Some impressions from the past week:

. . .

Uganda is a thin place where both hell and heaven are striving to break through.

For nineteen years, "rebels" have devastated the north. Their leader, Joseph Kony, claims psychic powers and the mandate of God to take what he pleases, murder or mutilate those who oppose him, and take captured boys as soldiers and captured girls as "wives." He has no political agenda or particular grievance, just an insatiable appetite to steal, kill and destroy. "We battle not against flesh and blood", but Satan works through human beings just as God does.

Uganda has a Christian president -- and one of the most corrupt political systems on the planet. 70% of Ugandans are believers -- but the nation is one of the poorest on earth. In the beautiful park across the street from my hotel, a church group is having a picnic; I recognize most of the praise and worship songs playing on their boombox. Tonight, after they've left, teenage prostitutes will work the same area.

As Heidi pointed out to me earlier this week, God commands us in Isaiah to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nations in which we find ourselves. I believe God wholeheartedly desires the peace and prosperity of Uganda. Everywhere I look, I see God's people laboring to bless the Ugandan people -- and the enemy laboring to oppose him.

. . .

A frail young woman and her sickly infant were sitting by the path I took to the workshop one morning. She held out her hand to me and I gave her some money. When I turned to go she plucked my sleeve and, motioning toward herself and her baby, said simply “hospital.” I gave her all everything I had left, laid hands on them prayed for their blessing, health and prosperity.

Then I remembered how Peter and John prayed for the man they encountered in Acts 3:

"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ, walk.”

And it occurred to me that I have the same power and authority to move in signs and wonders that Peter and John had -- and more besides. Because unlike the apostles, I do have "silver and gold" -- in abundance, compared to most people here. What better use for it than to help someone in need in Jesus' name?