Farewell (and birthday) party

~ a full spread for the party ~ Our move to Kenya is only a week and a half away. And my birthday is today. So we couldn't pass up the chance to throw one last big bash. Krista bought me beautiful flowers and we had almost 40 guests on the "confirmed" list. We would serve an American lunch:

• Hamburgers with all the fixin's - lettuce, tomato, dill pickles, condiments, and cheese
• Hot dogs
• Potato salad with CELERY (Celery is not normally available in Uganda)
• Carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, about 3 pieces of celery (that weren't needed for the potato salad), and cherry tomatoes with ranch dip - the cherry tomatoes were quite entertaining as many people didn't know what they were! Someone guessed, "plum?"
• Banana chips (okay, banana chips are not American but to buy enough Lays potato chips for the party would have easily tripled the cost!)
• Krista's amazing pumpkin chocolate-chip muffins
• A wide collection of pop and beer

~ a full house - the way a party should be ~ Our farewell (and birthday) party was advertised to start at noon. So (foolishly) at 11:45 I put some burgers and hot dogs on the grill.  Our first guests arrived around 12:20 - an American and her Ugandan husband, she insisting they needed to come on time to an "American lunch," he resisting as best he could. Over the course of the next hour a few more trickled in. Finally, sometime before 2 in the afternoon the party really got going. The "slow" start made things very convenient for me manning the grill, which only holds about 16 hamburgers. People were nicely staggered as they arrived over the course of the afternoon, so no one had to wait to get a hot fresh burger. We often had to explain how it all worked - which buns were for burgers and which for hot dogs, what the lettuce, tomatoes, and pickle slices were for, how to prepare a bun and then go see Shauen on the deck, etc. Even with guidance, I often had someone come up to the grill with an empty hot dog bun and a stack of lettuce, tomato, and pickle on the side - with ketchup on top of the "salad." But as I reached for the hot dog, they'd say, "No, I want that one," and point to a hamburger! Needless to say, my very careful counting before the party to make sure we had the right number of buns for everything turned out to be a total waste of time.

~ Apparently I'm almost in my mid-30s ~ We laughed and visited and even took a few Skype calls from our family to wish me Happy Birthday - the first time we muted the 80's music to take a video call from America a great number of Ugandans gathered around to watch this amazing miracle of modern technology. It was wonderful fun. And then those delicious cakes that had been on display all afternoon were finally cut. Krista made a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and a white cake with chocolate frosting. The cream cheese frosting was Betty Crocker, hand-carried from the States for this very occasion - yummy!  As usual, the cakes were quite popular. One friend has even asked Krista to set up a tour of his area to teach the women of the congregations how to make cakes!

By the end of the night, the hot dogs and hamburgers were gone, about 8 lbs of carrot sticks were gone, all the pumpkin chocolate-chip muffins were gone, all the beer was ~ My beautiful birthday flowers - Thanks, Krista! ~ gone, and all but about two bites of cake were gone. There were plenty of those "strange" cherry tomatoes left, all three of the celery sticks left (since celery is also completely unknown by Ugandans), and lots of hamburger and hot dog buns left. In Uganda presents are not usually opened in front of guests, so after the singing and the cake, the party just continued with more food and laughter and conversation.

As usual, Josiah was the hit of the party and his nursery was quite popular - at one point there were 4 infants in the nursery, some sleeping, some nursing, and some playing (as much as an infant can "play"). Babies are cuter than me, so I didn't get too jealous. All told, it was an excellent farewell and birthday party.  -Shauen

LCMU Celebrates 1st Ever Pastoral Conf.

~ Ministerial Conference meets at Rev. Jacob's home ~ The Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda (LCMU) is about 15 years old but they've never before had as many pastors as they have right now. When we first arrived in Uganda a year and a half ago, the church was served by two ordained pastors and three brand-new vicars. Today the LCMU has 5 ordained Ugandan pastors and 5 vicars. And as of next month, 5 additional vicars will be returning from Seminary. It's a great time for the ministerial staff from across the country to start meeting together for mutual encouragement, the chance to bring forward and take advantage of opportunities in ministry, to raise and address challenges in the church, and to advise the LCMU Board of Directors on issues of ministry and theology.

So on April 9th, with great joy, the LCMU convened its first ever Ministerial Conference. In attendance were four of the five ordained pastors, four of the five vicars, and the two missionaries - Rev. Jacob Gillard and myself. Our conversation over the course of the two-day conference ranged from the assignments of the new vicars arriving next month to the strengthening of church records collected from each region to the care and support of pastors who work in the remote parts of Uganda and are able to come together in fellowship with other pastors only a few times a year.  Praise the Lord for the workers He has brought up in this land - and for their first ever Ministerial Conference. May this mark the beginning of a new era in the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda.  -Shauen

Is it really that easy to set up a blog?

~ Alex builds the Jericho Breakers blog ~ My good friend Alex is the music director for Kampala Lutheran Church. Every Sunday he's there playing the keyboard, guitar, or drums. He leads us in song with his sure voice. He spends hours during the week laying track upon track in the Lutheran Media Ministry Uganda (LMMU) recording studio until he has a masterpiece recorded and ready for Sunday worship. He has a heart for the youth and has spent many Saturdays building some of the youth of Kampala into a choir and encouraging them to become active with the congregation. Alex is a great friend and has been to our home often.

All of that is in his free time. Alex's job is to work at the LMMU. Part of the work Alex does in support of the LMMU is to write music for (and choreograph) a Christian dance troupe called Jericho Breakers. Yup, that's right "breakers" as in break-dancing. I've asked Alex if he can actually do what he's choreographed for the dance troupe and he just laughs. I'm convinced he's a closet break-dancer. Anyway, Jericho Breakers is often utilized in outreaches and other events that the LMMU does across Uganda.  But they're also just a group of young Christian men and women eager to find their way in a difficult world. So Alex came over today to ask me about making a blog for these guys - a way for them to connect with the rest of the world and a place for them to share how they're wearing the Gospel on their sleeves and loving it.

Over the course of about 3 hours I sat beside Alex as he put Jericho Breakers online. Check it out - he did a great job. -Shauen

Easter! He is risen!

~ banana plants in front of church ~ Kampala Lutheran Congregation was packed this morning for Easter service. It was a beautiful day and Josiah was in good form. A couple of young banana plants graced the front entrance to the tent and the breeze was just barely enough to keep the temperature pleasant. ~ banner presented by MMP ~ Worship is always great with a full church - voices raised in song, uniform in creed, and united in prayer - what an uplifting experience.  God comes to us in every worship service with His gifts and grace, of course, but there is such encouragement when we can share in His gifts with a multitude of brothers and sisters! 

