A Day in the Life - Cultural Insights

After living in Africa for over 14 years we tend to not notice things that take visitors by surprise. So this post will be dedicated to a few of those things.
In it we will cover motorcycle taxis, electricity  and produce.


Motorcycle Taxis or Boda Bodas first started being used to carry passengers across the Kenyan/Ugandan Border. The motorcycle drivers would yell out
they would carry you 'border to border' and the slang became boda boda.

Bodas are both a blessing and a curse. A one way trip in the town of Mbale
is 1000 shillings or about 30 cents. A round trip is 2000 shillings or 60 cents.


Forgot your phone at home? Send it with someone on a boda. Need building supplies like a bag of cement or a 5 gallon bucket of paint but don't have the time to run it home? Send it on a boda.


That's the 'blessing' part of bodas, the convenience. But because the price
IS so low people use them everywhere and haul all kinds of objects.

The 'curse part of bodas is that because they are small, cheap and maneuverable they will drive ANYWHERE - the wrong way up the roads, weaving in-between cars and traffic lanes, so overloaded with items and people that they can easily overturn. There are hundreds of bodas in our dwontown areas and roundabouts that they clog traffic and cause many accidents. So riders must beware!

Electricity - It's strange to think that we live so close to THE Nile River.
That river that we heard so much about in Sunday School lessons as a kid.


The electricity we use is provided by that same river via a hydroelectric dam that spans The Nile at it's source in Jinja about 2 hours west of us in Mbale.
It's been said that the electricity gets sold to Kenya and Tanzania because
they will pay more, therefore shorting the people of Uganda.

We don't know if that's why, but electricity certainly is an issue here. Some days the electricity flickers as if someone is standing by the light switches
and is turning them off and on. Other days it is off all day and you can hear
the sounds of generators running. Then there are the days the electricity
runs as it should and we are truly thankful.



Produce - Unlike many African countries, Uganda is blessed with an abundance of water that allows for all manner of fruits and vegetables to grow year round. Just walk into the Mbale Central Marked and you will see the equivalent of a huge farmer's market that is open every day of the week!

The woman pictured below is selling eggplant, tomatoes, carrots, onions, mangoes, oranges, watermelon, pineapple, pumpkins, avocados, cabbage
and bell peppers. There are also imported and packaged goods, meats and
dairy products in town.

We hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into our life and that it helps you
to realize we are in good hands so that we are able to do the ministries we
have been allowed to come here to do.

A Second Graduation for LivingStone International University

One of the ministries we are involved with in Mbale is LivingStone International University. We both serve as mentors to fourteen of the students. Daryl has been teaching part-time at LIU for the past two years.

LivingStone International University celebrated its second graduation on June 11th. This month we would like to share a bit about this historical event for the university, the Mbale Team and for you, the supporters that have made this possible.

Pride shone from the faces of the twenty-one graduates as they were led through town by a motorcycle escort and a marching band (as is the custom in Mbale for graduations, weddings and other memorable events.)

Sacrifices were made so that these students could attend LIU. For many, they are the first from their families to graduate from university. (For a great video on this click the link below or go to: www.livingstoneuniversity.org/juliet-jospeh


Hundreds of guests attended including the director of the National Council on Higher Education, local Members of Parliament, families and well-wishers of the graduates.

Often, before we are led in a prayer here the statement is made, "Let us believe and pray." 

This gives us pause from the instinctual bowing of our heads, to first setting our hearts on the belief of God fulfilling what we are about to ask for in the name of Jesus.

We would like to "believe and pray" that LIU's motto will come to pass for these graduates. LIU aims to produce students who are 'Ehtical, Employable and Empowered' who will engage in 'Building the Nations of Africa'.

A few of this year's graduates have already secured jobs which is a wonderful accomplishment anywhere, but especially here in Uganda where unemployment is so high. May they and all of the future graduates be used mightily to build the Lord's kingdom and to be a blessing to others, wherever he leads them.

April Showers

April has indeed brought on the rains and we are so thankful! Our homes do not have air conditioning. We rely on fans and open windows which give us some respite from the heat, but also lets in the dust.

