Village rounds

Some of the most memorable and amazing times were at the little village compounds in Olelai. When our brick carrying, digging, shoveling, etc. was caught up, we took the liberty to go into the village to visit with the people. Not one visit proved to be a disappointment! We started down the little road, and as we came to a foot path that lead into the tall grasses, we would follow it...until we came to a 'compound'. I use the word 'compound' because I don't know what else to call them...each compound was comprised with one to several homes where families lived together. There was always a home and usually several other huts for their animals, family members, etc. There was always a garden close by and the courtyard was always swept clean. Some of the foot paths were even decorated with flowers and bushes.

Walking down the road to the foot paths

Stopping along the way to get a picture in the grass

Entering a compound

Visiting the people...

...and their animals!

As we came close to their home, we would let them know we were coming by saying, 'Good morning. How are you?' Immediately, we would see them come out of their homes or from their gardens to greet us. They always seemed to find some homemade chairs for us to sit on, or if they didn't have a chair, they would place a grass mat down on the ground for us to sit on. We enjoyed giving their children little trinkets and salvation bracelets. Most of the men could speak a little English, so our communication with the Ugandans was pretty good for the most part.

The children loved getting their pictures taken

Putting a bandanna on a little girl

Not sure what was so funny

One little lady was so excited to see us. When she saw me she just reached up and wrapped her arms around my neck and held on for a long time just hugging me...when she finished hugging me she hugged the rest of the group one-by-one. She kept staying over and over "Apwayo totwal!" (Thank you so much). She kept making motions-- pointing to the sky, to us, and to her...I think she thought we were angels! :)

The little lady

Hugging Emily

Apwayo totwal

Beautiful hands

Greg giving a Salvation bracelet to her

We went to one of the gardens and spoke with a man and his wife. Soon a lady, Caroline, met us along the path and asked us to come to her home as she had something she wanted to show us. We followed her to her home and sat down on the chairs she provided for us. She went into her home and came back with a little boy in her arms. His name is Job and he has Cerebral Palsy and a seizure disorder. He is only 3 years old but his mother said he didn't recognize her or anyone else. The little boy's arms were all twisted and he was choking on his saliva. Greg asked to hold him, and prayed for his healing. Emily and I took a turn praying as well for this little boy. God chose not to heal this little boy, but our prayers offered up in faith were heard. His mother was so happy that we prayed for him that she ran to her chicken coop and came back with 3 eggs. When we tried to refuse her days food, she insisted, saying it was from her heart to ours. We accepted humbly and left her home with a mix of emotions. Humbled. Confused. Sad. Overwhelmed. Blessed.

Caroline with Emily in the garden before we went to her house

Holding Caroline's little girl at her home

Caroline holding Job (on the left)
and her friend who also has a disabled child (5 years old)

Caroline holding her friends 5 year old disabled daughter

Me, Emily, Daniel and Caroline

While we were at Carolina's home, the man we had met in his garden came with a pineapple in his hand for us. We went back to the Olelai church with a pineapple and 3 eggs! These people have so little, yet, they gave so much! It was definitely very humbling to be on the receiving end.

The pineapple garden

Greg and the man who gave us the pineapple

We went to yet another home. When the lady of the home saw us coming she hurriedly placed a grass mat down on the ground and disappeared inside her hut. Soon she came out with a 3 month old baby, washed his face, and wrapped his bare bottom with a clean linen cloth, and placed him in my arms. She was GIVING me her baby!! She wanted me to take him back to the United States knowing he would have a good life there. We convinced her that she was a good mother and she needed to keep her own baby. But, wow! First a pineapple, then eggs, and now a baby?!

The home where the mother gave me her baby

Me holding the baby

Presentation

This was hanging up on the bulletin board at one of the schools

After our morning work, we went to one of the local secondary schools and gave a short program. We did several different drama/skits, shared testimonies, and Pastor Scott gave a short lesson on trusting GOD. Some of the pastors came along with us. They served as interpreter, as well as used the opportunity to speak Truth into the students lives. Several of the students gave their heart to the Lord at the conclusion of each of the programs. We went to Kalaki Secondary School, Olomet Secondary School, Midland High School, and Kaberamaido Secondary School.

We had to sign the guest book at each school

Kalaki Secondary School gathering to hear the Gospel

During the 'Everything' drama at the Olomet Secondary School

Midland High School students gathered under 'Assembly Square'

The students at Kaberamaido Secondary School

Each night the 'Jesus Film' was shown in different locations in the Kaberamaido District. It was a privilege to be able to see the people respond as they watched the film in their own language. We also enjoyed seeing the stars, Milky Way, and watching the full moon rise...it was a wonderful evening!

