The last couple of months have flown by to say the least. Time seems to be moving at an unprecedented pace or I am just getting older.  The truth is I am enjoying what God has called me to do and with that ‘time’ seems to just fly by.

I am preparing my annual trip to the US, leaving Uganda in May.  However, before I leave there is much to do.  First, let me update you on what has been happening.  I have continued to assist Dr. Cliff and his ministry Advancing the Kingdom while he has been in the states.   Since the first of February, weekly I have been traveling to Jinja in an administrative capacity as well as going to the village twice a month, leading, preaching, teaching and assisting with problems that arise until Dr. Cliff returns to Uganda the end of this month.  I have also been teaching at ATK Faith Bible College each week.

I have planned to partner with Evangelist Godfrey Mawa of Commission International Ministries to hold monthly meetings at the Universities surrounding Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, culminating in a much larger event at Makerere University in September or October of this year.    We believe it is vital to seriously penetrate the Universities, especially Makarere University, with a population of 50,000 students, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As Paul says “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the POWER of God for salvation! (Rom 1:16-71).  These students are the next leaders of this nation and time is of the essence.  We are planning our first day conference to be held on Saturday, May 12, just before I leave for the states.  We have a platform, a great PA system, a generator and other resources, however finances are still needed for the rental of the venue and advertizing.   If you would like to make any size donation for this cause, it would be greatly appreciated and very helpful towards our mission.  Please see below regarding donations. I thank you in advance for your support.

The Ntinda Victory City youth conference in January was a great success.  I felt the Lord wanted me to stay for the entire four-day conference, which I did.  Each day I spoke, teaching on the Father’s heart as well as the spirit of Sonship verses the Orphan spirit.  The Holy Spirit knew what was needed and my being there gave amble opportunity to meet one on one with the youth.

I will again be participating in all day monthly repentance meeting held by the ministry Repent Uganda on March 31^st in Kampala.  Then I travel to Gulu in Northern Uganda to speak at the annual conference hosted by Intercessors for Northern Uganda held April 1 – 8. The theme this year is “Behold, I Give You Authority” Luke 10:19.  The meeting will gather people from Uganda, East Africa and other nations in Africa.

Our discipleship group will meet one last time before I leave for the United States on Tuesday April 10^th and I continue to participate in weekly prayer meetings as we stand in the gap for Uganda in preparation for her 50 year of independence on October 9, 2012.

I will be joining the mission team led by Pastor Samuel and his wife Drusilla, April 29 to May 4 at their 6^th Annual Youth Gospel and Medical Outreach in Serere, Eastern Uganda.  I will be speaking on the Fathers heart during a two-day Father’s Heart Seminar.  During the week we will be doing home evangelism, an open-air gospel outreach in Serere Town, Two-day Prayer conference, prison outreach and Medical Camp at Serere Health Center.

Donations: Write ATK Ministries on your check and insert in the envelope with a slip of paper designating the funds go to Jo Anna Watson of TouchingHearts Int. Ministries.  Thank you and May God Bless you.  Advancing The Kingdom, P.O. Box 3321 Lawrence, KS 66046 Thank you so much for your continued support, both financially and prayerfully.

Love and Shalom, Jo Anna, An Ambassador of love for Christ to the Nations!

About 70 youth have signed up for this annual missions trip, led by Pastor Samuel and his wife Drusilla. I will be speaking on the Fathers heart during a two-day Father Heart Seminar.  During the week we will be doing home evangelism, an open air gospel outreach in Serere Town, Two-day Prayer conference with approximately 17 local churches coming together, a daily film ministry which attracts each day, a large crowd of people who are curious about the life of Jesus Christ, prison outreach and Medical Camp at Serere Health Center which is the only medical facility available to the community but its condition is deplorable.

