Diepersloot Uganda week 3

sorry, I have more pictures to put on, but no more time. I'll try some more later on.
enjoy...dave

Below: Jonny eating chipate. He loves the bread part of it and is getting used to the beans

Above: the preschool class. Can you tell which kids belong to me?
Below: ruth telling the kids the story "Going on a bear hunt" They love to hear her stories.

Above: a typical hut in Konglimura

Below: this is what they do with bicycles here. It's amazing how much one can carry on a single bike.

Day 95– Oct 3, 2005, Monday: Prayer and Fast

Today was a day of prayer and fasting for the leadership of the base here in Jinja, Uganda. Of course the kids had regular food, but the rest of us kept from it. We met at 9:00 with the whole base to start the day with worship. We sang for quite a while, which was great. We were also introduced to the entire base as a team. There were many other introductions as well, people visiting, new classes starting…The kids had had enough by the time the meeting was ½ way through, so ruth took them out and up to the preschool area. She helped out there for a while as the kids joined in the preschool class.

Day 96– Oct 4, 2005, Tuesday: Spying on the health clinic

Today was a time to meet with the team and just get right with eachother. We had some great time of prayer and devotion and worship early on. We shared some things that we’ve been having trouble with. One of our big challenges seems to be the differences between singles and families. Families are much slower going and need a little more planning to figure things out, where the singles often want to “just go” and figure things out as they go. So as a team we are all having to understand where we come from. It was a great time of building eachother up and learning more about eachother. We also shared some testimonies which really brings us together as well.

At 3:00 Rita, Wendy and I went with Fred (the base leader) to a health clinic in a village called Konglemara. We were going to scope it out and see how we can help them out. Man, driving in Uganda is an experience. This was the first time I was sitting close enough to the front of the car to see the oncoming traffic (somehow I’m always in the back of the bus). These people pass at all costs. There were many times that there were 3 or 4 cars all driving opposite directions passing eachother in a 2 lane road. Anyhow, we went to the clinic and it was really cool. They basically invite locals to come and help them out physically and spiritually. Most don’t pay anything. Many go to the witch doctors first and then come when they are very close to death because the witch doctor messed them up more. We are being asked to come and help out a little, but mainly to pray for the area as it is spiritually very dark (witch craft etc). There was a pastor there who was hoping that we could hold a pastors seminar as well, maybe talk about politics with the local pastors since an election is coming up. (Inside we were just laughing to ourselves thinking, “what could we possibly say to a Ugandan about politics?”, not to mention running a pastors seminar). It seems that there is so much need that they just ask for everything. We decided as a team to start sending 3 people there a day for a little while, as there is a car that goes every day that has room for 3 people. Transportation is a major issue here because fuel is expensive and taxis take a long time (about 3 hours for what takes 45 minutes by car).

Day 97– Oct 5, 2005, Wednesday: team to clinic/village

Today after breakfast we sent 3 people to the clinic at Konglemara for the whole day. Wendy, Rita and Meagan all went. The rest of us stayed here at base and worked with the preschool kids and had some errands to run and most important, we prayed for the team at the clinic. The reason we felt we really needed to pray for the clinic is because the area it is in is a very witch crafty/medicine man kind of place. Also, in talking with the leaders there, they said that the team is really disunified and he thinks that the clinic is really struggling spiritually. We had a really cool time praying for them. Ruth, Rod, Karen and I prayed for a long while and got several verses and thoughts as we prayed. One of the verses was Colossians 2:8, another Colossians 3:12-14, another was Acts 3:19. It was just a great time of prayer. The cool thing was when Meagan, Rita and Wendy came back we talked about their day and they had used each of these verses in some way through out their day. Wendy used one while she spoke to some of the nurses at the clinic, Meagan and Rita used some as they were walking and praying. There were many other coincidences that were just astounding.

Today Rod and I had to run some errands in town, and on the way we stopped at the YWAM center there. We were both reading about the base/orphanage in Soroti and we both were thinking “that’s where we need to go”. We had prayed as a team before and we all felt that we were to help orphans and especially those effected by AIDS, and that is what this base does. Well, it turns out at the exact same time, Rods wife Karen was at the base talking with a lady and telling her about our desire to work with orphans. The lady started crying and saying what a blessing it would be if we were able to go to Soroti and help out, as the Dutch lady that runs the place is really burnt out and could use help. When we got back from lunch and swapped stories we were again amazed how God gives us the same thoughts at times and we really feel like he is leading us there soon. We’ll be praying about it as a team if we should go up there for a week or two. I hope so.

