I
first met Musumba (Pastor) Paul in 2012, although, at the time, he was not a
pastor.
He was actually the security guard at Empower A Child’s Kampala base. Every time that I left or returned to the compound, I passed him at the gate and he always greeted me with a “Hello!” or “Goodbye!”
Unfortunately, that was about the extent of his English at that time and my Luganda was almost non-existent.
But that didn’t stop us from trying to communicate further.
In mostly pictures, pointing, sign language, broken phrases and butchered words in the others’ native language, we did our best to carry on conversations every day.
One day, I was walking out of the compound, and he surprised me when he clearly said “Are you going to Tusky’s?” (Tusky’s is the local supermarket just a street over that I was often going to when I headed out on foot.) I quickly turned around and, I’m sure with my mouth hanging open, I said, “Yes, I am!” A little less clearly, he said, “I learning English to talk you.”
Suddenly, the floodgates of communications were broken wide open for the two of us.
I spent many hours near that gate, talking with Paul.
He was actually the security guard at Empower A Child’s Kampala base. Every time that I left or returned to the compound, I passed him at the gate and he always greeted me with a “Hello!” or “Goodbye!”
Unfortunately, that was about the extent of his English at that time and my Luganda was almost non-existent.
But that didn’t stop us from trying to communicate further.
In mostly pictures, pointing, sign language, broken phrases and butchered words in the others’ native language, we did our best to carry on conversations every day.
One day, I was walking out of the compound, and he surprised me when he clearly said “Are you going to Tusky’s?” (Tusky’s is the local supermarket just a street over that I was often going to when I headed out on foot.) I quickly turned around and, I’m sure with my mouth hanging open, I said, “Yes, I am!” A little less clearly, he said, “I learning English to talk you.”
Suddenly, the floodgates of communications were broken wide open for the two of us.
I spent many hours near that gate, talking with Paul.
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| Mumba Paul with his pastoral study material in 2014 |
Whenever
I left for Tusky’s, I always asked Paul if he wanted anything since he was
restricted to the grounds of the compound for 12 hour days.
(Being around and attentive is something you value a lot in a security guard/gate keeper and Paul was very serious about getting there early and staying right there until his shift was finished.)
Paul always declined; “Everything I need, God has given me.”
If my six months here, he never asked for a thing, even when I offered.
That didn’t stop me from buying him the occasional chapatti or Stoney, when I bought one for myself, and I would thank him for his hard work.
His response was always the same when I gave him something, no matter how big or small: deep, heart-felt gratitude.
Paul is one of the most humble people I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet.
One day, while we were talking, Paul stood and said, “Let me come!” (Usually in Uganda, that means the person needs to do something before coming back to you.)
He ran through the door of the metal guard station and came back with a small copy of a Gideon’s New Testament bible. He wanted to read me some of his favorite parts he had read.
For over an hour, I listened as Paul read his favorite bible stories and verses to me, amazed at how quickly he was learning and understanding English and how much he lit up when he read from his bible.
The next day, when I went to Tusky’s (I have a slight addiction to going there when I’m in the city…), I was looking at the books and trying to find a new bible, since I had given mine to someone in the village earlier that week.
I felt led to also buy Paul a new one.
When I gave it to him, he fell to his knees and thanked me over and over again for the longest time.
Paul said he had been praying for a new bible and he knew that God answered his prayer.
Paul is a man filled with faith.
Every time we passed through that gate, from that day forward, you would see Paul sitting in the chair reading his bible and smiling.
Paul is a man filled with joy.
On Sundays, as we left for church in the village, he waved from gate until I couldn’t see him any longer; he always looked sad to see us leaving.
One Sunday, I asked him if he went to church. He said the hours of his job did not allow him the time to go.
I began my petitioning to allow him come with us on Sunday mornings.
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to convince an organization to release the person who is supposed to be monitoring, securing, and protecting a compound for basically an entire day, but it’s not exactly something they are thrilled with doing. In the end, however, they agreed.
