Nothing but a Nub

Before, I came to the Mission Field, and actually long before I knew that I would soon find myself in Africa, I wrote a Blog on Myspace called Is Your Faith Big Enough to Remain Nameless? It talked about that the call to Christ is the call to sacrifice. That walking in God’s purposes more often than not will not bring glory, nor is there any glamour in it. It was a piece of writing that I still pull out to remind me of my calling, align my perspective, and motivate my vision. Nevertheless, personal experience on the mission field has redefined my definition of what real sacrifice looks like and feels like.

I really only have a few stories from the mission field that are truly life-threatening or crisis-occurring experiences. The fact is that I’ve discovered that the hardest trial is that one which takes a little something from you day by day by day. The string of circumstances that individually hardly bare significance, but combined can equal big sacrifice. The lesser trial is the one time big sacrifice. Because, the fact is that after one big loss, the rest of your energy can be then focused fully on recovery. Or after the one big sacrifice, maybe you can get the human praise and encouragement after, that serves as a reward.

What is truly hard about the mission field is that the daily wearing down of your will and emotions. The mission field is like sand paper on your life. Culture and Circumstances that slowly whittle away at your patience, whittle away at your grace, whittle away at your energy, and may even whittle away at your joy, if you let it. The fact is that after six months in Africa, I can not point to one thing that was too hard to overcome or one thing that would force me to walk away. It’s never ONE thing. Instead it’s the daily occurrences that rub on you day in and day out, until ultimately you are “rubbed” down to nothing more than a nub. So here I am, nothing but a Nub. But, I think God can use a Nub.

Always Practical

What is your favorite color? Everyone has a response to that question. I’m sure your response is rarely significant. However, I remember back in Junior High and even high school my response was always “Green” - which was a complete and total lie. The fact was I loved everything red! But, I wouldn’t say that because I always felt that red wasn’t a practical color. Furthermore, I sure wouldn’t think to buy something red – as much as a favored it. Black and White seemed much more practical for sheets, furniture, dishes, etc.

And even now, I see myself doing the same thing, but on a much larger scale of course. For example, I thought as much as I would really love to live downtown and have a truly urban lifestyle, I would never choose that because why pay twice as much money for half as much space, purely for appearance sake. And it didn’t matter how much I really wanted that experience in my life, I would ultimately never do it. But, as of this last month I finally thought, why not? Why automatically remove the impractical choice, without even a second thought?

I feel like I should psycho-analyze why I feel like I must always give a practical answer or make the practical choice. Fact is, I don’t know why and instead of spending time figuring out why, this year I am going to endeavor to choose what I want, even if it’s not the most practical choice. This doesn’t mean I won’t continue to make responsible decisions, but I think that a string of practical decisions may result in a successful life, but may not result in a happy one. Hopefully, I’ll have the boldness to test the theory.

Beggars in Christ?

Dreams quenched, hope quenched, joy quenched, building of each other ceases. Just imagine, spreading your tarp, on a street corner, living day by day. The only phrases uttered, “hungry”, “money”, “help:” While this is the image in Africa, this image is also you and I without the generous gift, our Father, through His son gave us. Imagine if we had to beg, like really beg, not only for our daily bread, but if we had to beg and plea for an ounce of mercy from our Lord King; begging daily for the crumbs of His table. Imagine if His mercy wasn’t new every morning. Imagine if upon begging enough, our only hope was to maybe return to the Father’s house to live just as a servant as in shown in the prodigal son’s story. What if we woke up groaning in our rags, begging for just a taste of His presence? What if the scripture said “beg, beg harder –give me your most pathetic look and the door might be opened; weep and wail for my attention, and then it might be given.”

But, amazingly, that’s not what the scripture says. Instead, God seeks to dress us in the most fabulous of evening wear, the wedding gown. That is how our Heavenly Father pictures us – as His bride, worthy of love and worthy of a great inheritance. He knows us well – well enough to know we’d be the wimpiest army, the least victorious, the most downcast troop to display His Glory and Triumph for the cross without His equipping of us with His steadfast love, His enduring faithfulness. He pleas with us to cast our cares upon Him and promises that nothing can separate us from our Father’s love. Without His open arms – we would not have seat at the banquet table. But, he does offer and we do sit as heirs to the throne. So no begging in the Kingdom!! He generously equips us to follow Him, delight in Him, learn of Him, rejoice with Him, cry with Him, rest in Him, mourn with Him, laugh with Him, and be victorious through Him!! Thankfully, in Christ there are no Beggars. We are all welcome to take a place at His table. Amen.

- Thanks Liz for such inspiring thoughts!

Life Lesson from Africa #2

I CHOOSE TO LAY MY LIFE DOWN

Choosing to change the world is neither glamorous nor easy. We decided to take on the Santa Claus occupation; we brought Christmas to the orphans. We came laden with boxes of toys – dolls, airplanes, cars, jump ropes, shirts, both kitchen and doctor play sets. We came prepared with the entire Christmas experience to the kids, including hot chocolate, popcorn and Christmas movies. We also came armed with my DVD Player and Projector, as well as a video screen and gasoline for the generator. Then hooked it into their ancient sound system and the kids all gathered with their hot chocolate to watch Polar Express and The Nativity. Many fell asleep in their chairs and on the cement floors, but, a faithful few (around 50) lasted all the way to the end of the night at 1am.

But, to be truly honest, this is a story of which the telling of is much more fun than the living of. Out on a beautiful lake on a gorgeous sunny day, reaching almost 95 degrees, SEEMS like a lavish holiday to those digging there cars out of piles of snow and ice all around the States. However, we had to sweep out and kill no less than 30 spiders from our little hut/room. Those were only the ones we could see with our flashlight, near the floor, we didn’t even want to disturb the one’s above our heads. Before climbing into bed, I brushed off a pile of poo dropping that were resting there. Then I brought my bags and shoes into my bed with me, tucked in my mosquito net tightly into my mattress, and slept fully clothed, praying that I wouldn’t be attacked by something in the middle of the night and that morning would come soon. When I woke up early the next morning, and cocked my head as I focused in on the “poo droppings” resting on top my mosquito net. Turns out that, that scratching I heard all night above me was the BAT that lives in that particular hut. I was happy to not go to bed with that knowledge; then my dreams all night which were full of creepy-crawling things, would have included creepy-flying things as well. And like I said, the telling of this adventure is more fun then the living of it, since my ideal Christmas doesn’t usually include peeing out behind a tree on Christmas morning. In my journeys here in Africa, I have discovered that I can stand almost any “third-world” setting…….but, please just give me a toilet! But, to see how much fun these 200 kids had, was worth it. This is the only toy that these kids will get this entire year and I made a mindful decision not to ask, if they had ever gotten a gift on Christmas before. I didn’t think I would be able to take the answer. It’s not really until looking back on my pictures that I can see the true joy, we got to be a part of on Christmas day

