Saturday Morning in Jinja

Spent a lovely evening at the restaurant at the Hotel Triangle last night! We always eat there one night during our stay. Pastor Charles Bameka, that we work with, believes it is the BEST tilapia (whole) that you can find. Jeannette and Pat definitely polished theirs off last night - I believe the eyes were the only thing left. Carrie and others had the fillets; she tried to convince us all that the batter was almost like Long John Silver's!!

We went from the hotel to the village of Busabira yesterday morning. They have a great school there and the local congregation uses their school for church services. Very precious kids. We also got to have a snack of roasted maize and passion fruit juice - provided by Charles' mother, Jane.

Next we headed to Bufula, the village Hope Lutheran is partnering with. Immediately after we arrived, Tim had the pleasure (?) of helping slaughter a goat that had been given to him the day before by the village leader. The meat was to be given to the children - a very special treat. We had the good pleasure of getting to enjoy some fried goat ourselves later in the day. We definitely knew it was fresh!!

The women made bracelets with the women while Pastor Chuck taught the kids about the Apostle's Creed. Next we got to enjoy tea made by a local Muslim woman that we have visited with on all of our visits here. Let me just say that this form of tea was recently "harvested" cow's milk, boiled with some kind of leaf. Carrie, always the optimist, tried to convince us it was a hint of cinnamon. I wasn't seeing it.

Next we made tissue paper flowers with some of the older kids and the women (and a few men.) The younger kids were all given a "Jesus Loves Me" bracelet. We had our snack of fried goat and enjoyed a precious program put on by the kids. Great renditions of "Blessed Assurance" and "Above All".

Chuck had a brainstorm for our annual Christmas card picture that involved spelling out Merry Christmas with bricks. What he didnt' realize is that I would ask him to stand on top of the bus to take the pictures! After the color returned to his face, we got the bus into position and climbed to the top. The looks on the faces of the people in Bufula were priceless! It was great fun getting the kids all arranged around the letters. The results are amazing!

After we left, we stopped back by the Source Cafe in Jinja for a bite - grilled cheese, chips with guacamole, etc. It was an exhausting but rewarding day.

Today, we are off to visit with the people of Naigbya and Kawete - villages sponsored by Mike Schaser and friends, and Rudy and Dorothy Schaser. A school is being built in Kawete with funds donated by the good people of CCLS in Kirkwood. I'm excited to see the progress!

I won't be able to update again until Monday. Tomorrow we will worship in Nakabango and present some gifts. We also are hoping to have a feast for the kids, men and women. Should be an amazing weekend! Please continue to pray! God's hand is surely on this trip!