Famine Relief Prayer Request

Please be in prayer for the famine and drought reaching across much of this African region (including Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, & Democratic Republic of Congo). The rainy season in the spring didn’t reach many places, or there was little rain. Now, crops are failing/have failed and many people are down to one meager meal a day. Many are starving. Last week, WGM headquarters in Marion, Indiana, released money to fund some famine relief efforts in Uganda.
Yesterday, Brent (one of our Volunteers In Action), Mugisha (our Cordinator for Youth Pastor’s Training in the Africa Gospel Church), and Gabriel (one of our AGC pastors) went to Soroti, about 4 hours north of Kampala, to work in famine relief. With the arrival of rains for the longer rainy season in the past week or so, it is time to plant seeds. But in the harder-hit areas, seeds are either beyond affordability for most Africans, or they’re not available at all. So this team of 3 men will focus on seed distribution. I believe they may also have some food distribution involved there, as well. Pray for them. They’ll be there till either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how things go. They also plan to repeat the same ministries in Nebbi (NW Uganda) in the next week or so. And we believe more areas will be needing help in the near future.
Do please pray for the rains to come to all these countries (mentioned above) and beyond. Some places have not seen rain for many months, and on top of that there are “blights” on many crops. It has potential to be a dire situation all across this region of Africa.
If you would like to give funds to help in this situation or in other emergency situations, please go to our website at www.wgm.org or send your check to WGM (P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952) with the memo marked for account # 1500-25342.
Thank you for your help in prayers and giving.

Just a Cultural Experience

Yesterday afternoon I arrived home for lunch and a few hours at the computer. Peter, my day guard, was laughing and having a great time, explaining that he was chasing a squirrel that entered the property. I thought he was funny, but didn't think much more about it.

Later in the day I arrived home yet again (after a meeting) and he was victorious. He had caught the squirrel. I was surprised to hear that he had killed it and given it to the neighbor man who is helping construct the new house there. I asked him why- and he said it was for the man to eat.

Okay, so I've heard of people doing this (even in the USA), but it just took me off guard. I really thought Peter was only having some fun chasing a squirrel. So when I asked him why he didn't keep it himself or just let it be here on the property (to me they're good for playing in the trees and hiding seeds/nuts, and cute to look at). He said he had to eat them all the time as a child in the village, and he didn't want the reminder (I guess he doesn't like to eat squirrel), so he wanted to get rid of it.

It was just another little culture lesson for me, and I thought you might like to hear another insight into life here.

First school days at HIS

Below are pictures from the first 2 weeks of school. We currently have 33 in secondary. We only had about 17 on the first day of school because many kids were traveling internationally still (typical for an international school). The students are coming with great attitudes, and I'm very glad to have them all here.

Besides teaching 7-12 Social Studies (combined in 3 classes; grades 7 & 8 together, grade 9, and grades 10-12 together), I am also teaching the 6th graders for Social Studies as well. This "shuffling of classes" is all because we don't have an English teacher. So they've combined other classes for people to step into that role, and the domino affect hits us all. It is all okay, but I do believe it would be SO much better if we had an English teacher. Do please pray about this! Thanks!


Because about half the students don't/can't show up the first days, I chose to give a mini-project early and let the kids enjoy themselves. That way, when all the others finally got here, they'd have less text book work to make up, and those already here could still accomplish something I'd planned to do at some point anyway.
The project was to research as if they could take a dream vacation. With the new encyclopedias that arrived in May, I had them look up at least 5 countries each, and create travel itineraries and look into histories or interesting locations which they'd like to see. It sounds simple, but the main reason I did this project was 2-fold: to have them actually see the value of the new encyclopedias (kids today seem to not be interested in book-research and they nearly fully rely on Internet- I gave them NO Internet options), and I wanted their minds and hearts to open up to dreaming a bit. It has been interesting to hear and see where the teens would like to go, and why.


Classroom time (in this case, Miss Keeley, our principal, has stepped in as one of the temporary English teachers).


