Uganda Trip - 2016

Hi everyone, I want to let you know how overwhelming it was to once again receive all of your support and prayers for my trip back to Uganda this year. As I did the last two times I went to Uganda, I have put together a summary (with lots of pictures) of our trip to provide a glimpse of what each of you helped make happen.


We arrived on New Years Day at the airport at 10am ready to begin 2016 in Uganda,  but at 745 pm, we still were in RDU airport in NC. Our flight to Newark was cancelled because a passenger pulled a oxygen tube lose getting on the plane and they had to order a part to repair it….So after more than 2 hrs of discussions with United Airlines ticket counter staff and phone support, we were booked on a new flight on Ethiopia Air from Dulles through Ethiopia to Uganda. However, we had to spend the night in Washington DC and were now going to be getting to Uganda on Sunday instead of Saturday night. We were disappointed, but confident God had a plan for this delay in arriving and rerouted flight.


On day 2 we were up at 6am for a shuttle to the airport and God was smiling on us right off the bat as we were able to lug all 19 bags and a jogging stoller for Abby and David up from baggage claim holding area and get in line just before a major surge of people traveling on Ethiopia Air arrived. The 14hr flight actually only took 13hrs but Paul and I weren’t able to sleep because our exit row seats, which were nice in some regards, was right in front of the bathroom and turned out to be a meeting and hang out area for some med students. They hung out and talked/laughed in that area almost the entire trip and it turned out to be impossible to sleep. We arrived in Addis Ababba, Ethiopia and the energy was high despite the lack of sleep by most of the team. Ethiopia is a beautiful country, at least what we could see of it.

We strolled around the small airport for a while and then noticed some men dressed oddly with leather bands wrapped tightly around their arms and appeared to be worshiping by moving back and forth and reading from a small book. The team debated about what religion they might be, but finally Hannah and I went up to one of them to see if we could strike up a conversation in English.

Hanging out with Tomer in Addis Ababba, Ethiopia airport

The man we approached could speak some English, at least enough for us to communicate. His name was Tomer and was a Jew from Israel. We talk for nearly 45 minutes about his religion and the Torah, which also allowed us to share the Gospel with him and relate it to his beliefs. Tomer had many objections to Christianity, the main one being that they didn’t believe a Holy God would stoop so low to become human. We had a very good discussion and his friends had to pull him away to catch their flight to South Africa but before the did, Tomer gave me his email address and wanted to continue our discussion that way. God’s plan for our delay in arriving in Uganda and flight changes started to come into focus.... The long trip was starting to catch up with us, but we were just one more short flight from Uganda, so we rallied.

Waiting in the Ethiopia airport for the last flight to Uganda, Paul's posture sums up the general feeling of the team after 2 days in travel.

We finally arrived in Uganda on Sunday around noon and headed to the cottages were we would be staying, organized our supplies and prepared for the week ahead, which required getting to bed early after nearly 2 full days in transit.

We awoke early on Monday (our first full day in Uganda) and met Uncle David and Uncle Andrew for rides to the shore of Lake Victoria where we would take a boat out to a remote island. I casually asked Uncle David on the drive to the lake shore how long the boat ride would be to the island. He casually responded with "about 3 to 4 hrs one-way...", so I politely confirmed that answer with "are you kidding me?" Ugandans neither understand sarcasm or are sarcastic, so he was serious. However, the picture I took below would seem to indicate they can be sarcastic at times. Anyhow, we arrived at the dock and met the captain for our "3-hour tour".

Really?

We then noticed the boat was a good distance from shore and assumed they would just pull it in to load the supplies and us; however, that is not how they roll in Uganda. Instead, we all got rides on the shoulders of young men to the boat, including Paul who was probably 100lbs heavier than the boy carrying him to the boat. This set the tone for the day ahead.

Jared is the first of our team to take the shoulder shuttle out to our boat

Once we all got on board and pushed out to sea our captain decided to try and start the motor. After about 15 minutes of trying to get the motor started, the captain had success and we were on our way through some pretty rough seas, considering we were on a lake. Some folks weren't feeling too well, but thankfully nobody got sick. 

Our fearless captain working to get the motor running as we drift out into the lake.

Our mission once we arrived on the island.... to love on the people and children there and build a pig shelter for the new family of a former street boy that had recently been resettled with a pastor and his family on the island by the A Perfect Injustice (API) ministry. You see, API has been working extra hard now to resettle boys and then providing some resources to help with the transition back to the family so they can support the child and send him to school. In this case, API purchased the family 3 pigs and provided resources to build a shelter for them. It was our team’s job to build the shelter. We were told that the supplies were all on the island, so we just brought some very basic tools with us.

