Phone and Internet but not Communication

At times I wonder at the ways technology affects our lives. We have the ability to communicate nearly instantaneously, yet little is truly communicated. Living in Uganda where mobile phones and internet were practically dropped into the middle of their lives, I have noticed that people do not often use these tools to communicate changes in plans. Yesterday I accompanied Rev. Jacob to a home prayer fellowship. When we arrived the house was closed tight, but a young woman finally came from the back to tell us that the homeowner was sick and had gone to the clinic. Therefore the fellowship was cancelled! But no one had notified the church office of this and so we arrived to learn of this in person. This also happened last week when I accompanied the lay reader to another home and found no one there. When someone is late, they just come late. There is no need to notify people of that change. As you might imagine, this has been one of my struggles with life in Uganda. But in their worldview, the concept of time is so different. They are more concerned with what is happening with them in the present time knowing that they will eventually get to the next event - even if it's hours late. They know it's time for dinner when dinner is ready! And what is more amazing to me is that there is rarely any sense of stress over the delay - something I could learn much more about.

At the same time, in a culture where 10 years ago few people had phones, and where phones are now not just in each home, but in the hands of every man, woman and teenager, personal conversations and even meetings are stopped when the phone rings. I have been in shops making a purchase and had to wait while the shopkeeper received a phone call from home. People leading meetings take phone calls in the middle of their speech. And ... if you don't take a call, people are annoyed!

Thank God for technology, but may we learn to use it respectfully.

Blessings on your day.

Weddings and Baptisms

St Peter's Cathedral - Hoima

My time of internship at St. Peter's Cathedral has been very exciting. The Dean and vicar have involved me in a number of activities - including wedding services and baptisms. What is really amazing, is that I am reading my parts in Runyoro! I've also read the scripture lessons in English and Runyoro at the Sunday services. People are amazed at how well I read their language - it seems most of them cannot read the language they speak as it is not taught in school.

There are also home services three times a week, and I've participated in those as well. Yesterday, I accompanied the Dean of the Cathedral, Very Rev. Canon Martin Nangera to a service at the home of a former Head of Laity. A day in the life of a parish priest can be quite hectic.

The days leading to Christmas here are fairly quiet. We are observing Advent in the church - thankful for the opportunity to rejoice in Christ's first coming and to continue in the hope of His second coming.

A sad update to an earlier posting - I learned that the thief who had been rescued from the mob by the police returned to the next village the next morning and was killed. Mob justice is unfortunately an acceptable way of some people here when dealing with the perceived lack of justice in the land - even for those who call themselves Christian. Pray for the light of Christ to shine in these dark places.

Blessings on your day.

Preaching and Gunshots

Yesterday evening I was asked to share the word at a home fellowship near All Saints Parish in Hoima. About 20 adults and 10 children were present. As I was concluding a message about Jonah's second chance to obey God, 8-10 gunshots rang out. About half the group got up to go see what was happening and of course I stopped speaking. I asked Rev. Gad, who was translating, if those were gunshots and he nodded.  A few minutes later, people began to return to their seats, and we resumed the service. It was the presence of the Spirit that enabled me to finish! 

We later learned that a thief had been caught and the police arrived in time to prevent mob justice by firing shots into the air to disperse the crowd. There were no casualties.

The next part of the evening's adventure occurred when leaving the fellowship. At the end of the service a torrential rain began which left areas flooded, including where I had parked the vehicle. Since there was about 8 inches of water, I couldn't see that there was a mound of construction material and proceeded to step and then slide on the rocks. I fell into the water, but protected my Bible! Unfortunately, my body didn't fare so well. Today I am limping and my neck and shoulders are very sore. Prayer, rest, ibuprofen and some pain relieving rub should get me back in shape in a few days.

Life is never boring.

Blessings on your day.

