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Father Mike Hesse, Claudia Hesse, Father Forrest Mobley, Karolyn Killian, George Bowling, Carol Hearne, Robbie L. Rogers, and Margaret Rogers willingly agreed to spend 30-days in the Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese of Uganda.  

Lord why me we were all saying right about Then?  We, Margaret and I  had clothes scattered all over the bedroom, packing and unpacking, trying to get ready for 30 days days of missionary work.  

Is it a dream? Are we really ready? Are we really going?  How will we ever do it... only through the Lord?!

We prayed in the parking lot of the Church before we left, we prayed at dinner in Pensacola; but, most of all the 24 hour prayer vigil was in place at Immanuel for our mission for the duration.  We felt it all, and would respect and depend on such prayers more than we ever realized we would during the coming days.

Tuesday, July 7: Leave Pensacola 11am It's been a long time since most of us have traveled far. You tend to forget how grueling it is.  And, add to that, the aspects of ticket problems wherever we went... we were dragging tired. The lines, the confusion, the prayers, the joy of when God answered and we found ourselves on the way again, sometimes even in first-class instead of coach. Sleeping in little pockets of uncomfortable chairs and sometimes hard floors; though, the eight of us were never discouraged, only full of God's glory and anticipation. Much of what we see today will be gone tomorrow. 

Wednesday, July 8: Arrive Entebbe 8:05pm  Wow, worn out. After 28 hours of grueling travel we  arrived at Entebbe, Uganda, several hours late and in a very dark night.  

Ian and others met us at Entebbe, taking us on a short drive to the Anglican rest center in Kampala to spend our first night and bath before embarking on our journey to Hoima. 

We Loaded into small van, just barely. Made it to the rest house. Grateful for the bed. Bathrooms, just a small foretaste of the reality of life in Uganda.  Our brief night’s sleep in the nearby capital city of Kampala was a definite prerequisite for the ride we were to experience traveling to the Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese office in Hoima. 

Thursday, July 9: Leave Kampala1pm Arrive Hoima 9:30pm We have too many names to remember, all happy faces coming to meet us.  It took 6 1/2 bone jarring hours to arrive. We were late and some had gone home disappointedly.  

Their were no lights. The power was off everywhere, an occurrence we came to expect and get used to. Still, in the darkness came their friendly smiles and warm greetings.  And we, though weary from travel, were grateful for the welcome.

Friday, July 10: Hoima  After one day’s rest, I along with Margaret and Forrest sat on the front porch of the visitor's quarters, about a mile from the bishops house; Mike and Claudia stay there; Karolyn, Carol, and George, along with Ian are here. 

When the Bishop is away, the "Commission" is in charge, four members. We are waiting for a 11 o'clock meeting with Rev George K, Stephen, Rev Sesi, Fr George William, Hope George Kewiz, Bennan, Rev Karen Sabiiti. Six of them plus our  eight. 

 After refreshments, or tea: We, along with several Ugandan clergy and lay ministers are to lead a 3-day open-air revival at the edge of a soccer field near the town center. 

Knowing the worldwide appeal to those curious to Christianity, the Alpha program talks were adapted for use as revival topics in Uganda.

The Revival will start at 3pm and last 'til 5? Talk assignments were gone over, everyone ready... I hoped the rest were more ready than I was. Forrest, George, and Mike gave their talks first.  

The music was fun; some we could recognize, all of it was new to our ears.  Much celebration and ministry followed each day’s teachings as a heavy down pour of rain drove everyone to the shelter of St Mary’s Church, as if on cue from God. 

The area, drought stricken for an unusual three months, was soon washed clean by rain, as were their souls being washed by Christ.

Saturday, July 11 Hoima: Rev Cannon Nathan Kyamanywa spoke on the Bible. "When you read the Bible, written by human hands, you are reading the mind of God.  No other book speaks with such authority!  It puts us in relationship with God! We grow closer to Him.  It equips us to do His works.  It is our sword.  God's word.  By reading it we are not led astray."

