Evangelism

There was a special outreach in Koboko this week.  Some of the people in Koboko have been talking about hearing in prayer that there is going to be a renewal of the spirit and it is going to begin in Koboko.  Someone in Kampala heard this too, because he is coming to Koboko to lead a day of evangelism at Gospel Corner. 

The day selected is the same day as Saint John Birijaku’s bible study.  I was the only person at the bible study.  I can hope the six to ten people who have been coming were at the evangelism event (sounds like a crusade to me) at Gospel Corner (on another side of Koboko).  My issue with such events is usually (here at least) there is no follow-up to encourage those who decide to come to Christ to attend a service or participate in discipleship or attend a bible study.  I will continue to offer bible study at Saint John on Thursday and the other missionary is helping provide a bible study at AIC (Africa Inland Church) on Tuesday.

Prison Differences

While there are a variety of things I could mention, I want to focus on the things made by the prisoners.  In the US, the directive to groups like Kairos (and to individuals) who were coming into the prison for ministry was to keep a clear line of distinction.  We were not to buy items made by prisoners, either from the prisoner or from the prison store.  We were there for ministry, nothing else.

In Uganda, the prisoners are allowed to make items while in prison and to ask others to sell them on their behalf.  The ‘others’ can be family members, friends that visit, a prison officer, or someone coming in for ministry.  The prisoner can then use the monies to purchase items they need, like soap, or items they desire like cosmetics.

Change

I find it amazing how much Mugujai can change in a few short weeks.  I usually travel to Mugujai, a small border town in Uganda, 1 kilometer from the border with South Sudan, once a week.  However, I was in Kampala for a week.  Last week I was pursuing a visa extension on the day I would otherwise have been in Mugujai.

Some gardens have been harvested.  Now I can see buildings where I used to look through a field of maze (corn).  In other areas I cannot see across the gardens any longer.  These owners have already planted for the second growing season and the recent rain has produced significant growth.

Another difference I encountered was speed bumps in Mugujai.  This is the first time I have seen them on the dirt road that parallels the border.  Previously the potholes were enough to control the speed of the few vehicles on the road.  Now there are six dirt speed bumps in Mugujai.  None of the other towns along the road have built them – yet.

Simu ‘Bai

That is not quite accurate, but I do not know how to say I do not have phone service in Kakwa.  Simu ‘bai means no phone.  I used the old, send in your passport to obtain / renew the visa, process.  The person who mentioned how he does it said it takes two or three days, at most a week.  I sent it when I had a week left on the visa because the office in Arua was not going to be able to process it in time (the person was away from the office for a week).  What I did not account for was the time sending the passport in and the time it will take for it to come back.  I am told it will be done and should come back to me by the end of the week.  Meanwhile the visa officially ended on Tuesday.  I had to show it when registering for Ugandan phone service, so they automatically canceled service on the visa expiration date.  Once I have the passport back in my possession, I will be able to show the extended visa and have the service for my number restored.  Until then, no service.

PMT

Last week the prison ministry team (pmt) canceled the team meeting to attend a burial service for the sister of a team member.  Two people who are interested in joining the team followed us and attended the service.  (In rural Uganda, burial usually occurs the day the person died, or the next day.  Everything else is canceled, the burial service takes precedence over anything scheduled in this culture.  I do not know if it is this way in the urban capitol area, but the local tribal cultures follow this custom.)

The two people who are interested in joining the team came again this week, this time to the regular team meeting.  Another ‘new’ person came too.  This person was not new to the team or the ministry, he was one of the prisoners we have been ministering to at Gbukutu prison.  He was released at 10 o’clock and asked for directions until he found Small London and then the house of the other missionary in Koboko.  Ramadan works with the other missionary and was present when the former prisoner arrived.  He personally escorted Morish to my home.  He was an hour and a half early for our 2 o’clock meeting, but happy to be with us.  He comes from the neighboring district, Maracha.  I will be interested to see if he is able to travel and join us on a regular basis.

Market

The public car from Mugujai experienced a flat tire.  The driver had a spare but did not get it out of the trunk.  I presume this was not his first flat tire.  It is common for public cars to operate without spare tires.  The driver is focused on covering essential costs (fuel) and earning money for himself (presumably also the family) so they can eat.  It took a lot of time and asking passing public cars before another driver gave our driver his spare tire.  No money was paid for the tire; no promises to replace it either.  Many of the drivers know each other and will give what they have to help each other.

We reached Koboko after dark.  As I walked from the place where the public car stops towards home, I passed by the open market.  Electric power is a service that most people in Koboko do not have. I expected the buying and selling to end at sunset because customers would not be able to see the items.  The market looked even busier than it was when I left for Mugujai in the morning.  Several vendors were selling in front of the shops, having set up on a tarp and showing their produce or their household items using the flashlight feature of their phone.

Football

The popular pastime in Koboko is football.  The kids form teams and play during recess and after school, using whatever they find as a ball.  Neighbors can be seen gathering at the edge of the school’s open area (playground, football pitch) to watch.  I should mention that football in Uganda refers to what I call soccer.  Goalposts falling down (or taken as firewood for cooking), no problem, two stones will do.  The ball is flat, or no ball, rags wadded up and tied into something resembling a ball is adequate.

The football season is starting, and the radio is broadcasting several of the premier league games in England.  There is coverage of Ugandan leagues at various levels, and some of the European leagues, but it is the English premier league that is talked about and is followed.

Solar Dryer

I try to do laundry on twice a week.  It keeps the quantity reasonable and allows some flexibility if events require laundry to change days.  Rain is one of those events.  Laundry is washed by hand outside.  Yesterday it was dry in the morning although the sky was gray.  Without direct sun the laundry can take all-day to dry.  No electric machines.  They are available in Uganda but the cost, and the power requirements are high.

I brought the laundry in, still damp, before going to the 3:30 pm bible study.  Good thing I did.  It rained twice before I returned at 5:30 pm.  Uganda is in the wet season now.  The laundry is back on the line today and I think it will finish drying this time.

Bible Study

Saint John’s discovered the need for lay leaders last week.  I was away in Kampala and Emmanuel (the seminary student assigned to Saint John for two months) was needed to help with an urgent pastoral need.  As a result, those who came for bible study discovered there was no one available to lead the study last week.

It is unlikely that anyone will be available every time, week after week, throughout the year, no exceptions.  We will need to develop a team approach.  There are members of Saint John’s that are also part of the prison ministry team that is also using this bible study.  One or more of them may be willing to serve as a backup bible study leader. 

Extension

I had intended to visit Uganda Immigration for a new visa / work permit while I was in Kampala.  My contact at immigration advised that I seek an extension of my current tourist visa and wait for the renewal of the NGO’s (non-government organization) license so they could grant a maximum length visa / work permit instead of the minimum length one.  A separate conversation directed me to wait and seek the extension in Arua after returning to Koboko.

Now I have learned that the person who handles immigration matters in Arua is out of the office.  Back to working with and through the office in Kampala, but now it will be remotely instead of in-person.