Life Lesson from Africa #1

EVERY CHALLENGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY

In Africa, I’ve learned that every Challenge is an Opportunity. Let me give an example. To the dismay of all Americans who are native to the North West United States, lattes do not exist in Uganda. At best, you can get a poor quality cappuccino. However, they do have the actual espresso machines; they just don’t know how to use them! One day, we had guests in from the US and they were so desperate for an Iced Latte that I asked the “bartender” if he would allow me to make a “special drink” using just ice, milk and his espresso machine. He was happy to comply and even thrilled to learn how. It was at that moment that I realized that no lattes means a potential business. Since that day I have considering offering my expertise as a barista to the few large hotels in the city. By helping them expand their drink menu they can cater to the western crowds, which pretty much are the only people that can afford to stay there. The bartender I taught continues to serve patrons at that hotel the Iced Latte I taught him to make. Zero access to lattes is not a challenge, rather a great opportunity.

For another, more personal example; since we were a ways out of the city and with the language barrier, cultural and financial barriers, building close relationships can be difficult. So I spend more time alone in Africa than I would ever in the United States. But, I’ve learned that isolation just means more quality time with God. What could feel like a real challenge is just another opportunity. I have never had that much time to read my bible, listen to sermons or pray more than this season in Uganda and that is an opportunity that I may never get again.

Liz's Thoughts on Ethiopia

My dear friend, Liz was suppose to come join me in Uganda, but because of the situation surrounding the building of our medical clinic (see earlier blog), she ended up going to Ethiopia for six months. She is an American registered nurse, who has walked away from her job her to give medical care to the impoverished in Ethiopia. Below are some of her thoughts that she is sending back home. Some are so close to my personal experience that I just had to include them in my blog, because it felt like me talking about Africa, but also some of her experiences are very unlike Uganda that I thought it might be interesting to reveal the culture diversity that is found in Africa.... so enjoy!

Learning to Say No
7 million…. I honestly do not know how anyone would do a census around here – with the amount of people who are jobless, homeless, or in makeshift shacks – it’s not like they have some sort of tax ID, or an address, or have their kids registered in school. Everywhere I go, people are begging – I see cripples, people with massive deformities, kids with continual eye and nose boogars (sorry, you all are going to get the real story here – from a nurse who’s fascinated with the gross stuff). The beggars here are different – far more aggressive than home. It makes me wish for the homeless man on the corner who politely holds a sign and quietly waits back home. It’s easier to “look the other way” and think, “Oh God, please help that man, as I get a green light and drive off”. Here the beggars here come up to your car window, put their hands on your window, stare at you with well rehearsed puppy eyes and speak with a minimal voice of someone who is in survival mode. And when you notion with your hands and head that you don’t have anything –which let’s face it, we all have something – after the empty hand gesture – they get even more puppy eyed and more aggressive. I began to get frustrated – within 8 days of being here, I had a meltdown. I came here to say “yes” – not to repeatedly tell people no. The problem of poverty is huge – I could be completely broke in a day giving all my money out to the poor- and the next day, it would be the same problem. Handing out money is not the means to and end, but it puts a bandaid on it for maybe an hour or two? In Uganda, the beggars are not near as aggressive as Liz describes. So, instead of kids begging for money, you have vendors trying to selling all sorts of crazy things to cars stuck in traffic. You can buy anything from toothpaste, a newspaper, and phone time, to posters, chairs and clothes! However, learning that you can't possibly meet every need that you see, is one of the very first realizations that comes to you in Africa. You could be out of money in a week and never accomplish the purpose that you were sent to do if you can't learn how to say "no", despite how hard it really is and the internal conflict it creates inside of you.

Got Power?
I do not have electricity at least 2 days a week. The government is rationing out the power. I guess the power runs off a hydroelectric system and Ethiopia did not get as much rain earlier on this year – as indicated by the famine in the south – it’s gotten significantly bad, people are starving down south. Some days I do not have running water until afternoon – and I do not quite understand that one. And the 2 days a week are variable… so you never know! It like the feeling of Christmas morning… it’s somewhat a magical cloud as you wake full of anticipation and run down to check out the presents under the tree – that is the same feeling that embraces my heart as I approach the light switch to assess if it’s a day full of power. Rather goosebumpy, my palms get sweaty just reaching for that little switch. So, you can imagine how my heart drops when nothing happens as I flicker the switch back and forth… ahhhh yes, the trials of the mission field. I know, you feel sorry for me. I understand the feeling of anticipation or dispointment based on your access to electricity. In Uganda, we never had power on Sunday morning (so no looking nice for church) and we never had power after a lightening storm other than that, it was just as unpredictable. Though we didn't have electricity for days on end sometimes and when we do so many people are illegally tapping into the lines that its so weak, the lights cast a sickly glow that isn't all great.

Plans; Organization; Yeah Right!
There are certain things one needs to know and attempt to understand about Africa. Nothing is quite what you think, nothing goes as quick as you’d like, and nobody cares that you are in a hurry and they’rre not!! I’m laughing right now. So the clinic has not been running – it’s been an idea that’s been running that somehow was communicated to me as an actual tangible activity. So, I’m working on getting it up and going. I’m in the process of purchasing supplies, organizing paperwork – yea, I’m going kill some trees, but there is no organization here! And, in order for us to get accredited through the government, there needs to be documentation for the people we see. There is some medical care going on. The Entoto team has been buying prescriptions for these patients with HIV, and some minimal supplies from a pharmacy – as needed, not kept at hand. I have a designated room in this community center – and now I’m going to fill it! LOL. I told you Liz! When you told me that they had this clinic fully functioning, I was impressed, but had my doubts. And, you're right, all you can do is laugh out loud!

World Impact Church

Thanks to everyone that came out for the Origin Worship Night! We had the great pleasure of hearing the heart of Royce Iverson and how God motivated him to get out of the church pew and onto the mission field. Royce, and his wife Elizabeth, with their two kids have been City Bible Church’s missionaries in Uganda, East Africa for one year now and is who I have been working directly with over the last year as well.

