Hours out of the City limits, we drove along dust covered roads surrounded by forests of banana trees and tea fields until finally we arrived at a group of broken down huts. The training of pastors today would take place on dirt floors and in the shade of a large thatch roof Church. The more I train Africans, the more I am hit with the reality of Biblical truths. Africans talk about speaking in tongues and demon possession as if it is a daily occurrence. Obviously, I go from being the teacher to being the student as I learn the African perspective on faith.
After training, I found a dusty trial leading off into the distance, and it called my name. As I hiked, I found more thatch roof huts every fifty yards or so. It was exciting to stop and talk to the families that lived in the homes. They were amazed by the color of my skin. A man by the name of Simon saw me on the trail and begged me to hop on his bike so he could take me to meet his family. They welcomed me in and we sat and talked for a while before I continued on my hike. Time passed quickly as I met more and more locals, but the grand finale of the hike was finding the Nile River. It was filled with fishermen and made for a great climax before the hike home.

God…You’re my everything.
Training local Ugandans to be pastors has been fun, but seeing God move in the lives of the students at Annie’s school has been incredible. A few weeks ago, I was asked to speak at a chapel for the High School and Middle School students. We talked about what it means to believe. God began to move, and after we finished, 8 out of 22 students stayed behind to talk about how to move deeper in their faith. One of those made a first time decision, and several have made re-dedications. Also, on of our friends, Lisa Fish, spoke to both the younger and older students the following week, and several others made decisions for Christ as well. As she prayed with one student, he made clear the sincere cry of his heart by saying, “…God, you’re my everything.” God is really moving in that school, and it is such a blessing to see the Him move in so many!

Rolexes…only 600 Shillings
These Rolexes are hot, only 600 shillings, and on every street corner. The only catch is that 600 shillings is roughly 33 cents, and these Rolexes you don’t wear- you eat. Ugandans love their early morning breakfast, so these Rolexes, omelets in a pita, hit the spot. All you need to make them is a bamboo hut, metal pan sitting over hot coals, lots of oil, egg, tomato, onion, and a pita shell. The sit heavy, but taste great!!!

Coming to Africa Annie and I expected devastation and poverty. We found abounding Joy.

When you think of Africa two things probably come to mind...wild animals and pot bellied children with flies around their eyes. As Annie and I began dreaming of following God's heart to Africa we could not have imagined the impact the natives would make on us. Most visitors to Africa long to help people with their poverty. Yes, money would ease some of the problems, but natives do not focus on what they do not have. They choose to focus on what they do have, relationships. Relationships are the life of the African heart. Even simple conversations begin by establishing the most important things: How are you? How is your family? How is life and health? Focusing on what really matters fills their lives with a unrestrainable joy that we are finding contagious.

Gamecock Fans!!!

Days of 85,000 football fans erupting with joy over a huge victory, painting up for games, ESPN highlights, and tail gating are easy to remember when the African Gamecocks fill the streets. They may not know that they are an inspiration to thousands in South Carolina, but they know how to strut their stuff in Uganda.

Daily we are able to see a Africa from a new perspective. Sunday we had the chance to go with one of our new Ugandan friends, Nelson, to his church. Nelson lives with his nine children in a home that is made of mud bricks and surrounded by banana trees. When you walk down the dirt road to his home you notice two things. First, a hole the size of a VolksWagon Beetle that they throw all of their compost in, and the second is a long bamboo hut.



The rhythm and dancing reverberated from inside the bamboo hut as we stepped into his church. This week, Nelson and his wife Lucy lead a ten day revival, and Annie and I were blessed to join. Dancing is a huge part of worship in Uganda. They do not just sing praise to God, but they dance. For two hours we danced and prayed before Nelson gave his sermon. I was able to give my testimony, and Annie was asked to spend time teaching the children.


There are three big things to love about Uganda.
The first...there are no enforced speed limits. Driving is absolutely crazy, and it is awesome. We have become pro's at driving on the left side of the road with a left handed stick shift. The dirt roads have pot hole that literally swallow some trucks. Every rainy day becomes a great opportunity to throw the car into 4 wheel drive and have some fun. Old Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are popular here because they have the power to handle the roads. Recently, Annie and I have hired motorcycle taxis, called boda bodas, to take us around town.
The second...Coke is IT!!! Everyone here drinks coke products. Sure, if you look hard enough you can find a Pepsi, but we don't go into those kind of places. If you have ever been to Atlanta and gone through the coke museum you have had the chance to try the different flavors of Coke, tailored for the individual countries. In Uganda, Coke taste different, but Sprite has quickly become a big favorite off ours.
The third...you can never be late. Ugandan time is free and relaxed. There is not need to stress if you have a meeting at 1:00 and the group does not totally show until 1:53. As long as they make the meeting within the hour there is no reason to fret. This is a reason that some churches sing and dance for two hours before beginning.