Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Bumby Roads Ahead

Greetings once again from beautiful Uganda! Our days here on the ground are quickly winding down. Unfortunately, the number of kids we still have to see doesn't seem to diminish as quickly. We still have about 50 kids to see in the next three days at a number of schools. With the Lord's help, I believe we will be able to see all of them!

Sunday afternoon was a great time as we headed after church to Kiwatule Recreation Center for lunch and a time of relaxation. We ordered Lake Victoria Talapia (as is our custom on at least one Sunday while in Uganda) and while we waited nearly three hours for the food, we were able to visit a recreation of the ancient tribal villages that once dotted Uganda. Each of the dozen or so tribes that occupy this beautiful land have a unique building style depending on their location in northern, southern or central Uganda. It was fun to watch the faces of our Ugandan hosts as they each located their tribal ancestors and imagined life in those huts. In actuality, things have not changed all that much with homes still being built from mud bricks but the straw roof has now been replaced with tile or more commonly, tin.

Monday was spent visiting 21 students throughout the Kampala area. Tuesday brought at trip to Kassanda. Kassanda is located about 85 KM outside of Kampala and is only accessed through some of the roughest roads you can imagine. After an arduous journey, we were treated to a luncheon of avacado, PB & J sandwhiches (we brought those), Casava (a root vegetable) and Chai tea. The girls were able to meet Pastor Fatima for the first time. She has been the pastor at Kassanda for some time. We love spending time with her. Jim described this place well when he said it is full of peace.

Tonight the girls get to speak with Lisa Steele at the EPC Women's Event that includes a matoke cooking contest, a traditional dress event and then the teaching time with the gals. Jim and I will spend the three hours or so meeting with the men in a roundtable discussion. We're all looking forward to the rest of the day.

Thank you for your continued prayers and for your support in this endeavor. God is doing some amazing things in not only our lives, but the lives of the children as well.

2 comments:

NancyJ said...

I have LOVED reading your posts and the girls' email accounts! Without minimizing the years of herculean accomplishments God has blessed through you, David, hearing things from the perspective of 2 20-something "normal" parishioners - as opposed to an educated and gifted "professional" - makes it seem all the more RAW and REAL and like something ANYONE could relate to and visualize! It's been even more heart-wrenching to picture Angie or Danielle with the children or the ladies...or the food...as you've so colorfully described everything!!

Please give them our love, give yourself a hug too...and know we're missing you all more than we can say, but are in awe of what God is doing through you!!

Love and PRAYERS! Nancy

lownote67 said...

Pretty amazing stuff! I'm hoping we can join you next year!