But, the vision is so much bigger than them or me. City Bible Church sent its first Missionaries to Uganda in the 1980’s. Since then Portland, Oregon and Kampala, Uganda have been divinely intertwined. The vision from the very beginning was for a Church, a Bible Institute, Primary School, Medical Clinic and Orphanage. The current Pastors, Wilfred & Deborah Kaweesa, (born and raised in Kampala) were even educated at our very own Portland Bible College in 1995-1997. Over the last 20 years through regular support and numerous missionaries sacrificially going out from City Bible, Uganda has a thriving church of over 500 people, a Primary school with 90 students a year and has graduated over 400 pastors. Now Royce & Elizabeth Iverson are the next generation that has stepped up to add to this big vision, that is now called Hope Village.

In case you are newer to City Bible Church , you might not realize that the church you call home is a world impacting church. The focus on missions and humanitarian causes around the world has been part of our heritage for over 50 years. And even though you don’t hear about it every weekend, City Bible has church plants and ministries in South Africa, Cambodia, Laos, Romania, Japan, China, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, just to name a few. In 2007, over a half a million dollars went out of City Bible Church’s doors into other countries for the building of churches, outreach programs and humanitarian causes.

But, the giving is all in vain, without the workers. The amazing fruit that is in Uganda, and around the world, are from many unsung heroes that got out of the pew. Not for accolades; in fact many names have been forgotten, but to do something great for God. We are lucky generation, to be building on the backs of such great men and women that have called City Bible Church their home before us.

For more information about Uganda, check out the website at www.hopevillageuganda.com and you can read more about other City Bible Missionaries all around the world at http://www.citybiblechurch.org/p/12862/Default.aspx

Goodbye Africa - Until Next Time

While I am excited to return home (the land of milk and honey does have its appeal), I am almost sad to see Africa go primarily because of the fodder it has provided for writing. Such great learning experiences have inspired such great thoughts, that for the first time in my life I felt that they were thoughts worth sharing. And I am hoping that others did to.

Nevertheless, up to this point in my life, I had never considered myself a writer. Having the time and wealth of stimuli has opened me up to what I hope to be a lifetime habit of writing. I can only hope that this new mental exercise will lend me to see the patterns in the States that will even still inspire thoughts worth sharing.

Medical Clinic Update

One of my main responsibilities while in Uganda was to get the Medical Clinic started. No, I do not have any specific medical training or background, however God knew that wasn’t what was needed at the beginning. Establishing such a clinic in Uganda, requires networking with ten different government departments, international agencies, local non-profits and non-governmental organizations. The process is both convoluted and bureaucratic. So my government training became the desired expertise at that moment. So we were speeding along in the process, and it “seemed” as if the medical clinic would be our first building to go up.

But, then Culture stepped in. We had put $5,000 on an extra 5 acres of property adjacent to the 20acres we currently own to put the Medical Clinic on and the new Primary School since both would be to serve the entire community at large and not just those living at Hope Village. Nevertheless, with money down and contracts signed, the owner, Mr. Ben, changed his mind. Why? Because his 20+ kids began fighting among themselves about whose inheritance he was selling off. They claimed that he was pulling property from the wrong wife. He has four wives and obviously he was not treating them all equally and his kids would not have it. As a result, he changed the property to some other land that was not adjacent to our current property, which was completely unacceptable from both a transportation and security standpoint. Mr. Ben could not give the money back because he had already spent it! He was selling the property because he needed the money for something unknown to us. Unfortunately, property rights are pretty much nil in Uganda and without the actual title to the property we had no claim (even with the contract). This is something that would NEVER happen in the United States; from the involvement of four different wives to the breaking of a signed contract. Nevertheless, this debate carried on for another three months while our team had to meet with each immediate family group that Mr. Ben had. However, I am happy to say that as of last week, Hope Village is now 100% owners of that extra 5 acres and are ready to see what God will do with it!

Intercultural Communication

Learning to communicate in a cultural context can often be difficult. And if you are not especially conscience of the difference in how you live, then the point you are trying to communicate might never be understood. In one of my sermons at a Youth Camp in Entebbe, I was talking about how the key to releasing the potential that God has put in you is your environment. In other words, that one’s environment has a profound affect on who we become and what we do with our lives. The analogy I had written in my notes was of a boy who had a pet Gold Fish. One day, this little boy (lets call him Tommy) decides that he wants to play Lego’s with his Gold Fish. So he takes him out of his bowl and puts him next to him. Well, a little time goes by and soon Tommy notices that his favorite pet isn’t looking to well, so he carries him to his mom and asks if the gold fish is sick. Of course, we all know that Mr. Gold Fish can’t survive very long out of his water habitat and perished playing Lego’s. Well, you as an American probably totally catch the point about the affect of the environment on our lives. Nevertheless right before I began to tell that story, it dawned on me that this story was terribly wrong for a Uganda audience. First, Ugandans do NOT have pets. They do not see animals that way at all. And, in fact, they laugh at white people who pet, play and protect their dogs. Dogs are suppose to protect you….. And, secondly, fish are meant to be eaten! Why in the world would you even bother with a fish that is that small! The idea of keeping a fish in a clear bowel would be such a foreign thought to the Ugandan that they would miss the point of the message completely. I was lucky to have the Holy Spirit there with me to reveal this before I blundered into a intercultural Faux Pas.

The Crazy Man

On our trip to the Equator, we met a crazy man. Unfortunately, in African countries, there is no place for those that no longer maintain full facilities “upstairs.” He was sitting on the porch of the little “restaurant” we had taken a break at, before headed back to Kampala. He was harming anyone, but he was obviously carrying on a conversation with himself. The trouble didn’t start until the police officer walked up. The military police officer asked what he was doing and the Crazy man responded that Museveni told him that he could be there… (Musevini is the President of all of Uganda). This response hardly helped the man’s claim to be there, nevertheless the confrontation escalated quickly because of the rifle that the officer was waving around.

The end result was nothing short of shocking. When a couple more soldiers came over and joined their friend and with stick began to beat him off of the porch. They were joined with two other “civilians” joined them, one of which had just served us coffee. See, now that the initial officer needs to “save face.” He can’t just walk away and let this man be because we as Muzungu (white people) have just seen his failed attempt to exert his authority. So this group of Ugandan’s beat this poor man all the way down the street. A slow, brutal, excruciating, retreat of a crazy man, who I will never know what the ultimate result was.

