Our time in Uganda closed with a flurry of activity.
On Saturday we visited with James and Carolyn Ouma and their boys, Merlin and Joshua. A school now meets on the campus of the Kisugu Africa Gospel Church and a teacher was doing prep work while we were there. It was helpful to get additional information about the educational process in Uganda. Trevor and Grant played with Merlin and Joshua quite a bit.
Sunday we joined the Katale Africa Gospel Church for morning worship. The singing was especially joyful and infectious. Keith preached on how we witness that the kingdom of God has come as we love others in Jesus' name. Wilson and Grace came to the Matoke Inn in the afternoon for us to talk some more about a partnership between GAP and the God is Good School. After dinner we headed for the airport for the long trek home.
We all made it home safely. It was a bit of a shock to the system to go from the 80s on Sunday in Uganda to the 10s on Monday in the USA. So we begin the process of thawing toes and resetting the body clock.
Thanks for your prayers on our behalf while we were in Uganda. God is faithful.
If you've ever been to Uganda, you know how rutted the unpaved roads can be. In urban settings where the roads are paved you'll find frequent speed "humps." Since we left for Mukono midway through the morning we traveled in heavy traffic, so the going was slow. Bumps and lurches describe our Friday.
We had a delightful time with Tyler Mostul, a friend of Grant and Trevor's who has spent the fall semester at the Uganda Christian University. In addition to the tour of the extensive campus, we ate lunch at a cantina so Trevor could experience native Ugandan food.
We went past Mukono in search of the village where the Schwanz family built the Myrtle and Nelda houses in 2005. The first thing we discovered was the Stanbic Village. They were just beginning the construction process in 2005 and it was wonderful to see the village completed. We continued on and found the turnoff to the village where we worked. We made the way up the hill and searched for the road to make a right turn. The vegetation had filled in what we remembered as roads. When we walked down the path toward the Nelda house, Stanley, who worked with us, came out of his house. He received us with great joy.
Before we returned to the guest house, Wilson took us to the village of Najigalala where he planted his second congregation. It is difficult to get there by road, so we hiked in about 15 minutes. This is the congregation in the Muslim area that is now running 220 for Sunday worship. Wilson has purchased additional land and is waiting for additional resources to construct a church building. They've already started making bricks to use with the construction.
We talked as we bounced along. Wilson told us that teachers are paid $50 a month. The cook is paid $30 each month. The students pay $15 per three-month term ($45 for the school year). 40 orphans don't pay any tuition.
We've been impressed with how much is accomplished with what seems so small by our standards. We're learning from the Ugandans.
Wilson told us a story just before we left the church this afternoon. The church he planted in Najigalala is now running 220. This church is in a village where most of the people are Muslim and this is the only Christian church in the village. He said that the people in this village have a lot of trouble with chiggers. In the graphic way Wilson has, he said people will rub the sole of a foot and the chiggers pop like peas out of a pod. So now, instead of walking the trails with a bullhorn, Wilson goes through the village with an insect sprayer. This is the first exterminator evangelist I've ever met. Chiggers are dying, but people are being born again.
About 100 of the 175 students came to the church today. They had "speech day" last Sunday -- the end of the term program -- and sang some of the songs for us. We made a recording, so check back to the website a few days before Christmas to see if we have any sound clips posted. One highlight of the day was watching the teachers when we gave them additional teaching materials. They laughed and clapped their hands -- great joy! After the children went home we found the teachers eagerly going through the books. It was fun to see the impact of a few books.
Keith talked with Wilson and Moses, a contractor who is a member of the congregation. We are getting closer to finalizing the plans for construction.
Tomorrow we go to Mukono to see Tyler Mostul. Wilson was able to shift his work from Friday to Saturday, so he will be going with us. On Saturday morning we will see James Ouma and his family. On Sunday we'll worship with the congregation, rest in the afternoon, then start the trek home.