Gulu, Uganda, 3^rd – 9^th of April at Pece

I have been invited me to speak at a one-day Prophetic Prayer rally for the church and the nation and the theme this year is  “Let they Kingdom Come and Thy will be done in our nation and the church.”  God has given me a prophetic end-time message to deliver throughout Uganda to reawaken the redemptive purpose of this nation in our hearts and or the people to get burdened to pursue the destiny and to rekindle the fire of ‘First Love” deep into our hearts for Love is the Heartbeat of God for Revival.  Before Revival can come back to Uganda, repentance must come and a sincere turning back to our first love relationship with God.

www.advancingthekingdom.org

Can you imagine here we are in January 2012! What happened to 2011?!! I pray this new year of 2012 will bring to you, much love, joy and peach in our Lord Jesus Christ and that He will prosper you and bring you divine health even as your soul prospers. Yes, I am still in Uganda and 2012 marks the tenth consecutive year of my ministering in Uganda.

2011 has been a very busy year full of surprises both good and bad that have challenged me to know God not only, as Paul says in Philippines in the power of His resurrection but also in the fellowship of His sufferings. God graciously brings problems our way that give us great opportunities to walk with Him in deeper levels of trust, confidence and humility, with complete dependence on Him for the answer and the solution. I have found in my journey with God that if we have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying, we will find the answers right next to the ‘problem.’ I cannot help but continually give thanks for God’s everlasting loving kindness and His complete forgiveness that He has shown me even in my weakness. My confidence is in His faithfulness to never leave me where He found me, but to continue doing a work in me to bring me to full maturity in the fullness of Jesus Christ. To God be the Gory!

God’s grace is sufficient as we daily die to our self so that we can live to show others His great love as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4. Receiving God’s love, giving back to Him and then giving His love away to others IS THE WILL of the Father for our lives. As I serve Him in the land of Uganda, God continues to show me how to love others as He loves them. This year God has shown me the power of love and forgiveness at the deepest level. As we learn to abound in more love, walking in total forgiveness and sincerity and taking no offense with others, the more they will see God’s love in us and be able to receive His love for them. (Phil 1:9-11)

The more others see our unconditional love and continual forgiveness, the more they can see the forgiveness given to them through the cross of Jesus Christ. I am reminded of the woman who poured the box of perfume on Jesus feet and washed them with her tears. Jesus gave the example of 2 debts that were forgiven, one small and one large. Then He said the one who has been forgiven much, loves much.

We can only love much when we are mindful of the debt and overpayment that Jesus has made for us. God is continually saying to me ‘just love the one I have given you to love.” God brings people into our lives to sharpen us as well as to show them His love. We all have a free will and the choice is ours as to how we handle these ‘opportunities.” I have seen as I (we) stay in love and stay close to the heart of God, Holy Spirit will do the rest. Love always wins! One constant in our lives is God’s amazing ability to love so well. Never loose sight of His amazing love.

I had a wonderful time with my daughters and granddaughter Ryleigh and my new grandson Van during my short visit to the States. I was also blessed to spend some time at IHOP, International House of Prayer. My granddaughter recently to her mom that she missed me, and that I lived in Africa with the gorillas. Maybe one day she will come visit me here in Uganda.

Much of 2011 was devoted to completing my doctorate in Theology through an extension Bible College from the USA, located in Jinja, Uganda. Thanks be to God, in October I received my Doctorate in Pastoral Theology along with 3 other Ugandans. I am looking to publish my manuscript and am in the process of looking for a good editor. Your prayers for this project are very much welcomed.
The Discipleship group continues to meet and has become so dear to my heart. Our group has grown to almost 20 people.

As I minister throughout Uganda, it is my prayer that the hearts of the people will be so touched with God’s great love for them that the fire of revival will be ignited within and spread throughout this land. Plans are being made to continue to ‘go’ out even to the remote villages bringing the love and fragrance of Christ to the lost and igniting the fires of revival throughout this land in 2012.

As an intercessory missionary and a priest unto the Lord, I continue to spend much time in the Lord’s presence, seeking His direction and heart for this land of Uganda and for Israel and of course the US. I believe 2012, as do others, is critical year for all three nations. As we move forward in 2012, things as we know are going to change and we must be ready. Now more than ever, we must be so rooted and grounded in the love and faithfulness of God if we expect to STAND strong. Now that my doctorate is finished I will have more time to pray and fast during 2012, seeking God, to KNOW Him more!

