It's Monday evening here in Kampala and Dan and I have returned from a very long but exciting day in the Jinja - a city 150 km directly east of Kampala. Jinja is famous as the source of the Nile and Dan and I got to experience where the Nile forms from Lake Victoria and begins its trek northward to the Mediterranean Sea. There are some incredible falls at an area called Speke. Dan shot some great pictures and I got some great videos. But before we headed to the source of the Nile, we distributed the final 13 pairs of shoes at individual homes today. What a blessing to be a blessing on your behalf. These homes are nothing more than sticks and mud with straw or rusted metal roofing. Without the help of all of you, these children would not have had much of anything for Christmas. Instead, they have received new shoes and socks for the coming school year. We especially enjoyed spending time with the Garrett's sponsored children. I'm bringing some video home from them and from a few others as well.
We also located and stopped by an organization called Suubi (hope) that works with women who have been displaced by war-torn Northern Uganda. These women make beautiful beads that are then shipped to the US for sale in boutiques around Denver. We hope to see a partnership develop with them in the future. I shot some great footage of this young American couple from the Northeast who have only been in Uganda for a short time. They are to be married in two weeks here in Uganda.
Dan and I enjoyed our last dinner together in Uganda at the guest house. We dined on burgers and chips to celebrate our last night together. It's been an awesome trip for both of us and I especially appreciate him joining me. It's been an amazing experience that I hope each of you will have a chance to share someday.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Being the Church
This Sunday, instead of meeting inside Killian Middle School for our Gathering and "going to church", Crosspointe canceled the morning Gathering and became the church. We met outside in 25 degree cold and enjoyed some hot coffee and donuts before we gathered together to sing a Christmas carol, pray, and get into our teams. Gifts in hand, we separated into 8 teams to head to the homes of 8 families that CCA had helped us identify who could use our help and encouragement.
Thank you to all the team leaders and everyone else who put much thought and prayer into this. I know the families feel very special and blessed that they were chosen to receive this godly kindness.
We would love to hear your experience of the day. How did this experience affect you? What was your favorite moment of the morning?
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sunday in Uganda
Today was an amazing Sunday! Dan and I were able to meet so many of the sponsored children and their parents as they gathered together for the holiday. The service began at 10:00 a.m. with praise and worship that continued until 11:45 when I was called up to preach. As you know, this was a big moment for me and for the UCP as I deliverd a message on Zaccheus entitled, A Little Man Encounters A Big God. My focus was Zach's repentance and the evidence of that repentance in the form of resitution for the money he had stolen. I had to name both Pastor Joseph and Director Vincent as unrepentant theives. It was not my favorite hour of the trip. The people just listened with somber faces not really wanting to belive what they were hearing but they know that it is the truth. Both men have confessed to the church but no restitution has been made. Both men will return to prison the day after Christmas if they do not make the first of their six payments.
We left the church and headed to Pastor Michael's house where his wife Mabel had prepared a traditional Ugandan feast and where I was able to join in the cooking and whip up a quick stir-fry dish - Thai Green Curry. It really was good but pretty spicy compared to the bland food of the Ugandans. Dan I feasted on yams, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, hot coleslaw, beef, peas and peppers, matoke with G-nut sauce and of course, stir-fried grasshoppers! You read correctly - Grasshoppers - a real delicacy and they really taste good!
From lunch we went an hour across town to the Full Gospel Church to enjoy a special musical celebration in our honor and then to hand out the remaining batch of 100 shoes. On Monday we head to Jinga to meet with the people from Suubi and do some sightseeing. We have 13 pairs left of the 1480 to hand out today in individual children's homes.
I know we had an exciting day but I also want to hear about your Christmas visits. What I have heard has been amazing. Share some of your stories!
We left the church and headed to Pastor Michael's house where his wife Mabel had prepared a traditional Ugandan feast and where I was able to join in the cooking and whip up a quick stir-fry dish - Thai Green Curry. It really was good but pretty spicy compared to the bland food of the Ugandans. Dan I feasted on yams, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, hot coleslaw, beef, peas and peppers, matoke with G-nut sauce and of course, stir-fried grasshoppers! You read correctly - Grasshoppers - a real delicacy and they really taste good!
