September 1 - Day 8
Today is the day I most dread of my trip in Uganda. It is the day we venture out over 100km from Kampala out to the village of Kassanda. I was blessed to be part of planting a church in that area six years ago. The church is self-sufficient and growing and Crosspointe played a big part in helping them construct their church building. Don't misunderstand me. I love Kassanda and it's people. I dislike very much the arduous journey required to get there!
Jim was under the weather today so Grace, Robert and I loaded up early and headed out on the over three hour journey to get there. I held out some hope that this trip's version might be a bit smoother since the last time I was here, they were paving huge sections of the road. Sadly, the contractor simply laid blacktop over the dirt roads and it has cracked and fallen apart. The new contractor is digging the roads back up to fix them properly. Needless to say it was a bone-jarring
journey!
I was able to pay the fees for 4 children today and visit each of them at their school or home. These children are in a very remote part of Uganda and yet are performing very well. One of them is preparing to complete his A levels and prepare for University. We began with over 12 children in Kassanda but one by one they have either dropped from the program or moved into Kampala.
On the return trip to Kampala we drove straight into one of the most severe storms I have ever experienced in Uganda. I experienced hail for the first time! The hail has knocked out power to a good portion of the city. Thank God for generators! After pulling off the road several times due to lack of visibility, we finally made it back to the guest house.
We had new guests arrive today from Canada. They are a beautiful older couple from Vancouver Island, Canada who are here working with the Anglican church doing discipleship ministries. Over dinner we learned that they spent thirty years as missionaries to the Inuit in the Arctic Circle! What a change! From the Arctic Circle to the Equator. They told stories of weather in the Arctic with wind chill temps at minus 100. Today the mercury rose to about 90 degrees. Imagine that, a 190 degree difference. It doesn't even compute for me.
Tomorrow the Leadership Training Seminar begins. I will be teaching 50 Ugandan pastors and leaders through The Whole Story and then into leadership topics. I'm exicted about the possibilities and the influence God is allowing me to have in the churches represented by these pastors. Say a prayer for me, please.
Day 8 Recap - 1 bank. 3 schools. 4 students. Only a dozen or so remaining!