I will be speaking at a youth conference in mid January and at the end of the month, I will be speaking at a monthly repentance meeting conducted by the ministry Repent Uganda. There is a group of us committed to bring the message of repentance and the need to return to ‘First Love’ to every major city in Uganda, as well as to the villages. Of course an increase of finances are needed to take this message to all parts of Uganda.

Donations: Write ATK Ministries on your check and insert in the envelope with a slip of paper designating the funds go to Jo Anna Watson of TouchingHearts Int. Ministries. Thank you and May God Bless you. Advancing The Kingdom, P.O. Box 3321 Lawrence, KS 66046

Thank you so much for your continued support, both financially and through prayer.
Love and Shalom, Jo Anna, An Ambassador of love for Christ to the Nations!

Has invited me again this year, to speak at the

THE 3^RD EASTER PRAYER CONFERENCE, Gulu, Uganda.

Date:  April 19 to April 24, 2011

Theme: Matthew 16:19  I will give you the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; {for your successive season

As a Prophetic Prayer ministry with the heart for restoration to the body of Christ, it is our desire to help you go deeper in intimacy with Jesus and to strengthen you upon His foundation through the message of and the revelation of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.

I pray your Holiday Season was blessed and that this year will bring you many blessings and will be filled with Shalom and Favor.  How magnificent is our Messiah Yeshua HaMaschicak, He is truly worthy of our wholehearted love and allegiance.

Sunday, November 28^th, I attended a dinner where over 100 young men and woman pastors and leaders were invited.  The turn out was twice what we expected.  As a result, a conference was held January 5 to 8^th.   Please stand in prayer with us as God unveils the mission and purpose of this group of “Upcoming Ministers” and their impact in Uganda and the nations!

I spent Christmas weekend with the ATK (Advancing the Kingdom) Ministries staff, orphans and church in Nawensaga village. Over 650 people attended the Christmas celebration Saturday afternoon; of which about half were non-believing Muslims and the rest were the Muslim believers who attend ATK church regularly.  It was an exciting time.  (Sorry no pictures my camera is not working)

The Lord continues to hide me in the secret place, staying low, staying slow, and staying close to the heart of God.  During these quiet close times the Lord has been showing me more and more our authority and power in the Holy Spirit.  It is about our ability in God to walk in confidence, yet with humility, to overcome in every area of our life.

2010 was a challenging year and as I contemplated on what was ahead in 2011, Holy Spirit lead me to Heb 12:1-2.   “Therefore, we also since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.  Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  I don’t have the space or time to expound on this now, but will in another article.  Suffice it to say, God is sovereign and it is all about the issues of our heart: our attitudes, especially during challenges.  We must never take our eyes of Jesus.

I continue to intercede for Israel and the Uganda Presidential Elections, which are to be held February 18^th.   Please pray God’s will be done. The outcomes of African Presidential Elections are not as predictable as they are in America.  Pray for safe, orderly and honest administration of the voting process for both pre and post Election Day.

I was part of the drama team at Victory City Church (VCC) Ntinda Christmas Program entitled “The Promised Messiah” which was presented on Sunday December 12^th.  It was a great opportunity to impart some of my own theatre background experience and it was great fun! I also had the privilege to teach on the Father Heart of God at the VCC youth camp, January 12^th. The Holy Spirit showed up in a powerful way and many lives were touched with the love of the Father during the camp.

Bishop/Evangelist Godfrey Mawa, founder of www.commissionsintrnational.com, who is in our discipleship group, invited me to join him to speak at an Annual International Youth Camp on Friday January 7th.  The theme was Youth Revival Camp – Empowering to Stand.   Bishop commented that what I shared was very powerful and the Director of the camp invited me to return next year.  To God be the Glory! I will be joining Bishop Godfrey Mawa, at the opening celebration of the 2011 school year at Makerere University, the first weekend in February.

Our discipleship group resumed Jan 18^th. We have started studying the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.   More pastors and leaders have asked to join and we have opened up the group to a maximum of 15.  This pastors and leaders are part of the “upcoming ministers” of Uganda.  Due to the busy schedules we will be meeting 2 times per month.  Please keep them in your prayers so they stay focused and committed to going deeper into the heart of God, consecrating their lives to Jesus.   During our last meeting each member shared the importance of this group and they decided that they decided they will continue to meet indefinitely.  This is great news!

