Traveling, Traveling, Traveling

Whew! I am realizing now how long it has been since I have posted on this blog. Forgive me for my delay in updating you.

Since October, I have been traveling very frequently. Last month, I spent several days in Gulu and then a week in southern Uganda for some mission field meetings. It was my first time to that part of Uganda. I was impressed with how much more mountainous (and cooler) that area is than the rest of the country. I had the opportunity to stay a few days on an island in the middle of one of the larger lakes in the South. It was a refreshing, peaceful time. The people in the area travel in dugout canoes made from eucalyptus trees and farm on the mountainous terrain by creating terraces. I also spent a few days in the town of Kabale where we had our field meetings. The best part was having the opportunity to meet and interact with all of the WorldVenture missionaries in Uganda, as well as the WorldVenture Africa director.

For November, I am only in Kampala for one full week (now) plus several days at the beginning and the end of the month. I just returned from an entire week spent up North during which I was helping out a short-term mission team from the States. They worked on several different projects and spent time with the people at Gulu Baptist Church. I also took them to the IDP camp where COH works, told them a little about the project, and helped to answer any general questions about Uganda or missions. However, when I wasn’t needed by the team, it was nice to have opportunities to move around Gulu on my own to visit friends and to spend time with the COH kids at Koro Abili camp.

The best part of the week was the realization that I am no longer just another “munu” (white person) to the Gulu kids in our project. Usually, when I (or any other white) walk through the camp, people just wave and call out “Munu! Munu!”. However, when I was walking through the camp and the schools this past week, the kids from the project were calling me by name and running up to greet me. One of the older girls even gave me a huge hug when I came to visit her at her school. It touched my heart dearly to realize how they have come to see me: as their friend.

I also did something for the first time ever in my life while I was in Gulu… I slaughtered a chicken! (See photo below.) Gulu Baptist was having a huge feast with food and dancing. They invited other churches in the area and there were several hundred people there. They slaughtered a bull and two chickens for the occasion. I’ll spare you the more graphic photos and details, but somehow my Ugandan friends decided that they wanted me to kill the chicken. So I did. : )

Next week, Uganda is hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM). Representatives of all the nations of the British Commonwealth (including the Queen of England) will be descending upon Kampala for several days. The Ugandan government has spent the past six months trying to make major improvements to the city so that it will look respectable for the meetings. The improvements have ranged from the practical, such as repairing roads, to the ridiculous, such as installing street lights all over a city when they already do not even have enough energy to produce electricity for everyone. Security measures are tightening and roads are being closed all over the city as officials and dignitaries from other countries begin to arrive. Unfortunately, the effect of all these measures is crazier traffic and less maneuverability through the city. The government has even proclaimed two of the days to be national holidays in an effort to get people off the streets during the busiest times. My fellow COH missionaries and I have decided to escape all the craziness of next week. We will be traveling down to Rwanda to stay with some other WorldVenture missionaries there. I am looking forward to the opportunity to see a new country and experience yet another new culture.

I’ll also quickly mention that we have had another mid-term missionary join our COH team recently. Her name is Kate, and she is a seminary student who is doing her internship with COH. She is living in the back portion (worker’s quarters) of our house. We are excited to add her to our team.

Next month will also be busy with two trips to Gulu, one trip to Masaka, and Christmastime as well. Also, I am looking forward to Jonathan’s arrival on December 10th. He will be spending about a month in Uganda to see the country and help out with the project. Megan’s boyfriend will also be visiting around the same time. What great Christmas presents! : )

Thanks to you all for your continued partnerships with me and my ministry. Until next time…