Visiting Joyce and others

What a delightful woman. A retired nurse probably in her late 70s or 80s, tiny in stature. Joy bubbles through her very being though she is confined to her chair. I had the privilege of praying with her. She is responsible for her son's children and uses her small pension to pay for their school fees. This visit was part of my training. I accompanied Reverend Gad to visit elderly and infirm people from the church. In the course of our visits we met and prayed with a woman who told us her step-mother had just died. Then we visited another woman who is caring for her great grand children. She has a small shop that sells a few items. As we were there, another woman who attends the church asked if we would pray for her - she asked for prayer for her family and especially for her business. The woman in the next shop also requested for prayer and there we learned that her young daughter has been falling, but the doctors have not been able to determine a cause. So we prayed with them as well. I hope to visit the older women again.

Today I learned that Reverend James had been called back from his training because his wife had been admitted to the hospital. Along with some students from the Diocesan Training College, I visited Elizabeth and prayed with them.

What a gift God has given us to be part of His healing ministry through visits and prayer.

Blessings on your day.

Traffic Police

There is an interesting and somewhat challenging situation here with regard to traffic safety. Most of those charged with enforcing the traffic laws do not themselves know how to drive a car. So keep this in mind as you read this encounter with a traffic policewoman.

As I exited the bypass I slowly continued a short distance before finding a place to merge with the traffic. As I did so, a traffic policeman waved me back out of the line. I sat waiting for someone to come to the window expecting that they wanted to check my insurance and driving permit. I watched two policewomen who were talking with one another, unaware that I had stopped. When one woman came to the window, after the customary greetings she asked "Were you pulled over?" I told her that it seemed that was what the man had indicated. Then she said here in Uganda it is a traffic offense to drive on the shoulder. Then she told me I needed to proceed to the local police station. And when I agreed to do so, but indicated that I had no idea where it was, she then said "So, what do we do?" She pointed the vehicle behind me and said, "See, your friend has been arrested." As I continued to be agreeable she then said we are giving you the express penalty of 40,000 shillings. I told her ok - if that's the penalty I'll pay it. She then said again "So what do we do?" I asked her if she could write the penalty form at the vehicle and I would then pay for it at the bank - which is the normal procedure. She continued to delay, hoping for what is often called "tea" or money. Finally, after a discussion with the other woman and the man, she said, "We have forgiven you, you can go and returned my driving permit."

In order to fully understand the dark humor, one must drive in Uganda to see how often taxis, motorcycles, and other vehicles drive without any one stopping them on true shoulders, while these 3 were positioned at a place without a clear marking of a shoulder stopping motorists in the hope of getting some extra income. And here I was nearly "arrested" for such an offense. Lord have mercy.

Blessings on your day!

Sorry to delay you

Yet another encounter with Ugandan medical care - I came to Kampala on Monday to consult with Dr. Omara, the doctor who treated me in Mulago last July. Monica and Patricia were with me and we had to wait for their lab results and follow up meeting with the Dr. As we got into the car to leave, Dr. Omara came out of the door of the building (not just the door of his office) and came to the door of the vehicle to talk with me. He apologized profusely for the delay. I was nearly speechless, for even in the US, one expects the possibility that things will run late, and certainly would not expect the doctor to leave his office to apologize for the delay!

Another interesting point of contrast is that Monica was given a prescription for a syrup which was unfamiliar to me. I asked her if she knew what it was for? Her response was, I don't know, I'm not the doctor! So I took advantage of having Dr. Omara at the window to ask him what the prescription was for. He very patiently explained to us what its purpose was.

Actually, Dr. Omara is rarity in my experience with medical care in Uganda - he takes time to listen. But then I have to remind myself that I can pay for treatment, and that those Drs who care for those who can't afford medical care are overwhelmed with patients.

Blessings on your day

The Bible study leader can't come. Can you ...?

As I've said before, life in Uganda can be very interesting. Monday when I arrived for Bible study Rev. Gad contacted the leader for the day and found that she was unable to come. There is no planned text, so Rev. Gad asked if I had a text we could study! God brought to mind Jesus walking on water so we went through Matthew 14:23-33. As the members speak Runyoro and I speak English, Gad translated questions for the members and answers for me. It was quite an evening looking at those things in our lives that keep us in the boat like the 11 disciples instead of stepping out to Jesus as Peter did. Sometimes even the most negative attitudes and experiences can keep us from the fullness of life that Jesus promises those who will trust Him. As John Ortberg titled one of my favorite books: "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat."

Blessings on your day.