There is a great need in Uganda and other places I have traveled, amount the younger generation.  Woundedness and insecurity has filled their hearts and discipleship is the answer to healing and empowerment.  However, discipleship comes at a great price by both, those doing the discipling, as well as those being discipled. It requires self-sacrifice; discipline and commitment form both sides.  I have come to better understand the scripture in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

I will be ministering again in Gulu the end of March, with Northern Uganda Intercessors and will be visiting property about 17 miles from Gulu center, that has been given to Heaven on Earth Ministries to develop an orphanage, church and community center.   I also have had a number of recent invitations to go up to the Northern Uganda minister and encourage pastors who work in the karamoja region working with the karamjong.   I recently met an 80 young missionary from Wisconsin who is working in that area, building a community center and orphanage.  How cool is that!   I really feel the spirit of God in the direction of going to the Northern area.

I have also been invited to Kenya in April to speak at a women’s conference and have been invited by one of our pastors in our discipleship group to join him in speaking to the youth and pastors in Malawi.   I still have a standing invitation to go to Burundi this year and back to Rwanda.  I not these next months will be busy so I will wait on the Lord for direction and of course finances.

I just return from a week in Jinja and the ATK village base, ministering at the Saturday night worship service and again during the service Sunday morning.  After service a group of four of us ministered at the prison in the area and as the Good News was preached, the prisoners were very attentive and most received Jesus Christ as their savior.  We then attended the evening service at another new ATK church plant in the village.  God showed up as expected and the presence of God was there. It was a very powerful weekend and I am blessed to be a part of what God is doing in that Muslim area.  Dr. Cliff and Julie recently return to the states for a couple of months.

I continue to work with Dr. Cliff Pash and ATK, in Jinja and the village one week each month.  Until I am able to complete my 501/3C for TouchingHearts Int. Ministries, Dr. Cliff has offered to have my support and donations sent to ATK (Advancing the Kingdom) Ministries for tax deductions.  Write ATK Ministries on your check and insert in the envelope with a slip of paper designating the funds go to Jo Anna Watson of TouchingHearts Int. Ministries.  Thank you and May God Bless you.  Advancing The Kingdom, P.O. Box 3321 Lawrence, KS 66046

The school year is beginning in February and I am requesting help with sponsorship for school fees for David who has been such a help to me.  He has not finished his secondary schooling, which is equivalent to high school diploma.  Without a certificate from secondary school it is next to impossible to find a good job even as a Mechanic.

School fees per semester are equivalent to approx. $200 plus transportation about $3.00 each day.  I beseech you to partner with me in helping fulfill David’s dream of finishing school.  I appreciate any amount you can provide.  Again I remind you these young people are the next leaders of Uganda.  Approximately 77% of the population in Uganda is under 30 and more than half of them have not been properly educated or finished school.  I am constantly being asked to help with school fess, however I am only one person and with your help, I can touch the one God has placed in my path. Education is one way that we can help to empower an individual to be a productive member of society.  Even the Scriptures say, “that without knowledge the people perish.”

There is a great need throughout the nations and one person or ministry can not do it alone, but when many hands help the burden is lessened and the Kingdom of God is advanced.  When I hear testimonies, especially from the younger generation whom I am ministering and touching their hearts with the love of God, I am encouraged and convinced that God has called me to Uganda for such a time as this.

Some are called to “Go” to other lands to advance the Kingdom of God, some are called to stay and support financially and in prayer.  Even so, we are all partners in advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Again thank you so much for your continued support, both financially and through prayer.

Love and Shalom, Jo Anna

An Ambassador of love for Christ to the Nations!

It is 4 am here in Uganda and I have been up writing since 2:30am. Since I was on a “writing role” I wanted to wish my fellow Americans a Happy Thanksgiving and give you an update. I want to first and foremost thank God for His steadfast love and His mercies for His mercies are new every morning and His loving-kindness is everlasting. He remains faithful to His word, even when we do not. How great is our God!

