Testimonies from Kenya and Uganda

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Carl

These are some of the testimonies that have come in since my arrival back in the US.

From Kitale, Kenya:

Greetings in Jesus name.Hope these email finds you well in the lord there.Thanks very much for coming to Africa.Thanks for speaking to my life prophetically.Today i have been given a lot of Testimonies after i announced yesterday in the church that i have heard the voice of God and he has given me the direction in the ministry that the lord has called me to do.The ministry of worship that he has put on my life.Many of the people have testified on how these ministry of worship has affected their lives and they are wondering how the lord is doing through these worship.We have met with those three pastors today during lunch time,we prayed together and also we prayed for your journey.Apostle Stephen reminded me to tell you that we shall be organizing together pastors and leaders conference here in Kitale town on August.Our target is to have 1000 pastors to come for the conference.I will give you the schedule of august when i finish working together.i have read the book that you gave me and i have come a cross some powerful messages,experience is a good teacher and i have discovered that it is true.I will be sharing with you testimonies as we communicate.Have a safe journey with powerful meditations.

Also from Kitale, Kenya –

We were honored to have you minister in our church during your mission trip to Africa.The lord is continuing to do incredible things in our church.We are seeing great move of God in our church members and church leaders.

From a denominational leader in Uganda –

Greetings in jesus name.Thanks for your message sent to me

Truly you have helped opur people especially in such trainings of bible shool.

I do really see the need to work as a team so as to accomplish what God has planned to do through us.

Please Sir,your input is very essential in such a nation for the welfare of the gospel to go forward.

There are many fields to team up together and allow God to be lifted through us.

Testimonies from Kenya and Uganda –

Thank you for your worm love. We bless the lord for your previous trip to East Africa.We ware tremendously blessed with your ministry. Mary my wife was completely healed from her back pain up to now, she doesn’t complain of any pain like she used to be. She does her regular work without any problem at all. We bless our God for what He did through you in Africa. The lord came before you to prepare the hearts that is why there was open reception of your apostolic teaching and receiving of the revelation of the mystery as referred to Ephesians 3;4-6 We saw the lord doing awesome work in Africa through you as many saints, pastors and church leaders received the grace of revelation and understanding.
Many had a transforming experience in both their lives and ministry as radical as the new birth.
In every meeting you ministered, the people received your teaching and received the lord as he came with conviction, releasing impartation of grace and through confirming signs and wonders.

The man you prayed for him in Uganda testified that the power of God did touch him when he heard your voice through the microphone from a two kilometer distance where he was drinking local brew (alcohol) Something within him told him to leave drinking and run to the church, he run so fast that people though he was mad. He found you had just stopped preaching and came strait to the pulpit and gave his life to Jesus.
This was the power of God. Hell had a blackout in Uganda. Demons and devils trembled as God of Glory moved in these darkest sites of the world. God is begging to raise an army who will match forward in His grace, putting hell in mess and establishing His kingdom in these days. Hallelujah!!

I have received several testimonies of healing, breakthroughs, deliverance, salvation and many incredible things that the lord did across Kenya and Uganda.

I want to share with you one from the pastor in Uganda and I will send to you many soon.

Pastor Stephen-Bukwo PCM church-Uganda
I had never experience the power of the Holy Spirit in my life until the servant of God Rev Carl Willis laid his hands on me and anointed my head with oil. For the first time the power of God touched me. I felt like fire burning from my toes to the head. My body shook terribly and there was an inner peace.
Also for my church we had never witness such a move of God, for the first time the Holy Spirit entered our church in power. He was awesome to see Him deliver a lady who was possessed with evil spirit. Such a thing had never happened in my church.

I saw everybody running in front with desperation of meeting with Jesus. The whole church was prayed for. The last two Sunday, the lord has blessed us tremendously and He has raised different ministries that we never had in our church. We acknowledge that we were so religious and we had never given the Holy Spirit a room. We are now enjoying the atmosphere of the Holy Spirit. We bless the lord for sending you to us. Indeed it was the Macedonia call of Paul.

More testimonies from Uganda –

The lord is still healing and delivering.there is this lady who attended our our meeting and invited us for a diner.Whose son got saved,the one came running to recieve jesus Christ.She had been abundoned by her husband for 30 years.The family you prayed with them at night whose daughter has been cribbled.

She shared with me that her husband came back to her.She is not only happy for her husband but also for the salvation of her son.

people are so happy for what the lord did.

There is this lady also from kenya who had growth in her stomatch.She had gone to many hospitals seeking for medical solutions but it never beared any fruit.She took your word by faith.