At the close of the worship service, two short-term mission volunteers with the Missions Made Possible (MMP) team had a special gift for the congregation. These two volunteers also happen to be the parents of co-worker Rev. Jacob Gillard - and our good friends. They presented a beautiful banner which reads "risen indeed."

~ Easter goodies at dinner ~ After church we enjoyed a wonderful Easter dinner at our apartment. Krista had dyed a few eggs and broke out the very special M&Ms and chocolate eggs that we received from the States (thanks, Mom and Liz). We had a few friends over for an excellent meal featuring garlic-infused teriyaki steak, scalloped potatoes, carrot soufflé, deviled eggs, and a side salad. After dinner (some time after dinner, that is, - we all ate too much during the meal) Krista revealed her amazing apple pie!

It was a fabulous celebration and we joyfully proclaimed with millions of Christians all over the world - He is risen!  

-Shauen

Ritual sacrifice of children on rise...

We first reported on Uganda's disturbing trend in human sacrifice last year in our Field Notes for March 2009 (PDF file, 440k).  In October 2009, Krista blogged about human sacrifice mentioned in a sermon, Today's Sermon Illustration: Child Sacrifice. Human sacrifice continues to be frighteningly common in Uganda. Here's an excerpt from an Associated Press article on human sacrifice, published today, Easter Sunday:

The practice of human sacrifice is on the rise in Uganda, as measured by ritual killings where body parts, often facial features or genitals, are cut off for use in ceremonies. The number of people killed in ritual murders last year rose to a new high of at least 15 children and 14 adults, up from just three cases in 2007, according to police. The informal count is much higher-154 suspects were arrested last year and 50 taken to court over ritual killings...

Read the full AP article in our blog entry below.

Please continue to pray for the safety of the children of Uganda, the witchdoctors willing to make such sacrifices, and the desperate people who hire them.

-Shauen

AP: Child sacrifice on the rise in Uganda

Published : Sunday, 04 Apr 2010, 2:16 PM EDT

• JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer

JINJA, Uganda (AP) - Caroline Aya was playing in front of her house in January when a neighbor put a cloth over her mouth and fled with her.

A couple of days later, the 8-year-old's body was found a short walk away — with her tongue cut out. Police believe she was offered up as a human sacrifice in a ritual killing, thought to bring wealth or health.

"If it is a sickness you try to treat it, and if they die that is one thing," said Caroline's father, Balluonzima Christ. "But when you slaughter a person like a goat, that is not easy."

The practice of human sacrifice is on the rise in Uganda, as measured by ritual killings where body parts, often facial features or genitals, are cut off for use in ceremonies. The number of people killed in ritual murders last year rose to a new high of at least 15 children and 14 adults, up from just three cases in 2007, according to police. The informal count is much higher — 154 suspects were arrested last year and 50 taken to court over ritual killings.

Children in particular are common victims, according to a U.S. State Department report released this month. The U.S. spent $500,000 to train 2,000 Ugandan police last year to investigate offences related to human trafficking, including ritual killings.

The problem is bad enough that last year the police established an Anti-Human Sacrifice Taskforce. Posters on police station walls show a sinister stranger luring two young girls into a car below bold letters that call on parents to "Prevent Child Sacrifice."

Human sacrifices have been recorded throughout history and occur still in many countries, including India, Indonesia, South Africa, Gabon and Tanzania. One traditional healer in Uganda, when asked about the phenomenon, pointed to the story told in the Bible's book of Genesis, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice a son.

However, the rise in human sacrifices in Uganda appears to come from a desire for wealth and a belief that drugs made from human organs can bring riches, according to task force head Moses Binoga. They may be fueled by a spate of violent Nigerian films that are growing in popularity, and showcase a common story line: A family reaping riches after sacrificing a human.

"I call it a problem of psychological disorientation," said Binoga. "People get disoriented. People stop having respect in humanity and believe more in the worth of money and so-called good fortune, and they lose that natural social respect for people."

The sacrifices are also linked to a deep belief in traditional healers, or witch doctors, who can be found practically every half mile in Uganda.

At the end of a winding dirt road on the edge of Kampala, Uganda's capital, barefoot children scurry past a sign advertising the abilities of Musa Nsimbe, who goes by the trade name Professor Gabogola. The sign in front of his small wood hut reads like a panacea for the world's woes.

"A traditional healer with powers over spirits. Solves all cases, demons, thieves, tooth decay, madness fevers, appelipse, genital affairs."

Sunlight streams in like tiny laser beams through holes in the metal roof of Nsimbe's shrine. Smoke fills the air. Furry hides cover the floor. Animal horns are arrayed before Nsimbe, who chants, hums, murmurs, shakes and bangs his head against the wall in a furious calling of the spirits.

The 38-year-old Nsimbe — a father of 14 children with two women — says it's possible that some witch doctors carry out ritual sacrifices, but that he does not.

Another traditional healer, 60-year-old Livingstone Kiggo, said sacrifice is part of the healer's tool kit — sacrificing a goat, sheep or chicken is considered a call to the spirits, to people's ancestors. But killing humans is not part of the practice, said Kiggo.

He blamed sacrificial deaths on people who "want to destroy the work of traditional healers."

"Those are killers. They are not healers. They are killers," said Kiggo.

In 2008, Kiggo said a man approached him offering to sell a child. He went to the police, who set up a sting operation and snared a man trying to sell his nephew for $2,000. Police and advocates point to several cases where impoverished parents or relatives have tried to sell children to witch doctors for money.

The people of Jinja have seen three suspected cases of child sacrifice in recent months, including Caroline's. When Binoga held a town-hall-style meeting in early February, some 500 people squatted under the shade of five large trees, straining to hear his words.

Many complained of police corruption, slow investigations and a lack of convictions by the country's lethargic courts, words that drew loud cheers from the emotional crowd. Of about 30 people charged with ritual killing last year, nobody has yet been convicted. The last conviction was in 2007.

"There is a lack of political will to protect the children. We have beautiful laws but a lack of political will," said Haruna Mawa, the spokesman for the child protection agency ANPPCAN. "As long as we keep our laws in limbo we are creating a fertile breeding ground for human and child sacrifice to escalate. No convictions. What message are you giving to the police?"

Mawa's agency has helped with several recent cases of child sacrifice. A 2-year-old boy had his penis cut off by a witch doctor in eastern Uganda and now urinates through a tube, Mawa said.

A 12-year-old named Shafik had a knife put to his throat when a female witch doctor realized the boy was circumcised. Witch doctors don't kill children who are circumcised or who have pierced ears because they are considered impure, Mawa said. As a result, some parents have taken their children to get piercings or circumcisions.

The Christ family is protecting their three remaining children in other ways. The siblings no longer walk to school alone and are instead accompanied by their parents. It is a security precaution that the parents can't take forever, said Fred Kyankya, the district criminal intelligence officer.

