Page 57 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 5

AFRIKA IS GOD’S
from a particular direction didn’t
look like normal to us. The ma-
jor roads around the entire area
were jammed. We had no clue
what was going on until the next
day or so when our host told us
of a yearly Catholic event that
takes place at a Catholic shrine
not so far from where we were
staying. This Uganda Martyrs Mi-
nor Basilica/Shrine is a Catholic
church dedicated to the Martyrs
of Uganda who shed their blood
because of their Christian faith.
The shrine is well known for its
beautiful interior and exterior
architectural design. The story
had it that there were twenty
four Catholic Uganda Martyrs.
Twenty two of them were killed
between 1885 and 1887 by Ka-
baka (King) Mwanga of Bugan-
da in the south of Uganda; thir-
teen of the Martyrs were burnt
to death in Namugongo right
where the shrine is now. The
two others gave their lives later
in Paimol Gulu, in 1918.
We did a tour of the Shrine a day
after the event and were able
to see some things of interest.
The shrine is built in such a way
that there is huge pool or lake
of water with a pavilion right in
the midst of the water. We had
earlier noticed a lot of the people
among the first crowd we met on
the day we arrived, bearing gal-
lons of water. We later found out
that the waters of Namugongo
shrine are so revered that pil-
grims who come there believe
the water to have healing pow-
ers and blessings. How true that
is, I do not know. It was interest-
ing for us to see such reverence
for that shrine and the memories
of the sacrifices it carries with it.
But what became more interest-
ing for me was what the Lord
started sharing with me about
the waters of Namugongo and
why the waters were just an in-
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dication of the real water that More on the water of the
should be given attention to by word
the people. God is Spirit and anyone who
will worship or relate with Him
The water of the word of God must do so by the Spirit which
God is forever faithful in His deal- comes by faith, for without faith
ings with man and He rewards
no one can please God. There
every labor of love we show to- are various passages of scrip-
wards Him and His name. There tures that allude to the meaning
is no seed planted in honor of of water, but I will just mention
God that doesn’t grow to be- a few.
come a blessing irrespective of
John 7:37-39 says “On the last
the generation in which the re- day, that great day of the feast,
wards come. Jesus stood and cried out, say-
ing, “If anyone thirsts, let him
When the Lord started shar- come to Me and drink. He who
ing with me about Uganda, this
believes in Me, as the Scripture
magazine was not yet even a has said, out of his heart will flow
thought. But I could relate to the rivers of living water.” But this
intensity of what He was saying He spoke concerning the Spirit,
now and how it was saddening whom those believing in Him
for Him that men pay attention
would receive; for the Holy Spirit
to things that don’t necessarily was not yet given, because Je-
matter. Two things were clear in sus was not yet glorified.”
His conversation with me about And also John 4:13-14 “Jesus
Uganda: He wants to reward answered and said to her, “Who-
the deaths of those who died for
ever drinks of this water will thirst
their faith in His name and He again, but whoever drinks of the
desires to release the water of water that I shall give him will
His word, which is His Spirit on never thirst. But the water that I
Uganda like never seen before. shall give him will become in him
I remember the Lord telling me
a fountain of water springing up
that every life of believers, mis- into everlasting life.”
sionaries both local and inter- The water of the word of God is
national that were given for His His Spirit poured out. This pour-
name in Afrika will be rewarded. ing out of Spirit by God is done
What His reward will be in this
already in Acts chapter two;
sense, as it concerns Uganda, however there is a dimension of
that I do not know. We can only that same pouring that will mani-
watch in faith. fest as outpouring on the earth
in these last days. Outpouring
heal . restore . rebirth . Afrika | 57