The next Sunday, as Paul was opening the gate and began waving to us, I told him to get in the van because he was coming with us. He smiled, ran inside the guard station, grabbed his bible, and squished into the van.
Paul came to church with us every Sunday after that.
He immediately got plugged in with the worship team and built relationships with community members.
In October, I had to leave Uganda to prepare to go to the next mission field God was calling me to- The World Race.
I knew it would be at least 18 months before I was able to return, since I was going to be in other countries.
My dad, however, had the opportunity to visit in October, only a year after I left.
When he was telling me about his trip, he mentioned a new pastor at the community church and showed me a picture.
I immediately recognized him; it was Paul!
(Being around and attentive is something you value a lot in a security guard/gate keeper and Paul was very serious about getting there early and staying right there until his shift was finished.)
Paul always declined; “Everything I need, God has given me.”
If my six months here, he never asked for a thing, even when I offered.
That didn’t stop me from buying him the occasional chapatti or Stoney, when I bought one for myself, and I would thank him for his hard work.
His response was always the same when I gave him something, no matter how big or small: deep, heart-felt gratitude.
Paul is one of the most humble people I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet.
One day, while we were talking, Paul stood and said, “Let me come!” (Usually in Uganda, that means the person needs to do something before coming back to you.)
He ran through the door of the metal guard station and came back with a small copy of a Gideon’s New Testament bible. He wanted to read me some of his favorite parts he had read.
For over an hour, I listened as Paul read his favorite bible stories and verses to me, amazed at how quickly he was learning and understanding English and how much he lit up when he read from his bible.
The next day, when I went to Tusky’s (I have a slight addiction to going there when I’m in the city…), I was looking at the books and trying to find a new bible, since I had given mine to someone in the village earlier that week.
I felt led to also buy Paul a new one.
When I gave it to him, he fell to his knees and thanked me over and over again for the longest time.
Paul said he had been praying for a new bible and he knew that God answered his prayer.
Paul is a man filled with faith.
Every time we passed through that gate, from that day forward, you would see Paul sitting in the chair reading his bible and smiling.
Paul is a man filled with joy.
On Sundays, as we left for church in the village, he waved from gate until I couldn’t see him any longer; he always looked sad to see us leaving.
One Sunday, I asked him if he went to church. He said the hours of his job did not allow him the time to go.
I began my petitioning to allow him come with us on Sunday mornings.
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to convince an organization to release the person who is supposed to be monitoring, securing, and protecting a compound for basically an entire day, but it’s not exactly something they are thrilled with doing. In the end, however, they agreed.
The next Sunday, as Paul was opening the gate and began waving to us, I told him to get in the van because he was coming with us. He smiled, ran inside the guard station, grabbed his bible, and squished into the van.
Paul came to church with us every Sunday after that.
He immediately got plugged in with the worship team and built relationships with community members.
In October, I had to leave Uganda to prepare to go to the next mission field God was calling me to- The World Race.
I knew it would be at least 18 months before I was able to return, since I was going to be in other countries.
My dad, however, had the opportunity to visit in October, only a year after I left.
When he was telling me about his trip, he mentioned a new pastor at the community church and showed me a picture.
I immediately recognized him; it was Paul!
In less than a year, this man went from his job as a gate keeper for Empower A
Child to the strong, spirit-led pastor of Empower A Child’s Community Church!
He is a walking testimony that God has bigger plans for your life than you can even begin to imagine!
He is a walking testimony that God has bigger plans for your life than you can even begin to imagine!
Being back in the village and ministering side-by-side, there has been one thing that I have noticed this year: he doesn’t have a house to call his own.
During the time, such as now, when there are less volunteers needing the rooms in the village, Musumba Paul, Madame Sissy, and their almost two-year-old daughter, Tindo, occupy one of the rooms in Empower’s A Child’s guesthouse. (Yes, you read that correctly. The family of three, with another baby on the way, all live in one single room, most likely smaller than the room you call your bedroom.)