"You can't keep holding onto a child very tightly. Children move freely," Kyankya said. "So people get scared that there are such vices in the country."

Copyright Associated Press, Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

A Universal Truth

I have observed this to be a universal truth:

When a car's hood is open, men gather to look and poke around.

True in America, true in Uganda, and I'm sure true around the world.

-Shauen

March Field Notes Published

Field Notes for the month of March has been published. This issue of Field Notes included the following articles:

• TEE - Seder Meal Celebration
• A Trip to the North
• Preaching on Current Events - Landslide in Bududa
• Facts in Focus: Matzoh Bread

Our prayer requests this month include:

• That our truck sells at a price above our loan balance
• That Josiah not only endures plane rides but loves them
• For the final preparations of our move to Nairobi—Target arrival date: April 20th

And we praise the Lord:

• That our car sold in a quick and easy transaction
• That God has provided a generous buyer for all of our furniture, saving us from moving items worth less than the cost to move them
• For a successful Seder Meal for our TEE class
• For what we celebrate this very week: Christ’s life, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin. Praise the Lord!

If you haven't seen it yet, download Field Notes for March 2010 (527K in PDF format) from thetrumps.org now!

Beth's Visit

Krista, Beth & Josiah (he's more excited than he looks!)We were just blessed with a 5-day visit from Beth Drevlow, who is not only a very good friend of mine from childhood, but is Josiah's godmother! Beth works in Sudan and this is her second visit to Uganda. Last year when she visited we went whitewater rafting on the Nile (and thought we would die!) and I wasn't yet pregnant. How life has changed this past year! We had a wonderful visit and Beth was very excited to meet Josiah for the first time! She agreed that he has to be one of the cutest babies around! We had a wonderful visit and although we were a little bit more low-key than the last time she visited, we had just as much fun!  -Krista

TEE - Equipping the Saints

~ Reverend Charles Bameka, director of Lutheran Media Ministry Uganda, leads Equipping the Saints workshop ~ The Theological Education for Evangelism (TEE) program this year is focusing on evangelism, outreach, and preaching. Since the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda has ties with the Lutheran Hour Ministries project here, known as Lutheran Media Ministry Uganda (LMMU), we often find ourselves at the LMMU office or accompanying LMMU representatives to different parts of the country. One of the programs offered by LMMU is "Equipping the Saints."

Lutheran Hour Ministries explains the Equipping the Saints program:

[Equipping the Saints] workshops concentrate on the believer’s privilege to speak the Gospel, express the impact of Christ in life, seek understanding of the lost, and connect new people into the church family. Biblical models are discussed in the context of our everyday relationships and encounters. You’ll receive practical insights for sharing your faith daily. Bible-based and interactive, the workshop combines training by [the] presenter with large and small group discussion.

~ Some students received LMMU certificates ~ Although many of our students have attended Equipping the Saints training in their home regions of Uganda, we believed they would benefit from attending again all together. My hope was that with the training they have received in TEE they would be able to be more discerning and dig deeper into the Equipping the Saints presentation, which it seems is exactly what happened. Pastor Charles Bameka, the director of LMMU, presented the workshop with two of his staff, Alex and Audrey. A few of our students who had not previously attended Equipping the Saints were happy to receive certificates from the LMMU recognizing their participation. Thank you, Lutheran Media Ministry Uganda for sharing your insights and excitement with us through the Equipping the Saints training! -Shauen

The Lutheran Churches of Lira

When we first arrived in Uganda a year ago we traveled to Lira in the north (for an account of that trip, see Field Notes for January 2009 - PDF file, 601k). So I was happy to be able to return to Lira once again to see how things were faring in this part of Uganda. At one time Lira had 4 or even 5 congregations but today there are only two active churches.

St. Luke's Lutheran Church - Lira Town

Last time we were here we stopped only briefly to see the location of St. Luke's in Lira Town. The congregation itself and its leadership weren't able to meet with us. We didn't meet with them this time either. The congregation of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Lira can now be considered dead, largely due to infighting over a micro-finance project. After a large influx of cash intended to establish a micro-finance project to benefit the church, leaders in the church took personal loans from the funds to pay for some of their routine expenses - school fees, rent, and the like. They borrowed the money because it was there, they had access to it, and they had a need - a perfectly acceptable practice across Africa (for more insight, read the eye-opening book, African Friends and Money Matters).  These personal loans were not part of the micro-finance program, which is generally intended for income-generating start-up capital instead of day-to-day expenses.  After a time, the micro-finance committee insisted the church leaders repay the loans so the micro-finance project proper could be started. The leaders who had taken the loans, of course, didn't have any such money laying around and to avoid the conflict they simply left the church.  Eventually, the money was all gone, the leadership had all left, and the church collapsed with the whole story well-known throughout the community. This is, unfortunately, an all-too-common story across Uganda. It seems that more often than not the presence of money or resources tears apart the church instead of building it up.  This is especially true when the resources are disproportionate to the economic abilities of the congregation but can also easily happen even with smaller projects.

~ Rev. Gillard and Seminarian James Confirming in Akia ~

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Akia

Our time with the Christians at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Akia was more encouraging. Our TEE student, Patrick, who has been setting up the details of our visit, asked me to prepare to preach and I happily enjoyed that opportunity after asking Patrick if there were any issues I should address in the sermon. Among the problems Patrick mentioned (and as we would later find out), infighting was causing division in this congregation. The text for this Sunday was Luke 13:31-35, Jesus' Sorrow for Jerusalem, which we had studied in TEE last week. As I prepared for the sermon I was especially drawn to speak of God's prophets - those He sent into Jerusalem time and again to deliver His Words. So in my sermon I talked about visitors, starting with how Patrick had prepared the way for our visit. When you know you will be receiving a visitor, you spread the word, you clean, you prepare, you invite others, you dress up in your fine clothes, you bring gifts, you have food and refreshment ready. And, I commented - from what I see I can tell that this place is very fine. Everyone looks smart, the place is clean and I feel welcome. But, I continued, what if I am not the visitor but instead I am also preparing the way for a visitor. And what if that visitor can see not only that you have washed before meeting but he can see even if your heart is clean and you are at peace or not? What if that visitor can see beyond your polite behavior and see that in your heart there is bitterness and fighting within your community? This part of the sermon got very personal, driving home the verbal lashing they needed because of the infighting I had heard about. After that, I presented the bad news: the visitor I prepare for is already here. He has already seen your behavior and your fighting. He already knows how you have failed to live according to His will. But then that sweet, sweet gospel: even though God knew about our failings, He came anyway. In fact, he came to seek and to save the lost according to Luke 19:10. And He has never abandoned us. With some final vivid imagery about Jesus' work in Jerusalem, about his passion and his moment of glory on the cross, and those powerful references to the sacraments, I concluded with those words we would hear again on Palm Sunday, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Fellow missionary Rev. Jacob Gillard enjoyed the opportunity to confirm several new Lutherans and administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. After worship, of course, we had the customary introductions and speeches.

