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Lost Sheep Ministries News

May 2015 - Uganda The Great Commission: Matthew 28: 18 - 20 is a commission

for all Christians to GO, make Disciples, and teach them to

OBEY all that Jesus has commanded us. LSM is dedicated to

evangelizing the lost and making Disciples of Christ that make

Disciples of Christ according to II Timothy 2:2.

Notes from Brother Bob: Let me back

up to Thursday

May 7th. Our

flight was at 9:55 pm on United Airlines to

Lagos, Nigeria. Tony Okeke, Jimmie Stanfield,

and I were numbers one, two, and three on the

standby list. By noon there were only three seats

left in Business class. I have learned over the

years that if it is to be, it will be, so I went about

my business of final preparations for our three-

week trip to Nigeria and Uganda. God is

expanding my borders, as I have not been in

Uganda before.

This photo is of me embracing the future of

Christianity in Uganda, Africa.

__________________________________________________________________________

Nigeria/Uganda/Ethiopia/Rwanda trip report: May 7 – May 21, 2015

May 9, 2015 at 4:21 pm (10:21 am Houston time) Pastor Tony Okeke asked me to drive him to meet an old friend for lunch. I was hesitant

until he mentioned that the restaurant we would meet at was the Taste of Texas. Heck yeah let’s

go I said. Tony and I met Pastor Len for lunch topped off with a wonderful piece of Texas pecan

pie. God then put the icing on the cake when he gave me the opportunity to lead our waitress to

the Lord. Folks it was amazing to see her entire countenance change after praying and then

reading Romans 10:9-10. I got her email address and will send her a Spiritual Birth Certificate

or better yet maybe I’ll bring it to her.

We spent from about 2:30 until 5:00 trying to shrink down Pastor Tony Okeke's pile. We

loaded the pickup with eight stuffed suitcases and our carry-on luggage. My wife, Carol,

dropped us off at the United gate at Bush International airport at 7:20 pm and then the fun began.

I can ship 2 suitcases at 70 lbs. at no cost. I thought that was true for Tony and Jimmie as pass

riders BUT this year United changed to two suitcases at 50 lbs. I got my two checked in and then

we stood with six suitcases all overweight. We spent 1 hour with the United lady helping us. We

bought a cardboard box and loaded it with 50 lbs. We ended up getting everything on board but

had to pay $400.

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Had a great flight to Lagos, Nigeria with all of us together in the business class seats. Thank

you Dean Lange. After we taxied to the gate, a flight attendant came to me and said Pastor

Gibson do you pray

for the sick? Of

course, I said. My

friend is sick will you

pray for her. He led

me to one of the flight

attendants and I had

the privilege to pray

for her healing in

front of everyone. I

love serving our God

in the Power of the

Holy Spirit.

We arrived at

3:30 pm and then

waited for 2 hours

after clearing customs

and immigration for

our luggage. We

were at a hotel by

6:00 pm and spent the

night. At 5:00 am we

departed for a 7.5

hour ride to Nnewi,

Nigeria. We then

checked into the

King’s Palace Hotel

for the night.

The electricity is sometime on and off since we arrived. Before I started writing these notes,

I took a bath when it went totally dark. I tried to remember when was the last time I took a bath

and the electricity went off. Then I remembered it was the last time I was here at good old

King’s Palace Hotel. Jaleh Borden and Lillian Brown have some stories to tell about their trip

here with me many years ago.

Tony says we probably will travel to Uganda on Tuesday or Wednesday. I will keep you

informed as God’s adventure unfolds.

Sunday evening: We had a great service at "Save the Lost Mission" church today. I shared and greeted my

friends. One of the pastors' reminded me that my son was doing well. I forgot about that little

item. Last year one of the women in his church had a baby boy and named him Bob Gibson and

then the last name. She says she wants her son to be an Evangelist like Bob Gibson. I can assure

you this is not my biological son but a baby boy named after me who his mother wants to be an

Evangelist.

