Along highways and byways

 Arua 2012! On Friday, July 13th, Jean Komline arrived for a 6 week visit to Uganda. She has been a WGM Volunteer in the past and we adore her. Because she asked for a trip north to visit our missionaries in Arua (8-9 hrs. drive northwest), we all worked out a road trip which began on the 14th! 


Delight & Emilee Hopson, Kelly Hallahan, Anna Leon (volunteer), Jean & I piled into my Prado and headed north ''bright and early". Thankfully, we had a safe and uneventful drive, apart from seeing some elephants on the edge of Murchison Falls National Park. That was a nice break before we crossed the Nile into West Nile at Pakwatch, a town there. 


Upon reaching Arua, we all stayed with Scott & Meg Rambo, Kelly's brother. Those NJ folks are cool! (note: yes, I'm originally from Jersey too). ;) 


With so many guests at the Rambo home, we all took turns visiting, working, cooking, baby-holding. Emilee played with her "cousin" Missionary Kids. Since all MKs call the missionary adults "Aunt and Uncle", we also adopt each others' families and add non-relation "cousins" in the MKs. With close relationships which are so natural on the mission field, this support system is invaluable. Below: Emilee pushing Benjamin on the swing.

Rambo's have several animals at their home. Some for the family and/or security (dogs, a cat) and some for use, like this chicken. They've got about 14 chickens so far.

Below: Tim and his little brother Benja play together. 

Jean brought a Ukulele to Uganda! She has had a dream of learning unique instruments, and is succeeding so far! Here she is below teaching Emilee. 

Below: When a little boy walks up to you and asks you to read, do it. I found these moments sweet, and I learned how to become a knight!

Above: The Rambo's lemon tree was crazy-full with fruit while we were there. yes, we took some home. Lemon bars, here we come! 

Below: They also have some rabbits- which have probably had babies in the past week or so since momma was expecting at the time. 

Above: Manalive these homemade English muffins were AMAZING. Yes, I'm going to try to make some soon. YUM!!

A view from the Rambo's yard. Lovely!

On the way home to Kampala, we passed some typical but amazing village scenes. I thought you'd like to see how the countryside looks in Uganda.

A colorful church in a village

Pedestrians use the roadways for paths since they're often direct routes someplace. 

We came around a curve and found scraps of metal in the road at one point. They were not there by accident. This was (sadly) a method for thieves to pop someone's tires so they could get the car, items, people for whatever purposes they would choose. Thankfully the Lord showed them to me as I safely passed over them. Had we been travelling at night, the outcome could have been very bad. 

Homes in the north are square and often painted. 

Not pictured: We passed a lot of monkeys and baboons as we drove, as well as goats at times. All of these, plus pedestrians and other traffic, make for interesting driving which keeps you guessing/hopping! 

 Carrying items to/from market. The woman in red is also carrying her baby on her back. 

Besides foot traffic as "transport", there are a lot more bikes used in the north than in the city. These folks were walking up a hill so they hopped off to walk up. 

These pots are used for cooking. Delight & I bought some for plants, however. And in the background of this same photo are the rocks used for a base where grains are spread, and a smaller rock is used to pound/grind the grain.

 Countryside scenes. 

Abby, yes I was thinking of you when I saw this field. Love you bunches!

transporting your cattle to the city for slaughter/sale is tricky. Cattle here have super long and often curved horns. Imagine tying them into the truck but still needing a ride- these guys above had to sit very carefully!

And one more silly statue we passed on the road home (below).

Now I didn't get a chance to take photos of the mounds of fabric we bought while in Arua. We're all looking forward to having skirts and other items made. Smile!

We also had Sunday morning worship with Billy & Joanna Coppege and their 4 girls. However, all 4 girls were pretty sick while we were there, and then the Coppedges were expecting 8 South Sudanese pastors for some training on that Sunday night till Wed. So although we didn't get much of a chance to visit with them, it was still a blessed time. We arrived back in Kampala Tuesday night, safe and sound and only somewhat tired. We're all so thankful for a good and refreshing trip. 