She got healed.She is now eating the foods she was told not test or eat.She has resummed to her work.She is a primary teacher.And many Rev that pen can not write.

Services, Graduation, etc…

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Carl

The following links are from the services and conferences I led during my time in Kenya and Uganda.

May 8th evening in Kitale

May 9th evening in Kitale

May 10th morning in Kitale

Youth & Leader’s conferences May 10th afternoon

Kitale Pastor’s Conference May 11th

May 12th & 13th services in Kapchesoy, Uganda

May 14th in Kapchesoy, Uganda

May 16th first graduating class of Redeemer Bible College in Bukwo District, Uganda

No lights, no pavement, no internet…

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Carl

The lengths a man will go to in his search for internet service

I just returned to Kitale this evening after 5 days in Uganda. My time in Uganda was amazing and the Western side of this country is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We entered into Uganda after crossing the Suam river. The pavement on the Kenya side stops 30-40 KM prior to the Ugandan border. This is also the rainy season in Eastern Africa, and so our drive into Uganda was more like a mud run…I was really yearning for my pickup. Not to worry though, my driver John is the best wheel man in East Africa if not the world. John is very patient and very good with his vehicle, even in the most unusual places we continued to find ourselves. Not only is John a great driver, but he is also an amazing believer in Christ and one of the greatest encouragements I have had on this trip.

Ugandan children and John Juma my driver

As we arrived in Uganda last Tuesday evening, it was raining heavily, so our arrival in Kapsechoy was delayed. When we got to the church in Kapsechoy, the church was still about half full of people worshipping, singing and dancing. The amazing part of this whole scene was the fact that they were doing this in the dark. Eventually we hooked up a light bulb to a generator and I spoke for a few moments of introduction. We then returned to our guest house located in a national forest along the Uganda/Kenya border. Interestingly enough this is also a military outpost, so I always had park rangers and soldiers stationed around the premises.

Wednesday we began our first full day of services with the church in Kapchesoy. The Spirit of God was moving so strongly, that Pastor Adams asked me to preach again immediately after the invitation. During this service many came forward for prayer. In the coming days, we would hear of many miracles that had happened as God touched the lives in that service.

The other highlight of Wednesday was the great “Marathon Chicken” incident. Pastor Adams had prepared me that the chicken I would be eating in Uganda was known long distance running, just like their people. He had prepared me that the chicken is some of the toughest you could ever eat. On Wednesday, he saw a young man carrying a rooster, so we stopped and Pastor Adams offered to buy it. When we got into Suam, he went to pay the young man for the chicken. The door to the van was opened and when I looked over the backseat, I could see the chicken still walking around. As soon as Pastor Adams returned to the van, the chicken made a run for it and the great chicken chase was on. Pastor Adams was outwitted many times by the chicken and none of the locals would help, because they were too busy looking at the white man. Fortunately for Pastor Adams, the chicken ran into a store and was finally captured. We both are certain we heard the chicken yelling….”The muzungu won’t eat me…the muzungu won’t eat me.”

Pastor Adams recovers the runaway marathon chicken

On Thursday I was taken on a tour of Bukwo District. A couple of things really stand out as you tour the country. Again the beauty of the land is breathtaking. Also you begin to see the fear that has dominated the lives of many of these people. Bukwo District is home to the Sebei tribe of people. Across the Kenyan border is a rival tribe call the Poikot. The Poikot are known for walking around completely naked. In 2003, a Poikot raiding party violated a peace agreement between the two tribes and entered into Bukwo District. They ended up burning down many homes and killing 25 people. It was because of this action that Bukwo District was formed and the military outpost was established. Even with these measures may of the Sebei refuse to build permenant housing for themselves fearing another raid. On a lighter note, is the fascination that Ugandan people have with a white man. As we would drive down the road you would repeatedly hear kids yelling “muzungu, muzungu.” I was so humored by it that I wrote the “Muzungu Song” for those riding in the van with me.

Kapsechoy Church

Thursday afternoon, I preached again at the church in Kapchesoy and also enjoyed a meal in the home of the pastor David and his wife Violet. During the afternoon service, a young man stepped forward to give his life to Christ. The church erupted in celebration. The pastor informed me that this young man was the most notorious troublemaker in his village, known for drunkeness and violence. In the evening I preached our first service in Suam. Suam is the border town at the Kenya/Uganda border. It is known primarily for the cooking of alcohol and rampant drunkneness. During this service two women came forward to give their lives to Christ. I later learned that one of the women was the most well known prostitute in the village. I found Suam to be very spiritually oppressive when I preached and actually have come to recognize it spiritually as the most difficult place in the world that I have ever spoken.

