“Small” Prayers – BIG Answers!

Here’s How it Began – On Our Knees!

InterGenerational prayer for Africa!

You all already know that, just over a year ago, a small group of World Shapers (at Family Prayer Day/Appalachian House of Prayer in Boone, NC/USA) began to pray for schools in Africa. Little did they know how big the answers to their prayers would be!

Of the 55 nations of Africa for which they were praying, God put His spotlight on Uganda and chose a simple village – its families, churches and schools – to receive both His message and messengers.

It was almost immediately after that first prayer session that God connected the NC group with Head Teacher, John Ssentamu, of Good Shepherd Primary School in Katwadde, Uganda. Head Teacher John had been surfing the web looking for ministries that involved children and prayer. Coincidence? NOT! A partnership was born and the Ugandan children of Esther’s Prayer Brigade joined other praying children, world-wide, in World Shapers Club. Not only were the children of Africa being prayed for, they were now prayer partners!

Fast forward a year…at the invitation of the Rev. Fred Kayondo, Dean of Kako Cathedral of the Anglican Church, Katwadde, Mary Tome flew to Uganda to further share the vision of World Shapers Club and what God is doing through praying children around the world.

Boone, NC – Katwadde Village, Uganda

7,542miles, 3 airplanes, 3 hour drive…

After a late night arrival and long awaited, in-person meeting with Head Teacher, John Ssentamu of Good Shepherd Primary School, a warm welcome awaited Mary very early on Saturday morning at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Lamecka Walakira who were her hosts for the entire visit.

The first assignment was Rev. David’s invitation for Mary to share on Sunday morning the 14^th at St. John’s Church in the village.

Having stood to the pulpit, the scene that greeted her was both startling and inspiring : 2/3rds – 3/4ths of the congregation were young people and children!

Members of WSC Esther’s Prayer Brigade led praise and worship and shared scripture portions. A first for children to participate that way in the services at St. John’s! You see some of them here (above right) in white shirts/red sashes.

A lively exhortation was delivered by Mary to the Church elders and congregation about recognizing the spiritual validity of the children and their prayers. You know, “Let the Children Pray!” You can see by this picture how “preacher” and interpreter, John, were in-sync!

What followed was a busy, inspiring, humbling and exciting week! Here’s our amazing team!

Brother Lameca Walakira, Mary Tome, Jane Nakalema, and John Ssentamu (kneeling.)

Partnering with Head Teacher, John, of Good Shepherd Primary School and Teacher Jane, leader of WSC Esther’s Prayer Brigade, Mary and the team visited six schools.

Imagine being one of the children pictured here who were greeted by an unexpected visitor one morning. A visitor who told them about another group of children in America who began a year ago to pray for children and schools in Africa. Mary told them God loves them and how important, powerful and needed their prayers are!

We are happy to report that, at each school, a staff member volunteered to sponsor/direct a World Shapers Club and begin praying together with the children! Head Teacher John and Teacher Jane have so caught God’s vision and purpose for praying children, that their enthusiasm and promises of help inspired others to volunteer. In addition to a copy of Esther’s Let the Children Pray book and our House of Prayer CD, volunteer WSC leaders received one of our new “I am World Shapers Club” buttons and a WSC VIP card.

Ms. Vicky Edith and Grandma Mary meet for the first time!

Two more World Shapers Clubs were also begun. One at Blessed Sacrament Secondary School where our October Calendar author, Miss Vicky Edith Ssentamu, is a third year student. One of Vicky’s teachers volunteered to be the Staff Sponsor for the club!

The other is in the village of Kaziru which does not yet have its own church or school. Even so, the neighbors invited the team to come and pledged to begin praying together with their children – for God to move and provide the materials and labor needed for a church. They sang a “Welcome!” song to us as we came!

One neighbor has pledged land upon which they can build and the church can be used as a school during the week. That’s faith in action to be sure! We are believing God to have a good report from these families next year.

A BIG highlight of the trip was the day spent at Good Shepherd Primary School to meet all the World Shapers of Esther’s Prayer Brigade. We shared with them the PRAYERTOOLS ENI had sent for EPB and every one of those 50+ pray-ers had to have a turn tossing the GLOBALL and shouting, “Catch the Vision – Get Global! You’ll have to imagine it as there is no picture of that but, here is a picture of some of those eager, young pray-ers! They all received their “I am World Shapers Club” buttons!

Because of your gifts, we were able to take a suitcase full of school supplies for the 250+ students at Good Shepherd. I hope you can hear their big, “THANK YOU!”

School supplies headed for Good Shepherd Primary School in Uganda!

Teacher Jane was such a blessing to Mary personally as she (hardly) ever left her side day-by-day and coached her in proper Ugandan etiquette! Mary loved the formality of these beautiful people. They were so welcoming – both to the messenger and the message.  “Thank you!”, Jane.

A great adventure and privilege was the home visits that were made in Katwadde. Brother Walakira, Teacher Jane and Mary walked for several hours one morning greeting villagers in their homes and out in the fields to pray for/with them. Jane shared the vision of World Shapers Club with everyone we met.

Many of the villagers, both in Katwadde and Kaziru responded to the idea of inviting their children to join in their prayers with great surprise and excitement. We feel confident that they have begun to do so.

The children pictured here to the left were some of those not able to be in school. Our November 10th WSC calendar prayer point highlighted the need for $$ for school fees, uniforms and books by many children the world over. It is one of our most requested prayers.

We would be remiss if we did not share Fred with you! Fred is a direct answer to a least a few of Mary’s husband, Bill’s, prayers. Naturally, Bill prayed a lot for her to be in good hands and to be well taken care of. Well, between John and Fred, she truly was. Fred was a fearless driver for most of the week and the “roads” which he navigated with such skill (ok, he did get stuck once…) took the team on this great adventure. The best part about Fred…he “caught the vision!”

The day of leaving came all too soon! Gathered here on the front porch of the Walakira’s home, “Good-By’s” were said and an invitation to return was given. So, “Next year in Uganda!” has become both a prayer and a promise all have made.

Pictured above – left to right: Gertrude Ssentamu (wife of John), Mary Tome, Teacher Jane Nakalema, Brother and Sister Walakira and (in front) some of our newest World Shapers, Jotham and Joanna Ssentamu. The children loved the House of Prayer March!

Sister Walakira was a tireless hostess – truly Ugandan style! She worked each day in her “garden” supplying food not only for her household but also (through a community garden) for others in the village. (Almost) everything eaten came from her garden!

Gertrude and the children visited each day and, with the help of several older girls from GSPS, made wonderful meals for all to enjoy. She and John, being moved with compassion by the needs of their neighbors, started Good Shepherd Primary School four years ago.

Now…how to “close…?”

With MANY thanks to the only wise God…the only one who could have orchestrated such an assignment/adventure…the God who loves ALL OF HIS CHILDREN and who is raising up World Shapers/GenerationNow to pray fervent/effectual prayers that are changing the face/fate of families, neighborhoods and nations!

With thanks to ALL OF YOU for your precious prayers, encouragement and financial support. You are the most important members of our team!

With a request for your continued prayers for the children of Uganda, Good Shepherd Primary School and all ENI’s new World Shapers! At the end the day at Good Shepherd, Head Teacher John and Teacher Jane led Mary and Esther’s Prayer Brigade members to a spot in the field prepared for planting. A mango tree was planted to represent all the seeds sown for World Shapers Club in Uganda that week. Let’s keep it watered with our prayers…

…for such an (opportune) time as this!

Love and thanks,

Esther and Mary

Please enjoy this video pictorial done for us by Pastor Larry Cole/Appalachian House of Prayer:

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