Don't like the food? Bang!

My night watchman, Abel (here they say "ahh-Bell"), just returned from helping bury his 16 year old brother, Markson, in southern Uganda. Markson attended a larger boarding school (boarding is VERY common here- due to British influence). He and some friends complained to the headmaster (principal) of their school that the food was bitter and could they get the corn millet from some place else so the kids would be able to eat it? He roughly refused them. So they planned peacefully to ask the cook (here called the master cook) if he could do anything. But the headmaster found out, hired the local police (some are decent, some are corrupt) and those local police waited and ambushed the boys outside their dormitory. Instead of using rubber bullets, they used a real one. One shot was all it took.
Markson was the number one student in his class all through school. He was peacefully going to request help for a frustrating situation. But he was murdered in cold blood.
Do you want to know how Abel and his family found out exactly what happened? The headmaster, audacious and aggressive, went to the family funeral with a contingent of body guards (made up of some police, plus others) and told the family it wasn't his fault that Markson died; he'd asked for it. Ummm. What?!? The headmaster went with body guards because they lynch people here and he was afraid the family would kill him on the spot. But he says he had nothing to do with the hiring of the police.
FYI supposedly a small group of police were arrested and are being interrogated. Nobody has yet determined who shot their gun and so far, there is further confusion. But meanwhile a family and a school mourn the loss of their top senior boy. What a waste.
Corruption is common in many parts of the world. But I think that until we know a personal story, we remain aloof and disengaged. By knowing a firsthand story, how do you feel now? I feel sick and angry.
And yet I'm trusting Jesus to do His thing. It may not be in this world. And I am not being dismissive or simply using a cliche when I say that God knows and He cares. He is trustworthy to care for even these types of situations. Pray He will bring justice in His way. And pray for Abel and for his family. Thanks.

Mugisha Emmy Graduated!!

Although Mugisha finished his classes in November, traditionally in the British style (it affects a lot here), the graduation ceremony wasn't held until this past Friday. I was honored to be invited to the graduation, joining Mugisha's wife Winnie as we enjoyed the ceremony. Mugisha even got to share a special speech. The school where he graduated is called Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST) and about 70 people graduated that day. Congratulations, Mugisha!

The most unique thing about this accomplishment for all 70 is that only 1% - yes, ONE PERCENT of Africans get to attend university. These people are the next church leaders in Africa and potentially the WORLD! Will you pray for each one to be faithful and strengthened by the Lord as they step out to lead in ministries here in Africa?

Oh, and the reason only 1% get to attend university is simply that education is expensive and many people can't finish grade school, let alone attend university, simply because of poverty. Africans are so passionate and hungry to learn, able to quickly grasp concepts and yet limited by poverty and corruption (in many cases corruption causes poverty!). Pray more people will one day be able to finish their schooling and achieve all God has in store for them.

The Class of 2009

Heritage had it's graduation on May 29th with 4 students graduating. Mischa is from Holland and will soon be returning there. He wants to be a nurse-anesthesiologist. Cleopatra is from Uganda and she wants to study interior design. Yang is from Uganda and wants to study law, possibly in Great Britain. Haley is from the USA and is our first WGM Uganda Missionary Kid to graduate here. We were all very excited for her big day! She wants to study forestry.




Haley celebrates with her sister Rachel and other friends from Heritage.


Christina and Jean at grad.

Ohio Christian University team in Uganda!!!

LeeAnn and Tim Daniel led a team to Uganda during May. I got to be their host on this end. LeeAnn is a WGM Missionary Kid from Honduras. She came here a few years back to minister as our field finance office manager, and in January she married Tim. Tim I knew from more than 10 years back when he was a Volunteer In Action in Bolivia. They'd met in college, and for me to host them along with the other team members it was like a mini-family reunion.

The team did a ton of things while in Uganda. Following you'll see some photos of their time here. They worked on Buvuma Island putting a floor foundation in (and pouring cement on 1/4 of it; the rest is ready for the next team to pour more and begin building walls)! They also ministered to many people- especially kids- as they worked there on the island, in Kampala area churches, and even simply by meeting folks daily in shops, at Heritage, etc. By helping us at HIS, they did about 2-weeks' work in 2 days (!) organizing our book room, and MAN I was so blessed to have them help with our Youth Bash (read on below).

Why don't you join WGM in ministry by coming on a work team yourself? There is a lot to discover and there are so many ways to minister. The times are exausting, honestly, but it is a time of joy, blessings, and wonderful Kingdom Building!

OCU Team on Safari

MK Day with the OCU team!

Years ago someone started the tradition of MK day in Bolivia when I was there. Then I arrived in Uganda and they do it here too! MK means Missionary Kid, and we have some pretty wonderful ones! Not all of them on the Uganda field are pictured here, but I can tell you they had a great time with the OCU team, who took them swimming on a Saturday. The team was so awesome- they brought floats, water guns, and special American snacks that the kids hadn't seen for a long time. How kind and considerate!
MK Day is simply time spent with the MKs to minister to them, help them have fun, and make them feel loved and special. The kids LOVE it- at any age!

A Trip to Buvuma Island

It is no easy trip to "run" out to Buvuma, a 2 hour boat ride into Lake Victoria. When teams commit to go, they are committing to a lot. But the results are heavenly with eternal results.

First, the OCU team drove 2 hours through Kampala and Uganda traffic, arriving at the "launch site" (where boats dock) in Masese. The photos show how muddy and messy the site is. They don't put docks out into the lake, but instead every one and every thing is carried to the boats.