Friday we toured some additional areas of Bukwo and had lunch with Robert, one of the Bible College students in his home. Friday afternoon we once again returned to the church in Kapsechoy. Before I began preaching I asked for testimonies. Immediately two men came up to give their lives to Christ, their decision influenced by their friend the day before. Once again the church erupted into celebration. As I gave the invitation that afternoon, another woman came and fell on her face weeping, seeking to know the saving love of Jesus. That evening I preached again in Suam. No one responded to the invitation and one came seeking prayer…a hardened place indeeed.

Saturday was the day I had come to be a part of. It was time for our Bible College graduates to be recognized. The principal of the college had borrowed gowns from a college in Kitale, mine of course was about 2 sizes two small…what do you expect, I’m 2 sizes too big. There was great excitement with this event. Government officials came, leaders of denominations came and many friends and family. The Bible College is the first institution of higher learning of any kind to ever come to Bukwo District. One government official said he never thought he would see the garments of graduates in this district. He also pledged to become a student in the next year’s session. In all 30 students graduated. The class had originally started with 72, so this was indeed a tremendous milestone.

Graduates of Redeemer Bible College

The other highlight for me Saturday was the arrival of my friend Kibunga Stephen from Kalege Baptist Church on the other side of Uganda. Stephen and I have been communicating back and forth online for about 5 years now. I told him, I was going to be in Uganda, and so he made a very sacrificial effort to join me. We have had a wonderful time talking face to face for the first time.

Kibunga Steven and I at Bukwo PCM

I was finally able to get cell phone service on Saturday and talked to Carol for the first time in 4 days and Collin and Caitlyn for the first time since I had left the US.

Sunday was another busy day. I started the morning by preaching the early service at the Suam PCM Church. The Lord gave me a deeply moving word for the church and when the invitation was given, nearly 20 people came forward weeping, seeking to return to their first love. This was the first time I had felt any type of true spiritual breakthrough in this village. We left Suam and returned to Bukwo, where I preached at the Bukwo PCM church. The pastor commented that he never in his life would have imagined a white man visiting their church. This church has a giving spirit that is evidenced in their willingness to host the Bible College. The service was full and the presence of God was once again overwhelming. When I began praying for those coming forward, the whole front of the church was full. As I was praying I laid hands on a woman, who immediately began to writhe and scream as I anointed her head with oil. She began rolling around on the floor violently, at which time Pastor Adams rebuked the demon within her to leave. By the time she sat up she was calm and in her right mind. This time of prayer lasted nearly 45 minutes, because so many were coming forward. In the afternoon, I spent my time with the local pastors. The graduation of the Bible College had been the first time they had come together, this was the second.

The Kenya/Uganda border

I am now once again in Kitale, Kenya and reflecting on the past 12 days. I see that my role here has been two-fold. God has used me to bring revival to places that desperately needed a fresh touch from the Lord. More importantly the Lord has allowed me to be the catalyst to join the servants of God together for the common work of the Kingdom.

Today I will be travelling to Nairobi with Pastor Adams and John. John made us a remarkable offer to take me to Nairobi, so he could spend a little more time with me. We will spend our time today fellowshipping and tomorrow we will strategize for the future. Tomorrow evening I catch a plane bound for Amsterdam and began counting the moments until I am reunited with my loved ones.

A Proper Send Off

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Carl

One of the things that I have done since I began travelling internationally is a time of prayer and commissioning before I leave. Tonight I was joined by a dozen or so of my closest prayer supporters. Several scripture passages were given to me during this time. They included Jeremiah 33:3 and Philippians 4:8-9 among others. The key theme of each passage and the words that were spoken to me was the Lord’s promise to be with me, His direction to follow Him in obedience and the promise of His Spirit working through me. A word was also given about a stubborn spirit in those I would be speaking to and the need to pray for open doors and effective doors.

The group then anointed my head with oil and spent 20 minutes laying hands upon me and praying for me as the Lord led. This was such a special time and their prayers echoed the longings of my soul. When it was finished one of the intercessors shared a vision she had while praying for me of Holy fire surrounding my entire person.

We ended our time by sharing a pan of brownies that Collin had baked this afternoon with the words “Goodbye Dad” written on the top.

2 Days and Counting

Posted on May 3, 2009 by Carl

It is hard to believe that in 2 days I will board a plane here in Corpus Christi and spend the next 24 hours making my way to Africa. This trip has me lit up with anticipation of all that God seeks to do in Kenya and Uganda, but more importantly in me. This is not my first mission trip overseas alone, but there is a difference this time. I have a greater awareness this go around of my full dependence upon God.