~ Meeting with leaders of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church ~ We then gathered with the leadership of the congregation for a conversation. The church was suffering because of fighting between the chairman and the lay leader. We didn't pursue the cause for the wrangling during this conversation but instead talked about how to resolve conflict, about Christ's amazing work of reconciliation, about binding to each other in Christian unity and fellowship - especially for the sake of the unbeliever since this infighting was known in the community. For several hours we talked about such things and concluded with some positive signs of a desire on both sides to come together. This long-standing conflict, though, cannot be resolved in just a few hours and Patrick has made himself available to continue meeting with the interested parties as an attempt is made to bring the congregation to full fellowship in reconciliation. Later I would learn what was at the heart of the conflict - money again. And again, it was money from outside the church given to "help" the congregation in some way. One of the two thought the other had "eaten" the money (used some or all of it for his own purposes instead of turning it over to its rightful owner). Once again money from outside the community caused deep and embarrassing problems with the result that everyone in the community knew of the conflict in the Lutheran Church. Can some good still come from this? It is possible. This congregation has been deeply harmed but not yet torn apart. Positive Christian reconciliation can be a witness in the community to God's work among these people. But I fear what will happen the next time projects or money are brought into this congregation - will it survive another round of resource-induced conflict? Most people think of resource-induced conflict resulting from a scarcity of resources but I see it happens more often due to a glut of resources beyond the normal operation of the local economy. We pray the congregation survives if disproportionate resources are again thrust upon these brothers and sisters.

On a completely different note, the last time we visited this church I couldn't help but notice and comment upon the hill a few kilometers away. The hills in this area rise up from the plain just here and there and stand starkly against the sky. This day, since we had time in the early evening, I proposed that we climb Akia Mountain together - especially these leaders who were in conflict. It was a pleasant climb, not difficult at all, and only took 15 minutes to get to the top. The view was impressive and even more rewarding, the church leaders talked together as they climbed. Much of Akia Mountain is being slowly chipped away as a hand-worked quarry. All up and down the sides one can see the results of work breaking the stones and moving them down the slopes. Up one side we came and down the other we went, marveling at the size of the huge boulder the workers had broken loose and rolled down the slope. There were a few precarious passages but overall it was invigorating and fun.

~ Worshiping in the new Mission Training Center in Ngetta ~

The Lutheran Church in Ngetta

Our visit with the congregation in Ngetta on Sunday morning was the most encouraging.  A Mission Training Center has been under construction here in this small community to serve the Lira area at large. It's a big building, not yet completed, with a high ceiling and a spacious layout. The congregation in this area is already worshiping here at the training center, a worship space in sharp contrast to the delicate lean-to that served them last year. Our time with this small congregation - around 15 worshipping on Sunday morning - was pleasant and we enjoyed hearing the Seminary student preach and administer the Lord's Supper. Unfortunately, our time together was a little shorter than intended because we had committed to attending a funeral in town which began at noon.

Concluding Remarks

Overall, I enjoyed our trip to Lira. After a year on the mission field here in Uganda I have only begun to grasp some of the deeper issues that Africa in general and the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda in particular struggle against. Money and resources provided by the "great white missionary" seem to top the list of problems. At this point I don't yet know what the answer is. I can read books and spout opinions, but until a "solution" is discovered and embraced by the church in Africa, I'll continue to walk alongside our partners and friends here as we learn together and find a way forward. In the meantime, His work continues and His Gospel message is spread despite our own shortcomings. Praise the Lord. -Shauen

January/February Field Notes Published

Field Notes for the combined months of January/February has been published. This issue of Field Notes included the following articles:

• A New Assignment after Vicarage
• TEE (Theological Education by Extension) - Managing the Harvest
• RLC (Resurrection Lutheran Church) Advance Team Visits Uganda
• Photos in Focus: Shauen's mother, Kathryn, visited Uganda in January. Grandma liked holding Josiah!

Our prayer requests this month include:

• For our preparations to work in Kenya and Tanzania
• That our vehicles sell at a reasonable price
• For fellow missionary Rev. Jacob Gillard as he assumes full responsibility for the work in Uganda

And we praise the Lord:

• That Josiah is continuing to grow and look super-cute as he gets chubby
• That LCMS WM (The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod's World Mission division) is intending to keep us on the field in East Africa after vicarage
• For recent visitors—Shauen’s mom, the RLC Advance Team, and our friend Norbert
• For our new glider rockingchair, purchased w/ help from the RLC Women’s Guild and transported to Uganda by the RLC Advance Team

If you haven't seen it yet, download Field Notes for January/February 2010 (PDF file, 672k) from thetrumps.org now!

Youth Sunday in Mbarara

~ Several high schools worship w/ Grace Lutheran Church ~ After a weekend of TEE, I traveled with some of my students and a Lutheran Media Ministry Uganda representative to Grace Lutheran Church in Mbarara, about 5 hours south-west of Kampala. We arrived just after dark and checked in to our "regular" hotel, the Tripple-A Guest House. My friend Norbert had come to Mbarara from Iganga a few days ago to learn about agriculture in this part of the country, so we enjoyed catching up a bit more with what he had learned and observed here.

Sunday worship at Grace was pleasant and full. I enjoyed sitting in the back and was wonderfully amused by a small girl who sat just in front of me. After minutes staring at my hairy arms (most Ugandans don't have hair on their arms) and white skin, she finally ventured a hand to touch my arm. ~ My little friend ~ When she found that I wasn't all that strange or scary she grabbed onto my hand and turned back around to attentively participate in the rest of service. She hardly looked at me again except for occasional smiles but never let go of my hand behind her. After service I gave her one of our postcards that has a picture of me and Krista. Within minutes she was showing it off to her little friends until one of the boys grabbed it and ran with the little girl chasing after her precious postcard. Since I had several postcards I eventually gave her a replacement.  But enough about the universal truth that children are cute and precious.

First, it was a special Youth Sunday service. One of our TEE students who is also a regional representative of the LMMU had been visiting with many of the high schools in the area and had invited them to come for this special Youth Sunday Service. Each of the 7 or 8 schools was introduced in the course of the service and shared a song.  After the service proper I shared a few words with the youth, encouraging them to be confident in Christ, using those well-known words from 1 Timothy:

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

I moved from that message to Timothy (who was probably in his 30s) to Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy where we see how and why we can be confident through Paul's poignant words that end with a strong Gospel message:

God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. - 2 Timothy 1:7-9 NIV

~ Participants read some LMMU literature after worship ~In addition to my brief address there were speeches by various important special guests and some introductions. Since this was also an LMMU Sunday, the Bible Correspondence Course (BCC) certificates were awarded by a representative of LMMU and a note was made about the offering being sent to support the LMMU's work.  Finally, a special offering was collected to begin the process of bringing electricity to the church. Because it was such a special day, a few crates of soda had been bought for some of the guests and two little Ugandan cakes had been purchased for the occasion. After all the celebrations, the congregation went out to share "The Grace."