A view of the island as we approach our landing spot

When we arrived, we were greeted by three sweet young ladies that insisted on carrying our supplies on our trek to the top of the island to the village.

Inside the church of the village on the island

When we arrived in the village where we were going to build the pig pen, I didn’t notice any supplies. It was then that Yazid, the little former street boy, motioned us to follow him into the jungle to get the supplies.



A one man sawmill

We walked and walked for close to a mile until we heard chainsaws and then saw the lumber that we would be using for the job, being freshly prepared from trees they had just cut. The lumberjack was actually creating boards and corner posts free hand, with his chain saw. One of the most impressive things I have seen. 


We had to hand carry all the lumber through the jungle along a narrow wet path nearly a mile back to the site. We did this many times…..

Once the lumber was on site, as some of the team laid out the structure and began digging the holes for the posts (with machetes), others moved a large pile of stones to the construction site, which would serve as the floor. There were very limited tools and equipment available for the project and we particularly missed having a ladder, level and shovel.

I stand amazed at Paul's faith in John's hammer accuracy

 

Ladders are really overrated

However, in less than about 2.5 hrs time we had build the pig pen and moved the three pigs into their new home (although the pigs were less than excited to be moved in).

 

The pigs were not initially very happy about moving into their new homes (that is not actually mud on Jared's leg either)...

The finished product, all of which (aside from the roof) was alive in the forest just 3 hours prior.

Once the pig pen was complete, we gathered with the children and some of the adults from the village, shared the gospel with them, prayed, listened to some of the girls from the village sing beautiful songs for us, then hiked back to the boat for our voyage back to the mainland.

The team was really tired, but fortunately the wind had calmed and the lake was extremely calm for our ride back. It was an amazing first full day of ministry.



Sun setting on our boat ride back to the mainland

The following morning (Day 4) we arose early and headed to the capital city of Kampala to do an outreach program with the children living in the Mbuya slum. Uncle David Kakeeto, Aunt Abby's (founder of API) husband, had to leave the team at this point as Abby had gone into labor with their first child. Their little girl named Tyshia Baracka Kakeeto was born later than night and was very healthy (although the boys we were ministering to were disappointed it wasn't a little boy...).

We played soccer with the kids in the Mbuya slum, shared a bible story and the gospel and fed them peanut butter (G-nut in Uganda) and jelly sandwiches.





Paul, John and Caleb take a rest during the soccer game while the ball is retrieved from way down the hill with the slums of Mbuya in the background

Our team and the street children of the Mbyua slum

The team then headed into the heart of Kampala to do some exploring and shopping while I took a Bota-Bota (dirt bike taxi) through the insanely crowded streets of Kampala to meet Uncle Abdul, our "adopted" son Allan and his friend Moses ("adopted" by my buddy Codey). I met Allan and Moses during my first trip to Uganda in 2011 while they were living on the streets. Allan has grown up so much since I saw him last in 2012. I got to visit Allan’s school and meet his Headteacher (principal) and discuss how he is doing. I also got to meet some of his teachers. He is doing well overall and catching up given how long he was on the streets and out of school.

Allan (left), me and Moses (right)

Allan and his Headteacher, Ms. Florence

I didn’t get to visit with Allan long before I had to meet up with the rest of the team and head to Scripture Union Camp on the shores of Lake Victoria and meet the boys that we would be ministering to the rest of the week.

As I mentioned before, the API ministry has shifted their focus as a result of recent changes in Ugandan law, which requires ministries working with street children to actively try to resettle them with their families rather than adopt them into homes or orphanages. API is really focusing their efforts on resettling street boys and those that currently are living in their homes, when the family situations are conducive to doing so. As a result, the camp we were putting on this time would be focused on street boys who have been recently resettled with their families throughout Uganda. In addition to loving on the boys, the families were also invited to attend the final two days of camp. Although resettling the boys with their families can be a blessing for them, they no longer are being ministered and encouraged in God’s Word by the API team. In addition, most are back in their villages surrounded by Muslims, non-believers and(or) those who frequently practice witchcraft. The camp that we were in Uganda to provide this time was meant to be a reward for doing well in school and a time to rejuvenate and strengthen their faith and equip them to be missionaries in their villages. Right now API is planning to hold these camps for the resettled boys and their families at least once a year.