Day 98– Oct 6, 2005, Thursday: Interesting nights sleep

Ruth just pointed out an interesting tidbit…today is the anniversary of Jessika’s adoption. Wow, God brought her into our lives for good 6 years ago. And her 7^th birthday is in 10 days.

So between the two of us, Ruth and I had about half a nights worth of sleep. We were quite groggy today. Ruth couldn’t sleep from about 1-3, so she just sat in bed and prayed and listened to some of the speakers that we recorded in our dts lectures. She finally got sleepy and about 3:30 jonny came in telling us about a bad dream having to do with a helicopter and mommy being stuck in a bucket (no more info on it). I was so tired I could barely move, but I decided to push my luck and carry him back to bed (If he stays in bed then no one sleeps). So I carry him to his bunk bed (he’s on the top). At this point I’m kind of feeling like I stood up from bed a little quick. I stood there a second and prayed for him to sleep well and then I got real warm. I vaguely remember hearing a slight sound, and then I heard Ruth saying “What was that Huge noise!”. I came to on the concrete floor and pieced together that I had passed out and then Jonny started to cry as he had a front row seat to watch me go down. I had made a huge racket as a door slammed, a coffee table moved, crayons went everywhere, and apparently my head thunked the concrete a bit as it is kindof sore today. I think that this is the first time in my life that I have passed out. Looking back, it makes sense, because I sleep VERY sound, and my heart rate is pretty slow anyways. I must have stood up quickly from a deep sleep and not let my body catch up. In the morning, our neighbor asked us about the loud noise. Whew! I thank God that I didn’t get hurt. What a weird feeling. I think next time Jonny wakes me I might take a little more time to get him back in bed.

Luckily our plans today were changeable. Ruth spent the morning sleeping while I went with the kids to the preschool and helped out. Then I got to take a nap with Jonny in the afternoon. Ahhh it felt good to catch up. I was dragging all day.

Day 99– Oct 7, 2005, Friday: Konglimura

Last night Ruth was up a lot again. She thinks it’s because of the malaria medicine that she is taking. So, conveniently I was going to the health clinic with Doctor Tim, so we confirmed that it was a possible side effect and got another anit-malaria medicine for her today. Hopefully her mild insomnia will end. She’s been up for at least 2 hours the past several nights.

I went to Konglimura Medical Clinic today. I didn’t fully realize this when I left, but the plan is for Rod and I (with others help) to run a pastor’s seminar next week wed, thurs, fri. Yes, that’s right, last week a pastor, next week a pastor’s seminar. Do I feel qualified to do this? Nope. Do I currently have something I feel led to tell a bunch of pastors from various Ugandan villages? Nope. Do I believe that God is planning this whole thing and He’ll give us words as we need them just like he did last week when I spoke in church? Yep. If you look in the bible he often used people when they were totally unprepared. We’ll see what he has planned. So, we spent the day preparing flyers for 40 different local churches and delivering them to the pastors. Now here are some things to keep in mind… 1) these churches are all mud huts in the middle of Uganda 2) These pastors are mostly unschooled people that became Christians and just started a church. Some of these pastors just need some of the basics of Christianity so they are leading their churches as the Bible tells us. So, I guess in some regard I do feel slightly qualified to tell them something. But man is it intimidating….

While delivering the invitations we traveled all throughout the area. It was a really cool opportunity to see the villages and people. Every time we passed a bunch of kids they would wave or run to us yelling “Mazunga!”. It means white man.

Today I took off for the day while Ruth stayed at base with the kids and helped out in the preschool. She is enjoying teaching there, and the kids are loving the time playing with others.