My heart truly broke. Here is a child of God; made by God; loved by God, and here are men beating him, because he was in a place they didn’t want him. I wanted to intervene; to stand between the soldier and this poor man. And to be honest, what was more scary then the “crazy man” was the military police officer that caused the whole “intervention;” waving his gun around. We could all see the image of a stray bullet killing an innocent bystander. We all exited the porch not because of the insane actions of the mentally disabled, but rather the of a egotistical man with a gun. So I guess in the end, who really turned out to be the “lunatic?”

Return Delayed to Africa

So as always God has His own plans. And I’m learning to just go along for the ride! I had planned to be in Uganda for a total of nine months (October – June), But, Unfortunately, I am unable to return to Uganda for May/June as previously planned. This is extremely disappointing to me, but it is in the best interest of my health.

However, I am excited to share that with much prayer and discussion with the Elders at City Bible Church and the Pastors at the church in Uganda, I have decided to return to Uganda again for another six months next year (2009), departing February 17^th and returning in August 2009!

My time there will probably take on another purpose than my first six months. Beginning next year, Hope Village will be under major building projects and will need several Operation Policies and Procedures in place in order to function well and be a good steward of the investment made there be so many people.

Not being in Africa does not mean that I am not staying busy with Hope Village projects. In fact, it has particularly beneficial to have my first hand experience to add to our videos and print materials currently being designed for other fundraising projects. Furthermore, I am busy working with CBC and a few lawyers on establishing a Governing Constitution for Hope Village. In other words, who will be on the board, who will handle the money, and how policies and procedures will be established. Not too exciting, but important for a strong organization.

Finally, God has also provided me with work already here in the US! So, ultimately, in all of these things, you can see that God’s timing is always perfect.

I Never Us To Cry

God has taken me through several seasons of Brokeness. Over the last four years, I have had all these seasons back to back and in this order; Expectations Dashed, Hope Deferred, Alienation, Attack on Reputation, Failure, Lack of Purpose, Isolation, and Attack on Health. Maybe I was so hard or so prideful or so self-reliant that He knew it would take several seasons and not just one, like many tell of. And, I’m not sure this trend of seasons that are conduits for brokenness have quite ended yet. In fact, maybe it is a life-long process – the seasons of brokenness never end until we are whole again with Christ.

One perfect symptom of this state of brokenness for me is I always cry. I Never Use To Cry….. Ever. I never use to cry…..and in actuality I had a bit of pride in this fact. I liked such words as “Stoic” and “Strong” and therefore like when they were associated with me. Movies moved me, but not a single tear would escape, but now the simplest of speeches will move me to tears. A profound quote in a book, insightful song and literally every time I walk into the presence of God cause me to “well-up”. I don’t think that it’s that I’ve just now discovered my “feminine side.” No. It’s that God has broken me…..

It’s funny; here in Africa most of my sermons to young people have been about the fact that we are vessels of potential. Potential that does not go away even when we have been damaged or wounded, failed or ignored. However, I think that God has given me a new revelation of how to truly release the potential that God has put into each one of us. That answer is brokenness. True potential cannot be released until you are broken. Here is the example that comes to mind. You know the piggy bank we had when we were little, that had no cork hidden in the bottom, but instead the only way to gain access to the money you had been saving was to physically break the piggy. This simple truth would cause you to think twice before accessing the worth that was inside. Sometimes, I think God uses life that way on us. The potential that God has put inside of us is valuable. He uses “life” to break us in order to get at what is valuable. Yet, not only does brokenness physically release the potential within us, but it provides a second revelation. Just as the action of breaking the piggy bank demonstrates that the contents of the bank are more valuable than the bank itself. I honestly think that maybe part of the purpose of the breaking process is to reveal the true value that is within.... to ourselves. God sees us not as we are, but as we are supposed to be... He wants to help us to see the same.

God has broken me in order that my true potential can be released from within me. The good news amidst the brokenness… is that God promises to complete the work that he begun in us (Phil. 1:6). And in fact, like Paul in 2 Corinthians, we may be broken, yet we will not be crushed.

Many people might also be in their own seasons of brokenness, and are running from church service to church service seeking healing for their brokenness. I’m beginning to realize that my same attempts were the wrong response to brokenness. Rather, God is asking us to see what He is trying to do through our Brokenness. He is asking us to see what potential he is releasing from within us. And to remember in the end, “all these truly do work for good to those who love Him.” (Rom. 8:28)

What I Love About Being Back in America

I am very excited to be home for three weeks. And in just the little time that I’ve been here, I’ve been asked what are the luxuries that I plan to prioritize during my time here! And, well, the things that I appreciate about being home are different then what most would think, so here they are…..

Paved Roads – My number one favorite thing about America! Paved Roads represent the very definition of convenience. My first couple days here in Portland, I have had moments of confusion on what to do with myself because I had accomplished my “To Do List” in record time! My two things that I thought would take me all day, only took half the time that it would take me in Africa. I credit this primarily to paved roads and an organized road system with lights and stop signs.

Talking on the Phone without a Delay – When every conversation for six months includes a two second delay, you can never get into a good “flow.” In fact, you can ultimately end up having one conversation about two topics simultaneously – the topic you are responding to and the topic they have moved onto. My friend Chad was so nice has to offer to delay his response by two seconds in order for me to feel more “at home,” I was happy to refuse!

Stumptown Coffee – a stumptown, vanilla latte provides a great happy feeling, even if it is completely superficial I missed the joy it brings. But, even more importantly, I don’t miss the actual coffee so much as the “Coffee Culture” in Portland. I have had so many deep, meaningful conversations in a coffee shop that it now represents a comfortable, desirable place. Ultimately, Portland coffee shops represent quality time building quality relationships.

Chocolate Chip Cookies –Every American I run into on my travels that live long term in Africa, have people bring them back Costco size bags of chocolate chips. And, I have discovered that you can not get a bag of chocolate chips even such developed places as South Africa or England. In fact, surprisingly, chocolate chip cookies are a distinctly, American institution that I am happy to return too.