From lunch we went an hour across town to the Full Gospel Church to enjoy a special musical celebration in our honor and then to hand out the remaining batch of 100 shoes. On Monday we head to Jinga to meet with the people from Suubi and do some sightseeing. We have 13 pairs left of the 1480 to hand out today in individual children's homes.
I know we had an exciting day but I also want to hear about your Christmas visits. What I have heard has been amazing. Share some of your stories!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday and Saturday's Events
The last two days have been long days! We made our trek up to see Pastor Fatima in Kassanda that included a traditional Ugandan dance. Two bottles of water...2000 shillings, 1 chocolate bar...750 shillings, the look on Dan's face when the dancer shook her boodie in front of him...priceless! As we have expected, we've run out of shoes at every location. We've not even been close. By the time the shoes are handed out to the project children, there are not many left for the sometimes hundreds gathered. It's actually harder then I thought it would be as we have to deal with the dissapointed kids and the sometimes angry parents.
I've been proud of how the team has organized things this time. After the first day I told them that we had to be more organized. We were just dumping boxes and fishing through sizes as the mobs attacked. Since that day we have been organizing our shoes when we arrive by sizes and by girls and boys and then we try to do an orderly distribution. This works for a bit but then all hades breakes loose when people see that the shoes are depleating rapidly. Then it becomes parents grabbing at shoes for their kids and we have to intervene. I only wish we had more pairs! It's an amazing site to see. We've got great videos and tons of photos.
When we returned from Kassanda we went back to the church and reloaded before heading out to the Evangelistic Church of the Lord located not to far from Kiwatule. Once again we had well over 250 kids and only 100 pairs of shoes. We also have the problem this year of not having shoes in the smaller sizes because of waiting so long to purchase them (at least that is what Michael is saying). We had a great celebration with them and then handed out the shoes.
Today (Saturday) started off early with a visit to Kiwatule. I have never seen so many kids packed into that building. Michael and Grace both said it was the largest group ever assembled there. They were literally hanging out by the windows and doors and standing room only from the stage on to the back. I suspect there were every bit of 400 kids and we had only 40 pairs of shoes to deliver. Most of the kids had been there since 8 a.m. and we didn't arrive until 9:30. After three hours of music, dance and skits (yes, you read that correctly), it was deemed that we could not pass out shoes in the church without creating a dangerous mob scene. 40 project kids were discreetly ushered to the office area to receive shoes. The remaining children and parents were sent home empty-handed. That was a very difficult time for me. I was tired, hot and thirsty and I had a seat. Most everyone present did not have a chair as the chairs were on loan to a local revival. Kids were spread everywhere squatting, standing and a few seated. I don't know how they managed. Both Dan and I were led to stage for a dance. I doubt the video to that will ever see the light of day!
When we sent everyone home, we grabbed a bite to each at Garden City before trekking to Entebbee to Jubillee Full Gospel Church. Once again, hundreds of kids and only 100 pairs of shoes. Dan and I began to hand out shoes and then things got to crazy with parents and kids barking out things in Lugandan and our English just wasn't cutting it. We finally just pulled back and let them fight it out so to speak. There was so much grabbing that at the end, we had six or eight mis-matched shoes. Several kids got out with two left feet. We sent Elder Kato through the crowd and got most of them corrected. This church was full of beautiful people. It also had a rather strange young man who led us across the street to his small reptile farm. We got to experience some really huge vipers (I mean four to five feet long and 6 or 8 inches around). He just kept climbing around inside these concrete vats full of bushes and grass and pulling out these poisonous snakes and holding them out to us. I have some amazing video and Dan has amazing photos.
They dropped us off at 7:30 p.m. at the hotel. We were able to get quick showers before a light dinner while watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition in the beautiful outdoor TV room. Tomorrow is a big day so I'll sign off for now.
I've been proud of how the team has organized things this time. After the first day I told them that we had to be more organized. We were just dumping boxes and fishing through sizes as the mobs attacked. Since that day we have been organizing our shoes when we arrive by sizes and by girls and boys and then we try to do an orderly distribution. This works for a bit but then all hades breakes loose when people see that the shoes are depleating rapidly. Then it becomes parents grabbing at shoes for their kids and we have to intervene. I only wish we had more pairs! It's an amazing site to see. We've got great videos and tons of photos.