Above: time in our first chapel last week. Be praying for our chapels for the year. They are always on Fridays, and we have 2; one for elementary and one for secondary. Pray that the Lord will touch hearts and minds so kids will either choose Him for the first time, or simply choose to follow Christ further. Pray for the speakers, the worship, for any visitors who come (so many parents often come see the chapels and God can work to reach them, too!). Lastly, be in prayer for our Spiritual Emphasis Week Sept. 7-11 and then the secondary retreat Sept. 16-18. Pray the Holy Spirit will reach lives as never before. Pray for softened hearts. Thank you!

Getting Oriented

How do people new to Uganda adjust to the different cultural situations? Well, one way is to have a scavenger hunt! In working to help our WGM Volunteers and new HIS teachers adjust to getting around Kampala on their own, I planned a scavenger hunt through the city.

First they met at my home (to know where it is for when we have get-togethers). Then they had to take bodas (small motorcycles taxis) through town, stopping at a clinic, a restaurant, the post office, some shops, and finally the mall. Getting their bearings by hitting these places, and having fun with a large group makes for a good memory and a helpful orientation to the city.



Pictured above are WGM Volunteers In Action (VIA) Teresa, Brent, Kristi, Betsy & Jean. Joining them are other singles from other missions, with most being teachers at Heritage. These folks are: Jill, Shanna, Katie, Laura, Holly.

I didn’t go with the group on the hunt, but met them at a pizza place in the main mall. This was the first scavenger hunt I’ve planned for the young missionaries, and it was a lot of fun to watch the interaction and hear their stories of adventures in Kampala. It is now officially part of the orientation for all VIA coming to Uganda. Come join the fun!





"I Love New York Kitchen", aka NY Kitchen, is a great place to eat wonderful pizza, bagels and desserts like milkshakes, cheese cake, or German Chocolate cake!



When it was time to go home, we had expected to split up and some people would go with me, others would go on bodas. But it was raining pretty good and nobody really wanted to get wet while riding the bodas. So we crowded into my car (11 people in a Prado that seats 7-8!).

First Youth Group for 2009-2010 @ HIS

On the first Friday of school, we hosted a youth group with nearly all the students attending. With silly games (dress up relay, pass the marshmallow, and "honey if you love me", etc.) and a brief Bible study, plus food, the kids were pretty happy to be involved. One boy was so delighted to have had the time together that he begged us to have something every week. Unfortunately that is usually not a possibility, although we HAVE doubled the amount of youth activities on the calendar for this new school year!

First Day of School at HIS, 2009

On the first day of school, our new principal, Keeley Wickham, explained rules and expectations to the students. We (so far) have 27 kids in grades 7-12. Some people are still out of the country but are supposedly coming in the next several days. This is typical for an international school- that people can't be there the first day or even the first week, due to international travel plans.

Check out the kids in the photo- they look scared to begin the new school year! But actually, we have a GREAT group of kids and I'm excited for all the Lord has in store for us these next months together!

Please be in prayer for all our students and faculty, that we would be available for Jesus to teach and shape and use us as He sees fit. Pray for the Spiritual Emphasis Week Sept. 7-11 and the secondary youth retreat Sept. 16-18. Pray for speakers, health, safety and great times for all these days! :) Thanks!

Orientation of HIS Faculty/Staff

Teacher Orientation time was full of great instruction, meeting and getting to know the faculty and staff, and we discussed great ideas for the new school year. We also had times of Bible study and a wonderful worship service. We’ve got a great staff this year. Here are some of those folks during that worship time.

Would you be in prayer for a teacher for English grades 7-12, and also a Computer teacher as well? We have faculty filling in with those positions, but it is really difficult to be stretched so thin in the schedule, and not teaching in your subject area can be a real trial. Pray for those stepping into these roles to be wise and patient as we wait on the Lord’s guidance for the right teachers!

Uganda Men With Vision Team, Summer 2009

In 2009, the World Gospel Mission Men With Vision project has been to help the ministries to orphans and children on Buvuma island. If you recall, in May we had a college team also go to the island. The current project, taking the work of teams plus locals to complete, has been teacher's housing (4 rooms about 14 x 16 or so, each) - I may be completely WRONG on the measurements, but they're not very big for housing a teacher each- or more than 1 teacher each/per room.

