Welcome to Uganda! We are now halfway through the 9th month and at the tail end of this journey. I know I have not blogged in a while so this will be an update on some of the things that have been going on. My first 6 days of the month of June were spent in Nairobi, Kenya at a gathering we call debrief. They occur every 2 or 3 months with our whole squad coming together to fellowship, rest, and process. This particular debrief was focused on the future and how to make the transition home from the Race. I had some good conversations and a few cool memories from this time in the busy capital of Kenya, including hanging out on the roof of the 5th tallest building in the city. Overall my mindset was not right though, I felt as if I was the “kicker on ice” coming off of an amazing month in Kenya I wanted to be back in ministry with the team. You know when there is 5 seconds left in a college football game (let’s say UGA vs. Auburn) the players are at the line of scrimmage, the holder is ready, sound waves from the snap count enter the air…. Tension is building….. Then income the whistles… TIME OUT! I felt like that guy, the iced kicker. I had no interest in contemplating the future and wanted to get through debrief as quickly as possible to express the magnificent joy yet burdening message of the Lord with more of his African children. It was not until our specific team debrief did I begin to see the importance in us being there and I would soon discover while on our 14 hour bus ride to Uganda my narrow focus caused me to miss something God wanted me to consider. With those things said I have considered the future quite a bit these first 2 weeks and we have made it safely to Uganda. Oh and Georgia makes that game winning field goal by the way — Sic Em Dawgs!
Let me take this time to update you dear friends on our ministry at Champions Christian Primary in Mukono, Uganda before elaborating a little more on this blog title. We are serving a pastor named Joseph Kakande and it does not take one long to see his giant heart for children. This is one of the most compassionate men I have encountered this year for God’s little ones. Joseph and his wife Frida have adopted and raised many children through their years together as well as taken care of hundreds of students at their day school. They sacrifice their living space (they live in a small room in their house which they have converted into a teachers quarters/ sleeping room for kids) so many of the children who attend can live at the school while it is in session. We have been teaching classes every morning causing me to have to brush up on my math and science as I was given some of the more advanced students. The past few days I have been teaching about the human eye. The kids at this school have really taken on the personality of Pastor Joseph and they are extremely loving. It is not uncommon for them to charge at us full speed and jump into our arms when they first see us in the morning, and then again upon our return in the afternoon. Tomorrow our team, we have been partnered with another team for the first half of this month, will be going to live with another pastor in a local village. We look forward to serving their ministry through evangelism, preaching, and worship.
I know I have stated this in several of my blogs last month, but I greatly connected with the ministry in Kenya. It was the most difficult goodbye for me up to this point and I have been reflective on the great things we experienced and encountered during our time there. The faces of the people we fellowshipped during our month there have been heavy on my heart. Without going into detail because I am nearly out of time at this internet visit, I was reminded of an old country song this week. That was a close one by keith Whitley. Kenya nearly stole my heart…
