Let us break bread together...

Forty eight hours had passed since we had taken off from Miami, and finally we arrived in the village of Kamonkoli, Uganda.  Travel and adventure were not over, however.  God would lead us down many paths during our stay in Uganda.  While traveling, whether to Mbale Town for supplies, or to and from our hosts' homes for meals, or to the construction site, or down the long and winding foot paths in the bush to visit families, the question would be asked, “What could be down this path?”   Sometimes the path was narrow with trees brushing the sides of the van.  Often the rain would fall, and travel would be muddy and slow, and the wheels of the van would spin and get stuck in the mud.  The path would sometimes lead to a ditch that had to be crossed.  I was reminded how God’s path for each of us often leads down narrow, muddy, and pit-filled trials, but God never leads where He is not at work among His people.  

On the road between our home and the church--

a "path" we walked many times during the week!

One of the most meaningful parts of our trip were the relationships we built with our Ugandan brothers and sisters.  Friday evening the team ate at the home of Katherine Hines, the founder of Hines Ugandan Ministries.  Her home is approximately three years old and kept very nice.  Katherine related how it took many years of saving the money needed to build the house.  It is home to Katherine and 11 of her foster and adopted children, Sarah, Katie, Mary, Beatrice, Brenda, Violet, Sabrina, Susan, Goma, David, and Israel (Izzy). 

Katherine's family with our team member, Alison,

who is trying on a tradtional wedding "gomez."

As our team entered the house, we removed our shoes, a ritual that would be repeated over and over in the course of the week.  (I could relate since our family removes our shoes when we come in from outside as well.)   What met the team afterwards were smiling children shaking our hands, introducing themselves and welcoming us to their home. 

The "baldies"--Goma, Ron and Izzy

Sweet girls--Peace, Susan, Alison and Sabrina

Precious and hard-working girls--Brenda, Irene and Violet

We gathered in the sitting room and made formal introductions, and then the children, youth and several young adults began to sing for us.  No cds, cassette tapes, mp3 players, or walkmans, just beautiful voices accompanied by a drum lightly beating to keep rhythm, worshiping the Holiness of God had begun.  I don’t know how long we sang together, but it seemed too short of time as several songs brought tears to our eyes.  When praise to Jesus had stopped, a nervous child read to us from God’s Word.  I prayed for him the whole time.  We were strangers, but that would change over the course of the coming week.

Singing praises with Katherine's family

Little David was in charge of devotion.

He read us the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho.

After worship and reading God’s Word, the children prepared the dining table for us.  The silverware was placed, cups filled with juice and plates of food were placed on the table.  We all gathered to eat. The food was great and all were filled.  Some of us learned over the next few nights to use mayonnaise on foods we never tried before.  A spicy garlic ketchup was used and enjoyed by some. Yes, some of us even bought some of the garlic ketchup to bring home.  The mayonnaise, garlic ketchup and fruit juice we had were all good, but the meals around that big, big, yes, big dining room table will never be forgotten, because God had brought us together and made a family not for us but for Himself.  It was an honor God had brought us together.  If the week had ended right then, I think most of the team would have been content, but God was not done and had three more families to host us for dinner.

Great food and fellowship!

Monday night dinner brought us to the home of Uncle Bosco and his wife Mama Nancy, and their children, Florence, Dorcas, Sherri, Dianna and Samuel.  They live in the house next to the home where our team stayed.  Samuel, their son of two or three, met us every day with infectious excitement and a smile.  Samuel loves to drive in the van with his daddy, or be carried.  The other children would join Pat, a team member, for a game of marbles or football (soccer in the U.S.) 

Our sweet little Ugandan Samuel 

When the team came to dinner, Bosco and his family met us at the door with greetings.   The team and family gathered in the room with chairs placed in a circle so no one was left out.  After formal introductions we all worshiped in prayer and singing.  Before our meal, two of their children came around with a bowl and pitcher of water and allowed us to wash our hands.  It was a demonstration of the true servants these wonderful people are.  The meal consisted of sloppy joes with a Ugandan flair.  I don’t remember the Ugandan name, but the homemade hamburger buns I will always remember along with Mama Nancy's homemade spice cake with lots of icing.

Nancy and her sweet children

After the meal, we shared a time of praise and thanksgiving.  Bosco’s family sang several songs for us in Swahili that brought us to tears.  Bosco shared his journey of faith and the trials of his life.  He said that life in the ministry has not always been easy, but God has been faithful.  Bosco has been working for Hines Ugandan Ministry about a year; prior to that, he had served at other orphan ministries across Africa.  His wife is from Kenya and misses her family, but will follow God to any place of service for the kingdom of God.

Uncle Bosco

Enjoying fellowship with Mama Nancy and her children

Tuesday night the team shared fellowship and a wonderful meal at the home of Pastor Charles.   He met us and walked us to his home just across the court yard from where the team was staying.  The pastor carried his youngest daughter, Rebecca; she is two and had our attention from the beginning, and she knew it. The team laughed with her on the three minute walk to their home. 

Pastor Charles and little Rebecca

Fellow Pastors' wives, encouraging each other

Rebecca had Wayne wrapped around her finger!

The pastor is a quiet man who is honored to serve God, and he deeply cares for the children and widows.

Pastor Charles and his beautiful children, Gift, Rebecca, Dan and Anna

We entered his home and greeted everyone. After being given a tour of the family home, we all gathered for a time of praise and prayer.  During dinner, Pastor Charles shared with us how a young white woman came to his village some 17 years ago, and endured many trials, sickness, accidents and lack of support, and yet she refused to leave the village.  Pastor Charles stated, “Everyone thought she would run away.”  With tears in his eyes, he said, “She kept coming back, and she did not run.  Katherine Hines stayed, and today, for the glory of God, there is Hines Ugandan Ministries.”  Pastor Charles never gave up on the woman from a different culture who loved his people.

Wednesday brought us to the home of Dr. Michael, a tall man with a smile that never ends.  The team entered the house and Michael said, “your team is many and my home is small, we shall fill it up”.  Dr. Michael’s home was already filled with respect, honor and love for God.  After introductions and prayer, everyone filled their plates with food.  The women were in the sitting room eating and laughing, and the men were in the dining room/kitchen, solving the problems of the world. (We concluded: leave the problems to God!)  

What a spread!

Dr. Michael and his wife have two children, both of whom are in boarding school, a son who wants to be a doctor and a daughter who wants to be a lawyer. Uganda, like the United States, needs Christian leaders in all walks of life. Michael and his wife work hard and are trying to build a house they will own.  They trust God and, like many in Uganda, build their homes one brick at a time as they have the money.  People in the world could learn from this couple’s example.  Michael said they have worked on their new home for seven years and God provides in His own time.

Michael with his wife, Joy, and their daughter Elena

Much more can be said about the wonderful families that our team met.  The families met our need for food on a daily basis, but in their own unique way, each family fed our hearts and souls even more.  These families, like others across the world, honor God for His holiness, faithfulness and salvation.

Our new forever friends, Nancy and Judith

God calls His people together, the Church, brothers and sisters in Jesus, to walk the path set before each one.  When it rains and is muddy, God says He will get out and push.  When the trail gets narrow and looks impossible, Jesus says “hold my hand”.   God in His Word says when the pit before us will not let us cross, He, God alone, will carry His people to safety.

Tim Roe