Farewell to Africa

Heading back to the United States today and plan to update this blog with pictures and text once I get all my resources together.

As I consider my nearly two weeks here, I offer just a few observations of the time spent here.

• Generally speaking, the people of Africa are welcoming and pleased to receive guests. This is especially true in the rural areas of both Uganda and Kenya. In fact, a very common phrase we heard was "You are welcome." This wasn't in response to a "Thank You", but simply a declaration that we were welcome there. I want to be more welcoming to my guests.
• Although poor economically, the rural communities we visited are rich spiritually. Their faith is strong as is their resolve to be obedient followers of Christ they're called to be. This spiritual wealth is something I want to invest in!
• The infrastructure in Uganda is quite limited. Although the infrastructure was more advanced in Kenya, they still struggle in the rural areas, especially. Citizens in the US have SO much for which we take for granted. Clean running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, screens over the windows/doors, and smooth roads are just a few examples. I resolve to avoid whining at the minor inconveniences of daily living.
• God has offered me an excellent glimpse into the lives of my extended family in East Africa. For this, I am grateful.

For what are you thankful?

Last Work Day on Site

On Tuesday, it was another warm day. Joni had a great idea the previous day of setting out the tarp used to cover luggage from the top of the van as a sort of awning. Modified somewhat to make the most shade we could this was put in place again. Shade always draws a crowd. Soon we had kids, moms, and grandmas resting under the awning.

After shooting an interview with Tim and Colleen, Colleen had arranged for me to meet my new sponsor child, Janette. She's a sweet girl and shy. Because of the timing of her visit to the church site, I was unable to spend a lot of time speaking with her - so I still don't know her age or circumstance. I do have pics, tho.

Because Colleen had to drive to Kampala, I volunteered to drive the van on TAPP visits. It's amazing how that van can fit into walking trails. We had good visits and even led two older men to the Lord!

Meanwhile work continued on the building as the platform was completed, a door installed, and the roof was finished off. The building really looks good!

The end of the day was marked by a video presentation of the Gospel of John. This three-hour film was made possible by a generator, speakers, projector, a new scrim, and a whole lot of seat-of-the-pants inginuity. The team headed back to the guest house while Tim and Moses stayed back. By the end of the film there were hundreds watching on both sides of the screen!

Our last night there, we spent it getting ready to depart and planning for our role in the dedication service the following day.

The Ugandan people are kind, gentle, and most welcoming. We are blessed!

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!

This Ain't Your Typical Worship Time!

Sunday morning, after breakfast, we split up into two teams of 8 each. My team had Grant, the Toupins, Joni, Twyla, Cassie, and Matt. Tim Stevenson was also with us. They sang several songs, we sang two (I played guitar) and they asked for an encore for which we were unprepared, and there were testimonies from the community and our team. Then I spoke from John 9. The service was less than 3 hours but didn't seem that long. The picture here is of the table at the front of the service. People were instructed to come forward to present their tithes and offerings. The tithe basket was empty. The other was filled. You can see the offering basket at the top of the picture. Most of the cash came from us. There was an egg from a woman (possibly like the widow from the Bible), a note, and a partially eaten roll. Humbling.

After service there was an altar call for those who needed prayer. I was asked along with Tim to pray. All women, one had a baby wth malaria (baby Lazarus and mom Suzanne), another with stomach pains (Mary), and others with asthma and headaches.

After this we were served lunch: grits (in a cake), rice, chicken, greens with crushed g-nuts (like peanuts), fried cabbage, and tea with rolls. Yummy!

Afterwards we went to the rock drawings found in this area. There was a kid named Alex who hung around me there. He was 13 years old and a student in a Korean-sponsored school nearby. His English was good and he looked to be in good health. I enjoyed speaking with him.

Rest of the day was spent in rest awaiting our first full day at the church site.

Trip to Ngoro in the Kumi District

After arriving from Kamuli, I had the opportunity to shop for some Ugandan gifts. This is something I don't do well. In fact, this is something my bride does really well - wisely choosing the right gifts is itself a gift that she has received. After getting an email list from Sherry, I made my purchases and, because some of the articles were made by widows, I was able to help others, too.

When the team travels we go in two vans with our luggage, supplies, and tools on top. Our group, piloted by Moses Magoolo, left first and landed last. In the group were Jill, Grant, Joni, Jeannie, Twyla, Heather, Cassie, and me.

When we left Kampala, the plan was to go to a guest house first because we would arrive so late. En route, plans change. We went directly to the church and was welcomed by singing, dancing, yodeling women, smiles, shaking hands, and cries of "You are welcome!" If I had to imagine what a believer's reception into heaven would be like, this picture would come to mind.

After the incredibly warm welcome, we were gathered into a large thatch-roof house and treated to a wonderful meal after we were introduced to all the key leaders of the church. The next time we receive a guest - especially from Africa - I'm going to rethink the welcome party!

The video below is yet another reception we received when we arrived at the church site on Sunday morning.

