The team leaves for Kampala tomorrow.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday Night Text from Mike
Sunday evening. Another event filled day. Cmdr. Steve went to Lotome to preach on reconciliation. Lotome has many raids. I gave the sermon at St. Marks. Val, Waffle and Clark went to Nabal peace village to settle a dispute. Normal Nabwal road stories. When almost there they came upon a very sick woman on a stretcher. They ended up transporting her to the hospital. If they had not been there to help she would have died. God's timing is perfect.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday, May 28th - Text from Mike, 9PM Kangole Time
Friday evening -
Sad news last night. A very close friend of Dr. Val's died, so she is grieving the loss. It's wonderful that Dorie is here to comfort her.
Waffle's teaching is going VERY well, but they are missing some key people.
Church construction continues to go great. Yesterday eleven men mixed and poured over eleven cubic yards of concrete. Amazing!! (NOTE: that really is a LOT of work - especially in the heat. Think of one of those gravel haulers you see racing down Tualatin side roads all the time. One of those hold about nine cubic yards). Today we finished the columns and concrete. Praise God!
We also had some excitement when some locals killed a 52-inch lizard (a species like a Komodo Dragon?). Nick showed them how to skin it. They got the meat and Nick got the skin. Good luck in Customs with that. We had time today to reset Val's door frame. It was in bad shape.
There have been some rains which is good. With the rains comes malaria - which is bad. Lots of malaria in the area. Mama Esther and lots of kids have it. Please pray for their health.
Latest news on the container and tools is Monday. Our team flies back to Kampala Monday and hopes to help unload and ship the tools to Kangole. I'll stay in Kangole to receive and secure them.
Whew! Lots happening and we haven't heard from Waffle yet on how today's teaching went.
Thanks for the prayers. We've been blessed.
(NOTE:Funny there's no mention about a Memorial Day BBQ, going out fishing on the boat or going to see the latest action film at the movies...is that what YOU are thinking about?)
Sad news last night. A very close friend of Dr. Val's died, so she is grieving the loss. It's wonderful that Dorie is here to comfort her.
Waffle's teaching is going VERY well, but they are missing some key people.
Church construction continues to go great. Yesterday eleven men mixed and poured over eleven cubic yards of concrete. Amazing!! (NOTE: that really is a LOT of work - especially in the heat. Think of one of those gravel haulers you see racing down Tualatin side roads all the time. One of those hold about nine cubic yards). Today we finished the columns and concrete. Praise God!
We also had some excitement when some locals killed a 52-inch lizard (a species like a Komodo Dragon?). Nick showed them how to skin it. They got the meat and Nick got the skin. Good luck in Customs with that. We had time today to reset Val's door frame. It was in bad shape.
There have been some rains which is good. With the rains comes malaria - which is bad. Lots of malaria in the area. Mama Esther and lots of kids have it. Please pray for their health.
Latest news on the container and tools is Monday. Our team flies back to Kampala Monday and hopes to help unload and ship the tools to Kangole. I'll stay in Kangole to receive and secure them.
Whew! Lots happening and we haven't heard from Waffle yet on how today's teaching went.
Thanks for the prayers. We've been blessed.
(NOTE:Funny there's no mention about a Memorial Day BBQ, going out fishing on the boat or going to see the latest action film at the movies...is that what YOU are thinking about?)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday, May 27th - Text from Mike 5PM Kangole Time
Great day today!
Hot but great!
Nine columns set using Ugandan technology...ropes.
Total of twenty-two columns complete. Seven left for tomorrow.
Waffle's teaching going fantastically well! They want him to stay.
4x4 back up and running.
Thanks for the prayers!
Hot but great!
Nine columns set using Ugandan technology...ropes.
Total of twenty-two columns complete. Seven left for tomorrow.
Waffle's teaching going fantastically well! They want him to stay.
4x4 back up and running.
Thanks for the prayers!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wed., May 26th Text from Mike - 9PM Kangole Time
13 columns standing. 11 with concrete. Some equipment failure. Andrew, the local contractor, saved the day with a great idea.
Cmdr. Steve arrived today from Kampala.
4x4 carburetor cleaned today and running again.
Nick went down to illness yesterday...a little Cipro and a good night's sleep and today he is fine.
Tonight we fried the screw gun battery charger. So, tomorrow we get to use ropes to brace the columns. First rule of Uganda - All technology will fail at some time.
Cmdr. Steve arrived today from Kampala.
4x4 carburetor cleaned today and running again.
Nick went down to illness yesterday...a little Cipro and a good night's sleep and today he is fine.
Tonight we fried the screw gun battery charger. So, tomorrow we get to use ropes to brace the columns. First rule of Uganda - All technology will fail at some time.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 25th Text from Mike this morning...
Phone charged and minutes added. Talk on Sunday went well though not favorite thing to do.
Six columns standing with concrete. Work crew of 12 Ugandans. 4x4 is down today because of bad diesel fuel. Got it running now.
Val and Waffle in Moroto meeting on evangelism and discipleship training. Termite eating contest last night with Dr. Val. I think we finally finished the goat. Six straight meals with goat.
Tool container still not passed by Customs. Cmdr. Steve arrives tomorrow via maf(?). All is good. St. Marks is being built by the Karamojan people. We are just helping.
Six columns standing with concrete. Work crew of 12 Ugandans. 4x4 is down today because of bad diesel fuel. Got it running now.
Val and Waffle in Moroto meeting on evangelism and discipleship training. Termite eating contest last night with Dr. Val. I think we finally finished the goat. Six straight meals with goat.
