To the Village We Go

Two nights ago, we met up we met up with Pastor James and his wife Ida. Our church in Augusta will be partnering with his church in the next few months. Nick and I first rode with them to the "Ministry Office".  Pastor James and his wife also live in this building. The building is less than halfway done. It is common to see half-finished buildings here because funds run out before the whole building is done. Pastor James showed us their calf in a stall behind the house. The mother cow died a few months ago, but the calf survived. They will use the calf for milk. Right now, they use the cow dung for Bio-Gas. The dung goes into a 14' by 7' covered pit in  the ground and is mixed with water underground. The gas that comes from the dung goes in a pipe underground that leads up to a shack behind their house which is attached to a gas stove top. The dung gives them gas which gives them a flame to cook their food over and to heat water. And if that is not being resourceful enough, when the dung is used up for the gas , the leftover dung is used for fertilizer for their garden. They let NOTHING go to waste. He also showed us a stable with their 1 pig. They had 9 pigs two months ago, but the "Swine Fever" killed all but 1.
       After they showed us the future office/ their current home, they took us to a nice hotel where we ate chicken and chips ( french fries). It is rainy season here and it started raining and hailing so hard that we could not hear each other talk . ( Tin roof). After lunch we kept driving towards the village.
      Up to this point we had driven about 2 hours outside of the city. We then drove over 1 and half more hours into the middle of the hills far away to Pastor James' home village, where he is Pastor and the director of a Vocational School he started a few years ago. As we drove into the village, we passed houses of all kinds-- ones made of mud with thatch roofs, ones made of scrap wood, ones made of scrap metal. Everyone in the village lives off of small plots of land. Not small plots because there is not enough land, but they live off of small areas because they are farming with their hands- the only farm equipment is a hoe.  No tractors, no machines, no watering systems. They farm enough for their family and enough to sell to make a living. If it is a bad season, they will suffer. There will be no food and no income.
      When we arrived at the school, dozens of children, teenagers, and all of the adults involved in the school were dancing, shouting, and playing drums with all of their hearts. Pastor James said, " Get out of the car. Go to them". I didn't realize for a few minutes that the celebration was for us. It was a welcome greeting and celebration for the "Mzungus"-- white people. The whole school and children from the village had come to rejoice in our arrival. As we got out of the car, Pastor James started walking through a gate into the school's courtyard. Nick and I followed , and the celebration followed us. Everyone surrounded us still singing, dancing, and definitely staring as we walked. When Pastor James stopped in the courtyard a boy ran up to us with two chairs and made us sit down. Then several students ( and one teacher) sang us a song in English that they had written for us. I will never forget that moment.
      Before we went to bed, Nick and I stayed up for a while talking to Pastor James and the Principal, Matthew for a couple of hours. We learned of how the school, and a clinic, and the church came about. The school was created for the village kids who cannot afford to attend school, dropouts, and orphans. He says the school is a second chance for them. The children go to his school for 2 to 3 years and learn a trade such as carpentry, tailoring, brick laying, motor vehicle , and cement. The teachers practically work on a volunteer basis. Principal Matthew is the highest payed position at 200,000 shillings a month (Around $70.00 a month). He has 6 children and a wife and is trying to finish school himself.
     Several years ago, Pastor James went off to seminary in the UK for three years and then moved back to serve his village and minister to his people.
      He has also started a clinic . It consists of one Ugandan Aid as the staff of the clinic. The closest hospital is 6 miles from the village. It is way too far on foot if there is an emergency. They are in desperate need of education on health care and medical staff in the village.
      The next morning ( yesterday morning), Nick and I were told we needed to share a greeting. We had no idea what to do, but he said just to tell about ourselves, and give encouraging words. So at 8am yesterday, Nick and I gave greetings from our home, our family, and our church to the school. Nick taught a boy to play a cadence on their drums with sticks, and I learned how to do a traditional village dance with a grass skirt! Out of our comfort zone? Yes. Enjoying every moment? Definitely.
     We left at noon yesterday to head back to Dale and Karen's house. Because of the rain, the dirt roads, and the many trucks that got stuck in the mud and blocked the road multiple times, our 3 hour journey home took 8 hours. But we made it. It was an experience we will never forget! Beautiful people, beautiful land and many wonderful memories.
      We are so excited to see what God has planned for our partnership with Pastor James and his village!