BOOK MINISTRY TRAVEL

Last week, Henry and I traveled over 2,000 kilometers to several towns and villages in southern Uganda we had not yet been. We were very close to the border of Tanzania in the district of Isingiro. We had four different teaching opportunities in well-organized groups put together by people we have previously worked with in other parts of Uganda. Although the trip was quite long with difficult driving conditions,it was very rewarding to present the teachings and the books to these people for their ministries. We were able to present the entire series of 12 books in each of these villages.

The following posts will provide you a glimpse into our world of traveling and teaching, and I hope you will enjoy seeing some of our times on the road. Thanks for your support and prayers which make these distribution trips possible. You are appreciated and loved!

TEACHING THE WORD

Henry and I were glad to receive the teaching help of others on this trip. Dan, a student at a nearby university spent 4 days teaching with us. His friend Nelson, also a college student from Mbarara, has interpreted for us in the past and this time in addition to his translating, he wanted to help out by teaching; he did a great job. Innocent is a Congolese refugee living in Kampala and working with Navigators. We met him at the Orality Workshop last month and he coordinated the meeting at the Congolese settlement. He was a great translator in Swahili. Teaching 12 books four days in a row can be tiring. I am thankful for the additional help Henry and I had.

Becky with translator in Kamwenge village

Dan teaching with Nelson in Nelson's home church.
Innocent, on left, translating in Swahili for Dan with the Congolese.

HEARERS OF THE WORD

We are always encouraged and blessed when we see the captured attention of different age groups as they listen to the Bible stories, hold the books in their hands, or study the illustrations.

This young boy stayed for the entire teaching

Our first teaching group.

Visiting Pastors to the Host Church

Last group

THE "HEARERS OF THE WORD"

No matter how far we travel or the size of the group, we are blessed by great "hearers of the Word."

Group 4

Group 3

Congolese Settlement

Group 3

Group 1

AFRICAN PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Certainly, a very special part of our travels and ministry has been to participate in and enjoy the traditional African worship experience. There is dancing, singing, drums and much expression and joy. Unfortunately, these few pictures don't adequately tell the story.

These young people in yellow made up a youth choir who performed for us.

These girls below could really play the drums. These drums were metal drums cut in half with cow hide coverings.

VILLAGE CHURCHES

Over the years, we have been in many different churches in Uganda. This recent trip shows well several examples of the churches we see and visit.

Fourth Village Church (sorry, I don't even know the name of the village. We were 2.5 hours off a main road.) The orange tarp on the roof gave a beautiful glow inside. This hosting church is grateful that they had recently moved to this new area because no vehicle could get to the previous location! I loved this church.

This is the inside of a typical village church. It was small and had plastered walls. This church was not too far outside of the large city of Mabarara and was the first place we met last week.

We learned several interesting facts about the church pictured below which is in the village of Kamwenge. When this church was started the members faced a great deal of persecution from the Catholic churches and the Anglican churches because they were threatened by the loss of some of their members. But these people were steadfast and their church is established and they are building an enclosed mud building behind this open area. They told me I was the first white person to visit in that area. (A local photographer with a very old camera came to take my picture with many members and families!! My claim to Fame!)

The church below is located in a very large Congolese Refugee Settlement Camp. There are several refugee settlements in Uganda. This was our first time at this one. The church building was actually constructed in the past by Ethiopians. Most Ethiopians have returned to their country and many of these Congolese had only been here about 6-8 years. As you can see, this building is quite large and substantial.

TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

I continue to marvel at God's protection as I have traveled by vehicle thousands of kilometers throughout this beautiful country. A small percentage of the roads are paved. Although the main roads from Mityana to Mbarara in southern Uganda were good for the most part, the travel from Mbarara each day to four different locations was on dirt roads. Some were rough as a washboard; others were muddy; some were okay. Travel is always an adventure and sometimes a harrowing experience. On this trip we were almost to the Tanzania border in a place called Isingiro. I am always thankful and grateful to God for safe journeys!

STUCK!

I suppose the amazing thing is that this was the first time I have gotten stuck in the mud in all of our travels, and we have been on MANY DIRT ROADS. This particular incident happened after leaving the third village group. We had already driven over 2 hours on dirt roads when we came to this one where the mud was particularly soft after a light rain. The moment we entered that section, the vehicle just slid to the side as though it were rolling off a tray. Grateful to have 4Wheel Drive, I didn't expect a problem getting out, but the shoulder was deeper than it appears and the vehicle could not get back onto the road. After 10-15 minutes, Henry suggested that I try to drive the shoulder till it ended and get back on the road. That worked and we were back on our way.