Our home is just off of a busy road. Some parts of it are paved, some are a mixture of dirt and corroded pavement (or tarmac as it is called here) and some is just pure dirt, which is what runs in front of our house.

Before eating each meal of the day we have to wipe down the table and sometimes the plates since they are stored on an open shelf in the dining room.

The rain brings a much awaited coolness, but can also make traveling a bit more difficult; as we saw on our recent journey to a Women's Retreat in Kenya. We have found many times in Africa  that the more difficult the journey, the more sweet the  fellowship when we finally get there.

We hoped that by getting out of the van (in the rain) that it would lighten it enough to get through this patch. but thankfully some men came to our aid, pushed the van out of the rut it was in and then told the driver a different path to take to go around it.

We made our way, slipping and sliding through the mud (I took off my sandals and just walked barefoot with the mud squishing through my toes) and then thankfully piled in and continued on the way to the retreat.

Uganda like many nations in the continent of Africa has such contrasts that it keeps you on your toes. We can go to the supermarket and see dried minnows for sale to eat (a delicacy here) and in the next aisle, Oreos!

We can see a young man tending cows as he walks beside them talking on his cell phone. Poverty, yet uninhibited giving when there is a need or a time to bless someone who has had their first child.

Here in Mbale, Muslims work side by side with Christians. Some of the most powerful testimonies are of Muslims who have become Christians, even though it meant estrangement from their families.

Prayer Requests:

1) We are thankful for the open hearts of so many here in Uganda and for the baptisms we've had this month.

2) Thanksgiving for the generous donation that we received that allowed us to finish an addition to a church member's home. They now have a working toilet and a separate room for the boys, a room for
the girls and a separate room for the grandparents.

3) Prayer for our continued health.

A Father to the Fatherless

"A father to the fatherless,

a defender of widows,

is God in his holy dwelling.



God sets the lonely in families,

he leads out the prisoners with singing;

but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."


Psalm 68:5-6

This is a beautiful picture of the God of all who is also Father of all. Even 

those who have lost the dearest ones in the world to them are not alone. 

In Christ they are given a new family. I think about this description 

of our Lord all the time we work among the people of Uganda.

Tuesdays are a scheduled office day when many people come by, some-
times just to greet us, often for prayer and assistance for spiritual and physical needs.

Last Tuesday, three people that I met with stood out to me. One had never known his parents.

Another had lost both parents by the age of 6 and had to grow up in a house of her grandfather who had six wives with children in one house.

The third had lost both parents to AIDS and was forced to drop out of school by the time he was 15.

Similar stories could be multiplied
by the dozens among our church members and university students. So many have endured more than their fair share of hardships early in life.

As a couple in our mid-50's, Laurie and I find ourselves 

being looked upon here in Uganda as old (!) and wise (!!)  

We have the privilege of building relationships and speaking hope into 

the lives of people who have had very few healthy adult role models.

The good news is that people are finding family connections through 

God's people. Two of those young mentioned above are pursuing BA 

studies at LivingStone International University (LIU).

The third is now ministering at
a church and has a wife and new baby of his own.


It is our prayer that they will all continue to experience "new life" that will be very different than what they have known in the past.




Prayers of Thanksgiving for:

1) Safe arrival of two new team families!

~Rick and Marinda Trull have arrived in Mbale  and Rick is the new President or Vice Chancellor (as they are called here in Uganda) of LivingStone International University (LIU)

~Leland and Gina Sawyer and their daughter Adalyn arrived shortly afther the Trulls and have recently moved into their house after making some renovations.



2) Generous gifts

~300 Bibles for Mbale Church of Christ that came on the Sawyers container

~ Building materials to add a needed room onto the house of a church member



3) Peaceful election process in Uganda



Thank you for praying for us and sending us to be a part of this mission.      
Daryl and Laurie

Winding Down 2015

The end of the year is upon us!

There is a definite rhythm to things in Uganda. One of the important ways 
we have to adapt our own pace of life somewhat so that we can walk alongside 
others in relationships. 

