Back to Africa #6--Home Again

Well, it's home sweet home once again and I'm back where I started, once again.
Africa is getting more and more of my heart each time I go.  Although I am still exploring all that God seems to be doing in my heart for this amazing land and it's people, I truly sense a thirst for more of what He is doing there.
Since I was unable to get the internet access that I had hoped for, I will give a quick overview of our trip:
I traveled with Tom Schlesselman, a friend and co-elder of Crossroads Community Church.  We were on a scouting trip for our church.
Friday July 1: Departed Chicago for overnight to London.
Saturday July 2: Arrived London in the morning, took Underground into the city to explore and see Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre.  Depart London for overnight to Johannesburg, SA.
Sunday July 3: Arrive Jo-burg and stayed in B&B. Very accommodating and hospitable hosts.  Great stories from man of the house who used to be a mercenary.
Monday July 4: Early departure for flight to Harare, Zimbabwe.  Began whirlwind tour with Danny Curle.  Danny has been in Africa for over 49.5 years.  Wonderful and powerful stories of a life of service and COMPLETE trust in an AMAZING God.  Lost wife in tragic car accident in early 80's, left with 4 small boys to raise.  Ends up adopting 19 Africa children no one wanted and raised them as his own.  We got a chance to meet some of these now adult children; some of which are layers, pastors, farmers who are changing their worlds because of the a Father's Love.  One son runs tranformational orphanage that is changing the future of the so many children by providing more that food and shelter for a couple years.
Tuesday July 5: Rode along with Danny as he delivered food to widows out in the bush.  Spent the day meeting and visiting with widows he feeds every week.  One widow he feeds has lead to the Chief of the village and his whole family coming to a personal relationship with Christ.  The chief observed Danny's faithfulness in loving the widow and asked why Danny did it.  When the Chief discovered the Love behind the service, he wanted the same relationship that would cause this kind of love.  Bwana Asifiwe!! (Praise the Lord)

Wednesday July 6:  Met some more pastors Danny shepherds from the 100 churches he has helped start.  Also met one of his adopted daughters who is an attorney in Harare.  Got to airport early for our flight, as usual, but ending up running through security and to gate when we  discovered that our flight was leaving over 30 minutes early.  Made our connecting flight through Nairobi and arrived in Entebbe, Uganda.  We made it to our hotel to discover power was out and no AC.  Power finally came on about 2AM so AC helped make warm night little more comfortable.
Thursday July 7: We were picked up by AOET (Africa Orphan Education Trust) Uganda Director James bright and early for our drive to Jinja.  After few minutes to freshen up at our hotel, we headed off to a remote village to experience their mobile medical clinic.  We saw HIV/AIDS testing, evaluations, treatments.  Learned a lot and was very encouraged by what we saw.

Friday July 8: We began the morning with a meeting with the Leadership Team of AOET Uganda.  We toured the Village that has 16 houses that have been built to provide housing for families that have adopted AIDS/HIV and High Risk orphans that do not have a house of their own.  They are provided a house and utilities for up to 3 years.  They are required to save money during this time to be able to build/purchase a home of their own while caring for up to 4 children along with their own.  We also got a chance to visit Rehoboth Secondary School and visit with student body of almost 300 kids.  Then it was off the the primary school where we were welcomed by almost 500 young and excited children.
Saturday July 9: Got a chance to catch our breath a little.  We visited Bujigali Falls and the Source of the Nile River.  Great day seeing some sights and getting to know James and AOET more in depth.
Sunday July 10: Travel day overland to Lira, Uganda in the northern part of the county.  Long day of rough travel.  Arrived Lira and checked into our hotel.
Monday July 11: Got to see more of AOET from another of their locations.  Same DNA from different perspective on more remote location.  Shared in another mobile medical clinic as over 180 children were tested for HIV/AIDS.  We also passed our mosquito nets for each child that got tested.
Tuesday July 12: Started journey home at 5:00AM with another overland ride back to Kampala to pick up Nancy Tushabe, wife of Executive Director of AOET and then to airport in Entebbe for flight to Nairobi.  Got to Nairobi to discover our flight to London was going to be over 2 hours late.  We finally got out of Nairobi about at about 2AM.
Wednesday July 13: Made connection in London and arrived safely in Chicago to be greeted by our wives and sons!  Great to be home...
I'll be sharing thoughts and lessons learned as I continue to process all that I'm learning about who God has created me to be.  Please let me know if you have any specific questions or would just like to talk about Africa.

