Break

     Well I am sitting here at the end of the break that we have had here at ABIDE. Some days were a bit boring, but other days were busy and quite a bit of fun. So what all happened you might ask? Well a bunch has happened and very little has happened.

     For me the first few days of the break were spent recovering from a mission that we went on the weekend prior to the break. It was a four day mission out to the western part of Uganda up in the hill country. Very exhausting because most our days started around 6-7am and then usually finished after 12am. So the first few days of break were spent putting away things that I had taken on the outreach, sleeping, and very much enjoying the quiet. As well it was also the time to iron out a few details for something else that I had coming up.

     Well the fun thing that I happen to be referring to would be a safari that me and Chris (AIM short termer out from the UK) went on. We left the Mbarara area around 6:30am for  the 1.5-2hour drive up to the park. I found it cool getting to see some tea plantations on the drive up, mainly because it was different from what I had expected. Mostly because normally tea plants are chest high or taller, but the plants that I saw were quite short (I would say waist high at most). Just one of those odd things that I happen to observe sometimes. Once we arrived at the park we drove around for a few hours getting to see some interesting animals. Within the first couple hours or so we got to see Lions, Cape Buffalo, Waterbucks, Elephants, Monkeys, and bunches of different animals and birds. There were some definite highlights from the Safari and boat ride that we did. One highlight getting to see a Monitor Lizard up close and being able to get some pictures of it. Then right after lunch getting to go and be around a group of mongooses (as in they were sniffing around our feet, and one started pulling on my shoelace). For me though I was happy that I got to see a two crocodiles, they weren't that big (about 4-5ft) but it was still cool getting to see them.

     That night me and Chris stayed at Kingfisher Lodge. While not a really big place, it easily has one of the best views of the park. It sits on a hill side and give you a view of the valley were the park sits. The stay there though was great, buffets for both lunch and breakfast, and then (for me a big thing) hot water for a shower. The next day (Monday) was a team day for AIM up at Kingfisher, it was a chance for the whole team to relax and just enjoy ourselves. There was lots of swimming, lots of splashing, and lots of jumping into the pool. Everyone had a great time despite a few of us getting sun burns.

     Other than that though the break has not been nearly as busy in regards to traveling. The rest of the time has been spent in the Mbarara area. Sometimes spending the whole day at ABIDE, other days getting together with friends, and then some days just all over the place. Haven't done anything super amazing or interesting. Why? Well often that costs a lot of money, and a lot of times the weather wouldn't allow it. (It is currently rainy season here)

     I know this update was kinda rambling and all over the place. Sorry about that in advance cause it is just one of those days right now. There are only a few more days of the break left which they will be pretty much nothing but meetings.

     Things that are coming up that need prayer:

   Both houses will be combined together next week down in Kabale. Things are going to be a bit cramped down there with there being around 30 people there.

 

Patience for me, there are some things I have been dealing with which have worn my patience kinda thin recently. (Some is cultural, some is more of a personality thing)

I am a Disciple

This is something that I might do every once in a while as I find good (longer length) quotes. This is one that I ran across a long time ago but it is still really good. Hope that yall enjoy it

  "I am a Disciple"

The die has been cast, I’ve stepped over the line; the decision has been made;
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded . I now live by faith, love by patience, live by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set; my gait is fast; my goal is the heaven. My road is narrow;
My way is rough; my companions few; my Guide reliable; my mission clear!
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, I will not hesitate in the presence of adversity; I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, nor meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I will not give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I have prayed up, preached up, stored up, and stayed up the cause of Jesus Christ!
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I must go until He returns; give until I drop;
preach until all know; and work until He comes.
And when He comes to get His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me;
My colors are flying high, and they are clear for all to see              

(Exact version taken from the Sermon "It Will Cost You Everything" by Steve Lawson)

I hope that yall have a good week and if there are any questions  feel free to send me an email. Beardedmissions@gmail.com God bless

Kampala Visit: Mar 15th-18th

     Well this has been a long overdue update, that much is for sure. I don't even have much of an excuse as to why I haven't done this other then I just didn't get around to typing it. I even had a lot of it written down so I could type it, I guess I could blame it on the break. That will come in another update though which I will do later. With out further stalling though I will just jump right in, and talk about what this whole thing is about. My weekend trip to Kampala

