BY AIR TO JINJA

It was 10 March, early Saturday morning that our journey began. Everything was going to plan as we arrived at King Shaka, Durban’s International airport in good time to catch our domestic flight to OR Tambo International in Johannesburg.

 Goodbyes were said to my husband Mike and my daughter Cherise and off we went through departures.

We managed to visit a local shop after going through to departures called ‘eM’native collection’. This is a successful business, derived through the CAST business forum run by Westville Baptist Church volunteers.

After checking out the shop, we went through to the check in and proceeded to board our flight. We were on time and I got to sit by the window and Jean-Ray got the isle seat that he wanted, so, all were happy. We landed in Johannesburg OR Tambo Internatioanl and collected our luggage as we needed to check it onto our flight to Uganda. After doing that and collecting our boarding passes, we decided to get some lunch at the airport Wimpy where we both had a 3 tenner meal comprising of a burger, chips and a coke. During our meal Jean-Ray showed me his yellow fever certificate and asked if I had

one. Of course it was the first time I had heard of or seen it and my answer was obviously no. He suggested that we probably would not need it but he carried it with him whenever he travelled just in case he was asked for it. If only I had of had one…sigh!

We finished eating and he now needed to change some currency so we went on the hunt for a beauru de change, which we found. However, they were not able to help him and told him he needed a Standard Bank which he could find on another level. By this time he realised that we were supposed to be boarding so we started to hurry. The next thing I knew we were racing to the boarding gate which seemed an eternity away. We both ran as fast as we could and by the grace of God we made it just on time. Because we were late we were unable to choose our seats so we sat where we were booked. Jean-Ray was happy that he managed to get the isle seat whereas I got the middle seat in a three seater row.

We were happy to have made the flight. I sat next to a Ugandan doctor who was on his way back home to Kampala. The flight was 5 hours with Uganda being one hour ahead in time. The flight was pleasant and the conversation and company was good. Travelling with a pastor has its privledges as I had my own question and answer session which he could not escape, especially as he sat between me and the isle.

 We arrived at Entebe irport   at seven in the evening with a terrible start to the trip. Jean-Ray took out his passport and suddenly realised that he had lost his yellow fever certificate. He searched the airplane but it was clear that during our race to catch our flight in Johannesburg, he had lost it. We did not need the certificate however and going through customs was a breeze. We collected our bags and as we descended to the arrivals, there stood a man with a placard with Jean-Ray’s name. Our lift was there to take us on our three and a half hour journey to Jinja wher the conference was going to be held.

The journey was long, vigorours and tiring. We reached our destination, Jinja, at ten thirty tired and happy that the traveling was over. Jean-Ray went to the guest house Arise whilst I was dropped of at the house where I would spend the next 4 days of my stay in Jinja.

The house on the right belongs to Pastor Moses and his lovely wife Christine. That is where I stayed for my duration in Uganda.

Pastor Moses and his wonderful wife Christine.

THE START!

JINJA - UGANDA: AUMA CONFERENCE!

So, it is only 3 days away from the AUMA Conference in Jinja Uganda..... ...exciting to say the least!

As it will be my first Conference as the 'official but unpaid' General Administrator for AUMA Southern Africa, I am very excited, however, still a little bit in the dark as to who, where, what and why???

(Although I am not being paid, I have felt a need to continue because I believe God has huge plans to save Africa, and I really want to be a part of His big plan.)

I am forever grateful to Jesus for opening this door for me and allowing me the time to get AUMA Southern Africa rolling into an Organisation that will glorify His amazing name beyond measure. And, I also want to thank my sponsors for the opportunity to attend the Conference at their expense, praise God for your generosity!

Although I do know more or less what the NPO Organisation is about, it's more a case of learning about who, where, what and why have I been employed. Again, I do have a contract with my job description, so I know what is expected of me, I just need to learn more on how to gather members, donors and interest to get started.

My main objective is to start raising funds that will break AUMA's bank account seams. Africa needs endless funds to entertain the needs of the millions upon millions of poverty stricken people who are suffering in many different ways. To name some of the sufferings;

we have the highest HIV sufferers in the world;

• millions of orphans from HIV victims and baby dumping;
• then there are those that live below the poverty line;
• and then there are the elderly that have no financial means to survive;
• the homeless in the shelters;
• those that live on the streets;
• the lost whose only form of comfort is their hopeless addictions;
• those who are exploited;
• and the list goes on and on.

