Living like Kings ... Working like Priests (part II)

Enjoying Unity in pst Salomon's home

We left Mbarara in the late afternoon.  It was a long and very dusty ride to Kamwenge and we arrived after dark.  Club Africa was our home for the next 5 nights and it was a very nice hotel where we shared 2 or 3 to a room and had our breakfasts and some of our other meals.  Papa Paul and Mom had a bigger room where we all met together each day.  Thursday and Friday we had a seminar at Pastor Stephen's church where Jeff and Boris each preached.  Friday morning we all went door to door for evangelism and after a time we met in the center of town and sang on the street.

 Praying over Edgar's farm for prosperity

Edgar was our host in Kamwenge and he took us to his farm on Saturday.  We spent the whole of the day walking his land, praying over it and for God to prosper his land and his animals.  We spent some good time singing and dancing with Edgar's family and neighbors. They made a party for us with plenty of food and sodas and even sorgum.  Edgar had promised us fresh milk from his cows, but we failed to be able to drink after eating so much.  Can you imagine?

We couldn't drink milk...

We were blessed to have with us Blair and Robyn, granddaughters of Papa and Mom.  They did everything with us and we learned to love them as our sisters.  We think they, also, love us as their brothers.

Sunday found us ministering in another Pastor Steven's church that we had not been to yet.  God met us there as we were able to press through some spiritual resistance and lead the body of Christ in worship that was very sweet.  Papa Paul was the preacher for the day, and we were excited to also have two young men in the service who had just given their lives to Christ in the Friday door to door evangelism.  We were able to pray for them and have some time after the service to encourage them.
 
The mayor of Kamwenge attended one of our services that morning and joined us back at the hotel for lunch and a time to visit. He was joined by a few others who also work in the local government.  We were requested to sing by the mayor, and there was freedom to sing in the hotel dining area as we sat.  He was happy to invite us back anytime we want to return to Kamwenge for a concert.

Sunday evening found us all gathered in Papa's room where each of us shared what we had seen God doing in our adventure together.

By this time Papa had treated several sicknesses among the team, and taken them to the clinic and bought medicines and even had one on serum, but all were doing better.

One of the unique experiences we had was when Papa gave each of us 10,000sh for the day so that we could be responsible for our own meals.  It was each one's choice to find where we wanted to eat, or save the money by not eating.  Many of us have never had the opportunity, even from our own parents, to be given our own money to care for our own needs in our own way.  It turned into adventure and we each enjoyed it and learned something.  We found this experience connected to the teaching Papa was giving us throughout the trip about becoming men.  Papa was very good about using this time together to encourage us to keep growing towards manhood.  And he showed and taught us many things.

Papa and Mom gave each of us 20,000sh before we left each other.  It was meant to encourage us and make us to reach home with smiles.


We did arrive safely home and thank God for the safe journey and His presence with us all along the way.  We know that Papa Paul and Mom love us very much and have often made opportunities for us to minister.  We thank them for making this trip possible for us.  We will not remain as we were.  God loves us very much.

Living Like Kings! ... Working Like Priests!

June 7, 2011

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  (Revelation 1:5-6)

None of the members of the Band had an accurate imagination of what our 12 days together in Western Uganda would be like.  We knew we had been invited on a short term mission with Next Generation Ministries.  We knew that we would be singing our music.  But, we had little idea of what living together with a team of 15 would be like.


Friday, May 27th, nine members of the band had the amazing privilege of traveling from Kampala, Uganda to Mbarara, Uganda in the vehicle owned by Next Generation Ministries.  We loaded the drum set of NGM on top of the vehicle along with a 12 string guitar, bass and our luggage.  Some of our members had to remain at home for school or work, but because Paul and Pam Hunter, our team leaders for this mission, were also taking their two oldest granddaughters, Pastor Jeff Kasigwa of Kampala, and our driver, Peter Bukenya on the trip, we were limited to nine members:  Yves, Mukuki, Joseph, Hope, Robert, Serge Kazi, Jackson, Boris, and Sami.

Solomon, wife Lily, baby with Pam, Paul & granddaughters

After a full day of driving, we arrived in a small village outside of Mbarara called Ruti.  Ruti is the home of Pastor Solomon and his wife Lillian.  They volunteered to host our entire time in their house.  We had no idea how motivating our time with them would be.  We gathered for prayer at 6 AM each morning and had another hour of prayer and the Word just before bed each evening.  Sometimes the mission pushed our prayer late into the night, even going past midnight one evening!  But, we were so blessed by the love, leadership, and teaching of Solomon.  He is a young, but mature pastor who has the heart of a spiritual father.  He was a man who could make us laugh so much, but also have very serious times as well.  Can you imagine?!?

Solomon ... a spiritual father to Robyn & Blair

We spent five nights in this home of peace, joy, prayer and community.  Our first day we traveled to Isaka to minister to one of the fellowships of Kampala International University.  The Medical School is on this campus and we ministered to about 200 students in a jam packed classroom, with several dozens seated outside and looking through the windows.  Papa Paul preached from the first three chapters of Ephesians about the eternal purpose of God ... how God desired a family for Himself and a Bride for His Son ... even before the world was created.


Sunday morning, Papa Paul preached in two services to over 1500 people at the Evangelical Christian Church of Uganda.  Jeff sang a couple of songs and we sang in the second service.  Soon after lunch together we moved to a Praise and Worship session in Pastor Solomon's church until the sun disappeared behind the Rwenzori Mountains.

