Three days of news

April 1^st, Kampala

I wonder if the Ugandans know about April Fool’s Day? Guess what, they do, and I was the fool.

Yesterday was a call to clarity. What I thought was going to be an hour’s drive to a school turned out to be 4 ½ hours on reasonably good roads through a beautiful part of Uganda, then 1 ¼ hours on a dirt road that fearless dirt bikers would have enjoyed. We ended up almost to the Uganda/Kenya border where over the course of the day I met with lead teachers from 7 primary schools and 2 high school headmasters and their teachers. I will summarize the conversations by saying it is very hard for people to stare into the sky and dream when their very basic needs are far from met. The schools need so much, and the teachers struggle to teach as they best know how using very little that we in America would take for granted. For those readers who know the dream God gave me before coming here, I have definitely crossed the water and am peddling hard up the steep dirt slope.

God has a sense of humor. After 91 hours of life with only a total of 10 hours of sleep, He woke me up at 2:00 a.m. today and gave me a download. Today I will put myself on the sheer rock wall of the dream taking a big risk with 6 headmasters and Bishop Simon Peter. I cannot carefully cast a vision of what has never been experienced, an understanding of learning far outside the box of these dear educators. Today they will hear my heart and my passion. The Pentecostal Church schools will have the opportunity to be the channel of changing the face of education in Uganda, or not. I will let you know tomorrow “the rest of the story”.

I’m loving my little computer, a wonderful guest house, and my dear wife’s encouragements she gave me in the form of 16 envelopes with messages inside. I can’t wait to tell her how spot on they have been. Thank you, too, for all those praying for me—no back pain, very little shoulder pain, a scratchy throat that cleared up, not doing too bad hearing the conversations, and a sense of confidence in God’s plan for ALI. Please keep the covering coming.

March 30^th, Kampala:

As I lean back on a very comfortable bed at the Watoto Guest House, I am once again thanking the Lord for a smooth flight, and for Timothy, an assistant to Bishop Simon Peter, who met me at the airport and brought me to this delightful haven of rest operated by the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church. I was able to sleep for about 4 hours on the plane so that totals 6 hours of sleep in 39 hours of travel. I should force myself to not take a nap to counter act jet-lag, but I don’t think I will make it another 10 hours until nighttime. The Bishop will be meeting me for supper tonight, so it would be good if I could think well, see straight, and be showered for that meeting. The work has begun.

As I rode with Timothy from Entebbe to Kampala this morning, the enormity of the needs of these people was overpowering. Struggle is the fact of life that is faced each day, and for almost all of the population, there is no hope. Timothy plainly stated that there is no solid plan to improve the country’s economy and infrastructure bringing decent jobs and living conditions to his countrymen. Until there are leaders who can set their personal agendas aside and construct a solid plan for improvement, life will not change and uprisings will happen.

How appropriate! The motto of the Watoto School, “Raising Future Leaders”, was on the bottle of water I was given for lunch today. I am so looking forward to our discussions over the next three days to find out how ALI with the same goal can come along side and help this happen. Please, God, help me to not be blinded by the darkness around me, for You bring light to all the dark places. Help all of us who will be working together to walk in that light.

March 29^th in Heathrow:

6,000+smooth  air miles, 3 mediocre movies, two very good books, and 2 hours of sleep = one dragged out guy.  The journey continues. I forced myself to not sleep much (hmmm, as if I could have slept) because I want to sleep on the next hop—5,000 miles/9 hours to Entebbe arriving at 8:00 a.m. Uganda time Wednesday. Another blessing: I sat in a row of four seats with all empty but me. Up went the arm rests to make a bed, but the bumps of each seat did not match my contour very well so comfort was a bit lacking though being able to stretch out  and elevate my legs was a big plus. Isn’t that life? We get goodness and a bit of not-so-goodness all in the same package quite often. Yet, what is uncomfortable for me is what so many live with daily. Hard mud dung floors with thin grass mats makes an airplane seat very likeable.

I tend to see a problem before I see a blessing. On this trip, however, I wish to focus on every part I can be thankful for. I will not ignore the problems I can do something about because that is who I am: a problem-solver. I receive good reminders on every trip to Africa that I have far fewer problems than many, so be thankful, Dan. God has blessed you richly just to be doing this work. And who wants to join in a journey with a grump! So thank you, dear Lord, for:                                                                                                    
U under His wing G: good connections A: another day of good health N: new, sturdy computer for travel D: my darling wife who served me well A: always present God       K: kind flight attendants E: energy to keep moving N: no back pain from laying on bumps Y: youth to mold into leaders A: Airplanes