We arrived at the Scripture Union camp around 4pm and were mobbed by the boys. I recognized many of them from my previous trips but so much had changed. First of all, they had grown so much, spoke very clear English and were so kind to each other and respectful. All of the boys at the camp this year were boys that had been either in the API homes or in the street programs for many years. The transformation of these boys is a true testament to the transforming work that God has done through the API Ministry.

There aren't many things better than to see the boys' smiles. Perhaps Bob's smile (the boy on the right) is the biggest because he had just finished a 9-hour voyage to get to camp.

After we spent some time getting reacquainted with the boys, we gave them an overview of the camp schedule for the rest of the week and formed the teams that would be competing against each other in a host of sports and activities throughout the week. John then delivered a bible lesson on worshiping God through faith in Christ, which was the first of a 4-part series we would teach the boys on traits of becoming a Godly man.



Leading small group discussions with the boys

Following the lesson, we broke up into small groups to go a little deeper – I had 13 of the oldest boys, who ranged from about 15 – 18 yrs old. Following small group time, we played some games with them and then wrapped things up for the day.



Lining up to play the marshmallow toss game, which took a while because the boys had never seen a marshmallow and therefore there was a lot of "taste-testing"....

The rest of the week's schedule was as follows: we would serve the boys breakfast around 9am, introduce the character trait of the day (humility, sportsmanship, integrity and patience) and then the games began. For the first hour, two teams would play soccer and the other two would battle in kickball. Then the teams would rotate.

On the first full day of camp, as we were preparing for the first soccer game of the day, I witnessed something the summed up the transformation of these boys. One of the older boys, Amos, had nice soccer cleats and tall socks. He was walking with one of the younger boys who only had some old sandals. Amos took him to the side, took off his shoes and socks and gave them to the other boy and Amos played barefooted. This is such a far cry from our previous trips when there was frequent "rock warfare" between the boys over trivial things such as just cutting in line.




Awarding Amos the prize for best displaying the humility character trait

Needless to say Amos won the humility character trait award for our team that day.

Following a couple hours in the blazing African sun (it was really hot, couldn’t believe it was January) even the boys were tired so we headed to the lake for swimming – they absolutely love it, even though most of them can’t swim (hence the floaties on all extremities).

Some boys couldn't put on enough floaties



Ugandan chicken fighting

After swimming we would serve them a good lunch.

Slicing up avocados for the boys with my pocket knife -
if you are wondering, it's not very efficient



The feast is prepared....

Lunch is served...

...and it brought lots of smiles each day.

Caleb leading Bible trivia

Following lunch, we announced which boy from each team was awarded for best displaying the character trait of the day. We then played some bible trivia, which was led by John’s 12-yr old son Caleb that came on the trip. It was amazing how well the boys know the bible. It was then devotion time. The second trait of being a Godly man that we taught was obeying God and authority (unless their instruction was contrary to God’s word). Small group time was perhaps the most impactful time of the week for me. I asked the boys to share a time when they obeyed God even though it was difficult.

This is Yusef, an amazing young man who truly loves the Lord

Yusef, a 17-yr old boy that used to live in the API homes, spoke up first. He explained that his whole family were devout Muslims and when he became a Christian he feared to tell his family. After a few years of studying the bible and growing in his faith, he was convicted to obey God and share his faith in Christ with his family although he knew of the persecution that he would likely face. He first told his mother and she was devastated and told him to go away again. It took a little while but he finally got the courage to tell his father, who exploded in anger and gave him 50 lashes across his back. Naturally, Yusef ran away from home again back to the API homes, but his faith was never broken. He know lives with his Aunt and is ministering to his other Muslim family members and those in his village.

This is Musa, who despite intense persecution from his family,
accepted Christ during the camp

The next boy to share was Musa, also from a devout Muslim family. Musa heard the Gospel shared at a small church near the village where he grew up as a young teenager and desired to trust Christ as his savior. He went home and told his mother and she also was devastated and said he had to leave the family. After sometime, she relented and allowed him back into the house; however, even though she didn’t tell him, Musa’s father heard of his son’s interest in trusting Christ and promptly pulled out some of his toenails. Musa ran to the streets but his father searched for him and even went on the radio to announce that if anyone sees his son they should take him to the police or kill him. Musa found his way to the API street programs and was loved by them for a few years before being recently resettled with his Aunt. Musa then let us know that he wanted to accept Christ and did so following the small group time. 

I was so convicted and encouraged as the same time with the testimony of these two boys - whose faith had grown stronger despite unbelievable persecution from those who should have loved them the most.