Grant made the presentation of the gifts to the teachers today. As he spoke about Wilson and Grace, he mentioned the feeding of 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. Jesus took the little that was offered and made it enough. What we have witnessed in Uganda is people who have given all to the Lord, and great things have been accomplished with a little.
Good evening. We had a heavy rain this afternoon. Fortunately we were safe and dry in the car, but several streets we drove on were flooded.
Folks at the Matoke Inn have been wonderful. This is a guest house run by the Africa Inland Mission (AIM International). We have enjoyed our visit tremendously.
We spent most of the day in Kampala. Had lunch at the Garden City mall with Stephane and Sandra Tibi. Did some shopping -- personal and project. Grant and Trevor found the books needed by the teachers to begin preparing for the addition of the P4 grade at the God is Good School. The Uganda government has a master curriculum book that shows all of the requirements for each grade level. The school had part of the book. Tomorrow they will be in possession of the whole thing. Grant and Trevor are eager to see Stewart and Jim, two teachers, when they give them the book on Thursday afternoon.
Tyler Mostul got in touch with us. We may try to go to Mukono on Friday to see him at the university where he has been studying this semester.
The generators are running since the power went out an hour ago. We're all sitting in the living room at the Matoke Inn enjoying conversation and telling stories. It doesn't get any better than this.
We close another day in Uganda. Because the government expects the dry season to last a while, we are under water rationing. Water is on at the moment, so everyone will shower this evening just to be sure Wednesday is a pleasant day.
We spent this afternoon at the school. Judi, Trevor and Grant talked with two teachers for quite a while. Stewart showed them a text message he received two weeks ago. The head master from another school wants him to return, but Stewart is committed to the God is Good School. (Wilson told us that he changed the name when he started the process to be certified as a NGO. Another school is already registered as the Grace to Grace School.) Stewart is a teacher-pastor. Following Wilson's example, he ministers to whomever whenever. When Stewart is not working with the children he is sharing the gospel or assisting others in some way. Stewart could get more money at the other school, but he's committed to the vision of holistic ministry at the God is Good School and Katale Africa Gospel Church.
Each of the five teachers lives in the village and attends the church. We have not met Brenda, but have heard her story. Brenda's mother is the church treasurer and her father plays the keyboard for worship. The school has five students with learning disabilities. Brenda voluntarily stays after school to provide these students special assistance. The school staff are committed to doing what is best for the students. We'll post full bios of the teachers after we get home.
While the conversation with the teachers was going on, Keith and Wilson were talking about the property. Last night Wilson met with the old man who sold them the property about the cemetery in between the two plots. It doesn't look like that will provide any options for us. We checked the elevation of the site and it drops about 15 inches every 10 feet. We talked about water runoff issues. We laid out six rooms on the plot closest to the church, each room about 18 feet by 20 feet. This will provide more than two times the space they are using now.
Wednesday is going to be a sight-seeing day. Stephane and Sandra Tibi, friends of Keith and Judi, will pick us up at 9:30 and take us to Kampala. Thursday is the day for the school program. The teachers went through the neighborhood today to tell the students to come to school on Thursday afternoon. We should have good stories after that.
We've finished dinner and are listening to night sounds in Uganda. It's been a full day and we've got a lot to process. We spent most of the morning talking with Wilson about the needs in the Katale area. Our conversation ranged from the living arrangement for orphans to the challenge of special needs students to the details about the property that has been purchased for the school facility. Wilson has started the process to register the school as a NGO, a step we'll probably discuss later this week.
After lunch we went to the property. Plot one is adjacent to the church and has been cleared. GAP International assisted with the purchase of this property. An 85-foot deep pit toilet is dug and waiting for the building to go up. The next section of land (moving away from the church) is a cemetery where the owner's wife and a son are buried. This is about 30 feet wide with barbed wire running the whole length of the border. Plot two is on the other side of the cemetery and is considerably larger than plot one. The two plots would be much more useful if they were joined. Wilson was going to visit with the owner again this evening to see what options he might consider. One of the challenges is that any option he might consider would have to be discussed with his 37 children. Hmmmm, how do you spell consensus?
