July 6, Monday
This morning we left earlier than usual about 8:30 because we had to very far. Peter rented us a jeep four wheel drive and a driver to take us on some very rough roads. We had 7 people so Peter and I sat on the third seat. The seat was next to the floor so our knees were up higher than our waists. The back of the seat was lower than my shoulder blades. Since the seat was so low, I sat on my Bible and Jason’s pack and Peter sat on a box of Bibles. We drove for four hours around the mountain we went up yesterday. We traveled through different tribal areas including this tribe that are cattle ranchers. They don’t have cowboy hats or horses but they do tend to small herds of cows. Peter said another tribe from Kenya crosses the border and steals their cows and sometimes kills the owners. We passed several military encampments. The government has stationed troops out here to protect the ranchers from cattle rustlers. The soldiers are on foot just like the Ugandan cowboys. We drove through grassland that was thick with thorny bushes and trees which reminded me of south Texas ranchland and also West Texas desert scrub brush.
We left the pavement about one hour into the drive and continued on the dusty, dirt roads. For about an hour the road wasn’t too bad but then we started the ascent up a steep, twisting mountain road. The four wheel drive barely made it up in some places because the roads were washed out. At one washed out area there were several men just standing there. This was in the middle of no where, miles from the nearest village that we could see. I felt a little uncomfortable as did some of the others, so we rolled up our windows and prayed. The jeep made it up to the other side but had we been in the van we wouldn’t have made it. The scenery was gorgeous so we hung out of the windows trying to get pictures of the mountains and the road we were using.
From a distance we could see the winding, dirt road zigzagging up the mountain and then in a while we were on that road. It took us at least an hour or two to get up that mountain road! We stopped once to let the jeep cool off because it was such a strain for it going up those steep inclines.
When we got to the village of Bukwo the scenery opened up into scenic vistas of cultivated land up the slopes of the mountains to the tops. Wow! This village is closer to Kenya that it is to Kapchorwa, where we were yesterday. Peter was in phone contact with the pastor of Bukwo Baptist Church so when we got into the village, he met us on his motorcycle and led us to the church. The church is up on the side of the slope of the mountain and we could see it from a distance. The road up to the church was only a steep cow path and we had to stop once to let the cows pass by us.
At the church the pastor thanked us in such a sincere, humble way that it brought tears to our eyes. We did the usual order to inaugurate and dedicate the church after Kemper and Jason spoke. All present indicated they were already saved so Jason’s sermon was to encourage them to go out and tell others about Jesus.
When we left this church, the pastor and another man, rode the motorcycle ahead of us to lead us to the second church, Chepkwesta Baptist Church. It was also on the side of another mountain slope. We could see it from a distance also. Again the scenery was lush shades of green all the way up the mountain slopes. There were more people to greet us here. The women and children were frightened because they had never seen a muzungu (white person) before. At first they wouldn’t shake hands and some even ran away. Gradually they came to trust us enough to shake hands. Then we brought out the digital cameras and they were fascinated by seeing themselves. After visiting outside for a while,
everyone went inside for the ceremonies and preaching. All here also indicated they were already saved. Praise God! After the service we went to the pastor’s home for some lunch. It was about 3:30 and we were hungry. The ladies and men sang blessings over us as the walked in procession ahead of us to the door. At the door they continued singing blessings over us as we entered the house. They served us rice, chicken and chapatti and sodas. There was a gray cat that belongs to the family that made friends with us while we ate. I think Kemper fed the cat because it stayed at his feet. The food was delicious except Jason said the chicken was very tough. I didn’t eat any chicken so I’m not sure if all of it was tough.
The air was cool and crisp up here in the mountains. About 4:30 we started the return trip up and down the mountainous road. A few times the jeep didn’t want to go up the steep incline, so the driver had to stop and down shift before proceeding. I had prayed about the place where the washed out road was because of the men that were there this morning. When we passed that way this evening, they weren’t there. We stopped for a short call (to urinate) by some bushes along the road. It felt good to stretch our legs because we had been in the jeep a couple of hours cramped and bouncing along. It didn’t rain today or even have heavy clouds, but there was a rainbow in the sky when we stopped. This is the second day in a row that we’ve seen rainbows. Thank you, Jesus.
As we descended from the mountains onto the rift valley below, the air was warmer and the vegetation was less dense and lush. We continued on the dusty roads for hours. Jason would signal us with a countdown when a vehicle was approaching, so we would roll up the windows before the cloud of red dust caused by the passing vehicle filled ours. After about 4 hours in the cramped jeep with only one pit stop, we reached Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale Town. Thank you Jesus! I was so glad to get out of that vehicle! My knees hurt when I stood up after having them in one position for so long. After walking around a while the soreness and stiffness left.
We ate supper in the hotel. I order spaghetti with pesto sauce, peanuts and olive oil. It came without the oil or peanuts and very little white sauce not pesto sauce. Service in Uganda is different than in the US to say the least. I ask the waitress to bring me the oil and peanuts and I would add them to my spaghetti. She never returned so I talked to the manager and he had her bring out olive oil and peanut gravy. I’ve never eaten peanut sauce on spaghetti but I was hungry so I ate it.
Thank you Lord, for keeping us safe on those dangerous roads and for letting us help those two churches build their buildings. I praise you, Lord, for allowing me to be part of your work here.
