MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 12-07-2010

Greetings! We’re doing well here in Uganda. We’ve been busy with our work in the refugee camp down in Nakivale, and our ongoing study of the language here. I’m still discipling Mordecai. The children’s ministry in Nakivale is also doing well. So, these things are still progressing as usual. I’m teaching in the Mobile Institute at Independent Baptist Church of Mbarara this week. We’re teaching Bible Study Methods to a class of 41 Ugandans. Teaching grammar for the purpose of Bible Study is tricky because of the radical differences between English grammar and Runyankore grammar. Graduation is on Friday for 4 of the Bible Institute students.

Pre-Thanksgiving Turkey

We had a great Thanksgiving. We invited 2 of the other missionary families in Mbarara (the Bassetts and the Trachts) over for a Thanksgiving feast. The kids, ours and the Trachts’, are posing with the turkey we bought for the occasion. The meal and the fellowship were outstanding. We’re still able to have our familiar American traditions here, albeit with a bit more work (all food is made from scratch here).

The day after Thanksgiving is when we traditionally decorate for Christmas. We have our tree put up now and all our Christmas decorations. It’s really starting to look festive around here, although the Spring-like weather we have year round feels a little odd to be having in December. So, while folks in America are suffering with the cold, we get beautiful sunshine and 70 degrees pretty much every day of the year.

Our vehicle is in Kampala being repaired this week. God supplied the money we needed for the engine overhaul, which is a tremendous blessing. I am aware that the economy is terrible in the States right now, so we are very grateful for the sacrifices our supporting churches are making to keep us here, and help with our needs. Thank you very much for the Christmas gifts we have received at BIMI, and the care packages as well. They were both huge encouragements. We are enjoying the Jolly Ranchers, and are putting the Taco Seasoning and Chili Mixes to good use already.

Pray for the refugee camp. Corruption is business as usual here. Someone associated with the camp has stolen about 3 months worth of food from the refugees, and a large portion of their medical supplies. I saw a little boy, about Gaelin’s age, on Sunday with a third degree burn on his leg from the family cook fire. The people at the clinic hadn’t done anything for it, and it had been like that since Wednesday. He wasn’t crying, because mercifully the nerves were dead in that region, but it’s going to scar badly if the infection doesn’t kill him. We treated him with what medicine we have, but the wound really needs to be debrided. Without anesthetic, however, I don’t see how you could do that to him. Pray for him.

We are travelling to Kampala soon for a few days, and should have our car back by then, which will be a blessing. This will likely be the last checkup before the birth of our sixth child, Brennah LaDynne. Pray that all goes well. Pray that there will be no complications or other issues. Another concern is that the due date is very close to the elections on February 18. Pray that this child, like all the others, will be born a little late so we won’t have to be anywhere near the capitol for the elections. Pray the elections go smoothly, and without violence. Uganda has not had serious issues with this in the past, but it is Africa, so it’s best to lay low around those times just in case.

It is a great privilege to be your missionaries in Uganda, Africa, and we greatly appreciate your continued prayers and support.