Discernment and the Drive to Ndolwa

This morning we left early, as those who had been to Ndolwa before agreed that the road was really bad. They were not kidding! If you like roller coasters, you would love riding in Jawale’s decrepit Toyota van over and around the potholes and construction obstacles on this rocky red clay road! We stopped to check in and drop our bags at a guest house in Kamuli, an hour and a half from our destination but still the closest facility that could house all of us. Then we continued on through the same kind of bush country as en route to Nawaikoke, but drier, as there has been drought here in recent years.

When we arrived at Ndolwa we were warmly greeted by Pastor Godfrey and watched with great interest by the children of the school he has started in the rented warehouse where his congregation worships. Because our journey took longer than expected and the village men had not yet gathered, we walked through the small village to Pastor Godfrey’s house where we were treated to heaping platters of matoke, rice, and potatoes, with steaming bowls of cooked greens, chicken, and beef.

Following lunch we walked back to the church, where around a hundred men and women had now joined the school children. We did not have either the space or the personnel to deal with men, women, and children separately, so we made a quick decision that Becca and Martha would minister to the children, while I would improvise a sermon to instruct the adults for an hour! It went well, thanks to Pastor Robert’s dynamic translation, even though we lost our sound system for a while when a passing rain squall required the generator to be moved inside and restarted. Meanwhile Becca and Martha presented stories, songs, and games to around 180 children!

After the children were dismissed, Becca and Martha led the women in a discussion of the helpfulness of Dorcas and the importance of hygiene for healthy families. At the same time, around 40 village men, including several pastors and elders, met outside under a large tree with Pastor Ken, Pastor Robert and me for a question and answer time. Some of the pastors do not even have Bibles, and much of the rumors and fanatics who reach them are wildly untruthful, so we had a very challenging time helping them sort fact from fiction with regard to the Christian faith. We were also occasionally interrupted by the bellows of a colicky cow grazing a few meters away. It must have gone well, however, as the men invited me to come back and give a three day seminar next year, if possible, and after listening to our discussion one young man came forward desiring to become a Christian!

On the way back to Kamuli we drove through a rain storm, which turned the already difficult road into a series of muddy streams, puddles, and wash outs. Jawale got us through and to the guest house just in time for dinner, except that the storm had taken out the electricity and the final preparation of our food had to wait until a generator was started. After we finally ate, we were all really tired from the intense travel and teaching, so we turned in early in the hopes of getting another early start tomorrow.

Thanks for paving the way for us through your prayers. Sola balunji,

Kirk and the Rough Riders