Shoes – so I’ve always had a bit of an addiction. My closest is literally “overflowing” with all sorts of styles and colors of these magnificent creatures. However, I went to Uganda, with very few, partly because of space and partly because I just couldn’t provide that kind of abuse to these companions of mine. Simply put, I just didn’t think my shoes weren’t cut out for the mission field… and the fact was they weren’t. But, now our reunion has been both sweet and bitter. My feet unfamiliar with these enclosed and somewhat high shapes, have been longing for the dirty flip-flops now resting in Uganda…. Nevertheless, I look great!

High-Speed Internet – You don’t realize how much your life revolves around the internet until you don’t have it and when you do have it, it takes five minutes to send an email out. It menas that when you are on the internet that you drove 45 minutes to get to it and then are paying $3-5 dollars an hour for it. It dramatically changes the culture. In Uganda, if you see someone on the computer, it is polite to check if they are on the internet before engaging in a conversation. It changes your work behavior. I spend hours getting ready to be on the internet with pre-written emails and a list of information that need to be acquired. There is no time to waste just browsing while you randomly remember what you should get off the internet. I do not miss the frantic feeling that overtakes you when you get onto the internet. I’m happy with my constant and direct access!

What Key Is That In?

The best part of Africa is the people in the churches. These are the best people that you will every meet. Friendly, loving, joyful, and their worship has such a posture of devotion, you can’t help but be in awe of the authenticity of it. However, the flow of worship can be extremely awkward. Here in the United States (and all other countries I’ve been too) in a worship service, the songs are chosen beforehand and the keys they will be sung in, in order that band and leader can work simultaneously together. However, this is not true for most churches in Uganda. When they actually have a keyboard (and often they don’t), the worship leader begins singing a song and while the congregation joins in, the piano player keeps hitting different keys on the keyboard in order to identify the key (C, Em, G, Bb etc) that the song leader has randomly started singing in. And this goes on song after song. No plan, no flow, just constant distraction during the first minute, while you wait for the keyboard to finally find the right key! I feel bad for the musicians who must operate in this environment. The church could sing the same song four weeks in a row, but each time it could be in a different key, depending on who the leader was or whether they had a cold or not that week! But, ultimately, they always do join in and impressively, the congregation seems to not even notice the off-key plunking that happens at the beginning of every song.

Resurrection through Baptism

On Easter Sunday, we went out to Bwerenga Hope Village. There is currently a village church on the property, which is an outreach of RUN Bible Church. The property rests right on Lake Victoria. And, very appropriately, they had a couple baptisms scheduled for that day – where they would bury their “old man” within the dark depths of the lake and be resurrected out into the newness of Christ. I thought it a special significance to do it on Easter when we are celebrating the Resurrection of Christ. And even more significant is the fact that, the water of Lake Victoria is both cold and completely unsanitary. When I spoke to the church before-hand I told them about City Bible Church’s baptismal tank, which is more like a nice bath with its heated water. Before, they walked into the water; I prayed that God would guard their bodies from the many diseases that water carries. But, I respect their commitment to taking the next step in their walk with God with so much faith.

Generosity of Christians

Nevertheless, I would not be able to be here, if it weren’t for the extraordinary generosity of people in the United States, who despite their inability to walk away from their responsibilities, still participate at a sacrificial level with their financial support.

Once again, amidst my travels around the world I realize how rare and awesome the generosity of Americans really is around the world. At the core of every American is the mentality that tomorrow can be better than today. This vision, allows us to invest in the futures of not just “our” next generation, but the next generation of the “world.” It is this same ideology that we share despite religion, age or ethnicity. It is this vision that motivates us to invest in people. As soon as we as Americans begin to loose this perspective, we will loose a large part of what makes America great.

In this blog, I group all Americans together, in one homogeneous observation. And, we know that generalizations are just that; generalizations. And, maybe, your personal experience tells you something different about the generosity of Americans, but facts prove my observations to be true. America is the only country whose charitable contributions equal 1% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

But, I do want to note that the largest part of my personal experiences and personal observations of “generosity” in Americans; are primarily of Christians. Thank you to all those generous people that have supported and continuing to support sacrificially so many great humanitarian causes, including the one I’m working on now. I really hope that people, even those that don’t share the Christian faith will also see Christians as generous people, and I hope that I will always be known as a “Generous Christian.”

Murchison Falls

Between many excursions out to the villages, we scheduled time to give Andrew a Safari experience. So, Andrew, Jessica (my Nairobi Adventure Friend) and I went on a road trip. A popular destination spot in Uganda is Murchison Falls. It is a narrow place, that the entire Nile River is forced through, creating a violent display of water that is awesome to be near. Giving a spectacle that looks similar to a firework display show, but just with water. While the falls are the highlight, it is also a National Park, full of giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and my favorite the elephant. We took a boat trip up the Nile to the base of the falls and along the way we saw hundreds of hippos , with probably another hundred more below the water, since they can hold their breath for…. Also, of interest that most people aren’t aware of is that the Hippopotamus is the number one killer of humans by an animal. So if caught between a hippo and a lion, choose the lion! We also saw plenty of crocodile’s, with their mouths open, strangely enough. But, it turns out , that is how they cool themselves on a hot day, when they are guarding on their eggs and can’t get into the water. We camped out in tents in the middle of the park. In the morning we would wake up to a Wart Hog lying right next to our tent. We had been warned to make sure that we left no food in our tent or they might come right in. Now, this entire Safari Adventure would have been more fun if I hadn't been hiking around on crutches the whole time... but I was still. If a lion gave chase then my friends wouldn’t need to run that fast, all one had to do was run faster than the girl on crutches.

Back on Crutches

Yes. It’s true.

God intended most men to walk on two legs. Obviously, God intended me to walk on four legs. For those that know me, you know I’m right because you’ve seen me on crutches in my life more often than years I’ve been alive. This is the fourth time in less than two years I’ve found myself on crutches. And for those that don’t know me well…. Well, let me warn you,….I break easy. Which surprising for a girl as active as I like to be, but nevertheless, pinch me, I will bruise, push me and will fall and more than likely if you do neither, I will still manage to break or tear something just walking down the street on my own.

