May Youth Pastor's Training

We just completed 4 days of training more youth pastors. The photo above shows nearly all those now trained. They will receive certification once they finish the class take-home requirements. That is a joy to have now 32 people trained to develop youth ministries in their churches and to even train others to do the same! These folks come from all over Uganda and it is exciting to see the program spreading. Pray for the roots of the program to deepen as these individuals grow their ministries in their areas and throughout Uganda. Thanks!

Nairobi Seminar

I recently completed the Leader Link program hosted by the IFMA/EFMA mission organizations. This was a 4-year, one week per year program. For the last 3 years, I've attended in Nairobi. Since I was headed there anyway, and since I don't know when I'll get back to Nairobi, I decided to take 2 days vacation and go see the city sights there. Below you'll see the animals I said hello to. The seminar was good, and I'm glad I completed the leadership training, but sorry- the animals were more photogenic than a picture of me sitting at a table during a session. Enjoy!

Giraffe Hug and meeting Daisy

Daisy is one of a number of giraffe which live at a hotel/giraffe center in Nairobi. Yes, I was on her level, by going up into the second-story balcony of the feeding area. I even got to feed the giraffes! How awesome that experience was!

Peek-a-boo!

Elephant Baby center, Nairobi

This was a medium-sized little elephant, compared to the ones they'd had out in the beginning of the "program" at the center. All of them have such distinctive personalities and are too cute! I wanted to include the photo above this one because it looks like the little guy is trying to play peak-a-boo. Actually the care taker walked right in front of my camera when I was snapping, but I like the idea of peak-a-boo better!

An Ice Rink in Africa

During my time in Nariobi, I visited (for just a few minutes) this ice rink. It certainly was freezing inside there! The people skate around on what look like walkers, leaning on those so they won't fall. I had just missed the skating session (had been there once before when I was in Nairobi in Jan. for the mentoring seminar), so I only got this photo of the guy cleaning the ice. It still was so non-African to me that I thought I'd include it!

Nile Perch Take A Boda Ride

Yep, those are some BIG fish on the back of the bike. Yes, the bike also holds 2 men in this photo, plus some bags of something else, too. I am telling you, nearly ANYTHING can go on the back of a "boda boda". The original term is derived from the pronunciation of "border to border" and it is now down to either "boda boda" or just "boda". I have seen 30 or so dead chickens, feathers flapping in the wind, tied to them. I've seen families of 5 on them, plus the driver! I've seen beds, windshields, beds, sofas, goats, dead pigs (big ones!), and even other bodas on the backs of bodas. It is sort of a game for us to find a really unique thing on them. I think this was the first time I saw fish of this size on one.

HIS Youth on Retreat

I would have gotten into this group photo but the batteries on my camera were dying, so I just snapped away with one shot, hoping it would come out! PTL it did. This is all the HIS junior high and high school kids plus the counselors. I was so glad everyone got to go to retreat. Thank you for praying for us for both the retreat and the mission's trip!

Spring 2007 Spiritual Retreat

WGM Volunteer Brad Brown, here till June with his wife Annie (who is our HIS Kindergarten teacher this semester) was our devotional leader on the mission's trip, and our speaker during retreat. Here he is with our kids during one of the sessions.

HIS Retreat in Jinja

Friday morning we left Bugiri and drove back west to Jinja. There, we met the grades 7 & 8 from HIS, and we had an overnight retreat together. Once again, we did played on the slip 'n' slide; it seems it is a highlight of retreat for a lot of us. Did you know if you add soap it gets even more slippery? This photo is of some of the junior high guys getting up from the slide.