Anyway, the most recent team was a mix of folks from across the USA who spent about 5 or 6 days on the island (watch out Survivor shows- island living offers high competition to you!). One of the guys talked about having his devotions each a.m. at the dock near the school. He kept having an African man accompany him, and the guy just hung out till he was through. Turns out, the African man was keeping watch so the crocodile laying nearby wouldn't take a bite out of the team member! Wow!

The team also got to go on an overnight safari, where they hiked Murchison Falls (in the background of this team photo), tracked game (they saw all the regular fabulous things like elephants, a variety of deer/impala, giraffe, crocs and hippos) and generally got a good taste of life in Uganda.

Lastly, they also helped with a VBS for about 200 kids plus leading the WGM missionary prayer meetings a few times. What a blessing it is to have people join in the work and encourage us by visiting! Come on over! I'll do my best to keep the crocodiles away!

Overnight changes to the road project

Once again whoever is in charge of fixing our road has dropped by. Remember, they haven't exactly been consitent on working on the road, and it has been messed up since April or maybe March. Mostly the people do one thing then leave it for 6 or so weeks. When they dropped by this time, they also unloaded about 60 dumptrucks full of dirt (as the pic shows!). At first I just went another way out of my neighborhood (there aren't many choices since I generally live in a dead end neighborhood). But then 2 days later, I saw some people driving up the road, around each load of dirt, and eventually making it through. It isn't a good way for those who like to drive fast to go this route, and if your back is sensitive, ummm- skip it. But this has recently been the fastest way to get home. Oh, and I forgot to mention the secondary route may be smoother, but it is also 3 miles/10 minutes out of my way. I'm continuing to keep you informed, because this is such a typical cultural experience. Imagine fixing a road like this in the USA. Imagine the numerous law suits and categories of law suits!

Update on my nearby road and a cultural perspective

So remember back in April or so, I said that I came home one day and they had plowed the not-so-smooth tarmac road near my house. Well, all this time the dirt has been sitting and basically drying out (it is dry season), causing more dust (I mean MUCH MORE!) and just being a nuisance. Well, once in a while they actually do come back and plow it some more, adding another inch or so of dirt. But it isn't like they're working on this thing daily. I think it is a side job for someone and when they feel like plowing for an hour, they come over and re-plow.

So part of the problem, besides the massive dust, is that at on part of the road 2 properties had actually built their security walls into the road itself, making a 2 lane road into 1 1/3 wide. You can technically squeeze 2 vehicles through there, but not if one is a big truck.

I assumed with corruption as rampant as it is at times here, someone had been paid off and the city was going to leave the "stolen" meter or so in the hands of the 2 people who had put their cement walls there. Nope. This week, I came down that road again and- well- talk about a mess!

The 2 walls had been plowed out! Cement, stone, rocks, etc. were scattered all over the road and those 2 walls were completely knocked down! The mess was still there, and a lot of people were standing around kind of staring and discussing the situation. Either the 2 neighbors didn't pay a bribe to keep their walls, or they didn't pay enough... either way, the City Council (in charge of roads here, amongst other things) knocked the walls out.

While I was pleased to see the road would finally be the right width (well, when the road is actually finished), I felt bad that the people's walls were seemingly destroyed in such a callous way. So I stopped, which is culturally appropriate, to say "Oh, sorry for this mess" and hadn't gotten to the "What happened?" (of course we know what happened, but that is the way to communicate here- let them tell you the story). Just after I expressed my sympathy to the guy standing there, he turned and said, "Yeah- there is a water leak!". He didn't even seem to notice that well, um, like 80 yards of wall were completely crumbled into the street! It just seemed so comical to me that he was only focused on the water leaking from a pipe the bulldozer must have hit. The ruined wall was not even on his radar. Interesting (and to me, comical!) perspective.

Now, I bet as they continue to clean up this mess, those 2 plot owners will scrape any bit of advantage they can. I can easily see them putting new walls up, and leaving the mess of rock and cement behind in the roadway, in order to "teach the city council a lesson". Sometimes it seems that is how things get done here, so that is why I say it that way. I'll keep you posted. And you know I'll be celebrating if they ever actually do pave the road again and not just push the dirt around!