My foot is currently bright with pretty colors of blue, purple and yellow. I have torn the tendons that run across the top of my left foot… again. But, to be honest, finding myself on crutches in Africa is the most inconvenient crutch experience I have ever had. Take away my car (parked within 20 feet of my front door), remove drive-thru banks, drive-thru food, and then remove paved roads and sidewalks and then add the Uganda rainy season (this isn’t like the daily drizzle in Portland, picture in your mind instead hurricane and you’ll have a better idea) and now you have a perfect scenario of a potential prison with no walls. Regardless, I’m not one to sit around - it’s a recipe for “crazy” for me (picture big hair, frantic eyes, and conversations with no one in particular). So now when I go around Kampala, I’m not just watched because I’m a Muzungu (white), but because I’m a “cripple”. One day, when I was exhausted of “crutching” around through crowds of Africans on uneven, unpaved roads, I took a seat on a ledge on a busy street and someone tossed me a coin – as if I had joined the ranks of beggars!

(Ok, that didn’t really happen.) But, I get so much attention and so many people say “sorry” when I walk past, that I’m scared if I were to stop for a rest, I would find a pile of coins next to me! I guess, I’m trying to find the humor in every situation. And, well, you never know it could be a God-given way to raise money for Hope Village!

Invisible Children

This weekend we went up for a visit to Gulu. Gulu is located in Northern Uganda and is infamous for being in the middle of a war-torn region. Gulu isn’t a tourist destination. In fact, our East Africa Tour Book, gives one paragraph description that states, in no uncertain terms, that there is no reason for a visit or even a friendly drive-thru. The town is teeming with NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations) that are there to provide basic services to millions of people that live in IDP Camps (Internally Displaced Person Camps). These camps are basically shanty’s smaller than your personal bedroom at home, but they house entire families. People arrive to these IDP Camps, hoping to escape the violence and find safety in numbers, but, new problems arise. Millions who once relied on the land to provide for their families have been relocated to IDP camps where they must depend on insufficient rations from international aid. There is no infrastructure, no systems or processes, no leaderships, no laws. So how do you educate all those kids? How do feed all those people, who have left their crops behind? Water and Sanitation become big issues, as disease spreads quickly among people living in such close quarters. Therefore, access to clean water, economic opportunities, health centers, and education are a pressing concern in these people’s daily life. So, we went to Gulu, in order to see first hand what these different NGO’s were doing to meet these many pressing needs within the IDP Camps.

We specifically visited the offices of Invisible Children to learn about their different initiatives. In 2005, to help provide economic opportunities for these individuals, Invisible Children began The Bracelet Campaign. This is an initiative that simultaneously provides jobs in the displaced community, while raising awareness around the world. Each bracelet represents a reach child’s journey through this war and represents a particular need that they to bring awareness to the West. The profit from the sell of these Bracelets funds all their education initiatives. Therefore, enough people (primarily Americans) by purchasing a simple bracelet for $20 have helped to employ 180 people in the camps and send 662 number of people to Secondary school. We met plenty of other great people (mostly young Americans like myself) who are working to provide education and to thousands of people. We also drove by the United Nations World Food Program, which is basically a score of large rectangle buildings that warehouse enough food to help feed the hundreds of thousands of people currently still living in the IDP Camps in Northern Uganda.

History of the War

The war in northern Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today. For the past 21 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government have been waging a war that has forced nearly two million innocent civilians from their villages and homes and into these IDP Camps. The war has seen over 38,000 children abducted and forced to fight as child soldiers. A war has not only lead to the murder, torment, and rape of thousands, but also the devastation of an entire community.

The LRA rebel movement can be traced back to a woman named Alice Lakwena. In the 1980s, Lakwena believed the Holy Spirit spoke to her and ordered her to overthrow the Ugandan government for their injustices. Lakwena and her followers, known as the Holy Spirit Movement, gained momentum as resentment toward the government increased. When Lakwena was exiled, Joseph Kony, took control and transformed Lakwena’s rebel army into the LRA. Kony’s LRA did not receive the same support as the Holy Spirit Movement because of their extreme tactics. With dwindling support for their cause and heightened government offensives, the rebels resorted to abducting children and indoctrinating them into their ranks. It is estimated that more than 90% of the LRA’s troops are children. In 1996, as a response to the LRA attacks in the villages, the Ugandan government forcibly evicted thousands from their homes and relocated them into overcrowded camps in hopes of providing protection.

In recent years more and more international attention has been focused on this crisis. In 2001, the US Patriot Act officially declared the LRA to be a terrorist organization, a huge step in drawing attention to the conflict and the atrocities committed by the LRA. In 2004, Congress passed the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act, the first piece of American legislation to address this disaster. And in 2005, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Joseph Kony and four of his top commanders. A temporary truce between the Ugandan government and the LRA has held for more than a year, and as peace continues to progress, many nations, including the US, have appointed special envoys to oversee this process. This current cessation of hostilities marks the longest period of peace in the North for more than 20 years, and the talks have made significant strides in reducing the conflict. A declaration for lasting peace is scheduled to be signed on April 3^rd!

Nevertheless, in Gulu and the surrounding districts, issues concerning the nature of justice for victims and perpetrators for war crimes are presently being debated. And, the majority of northern Uganda’s population lives in IDP camps, and while the desire is for them to return home, the issues surrounding their return are complex. Some have been displaced for more than a decade, and their former ways of life are all but gone.

African Advertising

The average home in Uganda does NOT have a television. Most People can not afford magazines. All forms of public transport are always blaring the multiple radio stations, but the quality is so poor, I often wonder who can understand. Now, newspapers are quite prevalent, but it doesn’t arrive to your home. You must buy it from the many vendors that work the traffic lines in downtown Kampala, therefore many Ugandans never see a paper. Therefore industries and businesses that are looking to market their product or service to the average African must find creative ways to get their message out to the consumer. In Uganda, they paint Buildings. For example, this picture is of a storefront is painted with the colors and logo of Uganda Telecom (UTL), which is my personal cell phone provider here in Uganda. However, this is not an actual UTL store, nor does it even sell UTL products or airtime. It is in fact, simply put, a building being used as a permanent billboard. These “building billboards” include advertisements of different cell phone services, as well as products ranging from Coca Cola to Feminine Products (no ladies, I’m not joking – these building often include visuals). These painted buildings are more common than gas stations and McDonald’s put together in the States. If a building is painted in Uganda, it is an advertisement; not many can afford to paint a building otherwise. These buildings are worth noting because this marketing scheme is now permanent make up of the visual fabric - that is Uganda. But, it can be frustrating when you first arrive because one may keep pulling over to these painted building marked all over with a certain company’s logo and not find the product or service you are looking for! In fact, often the actual businesses are so poorly marked that you can drive right by for a month and not realize it was there!

Muslim Evangelizes for Christ?

