My Day @ Katale

This past Tuesday, I helped 3 field visitors from Anderson Univ. in Indiana, visit our Africa Gospel Church at Katale, about half an hour outside the city of Kampala. The ladies, Diana, Amy and Liz, were visiting one of our current Volunteers in Action (VIA), Karli. However, Karli got sick-o (sorry!) and so the offer was made to continue with the plan they'd made to visit Pastor Wilson and the church, school and area there.

The field had been left some items to distribute to school children, so we took the opportunity to give out reusable bags for carrying their groceries, school items, or other things. The ladies also gave the school a soccer ball (called football here), which they were very happy with!

We toured each of the elementary classrooms (the school so far goes to grade 6) and were warmly welcomed by all. We then had lunch with the children, and afterwards, we went with Pastor Wilson to visit some of the church elders who live nearby. Giving them each soap and a bag of sugar, and simply greeting them and thanking them for their commitments to the Lord, both visitors and those visited really were encouraged!

In the "nursery" class (age 4).

Above and below: meeting school children.

In a classroom- notice the hand made (and very detailed) posters. There is no "education store" here where people can purchase the variety of school supplies we have in the USA. But Ugandans have done a terrific job of creating teaching-posters anyway!

Above: Young ones waiting for lunch. Stuart is the teacher. He is married to Miria, one of our Africa Gospel Church Pastors, who is in charge of a local church as well as overseeing island ministries education.

Below: The ladies pose by the school sign, along with Pastor Wilson, our host for the day.

When you have no running water, this is a typical way to wash before a meal.

Above: Our lunch was rice and beans, plus posho (corn flour ground up then made into sort of mashed potato-looking food).

Below: the school kitchen and the lovely cooks!

Walking through the local "village" area.

Above: Greeting a church elder. This woman is married to a local chief. For a living, she sells charcoal, the most common fuel used for cooking.  

Below: Another church elder and part of her family.

This is Pastor Wilson and his dear wife, Grace. He is the Katale pastor. Both do a wonderful job of ministry as they faithfully serve the Lord!

Ugandan Friends and Family

Last week, the WGM Uganda field welcomed 2 new families into its fold. Josh & Kelly Hallahan and Scott & Meg Rambo have 2 boys each (all 4 and under!), and actually Scott & Kelly are siblings. Imagine being the grandparents and family saying bye (from the USA) to 4 grand babies! (Pray for their families if you think of it!).

Hallahan's will serve here in Kampala, the capital city. They'll do ministries at Kampala International University while Josh will also be chaplain at Heritage International School. Rambo's will do pastor's training and church development from Arua (northern Uganda) working alongside Billy & Joanna Coppedge.

As part of a welcome to Uganda and also a nice fellowship, our current interim field leader, John & his wife Beth, hosted a picnic BBQ at their home, inviting all the WGMers who could make it, plus several Africa Gospel Church pastors and their families. It was a wonderful time to reunite/make new friends. I've included a few photos from the day (it was this past Saturday), including a group shot of all of us.

Africa Gospel Church pastor's kids (above). Caroline O. and her daughter (below).

Above: Pastor Wilson greets Jean, one of our VIA (Volunteers In Action).

Below: John, Mugisha and Scott visit.  

Above: Some of our dear Africa Gospel Church (AGC) women and their children.

Below: Kenneth was our grill-man. He did an excellent job!

Of Birds, Goats and a Man Called Ugly...

Recently I was in Kampala searching for a bird book to identify the numerous local types. Now remember that Uganda is a former British colony, and many people speak English, but with "U-glish" (Ugandan-English) accents. So while living here, speaking with Africans, you often need to change how you might say things so people will "get you".

