The Soweto

Yesterday we we went to the slums. They call it the Soweto. This was the first time for all of us, but not the first time for the people we met there.

Our trip there began with a slight delay as there was a strike in the city by the taxi drivers. They were peacefully protesting the cost of petrol...3,650 shillings per litre...the equivalent price in dollars (roughly): $5.50/gallon. There are taxis all over the place with as many as 20 people in each vehicle. Taxis, people walking, bicycles, and motorcycles are everywhere!

We drove through Kampala to the slums, parked, and walked to the Kisugu Church of God built in the midst of extreme poverty. Imagine: open sewers, swarms of people (mostly children), flies, burning trash, dirt, heat, laundry drying on clothes lines, and utter sadness. Most of the people have no shoes. Their clothes are torn, beyond mending. There are few smiles. But God has not forgotten them. We were on a mission!

At the church, we met Pastor Charles, and David - the man in charge of the TAPP ministry in that area. Also along were two other pastors from other Church of God churches, two men from the Congo who could not even speak the language, and a few church members. We waited for all to appear. Divided into groups of 5 or 6 with a mix of all ages and ethnicity. Sang a few songs. Prayed. Then we left to share Jesus with the people in this community, deciding to report back in one hour.

Upon returning to the church some time later, each group shared the many success stories: Many had accepted Christ as their Savior - including the two named Eric and Joseph who are pictured with Katie; many more promising to come to church on Sunday. It was our first, and hopefully not our last, time for door-to-door evangelism and there was great celebration in heaven yesterday (Luke 15:10). The pastor was given these new believers names and contact information so he can make a follow-up contact later. Wow!

Afterwards we walked back through the slums, piled into the van, and departed for the compound. Upon arrival, some women went to the salon to get their hair braided, while the others took showers, then we all ate a delicious dinner of roasted chicken, roasted vegetables, salads, and bread. We had our nighly devotions, lost power twice, killed a flying cockroach, watched Joni play Chinese Jumprope, talked, laughed, and went to bed exhausted.

Another day in Kampala.