Final thoughts and reflections

What a trip!
It has been an epic journey...
I have learnt so much about myself, my dependence and confidence in the Lord, the world wide Anglican Communion, the local church, cultural contextualisation of the Gospel, the list goes on...I'm going to be drawing on this experience for years to come.

A few years ago I would not have been able to do this trip...it would have been way out of my comfort zone, many of you know Tony and I are well travelled, but this was completely different.
Our safety net throughout our time in Mukono, was the church. We were accompanied by clergy the whole time. When we were walking around the village in the evening's the family accompanied us. Local people were watching over us...The Lord is watching over us all.

Our Drivers Paul and Simon - both local men, could read the situation on Thursday in a way that we were not be able to. Thanks to Simon, Tony did not realise until much later that day what a close shave they'd had.







My confidence really surprised me, from climbing on a budda budda to preaching for 45 mins, from the Q&A grillings we had from the teachers, to the many cultural challenges we faced, by God's grace everything I needed, every situation we encountered, God provided - not just for me, but the whole team, I'm sure they can all testify and identify with this.
Tony was speaking with a confidence and authority that can only have come from the Lord!
Tony has a gift for evangelism, but I think he may become a preacher yet!

Where does our help come from? It comes from the Lord almighty. I realised just how much trust in God I have, and how far I have come...trusting in God in Africa is very different to trusting God in Bristol!

Leviathan takes on a whole new meaning by the banks of the Nile. Scorpions and snakes are a real and present danger. Lk 11:11-12
Contextualisation of the gospel takes me by surprise again and again.


The morning at St Luke's Kirangira, was for me, one of the highlights of my time in Uganda. It was one of those moments when the penny drops! I understand the Anglican communion has word wide dimensions- of course...but it was at this point that I really understood what that 'rich diversity' really means... sitting in that tiny church I encountered the church of God in a profound and humbling way... it was very moving.

Another insight
Phil 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
This verse has great meaning for Tony and I as disciples of Jesus ... we strive to live a simple life in order to serve the Lord and serve others more fully.
I preached on this passage from Philippians - tied into the conversion of Saul Acts 9 and our own conversions. On reflection, our comparative wealth would have made this hard for the congregation to appreciate.
Have we ever been hungry? No.
Have our children ever been to school in rags and bare foot? No.
Have we ever walked miles to fetch water for the day? No.
Have we encountered disease and death that makes families even poorer because of orphans? If a sister or brother, aunt or uncle die do they take the children in - or abandon them to the streets?

Enid and William have taken so many children into their home as a result of their relatives dying, they do not know exactly how many children they have!
I need to pray for a heart as big as that.
Tony and I think we have hearts for hospitality...boy we have a long way to go!

We have met so many wonderful people, we have been overwhelmed by poverty and need but also by the staggering beauty of the country, the hospitality and humility of the people.
Their love of the Lord and their joy of serving, and the openness to the Gospel.
I have been challenged, inspired, encouraged and amazed... (and a couple of times extremely scared!)

We have said all along this trip was going to be significant - the support we have had - financial and prayerful has been tremendous, thank you to everyone who has encouraged and sponsored us.
Thanks to Sonja for planning and arranging the visit, for her wisdom, love of the Lord, and example to us.
Tim, Suzanne and Becca, you guys are very special too... Thanks for everything.
Tony...the best husband in the world.

We have left Africa for now...I think I already know, one day God willing, we will go back!

Mukama yebazibwe : Amina  =  Praise God: Amen.

Over and out! NJB.

Fri 15th Amsterdam - Bristol

We arrived at Amsterdam about 7.30 in the morning, caught the metro into the city centre.

Had a wonder along the canals and over bridges, stopped at a cafe for breakfast and another for coffee.

This morning window of space gave us a chance to process more fully the events of the previous day.
When we arrived back in Bristol I think we all felt much more settled and peaceful.

The Lord provided us with the space we needed, when we first heard about this lay over we thought we may be eager to just get home. But God is gracious - the morning in Amsterdam was perfect timing. Just what we needed.