The Grace is a tradition in our congregation in Kampala as well. As the congregation exits the church, the first person shakes the pastor's hand and then immediately stands next to him, adding on to the receiving line. ~ Circling up to share The Grace after worship ~ The next person does the same until every person in the congregation has shook hands with every other person in the congregation and you've formed a large circle. Then we all join hands and say together Paul's parting words from 2 Corinthians:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all [now and forever more. Amen.] - 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV

After some time visiting, we set back on our way to Kampala, grateful for God's work in this place. -Shauen

TEE - Evangelism and Church Planting

~ Gordon Turyamusiima, a TEE student, addresses the class ~ With my focus on a move (that I know is coming up sooner than I expect), I am reducing my contributions to the TEE program in Uganda. At this point I attend and enjoy occasional opportunities to address the students. I lead half the group in our small Bible Study and I grade (with lots of constructive comments) the sermon outlines they turn in. Fellow missionary Rev. Jacob Gillard is now taking over the courses that we have been team-teaching to this point.

TEE this weekend was focused on evangelism and church-planting. We heard a lot from the students about their experiences in new congregations and in church planting as well as focusing on some of the attributes of a good evangelist. It was great to get their perspectives and hear their stories as we explored this wonderful fruit of God's work on people's hearts.

~ Patrick Adafala, a TEE student ~

Bible Study

The remainder of this entry focuses on the Bible Study for this weekend. Our Bible study was on Luke 13:31-35, Jesus' Sorrow for Jerusalem. It's a short passage but what an amazing revelation of God's patience and love for us. One of our students suggested we put this passage alongside the book of Jonah for comparison which isn't too far out. It is in Luke 11:29ff that Jesus refers to the sign of Jonah. Let me know if you do some study in this area - I'd like to hear your thoughts!

~ David Isanga, a TEE student ~ Luke 13:31. We pointed out that in this verse the Pharisees are operating with unknown motives. While the Pharisees were often in conflict with Jesus they suddenly appear to be concerned for his welfare, warning him about Herod's intentions. Was this a sincere warning or a desire to drive Jesus out of this area? Remember, of course, that not all Pharisees conflict with Jesus - just after this passage we are reminded that Jesus was often eating in the homes of prominent Pharisees. The fact that Jesus later replies to the threat with a message for Herod suggests that they at least really were in conversation with Herod on some level.

Luke 13:32. In reply to this threat of action, Jesus makes a statement of action. While Jesus often speaks of forgiving sins, of the Kingdom of God drawing near, and of parables, here he is quite specifically talking about the physical manifestations of his work - "I will drive out demons and heal people." It's no wonder that when Herod finally does get a chance to meet Jesus in person (Luke 23:8) he demands from the Christ some miracle or sign - he's been looking forward to seeing these things since the 13th chapter! We should also note what kind of goal Christ has in mind - it is nothing less than a goal of sacrificing himself for the entire world.

~ Moses Kyaterekela, a TEE student ~ Luke 13:33. Jesus makes a point that he goes to his goal willingly, that Herod cannot draw him from it or take him early. This is one of those clear indicators of His own mission (made eloquently clear in Luke 19:10). And since it is His own mission, it becomes our own mission as well as the Body of Christ. We keep walking in His light, fighting His fight, and we keep going "today and tomorrow and the next day" until our own death. What do we make of Jesus words, "No prophet can die outside Jerusalem?" Surely it is the case that many prophets died inside that city and yet Jesus himself was crucified where? Outside the city walls.

Luke 13:34. I'm not sure the idiom is intended but it works fairly well after the reference to King Herod who had some responsibilities for the people of Israel: Don't let the fox guard the hen-house!  On a more serious note, what inner turmoil Christ expresses in this lament for Jerusalem - and in it we can see even His turmoil over our own behavior. How often have I been unwilling to heed His call and guidance in my own life? How many times has He sent word to me through parents, friends, preachers, and the Scriptures themselves? ~ Shadrach Okello, a TEE student ~ And yet time and again I fight against God's grace. His unrequited love surrounds me daily - thank goodness!

Luke 13:35. What does Christ mean that the house is left to you desolate? Perhaps that God will abandon His temple (which was destroyed in 70 A.D.) and city. That God's message of Grace is opened to more than just His chosen people who have rejected Him? I'm not entirely clear. But when they see Him again is on Palm Sunday when Jesus, that amazing Prophet, Priest, and King, rides into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people shout from the Psalms, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"

Indeed. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.  -Shauen

Sharing the news with the President

~ President Noah Isanga and baby Josiah in Iganga ~ News of our reassignment was quickly shared with the leadership of the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda (LCMU) by telephone but, of course, we also wanted to visit with the president of the LCMU in person as soon as possible. President Noah Isanga lives in the Iganga district of eastern Uganda. Also, our good friend Norbert was doing some agricultural training in that area with the Citizens Network for Foreign Affair (CNFA). So we decided to take an overnight trip to visit with both the President and our friend Norbert. Since the roads to Iganga are nice and the president lives along a paved road we took our little Toyota Corolla (which also has the stronger air conditioning) and Josiah slept most of the way.

We enjoyed an evening with Norbert visiting about his work and about his congregation in Illinois. Like me, Norbert tends to think out loud and we enjoyed bouncing our ideas off each other in some deep and animated conversation. We stayed in a top-notch hotel just west of Iganga town called Mum Resort - it had air conditioning in the room! This is the first hotel I've stayed in in Uganda that had air conditioning - and it was really nice.  Mum Resort also had hot water in the bathrooms and a little mini-fridge which cooled our water bottles nicely. All in all a pretty good deal for $25 a night.

~ Josiah was very popular with the youth at church ~ On Sunday morning we drove over to the church that is built on the president's property. A few of my TEE students came from their congregations nearby to worship with us. With one of our TEE students came a gaggle of youth who would be playing some soccer after church in Iganga Town. As we visited before worship, one of the girls from the soccer team was sent over to us (with copious giggling encouraging her onward in her bold quest), and she picked Josiah right up out of my arms without any warning. She hurried our very popular child back to the group and we watched in amusement as Josiah was passed from one teenager to another, capturing hearts with his cuteness. You know they say it takes a village to raise a child? Well, here that is certainly the case. ~ Everyone laughed at Josiah's favorite position ~ But it's more than just a saying. It's happened to us several times - someone (often a stranger) walks up and even without speaking takes Josiah right out of our arms. It's a bit disconcerting.

