Friday, May 28th
What does a wooden canoe, a boda boda, and the Southern Cross constellation have in common? All describe amazing adventures that our team experienced today.
This morning we met up with the Sozo group and walked down to the Gaba docks where all 19 of us climbed into a long, narrow, old, wooden canoe and were pushed out into the lake by some locals. A crowd of 19 muzungus on a boat had gotten the attention of a crowd of local passersby, especially when we had been pushed off and our engine wouldn't start! I think they were all wondering what this boatload of muzungus were going to do. Thankfully another boathand was able to quickly change out the motors. We were then headed across Lake Victoria, the largest lake in the world, in a boat that reminded us all of something in which the disciples would have journeyed. The canoe ride provided breathtaking views of Uganda as we puttered along with the 5-horsepower engine canoe. After a 30-minute boat ride, we came ashore across the lake, climbed out of the canoe, and immediately jumped helmet-less on the back of boda bodas (motorcycles), some of us riding with 2 people behind the driver. We held on tight as the local Africans whisked us along winding dirt roads into the Ugandan countryside. We were greeted by people in the yards outside their thatched roof huts, with children smiling, waving, and shouting "muzungu, muzungu!"
Our boda boda drivers led us to Bethany Village where we were introduced to Francis, the director of the children's home. After riding the boda bodas we were so glad some of us had baby wipes to wipe the dirt off our faces! We toured the facilities and were in awe at how polar opposite this children's home is from Mercy. In just a short boat and boda boda ride, it was like we were in a different world. The children were happy, well-behaved, well-mannered, and well-kept. The model for this children's home is cottage-style, where the cottages are set up like families. House Mothers parent and spiritually shephard an average of 15 children per cottage. These cottages have a living area, dining table, food preparation/kitchen area, windows with bars and curtains, inspirational Bible verses and pictures on the walls, and a front porch with flowers, plants, grass, and trees everywhere. Betty, the House Mother of the cottage we toured, explained that she teaches the children to be completely self-sufficient, growing their own food, cleaning up their own messes, and respecting their fellow housemates.
We came back home to relax and fellowship with each other during the afternoon. Some of our teammates went out to purchase baby gifts for one of our African helpers, and a group of us took the gifts to his house after dinner. He and his wife had a baby boy just a few weeks earlier and since the baby is so young, they could not yet take him out of the house to visit with us. This young family didn't have much for the baby, so we wanted to get baby items to shower and bless them with. Just before we left for their home, Sarah pulled me aside and told me that this family is Muslim. I did not have a chance to share that with the rest of the team, which was exactly God's plan. Diana prayed over the new family, which was undoubtedly divinely inspired, and we loved on them through our visit and gifts. What a blessing it was to be with them and to show them God's love. The team was able to fully show the love of Christ without intentionally or unintentionally filtering what was said/done becuase of the family's Muslim faith. After a few minutes and final hugs, we walked out of their modest African home and the Southern Cross constellation was in plain sight in the sky just before us. It's like God's presence was so visible right there in the sky and God gave us that present to let us all know that He hasn't forgotten about this family. Please join us in praying for this family's salvation.
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