Trip from Kampala to Nairobi

Getting from Kampala to Nairobi was a series of "adventures" from beginning to end. I wanted to record it so that I can go back some day and remind myself of our first weeks here.

January 13 - Adventure #1
Did I say a 7 hour trip? Where did that come from? Let's try 15 hours. This story actually starts yesterday when Lynn and I were packing. I found some paperwork to fill out and it needed our passport numbers on it. That's when I discovered that my passport was missing. I looked everywhere and could not find it. I really believed that Lynn had misplaced it because I didn't remember even seeing it. We continued to pack but looked for it as we went. By 10:00 p.m. we searched everything again --suitcases, drawers, under furniture, in the trash -- everywhere again and again. At 11:00 we called our leaders and explained that we would not be able to go because of the missing passport and we went to bed. Our ride was to come at 4 a.m. I woke up at 2:00 a.m. and started to look again and Lynn just a little while later. We still had not located it by the time the Wrights came. (You have to understand that we don't own much so there's not too many places for it to be hidden). Our friends wanted to help look so we searched everything once again with no luck. Finally, we prayed again and Gene found the passport under the front of our mattress?!?! I guess I did that, but I only vaguely remember it. So, we left at 5:30 a.m. Traffic was not good, but it was what one would expect as people were starting to work.


Adventure #2

Our second experience was at the border. There was no one to register the vehicle so we went to get our passports stamped. They didn't ask for money so I felt pretty lucky until I realized that that was just a stamp to leave Uganda. We hadn't gotten to the Kenyan side. We drove back up to the office where Lynn and Gene got the vehicle work done. Then, over to the Kenyan side. More vehicle stuff, so Lynn went to work on that while Angela and I went to get our visas. They weren't going to stamp Lynn's without him being there, but the guy finally did it after I kept standing there after I paid the fee.

Vehicle done, passports stamped --then Gene remembered he had to register the car with the police. The whole process took about 1 and 1/2 hours.


The whole trip was about people and traffic. There isn't much space between villages. People walking, people riding bicycles, people on the side of the road selling things. And the road was another experience -- one lane most of the way. Some of it was deeply rutted. Twice we took detours which were "washboard" with ruts, speed humps and potholes that your car could get lost in.



Adventure #3
The Blowout!

At about hour # 12 we had a blowout! The tire was completely ruined. It was good that Lynn was there to help because it was a big job. Meanwhile, I tried to take pictures of some zebras across the road. 150 kiolmeters left to go and it would soon be dark. We prayed again for safety.




One last adventure.
We were close to Nairobi when we had to go through our first police check. (common occurrence) The policeman told us to get ""lifesavers" in our car. (Lynn first thought he was talking about the candy ) Lifesavers are reflective triangles that are used in emergencies. He said that he would "have mercy" on us and let us go on.

A little farther down the road, we had to stop at another police check. This policeman started yelling at us because Angela and I did not have seat belts on. (We didn't tell him that they were both broken). He started quoting the law and said that Gene, because he was the driver and responsible, would be fined 10,000 shillings (about $125) and so would those in the back seat -- 30,000 shillings in all. Then he demanded to look through our luggage, one piece at a time. Meanwhile, we were in the cab praying. He told us we were under arrest and that we would have to come back tomorrow to the pay the fine. (What he really hoped for was ?) He kept saying that he had the authority to "forgive" our crime. We finally did get to go and did not have to come back. The Lord does protect us! We made it to town, had a nice hot shower and went to bed.

Agape Church

Our first Sunday here in Kampala, Lynn and I went to the Agape Church. It is one of the largest in town and has recently started expanding its building. It is about 3 times the original size and they are building as they can pay for it.

Pastor Michael was out of town so the service was led by the men of the church. Good time of worship.



This is the road that we drove down to get to the church. I don't think I could find my way there without some help. Notice the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle. Stick shift is on the left side. Can I use my left hand?

First week in Uganda

We have not had internet so this is going to be the first three days in one blog.

Jan. 5
We arrived! We left Dallas on Mon. 4th of January at about 5:30 pm. We had a nine-hour flight to London and it wasn't too bad. (access to music, movies, a meal). We got off the plane there to freezing weather and boarded a bus to go to the terminal. There we met our friends, the Taylors, who were also going to Uganda. The second part of the flight was another nine hours. We arrived at Entebbe at about 10:15-ish, got in line to get our visas, retrieved our 7 pieces of luggage, helped the Taylors with their 17 pieces of luggage, and finally we were on our way to our new home in Kampala. We arrived at about 1 a.m. to find flowers on the table and some food in the frig. to get us started. Welcome to Kampala!





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Jan. 6
This morning we got up hearing birds out in our backyard giving their wakeup call. They sound African! It is really beautiful here. We have a variety of trees, flowers, sounds, and smells. Lynn has already spotted the hawks living in the tree next to our house. We live on a hill and from our balcony you can see downtown Kampala. It looks like lots of white buildings with red tile roofs.