Those who pray for me and give regular counsel are all saying similar things. Each one reiterating the understanding that this trip is the Lord’s doorway into the next chapter of my ministry call and my walk with Him. The Lord has spent the last several months taking me through the process of complete surrender to Him. Every step of faith has been a practical exercise in drawing closer to Him.

The word the Lord has given me for this journey is “steadfastness.” I will be speaking to these Christian leaders about examples of standing firm…Moses, Joseph, Daniel and others. This word is also for me. The Lord has been teaching me how to stand firm, even when it seems nearly impossible.

When I return, we will be considering our next steps as a ministry. The Lord has been speaking to me about “mobility” in serving the body and we find ourselves through the transitions of life once again honed down to a core nucleus in our ministry. The Lord is at work, but He has not yet fully revealed His plan for Simplicity in the days to come.

Preparing for Kenya/Uganda

Posted on April 19, 2009 by Carl

I’ve been watching the clock tick by quickly and was finding myself wrestling with doubts about my upcoming trip to Africa. The Lord has spoken clearly on several occassions directing me to make this journey, but things didn’t seem to be coming together.

Today the Lord began to clear the path in front of me. This afternoon I was handed an envelope that covered my airfare to and from Nairobi. There was enough extra for me to get my anti-malaria pills and a yellow fever vaccination.

My wife and I both find ourselves eager to see how God provides the remaining resources for my in country travel.

I am also thrilled, because my partner pastor in Kenya asked if I had a spare laptop that he could use for the Bible college. It just so happens I have one that simply needs to have the power button fixed. I was so glad that I can meet that need for him.

Living in a War Zone

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Carl

We often forget that the lives we know are really in the middle of a battle zone for the soul. Jesus has already won the victory, but not everyone knows that and so the enemy does his best to lure, deceive and taunt. His lies are smooth, but they have destructive result.

Tonight was one of those nights in our home. Our house guest just wanted to stay in bed this evening, even though we were supposed to be at Organic Group. She became rebellious and defiant with Carol and would not speak to me. It was time for Carol and I to gird ourselves up and stand in the gap. The triggering mechanism was a lies of hopelessness and the need for comfort…”a cigarette sure would help, you can’t make it without them.”

For nearly an hour we spoke truth and prayed over our guest. At one point she told me she wanted to return to the street, because she couldn’t handle it anymore. After an exhausting exchange, love won out. The Lord once again broke through the lies and darkness, allowing our guest to see the truth of the love around her. She broke down in tears, having trouble understanding how people could love her enough to fight for her.

Of course the enemy wasn’t quite done yet. Our Organic Group host and her brother are both smokers. Bless his heart, he has a learning disability and in his charming, simple way he offered our guest a cigarette. She stood firm…battle #1 over and done. She then went to the kitchen to get more coffee and there on the counter was a pack of cigarettes. She began to tailspin once again. So we gathered around her, prayed and got beyond it. On the way home, she began to realize that she had been under the influence of a spirit that was not hers and she also recognized that she had been victorious.

Our guest doesn’t know much about God or Jesus, but He is showing her great things about His love for her. After our guest went to bed, I had to remind my wife that she too was victorious. We are both being stretched. This is not the ministry assignment we originally signed up for, but it is the one God has given us and for that we are grateful.

I Really Want to Know More About Jesus

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Carl

All I can say is that God is awesome! His power is incredible! How I got to have a front row seat, is beyond me…I’m just glad to be here! Let me give you the highlight reel:

Our house guest today was floored, astounded (insert any other appropriate word here), because she realized late this afternoon that she had not had a cigarette in over 30 hours, and she had not even had the craving for one.
Today she was watching a video series of the Gospel of John that we have. She was holding up the box saying: “I really want to know more about Jesus.” I told her that He wanted her to know more about Him also. Startled, she looked at us and said: “Did I say that out loud?” The overflow of a heart touched by the love of Jesus is a beautiful thing.
Tonight she asked Carol to read scripture to her as she went to sleep

We also felt her pain as she talked to loved ones and learned that her daughter had recently spent time in jail. The enemy tried to overwhelm her with hopelessness, but the Lord brought comfort through her tears. I challenged her to be the demonstration to her children of how God can turn a person’s life around.

Tomorrow I will be meeting with two fellow ministers from the area to discuss how our ministry neighborhood can be set free by Jesus, and how He wants to use us in that process.

Weekend Update

Posted on April 5, 2009 by Carl

Yesterday Mike and I met up at the church with my friend William, who leads a local intercessory prayer ministry here in Corpus Christi. William and his wife had been at our house warming last week and heard some of the spiritual warfare things Mike and I were encountering. He had asked us to meet with him, so that he could encourage us and provide some basic principles for us to utilize in this area of our faith walk.