So I saw the store attendant, and after greeting him, ("Hello, how are you? I am fine. Thank you."), I asked him, "Where can  I find the bird books?". Full American accent. He clearly didn't understand me, so I slowed down my speech, softened the r's and made my o's longer... "Whea can ai faind tha baad buks?"  He still didn't get me. In my head, I thought, "Man, he is really gonna make me say it exactly like he wants... here goes..." So for the third time, I worked on saying "bird". "Wayuh cahn ai faind thee buuhd buks?"  He got me; I found one.  This is just one cultural charm of late.

My guard Peter (he is the gate keeper, yard man, car washer and general property caretaker for my home) had to sell all of his cows and goats last year, including many household items, in order to pay for his wife's cancer treatment. (FYI she is very improved and cancer free- thanks for your prayers!). While I was in the USA, I had contacts with about 5 people who asked me to create a special account which they could help give emergency relief, when or if possible, to certain people God brings our way. They gave me funds to help Peter re-stock his home from the sales last year. In early May, Peter went home (4-6 hrs. drive in a public taxi) for his annual vacation (they call it leave here). Because I had that cash from those donors, I gave it to him to buy a goat or 2 small pigs. He was able to bargain for all three (BONUS!). He promised as a thank you that he'd name it after me, saying "Lisa Fish" in the sentence. To have something (or someone) named after you here is a way to honor the person. I thought having a goat named after me was kind of funny, especially since the gift was not actually from me. But Peter came back to Kampala today, and he told me of his purchases. Then he said "I named it Fish". When I asked if he meant the pig or the goat, he said the goat. But he didn't name it Lisa Fish. Only Fish. So out there in eastern Uganda there is a goat named Fish. I just think that is funny. 

Lastly, today I was coming home from a lovely WGM/AGC picnic we had as a get together plus a welcome to Hallahans and Rambos (see another entry for this info.). I was turning the last corner before reaching my house, and the neighbor's guard was outside, smiling and waving. So I waved, stopped, and he told me "Welcome back to Uganda". I'd not really said anything to him before, since we never really speak, but just wave. So I was polite and gave him greetings, and ask his name after giving mine. He said, in U-glish, "Ai aim colled Agri". I was sure I didn't hear him very well, so I asked him to repeat it. "Ai aim colled Ugree".   So I smiled, said it was nice to know his name and not only his face, and went home laughing to myself. I just wasn't sure in my American accented thinking, if he was saying his name was Agree or Ugly. Either way, WOW! But Funny too! But later, I found it it is even more interesting; his name, according to Peter, is Angry. What?! Well, the tribe that the man is from (further east than Peter's tribe), Angry is simply a last name. I suppose it could be spelled, from their language, Ongri or something like that, which for sure looks like it could be an African name. It is simply always interesting to listen and learn in this culture. I just need to really LISTEN to words and pronunciations, before I get myself into (more) trouble! And I'm thankful to be here and learning of these dear people.

ZANZIBAR!!

For the first time in its history, Heritage International School sponsored the first set of field trips which take place in locations further than a day's journey from the school. Locally, we do a lot of field trips each year. But this year was the first time the school TRIED to offer a trip to Egypt, amongst 2 other field trips (one to Rwanda and southern Uganda and one to a Rhino sanctuary in northern Uganda). However, with political issues in Egypt, a change-up occurred.  Originally, I was asked to help lead that Egypt trip. Only after arriving back in Uganda did I find that there was indeed another trip planned in place of Egypt.

As you can see from the title... ta daaaa!!!!!! We went to Zanzibar in early May! There were so many amazing views, activities and photos, that I decided to try a slide show in order to incorporate more photos than I normally do. However, after 2 days of attempting a much longer slide show, alas, I had to revert to simply loading a very few photos (techie issues). There were more than 700 between 2 of us (meaning myself and Tiya, a HIS senior who is gifted in photography), and since I assume you won't want to see all 700, below you'll get only a tiny taste. For the trip itself, we took 19 students grades 5-12, along with 5 adults. Coming from about 9 countries, we had a wonderful mix of personalities and cultures.

