We're in Kampala!

Follow Nancy Harbron & Jana Treadway on a NCCOC Global Missions trip to Africa!

11/22/11 DAY 12: Kampala, Uganda

Hey Everyone,

I finally have access to the internet! It's been a while since I've written so there's no way I can catch you up on everything. But, I will try to share some key things with you.

We had a wonderful trip to Uganda last Wed. The smoothest small plane flight in Africa I've ever had! We unexpectedly flew through Bujumbura, Burundi so we got to fly over Lake Taganyika in Burundi and over Lake Victoria on the approach to Kampala.

The Queen Elizabeth Game Park was an amazing testimony to God's creation! I was overwhelmed by all the awesome animals we were able to see. James Okello, the preacher for the Kampala Church of Christ, and Rebecah, who operates the cafe at the church, accompanied us along with Andrew Lwere, who most of you met when he visited North Central a few years ago. His fiance, Kimberly, an American missionary from the Mbale team also was on the trip. The six of us plus our driver, Jovida, had a wonderful time going around the game park. We were in a van whose top opened so we could stand up and look out. We also took a boat ride on the channel between Lake Edward and Lake George in the game park. The highlight was definitely seeing a group of lions- 4 females and 3 cubs. We were able to follow them for about an hour and saw three chases of warthogs and cob, a type of antelope. We also saw a lot of elephants, hippos, tons of birds (including the Uganda national bird- the Crested Crane), a leopard (which is very rare to see), lots of different types of deer/antelope, Cape buffaloes, Colobus monkeys, baboons, and I can't even remember what else. If any of you have been to one of those drive through animal places like the Wilds, near Cincinnati, then you have a small taste of what it was like. It was so amazing to see all of these animals up close. The last night we were there, we came upon a lone female lion hunting and 2 young male lions. They got a little too close for comfort as we all dived back down into the van and tried to close the roof quickly!

Sunday morning worship at the Kampala Church of Christ was wonderful. We were able to attend both the Luganda and English services. We were warmly greeted by everyone here and all of the Christians send their warmest greetings to North Central. Everyone here knows Nancy AND loves Nancy! She did her God, the Master Potter Presentation as a part of the English service. People were paying very close attention. She did a great job! We visited and visited with people after the service. I was very happy to meet Joseph Irwaat and find him doing well. If you remember, he was attacked and sustained a skull fracture a little over a year ago. He still  has headaches and neck pain as well as some numbness in his right hand, but he praises God that his life was spared and he has so few limitations. He thanks everyone for their prayers and assistance that was given to him at the time of his attack.

That evening, Nancy and I attended the Living Streams ministry, the singles ministry, that is held at 5 pm. They decided to have a time of sharing- a lot like our Connect Services. Different people shared their testimony, some people sang songs (some of them original compositions) and we even had an acapella Christian rap "act." I don't know if his was original or not, but I really enjoyed it. We went out to dinner and visited with Isaac and Andrew that evening after the meeting. Isaac had been in Mbale for a graduation at Messiah Theological Institute and didn't get aback until around 6 pm. We had an awesome time catching up with him. He and Andrew are two of the most humorous guys I've ever met- both in Ugandan and American humor, kind of a rare thing!

Yesterday was a totally full day that I will save for another blog entry so as not to make this one too long. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting these people I have prayed about and seen in pictures for so long. Some of their testimonies are unbelievable. I will share one with you in closing. I spent time with Violet today. She is a member here and part of the Women of Grace bead ministry. Before she became involved with the bead ministry, she used to suffer stress related heart pain due to worrying about how she would support herself and her 3 children. Her husband doesn't really support her and her children and spends time with other women. He lives several hours away. She wants all 3 of her children to go to school so they can have a better life. She came to church every Sunday, but when she became a part of the women's ministry she felt like she had found a second family. She is now able to partially support herself, send her 3 kids to school and no longer suffers chest pains from stress. She told me that the bead making is important, but more important is how her life has been transformed. She has grown closer to God through closer relationships with the other women. They pray for one another and support one another as they also study God's word together. She is so thankful that God is working in her life and through the church here. I will try to upload a picture tomorrow.

I have been very humbled at how little people have and how they are surviving by God's grace. We, as Americans, don't know how blessed we are. After seeing where some people live here and what they have been through and overcome, with God's grace, I have nothing to complain about. I have been trying to focus on gratitude in my life, and this trip has been a humbling reminder at how far I need to go on that.

Thank you all so much for your prayers for me and Nancy. God is blessing us so much by allowing us to come on this trip. I look forward to sharing more about it in future posts. Please continue to pray for our health, safety and our eyes to be opened to what God is trying to show us while we are here.

In Him,
Jana