testimony

Mario Santos

God has brought me safe after a long period of wondering in the desert of this world.
                   Before I continue, let me introduce myself. I am called Loyep Mario Santos, I come from the Eastern part of Uganda-Karamoja.
                      They are cattlekeepers dwelling in this area. I am a born-again christian.My life before getting saved, I was really in a terrible condition, but because of God's mercy, He knew me before I was conceived in my mother's womb. I see God's hand, at last. I have realised why God let me this way.Brethren, let me tell you my background. As I told that I am Karamojong by tribe, I was brought up in a bad state of life. That's when I lost both of my parents, I was six years old, life became hard because I had no one to stand by me, not even my relatives. Because by the time my parents died, I hadn't yet got acquainted with my relatives, who probably could help me, and also my brothers. As I was the eldest, I didn't know what to do or where to go. So my life went on dragging around in the absence of my parents.I began loitering aroud the villages looking for something to eat, at the age of six years, eating at the garbage together with my brothers.And this was the only way we could survive, loitering around we no futur to look forward too.We were hated around the villages because we were destitutes. As a little kid, I was even indoctinated by wrong people in order to get something to survive. In the sane process, I also lost a younger brother.After being left alone, I already knew that I was a gone case. I was just a little kid, and life went on like that until I even reached an extent of being used by people like a slave, to earn a way of pushing on with life, digging their fields.
                   But in that state, somebody who had known my father was living in Eastern part of Uganda. He brought me all the way from Moroto district of Karamoja, to work for him like a slave, not just like somebody he knew or his close relative. On reaching Mbale(Eastern District of Uganda), I saw as if I were in Paradise because that town was uncomparable to the bushes of Karamoja where I had lived before. I just remained with this man as my master for a certain period of time as a general domestic worker. This was hard for my life, bieng just like a slave, washing clothes, digging, raising cows-he took the advantage of the karamojongs' being good cattle keepers. As I stayed here, I began picking some senses, I could get around two hours to snick out in order to associate with some people, especially youngster from around. They changed my way of living.I had to run away from that man's place, and I began sleeping on the streets of the town, still feeding in the garbage, and even smoking Marijuana, cigarettes, sniffing spirits- at the age of nine years! I went on with that life until one day, as we were wondering in town towards the market to get something in the garbage, I saw a trailer loaded with so many children. I saw a big crowd of people, and I and the other street boys went to have a look perhaps we could snatch something from somebody.
                I didn't know what was going on. I saw kids with white people, and it was my first time to see a white man! I had some fear inside of me on seeing a white man for the first time, wondering who he was. But on looking, I saw kids like me chatting with these men,hugging them.They were given clothes.So my friends told me also to go and play like these kids in order to get some clothes. But I went with fear, thinking these men would eat me.On reaching and playing with them, I saw a whit man coming towards me.I was putting on a heavy jumper which was too big for me with torn shorts, stinching, but the white man came and hugged me! There were tears in his eyes; I said to myself, what's wrong with him? Why does he cry? I was worried and thinking that its because I was lookig so funny.Then somebody who knew English came and interpreted what the white man was trying to say to me.He said," I love you so much, I want to take you to America, will you accept?" I didn't know at all what 'America' meant. All I knew of was Karamoja and Mbale town. This man said that he wanted to go and stay with me and the other chilren whom I saw in the trailer, telling us that they were going to take us to school to study, and that after school, they would take us to America when we have grown.But these white men were under a certain Ugandan man called Reverend Kefa Sempangi. So brethren, I accepted the offer since my life near the grave. I loved the hospitality we were given by these people and which also they showed us when they brought us to their hands- that was the early 80's.
                 Now I saw my life changing and as a little kid I started feeling at home as though I was with my parents. We started schooling , sleeping and feeding well, visiting places in Kampala City- that was our knew Paradise. I finished my primary schooling with these white people sponsoring us under the reverend Kefa Sempangi of the Africa Foundation, an organisation helping people. I started realising after a long life of suffering that the death of my parents was as a result of famine and cattlerastling. I never regreted, but I remained with a resentment of losing my people.Because if my people were there, I would pick my brothers and parents to help them, but I didn't know that it was God's to help my life. So I continued with my studies under the sponsorship of reverend Sempangi until I reached my secondary level( high school) and these white people went back to America. After a certrain time, we heard that our sponsorship had been closed because of the war in Uganda that time. By the time I reached the higher class of junior high school( senoir four), I was still staying with the reverend Sempangi. He was Helping helping me till I completed senior six( high school).
                      But before all this, when these people stopped sponsoring us, we had no contact of theirs.Some of our fellow boys who were mature went to America for Bible College and for us the young and shabby, and with no contact we were left staying with the reverend Sempangi.While staying with him, we took him as our guardian.One day, I remember a certain incident happened to us at our residence in Mukono District near Kampala. We were still young.Former president Obote's soldiers came and besieged our residence in big numbers. They were claiming that reverend Sempangi was training rebels and hiding them . They entered and searched our rooms, and started kicking the young kids. One soldier butted me with the back of his gun.They kicked all the children out of their rooms. It was about 5:00 am and it was raining heavily, so they made us lie down in the mud outside in the rain. some of the children are now in America.One of them was the late Nsubuga Richard, brother Okello, and sister Susan, the wife of the late brother Nsubuga, and many others. Some big boys were suspected and taken to the barracks in Jinja for interrogation.One of them, called Katongole was shot while getting out of the room. Well it's a long story, but I've just briefed it. I'm telling you all this that you may know where I came from.
            After studies, I never went for further, for I had no sponsorship. Reverend Sempangi continued helping me till I got manual labour to do while waiting for sponsorship. When I left Reverend Sempangi, I was taken by somebody to assist him with church ministry.Now I am a minister in a church called Mount Gilead Church. I got involved in this ministry in 2006.I had got saved in 1986.In Mount Gilead Church, I am an intercessor, together with my wife Esther. Iam also the Church administrator. I have interest of going to Bible College and I know I am called by God. I would like to do the Course of Conflict Resolution because I come from a place of conlict, and therefore I desire to minister to thosmy people. I know with better biblical training in Conflict Resolution, I will be a vessel of honor in God's Kingdom. Many people who are suffering in Karamoja as a result of wars are in great need of such assistance. I have the call of serving the Lord all over the world, considering what I have passed through. So I request anybody from any church to stand with me such that my dreams of serving God become a reality. People go on suffering because the don't know the word of God.
             I leave you with some scriptures Psalm 41:1, Psalm 133:1 and Romans 12:1.
                  I greet you all in Jesus' name, and may the Almighty God bless you abundantly, and prosperity is on your way. God Bless You mightly.