Tool container still not passed by Customs. Cmdr. Steve arrives tomorrow via maf(?). All is good. St. Marks is being built by the Karamojan people. We are just helping.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday From Kangole - Text from Mike
Mike reports:
Steel is here...16 holes being dug. Workers make $5/day. We fed them casava, a type of potato, for lunch. Lunch for 20 people cost $2.50. They use paper ripped from old cement bags for plates [after the holes are dug, a cement base is poured for the steel post to rest on].
[a little later in the day...]
Reception and charging issues with phone. Steve picking up lost bag with key tools from airport today. Waffle made it last night. Coming to Kangole by car today with Val and Dorie. Container released from Customs. Steve and Nick loading tools Monday.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Kangole 8PM Local Time
Just spoke to Mike in Kangole. Miracles (?) of modern communication thanks to Skype. He and Clark were just sitting down to dinner. Waffle was supposed to be landing in Kangole as we spoke.
They had to split the team in Kampala. Steve and Nick stayed behind to buy materials and wait for container. This is the shipping container we loaded several months ago. (We prayed with the driver for circumstances in his life before he took off from Sherwood.) The tools needed for construction are in the back 1/4 of that container. It was quite a Saturday morning back then loading an estimated 25,000 lbs of sports equipment and contracting tools. The container should be available by Monday.
Mike reports that with flights and their arrival they have not had much sleep. It is our prayers that are keeping them going. He is missing a bag that has tools they need for setting the tube steel poles. He hopes it will be found and catch up with them. Steel and lumber should be on-site tomorrow. But right now they don't even have a tape measure.
Not a problem though, because workers will also be on-site tomorrow who will begin digging the holes. Each will be paid 10,000 shillings for completing a hole. [I wonder how they are going to determine where the holes should be? Maybe Erric or someone put stakes out during a recent trip?]
It has been fascinating to watch these engineers and architects who are used to dealing with some of the biggest construction projects in the world try to build a little church in an area without cranes or electricity. Any power tools will use electricity from gas-powered generators. Yes, all of those are in the container. They have come up with some fascinating solutions. Quite a contrast to watching "Build It Bigger" or "Mega Builders" on the Discovery Channel. Encourage your children to play with Legos.
Mike is speaking at the church on Sunday. The bishop will also be there. The bishop will be confirming 70 people!!! Praise God!
They had to split the team in Kampala. Steve and Nick stayed behind to buy materials and wait for container. This is the shipping container we loaded several months ago. (We prayed with the driver for circumstances in his life before he took off from Sherwood.) The tools needed for construction are in the back 1/4 of that container. It was quite a Saturday morning back then loading an estimated 25,000 lbs of sports equipment and contracting tools. The container should be available by Monday.
Mike reports that with flights and their arrival they have not had much sleep. It is our prayers that are keeping them going. He is missing a bag that has tools they need for setting the tube steel poles. He hopes it will be found and catch up with them. Steel and lumber should be on-site tomorrow. But right now they don't even have a tape measure.
Not a problem though, because workers will also be on-site tomorrow who will begin digging the holes. Each will be paid 10,000 shillings for completing a hole. [I wonder how they are going to determine where the holes should be? Maybe Erric or someone put stakes out during a recent trip?]
It has been fascinating to watch these engineers and architects who are used to dealing with some of the biggest construction projects in the world try to build a little church in an area without cranes or electricity. Any power tools will use electricity from gas-powered generators. Yes, all of those are in the container. They have come up with some fascinating solutions. Quite a contrast to watching "Build It Bigger" or "Mega Builders" on the Discovery Channel. Encourage your children to play with Legos.
Mike is speaking at the church on Sunday. The bishop will also be there. The bishop will be confirming 70 people!!! Praise God!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
From Amsterdam Last Night
Hey Chris, In Amsterdam. I tried to forward an email from VAl from my phone that things are going well with the materials purchase. She may be able to get the steel with no tax for great savings. Waffle had a ticket issue and is following a day late. He should hook up with Steve and Nick in Kampala Friday night.
Blessings brother...More from Kampala tomorrow.
mike
Blessings brother...More from Kampala tomorrow.
mike
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
From Mike Late Last Night (Tues 5/18)
The St Mark’s Church building team is off for the Karamoja region of Eastern Uganda later today. On this trip we will be purchasing 6”x 6” x 19’ long tube steel columns digging holes and concreting the columns in the ground while working beside our Karamoja brothers. The next team will come in and build and erect wood trusses and the roof. Communication is difficult in the area but we hope to be able to post updates to the following blog site. Our trip is from today through June 2nd. We hope you stop in to check up on us and enjoy the trip with us.
The peace that has recently come to the area is very fragile so pray for the Karamoja people, continued peace in the area, abundant crops for food and continued growth in Christ and living in community. Pray that the Holy Spirit prepare their hearts for our visit and increase the teams faith for courage to step forward in faith when called upon. Oh – and for the darn ash cloud to stay away from our flights!
Blessings to all.
The Uganda Team
Steve, Nick, Sparky, Waffle, and Mike
From Dr. Val as Team was boarding plane in PDX
Praise God!!
Looking forward to seeing you guys soon. I went to the steel place today
and they may give us a better deal on it. We may be able to get it tax fee
as well, which would really help. I'm working on that. Please pray for
Moses, as he has not been able to help us much with the preparations and may
not be able to have time with you all when you are here. Thanks.
Yours in the Lord,
Val
Looking forward to seeing you guys soon. I went to the steel place today
and they may give us a better deal on it. We may be able to get it tax fee
as well, which would really help. I'm working on that. Please pray for
Moses, as he has not been able to help us much with the preparations and may
not be able to have time with you all when you are here. Thanks.
Yours in the Lord,
Val
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