Worship was pleasant - the local vicar arrived just in time to preach. And after worship we enjoyed a pleasant lunch with President Noah and the other visitors. We talked, of course, about our reassignment to Nairobi and all of us expressed some sadness for leaving Uganda and some excitement about the work God is placing before us in Kenya and Tanzania. We finally said our goodbyes and started back to Kampala. We're sad to be leaving the friends we've made here.  -Shauen

2 Weeks of Training in Paraguay

We just received an exciting invitation which happens to fit very nicely into our time of transition:

"The International Management Team would like to offer Shauen and Krista Trump the opportunity to attend the pilot global mission training effort by LCMS WM and partners in Latin America.  This training will be held from May 18-27 in Paraguay.  Note that this is a three year commitment.  Next year the courses will be held in a different location.  All in all there are six courses.  The first two courses are on Missio Dei and Worldview.”

That's right. Paraguay in South America. Sounds pretty cool, huh? The week-and-a-half training in Ciudad del Este fits just perfectly into our time of transition - after we've moved to Nairobi but before we head to Tanzania for kiswahili language training. It also means that Josiah will have been in four countries before visiting his homeland: Uganda, Kenya, Paraguay, Tanzania, and finally, in September, the good ol' US of A! Please pray for this pilot program as it comes together for the first time. We'll let you know as we get more details about this opportunity. -Shauen

TEE - Theological Education for Evangelism

~ Shauen, Josiah, and Krista with the TEE class ~ Although last session was technically the first session of TEE's Year II program, it was a special session at a remote location. So this weekend's TEE program is really the kickoff for Year II.

This year we're adding a few items into the normal TEE weekend schedule:

• We're spending more time in the Word of God. Each TEE we'll split into small groups to do an in-depth Bible Study that focuses on the Gospel lesson for the Sunday 8 days away (the Sunday between TEE sessions).  That gives the men a full week to digest the Gospel lesson and hopefully sets them up to preach an insightful and meaningful message the weekend between classes. 
• We're focusing more on evangelism. Let me point out the title of this entry. TEE across Africa stands for Theological Education by Extension. This year we are changing the title to Theological Education for Evangelism. Because, really, what is theology for? There's no point in debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Theology is for proclamation - specifically the proclamation of the Gospel message of forgiveness of sin and reconciliation between us and our Creator. Theology is for proclamation and theological education in this class is for evangelism.
• And again, we're focusing more on evangelism. Each class the students will get their "Activity Report Form" and fill in their participation in church-related activities since last TEE. This would include leading services, preaching, visiting church members, visiting the sick on behalf of the church, leading Bible Studies, doing door-to-door evangelism, inviting people to services, etc. By keeping their activities related to the church in the forefront of their mind and requiring some accountability, it is our hope that they begin to be more intentional about their outreach efforts.
• ~ Sermon Outline Form - Due Every TEE Class on Friday ~ We're focusing more on preaching. Each TEE weekend we will require the students to turn in an outline of a sermon they would preach that immediate Sunday. To help them in the process, I developed a form they can use. It guides them briefly through the process of sermon writing that I taught in November last year. The students turn in their outlines on Friday morning and receive them back with comments, suggestions, and questions (as well as a letter grade) on Saturday afternoon. That leaves them a bit of time on their journey home Saturday to rework the sermon. At the very least requiring the outline to be turned in first thing Friday forces a student to prepare their sermon several days before they would deliver it - allowing time for the sermon to percolate and process.
• We're focusing on expansion of worldview. Each TEE weekend a selection will be read from the book Voices of the Martyrs followed by some prayer time as we reflect on God's work in places more hostile to His Gospel message. Additionally, a selection will be read from the book Operation World, which focuses on a specific country, explaining a bit about the people of that nation and the work of the church there. By looking outside of our own circumstances, we often gain more appreciation for the privileges, responsibilities, and resources God has placed into our care.

All of these elements were introduced this weekend as well as presenting the schedule for this next year which is heavy on evangelism and outreach. We also had a special event - Josiah was introduced to the TEE class! Our students were so very excited to meet our little boy. He is, they assert, "a Ugandan!"

Finally, Pastor Charles Bameka, the senior pastor of the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda (LCMU), spent some time with the students. He had requested that he be the one to share with the class about my reassignment to Kenya. It was a sad note to end on. But here in Africa, where power distance (see the book Serving with Eyes Wide Open) is generally greater than in the States, it was also something they were excited about on my behalf. Although I would describe it as a lateral move, from their perspective I was being promoted and being promoted is a very good thing. So it was with sadness and excitement for my future that my wonderful students expressed their congratulations. What they (and the LCMU) have invested in me during my time of training has become Uganda's local contribution to the mission work in East Africa.

From this point forward my involvement in TEE will decrease sharply as we prepare for our assignment to Kenya. I'll still be at TEE until we move and I'll lead one of the small group Bible Study groups and I may take one lecture if so asked. But in general, I'm handing over everything to fellow missionary Rev. Jacob Gillard who will continue to work here in Uganda.  -Shauen

Vicarage concludes - Re-assigned!

~ Rev. Claude and Rhoda Houge ~ After I dropped off Mom at the airport at the end of January I waited around just a couple hours to pick up Rev. Claude Houge, LCMS World Mission's Area Facilitator for East Africa (my boss).  Claude came on brief notice for a very short visit to Uganda to talk with us about our future with LCMS World Mission.

As my vicarage (internship) draws to a close at the end of April we have a natural breaking point, a time for both sides to prayerfully consider the future. On our side we have no hesitation. We love work on the mission field. We love the challenges, the rewards, the excitement, the adventure, and most of all, the people - both the people we meet and work with here in Africa and the people in the States who lovingly have sent us to this work. So as Krista and I looked ahead we were hopeful that our work with LCMS World Mission in East Africa would continue. We praise the Lord that Claude was coming to deliver just that news although it came with a twist.

As Claude explained it, LCMS World Mission is happy to extend me a call (a job-offer for a pastor) to be formalized on Call Day, April 27th. BUT the call is not to continue here in Uganda. Instead, if we are open to it (which we are), the call will be issued for a position as the Associate Area Facilitator for East Africa with responsibility for the existing and developing partnerships and relationships in Kenya and Tanzania. Wow! Firstly, that's a really long title. Secondly, wow! 