Stephen Kabaseke spoke how, "The Gospel is for all, and we must be compassionate with others. It is difficult to change others when we have not changed, prayer gives us the strength".

The tiny generator held together with baling wire powered a rudimentary sound system into large speakers, which were turned toward town.  People stood listening everywhere, even in the market center itself.  The approximately 250 people who daily attended, were led either to salvation or to a deeper understanding and commitment to Christ.  

We had no way of gauging the impact of what we were doing on the rest of the town.  Only time will tell.

Forrest, Mike, and myself gave other teachings.  Forrest did the last concerning the Holy Spirit.  As he said how Holy Spirit falls on us like the rain, a torrent of rain began pouring down.  

We quickly moved into the church, sang songs, and worshipped the Lord with great joy.  The revival was supposed to be over by 1p.m; it was still going on when we left for home at 8p.m..

Sunday, July 12: Hoima, the whole team split up in three directions to preach and worship on this our first Sunday in Uganda. 

 George went off on the motorcycle for parts unknown with the Dean; the Hesse team went to the Cathedral and the Mobley team to a church in town. 

After the revival and preaching three services, Mike Hesse was on the verge of losing his voice.  We laid hands on him in prayer.

Back to the Revival.  Bennon Tusingwire, gave talk on Resisting Evil.  "We must live in faith, by His Blood. Must read the Bible daily and pray without ceasing, growing in faith by listening to others and fellowshiping in the Kingdom.  Jesus was tempted... Yes, but He said, "No thanks. Man does not live by bread alone."  Jesus defeated Satan by using the word of God. To rebuke evil we need the word of God. Read the Bible!  Find the faith... be saved!  Give up secular things.  Jesus quoted Pslm 119:1-5, rebuke evil, walk in the light." 

I spoke about reading the Bible and how He wants to guide us one step at a time. The clouds became very dark, but parted around our locations.  Just as I mentioned about God speaking to us a loud clap of thunder came.  Everyone laughed.  

George spoke on why we should tell others about Christ.  It began raining hard.  We stayed in the rain until it was too much.  Inside the church, the tin roof made it impossible to do  anything but praise God in song.  

Much ministry was done in all places God sent us.  We were amazed.  Such a hunger for God's healing power. The pain and suffering in so many made us weep, especially for the little ones. 

Many people suffer with illnesses and pains that we think of as simple problems.  They need much in the way of medical attention.

Monday, July 13: Hoima, each week was planned with Monday and Tuesday as rest days. However, we were taken either by walking, on motorcycles, or in pick-up trucks to speak at all manner of hospitals, orphanages, and to primary, secondary, trade, and teacher’s schools. 

Their teachers faced 100 students.  Claudia felt much kinship with  them. 

Not much rest was had as we crammed in fast 3 mile hikes to the post office to mail letters and send faxes. On the way "home" we shopped in the marketplace, creating quite a stir wherever we went; not many visitors stop off at out-of-the-way Hoima.

Everywhere we went many of the children delighted in walking with us or yelling from nearby, "Mazoongo! How are you?"

One of the group would answer, "I’m fine. How are you?"

"I am fine too." The youngsters continued, grinning with big smiles and alert eyes, amazed that a white-man would even answer back.

Occasionally a really astute one  would ask, "How is your life?" 

"I am fine!" We answered.

Of all we came back with, it was the exuberance of the youth that impressed us the most. You could almost see and hear the future of Uganda in those big brown eyes and smiling faces. That made all our struggles seem to disappear, and there were many along the way.

The most difficult problem they had to deal with seemed to be the lack of  running water.  The food was prepared in separate little smoke filled "kitchen" sheds.  

Charcoal fires burned continually as the "ladies-of-the-Church" pounded and cooked using utensils and devices that we would spend great amounts of time peering at in museums in the states. 

There were no stoves or even chimneys to channel the smoke. It boiled out the windows, doors and openings in the roof. 

For about 2,000 shillings or $1.60, you can buy a month’s worth of charcoal for one household. It is made in outlying areas by covering green wood with banana leaves under a smoldering fire for three weeks.

