Back from Africa!

Well, I have been utterly terrible at updating this lately, but I did want to share at least a few pictures and a brief overview of my time in Uganda earlier this month. The trip ended up being more of a work trip than we expected which was fine.  We learned that in Uganda, you just go with the flow and usually have a pretty great time. An example of this was that Craig was preaching and we were staying with the head pastor and yet we left for church 20 minutes after it started.  But no big deal!  We had to give up our American values of promptness and planning - it was a great lesson.

So while we did see the kids from the orphan bases it wasn't much time with them. However, after meeting them and seeing them, we realized they are so well adjusted and cared for - there wouldn't be much for us to do. So, we relinquished our time with them to a couple of afternoons of playing.

4 of our 6 days in country were spent building this widow home - actually a 'duplex':

Day 1 - carrying pans of dirt to fill the floors.

Day 2 - carrying bricks - 2 by 2 - and mortar in the pans.

Day 3 - finishing up walls and the latrine.
This is the day I learned to lay brick using a plumb line and string.

Day 4 - Here is Agnes (left) and Sarah and her kids (right) who will live in the house.

The house (paid for by funds raised by the students of Third Church) allowed us the opportunity to work with some of the staff from FDLM as well as a number of the kids.  After the kids graduate from high school they basically wait their turn to attend college - which comes whenever David can get the $2000/year it costs to send 1 student.  While they wait they act as support staff and help on the orphan bases and with ministry projects like this one.  We also enjoyed help and time with the local village kids and women.

Here is a picture of all of us who worked on the house.  You'll hear more specifically about some of their stories later.

The Crew
Despite their faces here - they are such a joyful and social people...they do not however, like to smile for pictures. :)

David Zijjan (above on the right by Mark and Craig - in jeans) - the founder of Father's Divine Love Ministries and pastor of the church - has great vision on how to provide for the nearly 100 kids he directly supports and the additional 200 he supports via the widow program.  (In a nut shell - when you provide a permanent home and food for a widow, she is able to keep and care for her own children - ensuring they do not become orphans.)

One of the ways David is trying to become more self sustaining is by farming.  on Wednesday we travelled about and hour and a half from Jinja to the 50 acres he has bought and is preparing for farming.  He employs 3 men from the church who work the field and also another who acts as land supervisor.  The youth of third raised the money for this tractor that is necessary for field work as also is rented out for additional money.

The "muzunga" (white guy) had to give it a shot...we are from Iowa after all:

 

I look forward to sharing more of my thoughts and experiences, but laundry calls, as I slip back into life here.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to worship and work along side my brothers and sisters in Jinjga, Uganda.  I am also ever grateful for the better understanding I have of God and his heart for justice and His desire for us to care for the widow and orphan; to battle injustice.  I am also, of course, thankful to so many who made it possible for me to go. What a blessing.

Until later, 

Brystal