We enjoy the fact that in the month of December activities tend to slow down. Schools close early in the month, and students are typically on holiday for five to six weeks. Many people have extended vacation time from work and so they travel back to their home areas.

Motorcycles or Boda bodas are the 'taxis' of East Africa and entire families ride on them

There is no cold (not even cool) weather, which we actually miss sometimes; but there are no traffic jams from Christmas shopping either, which is fine with us.

That being said, there have been some exciting things happening here at the end of the year. On December 10 to 12 we hosted the annual Youth Conference for Churches of Christ. There were about 300 in attendance and 7 baptisms!

Youth Conference in Mbale

Mbale Church of Christ will also host the yearly Women's Conference in early January and we anticipate 250 to 300 ladies coming for it also.



Opportunities for End of Year Giving

We know that there are many opportunities to donate to various charities at this time of year and we wanted to make you aware of two projects that we are directly involved with here that we believe are very worthwhile if you feel so inclined to give to.

The first opportunity for giving is to help add on to an elderly church member's home. Francis Kato has been a part of Mbale Church of Christ for over 10 years. 
Two of his adult children have died, leaving him and his wife to raise the grandchildren. There are 11 people currently sharing their one-bedroom house. 

We hope to assist them in adding a bedroom for the boys and one for the girls onto the back of his home. We would also like to get his one toilet functioning again and to add another full bath with a shower so they can all have a private place to bathe.

House plans as it is

House with the bedrooms and bath added

MCC took up a special collection earlier this year to purchase materials to begin the work. to cpmplete the job we have an estimate of $1500 for adding one bedroom and bathroom. an additional $1000 would be needed for the second room.


The second opportunity for giving is for the improvement of our Sunday school facility. For many years the children's bible classes have met in a multipurpose covered verandah/storage area that is open to the weather.

Verandah where bible classes are held

The way it is now, the older kids just sit on the walls and benches are set up for the smaller kids. The open floor plan works well for the older ones, but toddlers tend to wander out with no walls or doors to keep them in. We have been able to make this work in the past, but we now have about 60 children attending and are limited by our current setup.

Verandah /storage area as it is

The SEW ministry is self-funded and thankfully they are in the process of constructing a separate building. This will free up the majority of this space to be just for the children. 

Our goal is to enclose this area so that it can be functional, clean and secure. Then we will set it up as proper classroom space for the children of MCC. We estimate the cost to be $5000 to enclose this.

Classroom / storage area now enclosed and lockable

If you feel led to give a tax deductible donation, please send your check to : Fredericksburg Church of Christ, PO Box 657, Fredericksburg, VA 22404. On memo line please write: Uganda-Sunday School or Uganda-Kato. Please feel free to send us a private message via our FaceBook pages or email if you have any questions.

May God bless you in 2016!!

Women's Ministries

During our recent visit to the States in July and August, there seemed to 

be a lot of interest in the things Laurie is doing here in Uganda.  So, we 

thought this might be a good time to share some of those things with you.

Worshiping and praying together

Laurie has joined a group of ladies from the Mbale church who visit members in their homes who have been sick or are in need of assist-ance. They go out together on the second Sunday of the month.

Before Laurie started joining them, the ladies would walk to their des- tination. It'd normally take about an hour each way to get there.


The first time she drove them, there were 18 women and children squeezed into an 8-person van. They have stated how much they appreciate her willingness to drive them there and for the teaching she does while they are together.

Laurie works with a rotation of Sunday school teachers at Mbale Church of Christ. She has also developed a curriculum that requires only photocopying and basic supplies found in Uganda. The four years of lesson plans were originally created by the Nairobi Mission Team ladies in the 1990's. Laurie is updating it into a digital format so that it is easier to store and share. A bound, hard copy of the first year of this material has been presented to the Mbale church and the Bungoma church in Kenya. Year two has just been finished and is being bound before being presented to the churches.

40 to 65 kids aged 2 to 13 being taught under the verandah of a multipurpose structure

old schoolhouse - BEFORE

 

Guest House - AFTER

As you may have noticed from previous newsletters, we have spent a lot of time changing a simple school house into a self-contained, three bedroom guest house.