Africa is a nation that is riddled with corrupt leaders and of course, North Africa is currently a war zone which is creating much need too.

So, we not only need huge financial strengths, but physical in the way of volunteers, and spiritual in the way of pray warriors.

This is what I need to ask! Do you feel equipped to help, or does your heart break for what breaks God's? If you feel called to help, please leave a message for me and I will get back to you!

Lord, I pray for generous donors, for strong and willing volunteers and for Your Holy Spirit to reign down on all those that are lost and hurting. Please Father, give those who run the different NPO Organisations, the wisdom in the running of whatever project you have laid on their hearts. I pray that You would bless each beyond substantial so that those who are in need would benefit and learn to give You all the glory. I pray for broken hearts to be mended and for all to come to know You as their Lord and Saviour. Have favour and mercy upon Africa Lord, and allow us, as followers of You, to be obedient vessels of hope in You. In Jesus name I pray, amen!

Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV) The Good News of Salvation

1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Waiting...and....still waiting....!

Yes, you assumed correct, AUMA is a Non Profit Organisation in the making.

However, the proof of this is not yet available as the application has not yet been approved. Submission was made in December 2011, and my prayer is that in early 2012, I will receive the approved application.

But, until such time, I am still waiting,...anxiously,... but patiently!

Once I have the approved application in hand, with that crucial NPO number, I will be able to source donors for this very necessary Southern African Organisation.

You see, my job is to secure donors so that NPO Organisations within Southern Africa, will benefit from much needed extra funding to help their already operational orphanages, old age homes, shelters, feeding programs etc.

You just have to read the news to witness how famon and poverty hurt and kill so many innocent lives in Africa, leaving many old and young homeless, cold, and hungry.

AUMA will be the hub for Missionary Organisations, sharing and updating events, needs and progress. It will also be responsible for drawing these Organisations together in prayer and unity. The aim is to gather them all together under one public umbrella, so that the world of donors can witness and feel good about how their hand of generosity is helping the lost, hurting and underprivledged.

And all glory will be to our Lord and King, Jesus Christ.

Won't you help in making this Organisation grow, so that Africa can become a potentially better place for those who deserve to have a better life away from their pain and suffering. Every donation will make a difference in the lives of these beautiful people.

Help us to feed, clothe, educate and shelter them physically, and we will endevour to feed them spiritually, so that their hope will be in Jesus Christ, for His Awesome Glory.

Lord Jesus, my prayer is that You will bring in donors, in great excess, so that Your work can be done, in Your name I pray, amen!

It's a new year and a new beginning for AUMA, and I believe the best way to start any God driven venture, is to invite Jesus to stand on the platform as the leader, mentor and guide. So…, let's pray!

Heavenly Father, our loving Lord so awesome. Firstly, thank You for this wonderful opportunity to amalgamate the mission organisations throughout Southern Africa and Africa as a whole. Thanks for all those that put themselves selflessly into a lifestyle that will enable Your name to be glorified. Thank You for those whose hearts are filled with compassion. Whose hearts break for what breaks yours. For their abilities, strengths and resources, that you bless them with, beyond their own means, as they trust in You, to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than themselves. Thank You Lord for beautiful Africa, and for giving us Your visions that bring hope and restore lives worth living.

Father God, we surrender ourselves to You, asking that You do a work in us that will allow us to continue striving, no matter what, to do the work that You call us to do. Please continue to give us strength, useable resources, donors, volunteers and endless joy in the work we do. Bless Africa we pray and direct our paths to those areas that You need us to be. Fill our hearts to overflowing with unconditional compassion for all those that are struggling, in whatever way, help us to help them find hope in You.

I pray for AUMA Lord, and ask that You provide wisdom in promoting this organisation to move forward in huge strides. Bless it with generous donors to provide continuous and fluid funding, that will enable many mission organisations, throughout Africa, reach their goals, and work towards more that will bring glory to Your name. Lord I pray You would cause AUMA to establish a strong standing for all the African Mission Organisations to lean and rely on. I pray Father God that You would help me to source all those that need assistance, and allow us to work together to build communities that will become strong in You. Bless us Lord, in everything we strive to do in Your name. Give each and every member of AUMA, and their organisations, a shield of protection against the enemy who may try and hinder any work done in Your name.

Thank You Lord for hearing our prayers, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,

because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Matthew 9:36