Yard Work

Back in March or so, you may remember I wrote a post about a theft on my property. 3 or so men came over the wall and stole several items off of and from inside my car. They actually returned 3 times over a period of 5 weeks and so we all worked at stepping up security on the property. We'd heard of a theft at the quarry near my home, where the thieves also killed the night watchman, so we were definitely concerned for the safety of my guards as well as the house, etc. 


Since that time we've been actively working to clear out dark and crowded areas in the yard, in order for my night watchman/men to see that no one was trying to come inside. I had a large and shady but non-producing (fruit) mango tree. It took me a while to decide to remove it entirely, and I still hate that we cut out a 60 ft. healthy tree, but am glad for the clearer views of the corners. We also removed an anemic palm tree, an interfering Australian umbrella tree, an almond (not edible) tree and a small pine tree, as well as clearing out or moving some matooke (banana) trees. 


What was interesting was to have these all taken out by Peter & Bosco, my 2 day watchmen. They are responsible to keep the yard and property in shape, but their work was way beyond regular duties, and they did all of this without machinery. We invested in a new ax and a panga (machete), and that was about it for equipment they used! Amazing! 

 But what do you do with the wood once it is cut? I approached that same quarry business and offered my wood. It was not processed into lumber, although there was some really good wood (strong and healthy!) wood there. They wanted it for heating rock before they blasted it, and we were glad to have them come collect the huge piles which had sat for a while in the yard. Above, the quarry guys load the wood into one of their trucks. I was really glad to not have to worry about trying to haul the stuff myself. They did the work; it reduced the price we got on selling the wood, but it was worth it. 

Above: the truck was overloaded but they essentially took all 5 trees' wood within one trip. 

Next step: get rid of the large stump (about 400 or so lbs.). Peter and Bosco cut the trunk in half (what a job with only an ax and a machete!) and rolled the 2 halves out the gate. Outside in my neighbor's empty plot, they worked for about 1 week making that trunk into charcoal. Altogether, Bosco and Peter worked about 5 days on the chopping of the trees and then the charcoal. They earned the small amount the quarry paid us for the wood, and they also benefited from the charcoal which they took home for cooking. 

So here is my yard (below) without those trees. We did plant a jacaranda (I love the purple flowers) but in a new location so that even as it grows, it will not block views for security. Yes, if you've never seen all my yard before, I have elephant statues in the yard. It is a rental home, and I don't know what all the murals mean, but they've added character to the place. :) I also added bougainvillea plants all around the edges of the walls, so that as they grow up they will add privacy and thorns to deter thieves. And my landlord paid to put razor wire around the perimeter, so we have that bonus. And Dori my fierce looking (but sweet) pound dog finishes out the security additions since March.

In Memory of Mugisha Emmy

On June 25th, we received word that Rev. Emmy Mugisha had suddenly died. He had not been diagnosed with diabetes but apparently suffered from it. His untimely and shocking death is both devastating to his family and to the Africa Gospel Church, Uganda. 

Above: Emmy and Winnie Mugisha, at the ceremony in Nov. 2011 where he was installed as the AGC Uganda General Church Secretary. 

Emmy leaves behind his wife Winnie and their 4 children, ages 2-15. Please be in prayer for Winnie and the family. (please note: names here are typically listed last name first, and we can call the person by their first or last name depending on how we know them). 

Because he was from Southwest Uganda, about 9 hours away, the family wished to bury him there. In common Ugandan custom, this move was to happen rather quickly. So on Sunday morning he passed away, and by Monday morning we had a memorial service for him here in Kampala, before a large group traveled to Rukungiri for the funeral and burial.

Will you join us in praying for Winnie Mugisha and her family? Will you pray for the AGC Uganda as the Church works to step in and fill gaps and to continue moving forward? We need more leaders here who are educated and equipped so further ministries might be accomplished. 


