Goodbye Uganda!

The sun's reflection is gleaming off lake Victoria as we begin our ascent. It is stunning. Andrew and I say our goodbyes to the country and some of the people who are forever imprinted in our hearts and minds. We think may return someday, sooner rather than later if God enables us to adopt from Uganda (an even bigger dream and prayer of mine now!) But we really don't know what will happen in the next few years. We have a great deal of question marks in our future but we are thankful to know that we have each other and an amazing, loving, gracious father who is teaching and guiding us.

Here are some shots from our final walk through a neighborhood market in Kampala. We will miss this place! 

Matoke! There is so much of this stuff in Uganda! It looks like a banana but it is cooked and mashed into this  chunk of starch that doesn't have much flavor but is used as a base for other sauces.

      

We are going to miss the fresh pineapples, mango, and banana so much! The fruit here is incredible!

The market 

Meat hanging for sale

Anyone want chicken for dinner? 

View of a Kampala neighborhood 

Palm trees in the Turners yard 

My name is more popular in other countries than the US. It is a brand for body care producs here and baby's lotion! 

Saying goodbye to the Turners. They were wonderful and helped us learn so much about Uganda and the many needs here

                       On our way to the airport, one last boda driver with amazing balance! 

T.I.A.

On lake Edward (or was it Albert? It was one of those British guys) This pic has nothing to do with the post except to say, hey, here we are alive and well in Uganda ;-)

Naomi tried to assure me that it was perfectly normal for the Matatu "taxi" we were on (a small minivan crammed, as a rule, with 16 or more sweaty commuters) to suddenly go off-roading through a village neighborhood to beat the traffic on the main highway. I'm talking 45 kph down steep declines, through pot-holes that put your stomach in your throat, barely squeezing through the shanty homes on either side, and an assortment of livestock miraculously darting out of the way as we blast through the dirt trail. Needless to say, despite Naomi's attempts to reassure me, I still remain skeptical. "T.I.A." she would tell me - there's a movie called Blood Diamond that came out a while back, set in Africa, where, when after something absurd would happen, the characters would tell each other "t.i.a." (This is Africa). We found ourselves either thinking or saying this to each other quite often during our time here. Today we saw a large pickup with a couple farmers, two bulls, some goats, chickens and some maize crammed in the back. T.I.A.

Driving through Kampala, we got to see things that showed us a different side of the beauty of God's creation, and other things that made us crack up (like the way people unashamedly advertise their religion through their businesses - we passed a "God's Plan Supermarket" and a "Jehovah Jirah Hardware Store"), and some things that took us totally by surprise. One of the things that I wasn't expecting was the amazing number of ministries that have already been established here in Uganda. It seemed like around every corner there was either a church plant, a clinic, a children's home, or a Bible school. I was told in the states that there is a huge need in Africa for pastoral training, and with the huge number of horror stories of false teaching here and the damage it has caused in the church and in people's lives, I definitely believe that to be true. What I couldn't put together was how there could be such a great need for pastoral training here in Africa, while at the same time there are so many Bible schools and other venues available for pastors to get trained.

Here's what I've learned: Africa does not have a great need for pastoral training. Africa has a great need for EFFECTIVE pastoral training. So many pastors go through these schools or seminars or conferences, put on by ministry leaders with good intentions, and funded by churches and individuals with good hearts, and God can work through them in awesome ways. However, we need to ask ourselves why so much of the African church is vulnerable to false teaching and the prosperity gospel. We need to ask why so many of the pastors who attend these schools, seminars, and conferences remain unchanged.

I am still very new here, and I don't presume to have all or any of the answers, and I don't want to dismiss the work that God is doing through the different ministries here in Uganda. But one thing I've begun to pick up on is that for a lasting change of heart, substantial growth of character, and practical skills in ministry to take place in the lives of these pastors, long term discipleship MUST be a part of the equation. This goal cannot be achieved in the span of a week-long conference or even a few years in Bible classes. Without long-term, personal discipleship, we are not preparing anyone for ministry. Naomi and I feel that God has put a burden on our hearts for pastoral training here in Africa. Please pray for us as we seek to be a part of the solution in the most effective way possible. Sometimes thinking about all the challenges to this task can be overwhelming, but it is such an encouragement that Jesus promises us that it is he who will build his Church.

So many things here continue to surprise us. Hopefully soon we will be surprised by how God has used our flawed plans and efforts to bring forth his Gospel. And some day, darting through a sea of cars on a boda-boda motorcycle, we'll look back and see how God has transformed this place of darkness into a land that reflects his Kingdom.

Andrew

This is a short clip of the driving in Kampala...doesn't do the craziness justice, but it will give you a small picture(-:

Marriage and Girls Group

The morning call to prayer just finished and I sit here thinking, processing, and pondering these last few days...they have been much slower than our previous week but have also given us more time to talk about and think through where we feel God is leading us when we return home. This trip has been very unifying for our marriage. We were a little afraid that we would feel pulled in two different directions, but we don't. We can tell people are praying for our marriage while we are here because it has been such a sweet time of growing together and growing in the Lord. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for praying for us, we feel so blessed. 