Susan Nsubuga - Under Grace

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing then in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age."

"The first missionaries came to Uganda in 1877. The Catholics from France and Protestant from England set their foothold in the Buganda and Busoga Kingdoms. Although their first mission was to claim colonies for their earthly kings, they were also equipped to share the gospel. By 1885, many young men and women had given their lives to Christ. Most of these first converts lost their lives because of their diverted loyalty from the King and traditional beliefs to our Lord Jesus Christ. These committed brothers and sisters became the first Ugandan Christian martyrs. They were "tortured, dismembered, burned, beheaded, castrated and speared" for the gospel. Their commitment and loyalty to Christ sparked Christian growth in the Kingdom. Churches, religious schools and health center were established." http://www.buganda.com/martyrs.htm

Psalm 139:13 For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.

I became the second blessing to a young couple of the Kiga tribe. This tribe lives in southwest Uganda bordering Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Both my parents were college graduates who sought their vocation in education. My father handled both administration and teaching while my mom taught first through third grade. Reading and writing were daily rituals and part of my upbringing. In addition, my parents loved music passionately. It was through music that they met, and demonstrated how powerful and effective music can be. They worked hard each year to prepare students for the school choir competitions. Through well worded, dramatized, magnificent music and creative dance, they extended their classroom knowledge to the community. From my parents, I absorbed knowledge, music and dance, which over the years have had a great impact on my life.

