Clean-up

I have been in the house a year now.  The yard looks like a yard, not a construction zone.  I know where I stored things.  I have set aside certain areas for certain activities – mostly ministry activities.

I have also cleaned up many of the leavings from the builders (I am the first person to live here).  The tile work behind the sink in the kitchen area and likewise the tile work behind the sink outside the bathroom have been cleaned up (removed the excess grout and paint drips that landed on the tile).  I only accomplished this with a few tiles in the bathroom.  So, when Patience, one of the other missionary’s children, asked for a job to earn money, I offered it.  She was quick to accept.  She is doing a good job!

Jaml

Jaml (pronounced Jamal) is a long-time friend of the Ray family.  He is also a mechanic.  Leroy has been trying to reach him for several weeks, but the calls never go through.  He was thinking something happened to Jaml’s phone.

Today I went with the Rays on a trip to Arua.  We were doing a series of errands, including one for me, when we met Jaml.  We were standing in front of a store and Jaml pulls up and parks in front of us, not because he saw us, but because he needed to shop near-by and that what the spot that was open.

Yes, something did happen to his phone and now he has a new phone number.  God put us together so we could get the new number and the Rays could ask their question about their vehicle. 

Taraji and Huntress

I was over at Leroy and Amanda’s house today for the Truth is Light board meeting.  While I was waiting for the meeting, I was sitting in the living room.  Taraji was laid down on her mat to rest.  Huntress, their cat, came and laid down on the edge of the mat and Taraji reached out to gently touch her paws.  Huntress stayed there and they enjoyed each other’s attention for a few minutes.

Taraji and Huntress

Prison Ministry Team

The prison ministry team has been given an opportunity to explore the ten lessons in the discipleship foundation.  They are currently on the second lesson and appear to be enjoying the program.  Meeting attendance is up.

The team took the news about the prison continuing to be closed indefinitely well.  We are looking at it as a blessing.  Namely, time to explore the discipleship foundation lessons.  We were looking for the blessing of being able to return to in-prison prison ministry, but this time of waiting is a blessing too.

Bugutu prison

During our 15 April meeting with the officer in charge (OC) of Bugutu prison he encouraged us to come back on 28 May.  He thought he would be able to open the prison for programs when the schools resumed in June.  The schools are going through a phased restart, adding one or two classes at a time. 

My visit this week was not as optimistic.  The OC continues to value the prison ministry and wants to see us back, but the prison continues to be used as a quarantine center (for new prisoners) with no projection as to when it will return to being a prison.  He promised to call but I take that as the African way of saying check back after some time, maybe six weeks or more.

AstraZeneca

Today I went to the Koboko hospital because that is where they are making the CoVid-19 vaccine available.  The only vaccine in Uganda is AstraZeneca.  I have heard there are concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine, so I did some searching on the internet.

The US CDC does not recognize the AstraZeneca vaccine, but they have a clear statement, “Do not wait for a particular manufacturer’s vaccine.  Get the one available in your area.”  I found a note that the AstraZeneca vaccine is in a phase 3 trial in the US.  Interesting, it is recognized by W.H.O. but the US will not accept their results and is spending money and time on their own test.

Meanwhile, I am following the advice of get the vaccine available in your (my) area.  There is a three-month waiting period between the first and the second dose in Uganda.  No wonder that there are very few people in Uganda that are fully vaccinated.

Reassurance

Sometimes confirmation that you are on the path of God’s choosing comes at unexpected times.  I have busied myself teaching computer skills during the eased lock down.  Now that there is a possibility that we can return to prison ministry in the prison, a thought has been at the back of my mind.  Do I need to stop or reduce the work in computer skills ministry in favor of the prison ministry?

I do not think so, but the nagging thought is still there.  Then God sends a message that he wants both.  Several of the graduates and the Hope for Restoration Initiative CEO spoke about how valuable the computer skills have been to them.  The CEO also talked to me personally about how it has helped his staff work together as a team.

On Monday, a student in my Mugujai computer skills class and a graduate from the first Mugujai class took turns talking about how the example my dedication to come every week regardless of the weather is encouraging them.

God is doing more than I know.  Thank you, Jesus!

Bus

On Saturday, 22 May I took the bus back to Koboko.  Due to traffic in Kampala, my ride did not reach the bus station until 9:55 a.m.  We were trying to put me on the 10:00 a.m. bus to Koboko but it had already left.  (Based upon experience, I suspect all the seats had been sold so there was no reason to wait until 10:00.)  The next bus was at 1:00 p.m. to Arua.  I would have to take a public car from there to Koboko.

The 10:00 a.m. bus takes 9 hours to reach Koboko, passing through Arua 45 minutes earlier.  I thought the travel time would be similar, so I should arrive in Arua around 9:15 p.m.  Wrong!  More stops, a different route, a different driver …  We arrived in Arua at 11:56 p.m. Two hours after the public cars have stopped traveling for the day.  Fortunately, I had sent word to those in Koboko about my delay and the revised plan.  They checked with me at 9:45 p.m. and found I was still on the bus.  They came and picked me up at the Arua bus station.  I was home at 1:00 a.m.  I left where I was staying in Entebbe at 7:26 a.m.  No hurry in Africa.

Faze3

Faze3 is a restaurant that features Indian dishes.  I enjoyed the view of Lake Victoria and the airport.

Lake Victoria as seen from Faze3 restaurant, Entebbe

Entebbe international airport as seen from Faze3 restaurant

I noticed that most of the people in the restaurant were white.  It turns out they are popular among the foreigners living in Entebbe.  I also noticed that many of the other groups were ordering appetizers or deserts, not meals.  When our meal came, I found out why.  The taste was different.  I am doing fine with Ugandan meals for lunch and dinner each day.  That is a different taste I can do day after day, but Faze3 different, maybe once a year.

Ben birthday

Ben was adopted into the Kiggundu family on the 19^th of May.  His birthday was the 21^st of May.  He turned 13.  We took him out for dinner and then came home for cake.  He tells us it is the first time he has had a birthday party.  Ben, your old family may not have celebrated, but I know the Kiggundu’s do, so plan on having parties from now on.

Ben’s first birthday cake

Ben blowing out the candles