When we returned from Kassanda we went back to the church and reloaded before heading out to the Evangelistic Church of the Lord located not to far from Kiwatule. Once again we had well over 250 kids and only 100 pairs of shoes. We also have the problem this year of not having shoes in the smaller sizes because of waiting so long to purchase them (at least that is what Michael is saying). We had a great celebration with them and then handed out the shoes.
Today (Saturday) started off early with a visit to Kiwatule. I have never seen so many kids packed into that building. Michael and Grace both said it was the largest group ever assembled there. They were literally hanging out by the windows and doors and standing room only from the stage on to the back. I suspect there were every bit of 400 kids and we had only 40 pairs of shoes to deliver. Most of the kids had been there since 8 a.m. and we didn't arrive until 9:30. After three hours of music, dance and skits (yes, you read that correctly), it was deemed that we could not pass out shoes in the church without creating a dangerous mob scene. 40 project kids were discreetly ushered to the office area to receive shoes. The remaining children and parents were sent home empty-handed. That was a very difficult time for me. I was tired, hot and thirsty and I had a seat. Most everyone present did not have a chair as the chairs were on loan to a local revival. Kids were spread everywhere squatting, standing and a few seated. I don't know how they managed. Both Dan and I were led to stage for a dance. I doubt the video to that will ever see the light of day!
When we sent everyone home, we grabbed a bite to each at Garden City before trekking to Entebbee to Jubillee Full Gospel Church. Once again, hundreds of kids and only 100 pairs of shoes. Dan and I began to hand out shoes and then things got to crazy with parents and kids barking out things in Lugandan and our English just wasn't cutting it. We finally just pulled back and let them fight it out so to speak. There was so much grabbing that at the end, we had six or eight mis-matched shoes. Several kids got out with two left feet. We sent Elder Kato through the crowd and got most of them corrected. This church was full of beautiful people. It also had a rather strange young man who led us across the street to his small reptile farm. We got to experience some really huge vipers (I mean four to five feet long and 6 or 8 inches around). He just kept climbing around inside these concrete vats full of bushes and grass and pulling out these poisonous snakes and holding them out to us. I have some amazing video and Dan has amazing photos.
They dropped us off at 7:30 p.m. at the hotel. We were able to get quick showers before a light dinner while watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition in the beautiful outdoor TV room. Tomorrow is a big day so I'll sign off for now.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Mpigi
Another amazing yet exhausting day! Even Dan admitted that he was
getting weary. Today we visited the Mpigi EPC. Pastor Jimmy was
waiting with his hand out as usual. I told him that I had no
authorization to give him any money for school fees (he said something
about he himself going back to school or some such). We had a great
turnout of kids. Wait until you see the video. We are running hundreds
short at each place as we expected but no angry mob. We did have to
hand some socks out at a place near Kiwatule (the one that used to be
with us in the EPC and then left) as the crowd was so huge but we had
only a small amount of shoes (100) but in sizes that were way to large
for many of the kids. I have a great picture of about 150 kids
surrounding me with their shoes and socks. Just as we were finishing
the picture, the sky opened up and one of the meanest rainstorms I've
encounter in Uganda fell on us for nearly an hour. We were stranded
for the time anyway as we had to send the van off for repairs. We have
been having some trouble with the radiator and a piece on the front
right suspension. I have no idea what it cost to fix but we had to do
it to make the trip to Kassanda tomorrow.
We got to eat at Garden City today. Dan was impressed at the dozen or
so waiters that were each trying to get us to eat their food. I
settled for the mixed grill from Pardis and the others had chicken
and/or pizza. So far we have done well on the budget and have kept the
team happy and hydrated. It's a good thing since it was very warm
again today until the storm moved in.
I have been preaching my same Christmas message at all three churches
having saved the Zaccheus sermon about forgiveness and restoration for
the big crowd on Sunday (at Michael and Kato's request). Our crowd
tonight was real small because the rains came at the time of the
midweek meeting.