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Jimmie shared a message on Repentance. There is no revival without repentance. Many

came to the altar and fell on their knees asking God for mercy and forgiveness. Tony shared all

that has happened in Texas as he gathered items to fill three 40-foot containers. This guy is the

ultimate Sanford. We are back at the hotel until tomorrow. I am being blessed listening to

Christian hymns. Good night all.

Monday at noon: Jimmie and I spent 3 hours with the Bible School class at Save the Lost Mission church. We

had a wonderful time sharing with about 23 students. The school is a full 4-year curriculum and

these students are at different levels. I am honored to be used by God to bring knowledge and

encouragement to these future Pastors, Missionaries, Sunday school teachers or wherever God

will use them. I shared Joshua 3:5: And Joshua said unto the people, sanctify yourselves: for

tomorrow, the LORD will do wonders among you. And Habakkuk 1:5: Look around among the

nations and see! Moreover, be astonished! Astounded! For I am putting into effect a work in

your days [such] that you would not believe it if it were told you. Only God knows what He has

planned for each of them!

Wednesday at 2 pm in Uganda We were cooped up in our hotel room on Monday afternoon until Tuesday morning at 9 AM

when we travelled to Enugu, Nigeria by car (about 2 hours) to the airport to travel to Uganda via

Ethiopia. We took us more than 2 hours to check in. We had to pay $400 excess baggage fees.

Our flight to Ethiopia was OK for me as I had three middle seats where I could lie down and rest

and I read the book of Acts. WOW! I need to read this more to refuel my tank. I believe with all

my heart that I can preach with the same power that Peter and Paul had. Why not? The same

Holy Spirit that was in them is in me. I am really looking

forward to this journey.

Before getting off the plane, I was able to share with a

flight attendant and give her a gospel tract. She was so

happy to receive it so I gave her enough for all her

crewmates. I only had 25 tracts in my carry ons. I was

determined to distribute them in the airport in Ethiopia and

I did. Our flight to Entebbe in Uganda was just under two

hours long. We arrived at 1:00 am and then the fun began.

None of our checked luggage arrived. We filed a claim and

then travelled to our hotel. We arrived about 4 am. Room is

OK. Neither of the hotels we have stayed in have internet

connections. I am detoxing from having no internet!

I have not received any news from Tony regarding our

luggage. If it doesn’t arrive I need to go to a pharmacy and

purchase my meds. I believe God will deliver our bags but

if not I am determined to trust God and keep preparing for

the conference which begins tomorrow.

Sunday at 8:00 am in Uganda Wow, I let three days go by without writing in these notes. Yes, we did get our luggage

about midnight Wednesday night. The Uganda National Pastors Conference started. Tony,

Jimmie, and I spoke twice daily; Once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The Pastors sit

on the edge of their seats leaning forward with paper and pen in hand taking notes.

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Why are they so hungry for the word of God here? Folks, they travelled many miles to be

here. They are sleeping on the floor in the church at night. The services go from morning until

about 8:00 or 9:00 pm at night: Preaching, teaching, praising, prayer, dancing. Oh, for those of

you lucky enough to see the video of the Uganda praise dance you will, I am sure, laugh. It is

kind of like the Hula dance from Hawaii. When I get home, I am going to post it on Face book

so you can enjoy watching praise dance Ugandan style.

Yesterday, Saturday, was the highlight for me. We gave away choir robes, eight

megaphones, two bicycles, four computers, and

four projectors, 1 HP color printer, many Lost

Sheep Ministries discs with music, sermons,

videos, and power point lessons.

Tomorrow, Monday, we will go to the

Bible College and give them a computer and

projector. I wish I could describe the looks

on the faces of those receiving these gifts.

We purchase the megaphones in Nigeria for

$50 each and the bicycles here in Uganda for

$100 each. If you would like to buy a

megaphone or bicycle, send LSM a check

and designate it for a megaphone or bicycle.

Pastors, if you have Choir robes just hanging

around in a closet in your church please

donate them to LSM and we will get them to

Africa where they WILL BE USED!

This trip has been difficult for me in I

have only had access to the internet one time

since being on this trip.

Jimmie is Jimmie the consistent servant.