Another cultural reflection...

There is a man nearby who (three times now) has sung – sort of chanted- for literally 5 or more hours on end at night. He must be somewhere over in the direction of the lake (Lake Victoria). I can hear him inside my house the entire time he is out there yelling/chanting.

I finally asked Abel my night guard what was up. He said the druggies have found a new place to get high and maybe drunk. Nice. They hide in the bushes to get high, and then sing to the world their location. Not so bright, I’d say. But of course, taking drugs has never been on the intelligence scale anyway!

Happy Anniversary Jean Jean bo bean!

I'll have to post a new photo of Jean later (don't have a new one- yet, but others are posted lower here in my blog), but today is her 1st year anniversary in Uganda!

She is a WGM VIA (Volunteer In Action) who is serving for 2 years as our Heritage First grade teacher. She is AWESOME and I'm so thankful for her! Check out her blog (it is listed at the right here...) and see how Jesus is using and teaching her in ministry here in Africa. And pray for her in those ministries, in living here, in her classroom, her health, her friendships, and her walk with Jesus. Thank you, Jean, for your dedication and love for Christ!

McDonald's, Ugandan style- sort of

Along the roads here you see these guys making chapatis, a greasy-ish tortilla, baked over yes, a wheel rim cooker. This photo has a lot of cultural points. The not-too-clean counter where he rolls out the chapati, the wheel cooker (open BBQ grill of sorts), the overhang covered with bits of plastic to keep the rain away a bit, plus anything heavy thrown up on that "roof" to hold the plastic down from the wind, the rocky ground where they only need to move the stones around a bit to make a smoother surface for standing, the building (usually this type of building is where squatters live or work) and the woman washing dishes outside for either herself or for the chapati guy. It really says a lot about the culture here, so I thought you'd like to see a little of reality, African style.

FYI we make our own chapatis inside our homes, on clean surfaces, with a stove and a frying pan. They're good with anything wrapped in the middle, or on their own with hot tea (a typical breakfast here is chapati and hot tea).

Cultural signs

"Wash Me" isn't just seen on dirty vehicles in the USA. Here, we have another example of someone hinting for that result. I think the picture drawn on the side is actually of a house. It may look odd to you, but in African terms, that round hut is really quite accurate.



Yes, driving in Uganda you can find all sorts of interesting signs and expressions. This one may seem funny at first (who wouldn't want to avoid child sacrifice?) until you know that witchcraft and the like are COMMON here in Africa, with abductions ending not in ransom but in human sacrifice to supposedly obtain wealth or some other thing. Not a week goes by, or so it seems, that someone isn't taken and killed for these purposes. Pray that Jesus will penetrate the hearts and minds of the people here in whatever ways He can and will move!

MK girls July 2009

During the summer with families traveling for furlough, other meetings, and vacations, there are often few people here on the field. This summer we had only 2 families here for a while (plus Rick & Teresa- see next blog entry) besides me. One family, the Coppedges, serve in Arua (NW Uganda). Lucy Mae arrived through a home birth in Arua, and Coppedges had to come to the city to register her with the US Embassy. So we got to all visit for a little. Lucy's older sister is Elsie Jayne, and she is pictured here with the Bourne girls (Rachel on left, Haley on right).

the Michael story

In early April, our WGM friends, Rick & Teresa, came to begin the adoption process for a baby boy. At the orphanage where they found Michael (named by a "momma" who works at the orphanage), they found him basically dying. He was having allergic reactions to milk so they'd tried goats milk and still he was WAY underweight for his age. They guessed he was around 5-6 months at that time. He had been left in a bus after the mom asked a seatmate to watch the baby while she went to the bathroom at one of the stops. The mom never returned. There is no way to trace where Michael came from except they can guess by facial features and where the bus came from and the region of Uganda it covered. So maybe they could guess a tribe for Michael, but nothing more.