The coordinating pastor, Pastor Bennon with the hoe and Dan in the red shirt trying to fill in the shoulder.

The car was stuck up to the lower part of the window. Yes, I am missing a spotlight.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Further ahead, an African traffic stall, as the prisoner in yellow to get the cows off the road. There was a nearby prison and various prisoners were out tending herds. I didn't notice any supervision in this place.

AFRICAN FOOD!

Everyone looks forward to the meal at the end of each teaching workshop. Women start early in the day preparing the food, cooking it and then serving us in the late afternoon. In three of the villages, they were able to get a few forks or spoons together for the visitors to use. If none are available, I eat the Ugandan way, with my fingers--- hot beans and rice can be challenging!! But, in case, you are wondering, I find the food good, and I am always able to eat a respectable American portion although there is no comparison to an African's full plate.

THE COMPLETE SAMPLING OF UGANDA FOOD

The last village provided us with a huge feast of many Ugandan foods: G Nuts (small peanuts), Irish potatoes, greens, beans, millet, cassava, matoke, cabbage, boiled beef, and even pasta cooked in tomatoes!!

Henry on right; Pastor Bennon who organized two of the village groups, left of Henry. Pastor at the head and one of the women who prepared the food.

PLEASING THE AMERICAN PALATE

In the third village, these women prepared a small portion of French Fries, along with the boiled potatoes, rice, cassava, beans and other foods. The Fries were greatly enjoyed!

PREPARATIONS AND COOKING

These church women were peeling cassava, a root plant and a staple Ugandan food.

IMAGINE ACTS MINISTRY--WORKING!

June and July were no different from other months. We stay quite busy between the children's ministries, church, Sunday school, village ministries, and book distribution trips. ( I continue to do poorly at timely postings to the blog.) I am tired of my own excuses; however, on top of my procrastination, we have been going long periods without electricity. Far worse than I have ever seen it, 12-30 hours at a time several times a week. The good news is that the weather has been quite pleasant, so we can be comfortable without fans; the bad news is that my computer battery is dead and the computer works only when the electricity is on. I have been working on this post since Monday; it is now Thursday night a 7:30. TIA--This is Africa!!

I was able to take a 3-day rest and prayer retreat a few weeks ago, on my own in a peaceful setting about 3 hours from home. It was a lovely opportunity to spend time alone with God and I enjoyed the rest and quiet.

You must realize there is no way I can truly capture in pictures or words all that is happening here, but I hope you will enjoy seeing some of the pictures.

This journey with God continues to amaze me. Thanks for sharing with me through your interests, prayers and encouragement, and donations.

EXCITING NEW POSSIBILITIES!!??

Peter, Henry and I traveled to eastern Uganda in late July to attend a workshop presented by The Navigators, an international Christian organization. Chuck Broughton, center in photo, was facilitating the workshop on various methods for improving Oral Teachings of scripture. I met Chuck, who is from Colorado Springs, in Baton Rouge late in February of this year when he was teaching in Angola Prison.(he uses the books there, too.) He took a set of the books and has been showing them in his travels this summer in other African nations, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, and others. After the conference, he told me that teachers in those nations are asking for copies of the sets of books. We met, Mvula Mvula, the Orality Leader of The Navigators for Africa, on the far right below. He lives in Malawi and told us he had been given a set of the books by Chuck and he, personally, is using them and sees them as "a great resource for Africa!" He would like for us to come and do a workshop with the books in Malawi! We ask you to join us in prayer for God's guidance for future ministries with the books. I enjoyed the conference and Chuck's teachings very much. It was a nice break to be the receipient of teaching!! We learned techniques we can use in our book ministry.Thanks, Chuck!

Henry, Moses, Chuck, Becky, Peter, Mvula Mvula

BOOK MINISTRY CONTINUES

We have been traveling to districts and churches where we had previously distributed books in order to complete the set. Last week we met with two different groups, one being a large Congolese Refugee Settlement we had previously visited in 2009. The hosting pastor told us there were many churches in the settlement and one cult. He was disturbed because the cult issued newsletters and magazines with pictures and the Christian churches did not have something similar for teaching. He expressed his gratitude with a new boldness as he tucked his set under his arm prepared to teach with the illustrations in his books! We have two more trips planned for August and several in September. We receive several calls a week from others inviting us to come to their districts and do a teaching. Now, when we travel, we are really loaded down with so many sets containing 12 books each.