The short hop back to Bristol was on time, all our bags arrived from Entebbe.

We gathered together to pray - I read out Psalm 121

I lift my eyes up to the hills
where does my help come from
my help comes from the Lord
the maker of heaven and earth
He will not let your foot slip
He who watches over you will not slumber
Indeed he who watches over Israel
will never sleep nor slumber
The Lord watches over you
The sun will not harm you by day

nor the moon by night

The Lord will keep you from harm

He will watch over your coming and your going

both now and forever more

Amen.



Thurs 14th The journey home.

The drive back went well, we made good time to Msindi, made a couple of stops at garages for cold drinks and the loo.
We had arranged to meet a man called Patrick in Kampala the Provost had contacted him because some of us wanted to buy stoles. Also Moses was going to meet us as the family had a gift for us.

As we approached the northern suburbs of Kampala in the late morning, we were turned back because of a road block, boulders had been placed in the road to stop the traffic entering the city.
There had been protests on Monday reported on the TV and some rioting. We were told things were heating up and we needed to make a detour.
The drivers did not know the back roads, a taxi van pulled up and a man jumped in the first vehicle to guide us through the back streets.
The protest was against the government and rising petrol prices.
Tony Tim  and Sonja were in the front vehicle, Becca Suzanne and I in the rear, we also had a local lady travelling with us back to Kampala from Murchison.
The road was terrible, we kept loosing sight of the other vehicle.
We eventually caught them up, there were crowds of people in the road, a riot was breaking out and our vehicles were being targeted.
Paul our driver reversed away from the danger, but the front vehicle was mobbed. We watched on as the crowd surrounded the jeep, we were very scared.
Simon the front driver made the decision to drive through the crowd  - they got out the other side, but we were left not knowing where they were or if they had made it through, we could no longer see.
Paul our driver was very concerned about driving us through.
By this time we were texting like mad, praying hard. Becca had a scripture Lk 4: 28-30
Sonja had prayed and rebuked the spirit of violence as they drove through.
Paul had to pluck up courage- go for it - and drive us through... There was no other route.
As we drove through the crowd seemed to part - we were not mobbed or stoned (which Paul had feared would happen)
We caught sight of the lead vehicle but we seemed to be going on a different road to them.
We drove through the city to the Entebbe side where we pulled up to drop the lady passenger off.
I was quite shaken - we all were.
We drove on to a hotel near the airport. Paul kept assuring us "they cannot take this road".

The mob had thrown things at the first vehicle, Praise God they were not hurt.
I could not talk to Tony on the phone, I waited untill we got out at the hotel...
Simon had been less informative to his passengers than Paul had to us, I think this made matters worse, certianly for me anyway, that we knew what might happen.

Needless to say we did not meet Patrick or Moses, we rang to check they were ok.
We were told there had also been riots in Mukono. We prayed that Simon and Paul would get back safely.
They rang later to tell us they were back and safe.
Paul and Simon were very brave and we have a lot to thank them for.
God was watching over us all. By His mercy and grace we were protected from harm.

Being at the hotel was bizarre, people were in holiday mode, when just up the road tier gas was being let off..

We were all pleased to board the plane at 11.30pm..I think the fact that we had time to sleep and time in Amsterdam helped us to process the events of the previous day before arriving back in Bristol.

Wed 13th Safari

Up at 6 a quick coffee and we leave for the safari. We crossed the Nile on a car ferry.

Wow what a morning!

We saw Heartbeasts,

Rabie (tiny deer) 

Buffalow, Warthogs,

 Giraffe, Hippos, Lions, Elephants!

It was very exciting doing a game drive for the first time ever.

Lunch at a nice hotel, and then a Nile boat trip for more wild life, crocks, elephants, hippos, and lots of birds along the banks.

 

We were on the boat for 3 hours round trip to Murchison falls - beautiful.

Watched the sun go down over the Nile for the last time that evening from the camp.

In the night I woke up to the most awful noises...Hippo's! I was quite scared.

Tony slept through it!



