Settling in In Uganda

It is already Saturday and I finally have time, electricity and an internet connection all at once to give an update on our trip. We all want to thank everyone for your prayers for us; we have felt them during this whole trip so far. Even on the day we flew out, we saw God perform miracles, from my sinus infection not even causing any ear pain on the flights, to our overweight luggage and excess carry-ons being ignored, to no problems through customs in uganda. It was a long trip, but it did go surprisingly quickly. For those of you who are aware of the connection and interest we have in Guayana (Lita, you will love this), you'll be interested to know that from Amsterdam to Uganda we sat next to a woman who was a native from Guayana. She is probably in her 70's now, but she shared her testimony and how God had saved her and then she has been a missionary for years and years. She really encouraged Rebecca to prayerfully consider a life of service in missions, telling her it is so very hard, but that it is the most rewarding thing she could think to do.

When we got to the airport, it was hot the moment we stepped off the plane, and we noticed, too, that Uganda has it's own distinct smell. We arrived at about 1AM because our flight had been delayed due to a fuel leak; another providential thing to have discovered the leak as we were about to take off, rather than when we were in the air. We went to a Baptist guest house for the night in Entebbe, and it just felt so good to sleep in a bed. The next morning, we headed out for the town of Jinja, which is on the way to Soroti. Tim & Angie decided we should spend a day & night there before transitioning to life here in Soroti. It was nice to relax and to have a pool to swim in----that made Rebecca VERY happy. Rebecca, in particular, was a little frightened by the size of the critters we saw there, from 6 inch snails, to the 2 inch spiders on our walls, not to mention the thousands of ants all over our room and floor. thankfully, they found a different hut for us to stay in, which was not so infested. It was strange to have to sleep under mosquito netting at first, but now it gives us all great comfort. While in Jinja, we went out to a camp called Mto Moyo (means "The Father's Heart"). We met with a Dutch woman named Ingrid, who runs this amazing ministry to refugees, orphans and vulnerable ugandans. With the money from the Ride for Refugees last Fall, Tim is planning to take the former LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) youth there for spiritual training, healing and renewal. They have a week camp that teaches them about the Father's heart for them, then there is a follow-up camp called Transformation camp where they really seek to minister deep inner healing. It was so exciting to listen to Ingrid and to hear how God is using this ministry to heal hurting souls and to bring them to the foot of the Cross. This camp is located right on the Nile River. It was so neat for us to be there, especially in light of Pastor Steve's sermon series on Exodus lately. The Nile is HUGE beyond my imagination----4,000 miles long, and maybe the width of 4 Grand Rivers; it has class 6 rapids, to give you a sense. You can see why the Nile was so significant as a life source. Anyway, we also road a boat on the Nile; we saw a crocodile, a HUGE monitor lizzard (several of them), and more species of birds than I can count (glen, you NEEd to come birding here!). And yes, Caleb, Micah & Joseph, I got you each a rock from the Nile. The other significant part of our time in Jinja was the half hour I took to go for a run. I ran on this dirt walking path that all of the school children and laborers walk for countless miles to get to/from their homes each day. It runs right alongside a railroad track. At first I was a little frightened to run there, even though everyone assured me it was totally safe. As I ran, I began to pray and just felt amazing peace. I got to see Uganda in a unique setting, because all along that trail, I saw people working---moms laboring hard in the fields with babies on their backs, children, probably 2& 3 years old lugging huge piles of thatching for the roofs of their houses and jugs of water. Everyone works, from the youngest to the oldest, not to make a living, but simply to live. I was thinking how sad this is in some ways, but as I was running, I noticed how everyone smiles. The longer I ran the more I began to greet people and be greeted by them. Kids began to run on the path with me, families cheered as I went by, and everyone wanted to shake my hand. It was my first encounter with the Ugandan people, and it made me feel so much more at ease about being here.
We left Jinja and came to Soroti yesterday, and we are now beginning to settle in. We have been unpacking and organizing all of the supplies we brought for the missionaries, and we've had some team meetings, orientation and devotions. While Karin & I unpacked and sorted supplies, Rebecca had the opportunity to go into soroti town with Tim & Angie and their kids. While there, they went to the market so she got to see where/how they buy their food. She was shocked by the slabs of raw meat just laying out, and she said seeing all of the beggars (some with leprosy and other serious bodily defects) was a bit uncomfortable. Tim bought bananas and had the kids hand them out to some of the beggars who scarfed them down. While they were there, Karin & I also spent some time singing and having our devotions. As we sang, Grace, Tim & Angie's house helper danced and hummed along. then, we asked her what songs she likes to sing, and she sang some songs about how Jesus had saved her (she sang in Ateso)---it was beautiful. she also shared her testimony with us, told us all about her children and how when they are sad that their father is gone, they sing to Jesus and He gives them peace.
Tomorrow will be a challenging day for all of us. we've been told it is usually the hardest day for people here on a vision trip. We are going out to Karamoja, where the unreached people-group (cattle hearding tribe) lives. We will visit an Internally Displaced people Camp (where I may or may not "preach"---we'll know when we get there), also we'll visit the mass graves of the LRA victims. It is really hot there, so physically it is challenging, but also, we won't be allowed to eat or drink in front of people there because the poverty is so out of this world that it is just not acceptable to do so. We will leave here at 7AM and not return until late in the day. Please, pray that all of this goes well. Above all, we've been forwarned that the poverty and the tribal living are shocking beyond words, so pray that we will have God's heart and love and that any interactions we have with the people there will be positive. I'm realizing that for Rebecca, this is challenging, but most of the poverty around us goes unnoticed by her, so it will be interesting to see how she does. Karin & i have both had our breakdown moments already at seeing some of the poverty around us; pray for strength.
This afternoon we all get to go participate with a ministry to small children. Rebecca is going to teach her liturgical dance, and all of the Team Beyond members who are here right now are hoping to share it in church tomorrow, too. Rebecca is making friends with the Ugandan children very easily; she gets along so well, and I'm so proud of how she hasn't complained and is just taking everything in stride.
Karin sends her love to everyone, too. We are all learning and growing.
Hopefully, we can update again soon. in the meantime, we'll keep praying for all of you, and trusting you're praying for us, too.