Back to Africa #5-- Overload...

I don't know if I hate not having internet to keep updated more because I'm spoiled with what I have at home, or that I'm overloaded with things going through my mind when I finally get a chance to get access to post.  Probably some of both...

Overload, is my word for the last 2 days here in Jinja, Uganda.

Yesterday Tom and I were picked up at our hotel in Entebbe, Uganda by AOET (African Orphan Education Trust).  We had an enjoyable 3 hour ride with James, the Uganda Director, to the Sunset International Hotel in Jinja, Uganda at the north end of Lake Victoria.  After a few minutes to get settled and freshened up, we were off to a remote district to witness a mobile clinic in a rural village.  I received a new education in AIDS/HIV testing, as well as life in the rural villages with AIDS.  

One thing I learned from my limited time in the villages around Iringa, Tanzania was that the nurses at the village clinics we visited in 2009 were getting low single digit percentages of men being tested compared to the women in the villages.  AOET has as much as 25% men being tested at their remote clinics.  That is not to say it’s a competition, just an observation of reality.  More men are getting tested.  This is good change that everyone in the clinics hopes continues.

Today we began with a meeting with the Leadership Team of AOET Uganda.  What an amazing group of people, committed to the children that AOET serves every day.  From there we had a meeting with the almost 300 students of the High School, and a tour of the village they have built for families that have taken in orphans; more amazing people.

From there we visited the AOET primary school.  We visited each of the classrooms and met the teachers.  After the tour we were treated to a full show of entertainment of Ugandan traditional favorites, as well as original poetry/songs by the students.  Or me, it was right up there with Phantom of the Opera that Tom and I got to see in London last week.  After the show we shared a special luncheon feast with the teachers and students.

From there we went to the AOET medical clinic.  The people who work/serve mostly serve at the clinic do so much with so little.

After a long day we only had to wait for about an hour for our dinner to come.  The upside still amazed me as we watched the sun set across the Nile River.  Very Surreal.

Back to Africa #4--Arrived

I finally get an opportunity to send an entry.  Tom and I arrived in Entebbe, Uganda tonight to no power, but at least the generator give us light and WiFi.  There is a slight breeze off of Lake Victoria that keeps it from getting too hot.
We flew in to Entebbe tonight from Harare, Zimbabwe.  We almost missed our flight that ended up taking off over 1/2 hour early!
We spent about 3 days and 2 nights with Danny Curle. Danny has been in Africa for 49 1/2 years.  Our church has supported Danny for over 20 years.  To our embarrassment, this is the first time we have visited him.  It was a joy to get to know him and hear all that God is doing in and through his ministry there in Zimbabwe.  It was a whirlwind visit, but Danny did a great job giving us a great overview.
We met one of his sons, Steven and his family who serve with Danny in various ministries.  We also met some of Danny's 13+ adopted children.  They are all grown and serving God in various capacities.
Tomorrow we are picked up and will be taken to Jinja, Uganda to visit with Sam and Nancy Tushabe of AOET.  African Orphan Education Trust serves  "to increase family and community capacities to care for orphans and other vulnerable children, who are either affected or infected by HIV. "
Continue to pray for us as we travel and explore what God seems to be doing in Uganda through AOET and others.

Back to Africa #3--Counting the minutes

Well the day has arrived to depart for Africa.  This week has been nothing sort of bizarre, crazy, frustrating, disappointing, maddening, stressful, exciting, all wrapped up to make me weak in one week.
I'm the last person to see Satan under every rock, but some of the stuff that hit the fan this week was just plainly put, bizarre.  As I look back, I was reminded this morning while I repacked that it was all in preparation for Africa.  We in America really know very little about the old adage, "Stuff Happens".  In Africa, they have it honed to a science.  Patience and flexibility is the name of the game.  I have always hated when I have prayed for patience, God doesn't just give it to me.  He puts me in situations where I have to learn it all over again.  This, I have discovered over the years is something He is VERY good at.  With my bent sense of humor, I wonder if He smirks a little when He places me, yet again, into a process of relearning what it really means to completely depend on Him for Everything.
As often as I am able I will be sharing the ups and downs, and overall adventures that Tom and I will share together over the next 13 days together.
Please continue to pray for us as well as our Lead Pastor Keith Boyer and Northern Range Campus Pastor, Mark Hardacre as they are in India this week as well.
Until my next entry from Africa,  Asante Sana and Barikiwa!!