Within a matter of hours I found it necessary to deploy some of these suggestions, especially those dealing with expanding my prayer covering. Before the day was over, we would see Christopher encounter a serious blowout on a Houston freeway with a car full of Navy cadets, our daughter would crash her bicycle into our pool and the ignition switch went out on our van.

Christopher's car after the blowout

After the Loop 610 incident

Yet through it all, God showed Himself faithful. Christopher and the other cadets were not hurt. Caitlyn was scared, but also unhurt (although her CD player didn’t survive 4ft of water) and a tap from a rubber handle on a socket wrench got the key to turn in the van.

During the afternoon we called on those that God impressed upon us to surround us in a covering of prayer. By 4PM, the spirit of peace within me was overwhelming…those prayers could be felt within and without. We did however call my friend William and asked him to bring a group of intercessors to our home to pray over us and the home.

This morning, I woke up with a heaviness looming over me that seemed very unshakeable. Even as I prayed before service this morning, I just couldn’t seem to shake it. Even Mike’s wife, Kim, could see it on my face. When I got done praying, I opened the door of the church and sat back down. I watched out the window as a woman walked past and then made a button hook into the door.

She declared that she was tired of living on the streets and asked if we could help. At first it was the normal request: “A few dollars for bus fare to Flour Bluff and something to eat at Whataburger.” I asked her if we could pray for her, but she didn’t answer me. She went on to elaborate that she had not slept, that she needed to wash her clothes and that she wanted to get off the streets.

I told her that we did not give out money, but that I would make sure she was fed and we would give her a ride to Flour Bluff if needed. I also offered to let her do laundry and share lunch with our family and Mike’s family. She balked and said she just needed money. I asked her how a few dollars was going to get her off the street?

After a few moments of silence, she asked if she could just have some coffee and said she was going to leave. I reminded her that she had not answered my question about praying for her. She told me I could pray for her, but she saw my bottle of annointing oil and told me that I could not annoint her with oil. I told her that was fair.

I prayed for her deliverance from the streets and the bondage that kept her there. She sat for several minutes, got some coffee and sat down. I started into the service and she kept staring at me. Then all of the sudden, shen leaned over and asked me if we would really help her out as I had indicated before. I reiterated what I had said and then the Lord gave me a word of deliverance that went straight to her heart. Immediately the tears began to flow and we bathed her in prayer.

The Lord had already been impressing upon my wife and I that part of the reason He moved us to Padre Island was to create a safe haven for people He was delivering from the streets. Out here there is no city bus, no red light district, no street culture…a place of safety. Carol and I both felt compelled without speaking that she was to be the first to find the healing and deliverance of God’s kingdom in our home.

As we drove to Mike and Kim’s for lunch, the tears continued to flow…but they were tears of joy and laughter that burst forth from within. She also indicated that she has smoked her last cigarette, so I prayed over her cravings, yearnings and desires. Our new house guest said she had not laughed in years. While lunch was being prepared, our guest showered and was given a new change of clothes. The woman who shared a meal with our families was not the same woman who had entered our door a few hours before.

As the afternoon wore on, the pain of years on the street was released in tears as Carol held tightly to her. I found myself weeping in the adjacent room as I listened to God releasing the pain from within. Several times she exclaimed..”I can’t believe I’m not craving a cigarette.”

This evening the days of hard living had ended in an early bedtime. Carol has already had to comfort her once, because of the nightmares she was having. Our guest’s greatest fear is that we were going to dump her back on the streets. The mess the enemy makes out of people’s lives….truly the earth groans for the touch of Jesus.

Also this evening the intercessory team spent time in our home. The Lord spoke to the group collectively about the testing that Carol and I have been under, saying: “They passed.” Of course that word was proceeded with the word “patience.”

My friend spoke a valuable word to me as well. My role in the kingdom is parental in nature…when the time is right the “fatherly” blessing I give as those restored spread their wings and fly will become monumental.

Saying Goodbye

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Carl

Tonight I was helping to load a moving truck and for once it was not my own. This time, I was helping a lady who has been apart of our ministry since we arrived in Corpus Christi. She had the opportunity to retire and move closer to family in Louisiana and so today we loaded her home into a 26′ U-Haul and savored a few final moments of Christian fellowship with one another.

The Lord again showed Himself faithful today, as I had a small commission check arrive from my financial advisory business, enough to pay two bills. This evening a friend and his family we hadn’t seen in a number of months showed up where we were helping load the moving truck and handed my wife and I a gift that had been impressed on his heart. The Lord is showing us daily that if we will “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” that all of our needs will be met.

Journey To Simplicity