Children, the fortunate ones, ride their bikes after school for great distances to bring the huge five foot charcoal bags home, or struggle with three or four 5-gallon Jerry cans full of water. 

Those less fortunate must walk, but all work. Even little five-year-olds easily walk with a 5-gallon Jerry can full of water perched on their head for miles. Some youngsters struggle carrying two, practically dragging the cans from their short arms.

You cannot shake the hand of an Ugandan and not be awed at the strength and stamina they process. 

Wednesday through Sunday was spent in each of the eight areas the Rt Rev Wilson Turmanya and his staff directed us to go. The churches and parishioners in Kiryandongo, Misindi, Bulindi, Kiziranfumbi, Kyakabadiima, Nyaigana, Kyabaranzi, Kagadi, and Kakumiro, each have different personalities and lie within a 65 mile radius of Hoima. 

Uganda has often suffered from well-meaning missionaries of various descriptions and denominations, rapidly moving about spreading teachings both good and bad. 

While Ugandans are inherently friendly and trusting, the patience of many church leaders runs threadbare when it comes to church renewal. They have heard it before and it caused division. Since we were there at the invitation of their Bishop Wilson, teaching what he asked us to teach, we were able to lead them on the right track. Still, in many  instances we had to overcome a stiff resistance to some of the teachings we were prepared to give. Only when the people saw the love of Christ coming through actions and ministry, and that everything being taught was based on scripture which was given to them at the time, did they warm up.

The average person in Uganda is less than 20 years old. Those more than twenty have horrendous inner as well as outer scars.  They struggle to forget the brutal internal terrors of the last two decades, including the notorious reign of Idi Amin. Life expectancy is 48.  

In the western world a woman’s risk of dying from pregnancy and childbirth is about one in 4,000; in Uganda it is one in 16.  Even with such odds, it was not unusual to pray with a 40-year-old woman about her children of whom she had 20 with only six remaining alive. 

Most, if not all of them,  live with Malaria. They all have the fever, headaches, and stomach aches.  Many because of the practice of hauling heavy objects on their head have neck and back problems. 

Most, if not all, tools have short handles, consequently further back problems develop. Their hands and feet are like granite.  Arthritis seems to prevail.

Most of their children are afraid concerning what they called, "a lack of cleverness."  Each child must pass tests to go further with government support for their schooling.  

Even with government support, families must pay school fees for schooling above a certain level. Such cost often equals to or is greater than their yearly income, making it difficult to send more than one child at a time to school. 

The children have little free time to play with so many chores; it is no wonder most have no toys and those who do must usually make them out of available materials, like the discarded rubber sandal and plastic bag used to make a fine sail boat for a proud youngster. The Anglican Diocese clergy and staff frequently do not receive pay for six months. 

 Each family in Uganda grows food to exist. The clergy is no exception.

Teaching is the apparent occupation of choice with which clergy spouses augment their family income. Teachers make $27 a month, while teaching 100 children, and love it. 

All schools in Uganda operate under the churches, teaching Christianity, if Christian; 70 percent are Christian. 

Orphanages are the same way. Many newer and better equipped Muslim schools and orphanages are being built for the  explicit purposes of conversion.

Immanuel missions committee believes in Paul’s example to never be a burden on anyone, and we practiced this no matter where we went. A 3-man fact-finding team preceded our efforts by four months.  Armed with what they saw and what Bishop Wilson suggested, our teaching/ministry mission, along with its objectives, was formed. Funds were secured to reimburse, augment, and underwrite all expenses created by the mission team and its efforts. In addition, 24 bicycles were given to priests with large areas to cover, and who had no form of transportation. 

Most priests have 30-40 churches, in addition to their normal duties, with Lay-readers to oversee the local churches in their charge.  Many walked 10-15 miles to hire a ride, those who had to pay for transportation to come to the events we presented were reimbursed.  

Substantial donations were also given to both the diocese and archdeaconries, allowing for a much needed two months pay.  Additional funds were given toward needed repairs to the Cathedral.