Back from Uganda

Almost 2 months in Uganda (Dec.18th to Feb.8th) was really wonderful & rewarding. Our team consisted of Renee & myself, Sally Omundi (from Kenya) and John Abesiga (Plunkett) from Uganda.
 1st Week > with RED (Revival, Evangelism & Discipleship) ministries in Kampala. First time with Pst. Joel & Pamela. Did a 4 day believers’ conference & finished off with a Sunday service. All in all a very enjoyable time.
 2nd Week > headed NW in Uganda to Kaihura for 3 weeks at Bringing Hope to the Family, a ministry we’ve been affiliated with for 5 years. The first part was celebrating Christmas together with about 60+ orphans at the Home Again Orphanage. Renee & I were the original sponsors of the first 2 kids there, so we’re known as Papa & Mama to all the kids. We had the great pleasure of presenting a Nintendo Wii Game system to the kids, (a contribution from Nigel & Julie Rowe & family in the UK). The kids had a blast boxing, playing tennis & the other sports games. There was a youth conference as well that involved about 300+ kids. We also did 2 days of a couples’ conference teaching the 5 love languages to many excited couples.
 3rd Week > we went out to Katooke, (a village about a ½ hour from Kaihura) with Pst. Prosper & Jocelyn & my namesake, Greg. We took 6 of the Home Again teenage boys out, along with Sally & everyone participated in ministry. We did a 4 day believers’ conference that had a huge impact on the community & was well attended.
 4th Week > SW to Kabale for the first time. We spent over 2 weeks there & were involved with so many churches & ministries. We spent 3 afternoons with Pst. Obed of Word of Faith Church; several days at a street kids drop in centre, (with Eddy, Pam & Ben Ward) where we had the privilege of leading 8 of the kids to the Lord several days at Revival Tabernacle with Pst. Johnson doing services & crusades; many days with Pst. Santu & Pst. Donna of Inward Temple Church having mid-day meetings & a Sunday service; a too short time with Pst. Frank of World Evangelical Ministries, but we’ll make up for that next year. Our host for the entire time was Dr. Mike Osinde who took excellent care of us & looked after our many needs. Our good friend Rev. Richard Zimbalist was the instigator of this visit & coordinated the entire goings on. We were joined by an anointed man of God from Tanzania (originally Uganda) Pst. Fred who we hope to work with more in the future. There were so many highlights during our time in Kabale including a day trip to the deepest (& most beautiful) lake in Africa, with many islands on it (with Donna & Santu Laxman). It reminded me of the gulf coast between Vancouver & Vancouver Island.
 Final Week > buses in Africa are truly of the devil – we waited in the afternoon over 3 hours for our reserved seat bus & then watched it whiz by us without stopping. We had to take the late bus that left after 10pm & got into Kampala at 4 am. Our good friend Greg Lempke (a Canadian brother) of Spring of Life Ministries in Kampala picked us up. Sadly, we had to part from John (our Uganda son) as it was time to go back to school. We were thankful for the over 5 weeks we were able to spend with him this time & at the end truly felt like a family. Sally also departed for Kenya, but we will see her very shortly. I barely caught my breath & Renee & I separated as I went off with the SOLMA team to a remote village for believer’s conference & crusades, (another 8 hour journey on top of the all night bus ride). It was extremely fruitful & netted many new souls for the Kingdom of God. Renee went with Greg & Sandy’s daughter Samantha back to the Kienjojo district to a refuge camp of 81 sq. miles with no end of needs. They traveled by boda boda (motorbike taxis) to every corner of the camp. The refugees are from the Congo, Rwanda, Ethiopia & a couple other countries. They were on a data compiling mission to evaluate the many needs for the refugees.
 During this entire time in Uganda, I have been mostly sick. I began with a convulsive cough Christmas day that required injections to stop it & the sickness continued for 3 weeks. I also got a jigger in my toe which is like a flesh eating parasite. In Kabale, along with Renee & Sally, I got an intestinal infection that came on with a high fever & severe diarrhea for a few days. In Kampala, I arrived with yet another bad cough that continues & the night before we returned to Kenya, I came down with a 39.6c fever which turned out to be malaria. I spent the evening with chills & diarrhea. We got up at 5am to catch the bus & I discovered yet another jigger in my heal. It has developed now into a massive infection in my foot & leg up to my knee that is swollen, red & painful. I spent today at a good hospital in Kisumu City & had prayed for the right doctor & got a very competent & caring Christian doctor. I have been diagnosed with a nasty infection from a prick from ‘something’ I can’t remember happening. I have a bronchial infection & my malaria is cleared up. This has been my sickest year of my life. When I returned to Kenya, the first thing a friend remarked was how much weight I’ve lost; (I call it my African weight loss plan; haw haw). It’s been quite a battle but I thank God who has given me the grace & love for what we do to press on.

We are massively grateful for the prayers that have been petitioned on our behalf. We couldn’t & wouldn’t want to do this without that support.
We look forward to the next 2 months of ministry in Kenya until we return to England on April 7th for 20 days, where we have an outstanding itinerary awaiting us. Our return to Canada is April 27th.