It took less than an hour to cross the Kenyan / Ugandan border in our Mitsubishi station wagon early Sunday morning on May 1st with our son, Isaac, who had been visiting with us in Kenya. Since we had never been to Uganda, we decided to drive him home to Fort Portal in Western Uganda near the border of the Congo. We all spent the previous night in Jaki's Guest House in the border town of Malaba after a full day of attending the wedding of our Kenyan friends, Fred and Susan Lukulala on Saturday. Fred has been a student in Isaac's School of Ministry in Ft. Portal this past year and we have known Fred since we first arrived in Kenya in August 2007.
The first thing we noticed after crossing the border is that Uganda is a lot greener than Kenya although they are at the same latitude near the equator. Uganda gets much more rainfall, more mountainous and landscaped with natural, uncleared jungles. Of the 560 km (350 miles) of roads to Fort Portal, all were paved highways in good condition except for a 60 km (37.5 miles) stretch after the Kampala city bypass that is being repaved. We have become so used to the deplorable conditions of the roads in Kenya that we actually marveled at the dual lane highway outside of the city of Jinja and stopped to take a picture of it... a sure sign you have been in Africa too long.
Another first for us while traveling on the way was stopping for a quick snack of 'meat on a stick'... which the Ugandans said was beef but we will have to take their word for it. It is sold on the side of the roads where hawkers come up to multi-passenger taxi-vans picking up or letting Ugandans out in the various villages along the way. You can also get 'chicken on a stick' (barbequed skewered leg and thigh) for $1.00, but the real deal is the 'beef' which is quite delicious; a serving of about 7 pieces of roasted skewered 'meat' for only $0.25 or 500 Ugandan shillings... yumm... another sign you've been in Africa too long when 'meat on a stick' is as mouthwatering as a Big Mac (which of course you can't get in East Africa).
Once in Fort Portal we were welcomed by our daughter-in-law, Clea, and 4 very excited grandchildren...Nehemiah (Nemo), Ezekiel (Zeke), Hosanna (Lulu) and Elijah (Lija). We had a great week with the family, hiking every day in the mountains, fishing with the grandchildren in the Crater lakes in the area and just loving the LORD together! We also enjoyed the fellowship of the Calvary Chapel Church in Fort Portal where Isaac and family attend and are co-laboring with the missionaries, Doug and Destiny Calhoon who planted the church more than 5 years ago. You can check out their website and ministry at http://calvaryfortportal.com
Uganda is much less evangelized than Kenya and really needs our prayers. There is a greater presence of Islam throughout the country and the majority of Ugandans are non-religious or secular unbelievers. The work and ministry in Uganda is growing but the laborers are few and the task more difficult than in Kenya. Two of our graduates from the Bible Training Center in Kitale and two untrained Sudanese pastors/church leaders from Southern Sudan are intending to come to Uganda in October for a year of full-time training in Isaac's School of Ministry -- Shepherding Program. These men will definitely experience going through a culture shock from the change in countries, even though they are all Africans, and therefore will need our prayers, assistance and encouragement to stay the course for this intensive year of discipleship and ministerial training.
Once in Fort Portal we were welcomed by our daughter-in-law, Clea, and 4 very excited grandchildren...Nehemiah (Nemo), Ezekiel (Zeke), Hosanna (Lulu) and Elijah (Lija). We had a great week with the family, hiking every day in the mountains, fishing with the grandchildren in the Crater lakes in the area and just loving the LORD together! We also enjoyed the fellowship of the Calvary Chapel Church in Fort Portal where Isaac and family attend and are co-laboring with the missionaries, Doug and Destiny Calhoon who planted the church more than 5 years ago. You can check out their website and ministry at http://calvaryfortportal.com
Uganda is much less evangelized than Kenya and really needs our prayers. There is a greater presence of Islam throughout the country and the majority of Ugandans are non-religious or secular unbelievers. The work and ministry in Uganda is growing but the laborers are few and the task more difficult than in Kenya. Two of our graduates from the Bible Training Center in Kitale and two untrained Sudanese pastors/church leaders from Southern Sudan are intending to come to Uganda in October for a year of full-time training in Isaac's School of Ministry -- Shepherding Program. These men will definitely experience going through a culture shock from the change in countries, even though they are all Africans, and therefore will need our prayers, assistance and encouragement to stay the course for this intensive year of discipleship and ministerial training.
Greg and Bev,
ReplyDeleteI think I am beginning to figure out this whole blogging thing. Thanks for keeping us posted on what God is doing through you in Kenya and beyond!