Travel First days

Day 1 trip 2

I had Tameray drive me to the airport. Once again to journey, Once again travel, what I do to do what I do I am going to Africa, I do not have much planned but have a loose idea of what I would like to accomplish.

I traveled first from Nashville to Atlanta and then from Atlanta to Paris. On the way I thought I’ll have a glass of wine. Then a second. I do not know if it was the malaria medicine or the pressure in the cabin but I got very light headed, Then very hot and cold sweets. I when to the back and literally fell over on a couple seats. The cabin crew brought me to the back and laid me down with my feet up and gave me some ice for my head. Once I felt better I went back to my seat. This happened 3 times on the 9 hour flight. On the third time to the back I threw up and felt much better. I was not able to sleep but at least I was not terribly sick. In Paris I checked into the Flight for Africa and they asked if I was alright. They sent me to the medic and I had to get a clearance to get on the Plane for Entebbe. It was a long and interesting flight to Africa. I was next to the soundman for a Ugandan group call the Elephant Man. He had been on tour in Europe and was returning home. Of course he was in First class but his crew was in coach. Haha. We arrived 1.5 hours late to Nairobi. I had told George and Kathy that I would meet them in Kenya but only got to pass them briefly on the plane. Kathy had been worried about me but George said that “Art can take care of Art” This of course is true. I do tend to find myself in situations but am very creative on the ways I recover. We fly to Entebbe and I sat by a young Indian man who works for a NGO that does water wells in remote areas. Once in the airport I stood by the baggage carousel for about 15 minutes before it became apparent that my bags had not made it. They would not arrive till the next day. I met Andrew the Director of Desana in Uganda and off we went to Kampala. I tried to call Rebecca because I believed I was staying with her, well not WITH her but I the boys house, geesh, but her number was not working. Michael was going to pick me up at the Sheraton but I was going to call her when I got to Uganda and tell him to leave. After not being able to reach them I was asked by Andrew if I would like to spend the night with him. Michael it turned out had been at the Sheraton and after I did not arrive the hotel asked him to move his car to the parking garage. That is when we showed up so we missed each other but like 15 minutes. He ended staying there all night and we met for breakfast and place called 1000 cups of coffee. Man I forgot how good fresh Ugandan Coffee is. I felt terrible about not meeting him. Rebecca felt terrible about not giving me Michaels number and Michael I think felt horrible missing a night of sleep.

The next morning George and I were going to go up to Shegonda and see the work that Desansa had done up there. They had built the best building in the Marumbe province. They call it the Whitey House like Obama lives in. Well not exactly. We met John and Emma. They had set up a VIP meeting for us. Remember me in a tee shirt and 50 hours in the same clothes with no bath.  They had the representative from the King of Luganda, and the magistrate from the Provence. Also about 6 VIPs from the district, board of Education, and city government.  If that was not bad enough they asked us to a speech day. We wanted to meet the Chief Medical Official because we may had an in for some equipment to be donated. Of course today it would be in front of 3000 people and they asked George to speak. May be a good thing I had on a tee shirt. We then went to Mobende Hospital and had a tour. I imminently remembered the smell of death. Babies and mothers on cold unwashed concret floors. burns, AIDS, TB, broken bones.I coulndn’t take pictures. Not that I was not allowed. I wouldn’t show the dentist’s chair. blood and mud cover the exposed filling were the vinyl had torn away years ago. We then went to a clinic where things were much better, except for the 200 people waiting for their turn to be seen by the 1 doctor that day. Some days there is no Doctor, but still hundreds show up. Then back to Kampala, Now my clothers had shown up and I called Michael again and invited him and Rebecca to dinner. They were both very tired. After I had put them through a lot. I stayed again at Michael s and this time there was power. 

Well long enough to take a shower and wash off 3 days of travel.  

Day 4 Trip 2

This is going to be so hard to write. As I looked out at the 2000 faces here. Most in utter poverty.  I am awash with so many emotions. Mostly just astounded by His great love for all His people. That he loves every one of these. I will never know most of these kids. I will never know their Mothers, Their Dads, Their Teachers. Their friends. But I do know their God. I am so totally broken and weary I cannot believe. I  is everything I can do to keep it together.

I am at Royal Hope Academy. A part of Rebecca Sorensen’s, My Fathers House International. I was picked up finally, by Michael this morning, We drove over unbelievably bad and dangerous road to the Boys house. Rebecca said it was up to me if I even came because there were holding a “speech day” I did not know what that was but I thought I may be another pair of hands to help. I did not know what I could do but I would do my best. I dropped off a bag of stuff, Said hello to Rebecca and we went to the school. The one I had helped build. I was amazing. Finished, painted blue. I was over whelmed at the beauty of is. The simplicity I had no idea of what was to come. I walked into the room that I had built. On the desks were the drums for the program, Really in the room I built, drums? Sometimes God just hits you over the head.  Michael put me to work with Martin and Chris, both boys who live at the orphanage Older kids. We set up the system. I described why it was best to do it that way. Martin runs the sound at the church he boys attend and was the one assigned to hook everything up. I know I was able to help. Next Chris had me build a Christmas tree. I told him only God can make a tree but I’d try. It was fun.  Then came the lights and the ability every road guys gets with untangling cables came into play again. Hooking up the generator, bare wire into 240 volts held with a stick. Oh Africa…

Then the program started. Kids from the school, 400 of them, with the siblings, parents, grandparents. Everyone wanted education. So many people. I looked at the room that I had built the walls. I remember taking pictures of Halie as she was rolled around in a wheel barrel. I remember Jarrod and Jason hamming on the walls Amanda wondering if she was making any difference digging a hole in the middle of the bare floor. I wish she could see the concert floor now. Where so many bare feet and mist matched sandals come every day for a education just as they do all over the world.  I remembered Joseph the builder, the carpenter, when I had scrapped my arm on a board telling me I had to go to the clinic.

“It is bleeding” he said.

“It is only a scrap” I replied.

“People in Uganda die from a scrap.” He shot back so seriously.

I thought as I sat behind the board, my blood is in this building. My DNA was on a board or a nail somewhere here. Then I remembered His blood was poured out for the world. The connection I had with the place was just a fraction of His to this world. There are 7 billion people on the planet, 28 on our team. 7 of which worked on this building. And here I was. One. Me. Watching 400 children graduate a year after I had been there, working sound, teaching audio. Completely overwhelmed but the fact all I did was say yes. Yes I would go. Yes I would face my fear. Yes I would pay a price. Yes I would sacrifice, Yes I would share the only gift I had to give. Knowing now, finally, I had a place, a purpose, A reason. Value. They all thanked me so much for coming, So much for caring. I was so speechless.

Does every Missionary have these moments with God? Why didn’t any one ever tell me just how wonderful it is. How humbling, how astounding.

Now I know it is nothing compared to what Michael and Rebecca and the teachers, cooks, facility do every day. Oh Lord, and these beautiful, beautiful children. Please bless their futures. I can never thank Him enough for letting me witness this day. Can I describe the amazing food? Cooked special for this day. The friendships I have made. Chris, Martin, Isaac, Nelson, Oh Phobe Sozi was the special guest. I woman I met with her husband Peter last year in Rakai. I was able to show her the pictures of Eddie and send a message to him and her daughter Pearl who was a singer and dreamed of recording some day for the Lord. I wonder if I am going to have any part of that.  Stay tuned.