He has delivered powerful insightful

messages each time. I thank God for how he watches over me.

Today we will participate in the morning service and I am excited to see what God will do.

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Sunday evening 8:30 pm Today we concluded our pastor’s conference in Uganda. Wow, God, thank you for

choosing Jimmie and me to serve with Tony here. We had about a five-hour service with great

preaching, praise and prayer. I forgot to mention that the road to the church is slightly larger

than a one-way dirt road with bumps all along the way. It takes about 45 minutes of bouncing up

and down as we wave to folks as we drive by.

After church, we went to the pastor’s home. Pastor

Milly is a woman with 12 children. Six are natural born and

six are adopted. This woman is a WOMAN OF GOD! She

loves God and

demonstrates

this in her life.

Tomorrow

we will travel to

the airport and

return to Nigeria

via Rwanda and

Ethiopia: God

continues to expand my borders. We depart at 1:00

am Tuesday morning and arrive in Enugu at noon on

Wednesday. We will travel to Abakaliki with

Pastor Patrick, minister there for three days,

and then travel to Ikom for Sunday services. I

really cannot describe the joy in my heart over

being used by God to minister here in Uganda

to his saints, servants, soldiers, priests,

ministers, evangelists, prophets and

ambassadors. Thank you Father God for calling

me, choosing me, and sending me; Amen!

Monday evening 10 pm Today we went to the American Embassy

to arrange for visas for the director of the Bible College and for Pastor Milly to visit with Tony

in August. We are waiting to board a flight at 1:00 am to fly back to Enugu, Nigeria via

Rwanda, and Ethiopia. We will arrive about noon tomorrow is Enugu and then fly to Lagos to

catch a flight to Houston on Tuesday night. I just sat for three hours with two young women

from Denmark & Farce Islands. They have been here for six months working at an orphanage. I

showed them my photos and videos and they shared theirs with me. They are returning home

tonight. I was able to pray for them and lift them up. Thank you Lord.

Tuesday morning 6 am We are at Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia. We flew a short 35 minute flight to Rwanda and

then sat on the ground about 30 minutes and then flew here on a 2 hour 45 minute flight. Our

plane leaves for Enugu at 9:30 AM and we arrive at noon time. We will then purchase a flight to

Lagos to catch a United flight home tonight.

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While waiting at Entebbe, Uganda I met a young woman named Sarah who was flying to

Dubai. She works there and was very happy to bring some Bible tracts with here to Dubai. I

wanted to distribute some tracts in Rwanda also but wasn’t getting off the plane. When we

landed I grabbed some tracts and asked one of the men deplaning if he would consider planting

some gospel seeds in Rwanda. Yes sir, I will he said and before he got off the plane, he was

already passing them out to others. I am a tract nut. So on our trip we were able to distribute tracts in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, & Dubai. Of course I did buy some coffee in Uganda for my coffee drinking friends. Well, not all of them but for some of them.

Tuesday morning 7 am Here I am sitting in Cloud Nine, the Ethiopian

Airlines first class passenger lounge. I am not flying first class but I came in to ask how much the cost would be to upgrade to first class. $440 is too much for my blood and I asked the woman at the desk if I could come in and she smiled and said yes. I just finished breakfast of scrambled eggs, and sausage and fruit plate with a glass of orange juice. You go GOD!

Wednesday 6 am We flew to Enugu from Entebbe, a five-hour flight. We arrived at about 2:20 PM and it

was too late to catch the flight to Lagos. Tony, Jimmy and I immediately shared a glass of cool water. This reminded us that we were a drink of cool water to our family in Uganda. Proverbs 25:25 says "Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land."

Tony was really stressed and did not have the money to purchase the tickets to Lagos, which was $500. I do I said get me to a bank. First band ATM only could read cards with a smart chip and mine did not have one. Found one that worked and got the money. Michael drove like crazy for two hours to get us to Asaba for a 4:45 PM flight. We arrived at the airport at 4:38 just 7 minutes before takeoff! WE GOT ON! Jimmy and I were so happy. We arrived in Lagos at 6:00 PM. Went through all of the check-through process and were checked in. We then sat in KFC for about one hour and walked down to the gate. We got our boarding passes for seats 2B and 3D. PTL!