Day 100– Oct 8, 2005, Saturday: Jinja Town

Wash day…boy do we miss washers and dryers. We have to hang the wash early in the day so it has time to dry, if it is out in the evening I guess bugs get embedded in it and then make you sick. So we have to iron everything just in case (it kills the bugs). Sigh. No wonder the people here have such a time making a living. Every thing is about 10 times more work than we are used to. I comprised a list of things we miss and take for granted: 1) jumping in the car and driving to town (here it takes about 1 hour to walk/taxi the 5 miles to town) 2) washer and dryers 3) hot running water (praise God we at least have running water, but boy does it make for a cold shower) 4) potable water from the tap (it all has to be either boiled or filtered to drink or wash dishes) 5)vegetables (potatoes and beans are it, nothing green, or red…even the beans are yellow) 6) scrambled eggs (we get eggs here, but they are boiled and the yokes are white) 7) not having to spray mosquito stuff on 8) not having to wonder every time your kids scrapes his knee or licks a table if he will get sick 9) being mobbed by needy street kids in town because they know you have money 10) the red dirt is magnetic, it gets everywhere, even after a long shower, your towel turns red.

I hope that didn’t sound like I was complaining. That wasn’t the idea. It’s just different, and I wanted to share some of it with you. We are blessed to be here in so many ways as well. The people are so enjoyable, they always want to stop and talk and really get to know you. The land is beautiful. There is just so much need here it’s hard to know where to start.

Today we went to town. It took pretty much all day. We had lunch in town at the white man’s watering hole called Ozzies. It is run by a couple from Australia. They have semi western food there, so we all had breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns….hmmm it was so good. Jonny was just eating everything he could get his hands on. (We all were, but It’s easiest to point the finger at him). We also had a nice big glass of pineapple juice. All this was about 5000 shillings (just over $3). It was really nice. We also saw lots of other mazungas there, apparently this is the place to segregate yourself on Saturdays. Then we shopped around a bit and bought some cool African 3 legged stools. Ruth had a latte at The Source, a café that is also mostly white people surfing the net and drinking coffee. The kids and I each had a cookie as well. Good stuff. Today is a day to be spoiled a little I guess.

Then we cruised through town and I bought a pair of pants for $3. Most of the pants I have are light colored and get dirty so fast with the red dirt, so I needed some darker ones. Then we all jumped in the taxi and waited for it to fill up to it’s 1.5X legal capacity of 22 people (14 is legal, but this is a business man!). We all agreed that God has put the taxi’s here to keep the people praying because the ride is just crazy. I forgot to mention that on the way into town our taxi broke down so we had to wait 15 minutes for another one to come by. Sigh…this is Africa.

Day 101– Oct 9, 2005, Sunday: Church, Rod speaks

Ruth has now had two decent nights of sleep. Praise God for that. I think it’s because of prayers from all of you reading this. Today she is officially switching from one malaria pill to another in the hopes that it helps her continue to not get jittery at night.

We went to an awesome church this morning. They didn’t have a sound system, so they weren’t able to turn it so loud that it was totally distorted and indiscernible. They sang the most awesome music and danced and jumped and clapped. Boy can these people clap. Everyone of them is like a drummer, and then there were the drums, 3 in all I think. What a great time worshipping. It was much needed for me, probably the rest of the team too.

Rod spoke about building up walls between ourselves and others, both individually and as a church. It was very good. I think we might just both use our sermons to teach to the pastors later this week…we’ll see. After church, the main pastor gave us all biscuits and juice and we chatted and prayed for a while. Then we walked home, about a half mile I’d guess. I’m trying to train Jonny to not be carried all of the time, he made it about ½ way, so he is learning…Now, everyone is napping while I update….

I wanted to leave you all this week with a few needs in mind.

First is my neighbor David. He is trying to take him and his wife to the states so that he can learn some better agriculture techniques and bring them back to Africa to help better lives. He has no money to do this.

Second: This base also has very little money. They are actually enjoying a time of prosperity in the short time that we are here because we are paying (a small amount) to stay here. Normally there is very little money to run the place (including things as simple as food). It’s just a very poor area.

Third: is the Medical clinic in Kanglimira. They are squeeking by, but the main reason they have fewer patients these days is because they have fewer medicines.

There is so much need here it is everywhere we go. For all three of the above I am not sure how funds could be even donated, but if some of you are interested then I will look into it, so email me