test detects antibodies in the blood that are fighting HIV. “They do not detect the virus itself,”. The Elisa Test is usually done first. If it is positive, the Western Blot test is performed to confirm the results.

One should wait at least three months after probable exposure to HIV before taking an HIV test. It will take approximately this amount of time before the body starts producing anti bodies against the invasion of HIV.

To make certain that one has not contracted HIV, it is advisable to take another test six months after probable exposure in order to make sure one is not HIV positive.

Keep mind that HIV tests only determine if there are antibodies in the blood that are trying to fight off HIV. If you have sex within the three to six months of the initial exposures, you could test negative because the virus you may have contracted from your most recent sexual encounter has not fully attacked your immune system; and thus there no anti bodies in your blood.

According to Dr. Dickson, the ELISA test might also be positive if the body is fighting off another disease such as malaria. “This is a false positive result”, this is why a second ELISA Test should be taken; followed by the Western Blot test.

LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS.

HIV / AIDS are a reality of our lives. The populations of many African Countries is 30% HIV Positive or higher. Thousands dies every day from HIV / AIDS related diseases. Those who are HIV Positive need help and care. You can be a great help in stopping the spread of HIV in your Community by learning as much as possible about HIV / AIDS and by abstinence in sexual activity outside the union of marriage.

If you follow the previous suggestions as to how one can protect himself or herself from HIV infection; then there should be no worry on your part about contracting HIV from an infected person. Those who are HIV positive need your care and love.

You cannot contract HIV by touching, hugging, sharing, eating utensils or coughing on the part of HIV positive person. Therefore, you should not isolate yourself form those who are HIV positive.

Here are some things you can do to have a fulfilling life and to help others live the best they can with HIV.

• Show your concern and love by associating with a person who is HIV positive.

• Educate yourself on how to stop the spread of HIV / AIDS and to keep yourself free of HIV.

• Help HIV people to be positive and maintain a healthy diet and maintain a positive out look on life.

• Maintain a good exercise program.

• If one is sick, as a result of AIDS, encourage proper medical treatment.

• Through counseling, encourage an HIV positive person not to have sex with others. You can be a good friend to one who is HIV positive by being there for them.

Being HIV positive does not mean one should be negative about the rest of his or her life. Living a positive life without stress is one of the primary health care principles to prolong the life of the infected person. Take care of your health. Get sufficient sleep. Seek the support of those around you.

Eating properly helps your body fight off the attack of diseases. Eating healthy food means taking drugs. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole gains as sump and brown bread. Focus on God and how you can better serve Him. One of the greatest things you can do is to start a support group to help those who are HIV positive.

Through the help of friends and family; you can let it be known to others that you would like to start a discussion group comprised of both the infected and those who do not have HIV/AIDS. Let us fight stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV / AIDS. It is time for action, not reaction or resignation.

Millions of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are orphaned by HIV / AIDS. Some of these children are enslaved, cast off, oppressed, raped and abused! Many survive off the mains found out at the garbage dumps. Rev. Kiyimba Joseph is working to remedy all that. These children have no hope, no future, no way out! But together we can help and raise these orphans in love, caring, and Christian Charity.

Rev. Dr. Kiyimba Joseph himself orphaned when he was young, has a tremendous heart for the orphans, and continually seeks ways to help support orphans and destitute children in the region through The ABA Foundation.

Pure and underfiled religion before God and the Father is this:- to visit orphans and widows in their trouble; and to keep oneself unspotted from the World. James 1:27. NKJV.

God’s heart is to the orphans, widows, the poor, the outcast and the downtrodden. You alone can be God’s instrument to help support these needy vulnerable groups. Thank you so much.

ABA FOUNDATION. “HELPING PEOPLE LIVE BETTER LIFE”.

Website: http://www.AbaFoundationAfrica.org/ Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Trials & Advice

04 April 2016

“We often alert police and local council chairpersons on issues affecting children but they take long to act. In most cases some of these kids have died before seeing justice. Many people see this child suffering but because she is lame, they don’t care. If she wasn’t like this, she would be looking better like her four brothers and two sisters,” Mugambe said.

What then could the father, Nazaria Mukwana, a 42-year-old man, say to save the situation?
“If she was a boy, I would bath her but now that she is a girl I can’t help it because I can’t touch her. There is nothing I can change about that. I didn’t cause her lameness,” Mr Mukwana said.

A police officer at Nagojje Police Post, who asked for anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the press, said most child abuse cases are not reported because people prefer settling them secretly.

“There are many children suffering. However, we deal with cases that have been brought to our attention. But in most cases, people don’t want to report the issues. We had not heard about it (Nakatekere’s case). Although we don’t have transport to go there now, we are going
to see how we can help,” the officer said.

There have been similar reports from police in the past where parents have mistreated their children because of their status.
For example, while addressing a news briefing recently, Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Henry Kalulu said some people have lost values even on things that they cannot change.

“A woman about 30 years-old dumped a baby in Bweyogerere, a Kampala suburb on grounds that this baby doesn’t grow. If he grows, he grows slowly. He is aged nine months. But according to her, the baby grows slowly and has a deformity,” Mr Kalulu said.

Mr Kalulu added that the woman had insisted she will not take back the baby but rather go to prison and serve a sentence instead of “taking the baby who is deformed, can’t grow and is a burden.”

Choices in Life

04 April 2016