Tomorrow we're going to walk from the guest house to a shopping area in the morning. In the afternoon we'll meet Wilson at the school to calculate the elevations and talk about building placement options. The weather here is hot and dry, so we'll probably need a shower when we get back to the guest house in the late afternoon.
The school children are on vacation right now. We had a communication glitch and Wilson expected us last Sunday. He had arranged an end-of-the-term school program for Sunday morning, complete with the students singing songs and making speeches. Parents and local officials attended. Because we missed that, they are going to invite the children to come on Thursday afternoon to do a program for us. The clothes and shoes we brought will be distributed at that time. Thanks to all who helped with the five suitcases of stuff for the kids. We'll have photos to show you of the recepients in a couple of days.
I've thought several times today about how Paul opened his letter to the Philippians -- thanking God for the partners in the work of the Gospel. I can tell you that the Kingdom of God is evident in the work of Pastor Wilson and the Katale Africa Gospel Church. Thanks for being a partner.
Well, we made it to Uganda. All eight of our suitcases came through, including the five with clothing and shoes for the children of Wilson's school. Wilson and Grace met us at the airport, then rode back into town with us in the van provided by the Matoke Inn where we are staying. Our hosts, Nigel and Rowena, greeted us warmly -- already knew our names -- and we talked until 11:30. We slept well and awakened to the sounds of bird calls. After getting only about five hours of sleep in 24+ hours of travel, it was nice to be in a comfortable bed.
Wilson is here now and we'll begin planning our week. Please pray for us that God will give us discernment and wisdom as we begin to envision the future of the Grace to Grace School.
On Saturday, December 6th, Grant Christy, Trevor Hall, Keith and Judi Schwanz fly through Amsterdam to Entebbe. They will have internet access while they are in Uganda, so check back frequently for updates on the trip. Thanks for praying for them as they make arrangements for the construction of the Grace to Grace School.
Team Journals 
Wilson told us a story just before we left the church this afternoon. The church he planted in Najigalala is now running 220. This church is in a village where most of the people are Muslim and this is the only Christian church in the village. He said that the people in this village have a lot of trouble with chiggers. In the graphic way Wilson has, he said people will rub the sole of a foot and the chiggers pop like peas out of a pod. So now, instead of walking the trails with a bullhorn, Wilson goes through the village with an insect sprayer. This is the first exterminator evangelist I've ever met. Chiggers are dying, but people are being born again.
Keith talked with Wilson and Moses, a contractor who is a member of the congregation. We are getting closer to finalizing the plans for construction.
We close another day in Uganda. Because the government expects the dry season to last a while, we are under water rationing. Water is on at the moment, so everyone will shower this evening just to be sure Wednesday is a pleasant day.
While the conversation with the teachers was going on, Keith and Wilson were talking about the property. Last night Wilson met with the old man who sold them the property about the cemetery in between the two plots. It doesn't look like that will provide any options for us. We checked the elevation of the site and it drops about 15 inches every 10 feet. We talked about water runoff issues. We laid out six rooms on the plot closest to the church, each room about 18 feet by 20 feet. This will provide more than two times the space they are using now.
After lunch we went to the property. Plot one is adjacent to the church and has been cleared. GAP International assisted with the purchase of this property. An 85-foot deep pit toilet is dug and waiting for the building to go up. The next section of land (moving away from the church) is a cemetery where the owner's wife and a son are buried. This is about 30 feet wide with barbed wire running the whole length of the border. Plot two is on the other side of the cemetery and is considerably larger than plot one. The two plots would be much more useful if they were joined. Wilson was going to visit with the owner again this evening to see what options he might consider. One of the challenges is that any option he might consider would have to be discussed with his 37 children. Hmmmm, how do you spell consensus?