~ East Africa ~Some months ago Claude had been hopeful that he could divide some of his responsibilities in East Africa. Fellow missionary Rev. Jacob Gillard and I work in Uganda, focused primarily on Theological Education for Evangelism (TEE) and Word and Sacrament ministry up-country. Claude does the work in all the other countries in East Africa from hopeful relationships in Egypt to partnerships in Tanzania. Uganda has two career missionaries and the rest of East Africa shares one. As more and more Lutheran churches in East Africa express interest in walking alongside the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, Claude has been stretched more and more thinly across the area. So several months ago he opened a position to help him divide some of the responsibilities. Since his extensive experience working in missions in Africa (over 20 years) is best suited to the new relationships and partnerships developing in places like Ethiopia, Claude was looking for someone to handle the more stable (but no less demanding) relationships with Lutheran church bodies in Kenya and Tanzania. So that's the position he has offered us.

What would the work be? We're not quite sure yet. Since Claude was spread so thin, he couldn't get too deeply involved with the church in any one country. Since I'll be working in only two countries, I would be in a much better position to respond to their needs and requests. I hope the work involves some teaching - I have found I really enjoy teaching TEE. The work will certainly involve Word and Sacrament ministry. And it will involve a lot of that Ministry of Presence I've blogged about lately - those less tangible benefits derived when two parties walk alongside each other. That last one is a hard sell in America, but wow is it important in Africa.

Some of the details have been worked out already. First, we will move to Kenya by May 1st. We'll live in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi, in a mission house that shares a compound with the LCMS World Mission field office for East Africa. The mission house is currently occupied by Claude and Rhoda but they have been thinking for some time that they would like a smaller place, so they have offered the mission house to us. It has been set up as a guest-house of sorts and part of our work would involve hosting guests who come to or through Kenya. We've been to the mission house before and already we have visions of Josiah running about the yard and Krista exercising her gift of hospitality as guests come and go. I'll have an actual office in the office building just 50 feet from our home which will work really, really well for me. While I've enjoyed working from our home for the last year and a half, I am fully aware of my own limitations. I will benefit greatly from an office outside my home.

After moving our things to Kenya at the end of April, we'll have just a few weeks to settle in before we leave for language learning in Tanzania. We'll study KiSwahili in a language-immersion program at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania's Junior Seminary in Morogoro. It's serious business - their website is www.studyswahili.com!This is, of course, the best possible way to learn a language, and Krista and I will likely spend about 3 months there. Josiah will be enrolled in the "Kindergarten" which at his age will be day-care. We'll live in student housing on campus and eat in the dining hall. It'll be an adventure!

After language school we'll return to Kenya for just a couple weeks before we leave for furlough (home-leave in the United States)! Our furlough schedule should be for the months of October, November, and December. Then, finally, we'll be arriving back in Nairobi the first week of January, 2011. Josiah will be one year old. We'll finally get a chance to really settle in to our home. I will start shadowing Claude to learn as much as I can about his work and his approach to ministry in Kenya and Tanzania. Eventually, my responsibilities will increase and his will decrease and the handoff will be "complete."

So that's it. Praise the Lord for a successful vicarage experience and for opportunities to continue in His service here in East Africa!  -Shauen

Agricultural Missionaries Visit Uganda

I mentioned in the last TEE post that Uganda was privileged to enjoy a visit from some agricultural missionaries who live in West Africa, Delano and Linda Meyer. The Meyers recently sent out a newsletter that provides a wonderful summary of their time in Uganda. I am happy to reproduce that newsletter here with their permission:

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MEYER MISSION NEWS February 2010

Almost a Garden of Eden

Dear Friends:

Our first trip to Uganda was truly an interesting and rewarding learning experience for us.  I wrote our family early in our travels that Uganda was like the “Garden of Eden”.  Our message about the pleasant climate and lush environment in Uganda arrived in Minnesota in January at the same time a raging blizzard swooped down on West-Central Minnesota.  I detected a bit of envy in e-mail replies.

Two growing seasons every year in 5 of the 6 areas of Uganda we visited is unique compared to most of West Africa.  Farmers actually harvest two crops a year, but at times there is drought that destroys or reduces a harvest.  West African villages always have a “hungry season”; but in Uganda when asked about times when they ran out of food, the reply was something like this, “We had drought in 1982 and 2009”.  They would often reply, “We ran out of maize (corn), but we had cassava and millet to eat.”  Except in drought, some parts of Uganda are able to harvest bananas every month.

Psalm 145:15 certainly fits Uganda:  “The eyes of all look to you and you give them their food at the proper time.  You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”

Another blessing for Uganda is that they eat a variety of foods and rice is not the main dish of choice.  Bananas are much more environmentally friendly because once established, the plants reproduce themselves.  The banana plantation is protected from fire and often thick mulch is applied under the plants to prevent erosion, maintain moisture and fertility.

Compare banana production to rice production in West Africa, where forests are cut, left to dry, and then burned to provide one crop of rice and possibly a follow-up crop of cassava and peanuts (groundnuts).  The resulting erosion, loss of plant nutrients, loss of tree species and waste of wood is horrendous!  In parts of Uganda people reported that deforestation, bush fires and soil depletion are problems that they need to address especially as the population growth demands more wood and food .

Another joy for this old farmer was seeing herds of cattle grazing on lush green pastures.  The Holstein – Friesen has been crossed successfully with the local longhorn cattle called “Ankkore”.  The cool climate and nutritious Kikuyu grass varieties have been a great blessing for western areas.  A pleasant shock was to see men bringing their containers of fresh milk to the milk buying stations by 7:30 AM.  This implies that the dairyman was up by 5:00 AM doing chores and milking the cows!

As we teach about agriculture, we remind those who attend that even before man fell into sin, God knew that for man to be happy, he must have meaningful “WORK”.  Genesis 2:15 “The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care for it.”  Sorry guys, this work was given to men; and then in verse 18, He says “I will make a helper suitable for him.”  I am compelled by what we see here to remind men that they are responsible to God for their families and need to work hard and manage money in a way that cares for family, and this is God pleasing.

Would the same type of training we have been doing in West Africa be helpful in East Africa?  This was our concern as we began our teaching in Uganda.  We were thankful missionaries Rev. Gillard and Vicar Trump organized the sessions so that the first one was with their Theological Education by Extension (TEE) students and villagers in Lukonda Village near Kayunga.  This gave us a chance to field the same questions asked in West Africa and hear responses from those who were in attendance.  We learned a lot from the people.  Answers were open and honest; and yes, sessions helped everyone to see more clearly what they could do to manage their crops and money, better care for family, and improve their soils and natural environment.

Even though the natural environment of Uganda in East Africa is generally more conducive to higher food production, social issues are similar to West Africa.  For example, in one location a woman said, “When our men are drinking, they think they are millionaires.”  Several of the men in attendance agreed!!  In another location a woman said, “I will just let my husband go and drink and I will take care of myself and the children.”  I responded that the church and the woman should try to help the husband see the need for change. In Bubogo, LCMU President Noah Isanga’s 92-year-old mother listened to the training session and said she appreciated the teaching.  In her own life, her husband died young of drunkenness and she was able to raise the family.  She went on to support our teaching on the battle between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan, saying to all present that this was important for everyone to learn and follow.