From early on, my parents made it clear that education was of considerable importance, non-negotiable and required total compliance and dedication. I was a child who did not care much for mind civilization. I was more for nature, singing, dancing and drama. I would do great in one class and very poorly in another. My mom's optimism and persistence in helping me learn encouraged me to do things over again until I got them right. She fully explained to me that life was full of challenges, of which some are bigger; but with faith, I could overcome them all one at a time. She showed me that a child could climb even the steepest mountain by putting one foot in front of the other.

Christianity was also part of my upbringing. All spiritual truths imparted to me were under the umbrella of the Protestant church. I had Christian grandparents as well as parents. My family attended church regularly and constantly celebrated all religious ceremonies. Scripture and hymn memorization was part of the Christian total package. The Protestant church was big on repentance. To my grandfather, a clergyman at the time, there was no such thing as a small sin. There was no good reason to own a collection of them, and daily confession was expected. He said that there is no such thing as breaking one commandment. They came in a pack of ten. Once you broke one, you broke the other nine trying to cover up. This taught me to confront sin and settle differences before prayer time, and to be a collector of forgiveness instead. Under their leadership, physical and spiritual disciplines were enforced, and living in obedience captivated my life.

In 1968, our family suffered a major crisis. Man's natural enemy struck and selected my father out of the bunch. In that part of the country, hospitals were miles away and car transportation still a dream to many. My father's premature departure caused much heartbreak and turned my world upside down. Graciously, my mom's parents stepped in to help and to provide the nurturing and support needed at the time. We spent school days with mom and vacations with grandparents.

Culturally, when widowed, you are expected to marry your brother-in-law and keep all inheritance in the family. To my mom, this was unacceptable. She took the hard road of raising us herself. Her decision produced a lot of hostility among family members, who expected traditions to be upheld. Many tactic were used make her comply, of which none succeeded. We were disowned by my dad's relatives, and our property was seized to keep it in the family.

Two years after this great tragedy, death visited us again, and selected my younger sister Joy. Sorrow and discouragement settled on all of us. My mom seemed not to get out of it. Adding to the many difficulties we were facing at the time were the constant teaching transfers from one school to another. In the midst of despair and soaring emotions, she decided to completely leave the teaching profession. She turned in her resignation, packed all our possessions, and moved us back to my grandparents' home. We all needed family support to recover from hopelessness and depression. My grandparents' home was the right place to be.

Vacations at my grandparents gave us consistency and stability, and were always fun days for me. Instead of books and pens, I roamed the wild, helped to harvest crops, and tended livestock. Such outdoor activities helped me understand the parables in the Bible. I learned that: just like sheep, I need a shepherd to guide me; as a goat, only discipline will teach me to comply; and as a cow, productivity will increase life expectancy and happiness. Without a shepherd, a sheep is helpless in finding its home. Before you take goats to pasture, make sure you have ropes to control them. Unproductive cows either receive no special treatment, or become a meal.

With God's unfailing love, my mom recovered and decided to move us all to the city. In 1973, I left the natural beauty of the countryside for the city life. This meant leaving my grandparents 300 miles behind as well as the surroundings I had grown to love. Although I appreciated having indoor plumbing, concrete floors, and electricity, living in the city was like living in a box. I still longed to hear a rooster and wake up to see mountains, terraced gardens, and the complexity of everything nature has to offer. I missed the quietness and sense of peace that came with natural surroundings. I missed sitting by the fireplace, sharing stories and riddles, and most of all, outdoor activities. Adjusting to city life was not easy; but within a year, I became part of the sophisticated city lifestyle.

The 70s proved to be hard times in our country. Under Amin's government, the rule of law diminished, and the value of life was placed into the hands of those in power. People who opposed the political system started disappearing without a trace. Most of the countrymen lost their lives because they were educated, religious, or government critics. The number of widows and orphans increased daily. Anyone with the ability to escape left the country. The economy went down, and life in our country became impossible to enjoy. It was during this time that I started to question God's sovereignty. The prosperity of evil men was evident while fear and suffering among those who trusted in Him increased. My heart grew cold towards God. Living in obedience seemed like a waste of time. To my understanding, either God had no power to control evil, or He simply did not care.