One of the projects I’ve been working with the church on here in Kampala, is starting a network of Cell Groups. These are small groups that meet in home all around the city on a couple designated nights each month to pray and care for individual needs. There are several more challenges to launching such a project here than in the United States. For example, both transportation and communication are much more expensive and complicated here. Most people do not have a car and therefore must take public transport to a meeting. Because most roads are not paved outside of downtown and there are no traffic lights, traffic congestion is usually awful, therefore, it takes a long time to get places. Furthermore, while everyone has a cell phone, the system here is not by monthly contract, but by prepaid airtime that you load on your phone. And, many of our cell leaders can not afford to call the members of their own Cell groups to check in on them or remind them of the next meeting.

Despite, these challenges, Cell Groups have gotten off to a great start! The Church has 15 Groups that meet in different neighborhoods, and every week we are hearing different testimonies of how groups are growing and people are getting saved. But, here is one particularly astonishing story.

In Uganda, it is very common for every household to have help with cooking or cleaning, no matter how poor. I view it as the way they help distribute the wealth. Anyway, the “help” for one particular Host Home is Muslim. While she does not participate in the Cell Group, she is always present to help serve tea. So one night, the Muslim Helper invites a friend to visit the Cell Group. Her friend ends up receiving prayer and accepting Christ into her life! What a stunning conversion story - to be invited to a Christian Cell Group by a Muslim friend and then end of following Christ! It’s a good reminder that God does not see the same social barriers that we do.

Standing on the Equator

Living in Kampala, Uganda, I find myself only one hours drive away from the Equator. Not having a car here, it wasn’t terribly convenient to get to for me. However, it just doesn’t sound that cool to say, “I’ve been an hour away from the Equator.” So we took a drive to the Equator. There isn’t too much to see there, other than the line drawn across the street, that shows which is the North side and which is the South Side of the world along with several African Craft Vendors that have set up shop for the tourists that pass through. So here is my picture, proving, I have visited the Equator. I have had a foot in each hemisphere simultaneously. See how much cooler that sounds, than saying I was an hour away. In fact, in all actuality, I have STRADDLED the Equator..….. Need I go on? Now, I can also say, I have been to the middle of world…..Well, I guess you get my point.

God's Thoughts Towards Me

When I am downcast, how often has God give me a specific encouragement from His Word? How many times through the years has God given me a promise for my life? These are messages that shouldn’t be forgotten, not only because they are from God, but, because they are eternal words; words suitable not just for the present, but also for a lifetime. And I have failed to be a good steward of God’s messages for my life. I’m reading a book right now that urges that you keep an ongoing list of God’s promises to you. So here is the beginning of my own list…..

o Prov 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)

o Isa 40:31 - But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (NKJV)

o Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

o Isa 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. (NIV)

o Est 4:14 -For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (NIV)

o Dan 6:4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.

o Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

o Mal 3:11-12 - "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts; And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," (NKJV)o Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, present your requests to God.

o II Tim 4:21 If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Mr. and Mrs. Gecko - The 2nd Chapter

Many of you will remember my very first blog I ever wrote was about my friend Mr. Gecko. To recap, Mr. Gecko was the original tenant of my room in Uganda on the missionary field. When I moved in, we became roommates. I was indebted to Mr. Gecko for keeping our room clear of spiders and other creeping, crawly things, and therefore forgave him for failing to pick up his ”droppings” that he left scattered around the room. (Boys just don’t have the same sense of propriety as girls do!) And I figured that every roommate has their failings, it’s just a matter of choosing which ones you can live with! Nevertheless, I felt a certain amount of sadness, that he was unable to roam free with other geckos and a little concerned that maybe a measly spider here and there wasn’t enough food for the little guy. So one day, he was resting close to the door, so I help point him in the right direction; in other words, I shooed him out. I was sad to see him go, but felt all noble in doing the right thing. About an hour later, still reveling in my good work for the day, I saw another Gecko crossing the wall. I was horrified! This whole time I thought I was only living with Mr. Gecko, but the fact was that I was living with Mr. AND Mrs. Gecko! I had single-handedly split up a marriage. To makes matters worse, I began noticing a gecko on the outside of my screened windows. I imagined it was Mr. Gecko staring longingly in for his lost mate. As I am feeling guilty about the family I separated, I determined to help Mr. Gecko and Mrs. Gecko reunite. Then just last week I saw something that released me of this heavy burden. I watched as a gecko slid through a crack between the window pane, that from my angle didn’t look big enough for even a penny to slide through. However, this crack was big enough for Mr. and Mrs. Gecko to come and go as they please! Unbelievable! Here I had discovered Mr. and Mrs. Gecko’s personal front door entrance to our abode. Not only did I not split up Mr. and Mrs Gecko…… by the increase of “droppings” left around, I think they may be actually hosting parties in my room!

Ugandan Wedding

The Ugandan wedding is one of a lifetime experiences……HOPEFULLY. Though a great experience to add to Sarah’s Life Bank, it is seven hours that I don’t know that I would necessarily choose to live again.

Nevertheless, it did give me a cause to put on a Busuti is the traditional Uganda wear for women; differentiated from other traditional wear of African countries, by the material that rises in a dagger-like form from the shoulders. Furthermore, before putting the garment on though, these woman wrap themselves in several layers of clothe in order to add bulk to their bodies. I had to remove some of the layers or I was sure to faint in the heat or fall over from the weight of it all! While I felt a little like a girl in a bad Halloween costume, I received very many impressive compliments, primarily “You look soooo smart!” (Uganda English for, “Girl, you sure look hot!”)

In the wedding everyone who brought a gift (or money) for the Bride and Groom, present it personally to them in a format similar to our US wedding custom to get in line to greet the new Husband and Wife. Another distinction is instead of just serving cake to each other, the Bride and Groom also present cake to their in-laws, as a sign of thanks for the time and care they invested into their new spouse. Also, worth mentioning is, it is still common practice in Uganda and most African countries to present a dowry to the Bride’s parents. Depending on the wealth of the gentleman, or the value placed on a daughter by her parents, the dowry could range from a Bible to several cows or goats!

Health Update

Thank you everyone for your prayers!! Here is the update from doctors here in South Africa. First, the results of the Cat Scans, of my head and abdomen, came back negative for tumors!