While we mourn and seek steps to move forward, let me be very clear. We will miss Mugisha Emmy. He affected many lives and has left behind many people who loved him.  However, firstly- we do not want him back here. He is celebrating with his Savior, and what glory that must be!

Secondly, Praise the LORD for His plans! Although we have experienced quite a shock and are now in an adjustment period, we know that STILL, Jesus is in control. He can be trusted. He has good plans in this world, and He STILL deserves praise and worship. At times we all have to say goodbye to saints on this side of heaven. But Praise the LORD that we will not only meet them again in Heaven one day, but we will do so in the presence of our wonderful and blessed Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Above: Mugisha receiving his certificate during his ordination a few years ago. 

Mangoes!!

On the way back to Kampala from Murchison, we stopped at one of the fruit vendors along the roadsides and picked up about 15 lbs. of mangoes. Both Anna’s are gourmet cooks (I certainly am not!) and we recruited Delight Hopson (and her kitchen) for a day we cooked up a storm! It was quite an enjoyable day, and I learned a lot of recipes! 

Murchison Safari 2012

In June I was asked to take a few summer visitors on safari to Murchison Falls National Park. Anna C. was a guest of Jonathan & Lisa Mayo, and Anna L. is a summer Volunteer coming from Asbury University, I was very happy to drive them.  Here are a few photos from that journey/adventure. 

Above: We took a boat ride up the Nile River to Murchison Falls, seeing a variety of wildlife along the way.  Most folks look for the hippos and crocodiles in the water and along the shore. We also happened to see some shy (far away and leaving) elephants, some kob (Uganda-specific impala), warthogs, waterbuck, and a variety of birds along the river's edge. 

The entire Nile crashes through this 6 meter gap in the rocks, part of the Rift Valley escarpment. When parts of the water are sometimes 1/2 mile or even more across, to understand the force of the water is pretty hard to grasp. They say the water plunges 140 ft. below the surface, having dug out a deep hole after centuries of the water's plunging into this spot. Pretty amazing. Nobody on the water is allowed past a certain rocky outcrop, about 150 yards away from the actual falls. The foam on the top of the water is made because of the falls' force.

The view from our lodge (www.murchisonriverlodge.com) overlooking the Nile. 

The second day, we went on an early morning game drive after crossing the River on a ferry. Our Uganda Wildlife Authority guide, George, is required to carry a gun with him in case of emergencies. It was not a thrill when he jumped out of the car at one point while he tried to see if there were any lions. He left the gun facing Anna. The gun wasn't to make US behave, but the lions or other beasts! Abandoning it while also pointing it toward her/us was not awe-inspiring! 

But George was successful for us; he found us a lioness and she was beautiful. There are about 140 lions in the park, but they're pretty elusive, so this sighting was exceptional. 

During Idi Amin's rule here, so many of the lions, elephants, etc. had been hunted, nearly to wiping them out within that park area. To have 140 bred in the wild in 35 years is actually quite good. The elephant population is also growing, along with all the other wildlife. It'll be interesting to see it all in the next 10 or so years; how the park will grow in animals and tourism. 

 One of my favorite birds here are also Uganda's official bird; The Crested Crane. To see 32 in one location was pretty amazing! 

Below: waterbuck

 

Above & Below: Uganda Kob. They are different from regular impala because they have black forelocks and back/hind quarters.

Below: a Jackson's Hartebeest. Gorgeous skin; not so pretty faces. 

Below left: George posing with Anna L., Anna C. and me along the Nile at the end of the day.

Right: This is the safari tent I stayed in. It was on a cliff along the River, and at night yes, we could hear hippos outside munching on grasses. I mean- so close I thought they were next to my head! 

Leaving the park, we saw elephants just one more time. Lovely! 

And on the way home, we went the Karuma Falls route (north then east and finally south around the park). These are the falls. Beautiful! Yes, this is still the Nile. 

When we went to go back to the car, we'd been surrounded by a troop or pack or family or whatever of baboons. I'm not the biggest fan of these beasts. But thankfully they kept their distance. They can be pretty aggressive if you didn't know.