Well…today started with an earthquake (more of a tremor really).  A few minutes later the power left off.  I had a hot shower for the first time since arriving.  It was really too hot (but I am NOT complaining).  It had been raining a little, but started to rain more heavily.  We left out an hour late to visit yet another slum.  The roads were flooded, the traffic jammed.  We arrived at our destination and it was flooded.  Not the normal American-style “flooding,” real flooding that enters people’s homes at-the-doorknob kind of flooding.  We would consider it a disaster area, for those who live there, it is just life.

Pastor Benon, our missionary host and I surveyed the area which involved walking around in the rain (I did not bring “gum boots” or a rain coat…didn’t have room or think I would really need them).  Walking in the rain means avoiding falling in the sewage canals, or falling in the garbage heaps or just falling down.  We determined the way too treacherous to attempt and since Ugandans are afraid of rain, snakes, and bullets (in that order) it would not be a good use of time.  We found shelter in a nearby American style cafe.

The girls ordered lunch and drinks, Pastor Benon, Pastor Dickens and I ordered drinks and immediately fell into deep conversation.  The lady’s translator, Medina, shared her hopes and dreams with her group.  Pastor Dickens shared his testimony with me, then Pastor Benon.  Both stories were incredible to hear.  We then discussed the complications related to partnering American and Ugandan churches.  At present the “church” in this area is larger in attendance than 80% of American congregations, yet it has no permanent place to meet.  The place where they do congregate will no longer be available after December of this year.

After several hours of discussing the difference between Ugandan and American thought and coming to the conclusion that it would be some help for some Americans to share with their Ugandan brethren administrative ideas we piled into our rented minibus and drove to a local craft market.  The ladies shopped and Pastor Benon and I talked business.   Pastor supports himself (rather than take a salary from a church full of the impoverished) and had done a good job of advancing his station by God’s grace.  It was good to listen to him share his experiences.

Although we were unable to share Jesus with Ugandans in the slum it was joy to share Jesus with three extraordinary servants of Christ.  I will surely write more of them in future posts.

We are now back at the guest house.  There was no water.  Which is amazing since is fell from the skies for most of the day.  The power is back on.  Water came by truck.  I think showers will be first come first serve…hmmmmmm.