Intermission at the Jesus Film

Friday afternoon, we went to the Aswii church instead of a secondary school. We drove our bus down these small foot path trails for several miles until we could go no further. We walked the short distance to a tree -- the church. This church was one of the most recent churches that was started, which had 15 members. If I can remember the story right, Pastor Julius, the General Superintendent of the Assembly of God church in Uganda, developed a heart condition as a child. Each morning his parents carried him to a tree to die --they figured that the tree would give him shade and shelter and would be a good place to die. Each day after work, they would return and find him still alive. One day an old Christian woman had a dream about a boy under a tree who was dying. She was to go to him and tell him about a certain plant, that when made into a tea, would make him well. So, she obeyed the dream from the Lord and delivered this information to Pastor Julius. As he began to drink this tea, he became stronger and stronger, and was healed. Now, there is a church under the very tree where he was placed to die!! GOD is GOOD!

It was amazing to worship with these beautiful people! They came in their best clothes, fell to the ground while clasping our hands and thanking us for coming. One lady even gave us a chicken! God's Spirit was felt in a powerful way under that tree and definitely had His hand at work. We got a call from Pastor Scott saying that he had both music players for the skit. (Pastor Scott stayed back because he was sick) We knew that God had a better plan than what we had planned...and so it was that we did the 'Everything' skit without music, but with a very talented interpreter. He interpreted the entire skit as we acted it out. The people were moved and God saved 2 people that day -- one of them was Pastor Julius' step-mother! Isn't God awesome?! By the end of the day, 5 people were saved and the Aswii church members grew to 20!

Aswii church

Waiting for the people to arrive

Aswii congregation

Kate holding our gift

Pastor Simon with an offering plate for the Aswii church
--a special gift from the Krockenbergers

Thank you Don and Bonnie for the wonderful gift to the people of Aswii. They are very grateful and wanted me to thank you for them! God bless you for your thoughtfulness and giving spirit.

Morning duties

Olelai Church building

We attended an outstation church in Abata Kobulubulu where several congregations were gathered to worship. We rode in the bus as far as the driver would go, and then we walked about 2 km through the tall grasses, villages, and gardens to the little bush church. As we neared the church we could hear the people singing, clapping, and yodeling. Pastor Isaac led us right up front to chairs that were awaiting us! The service was awesome, and God's presence was felt. I enjoyed worshiping with them even if I didn't know their language -- We were all worshiping together in spirit and in truth! The service was several hours long with lots of introductions and greetings, as well as singing and preaching.

Emily and I walking to the church

Greeting the pastors and members at the church

The musicians

Each morning, Monday through Friday, we went to the church at Olelai and worked. We dug a trench, carried homemade bricks to the church, filled in the trench after the wall was built, and several other odd jobs. The bricks are made from mud and straw. After they are dried, they stack them in a very precise way, and then build a fire under/inside to cure them. Each brick weighed several pounds! They had around 4,000 bricks made, but we ran out of cement before the bricks ran out. The front and back of the church had a wall 5-6' high, and the side walls were only about 1' high before the cement ran out. We saved them over 2 weeks of work by helping.

Where the bricks were stacked and fired

Hauling bricks

Mixing cement

Filling in the ditch with Pastor Simon

Leveling the cement

Almost finished

Giving the children Salvation Bracelets

Washing dishes' Ugandan style' while baby Aaron looks on

Confirmation

Uganda! What an amazing place and full of lovely people! The 2 weeks seemed only like a few days before we had to pack up and leave this beautiful country behind... part of my heart was left as well. It seems like each country I visit captures a part of me. My sister, Emily, and I few from Indy and met up with the team at the Washington-Dulles Airport. We flew to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a fuel stop in Rome...then from Addis we flew to Entebbe, Uganda -- a total of 15+ hours in the air. We met up with the missionaries, Rob and Jeanel Shipley, and drove another 3 hours to Jinja where we had dinner and got some much needed sleep. We had dinner at the Black Lantern Restaurant overlooking the Nile.

Me and Emily on our way to Jinja

After a wonderful hot shower and restful sleep we headed into town to the bank to exchange our $ into the Uganda Shilling...after visiting 3 different banks we finally accomplished this! Several of us took a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) to the shopping area--this was the only scheduled day for souvenir shopping. By the time we all had our money exchanged, we had only 1 hour left to shop! We had a 6 hour road trip ahead of us, and did not want to be on the road at night. What shopping we did do, we did quickly!

The Black Lantern Restaurant

The Nile River as seen from The Black Lantern

The team (L-R back row) Jared, Pastor Scott, Carrie, Amanda, me, Emily, Jessica, Greg
(front row) Kate, Rob, Denise, Jeanel

Paradise Hotel on the Nile

View of the Nile River

During the drive from Jinja to Kaberamaido I enjoyed the view out the bus window at the people, homes, gardens, and countryside. As we passed different homes, I was immediately reminded of a vision I had at YWAM during an intercessory prayer time in 2009. The vision I had was of a home with a grass roof, and wood and mud walls. Standing in the doorway of this house was a very sad looking woman with a far-off look in her eyes. I can vividly remember what she looked liked, what she was wearing, and sense the longing she had. Well, I didn't see that lonely woman, but I did see the same type of hut. As God brought that vision back to my mind, I was overwhelmed by His hand and confirmation in this trip. Yes, I was exactly where HE wanted me to be!