     Well as the last sentence says, I went for a weekend trip up to Kampala. The trip was part business, part pleasure, and part humor the unique blend of curiosity and adventurousness that I naturally have. (the first time I was in Kampala was very much a whirlwind half day spent going all over the city) While up there my base of operations was the AIM guesthouse, Matoke Inn. Though it is located a little ways from downtown Kampala I like it a lot. It is conveniently located near the Kampala-Entebbe Road, which makes it easy for getting to the downtown area. It also means that it is quieter then staying closer to or in the city (quiet is always nice especially since it is something I rarely ever get at ABIDE just because of the number of people here at the Juna Amagara compound.

     One of the reasons I was in Kampala was some business I had to attend to at the AIM offices. The very fact that I was taking care of this business was a definite answer to prayer. Other then the fact that it was the will of God there was no reason for me to even be in the position to take care of this. I know it probably seems like I am drawing this out just a little, well to be honest it makes it more dramatic that way. With out drawing it out (to much) more the business I had to attend to was...........*Drumroll*......... was paying for my Ugandan work permit. This might not seem like a lot but there have been quite a few recent hurdles facing an AIM personnel seeking to get work permits here. It is not the easiest to explain but a very short explanation is that we (Aim) was experiencing trouble in getting permission from one government for another to issue us work permits. That I know of there are still those even in the South-west Uganda team (the team I am part of) who last I heard had not gotten their work permits. So needless to say that when I found out I had gotten mine it definitely came as a little bit of a shock.

    Really those last to parts just sorta fit together, kinda like a dovetail on a box. The reason why is that one way I relax is to explore, which is something I did. First bit of the exploring was going over to the American Recreation Association (ARA), I know doesn't sound like much. Once a month though they have a flea market, which happened to be on the Saturday I was up there. I heard that it can be hit or miss as to whether you will find anything worth while, I was more then happy to find a few nice craft booths set up. (which you have to pay to get in the flea market, but it is only 2,000 UGX or about $.75) After wandering around there for a bit, and spending a good bit of money I decided to walk over to Freedom city (the Ugandan version of a mall). It was a goodly 3km-4km over there from the ARA but it wasn't bad cause it was only around 11am. (so not quite as hot as afternoon) I wandered around there, and spent a good amount of time exploring the supermarket there. (I know weird but in a way it just kinda seemed much bigger then the Nakumatt here so I just wandered for a while) This also spent a good amount of time looking over their tea, coffee, and spice collection. One find from there that definitely made it worth while was finding a good lemongrass tea. (It coast 5300 UGX for a 250g bag, over about $2.04 for a half pound bag) I then spent a little more time wondering around in the "mall" then went to a fast food place there. (literally the only one I remember seeing in the entire country). On Sunday I went over to a place called Mish Mash, really not the easiest place to describe. Just think an art exhibit, a restaurant, live cultural exhibits, and a few other odd things all rolled in to one place. That will give you something of an idea of Mish Mash, from went to run an errand in another part of town. Then later on I went to garden city (another "mall"), and decide to explore the supermarket they had there. Do you kinda see a theme developing here?

     Well there is a summery of most the things I did up in Kampala. Really a lot of it was just a chance to get away and unwind after about two months of being at ABIDE. It was much needed because the first few months were pretty hard. It was kinda a smooth initial transition considering I was very quickly thrown in the middle of a completely different culture. Really most the difficulties set in for me once the houses split (prior to the split my roommate was another american, after though it was a national). This made it hard because if some certain cultural thing was bugging me on a particular day, I got little break from it. It is just hard to explain but there is just something about being around those that are either from the same country or just think fairly similarly (Canadians, and Brits). A lot of this is just hard to explain or understand unless you have been there. (which I know some might look down on sentiments like those I expressed and those who say them. All I can say to that is that if there are thing back home that sometimes bother you, then there are typically similar things other places that will. Yes, you just go with the flow but doesn't mean things wont try and get under you skin. It is just part of life and being sinful people, things will bother us no matter were we are in the world)