I am not certain of our schedule on Sunday for food but Dan got to
experience a small Talapia at The Chef. He had the hairy chop as they
call it and I had the chaps. I am looking forward to Indian on
Saturday night at Garden City. We are always somewhat tired as
they are picking us up at 8 a.m. sharp and returning us to the hotel at 7:30
or 8:00 each night. I think we have about 400 more shoes to give away
tomorrow and Monday on the way to Jinga. We are making great headway!
I'll keep you up to date as I can.
getting weary. Today we visited the Mpigi EPC. Pastor Jimmy was
waiting with his hand out as usual. I told him that I had no
authorization to give him any money for school fees (he said something
about he himself going back to school or some such). We had a great
turnout of kids. Wait until you see the video. We are running hundreds
short at each place as we expected but no angry mob. We did have to
hand some socks out at a place near Kiwatule (the one that used to be
with us in the EPC and then left) as the crowd was so huge but we had
only a small amount of shoes (100) but in sizes that were way to large
for many of the kids. I have a great picture of about 150 kids
surrounding me with their shoes and socks. Just as we were finishing
the picture, the sky opened up and one of the meanest rainstorms I've
encounter in Uganda fell on us for nearly an hour. We were stranded
for the time anyway as we had to send the van off for repairs. We have
been having some trouble with the radiator and a piece on the front
right suspension. I have no idea what it cost to fix but we had to do
it to make the trip to Kassanda tomorrow.
We got to eat at Garden City today. Dan was impressed at the dozen or
so waiters that were each trying to get us to eat their food. I
settled for the mixed grill from Pardis and the others had chicken
and/or pizza. So far we have done well on the budget and have kept the
team happy and hydrated. It's a good thing since it was very warm
again today until the storm moved in.
I have been preaching my same Christmas message at all three churches
having saved the Zaccheus sermon about forgiveness and restoration for
the big crowd on Sunday (at Michael and Kato's request). Our crowd
tonight was real small because the rains came at the time of the
midweek meeting.
I am not certain of our schedule on Sunday for food but Dan got to
experience a small Talapia at The Chef. He had the hairy chop as they
call it and I had the chaps. I am looking forward to Indian on
Saturday night at Garden City. We are always somewhat tired as
they are picking us up at 8 a.m. sharp and returning us to the hotel at 7:30
or 8:00 each night. I think we have about 400 more shoes to give away
tomorrow and Monday on the way to Jinga. We are making great headway!
I'll keep you up to date as I can.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
600 Pairs Delivered.
The last two days are unlike any I have spent in Uganda! I knew it would be different but it has been amazing and exhausting all at the same time. We spent the better part of 6 hours collecting 1300 pairs of the shoes yesterday (Tuesday) and we had to go back for another 2 hours today to get the remaining 180 or so. The market is jammed like I have never seen. I had to keep bribing the parking man to let us stay and load the shoes. We rented a truck for 50,000 to get the bulk of the shoes. It was a very nice Muslim man that clearly stated to me that the rule of Jesus is through and it is now time for Mohamed to rule. We all pray that one day he will be saved!
It is very, very warm here - about 38C - and absolutely no breeze. There is no air-conditioning at the ARA (they are in the window but they do nothing more then move the air since the freon is long gone from them). We do, however, have high-speed internet which makes keeping up with folks at home much easier. Tonight we were invited to the ARA Club Christmas Party out by the pool. We met some interesting Missionary Aviation Fellowship folks from Canada and another missionary family. We mostly just felt out of place as visitors to Uganda while the vast majority of the members of this ARA Club are Ugandan residents.
I begin preaching tomorrow in Mpigi and then Kassanda on Friday. I will preach tomorrow night at Kiwatule. Dan is in for a treat tomorrow as we get to travel out for his first taste of the Ugandan Bush country. Friday's trip to Kassanda is even more remote. I am looking forward to seeing his response (or shall I say his backside's response) to the treacherous terrain!
