now

We know for many, the enemy put obstacles in your path that kept you from being with us. We know that didn't keep you from praying! We'd like to include your stories so please share them. To those we turned away because you could not participate in the "whole" event - don't be discouraged. We did what God told us to do with that, and we pray you will be able to be involved in another way down the road! God bless everyone who showed an interest in the NIGHT COMMUTE. Continue to pray for the peace process in UGANDA and the Children of Northern Uganda and their families . Pray also for the President of Uganda and Joseph Kony and the LRA that they would know JESUS CHRIST personally and allow Him to be LORD of their lives!

What an awesome sight it was when I walked into the room and saw everyone. It had the feel of a huge family

campout in God's living room! As tears ran down my face I thought to myself . . . "this was worth the hundreds of hours on the phone, writing emails, visiting churches and prayers!" People of all ages from different walks of life, different denominations coming together on behalf of children they don't even know . . . . seeking God, pleading for peace and an end to the years of night commutes, that these children would no longer be invisible to our world. No question - we are changed

people, having experienced this together!

It had to rain! Since our NIGHT COMMUTE was about leaving our comfortable homes for "just one night", there was no question in my mind . . . it had to rain. The same God who loves the children of Northern Uganda (and allows it to rain on them), couldn't spare us. For many that reality was just too much! I was not surprised at the huge number of people that didn't show up but I couldn't help but be a little sad since we offered a ride to anyone who did not feel comfortable with the idea of getting wet. These pictures tell the story of the commitment these folks had. No rain coats, no umbrellas, no rain suits. Their blankets got wet, their clothes got wet, and they got wet. There

were no dryers waiting for them. No set of dry clothes.

They would now worship, pray and sleep in those wet

clothes and under wet blankets. We praise the Lord that

it was not a drenching rain.

Route 322 is a very busy road on any day, but the Friday

of a holiday weekend means even more traffic. Not the

best route for us to take. It did lend lots of opportunity for

shelter if the the weather became too dangerous for us

to walk. Along the way our night commuters got to know

each other and talked about how they became involved

and why. To come and walk in the rain, all had a story

of how it was that God lead them to Ephrata.

A Dr. and his wife were celebrating their anniversary and

put off their trip and celebration to walk, pray, & sleep on

behalf of the children of Northern Uganda. High school

students, moms, dads, pastors and youth pastors. It

was awesome to see them all gather together in the

name of Jesus out of concern for brothers and sisters

in a land so far away whose names they do not even

know.

A group from Bronx, NY started out early in the day to

make their way to Lancaster County. Jeff Mohl is an

Urban Missionary with children's Bible Fellowship of

New York. He signed on with the NIGHT COMMUTE

many weeks ago. Jeff was willing to come all the way

to Ephrata to participate in the NIGHT COMMUTE and

lead the morning worship. Heather Butcher is also a

missionary with CBF of NY working with youth in the

Bronx. The group of teens who came with Jeff &

Heather became excited about the NIGHT COMMUTE

while I was speaking at Camp Joy in Carmel, NY a few

weeks ago. We were so blessed that they were with us for this special event. While I was at Camp Joy I

met a young man named Jorge. A rough young man from the streets of NYC. Growing up in the city you develop a hard exterior. It's a matter of survival. At Camp Joy Jorge was challenged with a new way of

living and thinking. Discipline, accountability and responsibility were new concepts. Love is also a new

concept. Tough love that is. The week before I arrived Jorge had been sent home. It just wasn't working

out for him. He came back the Sunday that I arrived. One night I had to throw Jorge out of chapel. After chapel he apologized and I told him I would pray for him. I prayed all week that he would get saved. By the end of the week Jorge found himself headed home again. Before he left we had a chance to talk. That day - in tears- Jorge gave his heart to Jesus! He's a new creature. He came with the group from the Bronx on the NIGHT COMMUTE. Let's continue to pray for him. I believe GOD is going to use him in a very powerful way.

Thanks to all of the BRONX CREW who came down to the NIGHT COMMUTE. (Visit our journey to CAMP JOY/CAMP HOPE by clicking the button below)

TIM CARDACIA

Promotional DIrector

WTJL - 90.3fm Lancaster

Tim shares a few words with the

NIGHT COMMUTERS. We are so

grateful to Tim and the WJTL staff

and listeners for your prayers and

support for the NIGHT COMMUTE.

We love you and appreciate all

you did. Thanks for coming to our

event and doing "LIVE" updates to

your listeners from our "undisclosed

location".

Thanks also to:

TONY GILOTTE &

DEB WEAVER

WDAC - 94.5fm

For you wonderful ads, news items

and for the opportunity to be on

MINISTRY FOCUS with Deb

Weaver. Thanks to the news

dept. for following up and raising

awareness about the situation in

Northern Uganda.

