On Site at the Ngoro Church

As we arrived the first day (Monday), we saw that the roof was already begun. The building is an elongated octagon. The rafters, already in place, have been treated so that they can resist termites. These pests are a problem as we learned of another church in the district which lost its original building due to an infestation. The roof is made of overlapping corregated steel. The building itself is brick. By the end of the day, the roof was in place. All that remained was the steel caps that cover where the roof angles meet along the ends and sides. The doors and windows would come in the next days.

The building site was a hive of activity as the floor was cleared and rocks were brought in to support and fill the platform area. Many of us helped in this and we were humbled as the village women and girls would haul huge rocks on thei heads! They are accustomed to this as they have to carry water from the local well to their homes. Water is carried in Jerry cans weighing 45 pounds. Some of them will have one on her head while carrying one or two at the same time.

For a time, I manned the wheelbarrow. There were some young ones who helped fill it for me. One of these, Jennifer Martha, is 14 tears old and lives with her mom - her dad is dead. Although it's difficult to support a child in this village yet, I hope that it will be possible soon. She's a sweet girl who could really use our help. They all can.

Later in the morning and early afternoon, I went on home visits to TAPP clients. TAPP is a program to help families affected by HIV/AIDS through relief and self-sufficiency programs. It is so very sad to see the devastation this disease has had on this already poor society. Hearing some of the stories of how the disease has come into the family, it also saddens me to see how we men sometimes fail our wives and children!

After lunch, I spent some quality time with the local pastors teaching and encouraging them. They are called and seek to be and remain equipped to lead their churches through a deeper walk with Christ. Hearing their stories both humbled me and encouraged me as a pastor.

The rest of the team was busy with kids, women, more TAPP home visits, and, of course, the building project. There was demonsrative joy in the village as these two different people groups came together in their common love for their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Before wrapping for the day, the team distributed goats to widows and turkeys to the pastors' wives. Yes, they were live!

It was another great day in Uganda!

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