We have not seen or heard from either Vincent or Joseph and they have not troubled us during the day. We did learn some interesting things from Michael about how the police have been troubling him about bringing the American visitors to the police station. They have a nice letter drafted from an attorney explaining the connection between the UCP and the EPC. Michael told us that if they had shared the troubles they were having with the police, we might not have come. He is right!
We are planning a Ugandan feast for Dan on Sunday that will include grasshoppers and white ants! Today he had chaps and chips at The Chef in Ntinda! You should have seen his face when the plate when down. It looks like a large, battered sausage with fuzzy things connected to it. Good eats!
Thanks for all your prayers! I will update you again when we can.
It is very, very warm here - about 38C - and absolutely no breeze. There is no air-conditioning at the ARA (they are in the window but they do nothing more then move the air since the freon is long gone from them). We do, however, have high-speed internet which makes keeping up with folks at home much easier. Tonight we were invited to the ARA Club Christmas Party out by the pool. We met some interesting Missionary Aviation Fellowship folks from Canada and another missionary family. We mostly just felt out of place as visitors to Uganda while the vast majority of the members of this ARA Club are Ugandan residents.
I begin preaching tomorrow in Mpigi and then Kassanda on Friday. I will preach tomorrow night at Kiwatule. Dan is in for a treat tomorrow as we get to travel out for his first taste of the Ugandan Bush country. Friday's trip to Kassanda is even more remote. I am looking forward to seeing his response (or shall I say his backside's response) to the treacherous terrain!
We have not seen or heard from either Vincent or Joseph and they have not troubled us during the day. We did learn some interesting things from Michael about how the police have been troubling him about bringing the American visitors to the police station. They have a nice letter drafted from an attorney explaining the connection between the UCP and the EPC. Michael told us that if they had shared the troubles they were having with the police, we might not have come. He is right!
We are planning a Ugandan feast for Dan on Sunday that will include grasshoppers and white ants! Today he had chaps and chips at The Chef in Ntinda! You should have seen his face when the plate when down. It looks like a large, battered sausage with fuzzy things connected to it. Good eats!
Thanks for all your prayers! I will update you again when we can.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Safe and Sound
We arrived safe and sound late last evening after a long but uneventful trip. Our hotel is absolutely beautiful and the security is unbelievably tight. We feel sort of like diplomats! Dan is settling in just fine. The money for shoes arrived via wire transfer and we were able to get 29 million shillings to buy 1407 pairs of shoes and stockings! It was a huge ordeal at the bank but that is the way we wanted it to be - difficult for people to get money out from project funds.
Keep praying for us as we begin distributing shoes tonight and as I (David) share at the Kiwatule church tonight. There has been some dissension in the church over our treatment of the former pastor and project leader who stole from us. I will update you as soon as I can.
Bye for now.
Keep praying for us as we begin distributing shoes tonight and as I (David) share at the Kiwatule church tonight. There has been some dissension in the church over our treatment of the former pastor and project leader who stole from us. I will update you as soon as I can.
Bye for now.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sharing Christmas Presence
Yesterday, Pastor Dave and the worship team took us through the history of bell and gifts and their association with Christmas. Each of us was invited to reflect on the Gift of the Magi. We were asked to consider how the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, were amazingly profound gifts for each of Jesus' traits as King, Priest, and Sacrificial Lamb.
We were also asked to recognize which gifts we can bring to Jesus. Specifically, we were asked:
-Write a sentence of prayer to the King
-For whom do you need to pray this Christmas?
-What can you sacrifice this holiday season?
I look forward to your responses. Here is this week's heuristic...
We were also asked to recognize which gifts we can bring to Jesus. Specifically, we were asked:
-Write a sentence of prayer to the King
-For whom do you need to pray this Christmas?
-What can you sacrifice this holiday season?
I look forward to your responses. Here is this week's heuristic...
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Getting This Christmas Right Part 1
This morning, PD took us through some of the traditions of the Christmas season. He talked about where some of those traditional elements come from , and why we use them. Then he asked if we just go through the motions of the Christmas season, or do we really recognize it as an amazing time of worship and use those elements to remind us that Christ is the "reason for the season?"How about you? What elements/rituals help to focus your mind on the meaning behind this time of year? Which ones do you simply do out of tradition?
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