A Witchdoctor's Family

The first home we visited in Bugiri was home to a number of people, mostly all from the same family. As we visited with them, they shared that their father had died (about a year ago) and left his many children (from many wives) to be raised by the older children. Their prayer request was for family unity, no matter who the mother was. They're apparently fighting over land and property, and most (all?) of the widows of the man have left. Many of those widows left their children behind, since their marriage was "no more". It was a very sad situation, compounded horribly by the fact that they just have no clear understanding, yet, of Jesus and His saving grace. I shared carefully with them- I can assume most of them believe more in witchcraft and local god worship and didn't wish to offend or make them angry. I've heard enough that curses do work when someone puts one on you. I'm not afraid of curses, but I do know that anger by a witchdoctor/worshipper can greatly limit many things in the village. So, I tried to clearly but simply state that Jesus Christ could unify ANY relationship and solve ANY problem. I asked if they were willing to have me pray for them; they were happy for that. I was pleased to do so, of course. Will you pray against Satan's hold here in Africa? So many people are so blinded by Satan and his lies.
Funny thing- after we left this shamba (farm), our pastor-translator said that I'd had an offer of marriage. Well, how about that? (I said no, thank you).
ADDITION: I got a question about the local title for witchdoctors here, and their role. Answer- "Traditional Healers" and they are seen as local medicine men/women who offer some useful herbal remedies as well as curses or potions to poison or hinder/hurt an enemy. I've known people hurt or who have died due to poisons and potions mixed by the traditional healer. Unfortunately, even many Christians will go to them for medical treatment first, instead of a properly educated and licensed medical doctor, as the healer is so much cheaper. But those who know the system guarantee the healer worships Satan and is committed to serving evil, even to the point of dedicating themselves and others to the Devil.

Where We Stayed

In Bugiri district, 5 minutes outside of Bugiri town, we stayed with Rev. Moses and his wife, Beatrice. They are very kind and definitely have the gift of hospitality. We stayed in rooms and tents on their property, across from the school where we did our painting and concrete work. The "hut" to the left was our dining room. The hut to the right is the kitchen (kitchens in most Ugandan homes are removed from the house due to fire hazards, etc.). The actual home is not pictured here; it is a cement block home full of welcome and love.

Coffin Delivery

While I was wandering around the village taking pictures, this man was delivering a coffin nearby. I don't think I've seen a purple one before, let alone one delivered on a "boda boda" (a small motorcycle here). They usually carry some pretty random things, and this one had an impact on me as I thought of who would be using it, the family left behind, and all the implications of eternity for the deceased. It also made for an interesting photo. I don't think they usually paint coffins, so that too was a random reason I've posted it. If I've offended you, I am sorry. I just found it sad and interesting all at once.

Chicks and Pineapple...

It takes a long time to grow a pineapple. I've been trying to do it in my back yard for 2 years. The "shamba" lady had about 300 plants besides all her other enterprises.

These photos include a pineapple plant (from the lady's farm) and the
"chickery"- the nursery where the chicks are kept until they're old enough to sell.

Village visits

Another ministry we took part in was home visits where we visited local villagers, heard a bit of their stories, and prayed for them. This lady (at far left) was very excited to have us all come visit her home and meet her family and see her shamba (farm). She raises pineapples, chicks, goats, maize, bananas, cattle and whatever else her small property can hold.

Village bore hole (a well)

You know how Jesus met the woman at the well? That scene can be repeated each day here in Uganda. As I've mentioned before, most homes in the village don't have plumbing, so women and children go about twice a day to fill large "jerry cans" (plastic jugs) which of course are quite heavy when full. These photos show the HIS youth at the village bore hole (washing up after painting), and a woman carrying a jerry can home.

Where we painted

This is where we painted one of the academic offices for the school where we ministered. The school is run mostly by a mission (Church of God, Anderson), along with Compassion International (which sponsors some of the students), as well as receiving some help from the Ugandan government.

Bugiri, Uganda mission's trip photos

One of the things we did on the Bugiri mission's trip was help make a cement floor in a 20x30 ft. classroom. It was neat to see that the classroom's former "mud-pit" would no longer be a hindrance in the education process. In this photo, John (grade 11 from Kenya) is moving some of the cement for the floor.

Back from HIS mission's trip!

Here is our group with some of the Ugandans we worked with in Bugiri, eastern Uganda. We had a wonderful and safe trip where we did a number of ministries, had some really great conversations, and met some precious people. Check out the next few photos I load for a visual of the days we spent there.