July 5, Sunday
I thank God for a good night’s sleep and energy this morning. I spent some quiet time reading outside in the courtyard before breakfast and talked with a man who works here who isn’t saved buy wants to be saved this year. I asked him about today, but he was busy working and moved on to the next table that he needed to clean. The breakfast buffet is awesome each morning. Afterwards we usually have about 30 minutes to rest and get ready to leave. This morning we were waiting on a man from Iganga to bring us some more signs, so everyone except Jason and Peter took a walk to Mt. Elgon National Park Headquarters, which is only a couple of hundred yards from the hotel. We asked about the park, fees, etc. We also bought some nature posters.
The subjects were gorillas, birds, animals of Uganda, lion, mountains and waterfalls.
About 11 a.m. we drove up the mountain to the town of Kapchorwa to Rift Valley View Baptist Church. The church was down the hill so we had to park the van and walk down to it. The church yard was fenced with bamboo fencing. The people were singing when we arrived. We had the regular agenda of singing, introductions, praying, preaching, dedication and inauguration. The Holy Spirit was present here and although all were already saved, when Jason preached about repentance of any sin that is separating you from more of God. He called people forward to kneel and repent which everyone did. Glory to God!!
After the church service we followed a pastor of a Pentecostal church that SOK is considering helping with their building. He rode his motorcycle and we followed in the van. We drove past the pavement onto the rough dirt road. We drove around the ruts and holes going from side to side on the road. Peter asked Pastor Philemon, who was riding with us, a couple of times how much further because we were low on fuel. We kept driving and saw wonderful views of more mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and mountain streams. The scenery was breathtaking but the road was perilously close to the edge at times. Then it started to rain and Peter decided to turn around. The people were waiting in the church but Peter said if we continued we wouldn’t be able to get back to the hotel today. The mud slick roads would prevent us from coming back up the side of the mountain and we would run out of gas. The van isn’t a four wheel drive and the soil is very slick when it is wet. As we started our return trip, the van was sliding from side to side as it worked to go up the steep hills. Several times the back of the van slid around and almost passed the front. Needless to say we were all praying and even singing to the Lord. Peter drove very cautiously and slowly as the van inched its way back up the mountainous road. I was singing, ‘rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.’ When I sing that song, fear has no power over me! Beverly was singing, ‘this is the day the Lord has made’. Finally the rain stopped so the roads weren’t as slick. After about 30 minutes we got back to the pavement in the town of Kapchorwa. Thank you, Jesus for your angels that guided our van safely on those bad roads.
Since we hadn’t eaten lunch and it was already 5 p.m. we stopped at Noah’s Ark Hotel restaurant and ordered supper. It rained while we were there and we saw a rainbow. In the restaurant the TV had a show about a witch doctor doing his magic! Yuck! It was also on very loud, so Beverly and I went outside. We visited with the watchman, who is saved. He showed us the pictures of his wife and children. We also looked at some of the rooms, because I may stay there in the future after the team leaves. I ate French fries, chapatti and some water. After about an hour we started down the mountain on a paved road without rain. On the ride down the angle of the sun made the cliffs and ridges light up and the waterfalls were also more illuminated. We took lots of pictures on the way down. Peter stopped so we could take pictures at Sipi Falls.
We arrived back at Mt. Elgon Hotel about 7:30 p.m. We have been looking at each others pictures and visiting with Kemper about the spiritual realm. Tomorrow we will leave early, so
we need to get more sleep tonight.
Thank you, Lord for an awesome day and for the safety you gave us during the dangerous ride up the mountain roads.