Next I want to thank all of you for your prayers, especially this year, as there have been many ups and downs. But God! I purchased a book from Bobby Connor in August of 2009 and he wrote in the book Hosea 2:14. God was gong to allure me to the wilderness and speak comfort to me. I also received two more words during my internship at IHOP Sept to Dec. 09 that God was going to speak comfort to me. In Hebrew the word comfort means to speak kindness.

This has been a year of wilderness for me in that I have had to face and still face some difficult obstacles, but even in this season, God has truly spoken comfort and kindness to me. He continually lets me know how much He loves me. He is calling me to go to a deeper place of trust and love in him, a place I have not traveled before. I am reminded of Paul where he has asked God to take the thorn in his flesh from him and God replies. My grace is sufficient. God is taking me to a place where His grace is sufficient and that my complete dependence is in Him and Him alone.

This journey has not been an easy one, but it has been a welcomed one as I have cried out to God to use my life for His pleasure and purposes. There is a great price to pay, dying to self but I am so very thankful that my God loves me that much. He is only asking me to love Him back that much. Yeshua talks about that in the Gospel of John, Chapter 17.

Why does He want me to love him back that much? I am glad you asked! It is because He wants me to give His love away to others. To give as He gave, “freely you have received freely you give.” We know that we cannot give away what we do not have. Beloved, He wants you to do the same.

Our Nazarite Discipleship Group has now been meeting every Tuesday for the past two months. We have been going deeper into the heart of God and Holy Spirit continues to show up and meet us in unexpected ways. This is the time for the Nazarites to rise up. I continue to hear reports from these young leaders how God is showing up in their lives and taking them deeper. I recently received a testimony by Pastor Vincent that during one of his meetings he gave an altar call for the Narzities to rise up and come forward. Over 100 young people came forward. It was a powerful movement. God is up to something here in Uganda. There is such a feeling in the atmosphere that Revival is just a heartbeat away and love is the way to God’s heart for revival.
I began a second discipleship group with the children from Sherry’s home. There are 16 children from ages 6 to13 I know these young ones are on God’s heart for they are the next leaders of Uganda and it is imperative they are discipled now so they will have a strong foundation in the Lord.

The end of August I traveled to Gulu in the North to speak at the conference on the need to pray for Israel. It was a powerful conference and we commissioned the intercessors at this prayer center as intercessors for Israel.

I spoke on Song of Solomon 8:5-6 at the Solemn Assembly in Wakiso, Sept 3rd and heard reports back that is was a very powerful message and one that has not been heard before. “Who is this coming up out of the wilderness, leaning on her beloved”

I also spoke at the Secondary school here in Luzira where I stay. I had an awesome time of sharing with the first and second year students prior to their exams. I spoke on “Success is Hitting the Mark” and the “mark” his putting our trust in Jesus. The Holy Spirit showed up as expected and I have been asked to return to speak to the third and fourth year students. Praise be to God!

I have been asked by Derek Prince Ministries in South Africa to be the liaison to distribute one of Derek Prince’s books to various bible schools, ministries and parliament within the Kampala area. This book is free and is a compilation of six books plus a self-bible study. So far the response has been great.

The end of September I was invited to attend the gradation ceremony of ATK Bible School in Jinja. That is Dr. Cliff Pash’s Ministry Advancing The Kingdom Ministries. I was able to distribute 30 of Derek Prince’s book to the graduates and remaining students. Graduates were receiving Doctorates, Masters and Bachelors certificates and it was a blessing to see these graduates realize such an accomplishment in their lives.

Since I have been short on finances, and am still saving money to fix my van, I have been staying around the Kampala area during November and will continue to do so through December. I was suppose to speak at a leaders conference to pastors in Gulu the 17th thru the 20th but was unable to go. I am also scheduled to speak at another conference the first week of December in Gulu on our Israel roots.

Good News! I received my two-year workers permit for Uganda, which is good until September 5, 2012.

I have looked at this season that I am in, as a time to go deeper in intercession and alone time with God. Who knows maybe that is His plan for such a time as this!

Again thank you so much for your continued support, especially in prayer.

Love and Shalom, Jo Anna

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