Yesterday we visited another Bible School, but this one in Kampala and very different than the rural one we worked at in Kiburara. It had a beautiful campus and looked like a school in America! The Turners wanted us to see the other side of the spectrum as far as Bible Schools go. I also was privileged to join Debbie at her discipleship group where she disciples a number of gals from the University here. I shared my testimony on where God had taken me as I waited for the right man and how Andrew and I finally ended up together. I encouraged them to wait for a Godly man who they want to partner with for the sake of the gospel. It was such a blessing to see these young women who were so hungry for truth and soaking up the wisdom Debbie was teaching from the Bible. I loved it! I can't wait for Tuesday group next week!

~The gals as we memorize scripture~

An adventure and a sweet baby

I wrote this post yesterday but we lost power before i could post it. Here is the second try...

As of yesterday, we are back in Kampala for the week. We finally have reliable Internet so I will try to catch you all up on some pictures from last week (though I am still posting from my iPad and it is quite a bit more of a hassle than a computer...but I'm very thankful for it!)

Today was an adventure! Andrew and I went out our own to navigate Kampala. I'm not gonna lie, I was nervous and told Andrew so as we walked out on the main street to catch a taxi bus. The babies home we were going didn't have an address and we weren't sure if we could find it, but it all worked out great, and we found it! On the way home we got caught in a CRAZY thunder/rain/wind/lightning/hale storm. So we went to the first restaurant we saw- Greek food, which normally we love but I'm just praying I don't get sick from the chicken (at least andrew thought it was chicken...it tasted more like what I would imagine someone's bum to taste like...oh well. It's all about the experience! :-)

Before the storm, we went to a baby orphanage called Loving Hearts Baby Home. It is for babies under two who are abandon and usually brought to them by the police. I found out about this home because one of my dearest friends Amy's younger sister spent a couple months there this summer taking care of a sweet preemie named Ray. She sent a beautiful blanket with me to give him and instructions to take lots of pictures. It was such a joy to meet him and many of the other 14 babies there! Honestly, there were quite a few that stole our hearts! If we were living here right now, we would probably try to adopt very soon (it is much cheaper to adopt when living here, but if God provides us money to do so from the states, than we would be so happy to!) Andrew is so great with babies and is going to be a fantastic dad! We played with the little ones for a few hours and, if our busy schedule gets freed up at all, we might go back. I only heard a few of their stories, but they were heart breaking! My soul aches for what their birth mamas are missing out on and the circumstances and sin that led them to feel like they couldn't care for their babies. Jesus is desperately needed to transform the culture here just as much as he is needed to transform the culture of not valuing life in the US.

Here are a few picture of sweet baby Ray:

Andrew at the Bible School

Class at the small Bible College begins at around 7:30 am to the sound of their school bell (a rock dinging against the steel frame of the building), and the dozen or so pastors in training trickle in during the first ten minutes of the session. Teaching here has been an awesome privilege and a great joy, and I feel so honored to get to share God's word with these students. I've started with 1 Corinthians, and today we talked about church discipline - something that many of these students have seen practiced in their churches, often times done poorly (nothing like the US :). It was thrilling to get to field questions during the session - you never know what kind of crazy situation they're going to throw at you, but it was also amazing to see how little humanity has changed, both across cultures and over the past 2000 years since the letter to the Corinthians. Teaching here has been a blast, and while communication can be slow and difficult, seeing the change in the eyes of the students as understanding dawns is so worth it.

Speaking of difficulties in communication, the other day I was talking and getting to know the students after class, when a young man I hadn't met walked over. I put my hand out to meet him, and when i asked his name, he said "Moseesee." "Hey Moseesee, great to meet you. How are you doing today, Moseesee?" And the whole time I was calling him "Moseesee" the other students around we're looking strangely at me, like there was something wrong. I asked what was up, and they said I was calling him "Aseena" in their language. "What is Aseena?" I asked. "What?! You don't know what Aseena is? Don't you know, from the Bible, Aseena??" I had no idea - I was trying to remember obscure names and cities from the Old Testament, but I couldn't remember reading about Aseena! "No, I don't remember reading about Aseena in the Bible." "Don't you know, someone who is bad - Aseena?" they finally asked. "OH!! A SINNER!!" "Yes!! Aseena!" I apologized to Moses (that's what his name was) and told him I was a Moseesee too.

Like I said, teaching here is a blast, and while communicating can be a challenge, a sense of humor and the ability to laugh at yourself goes a long way. Thank you for your prayers and support - I'm looking forward to getting to share more stories!



-Andrew

Evangelism Day Two

Hey guys! Hopefully this works...the Internet here is terribly slow.