Papa Paul with interpreter

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we sang in the Lunch Hour at the Evangelical Christian Church which runs from midday until 2 PM and again Papa Paul taught.  His subject was Relational Mentoring/Discipleship.  Monday evening we shared at a Workers Fellowship and Tuesday afternoon we ministered in a vocational/secondary school for disabled students.  It was a very moving experience.  Boris shared his life testimony and Papa Paul gave a short message followed by an invitation for students to give their life to Christ with about five students responding.


After a stimulating and fulfilling 5 days in Mbarara, the mission team traveled on Wednesday evening to Kamwenge.  Tomorrow we will write about our five days there and how we lived as kings.  For now, we were discovering how to be a part of a team of ministering priests during the first half of our mission.

Crusade for Kamuli

Since starting this blog we had our first outing as a band, in a small village called Ndolwa, on the other side of Kamuli. The invitation came from our Papa (Paul Hunter), and the pastors who coordinated this event. We gathered 10 members and headed for Jinja last Thursday the 19th. We shared a good meal with Papa Paul, Mama Pam, and our sisters Blair and Robyn. On Friday we were well fed by Mama, and once we were finished working around the house we set out for Kamuli. The three hour drive was not so bad, but the roads demanded us to move at a slow pace. When we arrived, we found many people surrounded by the stage. Everything was set up and we were able to get started right away. Although there were some troubles with the sound system it did not disturb our mission in serving God. When we were finished Papa was asked to share a word with the people. We spent some time praying for some 20 to 30 people who gave their lives to Christ. The time with each other was good for us. Saturday morning was the end of our trip to Jinja and Kamuli, but not the end of the work God was doing through that weekend. Sunday 74 people were baptized and led to Christ.

This week we are starting a new journey. We will be traveling with Papa & Mama, Blair & Robyn, and Jeff Kasigwa. We begin leaving Jinja at 7am, traveling all day to Mbarara. Our trip includes ministering at KIU in Ishaka on Saturday, visiting Holy Spirit Fire Church and another church in the village on Sunday, Wednesday we will travel to Kamwenge, Thurs. and Fri. we are attending a seminar, a dinner in the village on Saturday, Sunday involves ministering in a friends church. On Monday we start the journey back home. We ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers. When we return from this trip, we will share the experience's we encountered.

Amazing Relationship

God's ways are amazing!

May 8, 2011

Mama Pam & Papa Paul

We find ourselves occupied with our music, not in our home country of Congo, but in Uganda.  It is here that God gave us a relationship with Paul and Pam Hunter of the United States, but who live in Jinja east of Kampala where we all stay.  Through a mutual friend, Raoul Mugosa, who lives in Jinja, but is also from the Congo, we met a year ago.  Because Papa Paul and Mama Pam are in Uganda to disciple the next generation of leaders in Uganda we found ourselves with a relationship that has become significant.  For over ten years, the Hunters have been coming to Uganda to encourage, equip, empower and release the next generation to display the glory of Jesus. Four years ago they officially began Next Generation Ministries and now normally stay in Uganda for six months each year.  You can read about their activities in Uganda here.

Papa Paul and Mama Pam want their relationship with us to see Christ exalted in our personal and ministry lives. They have invited us to come to Jinja, paid our transport, feed us food, and even accommodated us at their home. They were our special guest when we launched our first CD and DVD on March 27, 2011.  They host short term missionaries from the United States and usually invite us to come play some of our music, worship, pray, and minister to the members of those teams.

Praying for Matt & Kristi

Currently the Hunters are hosting a recently married couple from America, Matt and Kristi Bellamy, and wanted to share our lives and music with them.  Papa had to leave his compound at 7:45AM to come to Uganda to pick us from Kampala yesterday.  They invited some friends and neighbors to come to their compound, listen to our music, feed us some good food, and return us to Kampala so that we can minister in our church today.  They didn't get into their beds until early this morning after driving back to Jinja.

We never would have imagined God would give us a Mama and a Papa from the United States.  But, that's our God. The Hunters have invited a few of us to accompany them on a mission to Western Uganda sometime within the next month to six weeks.  We are all praying for it to come together so that we can benefit each other as we serve the Lord.  We honor them and want God to use them in our lives to encourage us, equip us and empower us for the glory of God.

Praying for Papa & Mama

WELCOME!

Enter the World of the Dove Voice Band!

May 7, 2011

Pushed out of our native country of Congo, a group of men who were largely refugees to the west, we settled in Uganda. Colonized by France, we found ourselves drowning in the language of English since Uganda was colonized by the British.  Along with our communication challenge, we found it difficult to either attend school or get jobs.  We had a strong background in the Church ... and it was there that we found that we enjoyed making music together.

Between 15 and 20 young men have been composing, singing, and making music together over the past two years from the capital city of Kampala, Uganda.  We have relied on the strong musical heritage of our mother country.  We have benefited from the support of our families and church.  We have even found some help from friends from the United States in the past year.

It's time that we make ourselves and our music available to those who have just learned about us or want to learn about us or who have yet to even hear about us.  Welcome to our blog!

Our music is intended to exalt Jesus Christ.  We have no ambition to make a name for ourselves to generate a business from our music abilities.  We want to lift up the name of Jesus.  The Bible says that the Holy Spirit's purpose is to exalt Jesus Christ.  We have chosen the name "Dove Voice" as a musical expression of the Holy Spirit to exalt Jesus Christ.  When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, a voice from Heaven was heard as a dove appeared over the head of Jesus saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."  Our ambition is to hear the same pleasure of the Father over our music.  We want Jesus to be exalted and the Father pleased as His Son is lifted up.

2010 at Sports View Hotel