However, I have been diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Metabolic Syndrome. This Syndrome is characterized by an under-active thyroid and insulin resistance. These problems not only cause high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure in the present, but diabetes and heart problems in the future. The most frustrating thing about all of this is that after seeing a dietitian, they said I'm already making all the right health decisions with diet choices and exercise! Nevertheless, diet and exercise continue to be key factors in stopping the progression of this disease. They think the reason it took so long to identify the problems is because my level of exercise in the States kept many symptoms at bay.

I am currently on four medications. The primary one is to help stop the progression of diabetes by helping my insulin process sugar. And another one is to bring my cholesterol levels down. I will come back to the United States in April for three weeks. There I will do a second round of tests to judge how my body is responding to the medication, as well as get a second opinion. I will return to Uganda to finish my planned time until July.

Continued Prayer Support for….

• My hormone and insulin levels respond positively to medication
• International Insurance reimburses me for my medical attention in South Africa
• That the necessary diet restrictions will be easy to adapt to
• That the progression of problems will reverse itself

One final thought; Right now, God willing, my plan is to return to Uganda in 2009 after working for six months in the States and saving money. There is great work to be done in Uganda! However, without access to regular exercise and appropriate diet, as well as a positive response to regular medication, this will not be possible.

Assessing Life in Light of Death

Since arriving in Uganda, I’ve developed an onslaught of symptoms that begin to raise concerns about my health. Initial doctors in Uganda, said not to worry it is just a cultural change. But, knowing my body, I felt that I should seek a second opinion. So while here in South Africa I saw a specialist. After several tests, he acknowledged something is definitely wrong and sent me on to another specialist. I’m hardly a hypochondriac, and to be honest the possibility was pretty minute, nevertheless, when unsure of the future, once can not stop the mind from pondering over all the potential scenarios, that life might go. One lesson we get as you get older is; you begin to learn how life can change dramatically in a single moment of time. So what if my life was to dramatically change in a single moment?

What if I didn’t have as many “tomorrows” as I thought I did? Not really feeling like I was at death’s door, but nevertheless I thought, at age 27, if I wasn’t going to see a ripe old age, what changes would I make in my life right now? I rarely sit around and think about my own mortality and like your average 20-something, I’m not quite thinking about retirement plans yet. But, in light of this new perspective, I realized the answer was - nothing. And, that realization shocked me. Health permitting, I would choose to keep on with my endeavors in Uganda. I would still pay that money to fly back to the United States for my friends wedding, I would still choose that family vacation and

The only thing that I would maybe consider is not continuing on with my Masters in Business program. However, I would probably consider continuing working on my degree in Theology. One should never stop pursuing God. And gaining knowledge of God is the first step in knowing God. It is and will be an eternal pursuit, I think.

You always hear about those people who at the end of their life, wished that they had given up the pursuit wealth and “things.” They wished they had spent more time with their friends and family. And in light of my life through the lens of death, I realize that I have put relationships first….. so far. Should I pat myself on the back that, the thought of death would not force a radical change in my life? That my choices and priorities are correctly aligned in light of human frailty and mortality? And it is true that often, more than some, I have always assessed my life in each moment in light of eternity. And assessed each choice in light of James 4:14 which says our existence here is but a “mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. Plenty of writers in both the Old and New Testament refer to our lives as David did in Psalms as nothing more than “a single breath.“ In light of eternity, the difference between a person that lives 30 years and him that lives 70 years is really quite insignificant.

Now don’t going thinking that I am all noble and everything. In this rare moment of introspection; in light of thoughts of mortality, I am sad to think what future may be missed. And to be truly honestly, I think maybe I am just not old enough yet to have acquired such common distractions – like the pursuit of wealth instead of relationships. Maybe if I picked up a mortgage and a few kids, my focus would lose some of that eternal perspective and readjust a focus onto the material world. One can not guess what choices I will make a few years from now. Regardless, of what future might hold, assessment is always valuable and sometimes we need a little reminder how short our wick really is.

"Toto, we are not in Africa, anymore..."

I have left Africa without exiting the Continent. Welcome to Johannesburg, South Africa, aka. “Any Town, USA”. Now I am sure that if I stayed here long enough I would see significant cultural differences between South Africans and Americans, however at first glimpse, Joburg could be any city in California. Full of shopping malls with Louis Vutton , and as well as movie theaters. coffee shops, bookstores, and every kind of restaurant imaginable. Paved roads, phone lines, street lights, stop signs and crosswalks, are the first sign that this place is much different than Uganda. But, then you see clean streets, Audi’s (and my own personal red Mazda 3), as well as high-rise buildings with excellent construction. “Toto, we are not in Africa, anymore” ….. in fact we are in a completely different world then we have known in the last four months.

So I took an extra week in Johannesburg after 8 grueling days of training with World Vision. Bill and Joanne Scheidler, graciously opened up their house to me for a place to stay. On Sunday, I visited City Life Church, pastored by their daughter Gini and her husband James Monagham; both who my family have known for a long time. I also attended their Generation Church on Friday night (ages 12-21) and they sang many songs I recognized, including one from Donna Lasit!

I also got to meet up with a couple other friends that live here. We actually met one year ago on my tour through Egypt! We never imagined that we would be able to see each other again so soon. (It’s a small world) They took me on quite another adventure actually. We went about 90 minutes outside of the city to the bush and sped along on 14 different zip-lines that zig-zag back and forth across a canyon. They progressively increase in speed and you wear padded gloves that you use on the zip-line to slow your incoming speed into the next platform. I did do one day tour. I spent several hours in the Apartheid Museum. It depicts the incredible fall of the political policy of racial separation and therefore discrimination between blacks and whites in South Africa. We visited areas around town where you could see a few signs left behind as reminders of this separation; shops for those with Black skin and others for those with White skin, and separation in public transport as well as drinking fountains. Different tribes regulated to certain suburbs (or better described slums) around the city; in which to leave, you must have a pass to travel. I have already had a real “Safari Adventure,” but one thing I did the day before leaving South Africa was visit a Lion Park. This is the first time in my life I have ever seen a White Lion. Such beautiful creatures! Then you got to go play with the lion cubs that had been abandoned by their mothers. You felt like you could adopt one and take one home as a pet! They also had a couple Giraffes at the park that you could buy food to feed! So I filled my hand full of “giraffe food” which looks like nothing more than pieces of round cardboard to the human eye, but it sure looked attractive to that giraffe, as he wrapped is gooey, gristly, warm, (and moist) tongue around my hand to make sure not to lose a single bite!