Marriage unfaithfulness is also a problem that surfaced several times.  When a husband or wife are unfaithful, the whole family goes into a tragic decline in unity, resource management, family labor and consumption of valuable stored food.  No one is industrious in a family if food or money is wasted on a “boyfriend or girlfriend” who is reaping the benefits of the family’s hard work.  Proverbs 19: 3 “A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.”

PHD is also a problem in Uganda just as it is in West Africa.  PHD stands for “Pull him/her Down”. Jealousy in Africa reaches a level where people fear for their very lives and are afraid to really strive to improve their lives for fear that other will become jealous and use satanic powers to do something evil against the person trying to improve.  Some seeing a husband and wife working together well, will try to bring division in their relationship by any devious means possible.

Jesse, one of the Lutheran members who translated for us, showed us his Eucalyptus trees that had been killed by someone.  The bark on the three-inch diameter trees had been stripped away, and some sort of chemical had been poured on the bare roots; sad that some will work harder at pulling down others than they will to improve their own lives.

The key to solving all of these problems is God’s Word as revealed in the Bible.  In the “Great Commission” Matthew 28: 18-20, verse 20 says “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”   Thankfully we have God’s Word and its message of repentance and forgiveness of sins being taught in Uganda.  Dedicated men motivated by our Lord’s words are spreading that Word in a region of the world that environmentally is almost the Garden of Eden—but in faith and life they struggle like the rest of the world.

Staying in seven locations over the 20 days gave us a variety of lodging and people to interact with.  Two times we stayed with Ugandan Lutherans, and this was very enjoyable to interact personally one-on-one for a couple of days. We had opportunities to stay with Gillard’s and at hotels and enjoy those facilities.  Imagine our surprise as we traveled to the Western Region and stayed in a modestly priced 70 room hotel in Ibanda.  The rooms and grounds were world class!  Mr. Fred Magezi, a Lutheran church leader, introduced us to Deus, the Ugandan owner.  Fred had known Deus and his wife for years.

I asked Fred if Deus inherited a lot of money to build this place.  Fred’s reply was that Deus lost his father when he was young and his mother remained unmarried.  Fred asked Deus to give us a tour of his farms, since we taught about agriculture.

Now I had to know, how did this fellow gain his wealth starting out with little in the way of assets?  As we went looking at Deus’ cattle in his Toyota Land Cruiser, I asked him how he managed to get ahead in agriculture when so many cry and complain to us that they are suffering.

Deus, a Roman Catholic, said that he managed to get a degree in botany and biology from the university.  He started out with one cow pastured with a friend’s herd and later was able to buy some land.  He said that he had a “culture of saving” and that was his key to gaining wealth.   He said he never worked for anyone else, and started out small, but always saved and used funds earned to reinvest.  He mentioned that just that week he had sold a truck load of bananas for $1,000.00 USD, and half of the funds he put in the bank and the other half was being invested in building a three story bank building in town as a rental. (Later he showed us the building).

That evening we saw two of Deus’ four cattle herds.  As we drove though the narrow roads we from time to time came upon small villages.  The men at each location were sitting around drinking the local banana wine.

I told Deus I would like to use him as an example of what a person could achieve if motivated and blessed.  He said to go ahead and do that if I wished.  So there you have it.  One man carefully works and plans and saves; the next sits and complains while drinking his banana wine.  One gains financially, and the other slides back plunging his family into despair, prostitution and an endless cycle of poverty.  Why the difference?  We Christians have the foundation for that answer in Jesus Christ our Lord.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Thank God for safety, strength, health and positive training sessions in Uganda.  Pray for safety, health and good training sessions in Liberia in late February and early March.

Linda & Delano Meyer were successful farmers in Minnesota, USA for 22 years.  They have lived in West Africa since 1994.  They train Lutheran leaders to train their own people in effective agricultural and development practices to promote better care of the soil and livestock and to encourage stewardship of resources.  Their work has focused on the countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.  Thank God with us for their work!  

Wrapping up Mom's visit

~ The sun sets over Kampala ~ Mom was only able to come to Uganda for three weeks. But it was a wonderful three weeks full of visiting, a Christmas celebration, a birthday celebration, adventures on safari, a visit to the Source of the Nile, and a whole bunch of help and guidance with Josiah. In fact, I think Mom would have held Josiah the whole time if she could have!

Mom really wanted to give us a date night while she was here but it never panned out - Josiah still feeds too often and on his own schedule so Krista and I didn't get our date but Mom often took Josiah during lunch or dinner so we did get to eat together at home. Mom wanted to take us out to dinner somewhere special and we had two places we were interested in where we either had never eaten or where Krista hadn't yet been.

~ Shauen, Josiah, and Mom at the Diplomat Hotel ~ The first place was the Diplomat Hotel, which is way up on top of the hill we live on and has views of both downtown Kampala and Lake Victoria. The restaurant balcony faces to the west, and we got there just enough before sunset to enjoy the views and then watch the sun go down. It was so beautiful! As the drink orders were being taken, Krista ordered a "bottle of water." We were very confused as he asked if she wanted water with it or anything else. We were even more confused when he brought Krista a very small amount of clear liquid (what we thought was water) in the bottom of a tumbler glass. Only after trying her "sample" of water did Krista realize he had not brought a "bottle of water" but a "tot of waragi," the local gin! I guess that's why he asked if she wanted water with it.  As the sun set over the hills of Kampala, Mom's trip drew closer to its own sweet and gentle end. The next night she would be boarding a plane to begin the long journey back to Seattle.

~ 7 Hills Restaurant - Josiah is upset Mom is leaving! ~ But not before she took us out for one more meal after church! Mom did very well at church when Pastor Jerome unexpectedly asked her to stand and say a few words as she prepared to return to America. So after church we headed across town to the Golf Course Hotel where we rode the lift up to the 7 Hills Restaurant, which REVOLVES! Yup, similar to the Space Needle in Seattle and countless other revolving restaurants around the world, the 7 Hills Restaurant revolves about one revolution every 2 hours. It overlooks the golf course on one side and downtown on the other. The food there has been excellent every time I've been and Krista has been wanting to eat at 7 Hills for months! What a pleasant and enjoyable meal to cap off Mom's vacation with us.

As I took her to the airport, I think she realized all those things a grandmother wants to tell the new parents that she hadn't had a chance to say yet. Her loving and wise advice washed over me and I can only hope that I remembered the most important points to share with Krista. Mom is now on her way home, with memories of holding her grandson fresh in her mind. We'll see you this fall, Mom, when we come home on furlough! Thank you for coming. We love you!  -Shauen