I took my malaria pill first thing this morning. Oops! Didn't follow the instructions -- within 20-30 minutes I was throwing up. (I know better now). Lynn and I met our company staff and then mostly hung around trying to recover from jet lag. We bounced forward about 8 hours (from Dallas) and our bodies haven't figured it out yet.

Jan. 7
Today we went to town. Yikes!! Traffic, driving on the wrong (left) side of the road. Buses, cars, taxis trying to squeeze in, and boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) all trying to get ahead of each other. I am NOT ready to drive here. I was lost the whole time.

But we did get some shillings (Ugandan money), and some groceries -- including lots of fresh fruit. Fresh pineapple, papayas, oranges, mangos, and bananas. Love it! We also got our new phones. Everyone has cell phones here. Ours cost $138,000 shillings! Go figure. Actually about $35 a piece. We can even make calls home.

Lynn and I arrived back in Plano on Dec. 11. We were there until the 23rd when we went to St. Lucia with all our children. Wow! What a beautiful place.






Our grandson was talking so much and he was glad to see Papa Shuz and Nama. Santa arrived on a horse down the beach -- Caribbean style. We had a chance to relax, get some sun, and just visit with each other.

We are almost to the half-way point in our training. It has been so good so far. Two weekends ago our assignment was to go without electricity for the whole weekend because it is quite common to be without for hours or days in our country. It doesn't seem like it should be a hard task but it was challenging especially since the sun goes down so early. I hurried to get as many things done before lights went out and set our phones to use as the alarm clock. We had our flashlights to walk around and even to read by, but we went to bed much earlier than usual. Lynn was brave and had a coooold shower but I decided to wait. You should try it!

What I have enjoyed most is having lunch and discussion times with our affinity group (that is, all the countries in the Sub-Sahara area) The missionaries that have been with us have shared stories and experiences from their own times. They have been so encouraging and yet realistic about what we will face. We will go through culture shock, they say, no matter how well we think we have learned new ways. We are hoping that you all will write us and pray for us continually especially during the first few months.

We are enjoying the beautiful fall days here. The leaves are now beginning to fall but they have been glorious in yellows, golds, and reds. Nights and mornings are cold but the days are nice!
Yesterday we got the first of our immunizations. Only three today. The MKs (children) got their faces painted and we got our "Barbie" and "camouflage" bandaids.

Setting Up A Prayer Network

Jan and I were blessed to sell our home. Thank you to those of you who voiced prayers for the sale. The sale closed on June 20th. Jan had already flown to Plano, Texas to meet our household goods and place them in storage while I stayed behind to close the deal. I was able to visit my mother and the rest of my family in Tacoma for a few days before driving to Plano.

My drive was wonderful even with all of the road construction. I was able to stop off in Pullman, WA to visit my son Nathan and daughter-in-law Amye and our only grandchild Keegan. I was able to go fishing with my son and grandson. The catching wasn't real great but the fishin' was outstanding for I was with one of my sons and my only grandson. I stayed there for a few days and then continued on to Texas. I was able to see again the wonders of Yellowstone Park and the beauty of the Teton Mountains.

I was able to meet Jan in Oklahoma City at Jan's mother's home. We were glad to be together again. We visited there for a few days and then traveled to Plano. We have been very busy since getting to Plano trying to get all the odds and ends tied up.

Our daughter Charissa set a date to get married during the month of December. As we are tentatively scheduled to leave for the for Uganda on Jan. 4th, that meant a quick trip to Georgia to visit her. Dad had fun visiting her and playing with her dog Athena while mom and daughter planned for the wedding.

On our return to Plano we have been busy trying to set up a network of churches for prayer support. This has been one of our assignments to get finished before we attend the FPO in Oct-Dec.. We appreciate those pastors and individuals that have agreed to serve as contact people while we are serving in Uganda.

Please pray for the people of Kampala to whom we will be ministering. Ask that God would prepare our hearts to be useful servants for Him.

Phil. 4:6 Be anxious for nothing....let your requests be made known.
Lynn

Getting Ready to Serve in Uganda

As we prepare to leave to leave Elma, Wa. for Kampala there are so many things to do and say. We have been blessed to have served for 29 years in this community. It's very difficult to say goodbye to coworkers, fellow servants in the teaching community that have played such a great part in the lives of our family. Our three children have grown and flourished in this place and Jan and I thank you all for that.

To the members of Bethany Baptist Church, we are greatful that you have allowed us to serve at Bethany for so many years. We hope to be able to share with the people of Kampala the love that you have shown to us. We ask that you continue to lift us up in prayer as we serve the children of Kampala.

Pray that God will continue prepare our hearts and minds for this opportunity to serve Him. Pray that the hearts of the children would be open to receive the Gospel of Christ. Pray that God the Father would keep us healthy as we learn to serve Him there. Pray that we will be found faithful in all God leads us to do. Pray that we will be bold in our efforts to share the love of Christ with all we meet. Thank you for being faithful in the work at Bethany, the prayers, and in the offerings you have given to missions that that have made it possible for Jan and I to go to Kampala.

Romans 12:1 (The Message)

Romans 12

Place Your Life Before God

^1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.