We are on the plane, thank you Jesus. A problem has occurred and an announcement is being made that there is an electrical problem. Oh, what a night! We have to get off the

plane with all our carry ons and wait. This is a very, very hot waiting area. Time is

dragging by. It is now 10 o’clock, 11 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock. Finally, they announce no flights tonight and the passengers were taken to a hotel. Because Jimmy and I are stand by passengers United would not pay for our hotel. Jimmy and I decided to wait inside near the gates. It is so hot inside that terminal. Nothing is open but we saw a

restaurant with the cleaners working. It is air conditioned so we asked could we wait inside and they said YES. We slept on a couple of padded benches.

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Our flight is to leave at 5:30 PM we think. Since Monday at 7 am, Jimmy and I have either in a car, an airport, or on an airplane flying. We have now gone 48 hours without a shower or bed.

Ugh! I stink and need a shower. First priority item when I get home. I wonder what God has planned for us today here at the airport. I will let you know. Bye

Wednesday 12:20 pm We have waited five hours and 10 minutes and counting. Maybe God kept us here

another day so I could share Christ with Emmanuel Chuka the sales rep for Airtel; a young man 27 who is now rejoicing in the Lord as a “new man” in Christ.

We had the opportunity to share almost 1,000 tracts in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, & Dubai. One saved in Uganda and one in Nigeria, which is a low number for me when I’m fishing with Jesus. I need to remember our mission was to train pastors and others to go preach the gospel! Mission Accomplished.

Thursday 7:30 am Houston time All day yesterday until we left at 1:30 am Lagos time was a time of constant

opportunities to minister to others. I sat with many to share the love of God. All said they were Christians but they were in need of a kind touch, a kind word as Pastor John Morgan at Sagemont taught me over many years.

Folks, every day I thank God for Pastors Fred Harrison, Brian Harrison, Carl Sugden, Toby Bowles, Harry Goldman, and John Morgan. God used these men to equip me for the ministry He called me to.

I spent some time with a young woman from Toronto, Canada sharing some Power Point Bible lessons presentations. A big thank you to my dear brother John Overton for the wonderful library of sound bible teaching he has created over the years since John & Mammy came to San Leon Community Church in TX to teach the Basic Discipleship course they had developed. Thanks John and Mammy!

I spent about one hour with two young women who worked as employees at the airport. They shared with me they had been born-again as teenagers but had backslidden. We do not know how to come back to God. I had a wonderful time guiding them back to the cross and to God’s forgiveness.

I was tired and miserable BUT determined to redeem the time. God if you kept me here at

the airport your word says in Ephesians 2:10 that I am your workmanship, prepared for good

works, which you have prepared for me. I am determined to be the salt, light here at the Lagos

airport until the plane door closes, and I am returning to Houston.

Folks, I urge you all to seek out, discover God’s good plan for your life, and walk in it.

Back Home in Texas As I sit here at my kitchen table in League City, TX reflecting on

where I have been, I realize I should never close a trip report without thanking God for my wife

Carol and her continuous support over many, many years. I thank God for my children, Heather,

Joshua, Elizabeth, and Amanda. I thank God for my grandchildren Stefan, Hannah, Samuel,

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Tommy, Brittany, Joshua, Emma, Mia. I thank God for my great-grandchildren Sydney, Logan,

and Colton.

I thank God for my church family at Citymark in League City, TX, and all my Lost Sheep

Members family members. Let’s keep praying. Let’s keep going. Come quickly Lord Jesus, Oh

Lord Jesus until you come I will go!

Pastor Bob Recommended Reading: Reclaiming Christianity by A.W. Tozer. If you have ever wondered why the Church has little influence in the world today, and, equally, how your life could more closely reflect the powerful witness that characterized the early Christians, Tozer's flinty and uncompromising words will remind you of what is missing and challenge you to shun what is superficial so that you can walk toward authentic faith.

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