Uganda Travel Report – Impressions, Challenges and Hope
Our flight to Uganda went surprisingly smoothly. First six hours to Qatar, then another six hours on to Entebbe. We finally arrived on Sunday: our team – me, Marco, Jakob and Andi – was ready for whatever lay ahead.
An old but sturdy Toyota Land Cruiser was waiting for us there. A real off-roader with a few years under its belt, but it seemed indestructible. The steering was pretty heavy, though, and the brakes more of a compromise – still, it was the perfect vehicle for Uganda’s roads.
David picked us up in Kampala, and straight afterwards we went shopping. We bought speakers with a microphone for our talks, music for dancing, lots of water and many other important things for the children’s home. We had also brought a package for every child – with toothbrushes, school things, food and other essentials, which we handed out there.
The traffic in Kampala and the surrounding suburbs was almost unbearable. A wild jumble of noise, dust and dirt. Marco and I took turns driving, while Andi and Jakob kept nodding off in the back – it looked rather funny and made us smile.
But despite all the chaos, one thing made a strong impression on us: the living faith of the people. Almost every third car had slogans like “Be blessed” or “Jesus is Lord” emblazoned on it. Faith is everywhere here and carries people through their often hard everyday lives.
We spent our first night in Muyage, a smaller town. The room was rather basic – back home you would call it one-star standard – but it was fine. The food was so-so, but after a long day nobody minded.
On Monday we drove to the children’s home. The children welcomed us like rock stars – loud, cheerful and full of energy. Under a huge tree there was a sermon, speeches, the introduction of the teachers and a dance by the children. God was mentioned again and again in every speech. The children’s deep joy and gratitude really touched us, even if we sometimes found that kind of attention a little unfamiliar.
After the celebration there was food for everyone – for many the highlight, because everyone got a small piece of meat. That only happens once or twice a year here, so it was a real gift.
On Tuesday our medical team was in action – a team we had specially hired to support the health of the children and the villagers. The day was packed with check-ups: first our 300 orphans, then many more children and adults from the village, around 650 people in total.
While people waited, we brought entertainment and hope with stories, sermons about the Gospel, dancing and music. The blood samples were tested right there on site: 24% malaria, 7.4% HIV, 20.8% typhoid and many other diseases. Some could be treated straight away, others urgently need minor operations. A nurse also gave hygiene education – badly needed, because the health system here is practically non-existent. Without money there is no treatment, not even in the public hospitals, which are very poorly equipped anyway.
The state of the huts and the fate of so many neglected children shook us deeply. There are many hard-working people there who truly do their best. But corruption and a broken society often rob them of any chance of change. The rubbish problem is huge – as in many developing countries, waste is simply thrown everywhere, which leads to a lot of disease.
On Wednesday the vocational and Bible school was opened. The whole village came, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Three teachers look after the twelve students: a bricklayer, a carpenter and a Bible school teacher. The young people learn to fire bricks, build huts, work with wood and put on roofs – and at the same time receive training in theology and character. I had the honour of giving the very first lesson that morning and speaking about Genesis 1 – the foundation stone for the Gospel.
Friday was a safari day for us. We saw lions, giraffes, elephants, hippos, warthogs and many other animals – an amazing experience. But the impressions of the past few days had moved us deeply, so we talked and prayed a lot.
Saturday was a quiet day in Entebbe before we flew home on Sunday. The flight home went without any problems too.
Despite all the progress in the project, the suffering we had seen stayed with us. On the plane we prayed together, because we were feeling quite low. About 15 minutes later, an older man from America opened the Bible he had brought with him and began to read. We got talking. He told us he had come to Uganda to encourage missionaries, and he gave us a Bible verse that fitted our situation exactly. That of all people he was sitting next to Marco that day – we felt that was a real miracle. It encouraged us deeply and showed us that God is right among us and carries us.
Finally, a little culture shock: the cleanliness, the quiet on the roads and the way people drive – that was a whole new world for us.
We thank our Lord Jesus Christ with all our hearts. All of this is only possible through him and with him. May all these works serve him and point to him. He gives us the strength and confidence to do all this.
And we thank our many supporters who are on this journey with us! Thank you for your wonderful help!