In 1979, the first bomb shelling liberation war swept our country. This war started from the south going north. There was no way for us to head south to the countryside. When buildings in the city became part of the war targets, we knew it was time for us to flee. We packed what we could carry and joined the mass of people heading north, with no clue as to our destiny. God provided both shelter and food and kept us alive in a special way. After the war, we discovered that all our belongings had been looted. We had life, but no household items or source of income. There was no way for me to understand that God was powerful and in charge of this world. To me, evil seemed to have the upper hand.

Lining up to receive relief supplies from agencies was too degrading for me. I joined an entertainment group to sing, dance, and act for a living. This required being out late and being around people my family knew nothing about. I picked up habits such as promiscuity, drinking, and smoking. Mother condemned the new image. She made it clear that she had no room for any child of hers who gave herself to the devil. Being without my mother's support and financially unable to support myself brought my career to a halt. I had to hit bottom to know that I was a sinner in need of redemption.

To the Church, the war was a blessing. It meant freedom again to proclaim Christ without fear. Many Christian organizations that had left the country during Amin's rule now returned. New churches were opening up everywhere. The joyful singing echoed through the neighborhood, and I could not wait to find out the reason for their joy. It did not make sense in the middle of war and its after effects for anyone to be rejoicing. I attended the evening service as a spectator with my two sisters. As in any church, worship began with music and dancing, and I was glad to be part of it.

The sermon that evening was from Matthew 6:25-34. That day the pastor stressed God's sovereignty over all. He made it clear that God takes care of all His creation and that everything we enjoy belongs to Him. The pastor explained in depth why those in Christ should not be anxious. All those under His care must trust Him for both their spiritual and physical upkeep. God reached out to me and melted all hostility towards Him. That day God spoke to me as a Father in full control of His household. From the preacher's point of view, I was still a gentile in need of redemption to be part of God's Family. When the call came, the power of God led me forth to receive Christ. He who fills the heavens with His glory now dwelled in me.

New life in Christ has been full of challenges. I had developed a rebellious lifestyle that included friends and habits that were hard to let go. I had also developed a belief that God had no power to control the world. In addition to the above, I believed that God did not care about His creation. Although I knew some scriptures from Sunday school class and sermons over the years, my faith was shallow. Somehow, I needed to see God at work in people's lives, including mine.

God provided an opportunity for me to use the gift of music, dance, and drama for His glory, and to witness the salvation of others. I joined the evangelistic singing group in the church, as well as a drama group for a children's religious organization. As I traveled across my country, God opened my eyes to the presence of hopelessness in people because of sin and the need for redemption. I spent three years singing, giving my testimony, and praying for new converts in evangelistic meetings. This was God's way of showing me His involvement in the world. The drama group also provided an opportunity for me to see how our political system worked. I saw powerful leaders with no vision, benefiting only those close to them. God gave me hope, and directed my optimism and determined nature in the right direction.

In the middle of this spiritual awakening, I struggled with what theologians call God's will. I thought sinning troubles ended when you gave your life to Christ, who was the pilot. My job was to sit behind and enjoy the spiritual ride. I never anticipated the war between the flesh and the spirit. I prayed and sought the Lord to help me understand His will for my life. The church I attended stressed the importance of reading God's word and understanding doctrine. They showed me that life in Christ was not a piece of cake, but a spiritual warfare, and that abiding by God's rules is the only way to victory. The message was clear: study God's word and get to know Jesus and serve Him better. As a new Christian, I had many plans, which were indeed good in my sight, but contradictory to God's will. The thought of abandoning all that I had learned to treasure was still unthinkable. I wanted to live for the Lord, but part of my former lifestyle was still strong. Eventually the Lord's discipline made deliberate sinning no longer enjoyable and enabled me to surrender those desires. With time, the presence of the Holy Spirit brought clarity to what I needed to do: surrender my will.