Tues 12th to Murchison Falls and the national park

Up at 6, ready to leave by 7.
Enid and Jackie, Philip and Moses are there to say goodbye, William has returned to the farm on Monday.

From left to right William, Enid Moses

front Deborah and Mark.

We were sad to leave, but so pleased we said our formal goodbye's on Sunday when the whole family were there.

 We are now back in two vehicles because of the luggage. We set off on the long drive East.
We stopped Msinidi for lunch at a nice hotel. We then left the main road and started down dirt roads towards the falls.

We arrived at the National Park

Got some great photos. It is very dramatic and very hot 30.

Nikki &Suzanne

We had an hour at the falls then carried on to Red Chilli Camp.
I was a bit tired when we arrived the banja's are simple but clean, and better than a tent! It has a shower and a flush loo...Oh the joys of facilities!
The view, with the Nile in the distance was stunning, and a very dramatic sun set.

Accompanied by wildebeest's wondering through the camp!
We met together for the evening... before turning in I used Sonja's laptop for the first time and posted a blog and updated FB.
 Africa is very wild here, the night noises are something else. Creation takes on a whole different meaning. Dangers are all around. I went to sleep quickly. Thank goodness!

Mon 11th

Up early, went with Enid to Philip and Chirazo's school (Enid and William's daughter) Global Primary School (on the way to Chain)
Poor little girl had measles - she ran to her mummy, this is the first term for her as a boarder, she was not feeling well. We just said hello and went to see her class room. We did not see Philip but he saw us!
It was a lovely school, really good facilities.

We were back at 8.45 on time for the trip to the Ugandan Christian Martyr's memorial. Very moving.

A graphic depiction...

125 years ago young 21 young Christian men were burn alive.

We went to the UCU to meet with Alex and Ellen Kagume for lunch. It was great to meet them again, and to be back at the UCU. The house was set in the upper grounds of the campus, with lovely views.
We had some time to rest in the afternoon, I rang the mum's they were very pleased to hear that we are ok.
In the evening we returned to the Provost's house for our final diocessan engagement. We shared a meal together. It was a time to feed back on our experiences in Mukono Diocese, the Provost was most interested to hear the insights we had gained and he wanted to know the challenges we had faced and what we thought the church could do to improve... a most humbling experience. Our visit had meant a lot - we had chosen to visit Mukono.
We got back very late, the family had gone to bed.
We locked up, we have become part of the family, it will be sad to leave in the morning.

The Provost's family joined us for prayers,

Sunday 10th

Church!
Up at 7am church at 8 ...the first service was packed. 
Tony and I introduced ourselves, went through the formalities and then I preached for 45 mins (with translation) We had breakfast in the vestry - Then we did the second service. similar size congregation this time in English.
Preached for 35-40 mins (no translation)
Sonja and Becca did 3 services at the Cathedral, Tim and Suzanne did 2, one at Chain and another at a sister church.
In the afternoon Ronnie and Rev James the curate from St Dunstan's came back to the Mpima's and we all had lunch together. They formally thanked the family on behalf of the church for hosting us and for the hospitality they had given us. We said our goodbyes to Ronnie and James and promised to keep in touch.
We were able to give the presents we had brought to the family. They were visibly touched that we had brought gifts for them.
Later we had a walk with Deborah and Philip to the home of William's sister. She lives on her own and is very sad. She often shuns visitors. We were so pleased that she received us, told us about her troubles and her life, we were able to pray for her. She was happy that we had visited.
We walked on to the home of Daddy Koffee, what an interesting man, He had been responsible for rescuing over 6,000 street children, he had an amazing life story, exiled by Amin, because of his ministry, he fled to the USA, got a degree  in theology and returned after Amin's disposition. The only way he could get to the USA was to study. He became a pastor in the Presbyterian church and an MP in Ugandan government. Now retired, he told us a lot about the plight of the street children.
The power went out (a common event) and he kindly took us back to Bristol (the Mpima's) in his car. It gets very dark very quickly at night.
When we got back to the house we needed to pack as we have a full day out again tomorrow and we leave on Tuesday - early.