Thanks to :

BRETT RUSH &

Shiloh Tabernacle Band

Thanks also to:

EPHRATA COMMUNITY

CHURCH ~ Ephrata

Barry Wissler & Kevin Eshelman

and our brothers & sisters in Christ

who gave the NIGHT COMMUTE a

home. We love you!

Thanks to our friends at:

INVISIBLE CHILDREN

Without you the children of

Northern Uganda would still

be invisible to us.

Thanks to you the children are

becoming less invisible everyday!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Who did we pray for? How did we pray?

For the children of Northern Uganda and their families . . .

for the ongoing process of bring PEACE in Uganda

healing of physical, spiritual and pychological wounds

strength to forgive those who have hurt them

courage to move on and trust God to take care of them

wisdom, knowledge, understanding for the future

salvation for those who still don't know JESUS

For Joseph Kony and the LRA Rebels

come to a saving knowledge of JESUS CHRIST

remorse for all the terrible things they've done

continued commitment to the PEACE process

For the President, leaders and military of Uganda

wisdom, knowledge and understanding as they continue to work toward PEACE in Uganda

salvation for those who do not know JESUS

For the whole region surrounding Uganda

PEACE for the entire region and the people of AFRICA

that those who have will share with those who don't

more laborers for the "field"

What about you?

We encourage you . . . right where you are to pray! Ask GOD what role He has for you in all of this. We'd love to hear what you will do. Tell us.

These pictures were take about 3:00am. For me it was one of the most moving sights of the NIGHT COMMUTE. Seeing these people from different denominations, from all walks of life, all ages sleeping on a hard floor in the basement of a church in wet clothes and blankets to say to the children of Uganda and our world - "we care". Outside heavy rain and wind continued all through the night. It was certain that we would be rained on again as we walk back to Ephrata Mennonite Church.

While everyone slept I continued to pray through the night for the children of Uganda who were now awake and on their journey again. It's been a never ending nightmare for them for more than three years. As I prayed I began to think about what it will be like when we are finally in Uganda with the children in January? Will we be visiting them on their night commute or will they finally be back in their homes by then? PRAY!

Thanks to:

JEFF MOHL

Urban Missionary with:

Children's Bible Fellowship

of New York

For coming all the way to Ephrata

to lead morning worship for the

NIGHT COMMUTE. Thanks for all

your prayers and encouragement

over these many weeks as we

prepared for the event.

Thanks also to HEATHER

BUTCHER for your efforts to

organize and rally the group

from the Bronx. It was great

haveing you here.

Thanks to:

JEAN MARTIN &

VICKIE & RICK SPROUT

for providing the wonderful

breakfast for the Bronx Crew. We

enjoyed everything so much. You

are awesome

Thanks to:

GRANT GEHMAN

Commute Site Manager

Ephrata Mennonite Church

You are awesome Grant! I love you

brother and I appreciate you being

there from the very beginning.

Thanks to:

NIGHT COMMUTE

VOLUNTEERS

We appreciate your willingness to

serve in a variety of ways! You are

so amazing!

Thanks to:

EPHRATA MENNONITE

CHURCH

For your love, support and prayers!

Thanks for giving us a place to

start and finish and so much more.

May God bless you for being so

willing to help.

THANK YOU . . . .

JESUS!

We love you LORD! Thank you for

loving the children of Northern Uganda

and for allowing us the honor of being

a part of this event.

We are doing as you have command-

ed us and we will continue until you

return.

Maranatha!

Thanks . . .

NIGHT COMMUTE

PARTICIPANTS

for being willing to come and walk,

pray & sleep in the rain on behalf

of the children of Northern Uganda.

Thanks . . .

DAVE MUMMA &

NICK MOUSETIS

without you guys this page would

have no pictures. God bless you!

I wondered how a wake-up & worship time would beafter sleeping on a hard floor in wet clothes and wet blankets. It was AWESOME! Jeff Mohl lead us in worship and it was amazing.

Outside there was more rain and a strong wind. I officially called off the a.m. walk because there was a danger of falling limbs along the route. The majority of the NIGHT COMMUTERS chose to walk in spite of us telling them they would be

"walking at their own risk and peril." I wasn't surprised by their decision. We continued to

worship a little longer before packing up for our

journey back to Ephrata Mennonite Church.

One of the greatest blessings for me was when the young people from the Bronx decided to walk. I can't quite explain why that is such a blessing to me but I know they understand and their leaders understand even more. There is no

question that we were all touched in many ways

through the NIGHT COMMUTE.

After packing and making sure the event site was clean - in spite of some health issues and

bad shoes - I also joined the walk in the wind and the rain. At one point the rain totally stopped and the sun came out for a moment! It was the perfect end to the NIGHT COMMUTE.