Learning to live under the Lord's leadership was a struggle. I would obey in some areas and disobey in others. The fact was, I was still a baby Christian with little knowledge about the Lord. I knew Him as a Savior but had no clue about His Lordship. Imagine trying to serve a king food he doesn't like. In real life it means seeking a death sentence. Getting to know my Master was of great importance. The Spirit of truth enlightened my heart while studying the book of John. The unity between God the Father and Christ the Son transformed my thinking. I saw a relationship built on faith, love, trust and obedience. The unity among the trinity challenged me to pursue an intimate relationship with the Master. The Lord definitely knew who He was, why He came, and was committed to doing His Father's will. He who created the world humbled himself to serve humanity. Such profound truth about my Lord and Savior produced in me a spirit of servant hood. God spoke to me through His word and built in me the trust I needed to relinquish all past stronghold. His will became clear: God's way is the only way.

In our twenty-first century, employers want employees who have received training and are equipped for success. In the Lord's business, there is nothing good I bring to the table. Before salvation, my qualifications were head knowledge about God, experience in sinning, and a self-centered proud heart. My resume at the time qualified me for God's judgment and death. I was the right candidate for Christ's redemption.

With God, I have learned to expect the unexpected. From childhood to the present, adjusting to major changes had been part of the package. Every seven years an earthquake shatters my comfort zone and I am put in a position to learn something new from the Master. I have definitely had lots of experience in dealing with all kinds of emotions. I do agree with Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3. There has been a time for everything in my life: Sorrows as I faced death of people dear to me; joys as I ventured in to the marriage and child bearing area, anxiety through times of uncertainty; hope through times of assurance; frustration and anger in times of discipline; forgiveness and love in times of deliverance.

In relationships, the Holy Spirit has taught me to love, commit and respect individuality. With four children, He is still teaching me to live what I preach. In the ministry, He has taught me to obey, to go where I do not wish, and to do the unordinary. In death, I am daily reminded that life is a credit with an expiration date that must be used wisely. Along the way, God's unfailing love has empowered me to believe and trust in His deliverance. The Lord continues to declare His acts, pardon, heal, redeem, crown, satisfy, renew and perform righteous deeds. He continues to be compassionate, gracious, and abiding in love (Psalm 103). He has channeled many blessings through His people to come along side of me and help me to move forward. From my parents and relatives who showered me with unconditional love, to my brothers and sisters in Christ who love me even more. Through it all, God continues to be part of it and His promises continue to outweigh my circumstances.

In Christ, I am still learning to live by faith, to pray and trust in all circumstances, to walk in love, and to live in obedience. Daily, the Lord holds my hand, lifts me up and causes me to stand in all aspects of life. Just like Paul in Philippians 3:13-14, I struggle but continue to press forward, rejoicing, focusing on the great reward instead of the thorn in my flesh. Most of all is the great power of God, which enables me to be a servant in ways beyond my capabilities. In Christ, I am able to have joy, peace, and love in the midst of suffering. It is the great power of God that makes it possible for the life of Jesus to be manifested in me.

Praise God, for without His plan of redemption I would be just another creature roaming planet earth. Praise God for Jesus Christ, who in obedience to the Father paid all for my redemption. Praise God for the disciples and all the faithful men and women who in obedience have passionately continued the great commission. Praise God for my family who by God's grace provided the environment that acknowledged Him as the true God.

In our world today loyalty is no longer a virtue, and love and commitment are feeling-based. Under the Lord's leadership, these virtues are of great importance. Where there is love for the Lord, there must be loyalty and commitment to carry out the Great Commission. In my camp, the Spirit inspires me to pray for the children of our day, and for us to invest time and resources to reach this lost generation of young people. I want for them what God has given me: Christ, God incarnate, the fullness of grace and truth (John 1:14). We must impart God's revealed truth to the next generation.

As we all look forward to our Lord's return, let us continue to "shout joyfully" and "to serve the Lord with gladness," because indeed we are "His people and the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100), all for God's Glory.