Global Day of Prayer

Sunday May 31 saw the eight of us divide into three teams to celebrate in three locations the Global Day of Prayer! In a stadium and in two large outdoor school yard venues each team gathered with 500-800 nationals about 10 AM for 5 hours of singing, dancing, preaching and guided prayer in many forms. James, Gene and Torrey spoke or led prayer in their venues and had their messages translated into Luo, the language of most of the attendees. There is something very special about praying with Christian believers who have undergone so much suffering yet who now praise the Lord with exuberance as peace has finally returned to this part of Uganda! Twenty years of war have left over 1,000,000 men, women and children dead and everyone else with deep emotional scars from the trauma. How this land needs the certainty of long term peace now! It is still somewhat uncertain. How these dear people need trained Christian leaders! Many have been killed. How they need to know that people are with them in prayer and in resources. We were so humbled and honored to represent all of you who are both praying for and giving to these people! Despite the fact that we were the learners and have had lives so filled with material blessing, these people treated us as honored guests and thanked us a hundred times for our willingness to be with them in this great day of prayer. - Torrey Olsen / World Vision Director of Christian Engagement