We keep things stored at our Masese Africa Gospel Church, such as mattresses, mosquito nets, food items for the time on the island, cooking supplies, cement, etc. All of these are hauled out to the boat from the church, a good 10 minutes walk away. Yes, even the boat motor is stored when not in use. Otherwise it would be stolen. And yes, it weighs a lot yet the men habitually carry it back and forth to keep it safe.



Jimmy, one of the team members, really displayed a gift with loving and entertaining kids. Here he is at the launch site trying to connect with more children. They LOVE the attention!



Once the team reaches the island, the items in the boat must be hauled again up the hill to the school site. On the island, in order to put rocks in the floor foundation of the newest building being built, men helped transport rocks from the lake edge and from other island parts to the site- on bicycles. It takes HOURS to transport these heavy or bulky items, and yet with no cars or trucks on the island, this is the main mode of transport other than walking!

interacting with the island kids

More Island Photos

The team really connected with the Kikongo community on Buvuma Island. There is so much need there, yet you can see that bit by bit, needs are being met. The school children and orphans in the school are being reached with education, nourishment, the Word of God, and with love. Pray the seeds being planted now will grow and mature in Christ's care.

OCU team ministers in Katale and Bukasa Wakiso

When the team came, one of their jobs was to do Vacation Bible School lessons for a few churches. They learned how to teach kids (only 1 OCU member is studying education as their major), how to sing "Only a Boy Named David" and then of course how to pause between ideas so the translator could tell the story (David and Goliath) again in Luganda. At both Katale and Bukasa Wakiso there were about 100 kids (or more) and the team did a wonderful job leading lessons, singing songs, playing with the children, giving them coloring sheets, and just generally showing the love of Christ to them.

A church of Delight Hopson's (a WGM missionary on our field) had donated funds to buy items for both churches/schools. Both of the Africa Gospel Churches also run schools for their communities and do amazing outreach through that open door of educating kids. With the funds the Illinois church gave, the schools were greatly blessed with many gifts (chalk boards, pencils, paper, posters, soccer and other balls, etc.).

Children are so entertaining to watch. I loved the photo of the little girls holding hands as they headed home.



And this boy's smile could sure melt your heart!



The children were very interested when one of the OCU girls (Kari) showed them their photo right after taking it.

Pastor Wilson demonstrates the boda

Yes, all around Uganda you can find refrigerators, wind shields, goats, pigs, chickens, and very large Nile perch fish, other bodas, sofas, etc. all being carried on these small motorcycles. A boda is actually called a "boda boda" and the word originally came from "border to border" (for where they'd take you) but with the English accent kind of on a curve here, it became boda boda, and shortened to boda.

All of that to say that many people take them to work, home, shopping, or just around. I'm trying to make a collection of interesting things I've seen riding on them. In this photo it is pretty tame- Pastor Wilson and some of the kids from his church in Katale.

Welcome to Junior High!

It has become a tradition during the last week of school to welcome the grade 6 into junior high. Many of the kids from the 7, 8 and 9th grades come to the party (I serve ice cream) and they participate in the party activities, games, eating, etc.
I’ve heard stories of the kids in grade 6 each year getting so excited waiting to enter junior high that they can’t even sleep the night before the big welcome!



Jean was my wonderful photographer during both the Youth Bash (see below) and the Welcome to Junior High activities. Here she is having fun with the water balloon launcher. Yes- I don't know how to work her camera or the lighting would have been better.



Rachel and Ruth WERE in 8th grade, but will enter 9th in August. I just thought this was a cute photo of them.

A creative use of wheeled trolley-carts

A few years ago I saw a camp (Delanco in NJ) use little “trolley carts” for teen games. I asked around here if we could have any made and “poof” we got 4!





So we had a number of games using the carts, including many moments of hilarity. I’m sure they will play key roles in future youth events as well, but their inaugural events were the Youth Bash and the Welcome to Junior High parties.

Sumo with Junior high

Further down my posts you can see the first games we had with the "sumo" idea. The junior high was really excited that we could play it, too, as they'd heard a lot of funny things about it.

When Christina and Jean (WGM VIA- Volunteers In Action) "suited up", they had some pretty entertaining poses...

Slip-N-Slide with Junior High kiddos!

I think what is most scary to me about slip-n-slide is that I remember when the actual company came out with the yellow plastic when I was in junior high! That is more years ago than I wish to count! I’m glad the kids love it so well and that we’ve had some pretty funny memories created with water, soap and plastic.

Did you know you can slide further if you add dish soap TO YOUR TORSO, not so much to the plastic itself? Some kids got carried away and even had it in their hair ('cause that helps you slide if you land on your head?!), which then dripped into their eyes. That only needs to happen once for the teen to realize soaping the torso is all anyone needs...

End of School Year YOUTH BASH!!!

For the last youth group of the school year, we held a “Youth Bash”; 7 hours of youth games and activities at the school. Starting with about 15 or so games, some played indoors and most outdoors, we had a wonderful time with about 42 people in attendance. I have to say right up that if the OCU team hadn’t been there, the other youth helpers and I would have been struggling to work it all out. With about 10 adults leading, we had a really successful and fun time. Below are some highlights of the afternoon/evening…

Blind Volleyball and "Ultimate... What?"

Blind volleyball was a lot of fun with a giant beach ball that the OCU team brought. And playing Ultimate Frisbee was tricky. We first STARTED with the Frisbee, then turned it into “ultimate what” and replaced the Frisbee with eggs, a bunch of bananas, a bag of flour, and a few other surprises. In the bottom photo you can see Mischa intercepting the giant papaya we had. What a riot!

FYI I learned this game in Bolivia several years ago, where they ended the game with a dead fish as the "Frisbee". Talk about smelly! But the scales also sliced some fingers, so I decided to NOT throw a fish around.