Sat 9th Day off

The team went to Jinja accompanied by the Provost. What an amazing day!
The Bulengia Falls

 then a boat trip to the source of the Nile.

Beautiful scenery, the most colourful birds, pretty grey monkeys with black faces.

Shopping for presents in Jinja town, Tim managed to buy a nativity set with just one wise man!

We got back around 6pm I spent the rest of the evening writing my sermon for the morning based on the lectionary reading for the day Phil 3: 1-23 (I tied it with Acts 9)
Prayed hard...went to sleep. Very tired.

Friday 8th visit to rural parishes

Early pick up to visit the rural parishes with the Arch Deacon.

We visited a vocations centre where they teach practical courses, for example, IT, bricklaying, hairdressing, child care etc. As a group we shared our testimonies and taught a song with actions...Blessed be the name of the Lord!

We had lunch at the vocations centre, then went off in two's to various schools.
The vicar Michael was a lovely man. He opened his home to us, he was very moved by our testimonies and urged us to keep in touch.

After lunch back at the vocations centre we drove to a water fall on the Nile, and then met up with some local lay ministers for a prayer meeting on a grassy bank,
 we shared our testimonies,

Nikki

& Tony sharing his amazing testimony....

                                   

 with the sound of the falls in the background. . .                                                   
Tim brought us a word from the Lord. 

We ended up at a local home, there was quite a crowd of us gathered for a meal.
 It was a very special time.

insight from today..

I'm feeling a bit overloaded by the need of the schools, anything we could give would just be a drop in the ocean of need, they all want us to pledge our support.
We are not the solution, it is not helpful for white men to come and give money, we are not the answer, there is a much deeper issue that needs to be addressed.
Sonja has advised us not to make individual donations, I think this is very wise advice...you could just give and give and give.

One of the Trinity students who was here last summer has given us £100 to donate to real need.
We decide to give £40 to the minister in the islands to alleviate his immediate need, and £60 to Chain - the orphanage where Tim and Suzanne are based.

The people we have met today out in the rural parishes have blessed and encouraged us.
It has been another really challenging day.

Thurs 7th

More schools today and fellowship with the youth from St Dunstan's.
In the morning we went to 2 schools within walking distance of the Mpima's. Ngandu Primary School is for the poorest of children, there are many orphans at this school. The children were packed into little more than a barn. The school encourage parents to come and take lesions too, which is excellent.

We had a Q&A meeting with the teachers, they grilled us on many subject including the Cof E, the homosexual stance of the church and culture in UK, the education system, by the grace of God I answered their very probing questions, and enjoyed the challenge of answering such direct questions, I felt I was able to give direct answers - which was really good.

We then visited a local private school Jessejonny, which we had passed on our walks around the village. We asked the children how many of them had seen us before...loads of hands went up!

The children gave us an exceptional welcome, this is also a very poor school, but they take boarders. We did the usual introductions for the children all gathered in the school yard - we taught them a song with actions.

The teachers were also very probing and we had another grilling! We answered all their questions and also shared our testimonies. Tony did very well, I think he is getting used to public speaking!

Later Tony went with Moses to the Mpima's farm, it is near Jinja. A heavy rain storm came over while they were there.

Moses

The storm coming over

Workers running for shelter.

Tony and a farm worker - think he is getting ready to cut some crops!
When Tony got back Enid took us to St Dunstan's for a MU meeting until the youth ministers arrived. The prayer meeting was really encouraging, they wanted to know about our experience of youth work, Tony shared a lot, and I was telling then about The Road Hog Bus in Lincolnshire, I gave them the details of the facebook link. They were really interested in this project. I shared a word from Lk 6:37-42, it was a very good meeting.
We were able to share the challenges and joys of youth ministry, we face many of the same challenges.
The evening ended with calls and texts from the team. We are all doing well.

Wed 6th

An early morning appointment with the Bishop of Mukono, we were beginning to pick up on the difficulties the diocese are facing over ministry in the islands. There are over 60 islands on lake Victoria, it seems to be a bit of a lawless place, inhabited by fishermen who move with the fish, and the poorest of the poor. The police don't go there because people disappear in the lake!