Anyway, once they got him on special formula (ridiculously expensive here in Uganda, so when Rick & Teresa came to meet Michael, they brought a lot with them), he soon began to respond. But not until they took him from the orphanage and gave him daily and unlimited care did he really start to develop and respond. At 6 months he could barely hold his head up.He certainly couldn't sit up yet (most babies can at that age), and he was super-skinny especially in the arms and legs. Over the past few months, as his new parents cared for him and worked on guardianship papers (that is the first step in their adoption), WOW did Michael develop! He became super -responsive to people, food, and outside stimuli. It was pretty exciting to watch. Literally this baby was saved from death!

Once, Teresa, Michael and I went for dinner at a local Indian restaurant where we met a nice waiter. We were discussing ideas for Michael's middle name. Rick & Teresa wanted an African middle name, and the man suggested some good ideas, including the name "Kisakye" (pronounced Chee-SAH-chay, but they're using Key-SAH-chay which is okay to do). It is a Luganda word, although they are sure Michael is not from that tribe. Essentially it means "This is one who was once dead and is now saved by grace". How cool is THAT for a middle name? So Rick & Teresa agreed to keep that as Michael's middle name.

Anyway, after a lot of trips to the lawyer's and to the courts and to the Ugandan offices for his passport and to the USA embassy for a visa and on and on... Rick, Teresa and Michael (now about 9 months old) travelled to the USA last night. From there, they will continue the adoption process, and Michael will continue to be blessed and be a blessing to others. It has been a long process but a wonderful one to watch. We have other friends here who have gone a different route in the adoption process and it has taken more than 3 years. Ugh. Oh, and the photo above is of Michael meeting Elsie Jayne Coppedge, when she and her family visited Kampala (from Arua) in June.

Before they left, Michael had not only learned to sit up, but he is now crawling and had very strong legs. He even climbed a step the other day (watch out!). What a different baby he is now- not just with time passage but with the love and attention poured out on him. It all has made an amazing difference!

Sorry I didn't say this before!

I was thinking through the past several weeks and the various things that have gone on. I know on email and even Face Book I have asked people to pray for my Mom. She had thyroid cancer and they removed the thyroid. That is so "easy" to simply state now, but yes, there was anxiety and she had some little complications (lots of blood lost in surgery plus a BIG dip in her calcium levels), but over all, I want to state here that she is cancer free! The surgeons were able to remove the whole tyhroid, the cancer was contained, and she is on the appropriate meds for this type of situation now, but PRAISE THE LORD!

Certainly there are situations where the person does have cancer extensively and they enter eternity (i.e. my Dad for one!- who entered eternity in Jesus' care, PTL). Could you praise the Lord still? Even in the midst of that testing fire? I pray I could, do, and will...

And for this one situation where He delivered my precious Mom (so we can continue to enjoy her "down here" a little longer), I can simply say Thank you, Lord.

A Nail in my Sprite

So I'm not such a big fan of soda. Maybe sometimes I'll have a float, but those are pretty rare. I'd bought a crate here for the May team, and after they left we were clearing the unused sodas out of my fridge. Guess what we found? A LAWSUIT! Of course, here in Uganda, this is merely a souvineer I'll never be able to do anything about, except show you all, of course. Nice.

My guard Peter gave the worst scenario for here- imagine living in the village and you have enough money to buy your family some drinks. Imagine letting your little kid drink some soda one night when light isn't so good. Imagine said little guy not knowing he is about to somehow swollow either lead-filled soda, or bits of a nail. Nobody can see it is coming because it is dark... not a cool scenario.

I guess on the "lighter side" you could drink it to add a little iron to your diet?

Oh, and let me say that to try to do something about this here, I got all kinds of tips. Most people (Ugandans and expats) said that the Coke company here would do nothing, to keep the bottle, and use it as a conversation piece from time to time. That is what I've done. Because to take the soda to anyone who MIGHT be able to do anything about it would too often involve corruption. So people here just say, "why bother?".

I say... "What's in YOUR soda?" A thought to ponder, for sure!

Nice spelling (additional culture stuff)

Sometimes as we drive around the country, we see some botched spellings in English. This "Wornning" was posted just a few weeks back. Apparently the property people keep getting asked if they are willing to sell.

More Cultural Things... "Whatasuit!"

Dressed up for a special event, this man walked by me and I just had to take the picture. Guys out there, anyone want me to order a suit like this for you?