After hearing these stories, I was talking with one of the Uncles (what the boys call the API staff men) about the stories and they explained that Aunt Grace, the primary counselor for API, had a similar testimony and now her whole family were Christians. We asked Aunt Grace to share her testimony with the boys and it seemed to really encourage them. It was an extremely impactful day for everyone.

The third day of camp brought some cloudy skies, which kept the soccer and kickball games more tolerable. I was the leader of the green team, who started off 0-2 on the first day with two hard fought and close losses. We lost in soccer to the Red Team 1-0, (although they were blatantly and admittedly offsides on the lone goal) but crushed them 26-6 in kickball. Turns out that would be our only win of the week though….



Our soccer games were interrupted a few times from the cows and steer coming on to the field



The families of some of the boys arrived today around lunchtime and we got to greet and feed them. Our devotion time was focused on working our hardest unto the Lord. In small group, I asked the boys what the hardest job or task they ever have had to do and "digging" was almost the unanimous choice.

After small groups we taught them how to play ultimate Frisbee then got Charlie and the Chocolate Factory queued up on the projector and headed back to our cottages.





Trying to teach the boys on my team how to play Ultimate Frisbee, unfortunately I had never even played before and the outcome of the game reflected that.. .

The final day of camp was a scorcher and my green team lost 4-3 in soccer and 11-8 in kickball to the purple team, which put us firmly in last place for the week, but we were awarded the team humility award…. I had really great kids, they just weren’t the most athletic of the bunch. The Purple team was the overall winner for the week. 

The Green Team - we only had one win during the week, but fought hard and made every game close...we did win the humility award.

It started to storm at the beginning of swim time, which delayed getting in the water a bit, but while the boys were waiting it out, we gave a session to the boys’ families on a biblical view of marriage and shared the gospel with them. One of the ladies accepted Christ and many others asked us to pray individually with them.



Sharing the bible with the boys' family members who accepted the invite to attend that last two days of camp

Prior to the devotion, the API team awarded the boys who were the top in their respective classes with some gifts. There were 6 boys who were the top in their class, truly amazing that just a few years earlier they were on the streets and not even in school.

I taught the final bible lesson/devotion of the week, which included a review of everything we had taught them throughout the week on being a Godly man and then introduced them to how a Godly man treats women. This topic was challenging because of what most of the boys had been around in their families and what this culture teaches is so contrary to God's intention. I think it went well though and the boys had many questions.

Leading one of the lessons/devotions, with Uncle Sam translating for boys.

After the devotion, we had a Q&A session to allow the boys to ask John and I any questions they had about the bible or their faith. Boy, did they have a bunch. Some were very challenging to answer and some we had no answer for because the bible was silent on them. A common question from the boys and some of the adults was how could they be assured they wouldn’t lose their salvation – this was a major concern for many of them. John and I held fast to scripture and encouraged them that once they had acknowledged their sinfulness, repented and accepted Christ as their savior, they were adopted into God’s family forever, despite the fact we are going to continue to sin while we are in this world. We also explained that the only unforgivable sin is to deny Christ. Following small groups, we helped the boys write letters to their special friends (sponsors that provide funds for them to go to school). After the letters were written we headed out for a tug-of-war battle and a group photo.

The boys love some tug-o-war

Paul's team obviously didn't win but at least their anchor man got to go for a ride...



Our camp photo

Camp wrapped up the way any good camp does, with a goat roast and bonfire where the boys danced and put on a talent show.


It was an amazing week, mainly because of how we saw God move in the lives of these boys and their families and to see the stark evidences of how he has completely transformed them. However, it was also amazing because I didn’t have to break up a single fight, which used to be an hourly occurrence at previous camps. I made the comment during the camp that if we would have gathered 40 kids from North Raleigh and brought them to a camp like this one, I seriously doubt they would have been as respectful and behaved and treated each other as well as these former street boys did. So for those of you who help support API and the boys they minister to, you have been part of an amazing transformation that is truly helping to shape the next generation of men and their families in Uganda to love, follow and treasure Christ.

From our neighborhoods to the nations, the transforming  news of salvation that is freely available only through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ needs to be shared.


Thank you so much for everyone who helped to support this trip through prayer and financial support. I am humbled to have gotten another opportunity to help prepare and encourage these boys to be on mission with God in their schools and villages throughout Uganda and serve our amazing Father, whose love for his children is truly extravagant.

"...go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Mark 16:15

The Uncles off the A Perfect Injustice staff - amazing men who love the Lord and those boys.