From my journal this morning:

I sit along a dirt path in the tall grass. Im just a few feet away from a small Cotten field. The African sun is quickly rising and preparing for a scorching day. I hear rustling in the grasses around me, bugs buzzing about and crickets chirping nearby. I am alone, just me and God as I get ready to face this new day. I am so thankful for these few minutes alone. I adore our team but I have been feeling desperate for some time just to sit and think and process all that is going on. It is amazing how being in another culture, especially a third world one, teaches me so much every minute of the day.

Today we are going out to do evangelism again, and I am nervous. I'm so afraid to make cultural mistakes or offend people and end up being too reserved. From my observation, Ugandan people, as a whole, are pretty reserved and I tend to follow suite so as not to rock the boat. I'm friendly but I don't hug as much as I thought I would. The kids in the villages are afraid of me at first and giggle when I talk to them and run away if I try to touch them. "Mazungu" they cry out when they see me, meaning white man. The children at the Bible School have warmed up to me now that we have been around for a few days. Yesterday I climbed a tree with them and after that they were all showing off for me by doing hand stands, summer salts, flips, and dance moves. "Me me!" they all shouted one after the other, wanting me to watch them perform their tricks. I clapped and gave them lots of praise and their smiles were huge.

I just love working with kids. There is something about the innocence, the joy and excitement for life, and the tender hearts. I'm being stretched immensely in the ministry I am being asked to participate it and I know it is good for me, but I can't help but hope and pray that I will get to spend more time and build relationships with these sweet and very valuable kids in Uganda.

Update from this evening:
I just love looking back and seeing how quickly God answers prayers. Today we were doing more home evangelism but then we were surprised by the opportunity to visit two schools and share there. We first shared at a high school of about 300 students. I shared a short testimony about following Jesus and staying pure until marriage (teenagers have the same issues in every country!) We then went to a primary school with lots of younger ones. I was given the opportunity to share the story of the lost sheep (which I changed to lost goat because the kids didn't know about sheep :-) I have to admit, it was not my first choice to share in front of these large groups of kids, but with a lot of encouragement and help in thinking through what I would share, I did it. And, as He is always doing, God worked through my feeble attempts.

On another note, my favorite moment of the day was snuggling a sweet little baby while the other gal on my team shared the gospel with her aunt and friend. I just love those sweet Ugandan babes. I'm really looking forward to my time at the baby orphanage!

At the end of the day, we went back to the Bible School and I got to play a bit with the kids there again. I'm falling in love! I wish the Internet worked better so I could share with you the video I took today of them signing. But all in good time....

As you can tell, God totally rocked my world today. He took me from a place of uncertainty and fear and gave me opportunities that totally blessed my heart so very much and has given me energy for our day of evangelism tomorrow. Wherever God takes us tomorrow, I know he will teach me so so much.

Bible School

Hello everyone! Thanks for checking in with us. Unfortunately, we have very limited Internet for the next week while we are at the Bible School so this may be my only post for the week. I wish i could share with you more stories and pictures of the beautiful people here. 

We immensely enjoyed our 8 hour drives through the Ugandan country side yesterday on our way to the rural Bible School in Kasesse. We were blessed to go to an amazing village church full of faithful and hospitable people. What a humbling experience. Andrew preached at the church and did an excellent job transitioning from an American way of preaching to do translating  preaching.  I have a short video clip I will share when I have the opportunity. 

Please pray for us this week while I will be partnering with the local churches here and doing some evangelism with them and Andrew will be teaching at the Bible School. Thanks for your prayers and support!

A Whole New World

Dogs barking loudly, squawking birds, loud cars, and the conversation of our guards at the guest house...this is what I hear when I take out my ear plugs out at 7am, feeling ready to start the day!

I stare up at the mosquito net above our bed, and when i look out the window i am greeted by red dirt, palm trees and pouring rain. It is fresh and beautiful, yet so so different from home.

We're spending the day exchanging money, going to the market, and getting acquainted with Kampala. We are thankful for this slow day since we only slept 4 hours last night and not much as we flew.

I just met some lovely ladies from Tennessee who are here adopting three children from Uganda (and between the two families have already adopted three from Uganda!) they were so kind and friendly and very willing to answer my questions and share their experiences. They were very respectful of the culture and the process here, even though it is taking them a bit longer than they were anticipating. I hope to get some good connections through them for what orphan homes to visit and they also recommended that we talk with a Ugandan lawyer to hear about the adoption process and what the steps are to adopt from America. (It is one of our biggest desires to adopt someday and when we are able to save up and God provides the money we need, we hope to make it happen. I have so much more I want to say about adoption but I think that will be another post for another time :-)

Here is a quick summary of our first day in Uganda:

1. Driving through Kampala and seeing many new and interesting sights.

2. Eating Italian food for lunch (we were surprised to find out that you can get a number of different ethnic foods here!)

3. Grocery store in the morning and outdoor craft market in the afternoon.

4. Visiting the Turners, one of the dear missionary couples who we are working with. They are so wise and so hospitable. Andrew and I are very much looking forward to staying with them our last week here and learning from them.