July 20th

After a yummy breakfast (Ugandan French toast with banana), we waited for Pastor Godfrey to pick us up. He was in charge of driving us around today. We do not drive for a few reasons. One, it is a little different driving on the left side. Two, the drivers here are CrAzY!!! They just cut each other off, get within inches of each other, and have to watch out for the even crazier Boda Boda drivers. The parking spaces are very very tight, and I have decided that it is a good thing that Ugandans are generally thin because otherwise they couldn’t get out of their cars. Plus, road signage is not stellar, so you really have to know where you are going.

Our first stop was to an organization that Asher found called “Bead for Life.” However, it took a bit of patience for the trip there. Pastor Godfrey had to call William with Bead for Life many times, we made many U-turns, and as it turns out, we had to hire a Boda Boda to show us the way. Pastor Godfrey was so calm and even-tempered the whole time. Not once did he show frustration. I hope to live by that example in my day to day life. I know Jason will appreciate that!!

This organization has a mentor program for impoverished women. The women not only make the beads, but are trained in the aspects of business, from bookkeeping to marketing and more. The program is very inclusive for these women to re-enter the world equipped to own their own business, not necessarily with beads. They even have a mandatory savings program for the women so that they have start up capital for their new business adventures. Even after leaving the “Bead for Life” house, the women are mentored. It was a neat program.

Since the selling of the beads has been successful above and beyond just the cost of the program, the organization has started other programs, including a vocational education program, in which they hand pick kids off the street to train in skills like accounting, catering, health, business, life skills, and more. This training is completely paid for by the bead sales, so it gives these kids a chance to better their lives. You could tell they really try to get these kids jobs after training is complete. They said that catering is their most successful program because nearly all graduates are employed in the industry.

Another program that was pretty neat was their efforts to help women in Northern Uganda. They have a program in Lira in which they pay women to collect Shae nuts for a profit. These Shae nuts are then made into Shae Butter and Lemongrass soap. The whole complex smelled wonderful with this aromatic scent. Supposedly, East African Shae Butter is different than what we most get in stores in the United States. It melts at body temperature, making it a perfect moisturizer with no additives, whereas West African Shae takes many other ingredients making it feel waxy. It seemed like a neat process. We got to see them making the soap, forming it, and even cutting the lemongrass with a papercutter. It was a super high-tech process… not so much.

Our next stop was the Game store. Game is semi-equivalent to a clean Wal-Mart back home. They have groceries, home goods, tools, you name it. Here, we got the 5 gallon water jugs for clean water and some other miscellaneous things. Then, we walked over to get some money exchanged. To give you some idea, the exchange rate is 2220 shillings per U.S. Dollar. When they say prices of things, it sounds REALLY high!

I learned on our drive today the origin of the name Boda Boda, which are the motorcycle taxi things. They used to be used to travel between Kenya and Uganda to get products from the sea. These motorcycles were economical and easy to get to back roads. They traveled from border to border. Now, say border border with a thick accent really fast. Does it sound like Boda Boda? There ya go!

We then went by the Grand Imperial hotel. This is where we will be hosting the prayer conference next Tuesday. As it turns out, it is a great thing we went because they had not set up our reservation. They had free space, so we were able to book the date and give our deposit. This was one of those moments when shillings sounded scary… one million and what??

Then, we went to eat lunch. We asked Pastor Godfrey to choose any place he would like, and he chose this little fast food looking food court. The food was actually made to order, but it was a little funny that this was his choice. We all three had chicken burgers and chips, which translates to a crispy chicken sandwich and french fries. It was pretty good…

At lunch, we really got to talk to Pastor Godfrey a lot. He has 5 children with one on the way! Wow! He grew up under the care of his step mother because his mother left him when he was young. His step mother would constantly tell him that he was not her son. His father, who traveled often between his wives, would believe the step mother when she told how he didn’t do chores and was not doing his school work, even though he was. Mom… Dad… thank you! Thank you for giving me a beautiful and healthy home to grow up in.

He was also telling me that he was going to turn me into a Ugandan because I was picking up on the language very well. Here’s some for you guys:

Oli otya nno? Means How are you?
Yesu a kwagala means Jesus loves you.
Mzungu means white person

For the most part, everyone we have encountered speaks English though, so this language learning is mostly just for fun.

We also got to hear a little about how Christian Life Church was started and its growth since then. I knew most of this, but it was neat hearing another perspective. Pastor Godfrey joined the CLC team three months after formation. He said that Pastor Jackson would say, “build an addition,” and the public would gawk and say, “how are you ever going to fill it?” Pastor Jackson would say, “If we build it, God will fill it.” He was right, addition after addition. He wanted to purchase a stadium for all of his followers, but when the government shut that idea down, he decided to grow his church more by adding new locations in different neighborhoods, which he called fellowships. The pastors of these fellowships are given a verse and theme to talk on so that the church as a whole stays together, but the people do not have to fight Kampala traffic and risk not even having a seat in the church to get that message. The dream is still alive for a stadium structure, but while funds are raised and plans are made, they continue to grow the church with fellowship locations.

We then headed to the craft market. This was fun. We bought some gifts and other things that we needed. You barter with the sales personnel and get the best price, but really it was fun just to talk to them. They were all very friendly and courteous. I can’t wait to go back with the team and do some souvenir shopping. There is a shirt that says “Mzungu” and I kinda want it. I would get arrested or at least scowled at for a “white pride” shirt, but I’m sure I could get away with Mzungu… not that I am wanting to be stereotyped as what people usually think of when you say “white pride” because I love all people. But I am proud of who I am, just like I feel every other person should be proud of who they are. Savvy?

We visited two markets in all. They were both different and good.

On the drive back to the hotel, Asher was taking photos out of the window. He took a photo of a police vehicle. Apparently, this was not appreciated because we got pulled over. The police men were mostly being jerks, and it ended with a 10,000 shillings bribe to get them to let us go. What a joke. Asher calls moments like these, “Cultural Experiences.” Glad we got that one over with… You could tell it made Pastor Godfrey upset. He talked and talked about it. He didn’t say one mean thing, but you knew it was on his mind.

All in all, it was great to get to know Pastor Godfrey. He is a very neat man, and I am glad to have met him.

We ate dinner and got to work. Although we tried to get online, the service here is hit or miss. Tonight, apparently, it was a miss. Bummer, eh?

I am pooped. Isn’t it funny how shopping can do that to you??

Oh, and Jana, is 120 necklaces enough? I can see you jumping up and down in your empty office now.

I miss all of you guys!