Kamuli District of Uganda

Kamuli Town, in the Kamuli district, is a small town with two gas stations and several small shops to purchase food, merchandise, livestock, and so on. We stayed in town at a guest house where the couples had their own rooms and the rest of the team were divided into groups of two or three. I roomed with Moses and Carl Gordon in a small room where three twin beds were shoe-horned into. The doors were locked with a padlock and remained secure the whole time we were there. In fact, the guest house was a walled compound with a gate to drive into a courtyard in the back.

The church site is on the outskirts of town past several private schools named after Catholic saints and filled with colorfully uniformed kids. The church property was purchased at the end of a road - also purchased to reach the larger site. As a guess, I think the property is less than acre while the road is about 200 feet long.

The church, as we arrived, lacked some brickwork, a roof, doors, and windows. The trusses were ready to be put into place once the brickwork and windows were done. The building is about a 50x30ft large room. In the morning, I helped on the crew that was building a platform from where God's Word would be declared and worship led. In the afternoon, I began teaching pastors and encouraging them through the Word. About half-way through, the rain came. Torrential rains that turned the site into a muddy mess. Once the rain let up, we spent about an hour getting one of the vans unstuck and out of there.

Even though the church was incomplete, the dedication service was scheduled for the next day (Friday) at 11am. There was a tent setup in front of the church building and chairs arrayed within. As I arrived, the pastors asked if we could complete the conversation the rain interrupted the day before. Gladly, we finished our conversation and all was encouraged. We discussed how we should each rely on God's resources - His Spirit, Strength, Faithfulness, Peace, and Help in Temptation.

The dedication service began around noon and lasted until about 3:15. The picture you see above is of a young boy who sat on the front row not wanting to miss a thing! We heard from honored guests (including a Member of Parliment), the town president, the Stevensons, and I had the privilege of sharing some encouragement from God's Word. We saw dancing like I've never seen - let alone in a dedication and worship service. The kids sang and we sang a song, too. The Pastor (another Moses) and I cut the ribbon to the building and prayed over it. All was translated and there was joy, laughter, and amens. Also, it rained. Again. While it was inconvenient, we have to remember that these people, who live off the land, are blessed by the rain from God Himself. It was a very good "amen" all by itself.

Afterwards, we were treated to a great lunch and on our way to Kampala and the Stevenson's Complex.

Uganda is a beautiful place. I can see why Winston Churchill described it as the "Pearl of Africa".

We made it to Uganda!

It's been nearly a week since I updated this blog. It's been more than difficult to get my laptop to connect to the network. So, I'm using the Stevenson's computer to provide a brief update.

Remember, more info can be read on Central Community's Mission Blog.

All of us arrived safe and sound (with all our luggage) on Tuesday. Tired after well over a day of traveling, it was good to arrive and meet the people we've all heard so much about. Moses was our group's driver and has been as we've traveled to one village already. He's a great guy - kind, always happy, and loves the Lord Jesus. Tim and Colleen welcomed us and continue to provide guidance, encouragement, and support as we encounter many new experiences, sounds, sights, and smells. The team has gathered together well after having to separate on our trip out.

Our first visit was to Kamuli - a town northeast of Kampala, beyond the Nile River.

The adventure begins

Many of you may know that I have been planning for many months to go to Uganda. After many changes of flights, we finally ended up with a start date of yesterday morning - waaaaay too early in the morning. We arrived at the airport and discovered that our flight was cancelled which threw the team into uncertainty. Fourteen of us (another 2 had planned to come 2 days later) were at the mercy of Northwest Airlines and Delta.

After more than a few flight plans and changes, we ended up splitting the team into 2 primary groups. The first group (I'm on this one) leaves today and will arrive in Uganda on Tuesday afternoon. The second group leaves early tomorrow (Monday) and arrives Tuesday evening. Our group has a more circuitous route through Dubai and Ethiopia and the other groups follows our original route straight from Amsterdam through to Uganda.

Why go? We listen to the stories of those who've gone before and desire to make a difference - to be a part of something greater than ourselves. Of course, this can and does happen locally. However, I understand that there is great power and impact upon our lives as we stretch ourselves and seek to minister in Christ's name within another culture.

Quite frankly, this has been a difficult trip for me to consider. As I've grown older, I've also grown less tolerant of being away from home. I like being with my wife and my kids. And, while my boys are still in the home, I don't want to miss any part of their life with Sherry and me together. But, as my bride reminds me, this experience, as it has done for so many who have walked this road ahead of me, will be life-changing. And, as I seek to be the minister of reconciliation God has called me/us to be, I look forward to meeting with and enjoying my brothers and sisters in Christ in Africa.

As I progress, join me in prayer that all of us on the team will have our eyes and ears wide open to what God has in store for each of us and the courage to follow Him. Also, that God will not only protect us on the trip, but that He'll continue watching over our loved ones at home.

I hope to keep you posted as we progress, but I just don't know what opportunities will be present to update the blog.

Stay tuned!