July 27, 2009, Monday
Peter arrived about 5:30 a.m. and after toast and tea we picked up some boxes of the Book of Hope and got fuel before started the two hour drive to Busiro Village located at the boat landing. Before the main road was resurfaced it would take us 3-4 hours to go there. After about 30 minutes on the paved road we proceeded on dirt roads some of which have been grated recently but the last half hour the roads were very rutted with mud holes. We arrived at the landing about 8:15 a.m. and I watched people arrive with their goods to set up and sell since it is market day here. We waited about 30 minutes before Pius and Patrick arrived in the boat. Men took all the things out of and off of the top of the van and loaded them on the boat. We also took a lady and her four year old daughter named Faith who loved me and touched my skin and stood by me. A couple also joined us. I waved goodbye to Peter on the shore as Pius tried to start the boat motor.
The usual trip of about 1.5 hours to Namogongo Village on Sigulu Island took over two hours because the boat motor stopped about 8 different times. The men would work on it and it would start again for a few minutes and then die again. It seems the fuel line was the problem so they changed that out when we got to the village. Ruth, Patrick’s wife, greeted me at the boat and escorted me to a small room and brought me lunch (rice & chicken). I greeted many children along the walk and they remember I took pictures of them last time so they ask me to take pictures again. I declined since it would have caused the children in the classroom to empty out for pictures too. I visited with Silas, the young man who helped us last time. He is taking exams in secondary school and won’t be helping us this time. Jonathan was supposed to meet us at Busiro but he was delayed. The team is now 5 adults. After eating I greeted Mary and Grace and then rested until Patrick came for me. As I entered the boat Grace handed Mary a baby. I asked whose baby and Grace said Mary’s. The baby girl was born just two weeks ago on July 12! Mary shielded the baby girl from the sun with an umbrella I had brought. After Garace had eaten some food Mary handed her the baby to hold so Mary could eat. Mary said Grace was doing #9, lying. So I asked whose baby it was. Grace just laughed. So I told her I would know whoever fed the baby is the real mother. The baby girl belongs to Grace! She was doing #9! She loves to tease me and she tricked me this time. I’m amazed at the strength of the women here. She gave birth at home in the village and now she is loading and unloading heavy things from the boat. She named her Anyango Sandra, after me. We arrived at Maseulia Island and Village after about 1.5 hour boat ride. The sky was clear and the waves weren’t too high.
This village is on a small island less than half a mile long and about 200 yards wide but it has 1,500 adults and probably 5 times as many children! This island isn’t good for growing crops because it is too sandy. They only thing they can do is to fish and they fish for small fish at night and some fish for large fish during the day. As we approached the island I noticed a shelter with iron sheets on the roof but only old tarps for walls. The frame was tree limb timbers. It was close to the landing so the things didn’t have to be hauled too far. I held baby Anyango in the church while they brought all the things. I was immediately surrounded by a couple of dozen children whom I bonged with (touched fists). I don’t think they have ever seen a muzungu before. The pastor of the church is named Patrick and he comes from the Soronko area from the tribe that gave me the name Nambozo!
We were concerned about the security of our things in this shelter. Pastor Patrick solved our problem. Next to the church is a guest house, block of eight rooms, four on each side with a concrete walkway between. Pastor rented us two rooms for us and our things. What a blessing! We moved the things inside and then Patrick and I accompanied Pastor Patrick to the local police station. We registered our presence with him and had a short visit. He was delightful and bought me a soda while we visited. We exchanged questions and answers and then he had several cases he needed to deal with. He received a phone call and there was a crying woman waiting to talk to him, along with a couple who had some kind of problem. We excused ourselves to go back to the church. As we walked across the soccer field, children greeted me and called me Queenie. I asked Patrick why they called me that and he said because I look like Queen Elizabeth with my hat and white hair. (She visited Uganda a couple of years ago and it was a big event). On the way back to the church we signed in with the Local Chairman too. Pastor introduced us to many of the church members as we walked through the village.
Back at the church we waited for people to come so I could teach. Finally about 5:30 we had about 40 children and 15 adults. Patrick translated as I taught the Ten Commandments. When it was time to repeat them the children didn’t do it. Pastor helped us by translating into their local dialect, then the children loudly repeated each commandment. After Pastor lead everyone in the prayer of salvation, all indicated they were already saved. Glory to God!
We set up the film equipment on the outside of the church next to an open area. After a few songs we started the film. Pastor explained that a couple of years ago when he arrived there were about 15 huts used for witchcraft in the area next to the church. Now there are only three remaining. They have been praying and God has removed the witchcraft. He pointed to one hut and said, “Even that one caught fire all by itself one night after prayers.” During the film, I did some prayer walking and spiritual warfare over that area. Pastor said they have claimed that area for the future structure of their church! He said they all need God. The crowd watching the film was about 150 and they cheered and clapped during appropriate places. As I worshiped God under the starry skies, I was so blessed to be in his presence here. As I looked out toward the lake, a dozen or so boats’ lights looked like a string of Christmas lights that were twinkling on and off. The lights weren’t really going on and off, Patrick said the wave action hides the lights when the boats bob up and down. During the film, the projector went off once. I couldn’t get it to come back on. Everything else was working. Pastor prayed and we were all praying. After several tries failed to get the light bulb to come back on, I turned off the power, waited and restarted it. I didn’t know until later that the Pastor had told Patrick that the machines usually won’t work because of the witchcraft here. Praise God! He answered our prayers and the light bulb came back on. When it did the pastor led the people in praising God with the song that says our God never fails and he defeated Satan. Glory to God! He is more powerful than the witchcraft here. I’ve had a bad headache since I arrived but while I listened to my praise music during the film it eased up. It’s not a usual sinus headache, it’s spiritual.
After the film a man got saved! Hallelujah! The Pastor lead the man in the prayer. When everything was put away about 10 p.m., we had supper of greens, eggplant, spaghetti and matooke. In the ladies rooms, they slept with the baby on the bed and I slept on a cot. I didn’t sleep very well. There was lots of noise, people talking, radios playing until about midnight. Then about 4 a.m. the pastor and the church started praying and praising God loudly! Then I went back to sleep again. Sometime later a mouse ran across my head and pillow! During the night I still had a little headache, but my bottle of water was in the men’s room so I couldn’t take any pills. The strong smell of fish and the smoke from the small kerosene light didn’t help my headache, but I made it to the morning! Praise God! I’m journaling in the room while waiting for breakfast. I’m hidden from the children here, which is good.