I've simply loaded the pics. They're in no particular order, in other words. But the order of our days was like this: Day 1, fly to Zanzibar via Nairobi. Arrive for dinner then bed. Day 2: tour Stone Town (Old Zanzibar city) and slave museum, House of Wonders (history museum), lunch in town, and see a spice farm, including cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, coconuts, and many others. Day 3: Take dhows (boats) out to swim with dolphins then go snorkeling. Lunch at boat-launch beach (small cafe there). See Red tailed Colobus monkeys and mangroves in the afternoon. Day 4: visit Prison Island (see sea turtles there) and snorkel. Lunch out again. Tourist/curio shopping in town. Day 5: Relax at hotel. Fly out in afternoon, back through Nairobi to Uganda.

Now, day 3 of seeing the dolphins...  well, it was an adventure to say the least. For the 3+ hours boat ride, we had a lot happen. We headed out to sea- about 1/2 mile off shore and probably 1 mile up the coast, which with the waves took about an hour. Sea waves were about 12' high, enough to continually swamp and rock and pitch our two boats so much that about 7 or more people were seasick the entire time, we had no chance of jumping in the dangerous waters (well, Mr. Kris did, but it was pretty rough). We did see around 6-8 bottle nose dolphins, but couldn't really get many photos due to the rocking of the boat and the waves that kept nearly soaking/ruining our cameras.  After about 2.5 hours, we attempted to put the sick back on land, and in doing so, Kris slipped on a rock on the coral reef and landed on a sea urchin, more kids got sick, and so about half unloaded at that attempt. The rest of us wanted to TRY for another area to snorkel, but first our anchors twisted (between the 2 boats), then our boat motor got caught in a huge fishing net, the man had to swim from our boat to the other, get a very dull knife, then come cut us loose, then at one point our boat was so close to the other that a huge wave knocked us into theirs at the point (bow) and literally cracked the wood hull of the other boat. Yep, REALLY rough seas. So we said (for about the 10th time) to the (marijuana smoking) boat pilots that we were done; take us in. FINALLY they heard out pleas, and we all FINALLY went to shore.

And just before we did indeed head to shore, a wave hit so high and hard that it went over the entire boat - probably a wave about 16 feet high?! Thankfully by then I had asked the tour guide, Eddie, to hang my camera bag from the top of the poles over the boat (where a tarp would normally be). Had my camera bag not been hanging piñata style, it would have been completely soaked- with the camera as well. PTL it was okay- just wet on the outside. As I said, it was an adventure. Interesting to speak of now, but NOT the best to live through, but we do praise the Lord that we did live through it!

So on day 4, when we were to go see a place where they build dhows, we changed the plans and went snorkeling at the turtle island. It was most definitely a HIGHLIGHT of the trip, so I'm really glad we changed the schedule. I've never been, and to have been able to do so in the Indian ocean, well, it was amazing! Other really good times included swimming in the hotel "infinity" pool, right next to the ocean. Then swimming in the ocean. Then back in the pool. We also enjoyed playing some Phase 10 and some other group or small group times. And I personally was really pleased to bring home a small Zanzibar trunk (smile).

Above: on the boat to see the turtles, then snorkel!

Above & Below: Zanzibar Dhows

Devotions time together

Colobus monkey (above), my first Baobab tree (below)

Zanzibar has beautiful carved doors and woodwork

70 or more slaves were kept in this chamber before auction

This is the slaves monument in Stone Town, Zanzibar

The First Month Back

Wow time has really rushed by these weeks! I've so far:

• moved back into my home
• worked on organizing my office
• begun attending our Africa Gospel Churches again
• met with current field leadership (John & Beth Muehleisen) to catch up and create a map of the next steps I'm taking in ministry (youth, teaching, helping in the church, etc.)
• begun to set up for the end-of-school YOUTH BASH for the Heritage youth, coming May 28th!
• reconnected with many of the HIS students and families (as time has allowed)
• helped put together 1300 books our field printer had on his schedule (Kenneth & Delight Hopson run the field print shop. The books are for another ministry we work with, teaching community health and educational materials).
• helped lead a 5-day trip to Zanzibar (Tanzania; off the mainland in the Indian Ocean). This was a group of 24 (20 kids grades 5-12) and I'm so thankful for the success of our time, travels, safety, and the opportunity to go!
• met formally with WGM leadership, held meetings with our various VIA (Volunteers In Action) as the VIA Coordinator for the field.
• begun attending our WGM Sunday evening prayer meetings again
• bought a bed from some missionaries leaving Uganda. My old one was 35+/- years old and REALLY uncomfortable- SO thankful for the new one!
• got my Internet finally running at a decent speed (well, arranged for the changes; it isn't like I know how to do the techie stuff).
• made plans/calendars for summer VIA who begin coming in just a few weeks
• went swimming with some of our youth at a local hotel
• am getting connected with HIS leadership as we work on who is teaching what in the upcoming (August) school year
• participated in various meetings, planning and creating ideas for ministries WGM is involved with.
• helped host missionaries visiting from Kenya, who will come as assigned Uganda team members in one year! So thankful for Jeff & Christine!
• already had my first parasite battle, just finishing meds yesterday. All better, PTL!
• helped plan/prepare for 2 new missionary families (Rambos and Hallahans) arriving this coming Tuesday! 

I'm sure there is more to say, but essentially the time has been full! Today, besides (Lord willing) finishing getting my office up and running (I just finished unpacking the last trunk from storage!), I wanted to write on this blog, and later I'm to go help with a "Its Cool in the Furnace" production of more than 150 kids from HIS plus the community. Pictures will be posted later, from this event! :)

Okay, so I've got more to add with lots of pics from the Zanzibar trip. I'll do that in a separate post. Thanks for your prayers and support!

London, April 2011

On my way back to Uganda in April, I had about 13 hours in London. While there, I was blessed to see my dear friend and prayer partner, Keeley. We served together in Uganda at Heritage, and she and her family are now in London. I'm so thankful to have the special time there with her!

Setting a time with Keeley to meet at the underground at Kensington, and I was early FYI, I promptly fell asleep on the tube for at least 6 stops, passing Kensington and headed back towards Heathrow. WEIRD. Yep. Nobody accosted me, PTL, and when I woke up, refreshed, I just switched trains and went back the right direction. I must say I was COMPLETELY out. Subconsciously, I continued to hear music being played by the guy across from me. He was still on the train when I got off (while everyone else was long gone), and I suspect he was either an angel protecting me, or a Tube worker, also protecting me. Either way, thanks mystery guy!
Meeting Keeley and laughing about my long nap, we headed off for lunch and trekking around downtown London. We took many same routes the ROYALS later took for the Kate/Wills wedding, so when I saw pictures later (after their nuptials) I was glad to recognize a lot!

One thing I never noticed about UK (or at least London) was that with their different climate (from the USA), they have the BEST spring! Tulips, daffodils AND lilacs (my favorite!!) were all in bloom at the SAME time! In the USA, lilacs come a month after the others. I'm so glad I was able to see these springtime beauties before hitting Uganda, where they can't grow. :)

There are lots of other photos around London I could add, but I want to move on to other photos and further updates from within Uganda. Here is one last shot of London. FYI, I don't remember why, but Keeley and I never got a photo together! What were we thinking? Oh, well. When I return through there in a few years, I'll be sure to put that on the plan.



Properly licensed!

