Newsletter2004

Aug - Oct 2004 Missions trip
It was an exciting trip to say the least. I was blessed to have a wonderful friend of mine,
Rev. Purity Jackson, join us for the entire trip. It was her first missions trip into Africa and
I believe she got the full meal deal, super sized. We started out in Nairobi with meetings
and then heading into Nakuru, Kenya, to hold a successful ministers conference for
several days. It was a last minute scheduling when several pastors in Nakuru had heard
we were about to arrive. We had over 80 different churches represented. It was a
wonderful time of stirring up the gifts with in them. We also ministered in several
different churches in Nakuru then in a few other cities before Rev. Kimotho, Rev. Okello,
myself and Rev. Jackson headed into Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
In Dar Es Salaam we were to meet the First Ambassadors Assistant to Congo, Boniface
Tashaboli and his family. He had arranged for us to hold meetings for a couple of weeks
in the largest churches in Dar Es Salaam. We were graciously received as God poured
out his word with miracles happening daily. We were invited to return to each church that
we ministered at along with the desire on their part to have an EMA office to be opened
up in Dar Es Salaam in the future.
From there Boniface had arranged for us to travel with his family into Congo and then
meet up with him in Lumbambashi, Congo. He had scheduled for us to minister in his
home church for the next two weeks. To reach Lumbambashi it would take us five days
of travel. During those five days we rode on a train for three and half days with Rev.
Kimotho and Rev. Okello almost being arrested. What the officials really wanted was
$800.00 and with out the help of Victoria, Bonifaces' wife we would have had a serious
situation on our hands. After the train trip we would ride in a bus, a van and in the back
of a lorry truck for half of a day sitting on our suitcases. With a white woman sitting in the
back of a lorry we were stopped at every police check point and had to pay the police
with bribes, which they demanded to keep them from being able to detain us.
When we finally reached the Congo border Rev. Kimotho was then taken aside for
several hours, accused and questioned about being an Ugandan spy. Congo is at war
with Rwanda and Uganda at this time but praise the Lord once again the Lord protected
us and we were able to continue on our journey. Once we finally arrived in Lumbambashi
we were informed that the Pastor who had invited us in had been arrested and was now
imprisoned for refusing to cooperate with a corrupt government official. We were able to
visit him in prison while we there. With a constant cry of intercession going up to the Lord
on behalf of his safety and release our prayers were eventually answered the day after
we left. Within that week we were contacted and informed that he had received his
freedom with an apology from the government over national TV only to hear a few days
later the saddening news that he had been murdered a couple of days after his release.
Being involved with this Pastor and also our connections in Uganda caused us to stay on
our guard most of the time we were there. Even with all of the tension that was taking
place God still came through with his mighty hand of blessings. Many were saved,
people were baptized in the Holy Ghost and healings of all kind occurred daily. Three of
the church Pastors were assigned to take care of us while we were there. They also
had a desire to have an EMA office set up in Lumbambashi. While we were there we
were also invited to meet and spend time with the Governor along with being interviewed
by both radio stations and different TV networks. The interviews were aired daily for
several days following. Even in the midst of struggles on all sides God still had his way.
In the middle of our trip we were invited to fly into Mbuji-Mayi to minister for a week and
also meet with their Mayor to discuss a few issues concerning the cities living conditions.
This was another miracle from the Lord as Mbuji-Mayi is a closed city to the public and
you are not able to visit unless you have been personally invited in by someone with
governmental authority. While we were there we were once again interviewed by the
local radio stations. Mbuji-Mayi is the largest diamond producing city in the world under
strict government control. The city has five million people with out electricity or water.
The only places to receive electricity and water is the government owned and controlled
diamond mines. Twice a day millions walk to city wells to obtain the water that they need
for their homes and businesses. Generators are also used for electricity to those who
can afford them. Their situation is desperate.
We once again found favor as we ministered God's word and saw his blessing being
poured out upon his people. Throughout the trip, to the glory of God, we saw miracles of
healing happening daily, tumors, cancer, blind eyes, stomach problems, ear infections,
TB, high blood pressure being normalized, back and leg problems, throat, neck and
heart problems, etc., with God's people rejoicing as they received his hand of mercy and
grace being extended towards them.
While we were there we were invited to visit Mwene-Ditu another town about 100 miles
away to meet with their Mayor and discuss certain issues concerning their town. To our
surprise he was able to spend the afternoon with us and show us around the city
explaining their dire need for better education. Mwene-Ditu is the city where all imported
goods being trucked into the country must go through to be checked once again after
they arrive in Congo. That night we ministered in one of their local churches and had a
great time in the Lord. The next day we returned to Mbuji-Mayi to finish out the rest of
the week. After the week was over we flew back into Lumbambashi and finished our time
of ministering there.
We then spent the next seven straight days traveling back through Congo, Zambia,
Tanzania, Kenya and on into Uganda. While on the train ride through Zambia it was
myself Rev. Jacksons turn to be questioned by the authorities. The choices given to us
were 1) we could be arrested at the next train station and be imprisoned or 2) thrown off
the train immediately regardless that is was 3am and out in the middle of no where.
Instead we chose to call upon the name of the Lord and got away with paying them off
with a few hundred dollars. What an experience it became traveling to and from Congo.
After the seven day non-stop trip to Mbali, Uganda with only a few hours sleep the entire
week we were completely and totally exhausted. After the Pastor that had invited us into
Uganda met us we were given thirty minutes to clean up and change before we started
ministering in their morning service. It was only by the grace of God being upon us that
we made it through that first service. The glory of God flowed throughout the day as we
once more experienced the fulfilling of the scripture, "when we are weak he is strong."
For the next four days we ministered daily in the city's center during their lunch hour and
was also invited to ministered over a Christian radio station that reached all of Uganda.
By the time we had held our last meeting in Mbali and had returned back into Kenya we
had ministered over 130 times in two months. With only a few more meetings left we were
blessed with a week of relaxation in Malindi, Kenya at a resort. So we made our way
across Kenya one more time and thoroughly enjoyed our time of recuperation at the
resort. After the week was over much to our regret we headed back into Nairobi to do
the last couple of meetings and then we headed back home to the US of A. It seemed
that where ever we went there was interest shown by Pastors of having an EMA office
set up in their areas. We are praying concerning each and every offer that was made to
us as a ministry. Only God knows what he has in store for EMA in the future.

May God Richly Bless You In All That You Do.
Rev. Debra Sonner