Let the Son Shine...

Five days ago, our team, along with Tim, Coleen and Moses, crowded into three vehicles for the journey to the small village of Kasenke, in the district of Mubende. This is our story...

The drive to Kasenke took us past rows of crudely constructed wooden shacks leaning precariously and displaying an assortment of wares along with rusty tin roofed buildings and spindly thatched huts. The man-made world contrasted severely with the untouched and untamed landscape of lush tropical plants.

Children in school uniforms waved excitedly as we passed. Women, almost always in brightly printed dresses or skirts, carried water containers on their heads while men rode bicycles loaded with charcoal and bananas.

Annie, who works with Colleen at the District Office, is from Kasenke and met us in Mubende town where lodging had been arranged for us. The 'villa' had BEDS and RUNNING WATER with FLUSH TOILETS - a big step up from the tents we semi-expected. Even though there was no hot water in our showers, we could fill jugs from a large hot water tank in the middle of the complex. After we got unloaded, we headed for Kasenke.

Turning off the paved road, we bounced over the ruts in the narrow dirt road on the last leg of our journey to the village. As soon as our vehicles came into view, the people began chanting 'we are welcome' as in one united voice and swarming around us. 'Welcome' was pronounced with three syllables - 'welecome'... every day we were greeted in the same manner with the same enthusiasm - how very special we felt! All the children wanted to touch our white skin and soaked up our attention. How humbling it was to have even the tiniest of girls kneeling in respect before us as they held our hand...

Our days were busy - mornings in the village were filled with working on the church, teaching and playing with the children and TAPP visits. TAPP is a Church of God program which gives aid and hope to people diagnosed as HIV+. Afternoons found us divided up again to work on the church, lead the women and meet with the pastors.

It was easy to fall in love with the children. So many beautiful barefoot children of all ages wearing tattered, dirty clothing excitedly joined in the games and activities. We found them all to be attentive and, although their surroundings were very primitive, they learned quickly with the aid of the interpreters.

As we took turns visiting homes of TAPP clients and grandmothers, we experienced a plethora of emotions. We were up close and personal as we sat and visited with them. From a distance, the settings are quietly picturesque, but, as you get closer, they are quickly transformed into pictures of overwhelming poverty. Their houses are crude structures of cane frames packed with mud (some are plastered with dung). Usually a single room with dirt floors houses an entire family. To see the conditions in which they live is heartbreaking, especially knowing their lives are at risk without medications. Most don't have the 20,000 shillings to register for treatment.

Our lunches and dinners were spent up the hill at Pastor Fred's, the superintendent of the district. We ate beneath the sprawling canopy of a tree with battery powered lights hung from the limbs and alternate nights displayed heavenly lights from stars or lightning.

Pastor John and Cheri met with the pastors and discovered a real need for material in their native language - they hunger for more information and training so they can preach God's Word more effectively.

The women responded enthusiasticly to our efforts to engage them in sharing. We found them to be like us in so many ways and bonds of friendship were quickly formed. They seemed pleased that we asked them to demonstrate how to make mats from swamp grass and how to weave table coverings. They're all so outgoing and full of life and love.

We were amazed at the speed with which the 80 tin sheets became a roof! The floor took a little longer as a platform was constructed, rocks were moved and dirt was leveled. The village boys loved to assist with the wheelbarrow in returning it for another load of rocks after it had been emptied onto the church floor. The privilege to man the wheelbarrow was so prized, the men on the team had to good-naturedly manage the queue of over-eager boys. Even the women, many with babies tied on their backs, and smaller children of the village helped shovel and carry bricks. What a blessing to see the procession of our team members intermingled with the villagers as we worked together. Language, culture and skin color became unimportant. Our God is big enough to break down all the barriers.

After the scrim (cloth screen) our church purchased for Tim and Colleen was stretched on a LARGE wooden frame, the Jesus movie enthralled the entire village. The next night, another movie entertained them - the only thing missing was popcorn!

Although a heavy rain shower on the second day delayed pouring the concrete for the floor, the church was otherwise complete and provided the setting for the dedication service. Officials and pastors from neighboring villages had been invited to share the joy. It was a time of singing, dancing, celebrating and exchanging of gifts. Cheri, as our leader, was presented with a male goat which she graciously accepted while others were given chicken. The menagerie was secured on top of the van and, based on the bleating, road uncomfortably all the way to Kampala.

Only intermittent rain showers interrupted our bright, sunny days, but we saw the Son always shining in the faces and lives of those we tearfully left behind in Kasenke.

We came as visitors to the small village - we left as friends.

As we traveled home, there were excited people lining the roads in all the small villages awaiting a peek at the King of the tribe of Buganda. They had worked themselves into quite a frenzy since the King had been expected much earlier. We carefully made our way through the crowds, dodging the oncoming parade of motorcycles and other vehicles preceding the King's personal vehicle. Some of our team actually caught a glimpse of him as he passed. We were all glad to make it safely back to the Stevensons - thanks to our excellent drivers, Tim, Colleen and Moses.

Our story continues tomorrow as we head to our second village...

NOTE TO DEBBIE PAULY FROM LARRY: Wart hog dog is alive and well, but still can't kiss!