In 2010, Indiana changed their methods for license renewal. Although I took a class, those credits were not necessary to renew the license. All I had to do was collect and present proofs of seminars I've attended, seminars I've taught, and other professional development activities like serving on committees, etc. The state approved all of the "Professional Growth Points" (PGPs) and gave me the license in a speedy time- I received it at the end of March!
The same day I received the last proof for the PGP materials, I also finished my course (credits come through Indiana Wesleyan Univ., but I did a correspondence course). Because I didn't need the class credits for this license renewal, I'm saving them for the next time I need to renew (in 5 years).
I was surprised that indeed all the PGP points worked for a state, when some did relate to Christian-related/mission-related training. I also was surprised to have all of it come together on the same day. I thought the State approval would take at least 8 weeks (it took 3). And I also thought the class through IWU would take till May for the grading to be done. It also took about 3 weeks, and out of some 900 points in total for all the work, I lost a total of 2 points. Yes, it was an A.
In all, I am so very thankful to have this hurdle overcome, and the materials I studied will be wonderful help in ministry in Heritage International School and other areas of ministry! Praise the Lord for His help in this endeavor! Thanks for your prayers as I worked on this these past few months!

My Prayer for YOU

"When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and ore at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)

What a lovely, all encompassing prayer. I've got lots to say about it, reflecting on various parts. It speaks to my soul. So instead of giving my commentary, I'm leaving it to the Holy Spirit to speak to your soul, as well. God bless and keep you.

Why I Knit

Years ago in Bolivia, I learned to quilt. I loved it. It was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed making various things.

But I can't quilt- easily- in Uganda. It is hard to find some of the supplies, although of course there are fabulous fabrics in Africa. And there are so many bits and pieces to go along with quilting- needles, thread, numerous fabrics, a frame, a sewing machine (usually) and the batting. (note: I think there is a new term for batting, but apparently I'm too old to know it as yet).

Anyway, I HOPE to do some quilting when I go back this time.

So I was thinking of something else I might learn to do with my hands, which would be easier to carry around (vs. all my quilting supplies). I'd like to have something accessible to teach Africans, so they can learn a new skill, and maybe use the craft to make a living.

Well, in January, I went to my town's knitting store and took some lessons. I've made 3 scarves so far (for my sisters and my Mom), and have started 2 more learning different stitches to continue growing my skills. I’m itching to make a baby blanket or even an afghan, but with only 5 weeks left before I leave for Uganda, I will wait. Once I get these skills down, I'll be able to help dear African ladies, Lord willing.

Well, I met a number of neat ladies at my knitting classes, and one called me with some great news! She was helping a neighbor "downsize" some of her crafts items, and had some yarn to donate for me to take to Uganda. I picked it up today, expecting maybe a bag full of yarn. Nope, it was 5 huge lawn/leaf bags full of 287 skeins of yarn! She estimated that it was about $3,000 worth of yarn- I can believe it since I've been learning prices of yarn. WOW- what a blessing!

Yarn is available in Uganda, but not the quality or colors that they gave me today. So to the best we can, I'm trying to get the yarn to Uganda. And this afternoon I was chatting online with my friend Delight (WGM missionary) in Uganda and told her about the yarn.

She got excited and said she has a contact who is shipping a container to Uganda, who can probably take all the yarn for us! And she also volunteered to help me teach ladies how to knit or crochet (she knows how to do that). Fun! Won't this be an exciting outreach? Pray for us to be able to get the yarn to Uganda okay, and to have opportunities to minister to women with this craft. Yep, I still need to go get some extra needles and hooks, but I'm definitely set in the yarn department.

This is a "potato chip scarf" (I'd call it a cork screw scarf) which I made for my sister Abby. We chose the yarn to work with her coat, and I was surprised to find how quickly the yarn colors changed. On my Mom's and sister's scarves, the change from one color to another (their yarns were also multicolored) took longer. So Abby's scarf turned out looking a lot more camouflage than we anticipated, but it ended up being cute. Since it is camouflage, can you see it? Ha. :)

Election Results

Well, according to my friends (missionary and local) in Uganda, and according to the newspapers, the incumbent, Museveni, has won the Presidential election. News will trickle in over the next days, and of course there are already opponents crying foul. Whatever the case and results, I still ask for you to pray for peace and safety, and that no matter who reacts how, that nobody will OVER-react, since so often that can get out of hand quickly.

