March Missions Trip Report

My alarm clock alerted me at 1:30 am on Saturday morning on 16th March 2013. Our room was dark, cool and my wife was in deep sleep. I took 39 minutes, to pray, dress, have coffee before hitting the road to Busitema University Arapai Campus. It was an estimated journey of 5 hours drive.

Dr. Gerald, the Patron of University Christian Union had called me at 9:35 pm on Friday evening reminding me that I was needed at the campus the following morning from 8:30 am. The range of activities included teaching on relationships (the right way to Christian marriage) and personal counseling to a number of students.

I was aware of the trip, but from a practical point of view, it was not practical. The first set back was lack of money to put fuel in the car (the fuel tank was completely empty), the dangers of running the car with bald tires and the expenses (hotel bills and other necessities such as water etc).

When I got the call that evening, I simply told him to pray, and he did it there and then on phone. I knew my wife would give the final decision also.

My wife, surprisingly, gave a positive nod, and encouraged me that there was no easy way out in serving the Lord. She had UGX 80,000 (USD 32) in her money pass which she whole heartedly gave to me. By 11:30 pm I was fully decided. At exactly 2:09 am I set off. The Kampala-Mombasa Highway was lonely as well as scary, save for the big commercial trucks from Mombasa. As I turned off to Mbale road, there were hardly any vehicles. Half way through, I got scared and I turned off onto Pallisa Road (earth road). I felt it was much safer to drive through the villages than follow a lonely highway.

At 7:05 am I was safe in Soroti town. Checked in at the PAG Guest house, had a nap for 1 hour, and a quick breakfast. By a quarter to 9:00 am I was in the campus auditorium. It had about 80 students when I arrived. When I started at 9:10 am , we had well over 200 students. I had two sessions before lunch each lasting 2 hours. My afternoon was devoted to questions on relationships. Then from 7:00-10:00 pm I met three counselees.

The following day at 8:00 am I attended a Sunday service at the University chapel with over 500 in attendance. This included students, Faculty members and their spouses and people from surrounding villages. Dr. Gerald had arranged that I participate in a leader’s discussion on “Christian youth creating positive impact in the communities” immediately after Sunday service. From 3:00-10:00 pm I saw seven counselees. The following day I could only see 7 counselees up to 10:00 pm.

While in the Busitema University I realized the need for discipleship and laying strong Biblical foundation in universities and colleges in Uganda. I could see zealous young men and women, with passion for Christ, evangelism and worship of the Lord but without roots in the word. A majority could spend weeks praying with fasting yet cohabiting (loose form of false marriage). Some two leaders were expectant mothers yet not married. Dr. Gerald and I had to deal with some cases quite firmly to bring order into the house of the Lord. Students need help and more spiritual help.

The seventeen counselees I saw were desperately in need, not of money or any material help, but spiritual, emotional and social support: They needed the counsel, redirection and the comfort of the Lord Jesus Christ which went missing in their churches.

Next weekend I will be in Kaliro National Teachers College, followed by Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Makerere and Kyambogo Universities will follow respectively.

This year, the Lord told me to help the future generations in Universities and colleges. These are intellectuals and are much easier to deal with than real pastors: These are open minded without any doctrinal biases. On my side, it is not just only the anointing of the Holy Spirit that is required, but also the ability to open the Word and compare several Scriptures to give a teaching, rebuke and training. It challenges me too, to deeply prepare. Some of questions I met were quite tough and indicated the presence of an under hand false teachers. It is not only me targeting intellectuals, but other false organizations are already actively wrecking havoc on Christianity and its values. In fact I am almost late.

As I was coming back home yesterday, I was spiritually attacked. From no where I felt so stressed and discouraged, with a blanket of darkness cast upon my soul. I lost all joy and peace of the Lord. I felt all of sudden lonely, cold and weak. I felt the Lord had rejected me, and I was just toiling to bribe the Lord. I pulled up by the side of the road and prayed, casting off the demon of stress and worry. I gained energy and the Lord ministered to me and assured me of His love and presence in spite of the challenges. I got home safely.

The prophet Elijah may have gone through such an experience after the contest with the prophets of Baal. It is a terrible experience. This is the second time I felt like this. It was previously in 2003, when I was in Haiti in the Caribbean, after speaking in an open-air Campaign. I felt so terrible. I could not sleep that night thinking I could die.

So pray with me that the Lord sustains me with His joy as I go around to the universities. Pray that my visit to the other universities will be as fruitful as it was in Busitema.

Thanks very much
Pastor Isaac Peter Oyako