An American missionary and his wife had ministered on the islands for 29 years, but they both died (of old age) The Bishop asked us to pray that people would feel called to ministry in the islands, nobody really wants to go there because it is so dangerous. There is  only one minister there at the moment, he is extremely poor and in desperate need of support both financially and prayerfully. The last time he met the Bishop, apparently the wept together over the situation.

Ronnie the youth pastor and chaplain to St Lukes Kirangira kept ringing me all morning, he had arranged for us to go to Nabbale C/U Primary school with him for the 8am service and to spend the morning at the school, Tim and Suzanne were also supposed to be at the Chain school, we were so pleased that we got to meet the Bishop, but the children were very disappointed their visitors might not visit their school after all.

We visited every class!

We were late but we did get to the school in the end... Praise the Lord!

The welcome we received was overwhelming, the children were in two lines from tallest to smallest, as the car door opened the singing and dancing and clapping was wonderful. I was in tears... It was like we were royalty arriving!

We met the head teacher and were taken on a guided tour of every class, we had morning tea and lunch provided for us, and the children entertained us with traditional songs and dance to the beat of African drums. It was something I will never forget.

In this picture the children were singing and acting out the story of a fishing trip, the boys around the edge are paddling the boat - they acted out hauling the nets, the waves, the celebration of the catch, the feast, it was amazing.

The orange and yellow costumes had been borrowed for the occasion.

This class room had been cleared of desks for the day so that the children could entertain us. Later I was able to teach the choir a chorus...For God so loved the world...Jn 3:16

I had been given  3 packs of Christian stickers by my friend Lorraine Keys, I had them with me, and every child in the school got a sticker, there were 160!

We also met some nurses who had come to vaccinate the children - and anyone else who got in their way! (James the curate from St Dunstan's)

We headed back to Bristol (the name our driver had given to the Mpima's!) for a short rest. We were then collected again and taken to Soroma Christian High School... the difference... This school has a reputation for excellence, the facilities were a mile apart from Nabbale

It has its own chaplain who lives with his wife and family on the campus. We joined the school for community worship which was vibrant, 1,700 students, all boarders.

We were invited to speak, we introduced ourselves, sent greetings and gave our testimonies, then Ronnie preached. We were invited to stay for supper, but we had arranged to meet with the rest of the team that evening to debrief, so had to decline.

Good to catch up with the team later at a restaurant in Mukono...

It had been a truly amazing day.

Tues 5th day 2 at UCU

Day 2 at UCU and a very helpful lecture by Rev Can Dr. Olivia Banja, on the challenges faced in expressing the gospel in a culturally relevant way today (focus on Buganda). The kiganda contemporary world view. Dealing with attacks of eveil spirits. The Intercessors. (I have a paper if anyone is interested)

We then joined the community for worship...A very lively and colourful choir and band were on the big stsage.

The sermon was a complete culture shock to the whole group! The topic was abortion. Described in graphic detail with a power point presentation. We would never be able to do such a presentation in our own context - not without a health warning anyway!
This gave us cause to spend the rest of the afternoon on the lawn in the grounds of the UCU reflecting on the impact this had had on us.

Later we went to Chain the orphanage where Tim and Suzanne were based. They were moving Tim out of the boys dorm into a little hut which looked really nice. But unfortunatly, later Tim would find it was over run with rats, they ate his pencils and his soap!
Tim and Suzanne had been invited to the Mpima's for supper...and a banquet it was too!
We were taken by Moses (another family member) for an evening stroll round the village while the meal was prepared. Tim and Suzanne really tucked in!
I really struggled with the food...
But praise God I was not hungry at all, some days all I had to eat was a banana. It was not for lack of hospitality, just that I had a problem most of the time I was in Africa to eat what was provided. I felt I could not get food down, I also got through 4 packs of diocalm even though I was hardly eating anything!
God is good...All the time,  I was not ill. None of us were!