Do pray for Uganda as a whole. There is a lot of good in this beloved nation, and yet there are many steps to making it grow. It is most definitely still ranked as 3rd world, and disease, starvation, poor edcuation (for the majority), etc., are common. Above all, the people need personal relationships with Jesus Christ. So I'm also praying for open hearts and minds so that the Lord Himself will tranform this country.

Thank you for your prayers and care. I've linked today's election results article from Yahoo, as you will see. There are also other articles available on the two main Ugandan newspapers, (The New Vision, the State-owned paper, and The Daily Monitor, which I believe is privately owned).

Pray for Uganda Elections

February 18 and 19 are the national elections for Uganda. Will you please pray for peaceful, safe, fair elections and results? There are numerous parties seeking nationwide positions, including the presidency.

I am a missionary called to serve there, and I wish to remain neutral so I can be a better minister of the gospel. I only wish to see that justice and calm reign, with people seeking to work together.

I pray that somehow, as the Lord leads, people will come to know Him as Savior. Join me in these prayers and wishes for this nation. Thank you!

Where I Stand

Well, as of today, I need $256/month in pledges, plus about $3,000 cash for one-time expenses. I've had a number of people join my prayer team, but more are always welcome.

I just counted. I have less than 8 weeks before I leave for Uganda. Oh my! That is shocking! The time is coming up quickly; rushing ahead in fact. I'm not worried about the funding coming in; the Lord will provide as He sees fit. He is aware that I need to be back in Uganda helping at Heritage and in the Africa Gospel Church. But do you ever say, "Okay Lord, you can do that thing now so we don't have it hanging overhead!"?

I know, I know. His watch is set differently. And meanwhile, I do have my class to finish, as well as working on the actual license renewal paperwork. I've got some speaking engagements in PA and NJ in late March, and then packing and goodbyes.

When I put the list together like that, it can make me breathless and a bit overwhelmed. But here is where I stand: under the wings of Jesus. My days are ordered by the Lord and He has good plans, even in the rush of time.

Pray with me that all my funding will come in soon, for the class to go well and in a timely manner, that I will be patient and trust the Lord for His provision and for all the things He is currently teaching me. Pray for my continued travels and meetings, and eventual goodbyes. The Lord is so good; he can be trusted to care for all these things and more. So I choose to stand in His grace, mercy and provision. I pray you choose that same place today!

A Visit To Michigan

Here we are in Frankenmuth, Michigan. It has been a wonderful time to see my sister Karen and her family during our overlapping furloughs. Usually our furloughs don't match up, so the time together has been a blessing. This was my last time to see them before I go back to Uganda in April (they return to Cameroon in June), and I'm not sure what year I'll see them again. While in the USA, they base themselves outside of Flint, MI.

The weekend together was special, and I'm so glad we could go. Mom and I traveled up from Indy and got to do several things with the family. On Saturday, we went to Frankenmuth, a Bavarian town about 30 minutes away. There are a lot of tourist shops, outlets, and interesting local things to see. We enjoyed looking in the shops and seeing the ice sculpture displays everywhere, and our German meal at the Bavarian Inn was delicious!

Dave was speaking at their home/sending church on Sunday in both morning and night services, so we got to hear Dave preach and also see their presentation. Meeting some of their kind church friends was neat as well. We also got to have a delicious lunch out with Dave's family at an Italian restaurant. Playing board games with the family also created some more sweet memories.







The town of Frankenmuth is built and decorated in Bavarian themes. Despite it being the middle of winter, there were a lot of people and activities filling the town.



Zac "models" some interesting tea being sold in one of the shops. I don't know the brand, but one flavor was called "Get Lost" and the other flavor was "Get Some Zzzs". Funny marketing.



Above and below: the Bavarian Inn is a huge restaurant, with shops, hotel and pools, etc. A prime destination for many tourists.





Funny sign at the restaurant. Thanks, AJ & Zac, for being good sports and posing for me! :)

A kind person at Dave & Karen's church took this second group photo for us.