Corona virus

Last night Ugandan news included an announcement that human tests of a CoVid-19 vaccine are predicted to begin in Uganda in November.  (They did not use the word “predicted.”) Apparently Ugandan scientist have been working with researchers in England (they said the UK) and together they have made significant progress.  There are things that remain to be done so the human tests will not begin until November.  The results will determine if it receives W.H.O. (World Health Organization) approval. 

They avoided the word “experimental”; however, I think they could be that honest and there would still be people willing to take the vaccine. 

There was no mention of research done in Russia, nor of human tests planned in other African countries.  Last week I heard an announcement about a Russian vaccine that would be tested in the U.A.E. but I did not get a timeline.  I did get the impression that the U.A.E. was one of five countries that had agreed to begin the human tests.  Uganda was not part of that announcement.

I take this with a lot of “salt”.  This is speculation about how each stage of the process will go.  See the scriptures, James 4:13-15

Cassava Flour

Cassava, introduced in Uganda between 1862 and 1875, is currently one of the most important staple food crops in the country. Approximately 3.5 million tonnes have been produced from c. 0.4 million ha of land. (source: google)

Many of the people in Uganda grow cassava.  It is an important food staple here.  The plant can grow as tall as a fence (taller than a person).  When it is harvested the roots are saved.  They are like seeds for the next crop.

The stalks are ground up.  Many people have grinders in town and run them as their business.  They grind sugar cane, ground nuts, cassava, maze, …  Of course, only one of these at a time.  The grinders have a chute that connect to a bag designed to hold 50 kg (110 lbs.).

A couple of weeks ago I was riding with the Rays to Arua.  They were also taking Ramadan into Koboko with the things he wanted to take to his family in Bede Bede (a refugee camp).  One of the things he was taking was a bag of cassava flour.  On the way into Koboko (our first stop), Leroy said he usually does not allow cassava flour in the vehicle, it goes up top.  That is when I understood what I smelled when I got into the vehicle.  (I had stopped and checked to make sure I did not just step in something, but my shoes were clean.)  I would never have imagined flour smelling like that.

Teaching computer skills in Mugujai

There has been interest in my computer skills practical lessons for some time.  We looked at putting it before or after the Friday TPM (transformational prayer ministry) small group but it never seemed to fit the travel schedule.

When I heard that it would only be a minor change, and minor cost, to update the solar power system Livingston was adding to his newly built house I agreed to help if he would make the update.

Now that he can recharge a laptop, it is possible to buy a local (inexpensive by US standards) laptop and station it in Mugujai.  I did so last week. 

I was not eager to take a laptop on public transport.  Now I do not need to.  That opens taking public transport to go out and teach computer skills practical lessons one day a week.  I made the first trip today.  Unfortunately, half of my class was asked to attend a burial service for someone who died yesterday.  I went on with the other half and held a make-up session in the afternoon.  It was well received and several others (not part of the original class) sat in on the make-up session.

Churches

We are in the process of re-opening worship centers in Uganda.  For some this may not be a big deal.  For others, they may be envious because their area has not re-opened houses of worship yet.

Several countries in East Africa and Central Africa have allowed church services for some time now.  Last Sunday evening (20 September 2020) President Museveni announced that churches could re-open in Uganda if they were prepared to follow the SOPs (standard operating procedures).  These procedures are new, so everyone is scrambling. 

I was not convinced that churches would be able to get all the sanitizer they needed, temperature guns, protective equipment (clothing) for cleaning crews, create a register for everyone who comes, number the chairs, train their cleaning crews and be vetted by the local (district) CoVid-19 task force before the Sunday service. 

One house church group has been asking me to come and share the word with them.  I had been putting it off when churches were closed.  Following the announcement, I agreed to come because we are now allowed to gather in limited numbers for worship, not just your own household.  I think we had a good service.

I went by one of the churches I would attend when they are open and, sure enough, it was not ready to open today.  I received word from one source that they plan to open next Sunday, 4 October 2020.  Other sources indicate it may take until mid-October to meet all the requirements and open.

Weather

My weather tends to come from the SE, but it can come from anywhere.

Today the weather was warm, even sultry, and relatively clear in the morning.  Meta told me that means there will probably be a big rain by four.  It is now just after 4 p.m. and it is raining hard.  What was different about this rain is it approached from the north with lots of thunder to announce it.  I am still learning to read the weather here.

TPM

Today we held our weekly transformational prayer ministry (TPM) small group meeting in Mugujai.  The group is not small anymore.  Several people have come, wanting to be part of the discipleship training that is conducted shortly after our TPM meeting.  Today Amanda, the TPM presenter, explained TPM to the newcomers as training ministers in one of their ministry tools.  The TPM meeting went very well.  We could see God’s hand at work. Many of the newcomers participated too.

Not opening – yet

I met with the OC (officer in charge) of Bugutu Prison this morning.  He said the prisons were not included in the things that President Museveni opened this week.  Bugutu, the local prison, continues to be filled and then treated like a quarantine center.  Tomorrow, the prisoners (237 of them) will be transferred to prisons throughout West Nile region.  Each one will be sent to the prison where people from their home area are held.  Then Bugutu will, once again, begin to receive prisoners (newly admitted to the system) from throughout West Nile.

I was told the face masks that we (you through me) donated have been distributed.

The prison ministry team will continue to prepare for the day when we can share the gospel inside the prison.

Kakwa

I continue to work on learning one of the local languages, Kakwa.  I have learned that sometimes the same word can be said different ways and have different meanings.  Amanda tells me this is what they are referring to when it is said the language is tonal.

Money (pronounced moan-yeah) can mean “stomach” or “father” depending upon where it is pronounced in the mouth.  I have not learned which one is where, yet.

Na (pronounced naw) can mean “I” if it is pronounced at the front of the of the tongue and “who” if it is pronounced at the back of the tongue.

Tumalu (pronounced too-ma-lu) can mean “morning” (as in dawn to noon) if the emphasis is on the second syllable or it can be a feminine name if the emphasis is on the third syllable.

Opening?

Last night, Sunday, 20 September 2020, President Museveni (of Uganda) addressed the nation.  Some of the corona virus restrictions remain in place, some were lessened (eased) and a few were eliminated.  A few of them are:

• The curfew is over.
• If churches and mosques follow the SOPs, then they can open.  The SOPs include social distance, keeping a record of who attended, and no more than 70 per service.  There are other details to be observed, too.
• The boarders are opening!  We are joining the rest of the world and ending our isolation.  The 14 day quarantine upon entry is over; however, a person needs a current (within a couple of days) CoVid-19 certificate showing they tested negative – applies to everyone crossing the boarder (land, water, or air) regardless of direction (entering / leaving).

This is just a partial list and several restrictions remain (reduced capacity on transport, face masks, …).  I do not know, yet, if the prison will be open to our resuming the prison ministry.  I want to wait a few days and let the dust settle from these changes before inquiring; however, opening the churches is a milestone that had to occur first, and it is in the process of happening.

Church

Here in Uganda, we continue to be encouraged to hold “church” in our homes.  How about you?

The pastor of the local church has been visiting different areas covered by the parish and joining a different home church each week.  This week he joined us.  It was great to have him with us.

What are you doing for church services during this season of corona virus?