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| The room that the family occupies when there is space for them |
The only problem with that is, in the summer and when large groups come, every
bed in every room is needed to accommodate the volunteers and Musumba’s family
has to vacate the room. They pack up the entirety of their belongings and stay
with his brother, Joshua, and his wife and their kids in their small,
two-bedroom house.
Recently, Musumba was able to purchase some land in the
village, in the hopes that he will one day be able to build a house on it, knowing
that his pastoral salary combined with Madame’s teacher salary will logically not
be enough to be able to do so.
As he was praying over the land and asking God to provide and make a way where
there seemed to be no way, his neighbor approached him and expressed her desire
to move back to where her family is.
She offered to sell him her entire, completed two-bedroom house and the land it is built upon for $5,000.
She offered to sell him her entire, completed two-bedroom house and the land it is built upon for $5,000.
To build a house of that size and to the quality and finish as this house would
cost at least double that amount to build from the ground up, and that’s not including
the land it is built upon.
If he is able to purchase this house and the land, he would then be able to use
the land he already purchased for his garden and, someday, maybe even a shop to
generate more of a reliable income for the family.
Musumba is praying for God to make himself very evident in this situation, since it is something he knows he cannot do in his own will or strength. I’ve felt led to rally alongside him and partner with him in prayer and intercession.
Musumba Paul hasn’t asked me for a single shilling, he never will, and he has not asked me to ask others, because, like I mentioned earlier, he asks God and has faith that God will provide however He desires.
With my experience of support raising for numerous trips over the years, I know
that God loves to use his people, and especially those whom he has blessed with
finances, to bless others and to obtain amounts that you thought previously
impossible.
It seems like a large amount to raise, but when you put it into the perspective that this amount will provide a consistent, permanent house for a growing family of at least four, suddenly that amount pales in comparison to what we spend on our houses.
To provide Musumba and his family with a home to call their own, would be an
incredible blessing.
I’ve set up a new GoFundMe page to channel all the incoming funds into to keep
them all in one place, but also to allow others to track the progress of the
crowdfunding.
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| Sweet little Tindo |
I have so blessed by Musumba Paul over the years and this year, I have also been
blessed by his wife and daughter, as I have the chance to see and talk with
them every day we are in the village.
They are a hard-working family. Musumba is always working for or around the church
and community. Madame Sissy works with 38 children in Empowered Leaders Academy’s
Middle Class every day (ages 3-6), even though she is almost eight months pregnant
and is usually also toting Tindo on her back.
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| Mumba Paul and Madame Sissy's wedding three years ago |
At the end of the long day, this family needs a place to call their own and to
rest within.
Will you join me in providing “Musumba’s mukisa”— a blessing for Pastor?
Please, join me in praying and interceding for Musumba’s family’s house.
Pray for the funds to come in and for God’s provision to meet all the needs for
the family.
Follow this link to donate on the GoFundMe.
Or, follow this link, to donate directly to Empower A Child, where it will be tax-deductible.
I guarantee all the money will go directly to the purchase of Musumba’s new house. Not a single shilling will be used for anything other than that.
Or, follow this link, to donate directly to Empower A Child, where it will be tax-deductible.
I guarantee all the money will go directly to the purchase of Musumba’s new house. Not a single shilling will be used for anything other than that.
If you’d rather donate via check or cash, please send it to Empower A Child with a note in the memo that it is to be used for Pastor Paul's house:
Empower a Child
P.O. Box 5026
Oceanside, CA 92052
If you would rather use PayPal, log in to your account, click on the action to send money, and use the email address info@empower-a-child.org to send the money to.
Empower a Child
P.O. Box 5026
Oceanside, CA 92052
If you would rather use PayPal, log in to your account, click on the action to send money, and use the email address info@empower-a-child.org to send the money to.
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| Musumba and Madame standing in front of the house |
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