Second visit to a village near Hoima District

Hundreds of children rushed from a nearby school to see the "white" lady.
Timo teaching on the road

NEW CHURCH

In late May a group of us decided to start having church in my front yard. The two American families who are living here joined us as well as many Ugandans. After meeting at my compound for over two months, we have moved to the missionaries' compound where there is a larger shaded area . Also, with my travels with the books, I was often not home. They willingly agreed and Eric is working with the young men in getting everything established and going since he is experienced in church-planting. These photos were taken in my yard.

Setting Up for First Day of Church
Praising and Waiting for Visitors

July Service

SCRIPTURE MEMORY CLASS

At the beginning of the second term, a missionary and I started a Scripture Memory class on Wednesday afternoon with the students. The students learned 14 scriptures, and two weeks ago, we held the first scripture competition drill. Twenty-two students participated and the dining hall was full of fellow students who came to watch and cheer them on. All did a great job and the competition was fierce. Phiona received 2nd place and Isaac and Lillian tied in a bonus round where they each had to recite all 14 verses without error. All students received a sweetie when they had to leave the stage---so everyone won something! It was a great afternoon, and we are so proud of what the children have learned.

A Wednesday afternoon class in the pavilion.

Phiona reciting weekly scripture

Max reciting

 22 competitors

The Winners: Isaac, Lillian, Phiona!

VISITORS BRINGS BLESSINGS

The first week of June, my sister Diane came with her 14 year-old granddaughter, Ellen Feringa from Covington. From the moment they arrived, they both threw themselves into every activity with the children and ministry work. Ellen was amazing with all of the children and blessed them in many ways. The children have only one campus uniform to be worn after school. Most of the uniforms are tattered and torn and many children do not have one. When they learned this, Diane and Ellen worked together in the states on getting all 65 children a similar play outfit to wear every day. Ellen gathered donated navy uniform shorts for the boys from her previous school in Covington and great plaid skirts for the girls. Diane brought new tee shirts in assorted dark colors. Everyone was fitted and blessed to have a new outfit. They looked wonderful; however, it is difficult for children to have only one after-school outfit to be washed weekly.

Ellen with children before the new uniforms
Young boys in their new shorts and tee shirts

Sandra and Phiona in the new skirts and tee shirts

Ellen with some of the children

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Diane and Ellen went with us to visit our special friend, Muyontole, who is always excited to receive visitors. They took him bread, sugar and tea, all special treats. Ellen taught the girls at the orphanage to make multi-colored yarn bracelets. Just being together was lots of fun for everyone. We all wish they could have stayed a month! So much to do--so little time! Thanks for coming and sharing with all of us in Uganda.

Diane and Ellen and Muyontole
Ellen and Sandra serving tea with sugar

Lillian, Ellen, Sandra and Phiona making bracelets

LOVE OUT LOUD PROJECTS

Learning scriptures, studying Bible stories, attending Sunday school lessons are certainly all part of anyone's spiritual growth. But through all these methods, we try to get all of our workers and children to understand stepping out in obedience and love is most pleasing to God. My great joy is to see the young people and children seeking ways to " let their lights shine in such a way that others will see their good works and glorify their Father who is in heaven. " Matthew 5:16. Because so many of them want to participate in these projects, I have asked them to become aware of those in the community in great need. This time we had three such projects. The children share testimonies in Sunday school about the project with the other children.

LIGHTS SHINING BRIGHTLY

When Brian saw a crippled man in our area on the road begging for food, he went to his home to see about his needs and circumstances. He brought a plan to me of how he and the children could help, and that very day everyone went into action.

The man's greatest struggle was climbing up into his room because there were no steps. As we looked around the orphanage, we realized that we had some bricks and sand remaining from building projects for the children, so everyone agreed, "Freely you received, freely give."

The small children back at the orphanage began loading the bricks and packing sand into bags to be taken to the older boys who were on the site prepared to unload and begin work. There was no road directly to his home, so the boys had to haul the materials in by wheelbarrow. My vehicle served as "pick-up truck" and I was the driver. It was a grueling day for all, but everyone was filled with joy. In the late evening, Brian and I went to town to get a few things for the man while others prepared his room and bed. Brian bathed him,put new clothes on him, picked him up and laid him in a freshly made bed with new sheets and blanket. I think each person, including the old man, went to bed feeling that he had been the one most greatly blessed that day.

WORK BEGINS

Everyone quickly got into action to help this man; I think he was amazed to see the children working so tirelessly.

The Man

The man exiting his kitchen

The site: kitchen on left; bedroom on right

Children Loading Bricks

Children Shoveling Sand