Since Daryl has been involved with teaching courses at LivingStone International University and with ministry at Mbale Church of Christ, the bulk of the oversight of the renovation has fallen to Laurie.

Both of us mentor LivingStone International University students once a week. Some have Muslim parents or are Muslim themselves.

Hope you now have a better idea of some of the things we've been involved in.


Prayer Requests:
1) For Mbale Church of Christ as we focus on genuine discipleship of all believers in 2015. We believe the Lord will produce the fruit He desires from us as we learn to walk with him.

2) For our son, Lee, who is now attending LivingStone International University and adapting to life in Uganda.

3) For continued good health and safety. We never want to take that for granted.

ONE YEAR/ thirteenth Year

On May 5th we marked one year since our arrival in Uganda and our thirteenth year in East Africa. Our deepest thanks to all of you who help us to be here. It is interesting to think about what we are feeling this time compared to how we felt in 1988 after our first year in Kenya. Back then we were treading hard to keep afloat with our language studies and trying not to become too overwhelmed by the cultural differences we were struggling to adapt to.

Laurie with ladies after church - 2015

Laurie with ladies after church - 1990
Lydia was 1 yr then, 26 today

Daryl speaking with Bible
Class using Face Time

I remember there was a visitor from the States who brought a video of restaurants and well stocked grocery stores just to tease us about some of the things we had been missing so much. We had no electricity for the first seven months. There was no email or internet available to us, and we were thankful to have a phone with which we could call to the U.S. for a mere $4 a minute.

I mention this only to say how grateful we are that things have come a long way since then. Though we have done (and are still doing) considerable work on our house, we had electricity and reliable water from day one.

Our cell phones and internet work the great majority of the time, making it easier to do several tasks related to our work, and much easier to communicate with loved ones far away.

Allen Family, Daryl and Laurie Bates,
Ty Hayes and Robinson Family

We're also thankful that we have had a great first year with our team. We did not know our teammates nearly as well before coming to Uganda as we did when going to Kenya. But we feel blessed by the compatibility we have experienced with them.

We are different ages and backgrounds, and we function in different roles, but it is a real joy to be co-workers with them. And our team is set to grow!

The Allens are expecting their third child in June. By August we should have new teachers, Ericka Angel and Valerie Oliver, for the team's mission school.

After one year it feels like we are just getting started in ministry, but we are excited to be able to mark some progress toward some of the long term goals that we came here for - equipping
Ugandan leaders and transitioning greater responsibility into their hands.

1) Mbale Church of Christ
David Iyakia - David is a  volunteer minister at MCC. He has a great passion for the Lord and a proven commitment to MCC. David is employed full-time with a local NGO (Non Government Organization) that assists farmers, and he has a few years left on his contract. We envision David developing a full-time lead minister of MCC in coming years.

David translating for Daryl

The goal for 2015 is to assist David to be qualified for further studies at LivingStone International University.  He will undergo testing similar to the GED in the US and should be ready to enter LIU by either the spring of fall of 2016. Our plan is to help David to gain ministry training at LIU over the next few years as he also phases out his work with the livestock project.

2) NTCC - New Testament Church of Christ

Representatives from NTCC from Mbale
(where we live), Mbarara, Jinja and Kampala

Though it sounds strange for those who come from the USA, many nations (including Uganda) require churches to register just like NGOs or other entities in the country, and to submit an organizational 'constitution' to the authorities and hold annual meetings. There must be representatives who interact with the government on behalf of the church. We do all of these things in order to comply with local regulations, while at the same time seek to maintain a Biblical authority structure in local churches. Our churches are registered under the name "New Testament Churches of Christ."

Until recently there were only missionaries who served as 'officers' with NTCC. But in March of this year, two Ugandans, Richard Kweyamba from Mbarara and Isaac Sanyu from Kampala, were selected as representatives. This is an important step in the direction of greater autonomy of Churches of Christ in Uganda.

PRAYER NEEDS:
~ Completion of our guest house by mid July
~ Valerie Oliver as she prepares to join the team in early August
~ Our furlough in the US, July 22 to August 24


THANKS TO GOD FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP!!

We look forward to seeing you soon.